This Novel is not my Novel

"Does anyone know why Reisir only acts like that toward Karvaldr...?"

Fjodora's voice was tinged with discomfort as she asked the question.

Sveinn said nothing, but judging by his expression, he seemed to strongly sympathize with her confusion.

Neither of them appeared capable of understanding the behavior of the protagonist of someone else's novel.

"He's probably teasing him. He wants to see Karvaldr get embarrassed."

This time, it was Helga, the longtime friend of the protagonist of someone else's novel, who spoke.

Instead of dismissing her claim as nonsense, Fjodora assumed it was true and asked another question.

"Why in the world would he want to see that...?"

"He must find Karvaldr's embarrassed face amusing."

"That is rather... I do not know how I should react."

"Just think, 'Oh, there they go again,' and ignore them."

I could only feel bewildered.

The protagonist of someone else's novel was always the only one who said anything strange, yet for some reason, Helga had referred to "them" rather than "him."

Was that why?

"......"

"......"

Fjodora and Sveinn gave me inscrutable looks.

I feared they might be misunderstanding the situation, thinking that despite knowing perfectly well what the protagonist of someone else's novel intended, I willingly gave him the reaction he wanted and had volunteered to become Reisir's personal clown.

We can consider it a predetermined future that he won't defeat the boss in a single blow. That means it must have tremendous resistance to Lightning Attribute Ether... Do I really need to use 【Encouragement】 on the protagonist of someone else's novel?

The thought occurred to me for a moment, but I soon realized the opposite was true.

Precisely because he couldn't defeat the boss in a single blow, I absolutely had to use the skill.

When the protagonist of someone else's novel asked me for words of encouragement, he must have recalled the information about my 【Encouragement】.

That would have become narration and appeared in the original author's novel.

If I don't use the skill, Senna's readers will blame me when we fail to deal with the Boss Monster easily.

They would ask how it made any sense for me to refuse to use a powerful buff skill just because I was embarrassed to say a few words.

The thought of comments pouring in demanding that I be replaced with another support character was positively dizzying.

Besides, I would have to reveal the existence of 【Encouragement】 eventually.

The longer I delayed, the more likely it was that not only the people outside this novel, but those within it as well, would condemn me.

Even if I made the excuse that it was an ability I had only recently acquired, they wouldn't fully believe me and would remain suspicious.

Since it's come to this, I'll reveal it now.

Moreover, we were about to fight an enormous boss golem.

Given the circumstances, I concluded that revealing the existence of 【Encouragement】 immediately would be the best choice in every respect.

I opened my mouth to put that conclusion into action at once.

"Your Royal Highness. Reisir did not ask me for words of encouragement because he wished to tease me."

"Hmm... I-I see...."

I had merely offered a brief preface before beginning my explanation, yet her response was strangely awkward.

And it wasn't only Fjodora. Everyone else looked too dumbfounded to speak.

Don't tell me... they think I'm saying this to defend Reisir?

If I left things as they were, my dignity would be ruined.

I hurriedly got to the point.

"I recently acquired a new buff skill. Its activation condition is that I say something likely to draw out the target's potential, and Reisir knows about it. That is why he made such a request."

"You acquired a new buff skill? Is that truly so?"

"Yes. Therefore, the only reason I am about to offer Reisir words of encouragement is to use the skill...."

"Enough with the elaborate excuses. Tell us its effect."

Fjodora treated my explanation as an excuse and cut me off sharply.

For a moment, I thought she was being rather heartless. Still, explaining the skill's effect was also necessary to clear up the misunderstanding.

Instead of objecting, I answered her.

"It enhances the target's Ether Attribute Ability."

"What...? Do not speak such nonsense! If your family possessed such a remarkable skill, it could not possibly have remained unknown until now. Furthermore, there has never been a single recorded buff skill in history capable of affecting another person's Ether...."

Fjodora couldn't conceal her astonishment and openly expressed her disbelief.

It wasn't as though I couldn't understand her reaction.

The effect of 【Encouragement】 fell outside the worldbuilding established by the original author, so someone as heavily influenced by that author as Fjodora was bound to find it difficult to accept.

Besides, Author Senna would incorporate this situation into her work.

If I viewed it as a scene within a creative work, Fjodora's reaction could be considered a device intended to emphasize just how extraordinary 【Encouragement】 was.

But—

You readily believed that Reisir wanted to enjoy watching me get embarrassed while we're standing in front of a Boss Monster?!

—That complaint reared its head.

I desperately wanted to challenge her on it, but this was no time for an argument, so I decided to let it pass.

"The skill is still new, so its proficiency is low, and I doubt the effect will be particularly noticeable.... Since I cannot show you my skill window, all I can say is that you should receive the buff yourself and concentrate carefully to see whether you can feel any difference."

"That is true. Then use it at once."

I was the one who had brought it up, but now that I was about to use 【Encouragement】 on Fjodora, I had no idea what to say.

Just as I was about to sink into thought—

Tap, tap.

The protagonist of someone else's novel abruptly tapped my shoulder with his index finger.

When I looked at him to ask what he wanted—

"I just wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten that I asked first."

—he spouted this nonsense.

"Is that really important right now?"

"Of course it is. We need to deal with the Boss Monster first!"

"Wait a little anyway. It would be fortunate if you shattered its mana core in a single strike, but if you fail, we will have to fight that Boss Monster. Would it not be safer to use 'that' skill on everyone beforehand?"

"That's... true."

Did he think I had said that because I didn't trust his ability?

For some reason, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on Reisir's face.

"And... as I said, I only acquired this skill recently, so its proficiency is low. I doubt using it a mere few more times will raise its proficiency enough to increase its effect significantly. Still, just in case, it would be better to use it on the others first and on you last.... Why does your expression keep growing more displeased?"

"No, it's just... When I first heard about the skill, I wondered if I should have asked you to use it on me right away. So you could raise its proficiency, even if only a little."

I had no idea why he regretted that.

Even if Reisir had said such a thing back then, there was no chance I would have used 【Encouragement】 on him.

I soon looked away from the protagonist of someone else's novel and addressed Fjodora.

"Well... That is.... Do your best."

"......?"

"There. It is done."

"...It is done? Did you not say you needed to offer words of encouragement or support?"

"That was merely what Reisir wanted. It is enough to say 'something likely to draw out the target's potential.'"

"Even so...."

A trace of displeasure joined the bewilderment on Fjodora's face.

Apparently, she found the words do your best disrespectful.

But this was the best I could manage.

"Your Royal Highness did not believe my description of the skill's effect and asked me to use it so that you could verify it yourself, did you not? I therefore used the skill to prove my ability to you. Under such circumstances, what words of encouragement or support could I possibly offer?"

"That is...... true."

"Yes. That left me no choice but to phrase it like a provocation. There was no other way.... I ask that you kindly be understanding."

"Hmm... Very well...."

Had she begun to feel guilty all over again for not believing me?

Fjodora stopped taking issue with the words I had used to activate the skill. She quietly closed her eyes, focused on her Ether, and began checking for any changes.

In the meantime, I searched for my next target for 【Encouragement】.

I had already given Reisir the excuse that I wanted to raise the skill's proficiency, even if only slightly.

Therefore, I needed to begin with the person whose Ether Attribute Ability would be least useful in this battle.

"Pret."

"Yes!"

"I have no idea what use an ability that changes the color of Ether will be against a mass of stone without eyes. Still, do your best."

"...Aha?"

I deliberately ignored Pret's incredulous expression and hollow laugh as I addressed the next target.

"Helga. You should... do your best as well. Who knows? Even if you cannot melt the rock, perhaps you can at least create a few cracks. Though apparently, even if the rocks comprising its body are broken, it will have no trouble moving."

"Wow...! That really makes my blood boil!"

As anger filled Helga's face, I saw Sveinn's expression darken while he watched.

It seemed he had realized he was next.

"Sveinn. As you wished, Yor has prepared an abundance of water. I am truly looking forward to seeing what a remarkable contribution you will make."

I looked down at him with all the arrogance I could muster and crooked one corner of my mouth.

He would have to be an idiot to take my claim that I was looking forward to it at face value.

Sveinn was evidently no idiot. He immediately realized I was mocking him, and the muscles in his face stiffened.

"And Lausa... do your best."

"Kyee!"

After offering sincere encouragement to the eagle spirit beast who suffered so much because of her partner, I hesitated.

I couldn't decide whether to use the skill on Ríolíkin or Vigdís first.

"I've steeled myself, so go ahead."

Had she interpreted my hesitation as an inability to speak to her first because of our broken-engagement contract?

Vigdís spoke with an incredibly solemn expression.

No matter how I looked at it, that wasn't the face of someone waiting to receive a buff.

"Even after my skill strengthens yours, you certainly will not escape unharmed if that enormous rock monster strikes you. Remember that it provides only the bare minimum of protection, and dodge its attacks at all costs."

"......What?"

"Is it difficult to understand the word dodge?"

"N-No...! It isn't! I just thought you were going to say something truly awful...."

"I did, did I not? Even if I strengthen your 【Ironblood Body】, you will not withstand an attack from the Boss Monster."

"Oh...."

What kind of reaction was that supposed to be?