Chapter 78 - The First Confession

I had somewhat predicted that Regina would read my movements on the day I encountered Stella. That is, my movements during the progression of 『Star in the Shadows』.

In the original story, Regina was the type to move after thoroughly grasping the factors scattered in the environment.

In other words, she was the type to try to control the entire environment, and you could say she had that ability.

There was no way such a Regina wouldn't be marking my movements, which would become a very important card in the competition for the throne with Claudio.

And to Regina, I must have been an unpredictable person.

Anyway, it was easy to predict that she would have already figured out that I had gone as far as the Palkart District.

“The informant I assigned said they confirmed you were heading to a factory in the Palkart District.”

“……”

“They confirmed that its form disappeared as you approached the factory… and they tried to pursue, but couldn't approach due to a barrier spread around the factory.”

As expected, I was being watched. The barrier must have been Stella's doing.

“And before you… Arien Ortega went into the factory. And about an hour later.”

Regina's gesture of lightly extending her palm elegantly towards the sky. And the description.

“An explosion, occurred. A sky-blue- explosion.”

It signified the factory explosion caused by 『Where the Stars Sleep』, imbued with Arien's mana.

“That mana is the unique color of mana that Arien Ortega possesses.”

And Regina also knew about that fact.

Of course, if things had gone according to the canon of , we would have had to face an explosion of an incomparably larger scale than this one.

“Tell me. What exactly happened? Inside that factory.”

Regina's face, as she continued her story, had changed to an expressionless one.

She must be expressing that she was that serious right now.

“I'd also like to hear… for what reason you headed there.”

As Regina's story ended, a silence lingered in the garden.

Only the white flowers of the garden, shining in the moonlight, were swaying.

After that brief silence.

“...I will get straight to the point.”

I began to speak.

The story that would become the biggest turning point after I fell into this world of .

“I headed there to stop the forces behind the Prince.”

***

Regina is a character who is eliminated relatively early in the story of , but her portrayal is drawn differently as the story progresses.

In the early stages, Regina is portrayed to the players as a one-dimensional villain.

As a villainess who obstructs the righteous Crown Prince Claudio at every turn, and who interferes with the player who is in close contact with Claudio.

However, from the perspective of knowing the story, one could see that it was not an act divided into good and evil, but merely a political struggle.

The story was that even Regina being portrayed as evil was Claudio's trick.

Yes. Regina was not a person represented by pure evil, absolute evil, as depicted in the early part of .

Of course, regardless, Regina was undeniably an evil person who would stop at nothing for her own purposes.

In any case, due to the groundwork laid by Claudio, Regina was forced to repeat actions that publicly portrayed her as evil.

On top of that, all the evil deeds committed by Ad Astra in the early stages were pinned on Regina.

In any case, Regina thus clashes with the 'just' protagonists… and is ruined.

Of course, she even loses her own life.

Thus, the existence that could check Claudio completely disappears, and Claudio is set free to take control of high society.

For the mastermind group, Ad Astra.

What was the reason why Claudio could crush Regina so overwhelmingly?

Was it simply because Regina was an inferior human being in terms of ability compared to Claudio?

That was not it.

There might have been a mismatch, but wasn't Regina a person of such stature that Claudio declared that he had no rival after her death?

At the very least, if they were on the same game table, they would have been able to compete for supremacy.

However, Regina could not get on the game table.

She couldn't even establish a life-and-death game.

Then, was it because of the difference in the power of their basic factions?

That was somewhat correct. But there would be a more accurate expression.

The factor that allowed Claudio to gain an overwhelming advantage was that Claudio showed no weaknesses.

It was self-evident that Regina was at a considerable disadvantage when it came to the basic size of their factions.

Then what would Regina have to do to turn the tables?

There were broadly two methods. Either achieve a great accomplishment, or expose Claudio's great flaws to the world.

In the former case, one was bound to be obstructed by a huge force.

Even if she actually achieved it, there was a high possibility that the side that controlled public opinion would downplay the accomplishment.

Therefore, the realistic option that Regina could choose was the latter.

Because that was the way to narrow the already wide gap in power in one fell swoop.

But Claudio had no weaknesses. Claudio knew all too well how to firmly protect the advantage he had.

Above all, he had the reliable backing of Ad Astra.

Because of that, Regina could not keep up with Claudio, and it was always Regina's side that was in a hurry.

And in a fight, it is always the impatient side that loses.

But, what if we could put Regina on the game table here?

What if there was a card that could drag Claudio down to our level?

Then, the story would be different.

From then on, a truly 'winnable' game would begin.

That was exactly what I was aiming for.

And that card was to prove that Claudio was associated with 'Ad Astra', the force that attacked the academy.

***

“...Did I hear you wrong just now?”

Unlike the relaxed expression she had shown until now, Regina, for once, showed a look of unconcealed bewilderment.

“No. You heard correctly.”

To her bewilderment, I flatly stated with a still-serious expression.

“……”

Tap. Tap. Tap. Regina rhythmically tapped the table with her fingers.

It was a habit she showed when she was deep in thought.

It made sense. Even the great Regina could not have predicted that I would say this.

The forces behind the Prince. From Regina's point of view, it must have been completely out of the blue.

“If I didn't hear wrong, I'd like to ask if you're crazy… but I won't do such a time-wasting confirmation.”

Regina didn't beat around the bush. How can you believe that, are you out of your mind? There were no such conventional words.

Because this conversation was that important.

And perhaps Regina also felt it. That I was not the type of person to talk nonsense in a situation like this.

“What do you mean by 'the forces behind the Prince'?”

“It means exactly what it says. The Prince is currently a member of a certain society. That is the force behind the Prince.”

“The fact that you're telling me this… means it can be a card to use in the fight against that person who is my older brother, I presume.”

When I nodded at her words, Regina, with a very serious expression, looked into my eyes as if telling me to say more.

“What kind of organization is that society? You wouldn't be drawing out the story like this if it were just about him being a member of an ordinary society.”

Is that society the Prince's Achilles' heel, serious enough to bring down the current unshakable Crown Prince?

Regina was asking.

Yes, I had been waiting for this question.

From the moment I sat at the table in the garden at Regina's call.

No, perhaps it was from the first time I met Regina.

Hoo.

I took a deep breath.

And, I began to speak.

“...The name of that society is Ad Astra. It is the mastermind behind the recent academy attack, and a group that aims to overthrow the world, beyond the empire.”

That was the first confession I made after coming to this world.

For the first time, I spoke what I knew without hiding anything.

***

Right after I uttered those words, a silence fell over the garden again.

Regina had a look of utter bewilderment.

‘It makes sense.’

If you weren't confused in this situation… you wouldn't be human.

What would you think if a person you had built trust with said something like this? I couldn't even imagine what Regina was thinking.

And, a moment later.

“Ahat…”

The first reaction that came out was laughter.

“Ahaha, haha, ahahahaha…!”

The sweet laughter that leaked out had, at some point, become uncontrollable, explosive laughter.

At her laughter, I couldn't help but let out a small sneer myself.

Because it was certainly true that the situation was ridiculous.

“Pfft… hahaha… Well, that's right. That would be it! If he's involved with a group like that… if you can just prove it, my brother can't help but fall. Pfft…”

Regina, who had been laughing almost to the point of breathlessness, quickly composed her breathing and returned to an expressionless face.

And she continued to speak.

“...Really, you never once move within expectations, do you, you human.”

Was it because she had laughed too much? Regina said to me as she wiped away the tears that had formed in her burning purple eyes.

“Do you believe me?”

When I asked, Regina shrugged.

“What do you think?”

And then she asked me back.

At her words, I fell into thought for a moment. Looking at the noble princess before me, Regina Eliade Abellon.

And, I asked myself a question.

A question on a slightly different topic.

‘If it were Regina, would she have known?’

That the Prince's blade was approaching her neck, very slowly but surely.

That she was approaching her ruin at a very slow pace, as if sinking into a swamp.

Would she have known?

No, the question was wrong.

How could she not have known?

That Regina Eliade Abellon?

If I thought of it that way, reaching a conclusion was not that difficult.

And when I reached that conclusion, the answer to Regina's question was automatically laid out.

Therefore, I answered.

“I think you have no choice but to believe.”

When I answered, Regina showed a bitter smile instead of bursting into laughter like before.

“...Ahaha, what a cruel twist of fate.”

As I had thought, Regina was all too aware of the situation she was in.

“You're right. I have no choice but to believe. Because that's the only option I have.”

That if things continued as they were, she would naturally lose, like a tree falling over time.

And that with defeat, her life would come to an end.

That she had no choice but to believe this utterly absurd story without any evidence.

“……”

I could only remain silent at her words.

What must it have felt like to slowly walk into one's own ruin?

In the canon of , what kind of mindset did Regina, who would have tasted that swamp-like ruin, live her life with?

What kind of hope did she see to live?

I couldn't even begin to guess.

If I thought of it that way, I couldn't help but feel a little pity for Regina.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.