I wake up early to make sure I don’t miss the protagonist. I head toward the guild and sit in a somewhat secluded corner, as if I were waiting for someone.
It’s normal for adventurers to wait for their companions at the guild, even if I’m a man.
As I watch the activity gradually increasing, I look at the quest board.
Since magic stones have different attributes and magics, some are in high demand while others serve only as a source of energy.
The biggest problem with magic stones from weak monsters is that they lack enough power to show their effects, so most of them serve only as energy generators, like the goblin ones I acquired yesterday.
— At least that’s what everyone thinks, but it seems like this one also has a magic…
I look at my panel and see my new magic, [Vulgor].
— …Just what kind of magic is this? Something that gives me energy?
I try to use it, but perhaps because its level is too low, I don’t feel any effect at all.
— Another strange magic…
While I’m distracted, I notice that the people around me have turned toward the guild door and are talking about someone.
When I look in that direction, I see a man with an androgynous appearance, short white hair, and blue eyes entering elegantly, dressed in the Noctis Academy uniform.
His appearance stands out so much that everyone around him is watching him.
— ...That must be the protagonist. — I think to myself, letting out a soft sigh. — Haa… so that’s the difference between someone handsome like him and someone ugly like me.
I know the hero suffered a lot in the past to deserve a look like that, but I’ve been through hell too, and I’m still ugly.
— The world is so unfair…
As I watch the protagonist enter, I soon spot a girl wearing clothes different from the school uniform.
A dark blue cloak with silver threads rests on her shoulders, and her long, moonlight-colored hair frames a serene face. Her dark eyes calmly sweep across the hall, causing conversations to cease until the guild is enveloped in a brief silence.
Her simple gestures and mere presence reveal the dignity of her lineage, without a single word needing to be spoken.
The second princess of Noctis, Luana Selene de Noctis.
— …
Like everyone else, I am momentarily speechless. For some reason, she stands out so much that she seems capable of serving as a point of reference.
— With a presence like that, forget about falling in love with her… Just getting close to her must be stressful.
With that thought, I turn my gaze to the protagonist. His appearance is certainly no less impressive, but, perhaps because he isn’t royalty, he seems more approachable.
— He’s really here… What should I do?
Watching the two of them walk through the guild toward the reception desk, I slowly get up and head toward the Dungeon.
— How did he end up getting pushed into the Dungeon anyway… Ah, didn’t they use magic on him?
I think a girl in the hero’s party, jealous that a man was getting so much attention from the princess, used wind magic to push him when no one was looking.
— I didn’t see who’s in his party, but… If he’s still here on the surface, then it’s likely there’s been a change in the parties.
As I think this, I remember the news that the Saint didn’t go to school. If the parties were decided by lottery, then one fewer name must have really altered their composition.
Therefore, I’ll need to step in myself to get things back on track, at least a little.
— First of all, I need to lure him close to the edge of the Dungeon and then, as if by accident, make him fall all the way down…
As I’m thinking this, I reach the entrance to the Dungeon and step inside, stopping in the middle of the stairs.
— Maybe if I kick him with both feet, pretending I slipped…
Looking closely at the stairs, I notice some cracks in the ground, and an idea comes to mind.
Walking toward a crack near the edge, I place my magic stone in it and crush it with my foot, firmly embedding it into the ground.
After that, I wait for the protagonist and his group to arrive while pretending to be looking at the bridges at the bottom of the abyss.
— Man… I really can’t see anything down there.
No matter how hard I look, it seems to be a bottomless abyss.
— …And here comes the protagonist.
I look at the stairs and see a group slowly descending. Alongside the hero are the Princess of Noctis and a girl with a stiff, formal posture, probably a guard of the princess.
Seeing this, I realize my theory was right, the girl who pushes the hero isn’t in the group.
— All right… Just stick to the plan. — I think to myself as I approach the group.
As I walk slowly toward them, they look at me strangely, and the guard steps in front of the princess.
— Eeh… F-friend, you’re a man, right?
— Yes?
Noticing that I’m a little nervous, the hero replies, sounding doubtful.
— C-can I talk to you? J-just for a second…
— Ah, sure, — he replies with a slight smile. — Princess, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to wait a moment.
Without saying a word, the princess steps back along with her guard, but continues to look at me suspiciously.
— Well, what would you like to talk about?
I pretend to take a deep breath to calm myself down and then look at the hero.
— You’re the first man I’ve met who’s trying to earn a title other than myself… — I say before glancing at his uniform. — You… You’re that guy who got into the Noctis Royal Academy, aren’t you!?
— Do you know me? — he asks, looking a little surprised.
— How could I not? There are tons of rumors about you, man! The first man to get into the academy!
— So that’s it?
With a slightly embarrassed smile, the protagonist brings his hand to his head and lightly scratches his hair.
— I didn’t expect to be so famous.
— You’re an inspiration to me…
As we’re talking, I see the princess’s suspicion fade, probably thinking I’m a fan of the hero because he’s a man who’s different from the norm.
After this brief conversation, I return to the reason I called him over.
— Friend... can you help me with something?
— Hm? What do you need help with?
— So...
Instead of answering him, I point to the magic stone embedded in the ground. It’s small, but its color makes it easy to spot.
— A magic stone? If you want, I can give you one better than that. — he says, approaching the crack.
— Really? That’s the only one I’ve found so far… Ah!
When I notice he’s close enough to the edge, I approach him while talking about the stone.
The moment I’m right in front of him, I pretend to trip and try to push him with my body weight.
— In the novel, he fell so easily, so go ahead and fall! — I think, before noticing him dodging.
The abyss stands before my eyes, while my foot on the edge of the stairs can only keep me from falling because someone is holding my arm.
I feel cold sweat trickling down as my heart pounds.
— I almost fell…
— Ei, be careful! It’s dangerous here! — I hear a nervous voice.
I look back and see the hero holding me, if it weren’t for him, I’d already be falling into that hole.
— ...My chance?
Without saying a word, I pull my arm back with all my strength in a single movement that pulls me back onto the stairs, while the person holding me is thrown forward.
— Thanks for saving me, but now go and… — before I can finish that thought, I realize I’m still being held. — ...AAAHHH!!
As the air rushes out of my lungs, I see my vision darken alongside the abyss.
[To be continued…]
[???]:
— …So they finally met.
[+++]:
— Hm? Did someone fall into the abyss again?
[???]:
— You should have closed that hole, isn't it too dangerous?
[+++]:
— I wasn't the one who made it.
[???]:
— But you're the one who made the world.
[+++]:
— …