This Novel is not my Novel

Unknowingly, I was left dumbfounded.

Reisir and Vigdís had already started chatting about why it's difficult to make new friends in the middle of the second semester.

Then he suddenly looked startled and began glancing at me.

"It is difficult for me to get close to other kids right now, but that's not why I'm trying to be friends with you! And I'm definitely not looking down on you! As I learn more about you, I feel like you're a good person, so I wanted to get to know you better. Besides, we have similar tastes in books, so we can share hobbies, and talking with you is really fun. And for some reason, I also feel like I shouldn't leave you alone..."

With that last sentence, was he implying that he's worried I'll keep going through life being used like a pushover?

I wonder if anything could be this absurd.

But I couldn't argue with it.

If I insisted that I'm not a pushover, Reisir would try to refute it by explaining why I am one.

His voice would then flow straight into the ears of the background characters currently paying attention to us.

And the rumor that Karvaldr is a pushover would spread in an instant.

So instead of arguing over the last sentence Reisir said, I decided to argue against the conversation as a whole.

"Why the sudden excuses?"

"I don't want you to misunderstand and think I can casually talk about becoming friends because I take you lightly. You're hesitating to become my friend because you're overly worried about me, so wouldn't you get hurt if I don't clear up the misunderstanding?"

"Didn't I tell you I wasn't worried?"

"Then what was it?"

"......"

"You don't even have a cover story, so why did you deny it?"

Why do you think? Because I can't admit it.

I suppressed the urge to retort and pressed my lips tightly together.

Reisir looked at me seriously before speaking cautiously.

"But you know, I do mind the gazes of others. Even now, everyone is perking up their ears trying to eavesdrop on our conversation, aren't they?"

"If you've realized that, then give up on becoming friends with me."

"Have you always lived your life receiving this kind of attention? No, this goes beyond attention. Isn't this just an invasion of privacy?"

His voice grew fairly loud as he frowned and looked around.

As if telling the other students to listen and reflect on themselves.

He looked very much like a protagonist.

"You must have spent your whole life having to be mindful of every little thing you do, so you must have felt tense and suffocated every moment. No matter how much you're a direct descendant of a Ducal Family, you're still just a student our age..."

It wasn't some grand speech.

And yet, I watched the surrounding students look guilty and quietly turn their heads away.

Some even began enthusiastically talking about the taste of their food, deliberately diverting their attention from us.

'Indeed... the words of this world's protagonist carry great power. Did he receive some kind of protagonist correction?'

But things would have been different for this body's original owner.

If Karvaldr had heard Reisir's words, he would probably have been deeply moved, regardless of any protagonist correction.

Because for the first time, someone was empathizing with the hardships he had endured, hardships no one had ever acknowledged and even he himself had taken for granted.

And he would have been the first person to treat him not as the 'child of a Ducal Family,' but as a student of the same age.

However, since I'm not the real Karvaldr...

'He's trying to trigger an influence event at every opportunity. He's not planning to keep this up until he successfully enters the friendship route, is he?'

That was my first impression, rather than feeling moved.

Still, ever since I transmigrated into this body, I've had to constantly play the role of another character, and because of that, I always have to remain conscious of other people's gazes.

So listening to Reisir's words did stir something faintly inside me, but—

'Even if people lose interest in me, it's not like I can live as myself anyway.'

I couldn't hide my shaken feelings and could only look at Reisir with the turmoil written plainly across my face.

At that, Reisir's expression clouded over in confusion.

"S-sorry. Did I perhaps offend you by presumptuously assuming your feelings and pitying you...?"

"Do I look offended right now?"

"Not that, but... you look a little confused..."

"Is that so..."

Listening to someone express pity for me while rebuking the onlookers into withdrawing their excessive interest.

It's only natural to feel shaken and confused by that.

So no one would find my expression strange. That's a relief.

"Anyway, it's my fault you missed your chance to make friends, so it's only right that I take responsibility."

"Does that mean...! You'll be my friend?!"

"Not that. It means I'll at least eat meals with you until you make real friends."

Considering Reisir's persistent personality, he would somehow manage to match his meal schedule to mine and show up anyway.

If that was going to happen regardless, then it was better to set the condition of 'until you make friends.'

"I eat lunch at this time on weekends too. For breakfast and dinner, I arrive at the campus cafeteria around 7 AM and 7 PM respectively. I have no intention of waiting if you're late, so either come on time or don't come at all."

"Okay, I'll be on time."

"And on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I have dinner with a certain professor in the basement, so keep that in mind. Since the professor is busy with exams coming up, I'll just be eating on the third floor this week and next."

"With a professor...? Are you planning to become a research student?"

I was kind enough to give him advance notice, yet he threw a curse at me.

"I'm just getting help with the sky blue ether."

"Can I ask what kind of ability that ether has?"

"...It can make it rain."

I could have avoided answering like I did when Tryggdrik asked, but since it was him, I decided to just tell him.

This doesn't mean I've opened my heart to Reisir.

It's because I know Reisir can find out what skills I have if he puts his mind to it.

'Let's not provoke his curiosity unnecessarily.'

I don't know what's written in my status window either, since I haven't awakened yet.

If, by any chance, my real name is written in the name section instead of this transmigrated body's name, 'Karvaldr Austri'—

And if Reisir were to see that, it would become a huge problem.

"What?! That's an amazing ability!"

"......"

"Why did you suddenly go quiet?"

"I told you the ability. What more is there to say?"

"Are you embarrassed because you got praised?"

"I just had nothing to say in response."

Given Karvaldr's personality, it's impossible for him to say thank you after receiving a compliment.

And acting humble by saying it wasn't a big deal would also be out of character.

If I swaggered around saying I was originally great, it would only look like I was delighted by the praise and showing off.

That's also not a reaction Karvaldr would have.

'Wouldn't the real Karvaldr have just stayed silent after being praised? He probably would have ignored it, thinking it was empty flattery... and in reality, it probably was.'

I merely acted according to that character analysis.

But why is Reisir looking at me with such pity?

He must have misunderstood and concluded that I can't accept not only thanks and apologies, but compliments too.

"It's a misunderstanding."

"What's a misunderstanding? How?"

"...I don't want to say it out loud here."

"So what I'm thinking right now is correct, isn't it?"

"Didn't I just tell you it was a misunderstanding?"

Unfortunately, Reisir never cleared up his misunderstanding in the end.

Thankfully, though, instead of teasing me about it, he changed the subject.

"Come to think of it, next week is midterms. Helga and I decided to study together at the library in the evenings starting today. Do you two want to join?"

"Even if I refuse outright, you'll just stubbornly persist."

"So you're going to accept right away?"

"No, I'm going to explain why. I've filled this semester's elective schedule entirely with practical courses. The one required theory course, 'History and Ethics,' is a subject I had already learned thoroughly before entering the academy. So I don't need to study separately for the exam."

Actually, that's half a lie.

It's true that Karvaldr mastered the 'History and Ethics' course through prior learning.

But it's also a lie because Karvaldr and I are not the same person.

I've been studying steadily too, so I don't think my score will be bad.

Still, if I want to secure a place among the top ranks, it would be better to study a little more.

"Should I make my schedule like that next semester too...?"

Reisir muttered to himself with a very tempted expression.

As someone who knows he doesn't have a 'next semester,' there was nothing I could say to him.

All I could do was try not to let the bitterness show on my face.

"Vigdís, what about you?"

"Huh? M-me?!"

"Yeah. I just said 'you two,' didn't I? Karvaldr refused, but..."

"Is it... really okay for me to join?"

While I continued eating as though unconcerned, Reisir invited Vigdís to join the study group as well.

Vigdís hesitated, but she clearly seemed tempted.

Noticing that, Helga gave her a kind smile and spoke warmly.

"Of course. If it's not inconvenient for you, Unni, come study with us."

"Thank you...! Actually, studying together with friends in a group is something I've always wanted to try. Ah, we're not friends yet, but..."

"What's so special about being friends? If we eat together and study together, then we're already friends."

"Miss Helga...!"

Vigdís, who had struggled to make even one such 'not so special' friend, was deeply moved and spoke the name of her brand new friend.

And watching that scene, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Now that she'd become friends with Helga, it was only a matter of time before Vigdís grew closer to Reisir as well. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Please feel free to call me Helga."

"Ah, yes. Okay, Helga... Then can you call me by my name too, Helga?"

"Hmm~, well... Actually, I've always wanted an older sister. So I want to call you Unni instead, would that be okay?"

"Of course it's okay...! I-I've always wanted a younger sister too! I only have a younger brother..."

To mention it again, Helga's attitude is all pretense.

It's possible that wanting an older sister is genuine.

But considering the two of them met for the first time today, it's more likely a subtle way of drawing a line.

And she looked utterly overjoyed, completely unaware of it.

Watching the naive Vigdís react like that, I wondered whether I should drop her a hint later.

"I... I can... too... the study... c-can I join...?"

Ríolíkin suddenly cut in.

Did he think the 'you two' Reisir mentioned included him?

Or did he know it didn't, but make a desperate attempt because he was anxious about being excluded from the group?

I could see Reisir's expression immediately sour.

He tolerated Ríolíkin sitting beside him during lunch, but the idea of studying together separately was clearly unpleasant to him.

Helga still wore a gentle smile, but—

"Ah! By the way, Young Master Karvaldr must have had a hard time. Dealing with the gazes of people observing him, and with despicable people trying to use you. Especially when those people lack any conscience and don't even know their place..."

"Cough, cough!!"

It was an obvious shot at Ríolíkin.

Realizing that, Ríolíkin couldn't say a word and quietly hunched his giant frame.

So then who was the one coughing just now?

"Unni, are you okay? Did it go down the wrong pipe? Here, drink some water."

As you can tell from Helga's words, it was Vigdís who had coughed.

The word 'use,' which had been aimed at Ríolíkin, must have pricked at her conscience as well.

It's a very well-known fact that Karvaldr followed Vigdís around obsessively.

So no one would think she approached Karvaldr in order to use him.

The problem was that it was equally well known that Vigdís was able to attend the academy thanks to her engagement with Karvaldr.

"......"

Reisir's gaze toward me was unusually sharp.

It was the look someone gives a pitiful person who believes the only way to form relationships is by willingly allowing themselves to be used.

Even if I say it's a misunderstanding, we'll just repeat the same conversation we had a few minutes ago.

So instead, I said this.

"Seeing as everyone is still sitting around so leisurely, it seems none of you have afternoon lectures today either."

"Oh my, the time...! I should get going. Big Sis Vigdís, I'll tell you about the study meeting when we have dinner later."

"Yes...! Then I'll see you at dinner later..."

"......"

At my words, Helga, Vigdís, and Ríolíkin all stood from their seats.

Meanwhile, Reisir was busily shoveling food into his mouth.

That was because he had only eaten half his meal while getting absorbed in the conversation.

With Reisir like that in front of me, I leisurely continued moving my chopsticks.