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.

After that, Ena and I spent the two-week detention period together.

Every moment outside of the bathroom and shower, we were always together. When we ate, when we slept, and even when we were reading books to pass the time. Ena never wanted to leave my side, and I didn’t try to push her away either (though I did firmly refuse when it came to the shower).

For example,

When I was reading the heroic tales that I had stored in my room out of curiosity, Ena naturally intertwined her fingers with mine and got so close that our cheeks almost touched.

“Shiruto-kun. Can I turn the page?”

Her breath brushed against my ear.

Her sweet scent, her silver hair tickling my neck, and her chest pressed lightly against my shoulder… I couldn’t focus on reading. At that moment, I was just a machine turning the pages for Ena.

“…Ehehe. That was fun, Shiruto-kun.”

But still.

Seeing Ena’s smile like that, all the little things didn’t matter at all.

“Yeah. Let’s read the next book.”

“Okay.”

Looking back now, maybe the two-week detention that Ralthea gave us was actually a kind of help.

Me, for using forbidden magic, and Ena, whose false “witch” accusation had just been cleared.

It gave our classmates and the rest of the academy time to accept us.

I think Ralthea… might have thought about all that when giving us the two-week detention.

◇◇◇

So, that’s how it went.

After finishing our two-week detention, Ena and I are finally going back to the academy starting today.

As I ate the breakfast Ena had made while wearing her apron, I thought about what lay ahead.

(But… there’s no point overthinking it. First and foremost, I have to protect Ena.)

Ralthea had told me that Irwin had been handed over to the Empire and would face a formal trial as a suspect in the magical terrorism case.

He would probably spend twenty or thirty years behind bars.

Hearing that gave me some relief.

But… I couldn’t erase myself from the equation.

As someone who had used forbidden magic, my classmates would probably fear me or look down on me.

In the worst case, I might even end up being bullied as Ena had been.

(If that happens… I have to make sure Ena doesn’t get dragged into it.)

I sipped the potage Ena had made and reaffirmed that resolve.

Then Ena looked at me with a worried expression.

“…Shiruto-kun… how is it…?”

“It’s good. Thank you as always, Ena.”

“…Ehehe. You’re welcome.”

Only then did Ena start eating her own breakfast.

True to the original, Ena was an incredible cook. At first, I had let her handle the chores just to make her feel comfortable… but now, I could see that my own lazy habits were getting out of hand.

Not just cooking, cleaning, laundry, taking out the trash, Ena did it all without hesitation.

I had planned to support Ena, but now I wasn’t even sure who was really supporting whom. In just two weeks, I had completely spoiled myself on her kindness.

“…H-hey… Shiruto-kun…”

Ena’s lips whispered a fragile voice.

“Hm, what is it?”

“Shiruto-kun… even in the classroom… will you… stay with me…?”

Her eyes looked up at me, and they were filled with worry.

Even though Ena’s false accusation had been cleared, the memory of being bullied didn’t disappear.

It was natural for her to fear that the same thing might happen again once we returned to class.

“…Ena. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. If you stay home, I’ll stay home too.”

“…No. I’ll go. I have to… I can’t go…”

Ena had been cut off by her real father and basically abandoned before entering the magic academy.

If she were kicked out, she really would have nowhere to go.

…Even I couldn’t be sure I could take care of Ena all by myself. The world of “Magiaka” didn’t really have much of a concept of money. So my video game knowledge wouldn’t be much help in real life.

I could go back to my parents’ house, but I had only gotten into the academy by persuading my father. If anyone found out I took Ena and left, I had no idea what would happen. So,

“It’s okay. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you, Ena.”

I deliberately used strong words. I meant them, and I hoped that hearing this would make Ena feel even a little bit lighter.

“…Yeah. Thank you, Shiruto-kun.”

She gave a small smile, like she was forcing herself to hide her fear.

“I… I’ll do anything for you. So… please don’t ever abandon me…?”

Will she do anything for me?

Don’t abandon her?

Those had become Ena’s phrases lately.

I wouldn’t say it was entirely healthy. But… it showed just how much Ena had opened her heart to me.

And I wanted to respond to that.

I swallowed my bread, then sipped the potage.

“Thank you for the meal, Ena. Now… let’s clean up and get ready to go to school.”