Surviving as a Useless Bard in a Game

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Skylar was waiting for my response.

My body trembled.

Not from the cold.

But from fear.

Ever since long ago, I had hated change.

The reason was simple.

I was already safe and satisfied. Was there really a need to change? To take risks?

I lived a life far from adventure. At least, that’s how I was in my previous world.

I was a model student, my grades were top-notch.

Naturally, my future was a well-paved road ahead.

I wasn’t unattractive, but I had never been in a relationship.

For me, studying was more important than romance, and I disliked change. I didn’t pursue it because I felt no need.

Personality… My personality… Honestly, there were some issues.

After I typed a bit strongly in chat during a game, a picture of me as ‘□□좌’ started circulating online.

It wasn’t really related to my job as a Bard, but it was a coincidence.

Of course, I didn’t act that way in reality, but I wasn’t the type to be easily swayed or defeated by others.

If there was no problem, then there was none; if there was, then there was.

It’s complicated.

My head throbbed.

Maybe if I just gave my body and heart entirely to him, entrusted everything to him, and shifted the responsibility, I could find comfort. But, Skylar probably wouldn’t want that from me. I didn’t want to see myself like that either.

Wasn’t it fine to live on without changing?

Why did he have to bring it up… and make me change?

I don’t want to.

“I need time to think.”

“…Okay.”

Skylar interpreted my words as a rejection.

Sure. It was very rare to find a woman who accepted a confession among those who needed time to think. You could say it was almost non-existent.

Unless she was a flirt who liked to juggle suitors, saying she needed time to think usually meant rejection.

He wasn’t a fool.

He had a tendency to act like one occasionally, but he wasn’t stupid.

I lay back down again.

I didn’t look at the sky.

I was far too embarrassed right now.

I felt like hiding in a dark and gloomy place, but there was nowhere to hide.

—I am seriously horrifically selfish.

Here we were, just the two of us in this cramped room, denying each other’s presence even while feeling the warmth of our breaths.

I closed my eyes.

Since I had turned my back, there was no way to see Skylar’s condition. Had he also turned his back on me? Was he denying me?

I didn’t know.

Right now, I didn’t want to think at all.

I wanted to leave the decision to my foolish self.

And so, I fell into slumber.

Morning came.

I didn’t respond to the confession.

I merely spent my time in silence.

People began to appear around the already extinguished campfire again. They rekindled it and sat down to chat.

It was a vibe similar to yesterday.

Spending time meaninglessly while talking about trivial matters.

Had everyone already forgotten about the Mad King, or perhaps didn’t want to think about it? They were all pretending not to know, tossing some jokes instead.

In a sense, they were all desperate.

“…Have you all thought about what to do?”

Everyone suddenly fell silent.

All eyes were on me.

Suddenly, I felt parched. Tension began to build.

My head throbbed, and my tongue went stiff.

I might have ruined the mood of those who were having fun without a care. But someone had to bring this up.

No, maybe… just maybe, the selfish me was bringing up serious topics to forget about what happened yesterday morning.

It was Scipio who broke the silence.

His face, which had been smiling just moments ago, was now expressionless.

“…Right. I guess everyone has generally decided.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll go with you.”

What should I say?

What do I bring up to the one who said they would join?

I hesitated.

Then I realized.

There was only one thing to say.

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. I’m doing this for the safety of my family, and I need your help to kill him. That’s all.”

“Even so.”

“My granddaughter has already agreed.”

Auris nodded.

The little girl was much tougher than I had thought.

‘…Thank you.’

I whispered quietly.

Could she hear it? To her ‘ear.’

Scipio turned to look at the others.

It was a leader’s gaze.

“What do you all plan to do?”

If I succeeded in persuading the leader, there was no need to say more. Scipio’s mouth would speak for me, voicing everything I intended to say.

Unlike the ongoing complications with Skylar, the persuasion was going smoothly.

Everyone nervously eyed one another.

The first to speak was Fura.

“I originally aimed for this goal to get here. I have no intention of backing out now, and I don’t want to go back to the church.”

The outside no longer felt frightening.

The winged blue girl said so confidently.

A Gray Cat chimed in with a meow.

That was all.

It probably meant it would follow us.

This cat, despite its appearance, was an agent of the Emperor.

Now the remaining ones were Nisha and Propertyius.

To be honest, I had already somewhat expected their responses.

I had given up on persuading them from the start.

The northern end had been wrecked. Recovery was needed, and help was essential.

They loved this city. Even though it was already damaged, they were confident it could return to its old glory.

Just as the people of Regan loved their ugly walls, when Nisha and Propertyius looked at the city, what filled their eyes was always affection.

It was impossible to persuade someone in love with their hometown or home through logic or words. I knew that better than anyone.

“Only the two are left.”

“No, there are three.”

“…Skylar?”

Scipio looked at Skylar with puzzled eyes.

I gazed at him with the same expression.

I had intended to let Scipio handle everything calmly, but in this situation, it couldn’t be helped.

“Skylar, what are you doing?”

“I’m going with you. But it’s a condition that everyone goes together.”

“…So if Nisha and Propertyius don’t agree, you won’t go?”

“Yes. Selina.”

Nisha and Propertyius exchanged glances for a moment and scratched their heads.

They looked a bit like twins.

I had initially guessed that they were just friends, but now they looked a bit different.

As if they were lovers.

The love of a bride and a nun.

Isn’t that a bit funny?

Even as two who had devoted themselves to God.

…My thoughts kept drifting in this direction uncontrollably. My head was still muddled from what happened yesterday.

Common sense dictated they were friends and comrades.

They couldn’t possibly be lovers.

Damn it.

I shook my head side to side.

Others were looking at me with strange eyes, but I didn’t care.

Nisha and Propertyius spoke up.

The first to speak was Nisha.

“I will go.”

“…I will also go.”

It was unexpected.

I had thought those who would remain in the North would declare their intention to go with us.

Without realizing it, I asked a question carelessly.

“What about the North?”

“A city that can’t recover just because two people are absent… that is not the Northern end we love.”

“…Thank you.”

Nisha stood up with a grin.

She snuck around Propertyius’s back and tightly clung to mine.

Her breath was alarmingly close.

Even with a beautiful woman breathing so close to me, my heart remained unmoved.

…I didn’t want to realize how I had changed like this.

Nisha whispered into my ear.

“What about me?”

“…Thank you.”

“Good. I’m satisfied. And you haven’t forgotten the informal speech.”

I always feel this way, but why was she so fixated on ‘informal speech’?

I wanted to ask, but I felt like asking would make her angry, so I kept my mouth shut.

Skylar looked at the city’s landscape with a discontented expression, but he couldn’t take back what he had already said.

We all head towards Regan.

And, we will kill that damn madman who threatens our safety.

It was a simple goal.

Ultimately, my goal of surviving and returning had not changed.

Time was morning.

There was still plenty of time to think. Preparation was needed to head to Regan. Everyone would be busy.

We dispersed around the campfire and spent time while promising to meet again.

Since Skylar could teleport, we really didn’t have much time left.

…Just like yesterday morning, if I poured my magic into him, we could go to Regan.

—And, before long, the Northern end began to buzz again.

There were sounds so many they were innumerable.

Auris covered her ears with her hands.

Amid the ruins of the collapsed walls, a woman emerged.

“…Emperor?”

The most noble being of the Empire stepped outside Regan and revealed herself.