The possibility that the person thought to be a possessor or regressor was not Ethan but someone else around him.

In theory, it was a fully plausible story.

Initially, it was a hypothesis that hadn’t even been considered due to Ethan’s drastically changed appearance and the fact that most of the altered story revolved around the Blackwood family to which Ethan belonged.

However, due to Ethan’s actions seen by Gyeongmwajogyegigwat at the lakeside, he began to give considerable weight to the second hypothesis.

That there was a possessor who had possessed someone other than Ethan and was intervening in the story in various ways, including the person known as Ethan himself.

Two days ago, Gyeongmwajogyegigwat had never missed the modern speech pattern that had casually reached his ears.

‘I guess I’m buying this.’

It was a familiar speech pattern presumed to belong to a young man in his teens to twenties, which he had heard quite a lot in his past life.

Had an ordinary academy student casually uttered it, he might have overlooked it without thinking too deeply. However, it was the person who used that speech pattern that made him suspicious.

A person whose appearance and position made it absolutely impossible to believe they would use such a speech pattern, as if they had been possessed by someone else, muttering carelessly.

Lilith Rosewood.

Or, for some reason, now a quasi-baroness going by the name Lilith Blackwood Rosewood, she was the most likely candidate for the second possibility.

“When you think about it, the circumstances themselves are the most plausible.”

The fact that Eiria, a courtesan taken to the Silverwood estate, was the villainess who tormented Lilith in the original story.

That Lizzy, who should have been removed according to the original plot, was not only alive but sometimes seemed to follow Lilith in a peculiar way.

Even the fact that Lilith, ‘just a maid,’ had confidently taken on an administrative position in Seraphine’s student council announcement today.

Although not as much as Ethan, Lilith also showed actions that were significantly different from those in the original game.

“…But there was one reason why it was hardest to think of her as a possessor.”

“If Lilith is the possessor, how did she manage to tame that pig prince, Ethan?”

How had she managed to turn Ethan into a proper person without incurring Harold’s wrath, given her status as just a maid?

From the perspective of the hero Gyeongmwajogyegigwat, that part was utterly incomprehensible.

Had Lilith even slightly laid a hand on Ethan or cursed at him, she would have been punished by Harold.

If their relationship had soured even a little, Lilith would have been alongside Eiria, facing the same fate as a courtesan in Silverwood estate.

It was even more absurd to believe that she had reformed Ethan’s troublesome personality without violence or verbal abuse.

The future Lilith faced in the original game, suffering under Ethan as the ‘foolish maid,’ was proof that those methods were ineffective.

“If I could just figure out how she managed that part, I could be convinced Lilith is the possessor…”

He wanted to speak directly with her if possible, but Ethan was guarding Lilith closely, pointing out the promiscuity of her relationships.

It seemed it would take a bit more time to confirm the truth.

“…There’s still plenty of time.”

The final event of the second part, where Ethan loses his life, was at the end of the second semester of the second year.

As long as he could ascertain how the story had changed before then, it would be enough.

“Once I find out by then, I can decide whether to recruit Lilith for the classic playthrough of the original game or consider a different way of clearing it.”

There was more than enough time to defer the judgment.

Dormitory of the Fencing Club. Ethan and Lilith's Room.

Returning to the dormitory shared with Ethan after three days, I was warmly welcomed by one person and two spirits who had been waiting for me.

“Lilithhhh~!!!”

As soon as she saw my face after three days, Isabel reacted loudly and ran toward me.

‘Lilith, are you okay?! Are you really fine now? Are you fully recovered?’

‘…Lilith, you won’t die, right…?’

And receiving a warm welcome from Sally and Say, who surprisingly seemed genuinely worried about my safe return.

“Lilithhh~!! I heard you almost died again this time~!! Why do you keep doing dangerous things, Lilithhh~!!!”

“Sorry, Isabel. I made you worry unnecessarily.”

“It wasn’t unnecessary worrying~!!!”

Isabel clung to me, her tearful face burrowing into my chest.

Had something gone wrong with me, Isabel would have been deeply saddened in various ways.

Especially since she had followed me to Luminor Academy in the awkward status of being the personal maid of a personal maid, losing me would have left her completely stranded.

Of course, thanks to my safe return, the potential tragedies for both of us were all canceled.

“…I’ll go wash up first. You guys can talk while I’m gone.”

“Oh, Young Master Ethan. What about your change of clothes…?”

“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry, and rest up today, Lilith.”

-Clang.

With those words, Ethan took his underwear and nightwear and entered the dressing room.

Thanks to that, I had to listen to Isabel’s worried scolding for nearly ten minutes.

“…So don’t do dangerous things, Lilith. Why does Lilith, who is supposed to be a personal maid like me, keep facing crises?”

“Sorry, I have no excuse.”

“…If you do something dangerous again and almost die, I’ll really….”

“……”

“Oh, no… Saying I’d cut ties is too much. I, I won’t talk to you for a week….”

Unable to say she’d cut ties completely due to her soft heart or because she feared I might do something dangerous again, she hastily softened her punishment.

Though it was a somewhat cute declaration, I could only bow my head and apologize to Isabel.

Even before regaining my past life memories, she had been a precious connection, so I didn’t want our relationship to become estranged.

‘Lilith, Lilith.’

“Oh, Sally. What is it?”

‘Can I eat your magic now? Or do I need to wait a bit more?’

‘I want to eat your magic too, Lilith….’

“Oh.”

Come to think of it, it had been three days since I last provided them with magic.

Though being contracted spirits didn’t necessarily mean they had to consume only my magic to survive. They could maintain their life force with the ambient magic in the air.

However, if they didn’t receive a sufficient supply of the contractor’s magic, the spirits’ intimacy and growth rates would decrease, making consistent supply crucial.

Since I had fully recovered yesterday after surviving the near-death crisis, there was no problem giving them magic now.

“You can have as much as you want, Sally and Say. I couldn’t provide you with it for three days, so feel free to eat your fill.”

‘Hooray~!!’

‘Thank you, I’ll eat well….’

With brightened expressions, the two spirits attached themselves to my right and left hands and began to absorb my magic.

As a high spirit and a mid-level spirit simultaneously absorbed my magic, I could feel it draining from my body, but my capacity had exceeded 3000 after leveling up from 12 to 16, so it was manageable.

‘Lilith! Your magic seems denser than before?’

‘And it tastes better, hmm….’

“Well, maybe it’s because I got stronger while defeating the Kraken?”

‘At this rate, we might soon be able to form a formal contract! Keep getting stronger quickly!’

“It’s not as easy as it sounds. This time, I was lucky to have the conditions to defeat the Kraken. If I make a mistake, I could die….”

“Hmph…,”

“…though I didn’t. Anyway, it was a close win. I don’t want to engage in life-threatening battles if I can avoid it.”

“…Phew.”

It hurt a bit to tell the truth with Isabel’s worried gaze upon me. It wasn’t mere annoyance but genuine concern.

When a loyal and kind-hearted person like Isabel got angry with me, it was usually my fault.

After worrying my best friend so much, I had no choice but to accept the consequences.

“By the way, it’s surprising that Sally and Say behaved so well. I thought you’d be searching for me if I was away for days.”

‘You told us to wait quietly. I was a bit worried but waited. I overheard other humans in this room saying you were alive.’

‘With a contract, you can tell if they’re dead or not. …It was a bit worrying when the connection was momentarily cut.’

I guess they do listen to their contractor’s instructions.

Anyway, it was fortunate that these two spirits didn’t wander around looking for me.

If they had wandered off and gotten lost or confronted the academy church, my recovery might have been delayed due to fatigue.

…Given the Kraken subjugation, I should always carry at least one of them with me.

“Lilith, you can use the bathroom now.”

“Oh, thank you, Young Master Ethan.”

Responding to Ethan, who came out of the bathroom at the right moment, I also grabbed my nightwear and underwear and headed to the dormitory dressing room.

After washing up in the well-equipped dormitory bathroom, I immediately faced a new problem.

“Lilith, how about lying on the bed now? We both have classes starting in the morning.”

“……”

“…Lilith?”

“…Ah, yes. That’s right… Young Master Ethan is right, we should go to bed soon. Yes….”

The double bed, which I had always slept comfortably on, suddenly felt so unfamiliar tonight.