I Reincarnated as a Mob in a Depressing Erotic Video Game World. When I Saved the Main Heroine That Fallen Into Despair, Her Overwhelming Obsessive Love for Me Wouldn’t Stop. - Chapter 10

I went back to my room and opened the door.

And there she was. Ena was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, and her knees pulled up.

“Ah… S-Shiruto-kun…”

Her eyes were a mix of relief and fear. Looking closer, I saw her hands and feet trembling slightly.

I guess… Being alone really made her anxious.

I had left her in the room because I didn’t want to expose her to anyone’s harmful gaze… but maybe that was a mistake.

“I’m sorry for making you wait. It’s okay now, Ena.”

“…Yeah…”

Ena nodded softly. I sat down right next to her and then,

“H-Hey, Shiruto-kun…”

She grabbed my sleeve tightly. Then, glancing up at me with wide eyes,

“Are… your… things… okay now…?”

“Yeah. For now, everything’s fine today.”

For a moment, I thought about keeping the truth from her… but duels between students are announced by the student council and even broadcast magically across the school. It would be impossible to hide.

“Tomorrow. I’m going to duel Irwin.”

So, I told her honestly,

Her eyes widened in shock.

“…Eh? Irwin-kun…?”

“Well, yeah. It’s a fight between guys.”

I tried to laugh it off like a joke. But Ena’s face just grew paler.

“No… n-no, Shiruto-kun… you can’t…!”

“Eh, why not?”

“Because Irwin-kun… he’s really… really strong…”

She hugged her knees and clutched her sleeve tightly.

“I… I don’t want you to get hurt…”

Yeah… that’s just like her. Ena Refine always thought about others first. She’d put her own happiness aside and try to protect everyone else’s smiles.

But… hey.

Then, Ena.

Who’s going to protect your smile?

“Don’t worry. I won’t lose to a guy like him.”

“But… Irwin-kun…”

“You still have the endless magic I took from you, right?”

When I said that, Ena froze. Her face looked like she was thinking, ―How do you know that?

“It’s okay. I have a plan to win. And… if you’re not too scared, I want you to watch. My duel with Irwin.”

“…Hey, Shiruto-kun…”

Ena bit her thin lips and asked softly,

“Is it… for… me…?”

Looks like she had figured it out. Her eyes slowly started to get watery.

“But… but it’s okay… really. I’ve… gotten used to it. The pain, the hard times… I can handle all of it…”

She gave a forced smile. It was gentle but full of fake bravado.

“And… I have this… the ring you gave me.”

Ena held my uniform with her left hand, her ring finger showing the ruby ring. She looked at it lovingly and said,

“…I’ve already received so much happiness… more than I deserve from you. So… it’s okay. You have your own life, Shiruto-kun, right?”

—Yeah. I knew Ena would say something like that.

But I.

“I’m sorry. I can’t just let it go.”

Maybe. This is just my selfishness.

I’m in love with Ena, playing the hero, pretending to fight for justice. Irwin’s words might not have been completely wrong.

But so what?

Even if this is the bad ending world of “Magiaka,” and I’m just some mob student, and even if Ena’s pain and suffering were decided by some cruel fate…

If this is supposed to be her destiny, I’d rather give my life than accept it. I’ll fight against this world itself.

“This world is wrong. Someone kind like Ena… no matter what, you deserve to be happy.”

Even in my past life, I wished for the same thing.

People might call it naive, but still… I want a world where kind people get rewarded.

“So… Well, anyway. I’ll be fine.”

“T-That’s…”

For just a moment, a shadow crossed Ena’s face.

But after hesitating for a while, she smiled again. Much more naturally this time.

“I see… eheh. Thank you, Shiruto-kun.”

It was a pure smile. Just seeing it made my heart feel lighter.

Alright. The duel will start tomorrow after school.

If I think about it, one night should be enough to prepare.

(I’ll protect Ena’s smile. For that, I will—)

I have to use everything I can.

Even if… it means risking my own life.