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 36

That night.

I had decided what I was going to do, so there was no need to push Ena anymore.

I spoke to her as she studied hard at her desk.

“Ena… I need to talk to you.”

“…Ah…”

Her face twisted in fear. Before her thin lips could open, I started speaking again.

“Remember when we talked about having to become a first-class student? You can forget about that now.”

“…W-why?”

Ena’s small voice shook as she said,

“I… I’m no good. I can’t use magic… Are you going to… abandon me…?”

“No, Ena. That’s not it.”

“But, if I can’t become first-class, we’ll be apart…”

“That’s not a problem anymore. You just need to take the exam as usual. No matter how you do, you won’t lose your special student status.”

Still, her eyes were full of worry. I gently patted her hair as she looked up at me.

“It’s okay, Ena. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. Just trust me.”

When I said that, a small smile finally appeared on Ena’s face, like she was relieved.

Ten days until the midterm exam.

Now, all we could do was wait for it to start. Everything would be fine. I just needed to believe in Ena.

◇◇◇

And then, ten days later.

At Eratel Magic Academy, exam days are split by year.

For us first-years, the exams are always held on the first day, and that includes Ena and me, even though we’re in the special student class.

But the exams are taken by class.

That means… Ena and I would be taking the test just the two of us.

“Alright… like last time, this exam will measure your pure magical skills. Well, not that I’m the one doing it.”

Under the cloudy sky, at the old school’s training hall, the exam supervisor, Zegio-sensei, spoke in his usual lazy voice.

“The midterms had you fighting magic training dummies, but this is the finals. So… your exam content will be…”

“Real combat, right?”

I interrupted him, and Ena shivered at my words.

The exam content is usually announced on the day itself.

Real combat, this is probably the worst possible test for Ena. Attacking a dummy might be easy to fake with magic power, but real combat is another story. With Ena’s current trauma, even that would be hard.

Still… for my plan, this exam was perfect timing.

Well… in the original plan, the first battle exam happened at this point anyway, so I already knew what was coming.

“Yeah, that’s it. Alright, student council president, I leave the rest to you.”

Zegio-sensei yawned and turned away.

And then, stepping forward in his place, was Ralthea.

It wasn’t surprising to see her there; she probably wanted to see for herself whether Ena could control the “Witch’s Seed.”

“Good morning, Shiruto-kun and Ena-san. I’ll be supervising your exam today.”

Ralthea said with her usual smile, her robe fluttering in the wind.

Even though she’s just a student, she was acting as the exam supervisor. I really thought that in this world, the student council president could do anything.

“From now on, you’ll have unlimited-time magical combat against the mages I’ve prepared. Your grade will be based on how you fight, including who wins. Ehehe, simple, right?”

Then, she gave a playful wink.

“This exam will also recheck your ranks. Show me your true strength, and you might even skip a grade. It’s possible.”

“Ralthea-sama. If possible, we’d like to start the exam quickly.”

I was eager to put my preparation into action.

I wanted to get started before my energy faded.

“Hehe, you’re impatient, kouhai-kun.”

Ralthea chuckled softly.

“So, who goes first? You can pick whichever you like.”

Ena and I glanced at each other for a moment.

But I couldn’t let her go first. I immediately looked away from her and said,

“I’ll go first… is that okay, Ena?”

“Ah… Y-yeah…”

“Understood. Then, kouhai-kun, let’s start the exam right away as you wish.”

Then she snapped her fingers.

…I thought I felt a tiny ripple of magic. Does that mean Ralthea just activated some kind of spell?

“Of course, I have to supervise, and Zegio-sensei is here to stop the fight if anything happens. So we’ve prepared your opponents for you.”

“…Is that so? I thought I was going to fight you, Ralthea-sama.”

“My magic isn’t good for fighting. Even though Ena-san might be fine, I couldn’t measure up against you at all.”

Honestly, that wasn’t entirely true, but it wasn’t something worth arguing about.

Still, the opponent Ralthea prepared… I couldn’t imagine who it might be. In the original plan, it was Cynthia-sensei, but she’s in a different class now. And it’s not even Zegio-sensei, so I really had no idea who it could be.

“Then… come on? My cute sword servant.”

Sword servant?

Did that word even appear in the original story?

And… what’s this uneasy feeling in my chest?

“―That’s right. I almost forgot to tell you something, kouhai-kun.”

Ralthea’s smile twisted mischievously.

It was like a child plotting some prank.

“For the best future, I won’t hold back. Even if it… ends up hurting your hearts badly.”

In that instant.

Something fell from the sky.

Boom, the impact sent up a cloud of dust, and it covered my vision.

“Kyaaa…”

“…W-what the—”

Ena screamed, and I was frozen in confusion.

Through the swirling dust, something appeared.

“―Hey. Long time no see, you worthless mob-kun.”

That voice.

That name.

He appeared, silver hair messy, eyes burning deep and blood-red.

“Irwin… w-why are you here…!!”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to answer Ralthea-sama’s request and be your examination opponent.”

Irwin Selbus.

The protagonist of “Magiaka” is the jerk who led this world to a tragic ending.

The same Irwin who was supposed to be expelled from the academy after dueling me and handed over to the empire was here, grinning with a twisted smile.