Chapter 6 The Game Finally Begins
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”…Reina, I have taught you many things—more than I ever taught my own children.”
In the small tatami room deep inside the dojo—one the Temple Priest often used for meditation—I sat in seiza across from him. We rarely had moments like this alone together. I’d always kept my distance, careful not to grow too close, and he respected that unspoken space.
”It has been over ten years since I took you in… you’re fifteen now.”
If we were to count the years alone, the Temple Priest had raised me longer than my real parents ever had. More like a grandfather than a father, perhaps, but his love had been real. I spent more years with him than with my parents—learning martial arts, being protected. Even when I shut myself off and built a wall of silence, he never forced his way through. He simply stayed near, quietly watching over me. I was grateful for that.
”As a Holy Knight, I was often away on missions. I couldn’t be much of a guardian.”
”…”
”Even so,” he said softly, eyes narrowing in gentle fondness, “I believe I taught you enough to survive what lies ahead.”
That look—warm, full of quiet pride—I didn’t deserve to meet it. I turned my gaze away, careful not to make it awkward.
”Even if you enter the academy that trains future Holy Knights under the Human Charter, a girl like you, who has already mastered three secret arts of the Water God Style, will have no trouble. I’ll train you again during your days off.”
’Grandpa, your talks are long and frustrating.’
Unlike the Temple Priest, the voice controlling Reina never knew how to read the room.
”Work hard,” he continued. “Carry yourself so the name Water God Style won’t be shamed.”
”…Yes.”
I didn’t think I had the right to act like someone who could honor any name—but I said it anyway.
* * *
’That took forever! The mob-character otome game RTA finally begins! …What? You think the story took too long to start? Hey, main characters get backstories. Randomly generated mob characters don’t. Deal with it. (picks nose)’
When I reached the academy gates—the one built by the World Government to train future Holy Knights—a loud, excited voice echoed in my head.
Apparently, this was where the so-called “main game” began.
’Okay, first, hurry past the front gate. Otherwise, the main characters might try to talk to you. Especially Cliff, the hero’s childhood friend. If he catches you, the dialogue event takes ages—total time loss.’
Right. I didn’t even have time to feel emotional about entering my first real school.
Urged on by that annoying voice, I stepped through the academy gates.
”Wow! It looks just like a castle from a picture book!”
The cheerful voice pulled my eyes up. There stood a girl who looked like she truly believed the world was full of happiness and that sadness didn’t exist at all.
Her words—so out of place at an academy meant to train warriors to fight humanity’s enemies—made her shine even more in the crowd.
’Who said that fairytale line? Wait—no way, that’s the heroine! Run! Run, Homo-chan! That girl is the flag-spawning god loved by the world itself!’
So that bright, smiling girl was the one the voice called “the protagonist.” And yes, she looked like someone who’d live a life filled with blessings. Even without the voice’s warning, I could tell she wasn’t someone I’d get along with. I should just walk past quietly.
”Ah! You there! Your uniform—are you also from a commoner family like me?!”
…Of course, she talked to me anyway.
’She locked on even without eye contact?! What is this, a homing event trigger?!’
The voice sounded panicked again, muttering nonsense.
”I heard blessings are common among nobles and the children of Holy Knights. I never thought I’d meet another commoner!”
”…”
”I thought this school would be full of rich kids so I was really nervous. But if you’re like me, maybe we can be friends?”
”…”
”Oh, I haven’t introduced myself! I’m Lucia Reeves! I came here to become a Holy Knight so I can feed my little brothers delicious meals every day! If I work hard, the tuition gets waived!”
”…”
”…Though honestly, with a blessing, this is the only school I could attend anyway…”
Amazing. She kept talking even though I was completely ignoring her. We were opposites in every way—so why wouldn’t she just give up?
Her kind face glowed with light and hope, contrasting sharply with my dark and cold demeanor. Her golden hair shone brightly, while mine was pitch black. Her white, unblemished hands stood in stark contrast to my own, stained with blood from my past. She didn’t know, of course. But if I told her I had killed my own parents, what kind of expression would she make?
”I think… if I met someone else who was also a ‘burden’—”
Before she could finish, I cut her off with one quiet word and walked away before she could start again.
’Alright! Time to check your class!’
I cloaked my presence using the Darkness Sorcery I’d learned from the Temple Priest, slipping through the halls unseen until I reached my classroom.
’Let’s make a hundred homo friends!’
…Shut up.
Notes:
• –
• Cliff – Son of First-Class Knight Lilia. Practices Flame God Style. Obsessed with defeating strong opponents, especially Reina Alcott after a humiliating loss.
• Lucia – A female classmate of Reina with the (Regeneration) blessing, a power of immense value, unaware of the world government’s interest in her abilities.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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