Episode 27: The One Who Should Be the Protagonist

“Um… my name is Erett. For this test… let’s do our best, okay?”

“Yeah yeah! Let’s work hard together!!”

Not long after I entered the room, another member also came into the room.

Not a name I recognized. Probably a character who didn’t appear in the main story.

Until now, when meeting people, I hadn’t really thought much about whether they were mob characters or not, but this time such a filter was unavoidably placed in my thoughts.

All of this was caused by the girl enthusiastically shaking hands with the girl who introduced herself as Erett.

…Emma Helena.

The person who should be the character playing the protagonist in “Celestia Kingdom.”

The game’s protagonist has a variable name, but when featured in promotional videos and such, she’s named “Emma.”

Furthermore, in setting materials and such, she’s properly given the official name “Emma Alverne,” so I thought it would be the same in this world.

But… the girl before me now, the girl with the protagonist’s appearance, doesn’t have that name.

Moreover, isn’t she taking the knight course exam, following a path completely divergent from the original story at its very foundation?

(Why…?)

In the story, she should awaken to her power as a “saint” during the trial ceremony and be recommended to the academy by a duke.

At this rate, either her power didn’t awaken, she wasn’t recommended by the duke… or there’s a high possibility both occurred.

Then why did that happen? I’m going in circles but…

“Eh, Erett is also from a commoner background!? Me too!”

“Is that so? That’s quite… a coincidence.”

“Right? I thought there’d be few commoner kids, but maybe that’s not so much the case?”

The two chatted amiably.

On the wall behind them hung an old clock.

Thirty minutes until the exam starts.

Questions kept piling up, but… there was no room to remain confused.

“Mm, ahem. Shall we start planning our exam strategy?”

I cleared my throat deliberately and drew the two’s attention.

As their puzzled gazes turned toward me, I stood up from my seat.

“Ooh, strategy! That’s cool!”

“I’m not very good at… planning tactics…”

Emma maintained a cheerful atmosphere throughout, while Erett wore a melancholic expression.

Well, quite opposite types have gathered…

“It’s fine. I’ll formulate a strategy based on everyone’s information. Please tell me about your abilities.”

“Ah, um, well…”

Though I hadn’t particularly called on her, our eyes met directly, so Erett stammered hesitantly.

Was that too sudden…?

“Ah, me me! I’ll go first, okay? Um, my specialties are fire magic and water magic. I learned the sword, but my master said I don’t have much talent for it.”

Perhaps being considerate of Erett, Emma took the lead and spoke up.

…This kind of thing really makes her feel like the protagonist.

“I see… What kind of unique magic Celestia do you have?”

While formulating a strategy with my hand on my chin, I asked an additional question.

Emma’s eyes widened in surprise.

…Well, of course.

Celestia is an important card for warriors like knights and mages. It certainly isn’t something you can easily reveal.

Of course, since I know her Celestia, this is a bit of a test.

“If you don’t want to say, I won’t force you.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s important for getting a good score. …Though it’s not very strong.”

Saying that self-deprecatingly as a preface.

“My Celestia is called Sparkle, and it’s like… creating little crackling fireworks.”

“…That’s all?”

I looked at her with an unintentionally sharp gaze.

Emma’s Celestia in the game was called Holy Sparkle.

It purified evil things and could heal any injury or illness in good beings – an absurdly cheat-like performance.

Honestly, the game’s combat parts became super easy because of this.

She should be hiding something of that caliber… and yet.

“Eh? Yeah. …I know it’s pathetic myself, you know?”

“N-no. I didn’t mean it that way at all. I apologize if I offended you.”

Realizing now how rude my words were, I apologized deeply.

To someone who doesn’t know the circumstances, I must look like a terrible guy.

“Aha, it’s fine, it’s fine! Don’t bow so much, we’re teammates after all.”

Seeing me like that, Emma laughed it off.

…Though it’s odd to be certain after this exchange, she really isn’t lying.

The saint’s power called Holy Sparkle truly hasn’t awakened.

I wonder what will happen with future developments.

The worries are endless.

Therefore, I shouldn’t be thinking about that now.

“I’m grateful. …Then, Erett-san?”

“Yes! U-um… the magic I’m good at is… darkness. As for swordsmanship… I’m confident.”

Darkness.

Quite a rare attribute. Though it has quirks, it has high versatility.

However… not few people have the stereotypically evil impression of it, so public opinion is harsh…

That’s probably one reason she hesitated to mention it.

And the other is probably her Celestia.

“My Celestia is called Charm… it hypnotizes opponents…”

Before I could offer support saying she didn’t have to say it, Erett boldly announced it.

…I see.

Well, it’s not hard to understand why she’d hesitate.

But it’s an even more useful ability than that.

“Thank you very much. I truly think you have wonderful abilities. There’s no need to disparage yourself.”

That’s a rather high-handed way of speaking.

But since Erett’s tense expression softened slightly, that’s good enough.

…Now then, considering both their abilities.

“The strategy is decided.”

“Eh, already?!”

“Already…?”

Perhaps because only a few seconds had passed, both showed surprised expressions.

“Yes, the content is…”

…

…

…

“Ooh, I think it’s good. To think of it so quickly is amazing, like a military strategist.”

“I think it’s a wonderful strategy…”

The reaction was favorable.

It was worth reading all those military strategy books.

“Then, let’s go with this strategy. I’ll also take actual command, so please count on me.”

Mm, this should work well.

Just as I was about to wrap up, I felt a slightly strong gaze.

“…? Emma-san, what’s wrong?”

“No, I understand from what you just said that you’re reliable but… won’t you at least tell us your name? If we don’t know about you, we can’t exactly follow your lead.”

Indeed, Erett nodded in agreement.

Huh, haven’t I introduced myself yet?

Well, while I was shocked seeing Emma, Erett arrived, so there wasn’t a good timing.

“My apologies for the delay. My name is Arcs Fort. Um… I’m a commoner like you two…”

“Eh, that Arcs-san!?”

As soon as she heard my name, Erett stood up with a shrill voice.

I think this was the first time I heard her speak so clearly since we met.

“Um, which ‘that’ do you mean…?”

“That that! …The one who made the magic examiner faint and knocked down the swordsmanship examiner in the first exam… ‘Test Breaker Arcs’!”

…Yeah, what, is it that well known?

And moreover, is my name going around with such a lame nickname?!