This Novel is not my Novel

Spouting empty pleasantries to lift Sveinn's spirits wasn't something Karvaldr would ever do.

More importantly, one careless move might give the protagonist of someone else's novel the impression that I was trying to get close to Sveinn.

Reisir still seems convinced I bullied him because I wanted to befriend him but didn't know how to express it...

He might reach the absurd conclusion that I was acting like a tsundere toward Sveinn this time as well.

And he was more than capable of sticking his nose into things by arranging opportunities for us to grow closer.

He might even decide that if he befriended Sveinn first and gradually indoctrinated him with the idea that "Karvaldr = Tsundere," everything would somehow work itself out.

If nothing else, I had to prevent that disaster.

Even though I knew Sveinn was dissatisfied with me, I had no choice but to ignore it.

I hugged Yor and gently stroked the baby dragon, trying to calm my growing unease.

As I remained silent, an awkward chill settled over us.

"But what kind of strategy do you think the other team will use?"

The original protagonist stepped in to continue the strategy meeting, naturally trying to ease the atmosphere at the same time.

Vigdís, who had been quiet for a while, immediately followed his lead.

"Didn't we already settle that? Leaving Helga and Senior Lissy at the starting point?"

"Not that. We still haven't talked about which one of us they'll prioritize."

"Ah, right."

She nodded in understanding.

Then she simply blinked, waiting for Reisir—or someone else—to offer a prediction.

At that moment, Sveinn's already tense expression crumpled.

It was obvious what he was thinking.

He must have assumed Reisir was about to say that the enemy would focus on him.

After all, Sveinn knew perfectly well he was the weakest member of our team.

But I saw things differently.

Reisir was far too considerate to say something that tactless to someone's face.

"They'll make Karvaldr their highest-priority target."

"What? Not... me?"

Just as I'd expected, the name that came out of Reisir's mouth wasn't Sveinn's.

Sveinn stared at him in confusion.

Reisir didn't even ask why he'd assumed otherwise.

Does he already know? Is he avoiding making Sveinn admit out loud that he thinks he's the weakest?

He simply gave a small nod, as if to say That's right—not you, before calmly explaining.

"You saw how strong Yor is during Professor Kaldrun's lecture the day before yesterday, didn't you? Karvaldr's already a capable fighter on his own, and his ability strengthens his teammates. If they remove his ribbon, not only do they neutralize Yor along with him, but our entire team's combat strength drops. Of course he'll be their first target."

"Ah..."

Sveinn let out a quiet gasp before lowering his head in embarrassment.

Reisir had never intended to embarrass him.

Sveinn was simply ashamed that he'd let an unfounded inferiority complex get the better of him.

"I... thought you'd tell me not to get involved, lose my ribbon, and just stay behind."

"What? Is this because I joked earlier about letting you sit this battle out? I told you that was just a joke."

"Even so..."

The original protagonist's kindness had failed to reach him.

As Sveinn admitted what he'd been thinking, exposing his lack of confidence...

I would stake my entire career as a web novel author on it.

This was, beyond any doubt, the beginning of an influence event.

"Winning and getting a proper meal is important, but this training is meant to prepare us for real combat, so I think you should— Huh?"

I didn't have anything in particular to say.

But stopping the protagonist of someone else's novel from triggering that influence event took priority.

I hurriedly grabbed his sleeve.

Reisir turned toward me with a puzzled expression.

I interrupted the flow for now... but what am I supposed to do next?

When I remained silent after getting his attention, the question in his golden eyes only deepened.

They weren't merely bright gold.

A faint, pearly sheen shimmered beneath the color.

For one fleeting moment, I found myself marveling at how beautiful they were.

But now wasn't the time for that.

I desperately searched for a solution.

Even if I change the subject, once that's over, he'll just come right back and finish what he was about to say.

Even if he didn't intend to.

Author Senna would make sure the situation forced him to.

Just like how Sveinn had honestly confessed the inferiority he'd been carrying around, presenting himself in such a vulnerable way that it naturally invited sympathy.

The original protagonist would inevitably step forward with words of encouragement.

If that's how it was going to be...

"You're about to say the obvious—that gaining experience matters more than winning the game, so he should fight without worrying about losing his ribbon. Why are you making such a big production out of something so ordinary?"

I stole the line the protagonist of someone else's novel had been about to deliver.

At the same time, I deliberately ruined the mood by dismissing it as something completely unremarkable.

That way, the original author couldn't return to the topic and restart the interrupted influence event.

...Shouldn't the signal flare have gone off by now?

Since retying a ribbon incurred a time penalty, an Aether Clock had been installed at each team's starting point.

There was another one at the mountain entrance where Professor Bjorn had explained the rules.

That made it easy to keep track of the exact time.

We reached this spot around twenty minutes after receiving the map. And now...

Incredibly, we still had another five minutes before the signal flare.

That wasn't just my imagination.

Judging from the sheer amount we'd talked since arriving here, at least fifteen minutes should have passed.

It's not as though we'd been firing words back and forth like we were rapping.

How did this make any sense?

It seemed the original author still had dialogue left to squeeze into this scene.

Just as that thought crossed my mind—

"Looks like we've still got some time."

Noticing my gaze on the clock, Reisir commented as well.

For some reason, though, he looked oddly pleased.

Despite having his speech interrupted and even having his lines stolen, he seemed perfectly happy.

"Enough small talk. Finish the strategy meeting."

"Yeah. Got it."

Whether stealing his dialogue had actually worked...

Or whether it was because I'd told him to stop chatting...

Either way, Reisir made no further attempt to encourage Sveinn.

In fact, he stopped talking altogether.

"..."

"..."

"...Why aren't you saying anything?"

"No, I was wondering. You're supposed to be our team leader, Karvaldr. Why am I the one running this meeting?"

It sounded as though the realization had only just occurred to him.

"The moment we got here, you were already talking about Ríolíkin this and Ríolíkin that. Why are you asking me now?"

"Uh... well... sorry?"

"Apology accepted. But wasn't it strange from the start that I became the leader simply because our team's ribbon happened to be purple?"

"Huh?"

"The professor only had Her Royal Highness the Princess and me skip the drawing of lots to balance the teams. It wasn't because he intended us to be the leaders."

Surely that much was enough.

Reisir frowned in thought for a moment before speaking again.

"So... you don't want to be the leader?"

"Let me ask you instead. Do I look suited to leading people?"

"I think you're more than qualified."

"Even with communication being one of a leader's essential skills?"

"I could always interpret what you're trying to say."

"I think we're already beyond saving if I need an interpreter. Besides, don't you constantly twist everything I say into something completely different?"

"I think my interpretations are perfectly accurate."

I'm telling him they're wrong.

Where in the world did this kid get that kind of confidence?

I couldn't hide my bewilderment.

Before I realized it, I was simply staring at Reisir with my mouth hanging open.

"Excuse me... Senior? Weren't we supposed to stop the small talk and continue the meeting?"

Sveinn spoke up, unable to conceal his irritation.

He hadn't said anything inappropriate.

But the fact that he was looking directly at me felt unbelievably unfair.

The one who ignored my instruction and started rambling was the protagonist of someone else's novel...!

I shot Reisir a glare.

Meeting my eyes, he gave an awkward smile before speaking.

"We don't even know if this team will stay together after today, so let's forget about the leader issue for now and finish the meeting."

"Then hurry up and do it."

"You're leaving it to me?"

"..."

Rather than answer and risk getting dragged into another pointless exchange...

I simply kept my mouth firmly shut and glared at the protagonist of someone else's novel.

It seemed Author Senna had no intention of firing the signal flare until we'd finished our strategy meeting.

But that didn't mean we could afford to waste time.

"So, here's what I think..."

Beginning with those words, the original protagonist laid out his deductions about the opposing team's likely strategy.

Without any further detours into idle conversation, the meeting concluded surprisingly quickly.

As expected, the moment it ended...

The signal flare shot into the sky.

"Let's move."

Reisir folded the map he'd been using to estimate the enemy team's starting position and handed it to Sveinn.

If Helga and Lissy weren't there...

Then the plan was for Sveinn, after losing his own ribbon, to head straight for the enemy base and steal both of theirs.

Neither Helga nor Lissy could properly handle their weapons yet.

Sveinn, on the other hand, had acquired the F-rank 【Spear Techniques】 skill and had built up practical sparring experience through Professor Kaldrun's combat training classes.

As a Water Attribute ability user, he would also have the elemental advantage against Helga's Fire Attribute.

Things only ended up like this because someone brought up the idea that Sveinn could handle both of them alone...

I wanted to stop him.

The enemy's starting point was almost certainly filled with traps.

Sveinn would probably get caught before he even had the chance to swing his spear and lose his ribbon without accomplishing anything.

But I couldn't stop him.

If I did...

Sveinn would only become convinced I looked down on him.