Translator: Lizzz
Proofreader: Silavin
POV: Mary Sue
‘Who is the ‘everyone’ that you want to make happy?’
‘Those ‘everyone’, where are they?’
Those two sentences keep going around and around in my mind.
I was born into this world, and I have wished for the happiness of my parents and all the people around me. I have wished for the happiness of everyone.
I have the knowledge of having lived for 17 years, even though just as a sickly girl. I have magical and physical ability, and was taught alchemy by a master of the subject whom I met by chance. Because I was able to fully demonstrate those abilities, I was sometimes described as a child prodigy.
And then, I had a thought.
Ah, this power and destiny was given to me to make everyone in this world(game) happy!
It is to make the characters and the world of my favorite works happy.
Then, when I turned fifteen and entered the academy where the stage was set, the main character, Kriemhild Nephrite, and other characters I knew appeared before me in the forms I knew.
I was delighted, but then I truly felt what I had noticed before.
If things continue as they are, those who should be saved will not be saved. Some will be unhappy, even if the true ending is achieved. And I don’t even know what choice the main character, Kriemhild, will make.
I can’t stand to see everyone, my favorite characters, unhappy.
Since I finally have my favorites characters here, I definitely will make them happy—
‘Who is the ‘everyone’ that you want to make happy?’
‘Those ‘everyone’, where are they?’
How happy I would have been if I could have made them happy. I thought I could make them happy, and yet.
I have endured hardships and discrimination, and yet.
The people whom I wish happiness for– Who are they?
Are they the characters from the game that I adored who appear in front of me? Are they the numerous NPCs, whose faces I don’t even know?
Where are they, and where do they exist? Not behind a screen, not in a dream. Nor are they distant fictional beings.
“That’s why I… hate people like you, who assign roles to others just because they’re characters in a game. Violet is my precious wife.”
At least he sees Violet as an important woman.
He sees the villainess (Violet Valentine) not as an event or an unwanted aristocratic marriage (bad ending), but as an important member of his family.
“I…”
“Huh?”
I lower my muzzle, let my arms hang loosely, and cancel the setup to invoke the magic I had laid down for precaution.
I have no strength; I was barely able to stand on my two legs, and I feel as if I am about to fall down.
“The world I’m in is the world of ‘When the Ring of Fire is lit, World is painted red’, is it?”
I ask, unable to focus.
That’s strange, isn’t it? Why am I asking the obvious?
I came to this world(game), and he must be someone from my original world who also came to this world.
“Therefore, this world–”
“Please say yes, I beg you. Otherwise, I, I…”
“Mary?”
It has to be. Otherwise…
“Ugh… blargh…!”
“Eh, wait, Mary?!”
I crouch down, suddenly feeling sick and nauseous.
He is concerned about me, going as far as to let his guard down. He rushes over to me and places his hand on my back. He is worried about me, even though I have said such hostile and hateful things.
“Are you all right?! Slowly, calm your breathing. The infirmary– Ah, but that water curtain thing of yours, I don’t know what it is, but it hasn’t disappeared–!”
But why? Why am I suddenly nauseous… I have not taken any particular damage…
Why, why, why – No, I know why.
There is only one reason.
“I’m scared…”
“Eh…?”
It’s simple: I am scared.
Not of monsters. Not because my life is threatened.
I…
“I, who only put on an act; I’ve deceived everyone…”
“Deceive…?”
“Because, you know, it’s not. This world is not a game. And I have used my knowledge of the game to deceive everyone…”
I sound broken, and I look back at what I have done so far.
The words I have just said in the first-year final were words that Kriemhild would have said from the bottom of her heart.
I deceived His Highness with words that have no weight, words that I have not thought of myself, words that I have only picked the right moment to say.
“So, please tell me that this world is a game. Otherwise, I’m just–”
An annoying being (Mary Sue) who irresponsibly changes others’ paths because of her own sense of omnipotence, aren’t I?
“Blah blah blah, you’re so annoying!”
“Eh– Ouch?!”
Clo has just grabbed me by the lapels and head-butted me. I cried out with an ‘ouch’, but it really only tingled a little.
“I told you, you are definitely a wonderful person. Even if it’s true that I don’t see you as my friend. You certainly wished for their happiness, didn’t you?”
“But that was just an imitation of the main character… of Kriemhild in the game–”
“If imitation makes everything work out, then what is the problem!? People like you to an abnormal extent to the point that it is scary, you know? I even wonder if you were brainwashing them!”
“What brainwashing… I just…”
“You just wanted them to be happy. That’s good, isn’t it? That wish itself is right. But for people to truly like you, you must have your own charms, don’t you think? I heard that you sacrificed sleep to prepare for the school festival and practice for the play, and train to use magic every day. Even if you think it’s just a game, your actions themselves are real, and I think that’s why people are attracted to you.”
Even though I was intimidated by Clo’s vigorous words, I questioned him back, and he answered affirmatively.
Even though he dislikes me, even though I consider this as a game and have taken things so lightly, it does not mean that what I have done has never happened, and my feelings cannot be denied.
I have made people happy, and there are people who have been charmed by me.
I—
“Oh…? That’s funny, the headbutt came from me, so why am I the one taking damage…?”
As Clo says those words out loud, he suddenly becomes unsteady and removes his hand from my lapels.
What the— Oh, come to think of it, my head was covered with a magic circle that repels impacts above a certain level to prevent concussions. Originally, it only repel considerable impacts, but considering Clo’s physical ability, the magic circle was activated by the headbutt, and if the impact of the counterattack exceeds what the self-defense charms can endure, the charms would not be able to mitigate it, and the damage Clo’s head receive—
“Oh, this. Is bad. I. Can’t…”
“Eh, Clo? Clo?!”
My call was in vain; Clo collapsed and passed out.
I hope… he is all right.