I Don’t Remember the Number of Regressions of the Villainesses Who Have Returned.

‘His condition doesn’t seem too bad.’

Looking back at Aslan, who was following behind me, I noticed he didn’t appear too depressed.

‘Why is that kid, not even an adult yet, trying to cry alone so much.’

Pathetic.

Teenage boys at this age always strangely try to hide their wounds like that.

Not realizing that leaving so many small wounds untreated will fester and only be recognized as wounds after becoming an adult, becoming a bigger problem.

In Aslan’s case, the helplessness he feels whenever he loses to Gwen in a duel will fester into a wound.

And those wounds will erupt when he becomes a Sword Master, causing him severe depression.

Because she dies soon after.

Still, he’ll join the great war as a ducal heir not long after, meet Arcana, and rise again after seeing her back that was different from his own.

But.

‘I can’t watch that.’

I can’t watch a good guy like Aslan go through a regret arc.

I don’t even know what I have to do to clear the game, but how can I just stand by and watch a key asset become combat ineffective from depression.

But I can’t surpass Aslan in swordsmanship, aura, or anything, so how can I help his growth?

For now, the best I can do is cheer him on like this when he loses to Gwen and is crying alone.

Besides,

I know, because I was alone.

That there’s nothing more meaningful than someone acknowledging your wounds.

“Sir Aslan. I’m glad. It seems the scolding has ended.”

When I returned to the professor on behalf of Aslan, it looked like he had gathered the nobles playing in the distance and given them an earful too.

Everyone’s expressions were quite sour.

“I’ve brought Sir Aslan.”

Maybe it was because I watched with him when the two were dueling. I was able to get by without any particular remarks.

“Oh. Thank you. I was about to check on him since he wasn’t returning.”

The professor looked at me and Aslan with a smile.

“Aslan, I know Gwen charged at you first this time, so I won’t hold you responsible separately.”

“Thank you.”

The atmosphere wrapped up warmly.

‘What a nice sight.’

Compared to that damn homeroom teacher.

“It’s about time.”

Following the professor’s gaze, I turned to look at the clock, and the minute hand was already pointing to the end of class.

‘He must have been enjoying watching their duel.’

The fact that time passed faster than I expected meant I was enjoying watching the duel.

“Well then, since it’s time for class to end, let’s meet again next time.”

The professor returned to the Academy building without a moment’s hesitation.

‘If only he was my homeroom teacher.’

There’s no better teacher in school life than one who ends class early.

Of course, he could also just be someone who hates teaching.

I’ll find out what kind of person that professor is at the next swordsmanship class.

“Aaron!”

As I was about to head to the next class, I heard Aslan’s voice.

“If you need anything, just call me. I’ll help you to the best of my ability.”

When a ducal heir says something like that, it almost makes you believe in nonexistent faith.

However, calling on a ducal heir would spread strange rumors, so I’ll have to use it discreetly.

“Then I’ll call on you at least once someday.”

Right. I just need to call when there aren’t people around to notice.

‘Hey, you. Become my aura teacher.’

Acquiring a kind teacher who will teach me aura for free.

Let’s just call on him occasionally at dawn or in the evening.

Enjoying the best situation of being able to receive a ducal heir’s support through a not-so-bad relationship, I turned to head to the classroom for my next class.

—–

The next class was law.

‘All of a sudden?’

I just found out today that the Academy even had a class like this.

I couldn’t understand why they taught law at the Academy, but I figured out the reason within 5 minutes of class starting.

“In the case of the Garun Kingdom, due to this tyranny of the nobility…”

I realized again that this place was only for nobles.

They teach the laws and their efficiency that nobles need to know to manage their territories.

It’s useless to me since I don’t have a territory, though.

“In this situation, in the case of elves…”

The professor kindly explained the laws of other races as well.

‘It’s interesting.’

Maybe it’s because it feels like reading a setting collection.

I find myself oddly focused.

—–

“Ugh!”

Even though I only sat and took notes for a few hours, an incredibly absurd fatigue washed over me.

The quiet classroom with not a single student left.

Only after the sunset light poured in through the window did I stand up from my seat and stretch my body, bending my waist.

-Crack crack

Sounds you wouldn’t even hear at a construction site came from my back.

“It’s been a while since I’ve felt a headache like this.”

The headache I always lived with, naturally bearing it while exhausted.

Even now, the throbbing sensation in my head is a headache, but the process was different.

Instead of pain rising from physical exhaustion that makes it impossible to even think, a pain like growing pains that you naturally feel while learning new things hit me as if my head was being squeezed.

“How long has it been since I last studied.”

Before, I couldn’t study even if I wanted to, but to think I’d end up studying in order to live.

I didn’t want to study this desperately.

‘Penalty window. What’s the menu today.’

[It’s the same soup and bread as yesterday.]

After asking the penalty window countless questions since yesterday, I learned that it can’t give any useful answers, so I decided to use it like a memo pad or read things out loud like Bixby.

‘Isn’t the menu exactly the same as yesterday?’

[That’s because you skipped meal times saying you were memorizing your notes even during lunch.]

‘……’

Did I do that?

I guess time just passed like that while I was memorizing.

[Only soup and bread are provided during times other than lunch and dinner.]

‘Is there a limit on the amount?’

[No.]

‘Then that’s fine.’

With unlimited soup refills and free bread, why would I line up at the cafeteria during mealtimes to eat greasy Western food?

—–

“Chew chew”

“……”

“Chew chew”

“……”

I should have lined up and eaten during mealtimes.

I seriously curse myself from a few hours ago.

-Gulp

Maybe it’s because I swallowed without even being able to chew.

Even though it’s bread soaked in soup, it’s burdensome every time I swallow.

The pain in my throat is one thing, but the gaze staring at my neck beside me…

“…Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

Sephir just blankly stared at me while sitting next to me.

It’s so pressuring I’m going crazy.

“Sephir.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you not eating?”

Please, if you’re not eating, could you go back to the dorm?

I looked at Sephir with that meaning in my eyes.

“I ate earlier while waiting for someone.”

“I see.”

Whoever made Sephir wait, their future looks bleak.

“Are you okay?”

I wonder how much my rumors have spread.

To the point where even Gwen and Sephir are worried… it might be serious.

If I were to just describe my situation at the time, it wasn’t normal.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

I keep coughing up blood…”

“But you’re?”

“…Excuse me?”

What did Sephir just say?

I didn’t hear the first part.

“Hmm~”

Sephir made a subtle expression that reminded me of a cat despite being a wolf demi-human.

What’s with that gaze that seems to say, ‘This stupid guy…’

“You’ve really lost your sense, haven’t you?”

“Why are you suddenly saying that?”

“Tsk.”

Why is she suddenly clicking her tongue?

Scary.

“Sigh…”

Sephir let out a long sigh as if she really couldn’t take it anymore and shook her head. She brought her face close to my ear, almost touching it, and said one thing.

“You received the money I sent you, right?”

-Flinch

I even dropped the bread I was about to put in my mouth.

‘What did Sephir just say?’

Money?

Sephir did?

“With the money I sent, you shouldn’t be eating something like this…”

Before Sephir could even finish speaking, I swallowed the soup I was eating as if shoving it down my throat and stood up from my seat.

-Grab

Strongly grasping Sephir’s wrist.

“Oh my, suddenly grabbing a lady’s wrist…”

She caresses her own cheek with one hand as if embarrassed.

“Enough. Let’s go talk.”

But I’m not in a situation to accept that.

“Where to?”

Where else?

“My room.”

I ran quickly to the dormitory while still holding Sephir’s wrist.

—–

-Slam

I closed the door to my room so hard I was worried it might break.

Leaning against the door so Sephir couldn’t leave, I asked her.

“Is it really true that you’re the one who sent that money?”

The first confirmation.

“Of course. I sent it.”

She nods as if stating the obvious.

“You didn’t grab or do anything to someone else who sent the money, right?”

The second confirmation.

“The unique code listed as the sender. It should show up as my crystal’s unique cod. Should I go get it?”

She answers this confidently as well.

But I can’t trust her.

She is the one called the empress of the underworld.

A genius actress who always hides her face and mocks her trading partners as if making fun of them.

Then, the final question that can decisively judge even her.

“Do you have memories of the future?”

-Flinch

Her body, which had been confidently smiling and answering until now, stiffened instantly.

At the same time, her gray tail and ears drooped like tree branches weighed down by snow in winter, and even her pupils wavered like melting gold.

“You…also remembered?”

She looks at me with yearning, clasping her hands to her chest like a praying nun.

“Yesterday, you were just pretending not to know…?”

My immediate answer to her.

“No.”

I’m sorry, but I don’t know why you’re reacting that way.

There’s a possibility that this too is an act, so I clearly told Sephir so she couldn’t exploit a weakness in me.

“…What?”

Sephir made a dumbfounded expression upon hearing my words.

“I said I don’t have memories.”

I said it one more time in case she didn’t hear.

“No, that doesn’t make sense! How can someone without memories bring up talk about the future!”

Where did the woman who looked like she was about to cry just moments ago go?

She’s suddenly getting angry.

“How would I know there are people whose memories have returned?”

I hurriedly answered as if making an excuse under her gaze that looked ready to pull out a dagger from her bosom.

-Plop

Upon hearing my words, she plopped down on the floor lifelessly as if her soul had left her body.

“I thought you came back and I hoped…”

She muttered words I couldn’t hear even right next to her.

“Um…”

I don’t know what to say seeing Sephir suddenly sitting on the floor with a tearful expression.

“I got my hopes up for no reason because of you!”

Is that…because of me?

I was at a loss for words seeing Sephir crying genuine tears before my eyes.

I did think this too might be an act, but I absolutely couldn’t think of her current appearance crying in front of me as acting.

Because the emotions she cried out with sobs contained feelings that even I would find devastating.

So I stood by her side for a while without saying anything.

So she could at least compose herself for a bit.

“….Sephir?”

Several minutes after her sobbing breaths stopped, I carefully lowered my head and called her name.

“…What.”

She responds curtly.

Fortunately, it seems she has pulled herself together a little.

-Plop

I bent my knees and sat on the floor just like Sephir.

I matched my eye level with hers and approached.

“…Why.”

She doesn’t push me away at least.

“What kind of guy was I that you remember?”

I asked her while looking at her, relaxing the strength in my voice.

“Why are you asking that?”

A voice filled with a tearful sense of being let down.

Nevertheless, I answered.

“Because I’m curious.”

Perhaps my answer was unexpected, as she stared at me blankly.

“…Why are things like this the same. It just makes me look like a fool…”

Sephir lowers her head again and mutters words I can’t hear.

After that, a silence with only the sound of the wind blowing passed between me and Sephir for a few minutes.

“…A bad guy.”

She started speaking softly, with her head turned.

Her appearance, recalling memories, felt like she was laughing in the middle of a downpour without an umbrella.

“A depressed patient who only said negative things no matter what.”

…That’s definitely me, right?

I didn’t say it out loud so as not to ruin the mood…

“And…a playboy.”

“Wait a minute.”

A play what?