Chapter 14 The Mob
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
’Ah, what a waste of a day off. You really blew it this time.’
In the public park beyond the academy’s residential district—far enough to avoid classmates and teachers—I sat on a weathered bench, staring at nothing. The familiar, grating voice echoed in my head.
Yeah, yeah. Thanks to your ‘calibration error,’ I finally get to spend a day without being forced into anything.
…Though that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.
’Man, I thought you’d be good to go by now. Guess punching someone in the face with a poison hand was a bit much. Impatient as always, huh? Totally not my fault.’
I leaned forward, peering into the puddle left by last night’s rain. A bandaged girl stared back at me—forehead and one eye hidden, arm limp, fingers crooked from the poison’s lingering toll. The academy gossip mill had already turned it into a scandal: the delinquent girl who came home bloodied.
So before anyone could catch me, I ran.
I’ll have to face them all when the weekend ends anyway.
”…Sigh.”
”Hey, big sis—keep sighing like that and your happiness’ll run away.”
A small boy stood before me. His voice was bright, innocent. Yet somehow, his face slipped from my grasp—there one second, gone the next, even as I tried to focus on him.
”…As you can see, I got myself hurt.”
”Huh?”
Something about him tugged at me. Maybe it was boredom, or maybe I just wanted to hear a voice that wasn’t that one. Either way, I answered.
If an ‘event’ started, the voice would probably interrupt me. I’d just walk away before it got that far.
”So, what’s your name, sis? I’m—uh, I’m—well, you know.”
”…Reina Alcott. Nice to meet you, kid.”
Strange. I couldn’t make out his name, couldn’t hold onto his face. Who was this boy?
’Man, you don’t have time to chat with random mob NPC number two! …Anyway, bathroom break!’
Right. The voice didn’t see him as a person, just another ‘mob NPC.’ That’s why I couldn’t hold onto his details either.
It referred to people as ‘protagonist’ or ‘main character,’ like this whole world was a story being narrated from afar.
Maybe even I was nothing but another piece on its board, just another character in its game.
”‘Kid’? I told you my name.”
”For a boy like you, ‘kid’ works fine.”
”Wow, you’re mean.”
”I’m sorry. I really am. I just… can’t see you clearly.”
”So what happened? That wound looks nasty.”
”Just an accident.”
An accident caused by that voice.
”An accident? My dad’s a knight, you know. I could teach you how to move so you don’t get hurt.”
”No thanks. I plan to be stronger than your dad someday.”
Even if I learned, I couldn’t use it. The voice took over everything.
This injury? Not my mistake—its mistake.
Efficiency mattered more to it than pain.
That’s why it made me hide out here.
Staying in my room while injured might trigger a ‘get-well-soon event.’
It really never breaks character.
”Hah? My dad’s strong! After Mom died, he raised me alone and still became a second-class knight!”
”I’m aiming for the strongest there is.”
Because that’s the only way I can escape this voice and its control.
”The strongest, huh, sis…”
”What’s with that pitying tone?”
Yeah, I know. For someone my age to say something like that out loud—it is pathetic.
To anyone who knows the state of the world, or the kind of power the royal knights wield, it must sound delusional.
But the voice insists on it, drags me toward it. What choice do I have?
”Well, everyone’s got their dreams. Just… maybe don’t shout it in public.”
”I didn’t ask for advice, and you don’t need to whisper.”
”Alright, alright. Just take it easy, yeah?”
”…What are you?”
Something about his tone itched under my skin. He wasn’t wrong, but still—it felt like being gently mocked.
”So, you go to the academy, right?”
”…How do you know that?”
”You don’t look like a local. And you said you’re aiming to be the strongest.”
”…I see.”
I almost laughed at myself for being cautious around a kid.
Guess I’ve spent too long living like someone always out for blood.
”My dad’s been chosen to fight the champion at the academy’s martial tournament. A special match against a real knight.”
”…Oh.”
”So if you win, maybe you’ll get to fight him. He could even show you how to move your body better.”
”Yeah… maybe.”
So, I might end up fighting this boy’s father.
’The mob’s still here? Amazing.’
And me—me, with this cursed voice for company?
”My dad’s super strong. When the time comes, you better give it your all, okay?”
”…”
”Sis?”
”Ah—yeah. I’ll do my best.”
I’ll do my best… not to break him.
And if I can, I’ll at least try to spare his life.
I’m sorry.
Notes:
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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