This Novel is not my Novel

"This would have been incredibly dangerous in actual combat."

Just as I deeply furrowed my brow, ready to get properly angry,

the protagonist of someone else's novel suddenly beamed, his eyes shining.

The moment I saw that look, I felt that something had gone terribly wrong.

But before I could open my mouth again to correct what I had just said, Reisir blurted out a torrent of words.

"You weren't going to reprimand me by asking who I thought I could save when I can't even protect myself. You were just purely worried about me...?!"

No, that's not it.

I was going to reprimand him just like that.

But this protagonist of someone else's novel not only cut me off before I could speak my mind but also arbitrarily negated the content of my words.

He'd even gone so far as to speak as if his own wishful thinking—that I was worried about him—was the absolute truth.

I wondered if this was revenge for when I cut off his dialogue in Chapter 215 and blocked the Influence/Inspiration Event from progressing.

"No... Who on earth said I was worried about you?!"

"You said this would have been incredibly dangerous in actual combat, didn't you? If that's not worry, then what is it?"

"It was nothing more than a prelude to a reprimand, asking how you dared to act so high and mighty, talking about saving people, when you can't even manage your own affairs."

"Karvaldr... Even if you have nothing to say, what's the point of just drawing out what I just said? It's not the least bit convincing."

The protagonist of someone else's novel stared at me with a pitiful expression as he spouted that ridiculous nonsense.

It wasn't that I was quoting him because I had nothing else to say; I really was going to say that.

For him to cut me off and then spew such an absurd remark.

"I really was not worried about you...!"

"Right, right. I knew you'd react like that."

I knew he'd react like this, too.

He's probably thinking to himself that I'm putting on a tsundere act.

But I truly was not worried about Reisir.

The reason being, Reisir is the protagonist of this world within the novel, isn't he?

Unless Author Senna plans to twist the work's genre into a regression story, she would never kill Reisir.

So even if he got distracted in actual combat, nothing too terrible would happen to Reisir himself.

At best, he would fall into a brief coma, and even that would be fixed with a little treatment.

However, by the time Reisir woke up,

the "comrade in crisis" would have already passed on.

That's the only way the original author can get to describe the scene of her protagonist reproaching himself and suffering in anguish.

And it's the only way she could write a development where Reisir, flailing in despair, dedicates himself to training as if to struggle for his life, and as a result, grows even stronger.

Therefore...

"The one I was worried about was myself."

"If that's really the case, shouldn't you be satisfied that I was looking out for you even while I was in the middle of a fight?"

It seemed Reisir was completely lost in the delusion he had created for himself.

I shook my head from side to side, then began an explanation to correct his misunderstanding.

"The strongest among us is you, Reisir, is it not? If you were to get seriously injured or faint and become unable to fight, the survival probability for all of us, myself included, would plummet. So, if you truly wish to save me, before you start shouting at me to warn me of danger! You'd better learn to take care of yourself first!!"

He should understand if I've explained this much.

...So I thought, but it was a miscalculation.

"Karvaldr, you...! You trusted and relied on me so much...!!"

"No, how in the world did you reach that conclusion..."

"You said it yourself. If I can fight until the end without collapsing, our entire group's survival rate will greatly increase. My well-being is everyone's well-being. You can't say something like that unless you believe in my skill, right?"

"......"

What a truly self-centered interpretation.

But I couldn't take issue with that point and argue with him.

The reason being... Reisir is the center of this world within the novel, isn't he?

Of course, he would have no idea that he is the protagonist of a novel, but I know.

His self-centered interpretation of my words couldn't be called a wrong approach.

And in fact, I did have unshakable faith in his skills.

"I'm sorry for showing you such a disappointing side of me."

"......"

"I'll be more careful and keep my wits about me from now on, so if you're in danger, will you trust me and ask for my help?"

From the perspective of Karvaldr's character.

In a situation like this, it would be appropriate to haughtily lift my chin and reply, "If you insist, then I shall consider it."

But the words that came out of my mouth formed a completely different sentence.

"If I do so... can you truly save me?"

I know.

I know this is a line that could be treated as a death flag.

But what could I do?

If I want to make this protagonist of someone else's novel move according to my will, not the original author's, isn't saying what I want directly the only method I have?

The description for the 【Encouragement】 skill says, "With the author's writing, the narrative flows and the characters advance."

But to actually activate this skill, I didn't have to write a "sentence", but rather speak the "words" out loud.

To twist the narrative that Author Senna is trying to write and change the story to flow in the direction I want.

It felt like it meant I had to intervene with the surrounding people through words.

And above all.

Whether I plant a death flag or not, Author Senna is going to try to kill Karvaldr anyway, right?

Rather than doing nothing and just waiting for the death scene to arrive.

It's better to spit out a death flag line and induce Reisir to try his best to save me.

Besides, these days, the cliché subversion of building up an atmosphere of death by dropping a death flag, only to end up surviving, has become common.

"...Yeah. I'll definitely save you."

Reisir said with resolve, his expression extremely serious as he tightly gripped my hand.

Since he was the one who offered to save me first, he must be feeling a sense of responsibility for his words.

Normally, I would have pulled my hand away in disgust.

But I just let him hold it and opened my mouth to secure a firm vow.

"Definitely...?"

"Yes, definitely."

The original protagonist answered immediately without a hint of hesitation, but I wasn't convinced.

And how could I be?

How many supporting characters had he tried and failed to protect in the pre-remake original work?

And yet, the fact that Reisir was still the most trustworthy person was no small irony.

Still, it seems I've properly instilled some resolve in him, so I think it's about time to end this conversation...

Just as I was worrying about what to do next, thinking it would be too heartless to snatch my hand away the moment I got his affirmation,

Pret walked out from between the dense trees and voiced a question.

"What in the world is this situation?"

"This humble one does not know either. It seemed Lord Karvaldr was about to get angry with Mr. Reisir, but then Mr. Reisir suddenly became delighted. At that, Lord Karvaldr acted with aloofness, then abruptly gave off a poignant air... and as you can see, this is the result."

"It's just the usual."

Fjodora... was that supposed to be an explanation of the situation?

I have no idea when I ever acted with aloofness or gave off a poignant air.

Ríolíkin's reply, dismissing it as the usual, had much more sincerity.

In reality, it wasn't the first or last time the original protagonist had laid on the flattery, aiming for an Influence/Inspiration Event.

"Oh...! Thank you for that explanation that gives me absolutely no idea what happened, Seniors! But it's clear that I missed a great show, right? Please tell me the details of your conversation later."

After joking like that to Fjodora and Ríolíkin,

Pret turned his head toward Reisir and me and threw out this question.

"Senior Vigdís ran to her team's starting point as soon as she got out of the trap... Is it okay for you two to stay here?"

As if.

I immediately shook off Reisir's hand, picked up the whip I had dropped during my fight with Fjodora, and ran toward the starting point.

"Ah! Karvaldr, wait up!!"

Reisir, who had belatedly gotten up, called out urgently, but I didn't stop or slow down.

It was obvious he would catch up to me in no time anyway, and that's exactly what happened.

What's more, the look on his face as he ran beside me, matching my pace while I was gritting my teeth, was so relaxed it was utterly infuriating.

"Whew~, I think we made it in time, don't you?"

Upon arriving at the starting point, the original protagonist caught his breath lightly and re-donned his ribbon.

I wanted to snap back, "How am I supposed to know when I don't even know the exact time the ribbon was taken?"

But regrettably, I was so out of breath, gasping for air, that I couldn't.

It was so bad that Yor was even tying the ribbon for me.

If the original protagonist said that, then we probably weren't late.

By the way, I had no idea how Professor Bjorn was going to figure out whether we re-donned our ribbons in time or not to give us a penalty.

Not only that, but our attitude and skill during the training would also need to be evaluated.

Is it a setting where there's an Ether Engineering item that functions like a CCTV hidden somewhere?

Bjorn will probably explain it himself after the morning training ends.

And if he doesn't bring it up first, I can just ask.

As I was catching my breath with those thoughts, I heard Vigdís's voice.

"Did something happen on your way here? When Pret freed me from the trap, he told me you two had also lost your ribbons, so I thought you would have arrived first and been waiting... If Sveinn hadn't told me you weren't here, I would have thought we'd missed each other."

That was a line that simultaneously informed me that Pret had passed on news about us to Vigdís.

And also contained the information that Sveinn was here right now.

"It wasn't anything major, I just got a bit of a late start after talking with Karvaldr."

"Ah, so that's what it was. I was wondering if you were stuck in a trap and couldn't move, and was debating whether I should go find you, but I'm glad to hear it was nothing serious."

Vigdís immediately accepted Reisir's answer and showed a reaction of relief.

But Sveinn's expression was thoroughly sullen.

"I heard that Senior Karvaldr got hurt, and seeing that Senior Reisir was unable to focus on his opponent, which is why his ribbon was taken... Is that true?"

"Yeah, that's why I was talking to Karvaldr about it and arrived later than Vigdís."

"Is... that so...? You don't look particularly hurt..."

Sveinn said dubiously, looking me up and down.

I had drunk the highest-grade healing potion Fjodora gave me, and thanks to quickly covering my nose with a handkerchief, no blood had gotten on my clothes.

And while I was talking with Reisir, Yor had meticulously wiped my face with wet wipes.

Of course I would look fine.