"Aren't women's friendships fragile?"
As this thought crossed my mind, I —
Bundles of bills, gold coins, and silver coins were piled high on the round table.
One entire wall was made of glass, giving us a clear view of the athletic festival competitions taking place outside.
The athletic festival... This otome game world was modeled on Japanese schools.
That's why the second semester was packed with events.
After the athletic festival came the school festival.
And there was even a school trip.
You could say events were coming one after another — or that they were cramming in too much, honestly.
I set down the bills I'd been counting and looked at my second sister.
A sigh escaped me.
"I get that you cut off your friend because you were both going after the same guy, but don't be so depressed. Anyone who'd go after their friend's man isn't fit to be a friend anyway."
My second sister had been moping ever since falling out with her best friend.
Dawdling behind her was her personal servant — a demi-human slave with cat ears. Tall and slender yet muscular, and actually pretty good-looking... The cat-ear thing covers it well enough.
"Th-that's right. It wasn't your fault at all."
Well, the topic of stealing someone's lover — or rather, fiancé — was basically a landmine for Ange.
Over summer break, Ange had her engagement broken off. Her fiancé, Prince
"...The real problem is a man who'd cave that easily."
At Ange's quiet mutter, Olivia and I both averted our eyes. Sorry, I couldn't find the right words.
But honestly, why was my second sister even here?
The paid lounge of a sightseeing airship — I'd even paid her admission fee. That was a bit much, even for my own sister. Pretty cheeky, if you ask me.
And to be dragged along on top of Ange's presence into what was essentially a tedious complaint session — or rather, a whine-fest — was just exhausting.
"...That's not what happened."
"Huh?"
"The one I was originally going after was my friend's guy, and I only reached out after hearing various things later on..."
When my second sister said that, both Olivia and Ange fell silent.
Wait — so you were the one who stole him!?
"You're the worst."
At my cold stare and blunt words, my second sister shot back.
"No, I'm not! Just listen! The heir to that viscount household — until recently, he was basically an unknown, poor noble. But over summer break, a mine was discovered on his family's estate. Turns out it's full of rare metals, and with the kingdom's support, he's going to become the mine's owner! I couldn't just sit still knowing he was about to become rich! ...Besides, he's a landed lord on the mainland."
The heir to a viscount household with territory on the continental mainland.
A noble with mainland territory was more popular with the ladies than one with territory on a remote island of the floating archipelago.
...To sum it up: over summer break, a guy was about to get rich.
The girls started fighting over him, and both my second sister and her friend joined the fray.
"You two should apologize to that man. He's the real victim here."
"Why would he be the victim!? I'm offering to marry him!"
There it was.
This was how the standard girl in this world thought.
Noble girls.
Especially those from families of baron rank or above — they were pampered in every way.
So when it came to marriage, they held far more power than the men.
The otome game world was sweet to women and merciless to men.
"From where I'm standing, it just looks like you crawled up to him because he got rich. Don't you have anything like love or passion or actual feelings?"
My earnest plea was met with a snort from my second sister.
"I have Mior, and I could find a good-looking guy from the general student body anytime. I'll nurture love with him and expect my husband to be financially capable."
Mior, apparently, was the cat-ear guy's name. First I'd heard of it.
"...Seriously, you're the worst."
"Why!? Everyone's the same, aren't they?"
Ange, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"Don't lump us together. Neither Olivia nor I keep personal servants, nor have we ever considered taking a lover."
Coming from Ange, a duke's daughter, those words made my second sister shrink back.
Where had that bold attitude toward me gone earlier?
Olivia gave a wry smile.
"Well, I'm not from a noble background, so... come to think of it, Ange, why don't you hire servants?"
Ange explained to Olivia in a gentle, careful manner.
These two were on good terms... or so I thought.
"I do hire servants. I call them personal servants, but the demi-human workers are all slaves. You don't hire them — you buy them."
Olivia looked troubled upon hearing that.
"A-are slaves really okay?"
It was probably unfamiliar territory for Olivia. In my case, I'd looked into it because my second and third sisters had been talking about buying slaves.
My third sister was also scheming to purchase slaves with my money.
My sisters were truly a menace.
"Well, there are various perspectives, but speaking specifically about women — if a woman keeps slaves, nobody bats an eye."
That was how this world worked.
Women got infinite leniency.
If a man did the same thing, everyone would look at him with contempt. Hell, I wanted a beautiful cat-eared girl too.
Ange let out a soft sigh.
"...It's become so normalized now."
She seemed genuinely distressed about how slavery had become an accepted practice.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, I turned to Olivia.
"Interested in personal servants?"
"Eh? A-ah, well... that is..."
Seeing her blush, she probably knew what those servants were actually used for. The slaves my second sister kept were a direct reflection of her tastes. Girls who hadn't touched theirs were probably the rare ones.
As I was teasing Olivia, Ange pinched my cheek.
"Stop teasing Olivia. Anyway, the next event is the airbike race."
Airbike — a familiar vehicle for people living on the floating islands.
It was essentially a flying motorcycle, though its shape was closer to a personal watercraft. It glided through the air, and was quite an expensive ride.
The athletic festival featured this airbike race, and it was wildly popular.
Incidentally, the paid lounge had a reception desk where betting was also conducted.
"You're betting on this race too, aren't you?"
When I showed interest in the results, both Ange and Olivia looked exasperated.
"You sure love gambling."
"Leon, gambling is no good. You should do it in moderation."
The stacks of bills and mountains of gold and silver coins on the round table — all won from bets at the athletic festival.
Did I have a talent for gambling? No. I was simply choosing bets I could win!
My partner,
Without even wearing an earpiece, I could hear him. I'd thought it was telepathy, but apparently it was reproducible through science.
Luxion, a product of science, in a fantasy world of swords and magic... The worldbuilding was completely off, but that was never really a problem.
Honestly, the otome game world's settings were absurd from the get-go.
There was no point nitpicking.
"Master, we have a small problem."
As I adopted my listening posture — touching my temple with one finger — Luxion continued.
"
...Jilk?
Jilk was the former Crown Prince Julius's milk brother — the former heir to a viscount household, Jilk Fia Marmoria.
A gentle-looking man with green hair... and a romanceable character in the otome game.
He was skilled with airbikes and had been selected as one of the first-year representatives.
As I gazed down at the venue with a serious expression, Olivia asked cautiously.
"Um, Leon, did you want to participate too?"
"Huh?"
As I tilted my head, Ange also wore an apologetic look.
"...My apologies. The athlete selections were decided by majority vote among the executive committee. Even I can't intervene in that."
"Huh?"
It seemed both of them thought I'd wanted to compete. I had technically volunteered, but the rule was that male students had to enter at least one event anyway.
I didn't particularly want to, and I'd planned to make money through betting, so it was fine either way.
After all, I had Luxion for information gathering.
My odds of winning bets were on a completely different level.
My second sister addressed the two of them.
"Don't worry about it. My little brother brought this on himself. He made enemies out of most of the student body. There's no way he'd be selected as an athlete."
...I knew that, but hearing it from my second sister still stung.
I had fought duels against the five romanceable targets, starting with Prince Julius.
Everyone had expected the five of them to win, but I came out on top. The duel with Prince Julius was a problem in itself, but the students who had lost big money on that bet now saw me as their public enemy.
I was the most hated person in school.
...It was completely unfair.
"Master, you seem rather displeased, but this is entirely your own doing. You manipulated an invalid bet by placing a massive wager on yourself to make it valid, beat up Julius and his friends — who were the Crown Prince and his entourage — and then lectured them on top of it. I doubt many people would develop a fondness for you after that."
My partner was way too composed. It was boring.
As I thought this, the race began.
Up in the sky — the venue, surrounded by numerous airships, was essentially a floating arena.
The school had provided airships for viewing the athletic festival, and the wealthy had surrounded them with even more airships of their own to watch.
What an absurdly large-scale athletic festival.
For the male students, the athletic festival was their chance to shine. Even guys who were usually unremarkable — if they performed well on such a big stage, the chances of a girl getting swept up and offering to marry them went way up.
That was why the boys fought desperately to become athletes. Given the marriage landscape, many of them genuinely wanted to compete for this opportunity.
As a result, the competition for spots as athletes in every event was incredibly fierce.
And the most popular event in this athletic festival was the airbike race — but something was off right from the start.
Ange noticed immediately.
"Jilk's being marked."
Even among first-year athletes, it wasn't unusual for a top performer to be targeted. But this was thorough.
He was surrounded, rammed, and clearly under attack.
Olivia watched with a pained expression.
"Wh-why would they do that? Poor Jilk..."
Olivia was right.
I'd bet on Jilk, so I couldn't afford to let him lose.
My second sister noticed the group of students surrounding Jilk.
"Wait a minute. Those boys... they're the entourage of the count's daughter."
Ange murmured.
"So that's how it is."
As the race progressed from the middle to the final stretch, Jilk broke out of the upperclassmen's encirclement. Using forceful, almost acrobatic maneuvers, he escaped the blockade, then accelerated to pass one rider after another.
"It's like he's riding an illegally modified bike or something."
Was his airbike simply on a different level performance-wise? That was what the crowd was thinking. His spectacular overtaking had the entire venue roaring with excitement.
I was happy too — if Jilk won, I'd win my bet — but...
Luxion informed me.
"Even if Jilk wins, he won't be able to make it to the finals."
I whispered, "That bad?" and Luxion gave me a diagnosis of Jilk's injuries.
"He has a fracture. He was hit while surrounded, and the stress fracture from the impact worsened under the strain of his maneuvers. Even in a world with convenient healing magic, he won't recover in time for the next race."
Jilk barely managed to cross the finish line in first place.
When he returned to the airship on his airbike, he collapsed, and medical staff rushed over to carry him away on a stretcher.
As Ange moved to leave the lounge, I asked.
"Where are you going?"
"...I'm still the first-year class representative, you know. I need to check on Jilk's condition and arrange a substitute if necessary. I'll speak with the executive committee."
Olivia moved to follow, so I packed the bills and coins from the table into a bag and hurried after them.
My second sister said to me.
"Oh, if you're leaving, hand over some money. My wallet's empty."
"...You really are brazenly thick-skinned, you know that?"
I handed my shameless sister a few bills and chased after Ange and the others.
◇
In the infirmary,
"Jilk~!"
Marie Fou Lafan — a fellow reincarnator who had essentially stolen the role of the protagonist — was clinging tearfully to Jilk, who lay on a bed.
Jilk wore a smile, trying not to worry her.
"I'm fine, Marie. As you can see, I'm completely unhurt."
Also in the infirmary were Prince Julius and Marie's personal servant,
Ange was speaking with the first-year executive committee members.
"We have no choice but to appoint a substitute."
"B-but, if we do that, we won't have enough athletes..."
"Most of the capable boys are already competing in other events, so finding a replacement is..."
Over there, they seemed to be struggling to find a replacement.
Olivia grabbed my arm. She'd lowered her voice, sensitive to the atmosphere.
"Um, is Jilk going to be okay?"
"He'll heal in three days, apparently. Three days for a fracture — that's pretty amazing."
Seriously, magic was incredible.
Luxion, not to be outdone, sent me a message: "With the right conditions, I could do it in a day. No — I wouldn't even need twenty-four hours."
This guy was so desperate not to lose to magic that it was actually funny.
Olivia said, puzzled.
"Um, but I could heal him even faster. Why doesn't anyone here do that?"
Healing magic was rare among practitioners.
And the protagonist — Olivia — had a special aptitude for it. She was an extraordinary being with such exceptional talent and power that she was called the Saint.
I told her to keep quiet.
"Your 'normal' is abnormal. If you tell the doctors, they'll get angry, so just keep it under wraps. This is what passes for normal."
"R-really? Is that so?"
She didn't seem to fully understand, but as long as she stayed quiet, I was grateful.
She was clearly more capable than the specialists, but showing that off here would only cause trouble. The doctors' pride would be wounded, and there was a high chance unsavory types would hear the rumors and come crawling.
Her abilities would be put to good use at the appropriate time and place...
"If Jilk had won the race, there would have been prize money!"
Marie's true feelings, spoken through her tears, were harsh.
Prince Julius placed a hand on Marie's back to console her.
"Don't worry, Marie. I'll win my event, and so will everyone else."
This was an athletic festival at an academy attended by noble children, after all — victory in each event came with a prize purse.
In Japanese yen, that would be somewhere around one to two million.
The prize varied by event, but the airbike race offered ten million yen. That prize alone told you how popular the event was.
"I was counting on the airbike race! Even if you win everything else combined, it wouldn't equal half of what the airbike race would have paid!"
Jilk looked deeply apologetic.
"I'm sorry. I never expected them to go this far."
Marie wiped away her tears.
"Seriously. The upperclassmen are too cruel, aren't they? I should sue them for damages!"
At Marie's words, both Prince Julius and Jilk, thinking she was worried about them, blushed with embarrassment.
Love is blind — that was never more true.
"That girl hasn't stopped talking about money since we got here. Is that really okay?"
When I whispered this, Olivia also looked troubled.
"S-she's probably worried about Jilk too. After all, all five of them gave up their status to be with her."
Marie had ensnared the five romanceable targets. That alone might have been tolerable, but those five — they had thrown away their positions.
To be with Marie, they had broken off their engagements and been disowned by their families.
Their resolution was almost off-putting.
"Hmm, I'm not so sure. Marie seems to like money more than anything. She hasn't stopped talking about it."
Even as we understood what kind of woman Marie was, a girl arrived at the infirmary with her entourage.
She was
She was the picture of a refined noble lady.
Born into a court noble count household... and Jilk's former fiancée.
Surrounding her were not only her usual entourage but also five demi-human personal servants.
"My, my. You've certainly fallen far. ...Jilk, how are you feeling?"
Her entourage smirked.
But when they realized Ange was present, their expressions quickly changed.
Jilk closed his eyes.
"...Clarice. Was this your doing?"
Seeing that Jilk had figured everything out, Clarice exploded.
"Yes, it was! You threw me away, so you can rot in hell! I will never forgive you!"
The beautiful Clarice-senior was terrifying when furious.
"Beautiful women really are something else when they're angry, huh?"
"Leon, what are you talking about! Take this seriously!"
Complying with Olivia's request, I shut my mouth as Ange stepped forward in front of Clarice.
"I'd appreciate some quiet in the infirmary. ...Clarice, I understand your feelings, but openly committing foul play at the athletic festival?"
Under Ange's glare, Clarice took a half-step back but shook her head. Her disheveled hair only made her look more fearsome.
"...Don't act so high and mighty. If you'd kept a tighter rein on His Highness, none of this would have happened. You were thrown away just like the rest of us, yet you act like nothing happened — it makes my blood boil. Go ahead and scream at me like you always do."
Ange furrowed her brow.
...Ange really did have a short fuse.
"What did you say? You think you're some lone tragic heroine? You even brought personal slaves along and really started putting on a show. It seems your demure act was nothing but a facade."
"! — What would you even know!"
Just as the two were about to come to blows, Clarice's entourage stepped in to intervene.
The opponent was a duke's daughter.
They surely didn't want to make an enemy of her.
I had to agree. The entourage members had it rough too. I felt a twinge of sympathy.
Clarice glared at Jilk.
Jilk had his eyes shut, refusing to look at her... Are you really reflecting on this? This is your mess! Do something about it!
"Come back for the next one too. I'll beat you senseless in front of everyone. I'll keep getting my revenge on you forever. You'd better cry and beg for mercy — though even then, I'll absolutely never forgive you!"
She was seriously furious.
Jilk's response, in contrast, was ice-cold.
"...If that puts your mind at ease, then by all means. However, if you lay a finger on Marie or anyone else, I will absolutely never forgive you."
Marie, who had been completely ignored between them, had her name spoken aloud — and Clarice's bloodshot eyes snapped toward her.
Marie flinched, but as if a switch had been flipped, she launched into an act.
...This girl was exactly like my sister from my previous life. Truly infuriating.
"Senpai, revenge never leads to anything good. What's more important—"
"Don't you dare lecture me! It leads to nothing? So what?! What's that supposed to mean!"
"I-I'm so sorry!"
Hearing Marie's disingenuous lines, Clarice flew into a rage. Obviously — the woman who stole her fiancé had the nerve to say that?
Ange also directed her cold gaze at Marie.
But it was Prince Julius who stepped forward, shielding the two of them from each other's stares.
"That's enough. Angelica, don't direct that look at Marie either."
"...My apologies, Your Highness."
When Ange apologized, Prince Julius turned his gaze to Clarice.
This guy radiated a completely unnecessary royal aura, and it was honestly infuriating.
"Clarice. I understand your anger toward Jilk. But I'd like you to stop this. It isn't good for you either."
Clarice, her head lowered and a dark smile playing on her lips, looked like she was losing it.
"...That's rich, coming from you. Do you have any idea how many people have been made miserable for the sake of one woman? It's not just Angelica. Do you know what people say about me and the other fiancées behind our backs? Of course you don't. You couldn't possibly know."
...Because Marie had pursued a reverse harem, people had suffered.
The otome game world really was terrible.
"...I know we have no right to lecture you. But I can't let this continue. It isn't good for you either."
What I was thinking came out of my mouth before I could stop it.
"Even his dialogue is straight out of a pretty boy's script. The guy who got duped by Marie and dumped his fiancée somehow sounds convincing. Goes to show how much looks matter."
"Leon, no! You can't say things like that! That's why — no!"
Olivia's adorable "no!" gesture was unbearably cute. Under normal circumstances, she'd be the one surrounded by suitors, but with this kind of charm, I wouldn't blame them.
The protagonist was terrifying.
That aside, Prince Julius had glared at me after hearing my comment.
I'd better keep my mouth shut and my eyes averted.
Clarice turned on her heel.
"If you show up, I'll crush you again next time. And if you don't, I'll crush your substitute instead. I'll make sure you all understand... I'll never forgive you."
Clarice left with a laugh.
...The atmosphere in the infirmary was toxic.
I let out a sigh.
"Looks like we can't find a substitute for the next race, huh? Nobody would want to step in."
When I said this, Jilk tried to get up despite his injuries.
"Ngh—!"
"Jilk, stop!"
Prince Julius held him down on the bed, but Jilk clearly intended to compete.
"Please let me go, Your Highness. If I race, no one else gets hurt. This is the smartest solution."
...The smartest solution would have been for none of you to break off your engagements in the first place. I knew saying it was pointless, but I really wanted to.
Originally, the protagonist Olivia was supposed to end up with one of the five, leading to a happy ending.
Now they were five men who'd been disowned, with almost no backing. No one could predict what would happen to them going forward.
The first-year executive committee members were glancing my way.
"H-hey, how about Bartfort?"
"His grades are borderline for athlete level, but..."
"If someone's going to get beaten up anyway, wouldn't it be better for him than Jilk?"
When all eyes in the infirmary turned to me, Ange stepped in front of me protectively.
"I have no intention of letting Leon compete. Knowing what we know, I can't in good conscience let him participate. Forgive me, but we'll forfeit."
Marie's voice shot up in alarm.
"Wait! What about the prize money! I was counting on the airbike race!"
Ange's glare was sharp enough to kill.
"We're not going to produce more injured people for the sake of money."
Ange's logic was spot-on, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I hadn't planned to enter, but if I had, the crowd would have gone wild watching me get demolished.
...Absolutely not. No way.
— However.
"B-but, doing that would hurt Angelica-senpai's reputation."
"That's right. Not being able to produce a substitute reflects poorly on her as the class representative..."
"If only someone would step up..."
As I tilted my head, Marie addressed me almost as if shoving the words at me. It was apparently our first real conversation, and she was remarkably brazen.
"Y-yes! If you don't do it, it's going to be a problem for her! Right, Julius?"
"Ah, yes — Angelica is essentially the first-year class representative, so the inability to field a substitute would reflect on her abilities... Well, it could affect her reputation."
When I looked at Ange, she wore a troubled expression.
"...Don't worry about me. There's no need for you to get hurt. I've already caused you enough trouble."
...Actually, I'm kind of in a bind here!
Seriously, why would Ange be held responsible for not finding a substitute? If it's about the class representative, shouldn't that be the former Crown Prince over there!
And besides, if Ange's reputation took a hit, that would be a problem for me!
This was the pattern where Ange ended up in trouble because she'd protected me! I couldn't allow that!
...Because I owed Ange's dad!
The reason I could pick a fight with Prince Julius without consequence was that I knew Ange's father would protect me — and he did.
As a result, I'd ended up with some incomprehensible promotion, but from Ange's dad's perspective, what would he think if his daughter's reputation suffered because of me?
...He'd be furious. I would be, too.
"...I'll compete."
"Huh?"
Olivia was surprised.
Ange's eyes widened.
"Leon, if this is out of sympathy—"
"This isn't sympathy! I've made my decision. I'm competing. Handle the paperwork immediately. And get me a bike."
When I told the executive committee, one of them said, "Great! I'll go let everyone know!" and left the infirmary.
I suppose they were going to spread the word that I was about to get destroyed.
"Leon, you're not doing anything reckless, are you?"
At Olivia's words, I turned a serious gaze on her.
"Reckless? No. This is about pride!"
Ange looked worried and seemed to want to stop me.
"Y-you can't. Clarice's people have riders who excel at airbikes. Last year's winner was one of her entourage. They're dirty players, and there's no telling what they'll pull if they feel like it."
"There are times when you have to do something regardless!"
Both Ange and Olivia seemed to give up on stopping me, moved by my resolve.
"Leon... if you feel that strongly about it, then I won't say anything more. I'll pray for your victory."
"I-I'll cheer for you too! I'll be cheering for you so hard!"
Ange's dad was not someone you wanted to anger.
Because I'd die.
Marie was being her usual carefree self.
"If you're entering, that's fine by me. I'll be happy even if you lose. And if you win, the prize money is mine. Yep, we're good!"
...Would it be so wrong to punch this girl in the face? I felt like she deserved it. Sure, being able to compete in the final race was thanks to Jilk. But acting entitled to the prize money was something else.
Jilk looked at my face, then turned away with a frustrated expression.
Do you really hate me that much! I hate you too! I really do!
"...For now, I have no choice but to rely on you."
"Cry tears of joy, you devious green-haired bastard. I'm putting this on your tab."
When I said that, he gave a small smile.
"Sounds like it's going to be quite the debt."
"...I'll make you pay it back soon, so brace yourself."
I left the infirmary and set about preparing for the airbike race.