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 9

“…Huh?”

Irwin twitched his eyebrow at my words.

“Actually, I just hate the version of you that shows up when this route is chosen… but I guess that’s basically the same thing.”

In most routes of “Magiaka,” Irwin fully shows his sense of justice and saves many people’s hearts and lives.

He’s strong and kind, and that’s why the heroines fall for him.

But.

The Irwin in front of me now is different.

He’s walked only the worst paths, a true jerk.

The Irwin of the world that reached a bad ending, I hate him with every fiber of my being.

“So, Irwin. That punch yesterday? That was my feelings talking. Did it hurt?”

“…Haha. Don’t get too full of yourself, you worthless mob.”

His voice was deep and sharp.

Just a change in personality, and his tone shifts so much. It almost impressed me.

“By the way, what is your name again? When did a student like you, so invisible, even join our class?”

“Oh, that’s right. No wonder your tiny brain can’t remember classmates’ faces.”

“…Ugh!”

“Wait, calm down. Using offensive magic outside class gets you expelled, just so you know?”

I held back Irwin, who was starting to raise his magic.

“But I get how you feel, Irwin. You probably felt like a king this morning, then some mob like me hits you and humiliates you in front of everyone. You’d want revenge, too, right? Multiply that by hundreds.”

He stayed quiet while glaring at me.

“―I feel the same.”

I remembered yesterday morning in the classroom.

Ena’s small scream, her teary eyes. The way she flinched at Irwin.

And… the deep wound in her heart from being betrayed by her childhood friend, whom she trusted.

Ena, who should have been pure and cheerful, now says “I’m sorry” almost as a habit. She flinches and shakes her shoulders at every little thing because of him.

I will make him pay for that.

“Irwin. I’ll give back to you after what you did to Ena, multiplied by hundreds.”

“…Haha, that’s pretty lame to say. Maybe… are you one of those guys? Smitten by that stupid witch’s cute face while playing hero for justice?”

He said it in a mocking way.

—Irwin. You used to look up to the hero of justice, too.

Well, that doesn’t matter anymore.

“—Fight me. Duel me.”

I would make Irwin admit the things he’d done to Ena.

There were many ways to do it, but a duel was the fastest way to deliver punishment.

“…Are you serious? A duel?”

His face twisted into a sly grin with a fearless grin.

That confidence wasn’t arrogance.

Irwin Selbus’ specialty magic is the <Holy Sword>.

It’s a combat-focused spell that was an extremely aggressive spell.

“Of course, you know that, right? Once it’s a duel, I won’t hold back.”

This version of Irwin, who reached a bad ending, is one of the strongest across all routes.

He never trained or studied in this world, but being a natural genius, the magic explosion incident made him grow rapidly.

He gained enormous magical power from Ena and learned to control magic from the runaway incident.

Because of that, he’s now one of the top students in the academy.

The way he bullied Ena and made his classmates follow him.

That’s all because of the great power he gained as a magician.

A jerk will always be a jerk.

“Don’t worry, I won’t change the official duel rules. Even if someone dies during a magical duel… Irwin, you won’t be punished for it.”

“Ha… Pfft, hahaha…!!”

Irwin laughed as he was clutching his stomach while sitting down.

He probably hasn’t considered that he could lose at all.

“Good. I’ll take that duel —Sensei. You’ve been informed, right?”

The female teacher standing at the desk, Cynthia-sensei, adjusted her glasses with a confused look.

“Y-yeah… Shiruto-kun, are you sure about this?”

“Of course. Thank you, Cynthia-sensei.”

“…Alright. Then it’s settled. I, Cynthia Escasha, officially accept the magical duel between Shiruto Lugia and Irwin Selbus.”

Duel rules for magicians are special.

It’s called a “Promise Enforcement” using Contract Magic.

“Now, we will set each side’s demands. Challenger, Shiruto Lugia, please state yours.”

“My demand. If I win the duel, I get to ask my opponent three questions. And the loser must answer them honestly.”

Contract magic is a special kind of magic, different from normal magic that magicians master. It focuses on the “contract” itself.

A contract like this carries the force of the world behind it. Promises made through contract magic are enforced, whether the person wants it or not.

“…What are you thinking with that demand?”

Irwin didn’t lose his confident attitude, but I didn’t miss the sweat forming on his forehead. If this demand goes through, I can force the truth out of him.

Of course, a duel’s demands require both sides to agree. Irwin technically has the right to refuse but,

“Well, fine. I don’t know why it matters, but I’ll go along with it.”

That’s right. Irwin effectively has no right to refuse. If he rejected my demand here, it would only tell the class that he has a truth he doesn’t want anyone to know.

“Then my demand… hmm, I’ll just make it simple. A lifetime obedience. How about that, you worthless mob?”

The demand doesn’t feel fair at all. Maybe he’s trying to scare me off. But I just said,

“It doesn’t matter. I just need to win.”

“…Alright. Then the contract is set.”

Irwin and I both focused our eyes on Cynthia-sensei.

“…Agreed. I will now activate the contract magic. Both of you, step forward.”

Cynthia-sensei created the contract with her magic. Irwin and I moved to the teacher’s desk and poured our magic into the paper.

—A seal appeared on the contract. The contract was now officially binding.

“According to the academy’s magic rules, the duel will take place tomorrow evening. Both of you must go to the arena right after school. Understood?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

With that, there’s nothing more for me in this classroom. Ena is waiting, so I should get back to my room.

“Hey, worthless mob.”

Irwin’s voice stopped me. I reluctantly turned slightly while keeping my back mostly toward him.

“I’ll make you regret challenging me with everything I’ve got. So tomorrow, don’t run away like a coward again, alright?”

“Could say the same to you, Irwin.”

…Damn. I didn’t even notice that line was so cliché until it left my mouth.

Well, whatever. Doesn’t matter now.

I might as well take this chance to vent some of my built-up stress.

“Tremble as you sleep, you worthless protagonist. Your story ended long ago.”

Irwin’s shouting hit my back as I silently walked toward my dorm room, where Ena was waiting.