CH 47

[The Idiot Doesn’t Mince His Words]

“I’m a bit busy right now, so—” (Sakurai)

“Is that so. Then, can you tell me at what time you’re free?” (Amanai)

Releasing my interpersonal skill that have been refined and polished, I indirectly say ‘I don’t want to get involved with you’, yet the protagonist, Amanai Hayato, continue to persist in defiance of it.

I’m not at all happy being approached by a guy, so I’d like to leave as soon as possible, or rather I want to get back to deal with Higaki and Iris’s matter, however, no matter how I look at it, his expression is saying that he wouldn’t take no for an answer, so it seems like I wouldn’t be able to get away that easily.

“Then about 6 years later.” (Sakurai)

“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Amanai Hayato. Can I borrow him for a moment?” (Amanai)

“To immediately try to get approval from my companions, your speed of giving up sure is amazing.” (Sakurai)

This guy, he immediately tries to clear the obstacles in the way of his objective, where did he learn his interpersonal skill?

If there is a good leveling spot, please let me know.

Incidentally, the moment Amanai changes his target toward Higaki and Iris, seeing that I don’t want to get into a conversation with him, Higaki turns her gaze toward me.

At her gaze, I change my expression to one that clearly says ‘I absolutely don’t to get involved with him gozaruuuuu!!’.

As for the image, it is one where all the facial parts are crumpled to the center of the face.

If you swing your head side-to-side while in this state, no matter who the other party is, they will perfectly understand that ‘you don’t want to’… you can call it ‘Art: Disgusting Face’. When do you use this skill? Of course, when you don’t want something!!

By the way, perhaps my intent is properly conveyed, Higaki assents with a little nod and turns to Amanai.

Higaki is the chairman of the disciplinary committee, a position that can put people in their place, terrifyingly. Naturally, she has much higher interpersonal skill than I do.

If I borrow her hand, even if the opponent is the original game protagonist, he would have no choice but to give up and go back.

I see, so this is the so-called bond of fellow disciples.

To be able to get a backup like this, interpersonal skill is quite useful, isn’t it? Hahaha!

“Please, do as you like. Our matters can be postponed for later.” (Higaki)

“Youuu, why do you betray meeeeee!!!!” (Sakurai)

“Your expression is too disgusting, so I don’t want to interact with you for a while.” (Higaki)

“Help me, Iris-san! My little apprentice sister is in rebellious period!!” (Sakurai)

“We’re going to go first, so please borrow us opera glasses, okay?” (Iris)

“My face was so disgusting that even Iris abandon mee!?” (Sakurai)

Amanai silently turns his eyes toward me who is left with no one to cling to.

I move my head while making a grinding noise like a broken doll, facing Amanai.

“…………Was it that disgusting?” (Sakurai)

“……Yeah.” (Amanai)

“That so.” (Sakurai)

As expected, it’s a little depressing.

“Hey, Hayato! Why did you run suddenly… wait, if I’m not mistaken, this person is… what happened to you two?” (Reika)

Akano Reika, who just caught up, tilts her seeing the delicate air surrounding us.

When Amanai tells her to go first because he wants to talk with me, even while making a dubious face, Akano says to me, who she meets for the first time, “Then, excuse me,” and go to the opera venue.

Unlike a certain traitor, she’s a good girl, ain’t she, dammit.

Well, those who end up being abandoned are helpless.

Let’s practice-swinging until morning by Higaki’s bedside the next time I stay at Iris’s place.

“So, wha~~~t kind of business ikemen protagonist-san has with such a disgusting guy?” (Sakurai)

“Don’t be so grumpy… there’s just something I want make sure with you. Will listen to me?” (Amanai)

“Do you want to know if I’m also a reincarnated person just like you? Yup.” (Sakurai)

As though taken by surprise by my words, Amanai becomes rigid.

Could it be, this guy doesn’t expect me to notice that he’s also a reincarnated person?

“Why could you know?” (Amanai)

“First, you talked not to Higaki or Iris, but me. Second, you continue the conversation without any reaction when I called you ‘ikemen protagonist-san’. That much is enough, right?” (Sakurai)

If this guy is the real original game protagonist, Amanai Hayato, his move will change depending on whether he’s acquaintance with Higaki or not.

For example, if he’s acquaintance with Higaki, he will naturally greet Higaki and Iris when he catches sight of them, then he brings up a topic as though he just remembers it – such was the natural flow of events.

After all, in the original game, there are always beautiful girls in the field of view of the protagonist, and no mob character like me is reflected except in the backgrounds or event scenes.

On the other hand, if he’s not acquaintance with her, an event CG will appear where he says, “What a beautiful person~”, and gets hit on the head by the jealous Akano, then he’ll head toward the opera venue without starting a conversation.

Either way, there’s no such scenario where ‘he comes and starts talking with me as purpose’.

Therefore, at that point, I suspected that he is ‘someone’ wearing the skin of Amanai.

And secondly, the point of him ignoring it when I called him ‘ikemen protagonist’ was also suspicious.

It is true that, from the perspective of us players, Amanai Hayato of the original game was a handsome bastard with transcendent looks, but he asserted that his outward appearance as a ‘lack of individuality’, and perhaps he had some complex about it; he was the type of guy who would reply with humble words whenever his looks were praised.

That being said, this guy, without being humble, accepted the words ‘ikemen protagonist’ and tried to continue the conversation just like that.

That behavior of accepting the praise as though it was obvious gave me a sense of incongruity, so I thought that this guy might be a reincarnated person as well.

Well, [if you search for a novel like ‘Reincarnated as a mob! Actually, the protagonist is also a reincarnated person!’ in the internet, it is scattered all over, so isn’t this following such pattern?] – with such thought, I was close to 70% convinced that that was the case, however, when I put it out like that, I gave off the feeling of being capable, right!!

“It looks like it’ll be useless to probe for your true intention.” (Amanai)

“Especially because of the time, right? I want to go to the venue quickly, so can you state your business? I’ll answer you honestly.” (Sakurai)

“In that case, thank you. I’ll ask directly then, how… is Sakurai intending to live in this ‘Frontier Academia’ world?” (Amanai)

“How am I intending to live, you ask… is that philosophical question? If it is a faith solicitation, I’m gonna go back right away, though.” (Sakurai)

“No. It’s about your stance on the original game and what you’re aiming for in the end.” (Amanai)

Ahh, this guy is asking about my play style.

Even though it would’ve been easier to understand if he used game terms.

That said, if that is the case, I can understand why he’s persistently hounding me.

This was originally an offline game, a world for a person to play alone, yet two players now exist in the same world.

If there are multiple players, naturally they might compete for unique items or event items, and if they have conflicting play styles, there will be no choice but to fight and eliminate them.

There’s a possibility that that is not his intention, though.

In recent years, various games are made on the premise of online-compatible competitive games, yet there are many players who dislike active competition chose to play offline solo play. In fact, I’m of that type, so I can understand his feelings.

(This guy’s wanna discuss about each other’s play styles and determine which things to give up and which not to. I wish Higaki could follow his example.)

Eh, I’m the only one who she would attack in no time, you say? No way, that’s impossible, stop with the joke.

That is her true nature after all; I’m sure that her activities so far are generally comprised of negotiation (physical) and consultation (physical). Undoubtedly.

That’s exactly why I like Amanai’s sincere way of dealing with matters.

So, I also have to respond to him properly.

Anyway, my play style is one that doesn’t cause competition, and I’m not going to hide it, so there shouldn’t be any problem.

“Yeah. My aim is leveling, and I think it’s good to follow the original game. However, in the current situation, I can’t strive for a decent leveling, so I’m going to try to beat the Diva and her lot. If it’s okay with you, I’d like you to help me.” (Sakurai)

I say so with goodwill along with a big smile.

Yet, hearing that, Amanai open his eyes wide and his expression gradually becomes darker.

His look is similar to Higaki at some point time… Eh, why? Did I say something that make him angry?