Chapter 64 - A Star in the Shadows (2)

Just as the original protagonist of the previous 『Prelude to Ruin』 was Elwin, the stories in have an implicit protagonist.

And the protagonist of 's Part 1, Chapter 2 story—『A Star in the Shadows』—was the 'Star Seeker', Arien Ortega.

This story was directly linked to Arien's past, so a character with an emotional connection was important…

‘The problem is that Arien doesn't really have anyone close to her besides me.’

In the original work, Arien forms bonds with several other main characters in the very early stages of .

It was an act born from Arien's unique curiosity for exploration. An act of trying to understand human social methods through knowledge.

But unlike the original work… Arien didn't seem to be attempting any emotional connection with anyone other than me.

‘This is twisted.’

This point was quite troublesome. It had a rather negative impact on Arien's mental care, and it meant there was a problem with the scenario's progression.

In the first place, the participation of other characters in this scenario starts from their friendship with Arien.

One late night, the player character follows Arien, who is heading out to the abandoned factory district on the outskirts of Endinium, out of curiosity.

That was the outline of this scenario. The problem was that there was no one now who paid that much attention to Arien.

Thus, a conclusion was reached.

‘Should I do it alone this time?’

Well, in fact, the difficulty of the previous 『Prelude to Ruin』 was just extreme, but the scenarios that would unfold from now on, including 『A Star in the Shadows』, weren't that tough.

It might be a little overwhelming, but it was also awkward to persuade someone to come along.

‘It would be suspicious to say I spotted Arien leaving and suggested we follow, and it would also be suspicious to react perfectly to an incident that just so happens to occur when we go there.’

It was a story where it was easy to arouse suspicion if I took someone with me, so it was better to be a little more careful this time.

‘If I guide Arien well, I might be able to smash through it all by myself.’

After organizing my thoughts through this series of steps, I decided to start the preparations as usual.

***

The biggest problem was that I didn't know 'exactly' when this 『A Star in the Shadows』 would begin.

In the game, the viewpoint would just shift to that time when the moment came, but for me, living in reality, things couldn't be that convenient.

Imagine preparing everything and then missing the story because I couldn't get the timing right.

‘That would be absolutely terrible.’

There was no worse worst-case scenario. If that happened, Arien would have to go through this 『A Star in the Shadows』 alone.

In the original work, even though the player character was unaware of the situation, they accompanied her… In that case, the situation could become worse than the original.

Because of this, I had to keep a close watch on Arien's movements.

But how could I keep a close watch? I couldn't just monitor her. Who knows what kind of rumors would spread.

Therefore, I needed to be in a position naturally close to Arien.

And the excuse for that was magic lessons.

To continuously watch Arien, the reason for talking to her couldn't be a one-time thing.

Because then I would have to create a new reason to talk to her each time.

‘If I do that, even Arien would notice something strange.’

The excuse to talk to Arien absolutely needed to be continuous.

And the excuse with that continuity… was magic lessons.

To proceed with this plan, I approached Arien right after Albert's Origin Magic lecture ended.

“Miss Arien, do you have a moment? I have a favor to ask.”

“Please speak.”

“It's just that my magic power has risen to D-grade. I was thinking of learning magic to use it in practice… I was wondering if you could help me.”

They say there is no end to learning. Academic topics of conversation do not end in a single instance.

It would also be useful when I needed to suddenly talk to Arien.

At my words…

“Affirmative. If you have any questions, please let me know anytime.”

Arien coolly accepted. But this wasn't enough.

“Um, I think I'll have a lot of questions as I study… Is it okay if I bother you?”

“Please do so. I will provide you with all possible assistance.”

Arien accepted the request so readily that it seemed a bit much. In her characteristic stiff tone.

‘This girl really has no intention of receiving any compensation.’

I was a bit taken aback by that. Of course, it was good, but there was something better than this kind of relationship.

Ahem, after clearing my throat once, I opened my mouth again.

“…Miss Arien, it's a bit much for me to say this as the one asking for a favor, but a relationship where one side only gives or one side only receives is not healthy. It's hard to call it a friendship.”

“Is that… so.”

At those words, Arien's eyes widened as if she had just learned something new.

And after tilting her head once, she continued to speak.

“Are you saying I should receive compensation? But monetary compensation has no value to me.”

“It's not just money that has value as compensation. How about we exchange what we need from each other.”

“What I need?”

Yes, what she needed. I knew what Arien needed more than anything right now.

“Miss Arien, among the elective courses you are taking, isn't there a literature-related course?”

“There is.”

“How is the class?”

At those words, Arien was silent for a moment as if thinking, then soon opened her mouth again.

“There were some difficulties, but there is no problem in obtaining the highest score.”

“But you probably don't understand it completely.”

This was Arien's weakness that appeared in the original . The fact that she was weak in studies related to the human heart.

Arien was designed to have no understanding of the human heart.

“Let me guess. You found it impossible to grasp the feelings of the characters, so you chose the alternative of poring over books with interpretations, didn't you?”

“…That is correct.”

Therefore, in , Arien solves such problems by reading books with those interpretations.

‘It’s like an AI using a workaround.’

That was amazing in its own way, but it didn't mean perfect understanding.

“Can that really be called understanding in the true sense? If it were the Miss Arien I know, I think you would say no.”

“……”

Arien bowed her head at my words. Oops, did I push her too hard…?

“…So in return for teaching me magic, I would like to help you with understanding, in a small way, the field of literature… and in a larger sense, matters related to the human heart. What do you think?”

At my words, Arien…

“…I judge your words to be reasonable. I accept your proposal.”

Yes, from that day on, a rather peculiar study group was established.

***

The hint about the timing of 『A Star in the Shadows』 mentioned in was moderately vague.

‘A few days before the week of the final exams.’ How many days exactly is 'a few days before'?

Anyway, for that reason, in addition to studying for the final exams and training, I had to add magic studies as an excuse to approach Arien.

Seeing me like that, Yuna made a disgusted face and said this.

“Seriously, this persistent bastard…”

No, honestly, I feel wronged too. Who would want to study other things during the final exam period?

…I couldn't say that, so I just shrugged my shoulders at her words.

Still, my magic was growing rapidly, enough to make such hardship feel rewarding.

“I've created a 2nd-tier magic formula by combining four 1st-tier visionary magic formulas. Could you please correct it, Miss Arien?”

“The process is inefficient. In this case, it is more efficient to combine two 1st-tier spells each to make a 2nd-tier, and then use that 2nd-tier to make a 3rd-tier to maximize efficiency…”

[ System : The grade of 『Visionary Magic Proficiency』 increases to F+! ]

As Arien boasted the world's highest level of skill in magic, she was an unparalleled teacher for the academic approach to magic.

However…

“In the case of protection magic, image association is as important as the magic formula. You need to master where exactly to use the protection magic.”

“An image… How do you usually create an image, Miss Arien?”

“For me… it's a dung, and a pwang.”

…What?

“Pardon…?”

“So…”

When I asked again, Arien explained this time including gestures.

“Dung.”

She brought her hands together at her chest…

“Pwang.”

With that meaningless onomatopoeia, she spread her hands towards her shoulders, and a 1st-tier protection magic—『Barrier』—was cast in the direction of her shoulders.

“Hoo, do you understand now?”

And with a triumphant expression, she asked me that.

‘No, do you think I would understand?’

She had a strangely clumsy part to her… but seeing that triumphant expression, how could I say no?

“…Yes.”

Because of this, I ended up mastering the sensory parts on my own.

‘Is she such a genius that her perspective is just different, or is she just bad at explaining…’

I had no way of knowing.

[ System : Proficiency, 『Protection Magic』[F] is acquired! ]

Conversely, I was also faithfully helping Arien.

***

It was eight days before the final exams, when Arien and I were studying at the academy's central library.

“Rain-ssi, I don't understand this part.”

With those words, Arien pushed a book towards me and asked a question.

When I turned my gaze that way, a page from the latter half of a romance novel was open.

“Which part is it?”

“Here, this part.”

[Having finished her story, Heidi's expression was much more at ease. It was a story she could never tell anyone, but now, before her, was the one person who would understand and embrace that secret.]

“Judging from the description, it seems this person is feeling happiness from finding someone to share a secret with.”

Arien's understanding of the content itself was reasonable.

It was a scene where a woman with a secret she couldn't tell anyone felt joy at meeting someone who would share and understand that secret.

But Arien's problem was not with understanding the context itself. She was a genius whose intellect was second to none.

One thing.

“However, the problem caused by that secret remains unresolved. Nothing has been resolved, so why does the woman feel happiness?”

Arien's problem was with the emotional understanding of the content.

The girl could not empathize with people's emotions. This was because Arien had not grown up in a normal environment enough to form the same emotional system as others.

‘The essence isn't wrong, so she can overcome it with experience.’

Thinking so, I did my best to explain the content.

“Hiding one's own flaws is a great emotional burden. One fears that others will find out about their shameful parts, and also feels lonely.”

“……”

“In that loneliness, one finds solace by meeting someone who understands them, resolving the loneliness, and exchanging empathy for their shameful parts.”

“Is that… so.”

She still seemed to be having difficulty understanding, perhaps because she had never experienced such emotions directly.

“…I will read it again with that in mind.”

The girl was clearly trying, and moving forward.

That was enough.

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