Reincarnated as the Final Boss of an Eroge, but I Just Want a Peaceful Life After the Game Ends - Chapter 04: Birthday

Chapter 04: Birthday

The entrance ceremony ended peacefully, and just as I was about to head home, Fina tugged on my sleeve to stop me.

“Hey, how was my speech today?”

She looked up at me with a mischievous smile.

Seriously, she was so cute.

I never thought something—or rather, someone—so adorable could exist in the real world, even after crossing over from 2D to 3D. That was a thought pulled straight from the memories of my past life, Tasuku Takamura.

At the ceremony, Princess Fina had gone up on stage as the representative of the new students and gave a welcome speech.

“It was good.”

I answered her plainly.

Fina immediately yanked on my sleeve and pulled me closer.

“Muu! That’s it? What about calling me cute or beautiful or something?”

“I mean, don’t you already get showered with that kind of praise all the time?”

“Sure, but it’s different when you say it! C’mon, praise me! I want lots and lots of compliments!”

She kept tugging on my sleeve with a dramatic pout, begging for compliments—until a calm and composed voice cut in from the side.

It came from the cool beauty standing nearby: Ivelia Milenitrum.

Yeah, the girl I once risked a trip to fetch the golden brooch [Last Leaf] for. A fond memory.

Thanks to that little adventure, my mother wouldn’t let me go out alone for a while. And whenever she wasn’t around, my maid Liliana stuck to me like glue.

“Fina, that’s enough. You’re still a princess, you know. You should carry yourself with some dignity in places like this.”

“Eh—come on, but the academy’s supposed to treat everyone equally, regardless of status, right? So it’s fine!”

“That’s that, and this is this! Sidol is the heir to a ducal family, and he already has a fiancée!”

“Exactly—that’s that, and this is this! Besides, isn’t it weird that Luna hasn’t even come to say hi to Sidol? She’s his fiancée, right?”

As Fina turned her eyes toward Luna Faustler, who was just about to leave the classroom, Ivelia followed her gaze.

Luna walked right out of the room without so much as glancing in our direction.

“She probably has her own reasons.”

“Even so, it’s strange, isn’t it? They’re engaged and in the same class, and she hasn’t even said a word to him!”

“I get what you’re saying. And it’s not just Sidol—she hasn’t spoken to either of us, either. I really thought we used to get along back then…”

About two years ago, Luna and I were on decent terms.

But at some point, she completely stopped talking to me.

In fact, this was the first time we’d even seen each other in two years.

I could feel Liliana’s presence waiting just outside the door.

Fina and Ivelia’s escorts would likely be here any second as well.

Before leaving the classroom, I decided to take a quick look at their status screens.

───

Name: Fina Eternia

Gender: Female Age: 12

Height: 168 cm Weight: 46 kg

B-W-H: 76 / 56 / 74

Class: None Level: 8

HP: 380 MP: 1880

VIT: 19 STR: 8

DEX: 8 AGI: 31

INT: 66 MND: 190

Skills: Magic (Fire: 3, Earth: 2, Water: 4)

Non-Elemental Magic: 2, Chant Omission: 1, Spear Technique: 3

Staff Technique: 2, Martial Arts: 4

Affection: 100★

︙

───

Name: Ivelia Milenitrum

Gender: Female Age: 12

Height: 162 cm Weight: 42 kg

B-W-H: 72 / 53 / 70

Class: Mage Level: 12

HP: 540 MP: 2840

VIT: 27 STR: 12

DEX: 12 AGI: 47

INT: 142 MND: 120

Skills: Magic (Fire: 3, Earth: 2, Wind: 3, Water: 4)

Non-Elemental Magic: 2, Chant Omission: 1, Swordsmanship: 4

Archery: 4, Martial Arts: 3

Affection: 90

︙

───

I’ll skip over the more risqué details, like erogenous zones.

Anyway, both Fina and Ivelia had clearly been working hard and leveling up.

But man, their affection levels were ridiculously high.

Ever since I learned [Appraisal★], I’d been checking occasionally, and Fina’s Affection: 100 hasn’t changed at all. Actually… at some point, a ★ appeared next to the number. What does that even mean?

Ivelia’s affection has fluctuated between 90 and 100, and right now it’s sitting at 90.

I’m not sure if she’s holding back because of Fina, or if it’s because she’s accepted that I’m already engaged to Luna. Either way, it’s been on my mind.

Anyway, just like me, they must’ve been running beginner- and intermediate-level dungeons to grind their levels and skill mastery in preparation for the entrance exam’s practical test.

Usually, students just tag along while their escorts lure out monsters, and they only step in for the finishing blow.

In my case though… I’ve gotten stronger than my own escorts, so I’m more like the one they monitor now.

“My parents and Liliana are here to pick me up, so I’m heading out.”

“Mm, see you tomorrow.”

“Take care!”

When I stepped out of the classroom, sure enough—Liliana, Dad, and Mom were all waiting for me together.

Since I just checked Fina and Ivelia’s status, might as well take a peek at Liliana’s too while I’m at it.

───

Name: Liliana Logroles

Gender: Female Age: 21

Height: 160 cm Weight: 47 kg

B-W-H: 86 / 58 / 88

Class: Scout Level: 25

HP: 540 MP: 340

VIT: 27 STR: 32

DEX: 195 AGI: 195

INT: 17 MND: 22

Skills: Magic (Wind: 3, Dark: 5)

Lockpicking: 2, Presence Detection: 4, Perception Disruption: 4
Non-Elemental Magic: 1, Hidden Weapon Arts: 5, Martial Arts: 5

Affection: 0

───

Nothing much had changed since I last checked her stats… except for one thing.

Her affection level was zero.

Zero. Today must’ve been the day it dropped.

What happened?

The lowest it had ever been before was 2—right at the beginning.

Over the past two years, it had gradually risen to 60.

The last time I checked was at the end of last week. Just a few days ago.

And now, it’s zero?

What’s going on?

Worried, I quickly checked my mom’s affection level too.

───

Name: Sheena Meltrix Eternia

︙

Affection: 20

───

Even Mom’s affection level had dropped.

It used to be 100.

She’s my mother, so I figured that was only natural—but now I couldn’t help but wonder what made it fall so far.

Then their behavior changed—completely.

All three of them: Mom, Dad, and Liliana.

Though, to be fair, Mom looked confused. Like she wanted to ask, “Why is this happening?”

But even so, the words she spoke were cold.

It felt like I no longer mattered—like my existence made no difference, whether I was there or not.

Right after reuniting with them, I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye.

There they were—Hero Ars and Saintess Hanna, chatting away with smug little grins on their faces.

That night, I ate dinner alone.

And the next day, everything became a solo routine.

No one came to wake me up in the morning.

No one helped me change clothes.

My breakfast was silently delivered to my room by a cook, and dinner was the same—me, eating alone.

It was such a drastic change, it was almost laughable.

Time passed.

Aside from my younger brother Thorl and my little sister Gina, most people still cared about me.

Well, most people—excluding my parents, Liliana (who was supposed to be my personal maid), and their attendants. They were the only ones acting distant.

If no one cared at all, meals wouldn’t have kept coming.

Thanks to that, I was able to slip out of the estate openly, even without using [Perception Disruption★].

Now, I could go to the Adventurer’s Guild freely and work under the fake name “Tasuku.”

Every weekend, I dove into the lower floors of intermediate-level dungeons to keep grinding my levels.

And then, it was Ivelia’s birthday.

Summer break was just around the corner.

And soon after… the incident where I’d be expelled from the academy would take place.

That afternoon, since there were no classes, I visited the Milenitrum Duke’s estate with a formal invitation I’d received directly from Ivelia herself.

The only ones attending from the academy were me and Princess Fina.

We were shown into the dining hall.

A grand spread had been prepared—all handmade by Duke Milenitrum himself, just for Ivelia’s birthday.

Despite being the head of a noble house, he insisted on preparing the food himself.

Cooking was his hobby, and whenever someone in the family had a birthday—or even just for special occasions like the entrance ceremony—he personally entered the kitchen and prepared the meals instead of leaving it to the servants.

A bit eccentric for a noble, sure.

But because he was a noble, the ingredients he used were on a whole different level.

“I wonder if Lord Virel made today’s dishes too?”

Fina asked with a gentle smile, turning to Ivelia.

“Yes. Of course he did.”

Ivelia answered with a cheerful expression.

I could almost hear her adding, “My father’s cooking is the best.”

“I always look forward to Lord Virel’s meals. They’re really delicious.”

Both Fina and I were genuinely excited for the food, eagerly anticipating the homemade dishes of Virel Milenitrum, the head of the Milenitrum household.

“I’m glad to hear that. Thank you, Sidol.”

Ivelia might just be a serious daddy’s girl.

After some casual chatting and a good pause in the conversation, Fina stood up from her chair and handed Ivelia a long, slender wooden box.

“Happy birthday. I hope we can always stay close.”

“Thank you, Fina. Fufu… Getting a gift handed to me personally by a princess—this must be my lucky day.”

“Indeed. You should feel honored.”

“I do. Very honored.”

With that, the two of them embraced.

Watching two beautiful girls hug each other like that… yeah, it really was a beautiful sight.

Still, I couldn’t just stand there staring forever.

I reached into my pocket, pulled out a palm-sized wooden box, stepped up beside Ivelia, and handed it to her.

“This is from me. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Sidol. I know you’ve given me something every year, but… for some reason, this year it makes me especially happy.”

Ivelia gently placed both wooden boxes on the table, looking at them quietly and with care.

“May I open them?”

“Of course.”

“Yes, please do. I’d love for you to see it.”

With delicate fingers, Ivelia carefully opened the box she’d received from Fina.

Inside was a beautifully designed necklace adorned with sparkling diamonds.

“Oh my… It’s so beautiful! Thank you so much.”

“I’m glad you like it. I really love seeing you smile like that, Eve.”

Ivelia didn’t show much expression, so she often came off as a bit cold.

But in front of me and Fina, she smiled, got angry, laughed—her emotions were actually quite vivid.

“Fina, would you mind putting it on me?”

“I knew you’d say that. Of course, I’ll put it on for you. Having a princess do it personally? You know that’s premium service, right?”

Fina smiled happily as she fastened the necklace around Ivelia’s neck.

“You know, accessories like this really suit you better than they do me.”

She said it while looking at Ivelia with a bit of awe in her eyes.

“Thank you, Fina.”

“Not at all. You’re very welcome.”

“Now then, I’ll open this one next.”

With careful hands, Ivelia opened the wooden box I had given her.

“Oh my… what a lovely brooch.”

“It’s a brooch, but I had it crafted so it could be worn in your hair too.”

“So it’s a hair ornament then. I’ll try it on.”

Unlike with Fina’s gift, Ivelia put this one on by herself.

Well, I was technically engaged, after all. It wouldn’t have been right for me to casually touch another girl like that.

Maybe Ivelia was just being thoughtful about it.

“How does it look?”

She had adorned her hair with the golden brooch, [Last Leaf].

“It’s simple but truly beautiful. It suits you so well.”

“Yeah. It looks amazing on you.”

By the way, that brooch? It counted as an accessory-type equipment item.

Unless you had [Appraisal: 6] or higher, its name wouldn’t even show up as [Last Leaf].

And unless your [Appraisal] skill was level 8, you couldn’t see its effects.

In Hero Ars’s party, the only heroine capable of using high-level appraisal is Luna—and she only joins near the very end of the story.

Right now, Luna’s [Appraisal] skill is still just level 1.

Which means she wouldn’t be able to see through the brooch I just gave to Ivelia.

…And then, out of habit, I used [Appraisal★] on the [Last Leaf] Ivelia had just put in her hair.

───

Name: Ivelia Milenitrum

 ︙

Affection: 100★

───

Just like with Fina, there was that mysterious ★ next to the number.

What was that star?

I kind of wanted to know… but at the same time, for some reason, I also felt like I didn’t want to know.

As I was silently mulling that over, Ivelia spoke up with her usual calm and gentle voice.

“Thank you, Fina. Sidol. I’m really happy.”

She hugged Fina.

Then she turned to me—and hugged me too.

Her soft cheek touched mine, and then she gently buried her face into the side of my neck.

“Hm?… Hmmm? *cough…”

A man’s cough echoed through the room, prompting Ivelia to quickly release me.

“Ah—Father.”

“Well, alright. From the looks of it, it was Ivelia who went in for the hug. But still—Sidol, you do have a fiancée. Try to show a little restraint.”

That voice belonged to Ivelia’s father, Lord Virel.

“Hm? Those hair and neck accessories—gifts, I assume?”

“Yes. The hair ornament is from Sidol, and the necklace is from Fina.”

“I see. Both suit you very well. Sounds like you received some wonderful presents.”

“Yes, I’m truly happy.”

With a warm smile, Lord Virel gently patted Ivelia’s head.

Nice. The [Last Leaf] was firmly attached to her hair. No sign of it slipping. Looks secure—good.

“Alright then, let’s eat!”

With a flourish, Lord Virel raised both hands and clapped them loudly, signaling the servants to begin bringing out the dishes he’d prepared himself.

Meanwhile, Fina suddenly grabbed my arm and leaned in close—so close her breath tickled my ear—and whispered,

“Hey, that brooch you gave Ivelia… it was really nice. I’m expecting something just as amazing on my birthday, okay?”

Then she smiled sweetly, right in front of me. Her face was way too close!

But thanks to all the teasing she’s done before, I’d finally built up some resistance.

Still… the sad truth is, by the time Princess Fina’s birthday comes around, I won’t be in the capital anymore.

If things keep following the plot of Violation of Eternia, then I’ll never see her again.

That’s why, for her birthday last year, I made sure to give her something extra special.

“Haha, I’ll do my best.”

The moment I said that, she snapped back with,

“That’s the kind of half-hearted answer lazy Sidol gives!”

—then bit my ear.

Ow… Seriously, why!?

Well, anyway…

Just like that, we celebrated Ivelia’s birthday.

If the story keeps following the game’s events, then in just a few days… I’ll be expelled.

That’s why I wanted to enjoy the moment while I still could.

And more than anything—

No matter what it takes, I will save Ivelia.