This Novel is not my Novel

"Coming to me to request information on the playboy pestering Senior Helga was a really good call. The timing was perfect, too. Because I already have that guy's personal information in my hands."

"You already investigated him? And you're already finished?"

At Pret's remark, Reisir snapped to attention and threw out a question.

His expression was a mix of joyful delight and wary suspicion.

It was certainly a good thing to be able to get the necessary information right away.

But he was probably suspicious because he couldn't figure out why Pret had investigated that guy.

"Getting the basic personal details of a noble scion doesn't take long, you see. Which noble family has how much power and influence, and what kind of person that family's child is. I basically have that sort of general information on hand. It's just a matter of stopping by the Guild to grab the data!"

As these words flowed from Pret's lips, a sense of unease was added to Reisir's expression.

Reisir made no effort to hide it.

Pret must have noticed, of course, but he continued speaking without any change in his expression, as if this were a familiar occurrence.

"Still, unless it's a significantly important person, I don't conduct in-depth investigations into each individual. Things like their personality, recent interests and old preferences, their usual conduct and what those around them think of them, etcetera, etcetera. Things like these require additional investigation. But since the great me stepped up to investigate a not-so-great person, isn't it only natural that it would end quickly?"

Anyone could tell that his tone and words were undeniably intended to show off and promote his own ability.

Well, this was the moment in the remake version of 《NaSE》 when Pret was engaging in his primary business for the first time.

I figured it was probably staged to show just how skilled he and his Guild were at gathering information.

Unfortunately, the target of that investigation was nothing more than a playboy who hit on women.

Rather than feeling impressed, I only felt a sense of understanding as I thought, Well, that's only natural.

"Oh, right! And you also asked why I investigated this, didn't you? That's because while I was wandering around the academy, I heard a rumor that piqued my curiosity!"

"Curiosity...? So Helga getting caught up with a rude fellow and being insulted just feels like an interesting story to you? No matter how recently we were grouped into the same class... Come to think of it, you have a track record of helping Tridric kidnap Helga, don't you?"

At Pret's cheerfully added words, the original protagonist didn't hide his anger, putting on a solemn expression and even dredging up the past.

Then he even met my eyes, as if asking what reason we had to keep Pret's infiltration a secret.

It seemed he really disliked Pret.

It was a situation where he couldn't help but feel that way.

"Oh my? Have you forgotten that you were able to safely rescue Senior Helga thanks to me?"

"It wasn't thanks to you. It was thanks to Karvaldr."

"Aha! I can't deny that. It was from that moment that I started to feel Senior Karvaldr wasn't merely an 'appropriate talent,' but a 'coveted talent.'"

"......"

Unlike Pret, who was still maintaining his slick attitude, the protagonist of someone else's novel seemed to have completely lost his rhythm.

The sight of him scowling, his hostile gaze fixed on his opponent, was enough to remind me of my first meeting with him back in Chapter 6.

"Truthfully, even if I said I was planning to step forward and stop that guy named Tridric if he tried to cross the line... You wouldn't believe me, would you?"

"Of course not."

"Still, I want to be sure to clear up the misunderstanding related to this incident."

"What misunderstanding?"

"The misunderstanding that I considered Senior Helga's predicament a source of entertainment."

"Ha..."

A hollow laugh burst from between Reisir's crookedly twisted lips.

It was evidence that he didn't trust the other party's words in the slightest.

For the original protagonist to show that much hostility... Is this okay?

I started to worry that Pret would be marked as an unlikable person by Senna's readers, and the original author would decide to get rid of him quickly.

So I thought perhaps I should step in and mediate.

But since the person concerned, Pret, looked completely at ease without a shred of worry, I decided to wait a little longer.

Even for Pret, entering into a hostile relationship with Reisir would be something he wouldn't want.

He must have a brilliant move up his sleeve to turn the situation around, which was why he was so calm.

"It's true! I heard a rumor that Senior Helga has an unrequited love for a male student named 'Drembi.' For her to fall in love with someone else when she has a wonderful childhood friend like Senior Reisir by her side, I got curious about what kind of charming person he was, so I started investigating!"

"What...?! What is that..."

"Are you saying it's a ridiculous false rumor? That's right, my investigation showed that it was."

It was a secret that I had commissioned the villain investigation, so he couldn't reveal that fact.

He had to avoid Reisir's suspicion, so he must have needed an excuse for why he had taken it upon himself to investigate.

But no matter how much he needed an excuse, Pret wouldn't have brought up false information. Especially not in a situation like this, where the deal has been confirmed.

So the rumor Pret mentioned must really exist.

And 'Drembi,' the male student in the rumor, must be that villain bastard who was pestering Helga.

"Should I also explain why a rumor like that started circulating?"

"...Never mind. That bastard named Drembi must have spread it intentionally."

"The answer must have been too obvious, seeing as you got it right away."

Once again, the original protagonist's face crumpled, and hostility appeared in his golden eyes.

But his anger was no longer directed at Pret.

"But the problem is that not everyone who hears the rumor thinks that way. That person named Drembi has such a bad reputation that many people still dismiss it as a false rumor."

"...People who don't know what kind of person he is will end up believing it."

"Would it be a relief if they only believed it?"

It was just as Pret said.

A rumor that Helga had a one-sided love for that villain bastard was not the real issue.

Your honor wasn't tarnished merely for harboring feelings for someone by yourself.

But the real problem was that if people treated it as gossip and started tacking on made-up details, it could escalate from a simple rumor into a scandal.

What's more, this wasn't just a possibility; it was as good as confirmed.

Because that villain bastard Drembi would keep spreading sordid stories to ensure the rumor spread that way.

Even those who didn't believe the rumor at first would encounter the sensationally inflated content again after it had made its rounds.

They would come to recognize the false rumor as the truth, thinking that what they had heard before was real.

He said he would make Helga his so others couldn't take her...

Just as nobles valued honor, no one wanted to take a bride who was followed by scandal.

A family with immense power and influence might be able to push through a political marriage somehow, but that did not apply to the Vitnir Baron's Family.

He must have thought that by blocking her marriage prospects in this way, she would have no choice but to choose him.

How truly vile...

Considering Helga's personality.

She would rather live alone until she died than marry the person who had insulted and cornered her.

That villain bastard would never get the result he wanted.

However, that didn't mean Helga wouldn't get hurt.

"We need to let people know quickly that it's a false rumor..."

Like a true original protagonist, Reisir seemed to have immediately noticed what Pret was concerned about.

Judging by how he was muttering those words with an anxious expression.

It was right then that the preliminary bell rang.

"Pret, for now, hand over the information you investigated on that person."

"The rule is to hand over the information after receiving payment. But we have to get to the next lecture right now, and Senior Karvaldr is someone who might become a member of our family. I'll come find you in your room tonight, so you can pay me then."

As I placed the empty tumbler on the bench and stood up, Pret took out a bundle of documents from his Inventory as if he'd been waiting and handed them over.

For reference, I should state that I had already paid when I placed the request.

So his words about visiting my room tonight must have been an excuse to hide that fact, as well as to report on the other request I had entrusted to him.

Still, letting Pret into my room is a bit much...?

He and I weren't that close.

In the first place, it had only been a little over a week since we'd met.

"Not my room. Find me when I'm at my personal training ground."

"Senior Karvaldr, you're scheduled to receive a private lesson from Professor Skati after the afternoon lecture today, right up until the dormitory curfew. Tomorrow is the Mock Battle lecture, so you'll be exhausted when it's over and will want to rest fully in your room. Are you telling me to wait until Saturday?"

"...I will pay the price now, so tell me what it is."

I judged that it would be better to just hand over the money on the spot and get it back later.

The moment I said that, Reisir snatched the documents from my hand.

And then—

"What on earth are you two talking about? We're purchasing information on the guy trying to put Helga in a predicament, so why are you, Karvaldr, trying to pay? Obviously, as Helga's childhood friend and someone who has received a lot of help from her, I should be the one to make the payment!"

—he said, making a completely irrefutable argument, and put the documents Pret had handed over into his own Inventory.

"Karvaldr will absolutely never join your Guild, but you still think there's a possibility. So if Karvaldr is persuaded, then I, who come as a bonus, am the same, right? So I'll make the payment later. Come to my room after the lecture."

"Aha...?"

"What's with that reaction? You don't have to wait until tonight, so isn't this a good thing for you?"

"Well... I suppose it is...?"

It seemed Pret couldn't find any words to refute Reisir's logic either.

Judging by how he was reacting with a bewildered expression.

"So there's no problem, right?"

"I know this is a rude question, but... Senior, do you have money?"

"I have enough money to buy information on a worthless guy like this. I still haven't used the prize money I got from last year's martial arts tournament."

"In that case, there's no problem!"

I had no intention of making Reisir pay.

But if I tried to stop Reisir and insisted on paying, it would only hurt his pride.

Once I got back the commission fee I had paid Pret, I would have to buy him something with that money.

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