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 15

Right after winning the duel and completing the contract.

Irwin and I were restrained by the student council and taken to separate rooms.

Irwin would probably be interrogated about the rampage incident… serves him right, I thought.

As for me, my hands were chained, and I was brought into this interrogation room.

“—First-year student, Shiruto Lugia of the Red Lion. From this point, we will conduct an interrogation regarding the forbidden magic you used.”

A third-year male student from the student council spoke in a serious tone.

Right. I had used forbidden magic hidden within the academy to win the duel against Irwin.

And the use of forbidden magic is strictly prohibited under Imperial law.

During a duel, no one is allowed to interfere for any reason. So I was left alone… but now that it’s over, I’m just seen as a dangerous element.

(Still… this is the first time I’ve met a real person, even counting Shiruto’s memories.)

Six student council members sat across from me in the interrogation room.

One of them, the student council president, is a girl named Ralthea Embrace, one of the heroines from “Magiaka.”

Her wavy, jade-green hair and mysterious, spiral-shaped eyes looked down at me from the highest seat with interest.

(…This is nostalgic. Ralthea’s route in “Magiaka” is insanely difficult.)

The difficulty comes from her unpredictable and overbearing personality.

In a way, she’s very studious, but she also has a mad-scientist streak. Your favorability with her could go up with random choices, or she could instantly lose interest if your grades dropped… She’s just hard to handle.

Ralthea propped her cheek on her hand and said,

“Now, Shiruto Lugia. From here on, I, Ralthea Embrace, will be in charge of your interrogation.”

She never stopped smiling. But that only made the tension in the room even stronger.

“As you know, Eratel Magic Academy is outside Imperial law. That means the student council handles internal disputes and decides punishments. If you prefer, we could hand this over to the Empire’s courts but ―Kouhai-kun, which do you prefer?”

“…Either is fine. I trust your judgment, Ralthea-sama.”

“Hehe, I see. Then, let’s continue the interrogation.”

The student council of Eratel Magic Academy is basically the top authority in the school.

They have more power than the teachers… a classic setup that also exists in “Magiaka.”

“First, let’s confirm the facts. During your duel with Irwin Selbus, you used forbidden magic designated by the Empire. And the spell book you used was taken from Eratel’s Grand Library outside of allowed hours, without permission. Any disagreement with that?”

“No. That’s all true.”

“…Hmm. I see.”

Somehow amused, Ralthea’s eyes scanned me from head to toe.

“How did you… Figure out how to open the forbidden library? No, more importantly, how did you even know that forbidden spell books existed in this academy? I thought only the headmaster, the managing director, and maybe me knew about them.”

“I just happened to find out. That’s all.”

“Hmm, just happened to, you say.”

She twirled a pen between her fingers and continued.

“You do know, right, kouhai-kun? Using forbidden magic is a serious crime. At worst, you could be sentenced to death.”

“…I’m prepared for that.”

Still, I had no choice. To make sure I won the duel, using forbidden magic was necessary.

If I had fought using only my <Mud and Sand> magic… my chances of winning would have been around sixty percent at best. Irwin was that strong in this bleak world.

So I used forbidden magic to guarantee victory.

But as a result… I would become someone feared and hated by all the students in the academy.

If I stayed with Ena… I wouldn’t be able to give her a normal life.

A happy school life, surrounded by friends and smiles.

A world Ena deserves to enjoy. In that world… someone like me has no place, a user of forbidden magic.

(Surely, if it’s Ena… as long as I’m gone from the academy, she can reclaim her peaceful daily life.)

It wouldn’t be easy right away.

But… a kind, strong, and brave girl like Ena… now that the false charges are cleared, she could heal the rifts with her classmates and deepen her bonds.

I believe that.

“…Alright. I understand. Shiruto Lugia, I will now announce your punishment.”

From the start, it had been decided.

Ena’s salvation would only come if both Irwin and I were expelled from the academy.

(…Ena, I’m sorry. I’m going to hurt you, I know.)

I had only spent two days with Ena.

I don’t expect her to forget that short time.

…But, Ena.

Please keep moving forward.

And, please seize your happy ending.

I know you can do it.

“The sentence. Shiruto Lugia is guilty of unauthorized entry into the Grand Library, removing a spell book without permission, and using forbidden magic designated by the Empire—,”

As Ralthea’s words laid out my punishment, the nearly silent interrogation room was suddenly broken by a loud,

Bang!! Then, the door slammed open with force.

“…Huh?”

I suddenly turned toward the door.

And there—,

“—Ah, w-wait, please…!!”

Standing at the entrance of the interrogation room was a delicate girl, as she was panting from her quick breathing… Ena.

“E-Ena…?”

I couldn’t help but let out a dumbfounded sound.

According to the school rules, outsiders aren’t allowed to enter the interrogation room. So I never expected a rule-abiding Ena to do something so reckless.

“…You’re Ena Refine, right? But this is kouhai-kun’s interrogation right now?”

Ralthea spoke calmly to Ena while still smiling.

Ena… her shoulders twitching with her arms and legs trembling in small shakes.

Even so, Ena.

“Ah… um, Ralthea-sama… please… I-I…”

Fear, anxiety, tension.

Her pale face and nervous gestures clearly showed how hard she was trying to hold them back.

But even in that state, she gathered all her courage and shouted,

“—I want to stay with him… forever…!!”

Ena’s outrageous declaration echoed through the interrogation room.