1 – Bias Character
This is the world of the “Academy Series.”
“The Academy Series,” a web novel IP game released by the company as an overflow of academy-themed content,
a universe created by combining various academy-themed works.
A collaboration between top authors and original authors resulted in a masterpiece story.
It’s a failed game.
In fact, it’s not that surprising.
They have released web novel IP games before,
and they all failed within two months at most, three days at the shortest, so it was natural for this one to follow suit.
There’s no enjoyment to be found, even if you search with your eyes closed,
a failed game filled with bugs and imbalanced mechanics.
There is only one person in the world who likes such a failed game.
That one person is me, of course.
It’s not strange to have peculiar gaming preferences.
I’ve been called a knowledgeable gamer by my friends who enjoy various masterpieces.
Rather, I wonder why I, someone who used to seek out only masterpieces, ended up getting involved with such a failed game.
The reason is none other than the original character of the “Academy Series.”
Because I fell in love with her at first sight.
Just two irises that coincidentally met on the banner of a web novel site I frequently visited.
And her name is Lily.
That’s how it started.
Starting a game by tearing apart my instincts telling me not to.
It was merely the first failed game I started just to see her.
However, contrary to my expectations, her ending was incredibly tragic.
If an incident occurred, she would die without fail.
Even if she didn’t die, she would die without fail the next time.
If I made even a slight mistake, sacrificing myself in a desperate battle, it was no different from me killing the player.
I deeply regretted, time and again, witnessing the sight of someone I loved dying.
Next time, I won’t just let them die.
I vowed to protect her happy future at all costs.
However, the management team was more malicious than I had anticipated.
– I will fulfill my duty as a hero!
Fixed event.
Yes, no matter what happened, she couldn’t escape death.
Only through her sacrifice could we defeat the final boss.
That rule didn’t change no matter how many times it repeated.
Even if she became ridiculously strong, even if a bug weakened the boss.
She sacrificed herself for the sake of the world.
Once I realized that, I never dared to touch the ＜Academy Series＞ again.
That is one of the few memories from before I became bound.
In fact, this world could have been a different original novel world, not the ＜Academy Series＞.
Considering how several original novels were mixed together, it was possible.
Yet, the reason why I am so convinced is simple.
None other than the original character of the ＜Academy Series＞,
The one I loved and wanted to save was right in front of me.
With a voice so refreshing, she asked me.
“Who are you?”
***
Since being bound, I had questioned it every day.
‘What world is this?’
Of course, I couldn’t definitively say that the current situation was a binding.
It was just a subconscious hope, considering it as a binding.
Even if it was a binding or whatever, the fact that I was already a resident of this world didn’t bother me much.
If this place was the world I knew,
I hope I can prevent impending events in advance.
That was the extent of my modest wish.
Not a grand aspiration of saving the world or becoming a hero.
As an ordinary farmer in a rural village, I led a simple life, enjoying the tranquility.
That was my ideal paradise.
Until I met her.
On a day no different from any other.
While wandering through the mountains, I coincidentally encountered a girl hiding beneath the roots of a tree.
Her hair was tangled with dust and sweat.
Her attire was nothing more than tattered rags.
Even her skin, covered in dirt and scratches, seemed to have been rolled on the ground.
She looked so different from the girl I knew.
Yet, I was certain she was the girl from my memories.
Lily Bright.
The original heroine of the “Academy Series,” the savior of the world.
And my favorite character who brought me into the world of the “Academy Series.”
“The best! Lily!”
I couldn’t recognize my favorite character, of all things.
But her clear and beautiful eyes confirmed that she was indeed Lily.
Could it be that I would meet my favorite character like this?
Moreover, in the appearance of our childhood that even the production team hadn’t revealed!
“Who are you?”
Momentary joy turned into confusion.
Without hesitation, I quickly answered Lily’s question.
“I’m Ron. I live in a nearby village.”
“Is that so?”
“…Did I answer something wrong?”
I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at her dry response that made it hard to believe she asked the question herself.
Was it possible that I had touched a nerve?
I reviewed my memories with a sense of vague unease, but there didn’t seem to be any issues.
Perhaps she simply had no interest in me.
Upon hearing my response, Lily sat down on the ground, hesitating.
As if dismissing our meeting like it never happened, I stared blankly into the empty air.
Even such a sight was endearing, but I couldn’t easily leave her side.
Who would leave when they have their favorite character right in front of them?
And that too, a favorite character who clearly had lived an unhappy life!
‘I wish I could take her home right away…’
Lily, still showing no interest in me.
If I leave her here and go, the story will continue as it was originally meant to.
At 17, chosen as a hero, and at 20, admitted to the academy where I meet the protagonist.
But in the end, she sacrifices herself to save the world.
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That cannot be allowed.
No matter how predetermined her fate may be, I cannot stand by and watch her sacrifice.
Her fate, unable to be changed within the system.
An unavoidable death fixed by the creators.
If it were just a story within a game, it would be impossible to change.
But this is not a game.
This is reality!
Perhaps now, it might be possible to rescue her from the hero’s fate.
I gently closed my eyes and imagined.
The scene where Lily connects with the protagonist. The scene where they exchange vows in wedding attire.
“All right. I’ve made up my mind!”
Passion, like a flame, blossomed in my heart that had longed for a peaceful everyday life.
The pure love ending I have yearned for so much with Lily.
Breaking free from the confines of the game, I will seize the future where Lily is connected to the protagonist with my own hands!
“And under no circumstances should you fall for me!”
Lily is my favorite character.
If asked whether I want to date her, naturally, it would be a resounding NO.
This feeling is more akin to admiration than love,
It only holds value when connected with the protagonist.
If by any chance I end up dating Lily, it would be far from a pure love.
“No N*TR! YES to pure love!”
No matter what happens, it can’t be as bad as N*TR.
Even if it’s about oneself.
“Then should I tell you an interesting story?”
In order to achieve Lily’s pure love ending, I sat beside her, gazing at the floor, and made a crucial decision.
***
“Lily, you have to escape. You must survive!”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay by your side.”
Even though time has passed, the last conversation with family echoes in my ears.
A sudden invasion by violent creatures.
As a result, the village collapsed, and our parents sacrificed themselves as bait to divert the creatures’ attention.
To keep the promise with our parents, we escaped tirelessly day and night.
My legs gave out, and I stumbled; threatened by other creatures,
But recalling the promise with our parents, we managed to successfully flee into an unfamiliar forest.
Hidden beneath the roots of a tree, as I took a deep breath, the tears I had held back burst forth belatedly.
The loneliness that came with the realization of being alone.
Yearning for warmth that could no longer be felt, I silently shed tears.
In truth, I didn’t want to run away.
Even if it meant dying, I wanted to die together with our parents.
However, our parents didn’t yield to their final whims,
They rushed towards the group of monsters selflessly, sacrificing themselves to protect me.
Why did our parents have to die?
Why am I the only one who survived?
It didn’t take long for the loneliness of being left alone in the world to transform into resentment and anger toward the world.
Missing our parents, resenting the world that took them away,
Living to fulfill their promise, desiring to end my life in anger toward the world.
An intense battle between reason and emotion.
With the promise to our parents and feeble emotions intertwined, I welcomed the morning.
“What should I do now?”
There are no parents to answer my questions anymore.
With vague doubts obstructing the uncertain future, I wandered through empty space.
Clack clack.
When I stepped outside at the sound of rustling, I coincidentally encountered a boy passing by.
Dark hair as black as ink.
Eyes as fiery red as flames.
A robust body that felt masculine.
His round eyes widened in surprise at our sudden encounter.
“Who are you?”
I waited for his response, meeting his gaze, but he remained completely unresponsive.
As if time had stopped, he didn’t even blink.
With my question, he regained his composure and confidently answered with a chuckle.
“I’m Ron. I live in a nearby village.”
“Oh, really?”
Upon hearing the boy’s answer, I cast my gaze downwards.
I wasn’t interested in the boy to begin with.
I just spoke to him because it felt burdensome to keep observing in silence.
Now that I had initiated the conversation, I quietly waited, thinking he would leave soon.
However, contrary to my expectations, the boy seemed to still have unfinished business, lost in contemplation as he sighed deeply.
Soon after shaking off his thoughts, the boy suddenly sat down beside me and opened his mouth.
“Shall I tell you an interesting story?”
Though I didn’t answer the boy’s question,
He proceeded to unfold his story as if my response was unnecessary.
Initially, I had no intention of listening,
but gradually, I found myself paying attention to his stories that flowed naturally.
It was a cliché tale about a protagonist entering an academy, meeting a female warrior, and saving the world.
Undoubtedly, a predictable plot, yet for some reason, his story stirred my emotions.
It felt like a lie, comforting me that he knew me and that happier days awaited.
I smiled at his tall tales.
How much time had passed like this?
The boy, who had been cheerfully chatting, suddenly fell silent, grabbing my hand as he asked,
“Do you happen to have somewhere to return to?”
The Place to Return.
The house where he lived happily with his parents.
He looked around while recalling the house that had already disappeared without a trace due to the attack of the horse.
His despondency at his question was temporary.
Soon, the boy who gripped his hand tightly made one proposal to me.
“Shall we go to our house then?”