Chapter 32
Back when I was just reading the novel, I didn’t realize it.
The information the text gives to the reader is more limited than you’d think. The combination of letters displayed only shows a part of that world. There’s clearly a story unknown to the reader. Backgrounds. Various phenomena are happening, all turning like gears.
But we have to see it all through the narrow lens provided by the author, using only words.
Villainess Erica.
The information about her is the same.
She’s Vargan’s fiancée, small in stature, with a venomous tongue, and special skills. There were even bits about her family background. It was as if all of Erica’s information was laid out for me.
But of course, that was merely a fragment of her.
For instance, one of Erica’s traits, being a Villainess.
There was no consideration for why she ended up in the Villainess position in the first place.
Why, you ask? Because that’s just how the setting is. It’s not like we’re studying her. She’s neither the Protagonist nor the Heroine. When reading a novel, it’s common not to think deeply about why a character assumes a certain personality or role.
Then…
I entered this novel and came to a realization.
I remember the moment I was possessed by Vargan.
From the first moment he recalls to the lines written in the book I was flipping through at the time. All the “experiences and emotions” were transmitted to me, and it was an unforgettable experience.
The sensation I felt was like being upgraded in an instant as a living being.
At that moment, new information about Erica, who is Vargan’s fiancée and sort of a childhood friend, particularly flooded in.
I learned facts I had never known before and felt how limited the information about her in the novel really was.
The Erica of the current moment is different from her childhood personality. This is, of course, a given. A person’s character is half inborn and half influenced by external factors.
However, the reason I, with Vargan’s memories, felt strange reflecting on her, compared to what I learned from the novel, wasn’t because she was different from the past.
⎯She is different from the future.
The personality itself feels different now than how she will appear just a few months later.
By the way, there’s a religion that nearly everyone in this world worships.
“Yggdrasil”
A term that can refer to God or the entire religion itself.
A word that can refer to an entire religion.
It is a religion that worships a giant tree so enormous that it feels visible no matter where you are in the world. All other religions are considered heretical and should not be believed.
The church, which is the backbone of the hero, is an institution dedicated to the worship of the sole god, Yggdrasil.
The overwhelming presence of the tree, along with the vast amount of high-quality mana stones it provides and its ability to enrich the surrounding land, is likely why it is revered.
However, that statement is limited to the majority of ‘people’; it does not refer to all living beings.
A large group in conflict with Yggdrasil. The religion of Altife.
That is the Goddess Church.
To put it simply.
One religion on the human side.
One religion on the monster side.
That’s the nature of their opposing relationship.
Returning to the main point.
The sudden mention of religion is closely related to Erica.
Her family, the Portlet Family, is known for its piety. From a young age, Erica studied both hero training and religious studies.
Based on firsthand experience of her childhood, I can say.
There was no falsehood in her faith, and she took pride in it.
… It was difficult to understand.
In the novel, Erica was depicted as a girl performing ‘an act’ of believing in the sole god, Yggdrasil.
In truth, she worshiped the god of monsters and assisted their activities within the confines of the Academia.
The reason I described it as difficult to understand wasn’t merely because she served the god of monsters instead of the human god.
In the past, I thought there was only one spy within Yggdrasil or Academia, and since she was the villainess, I could let that go.
However, I now know her past. Her trail is not just a simple setting.
Was everything she showed to Vargan in the past a lie?
While there’s a possibility, it was worth confirming.
The last time I met Erica was a year ago.
With my newly imprinted memories, there were no traces of her worshiping heresy. I also tried to obtain information about her using the fact that she was my fiancée, but the outcome was the same.
There are two possible scenarios.
Either she has meticulously hidden everything until now, or she changed during the course of subsequent events.
I analyzed her words and actions from the novel and compared them with what I learned about her past through Vargan. With that, I drew the conclusion.
I chose to bet on the higher probability of the latter.
Considering the special magic Erica possesses, her family background, and my relationship with her, it was necessary to enhance confidence in her.
That way, I wouldn’t be hindered in my movements.
So I contemplated.
If she had changed during the subsequent developments, how did that happen?
With that thought lingering in the back of my mind, I fortuitously discovered ‘that guy.’
At first, I didn’t know.
I thought he was merely one of those supporting characters without any notable talent or appearance. Someone I learned about after reincarnating into the novel. That was all.
Then, it suddenly came to mind that there was a certain someone who had worshiped her alongside Erica and had received a blessing.
I remembered that the person I used to follow had received a blessing along with someone who worshipped heretical beliefs.
I didn’t know the name. I didn’t know the appearance.
There was no written information.
But I had a guess about what kind of personality that guy had, based on his manner of speaking. I knew what powers he was hiding.
At first, there was someone sticking around Erica, spreading the ideology of the Goddess Church. He was a vicious and persistent guy.
Did he take advantage of the gaps in Erica’s heart?
If my hypothesis is correct, he should be hanging around Erica at this time.
It’s still the early part of the semester. To obtain information about her.
Using this to evangelize his religion.
And to satisfy his filthy desires.
He must be watching her with dirty eyes, making sure she doesn’t notice.
I decided to draw him out.
So, I threw out bait.
I steadily continued the groundwork to figure out his abilities.
It became clear on the day Erica came to the laboratory.
⎯What?!
Naias, disguised as Alicia, tipped me off as she had previously stated. I began to change my plans with Erica. The over-the-top reaction was to draw the attention of the guy watching us.
Naias can see him. Before her unique ability, “Eye That Sees Essence,” the power he borrowed was powerless.
As a result, he was unaware that Naias was in disguise. Even elite Erica didn’t seem to notice, so it was unlikely the guy I knew would catch on.
Still, just to confirm there weren’t any other possibilities I didn’t know about, I checked, and as expected.
Since that day, I could continue observing him through Naias, and he moved exactly as scripted. As if he was under specific constraints.
Now that I knew his true nature, there was no need to be cautious about raising the fishing rod.
I moved quickly.
I boldly reeled him in.
He would definitely show up at the place.
“Young Master. Where are you going?”
As I was about to leave the laboratory, Alicia, the real one, spoke up.
Surrounding her was a completely exhausted Emily, Finn, and Serena quietly reading a book.
“I have an appointment. The rest will be led by you and Serena. The Class Battle is in a few days, so just because I’m not around doesn’t mean it should be done casually.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Um… Are you going to meet Erica?”
“A similar one will come.”
“A similar… Hmm, understood. Then I won’t visit tonight, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Alicia, looking puzzled, bowed her head.
I moved on, leaving them behind.
Erica.
My fiancée.
From now on, I will present a stage for her, without her presence.
Only one audience member will be participating.
That guy, who’s probably shaking his legs, waiting for class to end right about now.
It’s confirmed that he’s a stalker, but this stage is a necessary play. I can’t rush things. Even if he’s on the fringes, he belongs to a large group.
He’s an enemy, but this stage is a necessary play. I can’t just push forward recklessly. Even if he’s a small fry, he belongs to a large group.
“Those guys who enjoy hiding in the crowd…”
That religion lurking in the Academia, moving everything secretly. They surely don’t want to reveal their identity.
Yet, he is being so brazen. This is proof that he’s hiding his actions from the people around him.
The only one who knows about his stalking is me. In a way, this is a good opportunity for me.
The fewer eyes watching, the better.
“The day is fading.”
I look around.
The streets are growing dark.
Soon, the lights that will illuminate the darkness will turn on.
*
There’s a man who desperately wishes for the class to end.
Wednesday happens to be the day when his class overlaps with hers. If they were in the same class, he wouldn’t be this anxious.
Fortunately, the meeting time is at 6:10 PM.
Erica’s class ends at 6 as well, so if he rushes, he won’t be late.
In fact, he considered skipping class to stick close to her. But that carries too much risk. If it were students, it might be okay, but if it’s a professor, there’s a chance they might notice his presence.
Moreover, he hasn’t justified his current actions yet. The idea of evangelizing to the daughter of the Portlet Family is way too risky and hard to persuade.
If the higher-ups find out about the situation, they would definitely try to stop it.
Therefore, unplanned actions like skipping class are limited. …Especially since he has already made the mistake of getting swept up in emotion once before.
He had been progressing without being caught until now, and now he might be exposed.
“…Damn it.”
He wishes Erica had rejected it.
She seemed like she would continue to reject him, so why suddenly accept that annoying kid’s proposal? Didn’t they have a bad relationship?
It was still too early to convey his feelings; he was in the preparation stage. Now he feels anxious that he might lose her if things continue like this.
As class ended, the man, trembling with anxiety, stopped fidgeting and dashed out.
He doesn’t head straight to the meeting place.
First, he needs to drop by and prepare.
This isn’t the place. Too many eyes are watching. It would be troublesome if his presence became known due to an unexpected occurrence.
He entered the nearest restroom.
Here, he can pray without any suspicion.
After a brief prayer, he’s ready.
A blessing has come. It’s finally perfect.
He can’t give this to anyone.
Not to her friends. Not to her fiancé. Not to siblings. Not to parents.
To no one.
He will never let it go.
He felt it the moment he first saw her.
The woman he has dreamed of. The one he has longed for. The ideal woman.
She was born to meet me.
I came to this place to meet her.
This is fate. It can’t be opposed and must not be opposed.
She must become mine.
