“…I really almost died.”

The Antique Market, located quite a distance from Nineveh.

After receiving direct admission from the Chairperson, Jin, having no further business with her, hurriedly left the admissions office without a glance back.

The reason was simple. He needed to get away from that place as quickly as possible, before the Chairperson changed her mind again, even if it was just by a minute or a second.

If the Chairperson truly resolved to act, she could separate his head from his body even more easily than flipping her palm.

– Tsk, what a man without dignity. To be humiliated like that and still run away like a dog with its tail on fire. It truly feels disheartening to think that humanity’s fate hangs on such a man.

“Be quiet. Defying the Chairperson right there is nothing short of suicide.”

He would have liked nothing more than to take off his rank insignia and confront the Chairperson, but if he acted solely on his whims, Jin would end up doing what he always did: standing in the Central Plaza, chatting amiably with some middle-aged stranger.

– Once enrolled, there wouldn’t be any need to worry about the Chairperson. After all, her position was hardly a leisurely one, not to mention she wouldn’t be hanging around following him everywhere to keep tabs on what foolishness he might be up to.

“Well, that’s true. You’re so exceptionally capable that there must be many calling for you, so I’d be forgotten in no time.”

Lisia von Edelstein essentially held the role of Chairperson in Nineveh, but at the same time, she was one of the Empire’s leading knights and commanders.

Thanks to her exceptional abilities, she was deeply trusted by the Imperial Family, and as a result, she had become someone who was constantly traveling around the Empire on business.

One could say she was a living testament to the truth that it was better to live life with a moderate amount of ease than to be overly capable.

– …Can that really be interpreted that way?

In fact, Jin wasn’t particularly worried about the Chairperson.

What bothered him more was the thought of having to go back to school with kids who, if he were in Korea, would still be eating school lunches, attending classes, and making friends.

“I’ve already finished twelve years of school and two years of college, and now I have to go to school again?”

Of course, it wasn’t just any school. It was an Academy.

Some might question the difference between a school and an academy, thinking they were essentially the same place just with different names, but Jin firmly believed they were to be distinctly categorized.

After all, the term “Academy” surely contains something that stirs the hearts of enthusiasts, doesn’t it?

For instance, when summer vacation arrives, one could go to the beach, put on a swimsuit, and shout “It’s the sea!” or sit on the stone steps at night enjoying fireworks, confessing one’s love and sharing a kiss during the school festival in the fall, or going on a school trip, or having a mixed-gender hot springs trip in winter…

– …What a foolish delusion this is? It seems I was pretending to be clean on the outside while harboring filthy thoughts on the inside.

As Erekaya muttered with genuine disdain, Jin’s face twisted. Honestly, even he felt these thoughts were too blatant, leaving little room for justification.

– Leaving aside your preferences, why the heck are you at the Antique Market? Typically, one must live in the dormitory in Nineveh. There’s much to prepare for living there starting now.

“Well, as you said, I’m here to buy the essentials for dormitory life.”
– …Essentials for dormitory life?

Erekaya showed a look of confusion at Jin’s words.

“Think about it. All students live in dormitories at Nineveh. So, there may be circumstances where someone else has to enter my room, right?”

– Well… that’s obviously the case. If you enroll at Nineveh, you’re bound to make a friend or two, so it wouldn’t be unusual to invite someone to your room.

“Hmm…”

The thought that he would ‘naturally’ make friends hinted that Erekaya had quite a sociable personality, which Jin quickly picked up on.

No matter how much of a Little Princess she was from the Pendragon family, she must have been a considerable socialite herself to take on the role of the Student Council President overseeing all the students at Nineveh.

But was it really possible for Jin to date a girl like Erekaya, even with her help? The more he thought about it, the less likely it seemed…

“Anyway, there’s definitely a possibility that someone else might enter my room. And if that person looks around and finds not even a single family photo hanging in there, what would they think?”

Would they perhaps wonder if he was an orphan, growing up without parents? Moreover, if that person had a flawed character, they might start spreading the fact that Jin was an orphan far and wide.

Of course, Jin’s parents were perfectly alive in Korea. But since they didn’t exist in this world, it could be said that he was effectively without a mother from this perspective.

“It doesn’t really matter to me whether I have parents or not. What I dislike is the fact that such information could carelessly circulate among others. If I attract too much attention like that, there’s a possibility of unnecessary investigations.”

– …That’s certainly a valid point. And by the way, Jin.

“Yeah? What is it?”

Erekaya spoke in a gentle voice, unlike her usual tone.

– I don’t particularly care about the fact that you don’t have parents. So if you ever feel lonely, just let me know. I could play the role of a mother, albeit a weak one.

“…Is that supposed to be comforting?”

– Tsk, it would have been better if I still had a physical body. If I had my body, I could fully utilize my overflowing maternal instincts right away…

“Enough. Stop right there.”

Truly, what an indifferent woman who didn’t understand human feelings.

After grumbling about that, Jin took a stroll around the market to find a convincing photo for camouflage.

And roughly three hours later.

“I found it.”

Only after scouring every corner of the market did he manage to find a single photo depicting a couple and a young child.

In fact, there were countless family photos scattered throughout the Antique Market. However, finding a child with black hair who resembled Jin’s younger self proved to be quite the challenge.

– Well, across the entire continent, I suppose there aren’t many people with such a unique appearance.

“Shut up.”

Quietly silencing Erekaya, who chattered away in his mind, Jin spoke to her softly.

“Erekaya, by the way, I have one question to ask.”

– What would that be?

“What kind of person is Erekaya del Pendragon?”

– What do you mean by that?

“I’ve set the goal of making you happy this round, and the plan involves making you fall in love to achieve that. But the problem is, I don’t know anything about what kind of person you are. I think it’s necessary to know what type of girl you are in order to court you.”
– Ah, is that what you meant?

Erekaya was silent for a while, as if deep in thought, before finally speaking up after some time.

– The past me… was a very bothersome woman.

“Bothersome?”

– The past Erekaya del Pendragon may appear to be polite and gentle towards others regardless of their status. However, that is merely a façade. If you look deeper, you’ll find that she is darker than you might think.

“…Hmm.”

– The reason why she treats everyone politely, without regard for their status, is that she believes everyone is beneath her. And her gentle demeanor is a tactic to garner others’ trust.

– But that doesn’t mean she’s evil. She simply lacks any genuine interest or concern for anyone but herself. Having lived so long as “Erekaya del Pendragon,” rather than just as a Little Princess of Pendragon, she has unintentionally internalized the social skills and tactics needed to engage with others.

– Erekaya del Pendragon does not know love. This is because she has never experienced loving someone, nor has she been deeply loved by anyone. As a result, she has forgotten how to love. She has been running tirelessly to fulfill the obligations of her noble birth, never pausing even for a moment. And at the end of that, you know well what kind of fate I met.

“…..”

How could one forget such a sight? Flames roaring all around. A horrific scene that seemed to manifest hell itself, with no living souls remaining.

And in the midst of it all, there stood a single woman leading everyone to death.

Erekaya continued with a somewhat bitter tone.

– Therefore, the mask she wears to hide her true self is extremely thick. No matter how much I help, it will be quite the struggle to lift that mask.

“A mask…”

A mask worn for a full 17 years. The thought of removing it from her seemed far from easy.

– What did I say? It’s simpler than you think. So let me propose a solution for you, who is simple-minded and foolish.

“What is it?”

– The past me surprisingly had a pure-hearted side. So without a second thought, I could just burst in from behind and stampede right in—

“What the heck are you talking about….”

Putting aside everything else, if she actually tried that, wouldn’t she get torn to pieces by the doting Pendragon Duke known for his love for his daughter?

– But suddenly, one thing piques my curiosity. If the current me is permitted to invade the past me, does that count as a violation of her boundaries, or is my approval sufficient? What do you think, Jin?

“…..”

Could he really trust this woman with such matters? Jin began to feel a twinge of regret once again.