This Novel is not my Novel

"Frankly speaking, why would someone from the upper class of the nobility want to join the Information Guild out of desperation? If they need information, they can simply pay to purchase it."

"Does that mean... Karvaldr seemed to have something to be desperate about?"

When I heard this conversation, a remark from an extra during the "Lobby Backbiting Event" in Chapter 36 suddenly flashed through my mind.

The part about Karvaldr being kicked out of his family upon graduation.

Surely he isn't thinking of using that as an excuse...?

If a mere student were to spout such things, it would be possible to claim that it was merely a speculative remark made with disparaging intent.

The problem was that Pret was the successor to the Information Guild.

If the words "Senior Karvaldr is an outcast within his family" were to come from his mouth, Reisir wouldn't even be able to doubt the authenticity of that statement.

I thought it might be revealed someday, but to have it exposed like this...

It was simply too awful.

Not to mention, in terms of the story's development, I wasn't feeling great about it either.

So, just as I was about to openly show my dissatisfaction and snap at him to stop with the unnecessary talk...

The supporting character from someone else's novel suddenly winked at me.

The act was so absurd that I was momentarily left speechless.

Pret seized that opening to say his piece.

"The fact that Senior Karvaldr was obsessed with and clung to Senior Vigdís is a well-known fact that almost everyone knows, right?"

It was completely different from what I had expected...

"So I tried to lure Senior Karvaldr in by telling him that if he joined our guild, I'd teach him how to woo the person he likes."

Something I couldn't even have imagined...

"I figured that if I were to employ Senior Karvaldr anyway, the first thing I'd have to teach him was the honey trap. So our interests aligned, you see."

It was a load of bullshit.

And so, forgetting that Pret was merely making up random excuses to get out of the situation, I couldn't help but ask for confirmation.

"You... were going to teach me... what...?"

"Karvaldr, that guy is seriously dangerous! So you must not get close to him! No, just don't even talk to him!!"

"Haaak-! Kyaaaak—! Krrwarwarwa--!!"

It seemed I wasn't the only one shocked by the remark from the supporting character of someone else's novel.

Reisir was fuming and causing a commotion, while Yor, even more enraged, unleashed the full force of a dragon's aura.

"Look, uh... It's a problem if you think a honey trap is only about seducing the opposite sex...! I'll explain it step by step, so please just calm down a little..."

Pret forced out his voice, breaking into a cold sweat.

Seeing him like that, it seemed Yor had used 【Dragon Fear】.

I had no idea what kind of nonsense he would spout as an explanation, so I wanted to simply tell him to shut up, but...

If lunchtime ends like this, he'll be a pain later, insisting that he must give his explanation...

It seemed I had to give him a chance to speak, if only to save myself time in the future.

So when I lightly patted the baby dragon's back to calm her, Pret wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and let out a sigh of relief.

"Whew—."

"I see now why Senior Ríolíkin adds the character 'nim' when he calls Yor."

"Then you should add it too."

"Aw~. I don't even add 'nim' to Senior Fjora's and Senior Karvaldr's names, so it's a bit strange to add it for a familiar like Yor."

Then shouldn't he simply use a more respectful title for his seniors?

If he had enrolled with the setting of being a commoner from a circus troupe in the first place, shouldn't that have been a given?

A belated question came to mind, but as it was literally too late, I decided to let it go for now.

"Ahem, ahem! Anyway, to explain, I have absolutely no intention of making Senior Karvaldr do or learn anything strange! If I did, it's obvious Senior Karvaldr would withdraw from the guild, right? And that would be after learning our guild's important information. But since a senior's social status is what it is, I would have no way to deal with it and would live each day in anxiety."

I hadn't even joined, nor did I have any intention of doing so.

Pret began his self-defense, bandying about the word "withdrawal."

"The reason I used the term 'honey trap' was simply because, all else being equal, someone with outstanding looks finds it easier to draw out favorable feelings from others. Besides, if that beautiful person is also from a high-ranking family, you can't even feel an inferiority complex. All I intended to teach Senior Karvaldr was 'the art of conversation' and 'facial acting'!"

Though it wasn't without some exaggeration.

In any case, it seemed he truly hadn't used the term with that kind of meaning.

"I really thought it was a waste. To have inherited the good looks of the Duchess, who captured the heart of the current Duke of Austri—famous for being blunt to the point of emotionlessness—in one fell swoop. And yet, to fail to win the heart of your own fiancée because you can't properly utilize that face!"

"I know exactly what you mean. But Karvaldr no longer clings to or obsesses over Vigdís, so the 'alignment of interests' you're thinking of will never happen."

I had no idea what he meant by "I know."

No, wait, didn't something incredible just come up...? What happened to Hárðr??

Seeing Hárðr's personality and his attitude toward his children, I had simply assumed it was a political marriage completely devoid of love and hadn't harbored a single doubt.

To think such words would come from the mouth of the person slated to inherit the world's best Information Guild.

It was nothing short of bewildering.

My baby dragon must have felt the same, as her eyes were wide with surprise.

"That's right, I missed my chance. But it's made me even less able to give up. Senior Karvaldr made Senior Vigdís let go of her fear and treat him comfortably, and he even transformed a bullying victim who held a grudge against him into his own follower, didn't he? And in such a short time! By awakening the honey trap skill all by himself!!"

"Reisir is not my follower, and I have never awakened such a thing!"

"This prickly attitude is also one of Senior Karvaldr's strengths! He isn't like this with other people, so when he shows you favor, you feel good but also anxious. You worry that the attitude might be nothing more than a momentary whim. So the other person ends up trying to build a solid, trusting relationship, and they'll spill all sorts of things in the process!"

"......"

It was nothing but crazy talk.

The problem was that, if you excluded the fact that I was the subject, it sounded quite plausible.

And the fact that an original supporting character had uttered lines about the original protagonist becoming the follower of a former villain was also a problem, if you could call it that.

"Senior Karvaldr has a talent for the honey trap. As the successor to the world's best Information Guild, how could I let such a talented individual go?"

"......I think the explanation is sufficient, so please stop with the useless talk."

"If you say so, Senior."

Since Pret said that and actually shut his mouth, I supposed I could consider the matter settled for now, in its own way.

Though it did leave me with a very uneasy feeling.

I let out a long sigh to try to shake off that feeling, then, to change the subject, voiced a question I had had since Chapter 256.

"By the way, are you not going to recommend that Reisir join the guild? His 【Identification】 skill should be an ability the Information Guild would covet."

"Of course I covet it! But if I can just get you to join the guild, he'll tag along on his own, so why would I need to divide my efforts inefficiently? I'll just focus on Senior Karvaldr!"

I shouldn't have asked.

My question remained unresolved, and the added nonsense merely made the back of my neck stiffen.

So, as I sighed once more and tightly shut my eyes, I heard this conversation.

"More importantly, I've been wanting to ask this, but shouldn't you be doing something other than interrogating me here, Senior Reisir? There should be someone else you should be much more worried about and wary of."

"Is there anyone more suspicious than the successor to the Information Guild, who infiltrated the academy while hiding his identity?"

"Are you being serious? Oh my~, Senior Helga would be so upset she'd cry if she found out! How many years have you known each other?"

When I stealthily opened my eyes, I saw Reisir unable to say a word, a look of guilt on his face.

Even though Helga was the one in a predicament right now.

Having been called out by his interrogation target for failing to pay attention to her, it was only natural that he had nothing to say.

The conversation that had taken place here was no help to me and had only induced a headache, but...

In any case, Reisir had called Pret out here to grasp the suspicious person's intentions in order to protect me.

In that case, just as he had stepped up for me, it was my proper duty to step up for him.

"Since you already know about Helga's situation, this will be quick."

"Aha?"

"Hand over that ruffian's personal details."

"So, you're saying that Senior Reisir called me to this place for both Senior Karvaldr and Senior Helga?"

"You're stating the obvious. If my only purpose had been to judge you as dangerous and interrogate you about your identity, I wouldn't have spoken to you in a secluded place like this, would I? I would have done it in the lecture room, where Her Royal Highness the Princess and the professor were sitting together. That way, I could accuse the scum who hid his identity and snuck into the Special Class for Awakened Ones, and restrain him so he couldn't escape."

"Does that mean you're going to turn a blind eye to the fact that I infiltrated?"

Seeing Pret's eyes light up, I wondered for a moment whether I had made a slip of the tongue.

But on second thought, not only had I already made a deal with Pret, I would also need his help in the future to secretly send money to Sveinn's home.

I had to see it as us having been in the same boat for a long time already.

So depending on how I answer, even the original protagonist will be tied up as an accomplice...

This was a very good thing.

Since Reisir had arbitrarily scheduled our lunchtime without even asking for my opinion, I would also do as I pleased.

"Well... Considering Professor Skati's case, it's obvious we'll continue training together even if your identity is exposed. There's no need to intentionally maintain an uncomfortable relationship, is there? If you had approached me to sell my information to others at someone's request, then the story would be different, but..."

"As I've said before, that is absolutely, definitely not the case!"

"Come to think of it, the fact that you're gathering information on the Special Class for Awakened Ones..."

"Is only to satisfy my personal curiosity! I have no intention of selling it! Why on earth would I hand over information about an organization that both I and a talented individual I have my eye on belong to? If one makes even the slightest mistake, we could all be in danger!"

"If that's the case, then there's nothing to worry about."

"Of course, that's right!"

"Then let's proceed with the deal."

"An excellent judgment!"

As if unable to follow the flow of the conversation that had unfolded in an instant, Reisir let out a sound like "Uh...?" with a dumbfounded expression.

But that wasn't something I needed to worry about right now.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!