The more I think about it, the less sense it makes…
"Hmmm" Armine ate with a smile on her face, devouring pancakes covered in syrup.
Is this girl really as dangerous as she is in the game?
I looked around. Since the school year hadn't officially started, only a few students were in the grand banquet hall.
I stared at the coffee in my hands and the plate of beacon, eggs, and bread.
It's bizarre to think I have to go back to school…
"Something wrong, buddy?" Armine asked, pausing mid-chew.
Yeah, actually, something is wrong.
I'm a normal guy from another dimension who's hijacked this poor kid's body.
Until recently, you were just a fictional character.
But now you're sitting across from me, being sweet and friendly.
I smiled without saying what I was really thinking.
"Just thinking how cool this place is."
I glanced around—it wasn't a complete lie.
In the game, for obvious reasons, I could never explore certain areas, but this time I could poke around the [Kings Roads] scenery.
The banquet hall was an imposing room: large white wooden tables, oval-shaped windows letting in the morning chill.
Spherical light lamps hung from the high ceiling, casting a solemn glow.
I looked at the cook who'd served us—a dwarf girl with a ponytail, wearing an apron over a bikini top and short shorts.
She smiled when she noticed that I'm looking.
I mustn't forget this is an eroge world.
"I think that girl likes you, buddy" Armine said with a kind smile.
Hmm… you know what? Despite everything, I can believe she's just a normal young woman.
"I don't think so. She's just being nice—it's her job, after all" I took a sip of the coffee, black, no sugar or milk. What I needed to think.
"Mouh, you're too serious, buddy" Hey, don't pout like that—you're already dangerously cute without it.
"I'm realistic"
An absurd opinion, considering where I am.
"Being realistic doesn't mean giving up on being happy" Armine smiled, and I could only take a bite of my food.
She just outsmarted me.
At that moment, I remembered this is the first event in Armine's {Royal Path}.
Meaning I can gain an advantage by bonding with her.
Armine has 12 encounters.
"Armine, what's a half-giant doing at this academy?" This is the question that leads to the second encounter.
Armine set down her fork and picked up her mug of hot chocolate.
"Have you ever wanted to protect something?"
No, never. Thinking about it…
"You're useless"
Jakob, you didn't have much luck with that either, huh?
Nah, I've got nothing like that.
"I don't think so" When it comes to Armine, honesty is best.
She stared at me, her golden eye piercing my soul with intensity.
"…Hey, don't you have a family?"
"No"
Jakob was naive. From his memories, I instantly saw the kind of relationship he had at home…
"No, please, no!"
"Useless!"
Only a fool loves someone who wants to destroy you.
As for me, I can say I never had a meaningful bond with anyone.
I don't lie to myself—lies are useless.
Hey, why does everything suddenly feel so lonely…
"From the way you act, I thought you were a noble" Armine said, her tone doubtful.
"I am. That's why I don't have a family. Some beasts… tend to cannibalize their own, after all" I said, looking straight into her eyes.
Jakob's memories put everything in perspective.
In this world, it's not uncommon for siblings to have strange "accidents" The primordials' order encouraged rivalry for the favor of the King of Souls "advisors"
A pretty disgusting world.
"Why are you here, then?" Armine's voice was unusually serious. I'd clearly stepped on a landmine.
A good question, really.
What am I doing here?
Jakob's reasons are ridiculous. Mine?
Survive.
But what's stopping me from running away?
Right now, I'm just an average noble. With one letter, I could get some money from my paternal grandfather, go somewhere nice, and wait for Aeono to handle everything.
But…
'I wished for a place to belong'
Right, I'd wished for that recklessly…
"I guess… I don't really know yet" I said, feigning disinterest.
I looked at my coffee again, took a sip, and grimaced. A little sugar wouldn't hurt.
"…Do you train, Jakob?" Armine asked, her voice tired.
Train? Checking Jakob's memories, he barely put the minimum effort.
I frowned. No wonder your family never acknowledged you.
I sighed. I need to start building muscle and gaining strength.
I have to get to the library and…
I looked at Armine. A way to avoid Jakob's fate is sitting right in front of me.
"Hey, Armine, have you ever trained someone?"
"N-Nyoh?" The half-giant shook her head cutely.
I smiled.
This is a great idea.
…
…
…
This is a terrible idea.
"Aah, aah, aah" Every muscle in my body screamed in pain. I was panting, staring up at the massive circular lamp on the ceiling.
This was definitely a terrible idea.
"Buddy, your condition is awful" my new trainer said, looking at me with pity.
Armine, now in criminally tight workout clothes.
Seriously, whether it's because she's a half-giant or just her development, everything about her is too perfect.
I curse you, eroge world.
"I know" I said between forced breaths. Jakob, you idiot, no wonder Aeono kicked your ass.
After my question, Armine led me to the training halls.
A large room with polished black stone walls, white lamps illuminating the space.
The floor was covered with tatami mats, and there was weight equipment I'm sure only Armine could lift.
Multiple weapons lined the wall, from katanas to war hammers and battle scythes.
I didn't pick up any to train—just did basic warm-ups, and now I'm half-dead.
Jakob, I'm glad I kicked your ass so many times in the game.
"So… wanna keep going?" Armine sat beside me.
She'd tied her hair into a ponytail and taken off her glasses.
God, she's gorgeous.
Now that I think about it, her boobs could probably block her face if I looked from were I'm.
Ahem!
Anyway.
"Yeah" I said, struggling to stand.
This pain is real and tomorrow's gonna be worse.
"Okay, but first, pick a weapon"
Hmm… weapon. This is interesting…
In the game, Jakob used {Soul Magic} because it was easy, even though his father forced him to practice swordsmanship as a kid.
In the fight against Aeono, he used a bit of both.
The build that got me here was dual-wield and speed.
I walked to the weapons. Hey… this is the first time I'm holding a sword.
Me, not Jakob.
I grabbed the hilts of twins swords and…
"I've never been able to fit with people" Something Jakob and I share.
No family.
No friends.
Why am I saying this?
Part of me must still not accept this is real.
I'm venting my problems.
If this is real, I should try to set Jakob's path straight. If it's a dream, it doesn't matter.
Interestingly, Jakob was a loner too, but he was an idiot who thought he was above normal people.
"…Is that why you came here?" the half-giant's voice was full of compassion. "To have a place to come back to?"
Armine, you're too kind.
I wish there were more people like you where I'm from.
"Yeah" No reason to lie. Jakob and I both longed for a place to belong.
That's why, deep down, this transmigration is an opportunity for me. Maybe in this dark world with a shiny surface, I can finally…
"Hey, Jakob, wanna be my friend?"
I grabbed both swords just as Armine said that.
For a few seconds, the world ceased to exist.
Hey, you can't say that to someone just out of their teens while they're holding a weapon—you're asking for trouble.
"…Yeah" both Jakob and I said. "Yeah, I want to be your friend"
I turned around, holding both swords. Armine had a friendly smile.
Hey, don't make that face—I might fall for you if I'm not careful.
Pfft, as if…
I'm… not that old, to be honest, but still, she's too kind for me to do that.
Hands off.
Besides, this is the first time I've had a friend.
Man, my life was depressing. Though the current situation as Jakob isn't exactly a huge upgrade.
"Alright" Armine nodded, then went to the center of the room and tapped the floor.
A hatch opened, and something rose until it was fully visible.
Black armor.
The helmet had a slit for eyes, shoulder pads, breastplate, and backplate with gold fleur-de-lis details, a black skirt and greaves.
I recognize that set—it's the standard Martell knight armor.
One of the most basic and common sets in the game.
Beneath the armor, I saw a humanoid figure. I knew what it was instantly.
Why?
"You're going to fight this Marionette" Armine said, giving the breastplate a light tap.
A Marionette.
A construct blending magic and technology.
"Is that okay? Isn't this like hitting a Marriott ancestor?"
According to [Kings Roads] lore, Marionettes were created about seven centuries ago when the King of Souls sought to make companions for humanity.
Originally, they were vaguely humanoid, made of wood and metal, but since this is an eroge world, for plot reasons, they evolved into Waifu Automata.
Why?
It's an eroge world—don't overthink it.
In fact, one of the heroines is a Marriott.
Hmm, I'd love to bring a robotics expert to inspect one of those Marriotts.
They're talking, walkins miracles.
And as if that wasn't enough, they can get pregnant.
"Not at all. It's more like the difference between chimpanzees and humans—close, but two separate species" Armine said, giving the armor two taps.
The Marionette came to life and took a guard stance.
A blunt sword appeared in its hand.
Hmm… good analogy. Wait…
"Hey… shouldn't I start with the basics?"
Armine gave me a flat look.
"Scared of a little practice?"
"…" A chill ran down my spine.
"Get up"
"I can't"
Hmm… Jakob's memories didn't affect me emotionally, but his body still reacted to trauma.
I decided to ignore it for now. It's not like it'll come back to bite me.
"Okay," I said, taking the stance Aeono used when I equipped dual weapons in the game.
This can't be that hard.
…
…
After spending the whole day getting beaten by an armored Marionette, I decided to head to the library alone.
Armine said she needed to prepare a training plan for me.
"Sorry, we can hang out more later, but you really need a proper training plan if you want results" Bless her.
Anyway, now I can stick to my original plan.
Two months left, so I need to grab every point and upgrade possible. The academy staff who handle stat allocation in the game aren't here yet.
But I still have a way to improve my stats without them—the early-game items are waiting to be found.
Sorry, Aeono, but I'm stealing this loot. You'll have plenty of advantages with the heroines anyway.
Thinking about it, wouldn't it be better to join a faction from the start? The big players in this world will come to this academy to build their power bases.
If the King of Souls' disappearance hadn't been revealed, there'd probably be no war.
The factions formed at this academy will become active forces vying for world domination.
In short, politics.
Short- and long-term, it's smart to pick a side—preferably the one Aeono supported.
"Heh…" That'd be nice. I could end up in a comfy position.
But… where's the fun in that?
My gamer side and Jakob's memories made me decide not to serve any master.
My strength will be mine alone, nobody else's.
That's why…
My goal is the [Tome of Fortitude], which boosts strength by two points without leveling up.
I'm genuinely curious how leveling works in real life.
Usually in modern stories, it's handled with a system…
"Idiot" I muttered, realizing the possibility. "System"
Nothing.
Shouldn't a status screen pop up?
Let's see… Status?
Nothing. I should've known.
Of course, it can't be that easy for me.
Anyway, after climbing stairs and walking for a bit, I reached the massive metal doors of the library.
According to the lore, the door is made of Yseal, the King of Souls' metal. In the game, if you get some, you can upgrade a weapon to its max potential.
…Could I melt this door? I mean, it's an invaluable source of—shit, I'd end up in jailjail with this mindset.
I touched the door's engravings.
Carved images of an angel holding a spear, its tip clashing with a knight's sword.
To be honest, the [Kings Roads] library is one of my favorite locations.
I'm about to see it in person.
I stepped inside and smiled.
Millions of bookshelves, some against the walls, others floating above staircases that seemed to stretch into the horizon.
None of this makes sense—it's pure fantasy, and I love it.
I want all this knowledge. Jakob, you talentless idiot, how could you despise your family's personal library?
Good thing I'm not you.
Normally, in the game, depending on the player's actions, more secrets become available.
I felt euphoric. I'm not limited as in the game.
If I earn the librarian's favor or support, I could get some interesting stuff.
I looked to the side, rang the bell on the desk in the corner.
It's a formality—the librarian would send an energy projection, and it'd guide me like a search engine.
I heard the sound of glass breaking behind me.
That should be the hologram.
"Fascinating" My smile vanished at the sound of that voice. Sweat formed on my back.
I froze.
My body went cold.
Hey, this shouldn't be happening.
"Impossible" I turned slowly.
Bright blue eyes greeted me, glowing like stars under the shadow of a witch's hat.
The smile of one of [Kings Roads] most problematic characters greeted me. This shouldn't be possible.
"Greetings, foreign soul. What business do you have in my domain?"