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 35

That late at night.

I made sure Ena was sound asleep, her gentle breaths resting against my chest, before quietly slipping out of bed without making a sound.

(…Only two weeks left until the deadline. I have to do what I can.)

Ena has been working hard every day, learning magic as best she can. Her studies have been going well, too. She’s diligent while gaining knowledge steadily, step by step.

But… At this rate, there’s no way she could master controlling the “Witch’s Seed” by the midterm.

(If the normal way won’t work… then I’ll have to use a shortcut.)

I slipped out of the dorm and headed toward the main school building. My destination is the student council room, in the dead of night.

Without knocking, I pushed the door open confidently. Inside was,

“—Ah, I’ve been waiting for you, kouhai-kun.”

Her hair was a deep jade green, her mysterious eyes spiraling like a puzzle.

The student council president, Ralthea Embrace, stood before me. It had been a week since we last met.

“…I’m sorry to come at this hour, Ralthea-sama.”

“Yeah, don’t worry about it. I’m nocturnal, after all.”

She puffed out her chest like she was proud of it.

She kept that gentle smile as she asked,

“So, what brings you here, kouhai-kun?”

“…Yes. I came to ask a favor about Ena.”

A shortcut and not the normal way.

―Luckily, I had knowledge of the original story. But even with that, removing the trauma in Ena’s heart wouldn’t be easy.

Still, I had one idea from the start.

“Ralthea-sama, could you help me find a magician who can use [Memory Manipulation] magic?”

“…Hmm, I see.”

She rested her cheek on her hand and twirling a pen between her fingers.

“My magic could help you find such a person. But I want to understand why you’re asking me for this favor first.”

“Ena… has a trauma connected to magic. If we could erase that part of her memory, she could finally get close to controlling the ‘Witch’s Seed.’”

“I see.”

With Ralthea’s [All-Seeing Eyes] magic, peeking into someone’s past would be easy. But in the original story, she rarely used it that way, out of respect for others and their painful pasts.

“But even if what you say is true… erasing memories doesn’t always mean she can control the ‘Witch’s Seed,’ right?”

“…Ena knows the dangers of the Witch’s Seed very well. She won’t be consumed by its power. Without her trauma, I can guarantee she could be the first in history to fully control it.”

In the original story, that’s exactly how Ena’s path went. She became the strongest magician in the empire, mastering the [Destruction and Rebirth] magic completely, earning fame throughout the world.

“…You’re right. I can see that kind of future too.”

“T-then—”

“But, kouhai-kun. The future I can see isn’t just one thing. There are countless branching possibilities. In some of them, Ena would lose control of the ‘Witch’s Seed.’ Even if I agreed to your plan, I can’t be sure it would prevent that future.”

Ralthea spoke calmly, her words measured.

“Also… what if the [Memory Manipulation] magic works, but its effect fades by chance? In that case, Ena’s mind could be haunted by the past again, and her magic might spiral out of control.”

“…, that’s…”

“What I want from you, no, from both of you, is for Ena to completely control the ‘Witch’s Seed.’ If even a small risk remains, I can’t allow the execution to be canceled.”

She said it all without changing her expression. I had no words to reply; she was completely reasonable.

“Ehehe, kouhai-kun. Don’t make that face. It looks like I’m teasing you.”

“I-I’m s-sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. You were thinking about Ena in your own way. Erasing memories… hmm. It’s a clever and ruthless idea. Very like you.”

Ralthea smiled warmly.

I quickly looked away from her gaze.

“Well, that’s… yes. We don’t really have time to be picky about methods.”

“—If you understand that, then maybe, deep down, you already know what you have to do.”

“…W-what do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said. Kouhai-kun, I believe in you.”

In the original story, Ralthea often used vague phrases like this. But somehow, her usual confident edge felt absent this time.

◇◇◇

A few more days passed.

Ten days remained until the midterm exams.

Ena and I… were living our ordinary days.

She tried her magic, sometimes failed, and then spent the afternoon in class doing theory lessons.

Sitting next to me, Ena’s face looked paler than usual.

“…Shiruto-kun… I’m sorry. I… I couldn’t do it well today either…”

“It’s okay, Ena. There’s still time.”

I didn’t want to see her suffer any longer.

But… if Ena could overcome her trauma on her own, she would probably master the “Witch’s Seed” easily. That’s how Ena was in the original story.

So I couldn’t help but cling to that little possibility.

And this… was our everyday life now.

All I could do was watch over Ena; there was nothing more I could do.

Then, at that moment.

“…Ahaha. Hey, young man.”

Zegio-sensei, who had been lying face down asleep, yawned and looked at me.

“You keep saying the same thing every day. My ears are getting calluses, idiot.”

It sounded like a sharp insult to me.

I was frustrated too. I couldn’t help feeling irritated.

“…W-what are you trying to do, all of a sudden?”

“Hey, hey. What’s with that tone? I’m your teacher, you know.”

“I don’t consider you a teacher, Zegio, after you’ve been skipping your duties for a whole week.”

I spoke without hiding my anger and glanced at Ena as she was trembling nervously beside me.

For some reason, Zegio twisted his mouth into a smirk and said,

“No, it’s the opposite. I’ve been skipping my duties as your teacher for your sake. That’s my way of being kind.”

“Is that your excuse for slacking off?”

“You little forbidden-magic brat. What about you?”

“…Huh?”

Zegio’s gaze sharpened.

He glared straight into my eyes.

“Is whispering sweet words all the kindness you can offer? Making someone look away from reality and pretending you’ve saved them, do you think that’s enough?”

“―T-That’s,”

I knew, I really did.

I knew what I had to do.

The only way I could think of to help Ena overcome her trauma was―,

“…Shiruto-kun…?”

Ena’s voice wavered as she looked at me nervously.

I forced a smile for her and hid my own doubts,

“It’s okay. Don’t worry, Ena. I’ll protect your smile, no matter what.”

This time, it wasn’t just empty comfort.

The midterm exams were right in front of us. I didn’t have time to hesitate anymore.

(…Alright. This time, I’ll go along with Ralthea’s plan.)

I decided it was better to avoid conflict with Ralthea. Ena wouldn’t want that kind of future either.

But. That meant I had no choice.

Even if it meant using a slightly forceful method… I had to help Ena overcome her past.