This Novel is not my Novel

...I'll be leaving first."

I gave the protagonist of someone else's novel a sidelong glance, confirmed Yor had put down his spoon, and got up from my seat.

And just as I was about to return the empty bowl and tray and leave the campus cafeteria...

I thought I heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching from behind, and the protagonist of someone else's novel overtook me and blocked my path.

"If you have a moment, could we talk?"

Judging by his cautious tone, it didn't seem like he'd chased me down to confront me about Pret.

Was he asking to talk because he thought I was angry about his behavior and wanted to smooth things over?

Whatever the reason, it was a good thing for me.

My plan had been to call Reisir, who was studying in the library, to the novel section, probe him here and there, and make him confess the existence of his 【Character Analysis】 skill himself.

And to make him use that skill under my control...

Approaching someone who's clearly upset with you to explain yourself over something that isn't even your fault, just to placate them... that goes against Karvaldr's character, after all.

I had been feeling quite displeased, thinking my plan had gone awry from the very first step.

But for him to come to me first and extend an olive branch like this.

The feeling of relief and gratitude lasted only a moment.

In the first place, wouldn't this have all been fine if this guy hadn't gotten so petty and sulked after hearing what Pret said?

That thought wormed its way into my mind.

"Is that a no...? Are you really mad?"

"...Let's move to a different location first."

"Okay!"

Following the protagonist of someone else's novel, I arrived at a familiar place.

A lone bench in a secluded spot on the walking path.

I sat there with my legs crossed and my arms folded, and Yor lay down, draping his long body across my lap.

"Um... Yor?"

"Yaong?"

"Are you doing that so I can't sit down?"

"Aeong?"

"......"

Having lost his place to sit, Reisir stood there awkwardly, had this exchange with Yor, then glanced at me with a perplexed expression.

Even though he'd once plucked Yor from my arms and tossed him aside like pulling a radish, he seemed to know that now wasn't the right atmosphere for that.

And Yor really knows my heart so well, doesn't he?

It was a situation where I couldn't help but dote on him, so I discreetly unfolded my arms and gently stroked Yor's back.

At that, Yor made a "gol gol gol, gorong gorong" sound.

Unlike a real cat's purr, it had no vibration whatsoever; in fact, it was closer to him "speaking an onomatopoeia."

But since Yor seemed to be in a very good mood, I decided not to sweat the small stuff.

The baby dragon's drowsy, relaxed expression was just so, so cute, adorable, and lovely.

Just seeing it made my own mood lift as well.

"Yor is really... amazing, isn't he?"

Reisir praised Yor without rhyme or reason, but this too was no problem.

I didn't even wonder why he was suddenly acting like that.

Because Yor has always been amazing.

I just thought:

How slow of him to only realize that now.

"You state the obvious."

"Ah... so it was too obvious..."

"More importantly, why did you ask to speak with me?"

"I felt like I should apologize...?"

"And do you know what you did wrong?"

"Yes."

When I had stood up with my tray in the cafeteria, the protagonist of someone else's novel had worn a completely clueless expression.

But now, he was nodding his head without a hint of hesitation.

I couldn't help but give him a suspicious look.

"I'm not just making something up, I really get it! The reason Pret found out about your criteria for accepting a friend was because she heard it from Professor Skati, right? You didn't tell him directly yourself, but I looked at you like you were a traitor and gave you the cold shoulder, so you were upset, right?"

"If you knew that so well, why did you act so wronged earlier?"

Seeing him acknowledge his mistake and show remorse, my disappointment did begin to fade.

But I put on a frosty expression and asked the question, wanting to hear his reason.

"Earlier... Including the fact that you told Professor Skati about that 'friend criteria,' I thought you were being unreasonable. So it felt like you were the one who did wrong first and were now getting mad at me..."

"And then?"

"Helga said so. That even if such a criterion really existed, the reason you never told me might be because you didn't want to force me into that mold."

"......?"

"When I heard that, it made sense."

"......??"

What in the world was this nonsense?

If I hadn't been struck speechless by the absurdity, the question What part of that makes sense? would have definitely shot out of my throat.

"You can set an ideal criterion for a friend, but to go around picking friends by checking off those conditions one by one... Considering Nidr's case, I can't say it's completely unheard of, but you're not that kind of person, are you?"

"......"

"Forming human relationships by calculatingly sizing people up, like those who approached you because they were tempted by your conditions... You yourself would find that the most repulsive. I shouldn't have overlooked that fact..."

"........."

My jaw dropped.

The phrase "climax of absurdity" came to mind.

"But the most decisive reason is probably that you like me for who I am, right? I don't know what your criteria for a friend is, but I'm sure it's better than a version of me forced to fit that standard, just like now—"

"W-Wait...! You have misunderstood a critical point."

Reisir's nonsense was getting worse and worse, to the point he was about to start a self-inspiration event.

I hurriedly restored my language function and cut him off.

"What did I misunderstand?"

"First of all, I haven't set any kind of friend criteria. Professor Radvisin and his research students, and Professor Skati kept asking me what my criteria for a friend was, and I got so sick of it I just made something up. Pret must have heard about that."

"So the information Pret has is wrong?"

"And second, you have already encountered that 'wrong information' yourself."

"Huh...?"

"The day of the closing ceremony, when we came out of the auditorium. Have you already forgotten how Professor Skati kept repeating the word 'friend' and spouting strange nonsense?"

At my question, Reisir blinked blankly before letting out an "Ah..." of realization.

He had successfully recalled the events of Chapter 136.

"You mean the one about overcoming a life-and-death crisis together, and saving a life, and all that...?"

"Yes, that's the one. There's no way I'd actually make something like that my criteria for a friend, is there?"

"Right. It's not like you're looking for some fairy-tale prince on a white horse; selecting friends that way is ridiculous."

"Th-That's right. I couldn't think of anything. I just roughly made up a condition that would be nearly impossible to satisfy, so that someone like Pret couldn't just overhear me somewhere and go around impersonating my friend. I have never, ever used such a ridiculous ideal as a criterion. Really, I swear."

"If you didn't, you didn't. Why do you keep emphasizing it so much? It just makes it sound suspicious..."

"I'm doing this to prevent any misunderstandings beforehand, in case you use this as a pretext to tease me, aren't I?!"

A long time ago.

I felt a pang of guilt because I did once have a wish, a hope that someone would save me from my bullying and become my friend.

But it was just a fleeting thought from my childhood.

It couldn't be considered a criterion.

"Still, I'm worried..."

"About what?"

"If that fake criteria gets around, I'm worried there will be a lot of people who intentionally put you in danger and then pretend to save you. And I got anxious thinking you might really get hurt in the process."

"Would that be a problem? It's only natural to develop a positive impression of someone who saves your life. If there's a person willing to approach me using such methods, they'd do it even without hearing about some fake criteria."

"Have there been many such attempts already?"

"Not a single one."

In the past, I wouldn't have been able to answer so promptly and would have shown a moment of hesitation.

Because I would have had no way of knowing whether Karvaldr had experienced such things or not.

But yesterday, I received data from Pret that included Karvaldr's past activities, and thanks to that, I could declare it with certainty.

"Still, be careful just in case. If such an attempt ever occurs, it means that person values their own goal more than your safety. You must never let them get close. Understood?"

"Do you see me as someone who can't tell that much for myself?"

"Not at all. You're very smart, wise, sagacious, and quick-witted..."

"D-Don't tease me...!"

"I'm not teasing you. I really think you're that kind of person."

"......"

"Ahahaha—!"

Seeing him laugh like that, he was definitely teasing me.

I glared at the annoying human with narrowed eyes.

Only then did Reisir stop laughing and mumble an apology with an embarrassed expression.

"Anyway, I'm sorry. It's not like you met Pret behind my back and spilled all the personal details you've never even told me. I was just being petty, sulking and glaring at you. You have every right to be mad."

Is this what they call a guilty conscience giving itself away?

I felt a sudden pang of guilt, wondering if Reisir knew what happened yesterday and was testing me.

No... that can't be it, right? Yes, it can't be... Pret is the successor to the world's greatest Information Guild, in name and deed. Don't tell me she got caught coming and going from my personal training ground?

No matter that Reisir is the original protagonist, and has solidified his position as the number one in combat in the Special Class for Awakened Ones by an overwhelming margin.

He's still just a rookie student who has just entered his real growth phase.

Pret, on the other hand, is a professional informant who's been deployed to the field for a long time, with a career of infiltrating all sorts of places.

So there's no way he was caught.

But... if he finds out later... will he feel a sense of betrayal?

Fortunately, it wasn't a situation entirely without room for an excuse.

Pret and I hadn't shared a moment of friendship, but merely conducted a "transaction."

What I talked to him about yesterday concerned the "possessed body's family matters," and the other party had already acquired prior knowledge about it through a background check.

Moreover, didn't Pret ask me questions only after shoving that information in my face?

I was the one who asked to see it, but still.

In reality, it could be said that I didn't spill my personal story to him, but was forced to confess because my family matters were exposed.

After going through this process of rationalization.

I faced Reisir with confidence and dignity and said the following.

"As long as you know now. From now on, don't blame me with such a... disappointed look."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry."

"Don't joke around, answer me seriously. It was just someone bringing up things they found out by investigating me without permission, and it's not even like it was proven to be true... You shouldn't treat me like that."

"Ah......"

"Is that all you have to say to my words?"

"Ah, no...! I just realized what a huge mistake I made, so I was momentarily speechless... I'm really sorry, I won't do it again."

Reisir politely clasped his hands in front of him and even bowed his head deeply.

Looking at that perfectly submissive attitude, I felt the sorrow that had unknowingly sprouted in my heart completely melt away.

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