This Novel is not my Novel

"Senior Lissy is having such a hard time," Pret said in a light tone.

There was no trace of pity on his face. It was probably nothing more than a casual remark thrown out to keep the conversation going.

But despite that, Fjodora—

"That's true. It must be difficult to balance training and club activities. Should I try persuading her to quit...?"

—said it with a genuinely worried expression.

Doesn't that just mean she wants to create a conflict with Lissy?

Right now, Lissy had only just escaped from despair and resolved to focus on training for the sake of her own survival.

Because in Episode 198, Reisir had told her that the creation of the Special Class for Awakened Ones was not necessarily a bad thing.

But that did not mean her hostility toward the Imperial Family had disappeared.

In this situation, if Fjodora, a member of the Imperial Family, told her to quit her club activities in her usual authoritative tone because it was too difficult to balance them with training...

Lissy would interpret those words as:

"Give up your hobbies and everything else. Devote yourself only to training and become stronger as quickly as possible. That way, this humble one can send you into the Demon Realm."

There was no way she would not feel as though the Princess was pressuring her.

"Ah... about that... Isn't it unnecessary for you to step forward and persuade her, Senior Fjodora? If it's too difficult, she'll probably quit on her own..."

Although Pret was smiling as he said that, his furrowed brows revealed his troubled feelings.

His unnecessary comment was about to harm Lissy, so he was desperately trying to fix the situation.

But it did not work on Fjodora.

"Is that really so? She's so kindhearted that she rushes to the library without even finishing her meal because she feels sorry for the club members."

Was it because, until now, the only people she had dealt with were those desperately trying to get close to her as the Princess?

Fjodora seemed to have never considered the possibility that Lissy had gone to the library because she hated sitting at the same table as her so much.

Even if Lissy's hostility toward Fjodora surpassed mere antipathy, she would never dare confront the Princess.

Instead, she would only hold onto her resentment and shed tears.

The Original Protagonist and the other Special Class students would pity Lissy in such a state and end up confronting the Princess.

Fjodora, having become a public enemy, would offer no explanation.

Just like in the original work.

I suspected that this time as well, she would only apologize at the moment of her death, after suffering a fatal injury from an incurable illness or severe wound.

Only then would the Original Protagonist and the others come to see Fjodora as someone pitiful.

And after her death...

The Imperial Family would step forward, strip the Special Class students of their privileges, and throw them into the extremely dangerous Demon Realm to be worn down.

They would force the Special Class students to realize how much effort Fjodora had put into protecting them.

To regret hating her recklessly without ever having a proper conversation with her, and to feel sorry for it.

If Author Senna intends to reproduce the original story's pattern exactly, things will inevitably develop in that direction.

For me, who had to live as a supporting character in this world within a novel, that was a source of no small amount of despair.

That was why I suppressed the sigh that was about to escape and opened my mouth.

"Your Royal Highness the Princess, I have something to say."

"Speak freely."

"I would like to, but there are too many ears around us, which makes me uncomfortable. Would it be possible for Your Highness to block the sound with your Ether Attribute Ability?"

"Of course."

Except for the area around our table, the cafeteria was packed with students, leaving no room to even stand.

And yet, despite that, it was strangely quiet.

The reason was simple.

Everyone was paying attention to us and listening to our conversation.

It's not like I'm trying to have a secret conversation that others shouldn't hear, but this pressure is too much...!

Fjodora, however, did not seem particularly bothered.

Seeing my serious expression, she must have assumed I had something confidential to say, because she immediately used her Ether Attribute Ability.

"Now, go ahead."

"As recently as last year, you could always find Senior Lissy in the library."

"That means... surely not that the other Library Club members are forcing all the work onto Ms. Lissy?"

When frustration reached an extreme point, did it transform into bewilderment?

The idea was so absurd that I nearly let out a hollow laugh.

However, if I laughed before denying the Princess's assumption, it might appear as though I was mocking her.

So I kept my mouth shut and shook my head.

"If not that, then? Are you saying Ms. Lissy wanted to devote all her free time to club activities?"

"Yes."

"Not because anyone forced her to, and not because she wanted to help the other club members. Simply because she enjoys being a Library Club Member?"

"At Valhalla Academy, club activities are not mandatory. Among them, the Library Club's work is practically like providing a service for the academy, isn't it? And yet she voluntarily joined. Not only Senior Lissy, but the other Library Club members probably feel the same way."

The people who would understand how much Lissy enjoyed club activities best were her fellow Library Club members.

So even if she became too busy with training to help at the library, none of them would complain.

If anything, they would feel sorry for Lissy's situation.

"Ummm... I suppose that does seem likely."

Fortunately, Fjodora nodded and appeared to accept my words, but—

"Perhaps the library is a kind of sanctuary for Senior Lissy. Then it would be best not to interfere with her club activities..."

"But can't you go to the library anytime, even if you aren't a Library Club Member?"

—judging by that response, she still had not fully understood what I meant.

"...Could it be that she became a Library Club Member because she likes the work itself? Recording book circulation, classifying books, and arranging shelves?"

"Ah, that could be it."

It was incredibly frustrating that I had to explain something so obvious.

But when I considered that she was acting this way because she was being controlled by the original author, I did not find her pathetic.

I only found her endlessly pitiful.

"And if Your Royal Highness the Princess... No, if any of us were to suggest that it would be better for Senior Lissy to quit the Library Club, she would not hear it as words of concern. She would hear it as pressure to become stronger quickly and take on one person's share of the burden."

At the slightest mistake, Fjodora might have pushed the responsibility of persuading Lissy onto me.

So I corrected myself midway through the sentence, making it clear that no one should say such things to Lissy, and then asked the following question.

"Does Your Royal Highness the Princess perhaps wish for us to abandon our individual daily lives and be used as tools to overcome the Demon Realm?"

In the original work before the remake, Fjodora never punished the Original Protagonist, no matter how rude he was.

She considered it natural that Reisir would feel hostility toward her because of what the Imperial Family had done to him.

And now, Fjodora's guilt was not directed only toward Reisir.

She would also be feeling sorry for all the second and third-year students, including me, who had been forcibly placed into the Special Class for Awakened Ones.

That was why I could ask that question without hesitation.

Everyone looks surprised.

Sveinn was simply surprised.

The second-year students, meanwhile, all looked at me with worried expressions.

On the other hand, Pret's face showed interest.

"...That is not what I wished for."

"Then please refrain from telling her to give up her daily life. Senior Lissy is not a child, is she? She can handle her own affairs."

After saying that, I—

"If Senior Lissy is forcing herself to make time for club activities despite her difficult training because she is worried about the Library Club members suffering from the vacancies left by the seniors who graduated last year, then she will naturally quit once new members begin recruitment."

—I added that.

To be honest, I hoped Lissy would remain a Library Club Member in the future.

That way, there won't be any complications when I join the Library Club.

For readers wondering what this is about, reread the final paragraph of Episode 9.

"Perhaps even if I become a Library Club Member, there is a high possibility I won't be able to find out where the paperback version web novels are made from. And even if I find out, there might be no benefit whatsoever..."

The difference between not trying at all and trying even once was enormous.

And if I handled things properly, I might even be able to quietly slip the fifth volume of 《HWRV》, which I was currently writing, into the new book list and have it officially added to the library's collection.

So I did not step forward to help Lissy out of kindness.

I calculated the situation from various angles, decided it would benefit me, and then spoke.

But the Protagonist of another person's novel, unaware of this truth, looked at me with a burdensome gaze and a deep smile.

It's fortunate that I have a private lesson scheduled with Skati after this afternoon's lecture.

Otherwise, I might have been caught by the Protagonist of another person's novel right after the botany lecture and forced to listen to him ramble about how kind I was or something.

"Thank you for the admonition. I will take it to heart."

"If that is the case, may I say one more thing?"

"Go ahead."

Fjodora nodded calmly.

There was no displeasure in her expression.

Rather, I felt as though she was genuinely welcoming it.

It seemed that although the original author was using Fjodora for the story progression they wanted, they had not altered her fundamental personality.

"This Valhalla Academy belongs to the Imperial Family, and the Pâtissier working at the newly established Dessert Corner is someone employed by Your Royal Highness the Princess. Therefore, it would be natural for Your Highness not to stand in line when ordering."

"Hmm...?"

Perhaps she had expected me to bring up the Special Class students.

A look of confusion spread across Fjodora's face.

Still, I had to say this.

"But with so many students waiting in line, having the employee responsible for payment come directly to the table to take your order and even serve the food is a little... well... Don't you think so?"

At the exact moment I said that, the employee in question passed through the sound barrier Fjodora had created and entered the area.

So, had he heard what I was saying?

The employee nodded absentmindedly as he placed the tray containing the drink and dessert on the table.

After all, this employee would be the one receiving complaints from the students tired of waiting.

Perhaps realizing the meaning of his own actions only afterward, the employee's face turned pale.

He hurriedly said, "Please enjoy your meal," and fled the scene as though escaping.

Only then did Fjodora finally understand.

"Was my action perhaps a little... like that of a problematic customer?"

"Not a little, but very...?"

"...Thank you for telling me."

Fjodora's expression as she replied was that of someone who had received a tremendous shock and was left dazed.