Kainel secretly left for the training ground to practice special swordsmanship while preparing for the grade exams.
As a result, I was left alone in the dorm room, organizing the events of the day.
‘The possibility that the Demon King’s powers are involved is currently the highest.’
Even asking the sage, the fact that our Saintess isn’t showing up was a huge shock to me.
Is it really okay to mention wolf ears or tails? Specifying our Saintess could pose a danger. After all, it was the case when battling the Magic Hat.
“…”
The condition of losing a loved one is not a pretense.
If I carelessly spread rumors, the Magic Hat could target her. It showed an obsessive side toward me, and just recalling the fact that the Nameless Saintess was killed in [Black Heart] makes my hands tremble. If she dies in the prequel, she might not even appear in the original, [Night Heart].
“…Maybe I should wait a bit longer.”
At the very least, it would be good to completely nullify the Demon King’s powers and gather information. If I gain knowledge of the past and future, it would resemble omniscience.
It’s better to be cautious. Now there might be someone from the Hero Church within the academy, making things risky.
“If it weren’t for the powers… I could manage…”
I confirmed through a series of events that the Demon King can move freely through barriers. In exasperation, I let out a long sigh.
Just as I was sorting through my worries, translucent letters appeared before my eyes.
[Kainel♡Ariel 34% ‘NEW!’]
Oh, these guys have gone up.
I thought the updates wouldn’t be fast this time, like before.
Honestly, the status window is so unpredictable. The penalty for failure isn’t death, and since there’s no stat or skill window, I can’t use my fraudulent abilities.
At that moment, a grumble echoed from my stomach.
“…I didn’t have lunch.”
Today, I ended up comforting the crown prince, so I couldn’t order food from the menu.
I was completely cuddled up, leaving me no chance to leave. I even got asked to explain what was going on to the hero couple who showed up late.
“With someone so sad, I had no choice.”
I kept silent. There are things to say and things not to say, after all.
Telling the Magic Hat that my mother was captured and turned into a card is not what Kainel and Ariel can handle. Besides, I can’t return things to the way they were yet.
“But I’ve never seen someone cry like that.”
To be honest, it was unexpected. I thought he was emotionally dry. Was it because of Empress Bellin Grancia?
“That’s why he was obsessed with strength in [Black Heart].”
I had forgotten about that because I thought he was a Mary Sue character. I hadn’t been able to spot his distinctive features of black hair and golden eyes because of the glass armor.
I should have taken him to the party when I fought the Magic Hat. Having never done that, I didn’t have any connection with him. I only saw him as a strange guy, full of bravado and strength.
Thinking it over, there were many different aspects.
“Speaking of that…”
I remembered the chocolate cake sitting on my desk. I received one at the imperial bakery before coming back to the dorm.
Taking it out of the box, I scooped a mouthful with my fork and took a big bite. The sweet taste of chocolate lingered on my tongue.
Mmm, it’s deliciously sweet. It seems more expensive than what I intended to pick.
“Did they say it was a good place…?”
Even if I wanted to refuse, Mardol shoved it at me. By chatting with him, it was already late to reorder food.
“…I was just doing what anyone would. It’s a bit embarrassing.”
He insisted it was a reward, so I ended up taking it. If I refused, I’d look like the bad guy, so I accepted it.
As I unwrapped it, the overly luxurious chocolate cake revealed itself, leaving me flustered. The Rufus I had seen in the sequel—was that really him?
“…This can’t be super expensive, right?”
The rich cream and chocolate, a sweetness that isn’t overly cloying. Its appearance was vastly different from the cake I wanted.
The selection was so thoughtful that I could tell how grateful he was. It was double wrapped with protective magic and even iced magic was cast on it.
“…”
With this level of detail, it could be said he’s entirely different from Nex. That part felt oddly strange, as if there was a rift between what I knew and what was here.
“…Is this really the same person?”
Savoring the sweet cake, I assessed the possibility that he might not be the real Rufus.
‘First, his physical strength is incredible.’
That must be because he inherited Emperor Rock’s bloodline. If he’s a descendant of the Ten Heroes, it’s common to closely resemble that hero’s traits.
For example, the physical features like black hair and golden eyes. There was no one with white hair like our Saintess.
Nex is uniquely purple-headed, but that’s an exception inherited from his father.
Habitually resting my chin on my hand, I indulged in the cake while recalling Mardol’s various traits.
‘Second, the masterpiece-level glass armor.’
In the game, he only wore royal attire, so anyone could tell, “Ah, what a high-ranking individual.”
While it’s similar, the fact that he wears sparkling white armor that reflects his face makes me feel odd.
‘It’s equipment that can withstand the Magic Hat’s attacks. So, it must be right.’
A complete opposite symbol from mine. Perhaps that’s how the relationship between protagonist and player works.
If I think of the armor he wore when transformed into the Demon King of Light, it looked just like a photocopy.
Such an impressive piece of equipment wouldn’t be absent in the sequel.
“…Is it really possible this isn’t the same person?”
No matter how I consider it, it’s suspicious. He eats without taking off his helmet. He’s hiding his identity so thoroughly, it feels like a ninja might pop out from under that heavy armor.
His hands were oddly small too; it wouldn’t be an oversight from those bearded perverts.
‘Masterpieces aren’t supposed to be like this!!’ they would exclaim while successing at a 0.06% rate.
Dwarves are a race with a strong artisan spirit. Even the blacksmith known as the Immovable Mountain among the Ten Heroes was like that.
“Could it be the Rufus I knew is an impersonator?”
Considering this possibility, the small hands might have been a way to conceal information on purpose, so he wouldn’t be suspected even if the ownership changed.
Perhaps because of the sweet flavor, my brain started spinning. I sorted through thoughts I hadn’t previously entertained due to my worries.
“…If it really comes to it, I can just have someone else wear it and pretend to be him.”
The humming voice felt almost mystical. If it was due to the structure of the helmet, anyone could wear it without recognition.
To consider the possibility that [Black Heart] is real opens up the chance, but Mardol’s actions, having received the Queen of Hearts, were way too emotional.
“The trauma was likely the Magic Hat… even if I thought he was dead, it wouldn’t be surprising.”
The infamous maniac magician, the Demon King of Truth had showcased horrendous acts in the story.
Like how he called me his lord with a chill-inducing demeanor, it had been the same here in the Grand Hertz Academy.
It was the first time he thought about taking the card. There wasn’t such a function in the game.
Surely, the person I met now must be the real Rufus. The one who appeared in the sequel could drop the bomb on players by saying he was actually a fake!
The company really loves Easter eggs.
That’s the Fantasia game company. Even if they completely drifted in the sequel, those elements haven’t changed.
“…I guess they are really villains.”
If Rufus isn’t an impersonator, it means he completely broke after that brutal defeat.
He likely pulled together max-level characters to face the Demon King of Truth by any means necessary. But will this be explained in the prequel?
“…Is this right?”
If I had played the Crown Prince route, would it have been different? If so, I wouldn’t be piecing together vague information like this right now.
I paused my thoughts. Any further would just be conjecture, not deduction.
“Lastly… surprisingly, he’s a big eater.”
Judging from how fast he clears plates at the bakery and devours the stew I cooked, it seems that way too.
As I extracted these traits, I became convinced that the one I knew was an impersonator, and this was the real Rufus.
His personality, actions, manner of speaking, and atmosphere felt way too different.
There was so much information that I probably fell into confirmation bias. I had solidified my thoughts just by looking at Drake-sensei’s letter.
The glass knight who protected Kainel and Ariel when I wasn’t around, had never harmed anyone in reality.
He did have a rather eccentric side, but he’s not a bad person.
“There was the Grand Route. As for the love line…”
While I was organizing my thoughts, a sudden fact struck me.
“…No matter what, I can’t give the Saintess away now.”
Eventually, there lies the rival who’ll fight me over the Nameless Saintess. The illustration contained in the beta tester invitation email depicted that.
I must aim for the Mana Rose in the grade exam. I need to prep items that our Saintess would like in advance.
Since he’s obsessive with strength, he’ll probably want the Dragon Heart that boosts magical ability.
Moreover, the Crown Prince’s class is a magic swordsman; someone adept in battles using magic.
“Our Saintess wouldn’t find it useful even if she received the Dragon Heart.”
Unlike him, she can’t fight, so there’s no way she’d like such a gift. Too grotesque to eat, even if I made it into a weapon, she wouldn’t be able to use it.
Since I’ve learned techniques from training with the Celestial Demon, it wouldn’t hurt to set up a flag so she can’t approach me this time.
“…I suppose I can give a little.”
Since I enjoyed the chocolate cake so much, I felt I should offer an appropriate reward.
*
At that moment, in the Demon King’s castle, a conversation took place between a man and a woman.
“…Magic Hat. Where did you get hurt like that?”
“I won’t tell you! Head! I’m keeping it all to myself!”
“Unbelievable. Did you even go as far as to layer lies so I wouldn’t know through my omniscience?”
The white-haired magician, battered and bruised, was stared at grimly by a bespectacled gentleman. Such solo acts were a type he despised.
“Ha ha… you figured it out!”
“Isn’t it twisting the future? Magic Hat… no matter how likely it is to kidnap a princess, don’t act on your own from now on.”
“A princess? Was there someone like that…? I feel like I’ve only met the prince?”
“Right, no matter how much Rock tries to hide it, I wouldn’t be oblivious.”
Although the Head warned her, the girl wearing the magician’s hat only chuckled while admiring her reflection in the mirror. With a crazed glint while looking at her injuries, her cheeks flushed.
“I don’t know about that. Right now, proving my love is far more important!”
“Rest as you please, Magic Hat. Anyway, the prophecy is coming.”
Seeing such a situation, the Head sighed lightly as if it were a common occurrence before turning away.
“Ah, Head. Take this! You might get caught too!”
At that moment, the girl, who seemed a bit twisted, handed a black mask to the Head.
“Hide your identity? Why?”
“Ehehe, it’s for something like that!”
“…”
The Demon King, receiving the item, felt an uncomfortable sensation and moved away.
─Click.
After stepping out the door, he took a book from his pocket and began to examine it.
“…No matter how I think of it, it’s strange. My calculations must have been wrong?”
Sitting at the table, he started writing something down with one hand while holding a paper and pen with the other.
“Magic Hat came in injured… if I presume my omniscience missed the mark…”
He considered that there were no variables.
He had previously confirmed that Nex Aureus had acquired the Phoenix’s Cradle, and this time the prophecy should have been fulfilled without a hitch.
“Having lost the Apostle of Lust, there remain six subordinates… is this feasible for the objective?”
He clicked the pen multiple times, expressing dissatisfaction. He had to minimize the damage by recruiting a traitor.
Equivalent exchange. It was supposed to head towards saving as many lives as possible, and yet, another failure stirred a profound frustration within him.
“…Do I need to visit the academy directly?”
While fiddling with the red revolver placed on the desk, he muttered.
He suspected that the Magic Hat was heading toward the academy. Having shown interest in the failed kidnapping of Schartines, her destination was predetermined.
“There are two possibilities to consider.”
For the Demon King to arrive at the Grand Hertz Academy in such a battered state, it was either a result of encountering the Ten Heroes or a third party.
However, in the case of the Ten Heroes, they wouldn’t be able to surpass their own powers.
To prevent Dennis from acting solo, he had imprisoned the White Lily under pretense. It was merely a matter of not being able to step out of the academy.
He had devised a strategy to simultaneously counter the second and third ranks. Thus, he concluded that it wasn’t either of these.
Moreover, it would be strange for the Demon King of Truth, capable of fabricating injuries, to behave that way. It seemed odd to wonder what transpired in that location provoking this predicament.
“There must be something happening.”
Since the very existence of unknown information posed a threat, the Head reached the conclusion that he must eliminate it as safely as possible.
“…I need to start recalibrating my calculations.”
Writing every possibility on the wide blackboard in chalk, the Demon King of All Knowledge began his search for the individual who had nullified his powers.
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