The Transmigrator Doesn’t Dream of Being the Protagonist – Chapter 96

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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“Arianna, I don’t forgive you.”

Arianna looked up at Arthur, her knees still on the ground. Her heart sank.

If Arthur didn’t forgive her, she had no reason to live. Her red eyes wavered.

“I… I…”

Her heart ached, and she couldn’t speak. She wished Arthur would yell at her, slap her, anything.

“Because there’s nothing to forgive.”

“…What? What do you mean, Arthur?”

“Exactly that, Anne. I’ve already forgiven you. So please stop apologizing.”

He understood. But he added a condition.

“But promise me you’ll become a hero with me.”

“With you…?”

“Become a hero with me, and save more people. Atone for your sins.”

If she could atone for her sins by saving others, she would gladly become a hero. Even if it meant dying.

Arthur smiled awkwardly. He was embarrassed. Arianna nodded.

“Okay! I promise.”

“And I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

“Arthur, please don’t say that.”

“Okay. Anne, come here and hug me.”

Arianna stood up. Arthur, still sitting on the bed, looked up at her.

I stood by the door, staring out the window at the clear autumn sky.

Through the gap in the door, I could see Arthur and Arianna embracing. It was a touching scene, like something out of a movie.

I was worried about the butterfly effect, but eliminating the Black Brotherhood had been the best course of action.

‘And I can’t just punish the protagonist’s childhood friend because I don’t like her.’

And I had never seen Arthur so happy.

‘I’ll leave them alone. I’m a cool guy, after all.’

I turned and walked down the hallway.

Tia, spotting me from a distance, cautiously approached. She was planning to follow me.

‘I’ll sneak up on him like a cat and surprise him!’

She would even cover his eyes and ask, “Guess who?”

The thought made her smile. It was unlike her. She had always prided herself on being rational and composed.

But she couldn’t help herself around Ethan. Her attempt at stealth was short-lived.

“Tia?”

I had recognized her without even turning around.

“Good heavens! How did you know?”

I turned around and met her gaze.

‘Combat Intuition works even in situations like this.’

I was surprised myself.

I could tell who it was just by the sound of their footsteps.

I could even sense danger while I was sleeping. I had tested it with Lien.

I could sense killing intent from anywhere, at any time.

It significantly reduced the chances of being assassinated. It was a useful skill. And as the name suggested, it was incredibly useful in battle.

I could predict the outcome of a fight after just a few exchanges.

‘And it has countless other uses.’

It was a top-tier skill, after all. The combination of “combat” and “intuition” made it incredibly versatile.

“Ethan…”

“Oh, um… I just… recognized your footsteps.”

“That’s amazing. You can identify people just by the sound of their footsteps now. Or are you just that interested in me?”

I shrugged at her playful question. Tia fell into step beside me.

She was full of surprises.

“How’s Arthur doing?”

“He’s fine, thanks to you.”

“I’d like to hear all about it. Maybe we could have some tea?”

I wanted to drop the formalities, like Arthur, Sepia, and Anya.

But I had been using formal language for almost twenty years. It was a hard habit to break.

Tia had played a crucial role in the success of this mission. I nodded.

“And I also wanted to see Hessia.”

She was inviting me to her apartment for tea. It wasn’t something we could discuss in a public place like a cafe.

“Okay, Hessia will be happy to see you.”

I walked beside Tia, who was smiling brightly. She was much more approachable now, compared to the beginning of the semester.

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At a cafe in Eastvan.

The cafe was bustling, even though it was a weekday. Two women were chatting in a corner booth.

“Really? Are you serious? Nia, you’re so mean!”

Vivian was meeting with Dania. Sepia had asked her to do it.

‘Vivian, I have a favor to ask… Could you get some information from Sylvia’s maid, Dania?’

Vivian was currently playing the role of “Tomboy Bobby.”

“Bobby” was one of Vivian’s four personas, similar in personality to Dania. They got along well.

“And you know what? That jerk followed me home! He was kneeling and crying, saying I was the only one for him!”

Dania liked “Bobby.”

They had met in the laundry room of the servants’ quarters.

Bobby had accidentally taken Dania’s laundry, and she had offered to buy Dania tea as an apology.

They had become fast friends. Vivian had only known her for a short time, but Dania was fond of her. She treated Vivian like a younger sister.

Of course, it was all part of Vivian’s plan to get close to Dania.

“Wow, that’s totally stalking! You should have reported him to the guards!”

“I was so disgusted.”

Dania shuddered, taking a sip of her tea. Vivian nodded sympathetically.

“So, what happened next?”

“What do you think happened? I told him to get lost! And I can always beat him up if he stalks me again, so it’s not a big deal.”

Dania, having spent over ten years as a servant, had learned a thing or two about self-defense from Sylvia. She could easily handle most men.

“You have to be careful who you date.”

Sepia had fallen head over heels for Ethan. Vivian wholeheartedly agreed.

“You’re right!”

“Bobby, are you seeing anyone?”

“W-what? Me? I…”

Vivian giggled and looked away, avoiding the question.

“Bobby, don’t tell me you’ve never dated anyone before? You’re nineteen, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m nineteen. B-but I’ve received confessions before.”

It wasn’t a lie. Several servants in the Logness household had confessed their feelings to her.

But she had rejected them all.

“You’re such a newbie!”

Dania chuckled and shrugged. She wanted to tease Vivian, but…

She had been a servant for over ten years. She knew when to stop.

“How’s Sylvia doing?”

“Sylvia? She’s like a lovesick teenager. But don’t tell anyone!”

Dania and Vivian, as fellow servants, had a lot in common. They shared similar experiences and understood each other’s struggles.

“Of course! I can keep a secret! But who is it?”

“It’s a secret!”

“Aw, you don’t trust me?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Bobby… It’s a matter of principle!”

Vivian had a pretty good idea who it was. It was probably Ethan. This was enough information for today.

“I should get back to my lady.”

“Already? That’s a shame.”

“Sepia is calling me.”

Vivian showed Dania her vibrating communication crystal. Dania understood.

“Well, it can’t be helped. It was nice talking to you!”

“You too!”

Vivian left the cafe and walked into a quiet alley. It was time to report to Sepia.

“[Yes, my lady. Vivian speaking.]”

Her cheerful demeanor vanished. She was no longer “Tomboy Bobby.” She was Vivian, the emotionless maid.

“[So, did you find out anything?]”

Vivian reported calmly.

“[According to Dania, Professor Sylvia is in love. And I suspect the object of her affections is Ethan.]”

Sepia didn’t respond immediately.

“[Are you sure it’s Ethan?]”

“[I’m not entirely sure. But based on the information I’ve gathered… ]”

“[I see… Thank you, Vivian. Get some rest.]”

“[Yes, my lady.]”

The call ended. Vivian sighed and leaned against the wall.

‘Ethan is quite popular…’

Sepia, Tia, and Tesha were all interested in him. And now Sylvia. And they had even formed an alliance.

She felt a twinge of annoyance.

‘I hope he ends up with four wives and gets completely exhausted.’

She wanted to see him suffer, to regret his choices. And she would laugh at his misery.

‘But would Sepia tolerate the other women?’

Sepia was incredibly possessive.

Vivian weighed the possibilities. Who would Ethan choose? Sepia, or the other three?

‘He’ll choose Sepia, right…?’

She suddenly wanted to join the Ethan Alliance.

‘Ugh… I’m feeling sentimental… I feel so empty…’

But romance was a luxury she couldn’t afford. She had duties to fulfill, a mission to accomplish.

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In Sylvia’s office.

Sylvia placed the documents on her desk. Today’s lectures were over.

She was known as the Iron-Blooded Professor, the Perfectionist.

She didn’t mind the nicknames. They were a testament to her dedication.

After finishing her paperwork, she checked her communication crystal.

It was part of her daily routine.

There were messages from her father and a few colleagues. But nothing from Ethan.

The last message she had received from him had been three days ago.

‘Send your master a message sometimes, disciple. I’m bored.’

It was autumn. The second semester had started over a week ago.

But Ethan hadn’t visited her, not even for a cup of tea.

‘He said he would visit often during the second semester… How disappointing.’

Of course, she had replied, “Focus on your studies,” but…

He could have at least sent a message.

It had been over a month since she had last seen him.

‘I’ll have to punish him severely during our next training session.’

She had made up her mind.

She suddenly remembered throwing Ethan against the wall.

‘Could he be avoiding me because of that?’

It was difficult to understand the human heart.

‘I should have reasoned with him instead of resorting to violence…’

She felt a pang of guilt. She reread Ethan’s last message.

He had moved out of the dormitory and gotten his own apartment in Eastvan.

“I miss you, my disciple.”

If she missed him, she could just go see him. Sylvia stood up.

It wasn’t difficult to find his new address. He would have updated his contact information with the academy.

She could just go to the administration office and check his file.

‘I’m coming to see you, you foolish disciple.’

She didn’t need Dania’s advice. She was perfectly capable of doing things on her own.

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