When the Villain Joined the Knights to Avoid Doom Flags, but Somehow the Heroines Started Approaching Him - Chapter 27: Something Feels Off

Chapter 27: Something Feels Off

“Hey, isn’t that…?”

“I thought I hadn’t seen him around before, but I guess he really is a student here.”

“But why is he walking with Lady Fia?”

As Yulis walked down the hallway, he could feel the stares of fresh-faced students piercing into him.

Was it because he was walking next to someone so popular? That was the sort of escapist thought that crossed his mind as he tried to distract himself.

“…I want to get out of this place as soon as possible. Someone, please catch the stalker already.”

“Fufu, I agree.”

Yulis’s role as a student was purely part of the escort mission.

Given the situation, openly admitting that there were bodyguards around was out of the question. Sticking close to Fia as a student was simply the most efficient option.

If word got out that someone was targeting the princess, it could cause panic among the other students.

Though, from Yulis’s perspective, it would’ve been much simpler if she just stayed quietly at home. But apparently, it wasn’t that easy.

“By the way, there’s something I’ve been curious about.”

Fia, walking beside him, suddenly turned to ask a question.

“Why did you decide to join the knight order, Sir Yulis?”

“Uh, well…”

The sudden question left Yulis flustered.

There was no way he could casually say, “Oh, I just wanted to avoid meeting people like you,” out loud.

His eyes darted around as he scrambled to come up with a quick response.

Then, putting on a serious expression—

“I wanted to help those in need in this world—”

“Doubt.”

“You didn’t even let me finish!”

Fia cut him off immediately.

“So, what’s the real reason?”

“B-Because I hate studying…?”

“That’s far too easy to figure out, Sir Yulis.”

Apparently, his face gave him away far too easily.

Yulis covered his face with both hands, tears welling up slightly in his eyes.

Fia, watching this, smiled softly.

(Fufu, how adorable.)

For some reason, his flustered expression seemed to strike a chord with her.

It wasn’t necessarily about romantic feelings; his helplessness was simply endearing.

(Still, I am genuinely curious about why he joined the knight order.)

If he were a noble child, attending the academy would’ve been the natural course.

Sure, it wasn’t unusual for someone skilled in swordsmanship, from a notable family, or unable to inherit their family title to join the knight order instead.

In Yulis’s case, with an older brother to inherit their family’s estate, joining the knights wasn’t out of place.

But this was Yulis.

The idea of him taking up a sword to help others… it seemed far removed from his personality.

(And then, there are the women who admire him… That’s a little concerning.)

If he had joined the knight order for the same reasons as herself, she might be able to believe it.

But she doubted that was the case.

Both Iris and Lieselotte wore the unmistakable expressions of girls in love.

(Having rivals isn’t much of an issue, but the fact that his reputation is so high… that’s what bothers me.)

She knew that the Yulis she once knew wasn’t the same anymore.

But could a person truly change so easily? If there was even a shred of the old Yulis left, it was hard to imagine any girl being drawn to him. His personality had been that bad.

Especially considering that both Iris and Lieselotte were undeniably attractive.

The kind of girls who could easily draw the attention of countless suitors. Surely, they’d have no shortage of better options—men who could meet their standards and then some.

(…No, it’s not something I should be prying into. Either way, what I need to do as a princess doesn’t change.)

Fia gently leaned against Yulis’s shoulder.

“…What are you doing?”

“I thought staying closer would make it easier for you to guard me.”

“Your concern is so touching it’s bringing me to tears… though what I’d really like is some concern for the sharp glares I’m getting right now.”

With Fia leaning closer, the stares from the boys around them grew even sharper.

To his peers, Fia was an absolute gem—a girl beyond reach. Seeing someone like Yulis, infamous for being a disgrace, seemingly monopolizing her attention was bound to rub them the wrong way.

Understanding the meaning behind those stares, Yulis felt more drained than flustered by Fia’s overly familiar behavior.

(Sigh… this carefree little princess. Could she be playing around because she knows the protagonist will protect her?)

Of course, that couldn’t be the case.

It couldn’t, but her calm and confident attitude made it feel like it might actually be true.

(Seriously… your life isn’t some perfectly smooth sailing princess route. There are characters in your story that the protagonist couldn’t even fully defeat.)

The game was fundamentally a tale of growth.

While it featured events to strengthen the bond between the protagonist and the heroines, it wasn’t a flawless hero’s journey.

There were struggles, moments of danger, and times when they had to rely on others to resolve their problems.

(If I remember correctly, the early stages were pretty rough. Like that twin mid-boss… they couldn’t defeat them without the help of the teachers…)

Yulis furrowed his brow, trying to recall the details.

And that’s when it happened.

BOOM!!!

The wall in front of him shattered into pieces.

“Kyaaa!”

“What the—!? What’s going on!?”

Without thinking, Yulis instinctively pulled Fia into his arms.

(Are you kidding me!? What kind of neighborhood-wrecking chaos is this!?)

The wall looked as though it had been smashed through by some tremendous force.

They were on the third floor, yet from the debris, a petite girl with black and pink hair emerged slowly, stepping over the rubble as if she owned the place.

“Alright, alright! Whoever guessed the winner, congratulations! The super thrilling obstacle race is down to the final stretch—just the finish line left to cross☆!”

And then—

“Hold it, you little brat.”

Thin, water-colored lines streaked across the broken wall, cutting through to the far side of the classroom.

Through the opening in the wall stepped another girl, her light blue hair messy and her appearance battered, but her determination unshaken.

“You’re not crossing any finish line. This is where you exit—right now!”

“Aha! You survived that? Amazing! This is exactly what makes a race worth it—thrilling to the very end♪!”

This was supposed to be a school, a place of learning for young minds.

And yet, here were two girls, entirely out of place, crashing onto the scene with a spectacle as loud as it was chaotic.