Volume 1 Chapter 15 The Mysterious Flag Was Raised
"I see... Yeah."
Margrethe's voice was soft, a little hard to read. Her tone danced around the truth.
"Is something bothering you?" I asked.
"No, it's just... Blaze is really straightforward, you know?"
"Oh, I get it."
That was true. Blaze was like a classic hero archetype—always honest, always serious.
"He's a bit of a handful with how rigid he is. Not exactly popular with the girls..."
That made sense. In the main storyline, he does become popular later during the school arc, forming the early group around him. But right now, he's still rough around the edges.
"Back when we first met, Mobu," Margrethe continued, "you said I'd become Blaze's party, didn't you?"
"Oh..."
I remembered saying something like that. We did grow close in different ways, but calling it an 'party' felt simpler somehow. Too sweet otherwise.
"What are you even talking about?" she asked sharply.
Her gaze turned icy, and her words were firm. The tone told me enough—Margrethe's chance to be part of the harem had probably already slipped away.
"Don't worry about it," I said. "Just a misunderstanding. I doubt you'll get along with Blaze after this."
"...That's fine, I guess."
She exhaled slowly, almost like letting go of a weight.
"Actually, I was curious," she said. "After all, it was a prophecy from the mysterious Mobu."
"Sorry for dragging you into that, Margrethe."
"It's alright... I feel better now."
She took a sip of her tea and turned to look out the window. Beyond the glass, broad-leaved trees swayed gently in the breeze of the rainy season.
"So," she started again, "Blaze keeps insisting he's stronger than you, and Ran keeps complaining that she's being tricked. Even among the boys, people are starting to say she's just being petty. Her reputation's taking a hit."
I nodded slowly. That might explain why Ran was starting to lose her status as one of the more admired characters from the game. If anything, it felt natural that Margrethe's path toward joining Blaze's group had been cut off too. Losing another potential member... but it couldn't be helped.
"By the way, here," she said, pulling two thick books from her bag.
"What's this?"
"They're textbooks—or rather, magic dictionaries. 'Incantation Magic Spell Dictionary' and 'Mana Summoning Ancient Manuscript.' You're in the magic class, right, Ran?"
"Yeah," Ran said, nodding. "I'm not totally sure what kind of magic I'll end up with, but I think it'll be healing."
"Then you should read these," Margrethe said. "They're SSS-class materials. My parents sent them, but I already had copies, so now I've got extras. Stuff like this is impossible to find in Z Class."
"Whoa, thank you, MarMar!"
Ran's eyes sparkled as she hugged the book tightly against her chest.
"It's heavy," she said with a grunt.
"Of course. It's over a thousand pages. It has everything—from basic beginner spells to the highest-tier incantations. That said, just reading them out loud won't do anything if you don't have the right aptitude."
"Spell stuff is so much work," Ran muttered.
"Exactly. Even I can't memorize it all," Margrethe replied.
In chant-based magic, both a declaration and a chant were required. The declaration was something like "Level Five Strength Enhancement." The chant was the key that unlocked that effect. Either one could come first, but in battle, it was common to recite the chant first so the opponent wouldn't know what was coming.
Declarations were short. But chants? That was where it got tough.
For example, low-tier healing might only need a word or two like "Healing Wind." But a top-tier spell, one that could bring someone back from the brink, might be something like:
"O King of Darkness, ruler of the Eternal Realm. I stand before you in supplication. Hear my call and accept my vow. I wish for the soul of [name] to return..."
Even if a few words were off, the spell would still work as long as the meaning stayed intact. But the memorization alone made being a chant-based mage a real challenge.
"You don't have to rush. Just read it when you've got time," Margrethe added. "I heard Z Class lets you work side jobs freely."
"Yeah... This other book is about mana summoning magic, right?"
"Right. It's based on some old manuscript. Unlike chants, the spells are short, but the words are ancient—half of them aren't even readable anymore. They say it's fine to memorize them without understanding the meaning, but honestly? That's nightmare fuel."
They both let out a tired sigh. Couldn't argue with that.
"By the way, this place..."
Margrethe looked around the stable again.
"It really is a stable, huh? Smells kinda nice."
"You like the smell of horses?"
"I love horses. Back home, horseback riding was one of my hobbies."
"I see..."
"Mobu and I take care of the horses every day," Ran said.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. It's not something we were assigned. We just like doing it. Plus, we get paid."
"Oh..."
Margrethe looked surprised.
"I forgot. Mobu and RanRan were orphans, right?"
"Yeah. We didn't have much. Living here saves us dorm fees, and taking care of the horses gives us income. It's a good balance between something we enjoy and something practical."
"I see..."
Margrethe leaned forward slightly from the bed, bringing her face close to my side.
"...You smell like horses," she murmured. "It's a warm scent. Almost like they're happy."
"You can tell?"
She looked up at me quietly, her expression soft and unreadable.
"I'm a mage, but I've also got a bit of Tamer skill. I can understand how horses feel."
"...Oh, really?"
I tilted my head slightly, unsure if she was serious. In the game, I had poured nearly all of Margrethe's skill points into magic. It was always better to have specialists over generalists—especially since Blaze, the main character, was already an all-rounder. Optimizing the rest of the party meant choosing clear roles.
"It smells nice..."
Before I could say anything, she leaned in and wrapped her arms gently around my chest. Her cheek pressed against my side.
"...It calms my heart."
Margrethe's scent drifted to me—light and soothing, unlike Ran's. There was something gentle yet elegant about it, almost like fresh flowers mixed with something... hard to describe. It wasn't overpowering, just enough to draw you in.
"And... I can smell a man's scent too."
I glanced down. Her eyes were closed.
"A strong scent... It's different from Father or my brother."
So, Tamers can recognize people by scent too. That's kind of impressive.
"Yeah. Mobu's dependable like that," Ran added with a smile.
Maybe it was because of the compliment, but Ran looked genuinely happy.
"...I see."
Margrethe finally pulled her face away from my side, though she was still clinging to me.
"RanRan likes Mobu's scent too, huh?"
"Yup! I do!"
"Then, that makes us the same."
Margrethe gave a quiet laugh.
"Wow, let's all become best friends, then!"
Ran grabbed both of our hands and held them tightly.
"B-b... best friends...?"
Margrethe's face turned bright red.
"I-it's fine... I'd like to get to know both of you better too."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
The three of us stood there, hands joined, chatting cheerfully. Every now and then, Margrethe's grip would tighten just a little. Her cheeks still had a faint blush.
This was definitely not how the game played out. The original flow—especially in terms of relationships—was already changing. In the game, Blaze was supposed to form a harem with Ran and Margrethe. But this? This was completely different.
...Not that I minded. Being liked by girls wasn't exactly a bad thing.
"Then let's make a promise," Ran said. "From now on, no matter what happens—we're best friends. We'll stay close."
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Hehe... This is kind of fun."
As we held hands, something strange happened. A soft red mist shimmered around Margrethe... and around Ran too. The two auras slowly swirled together, wrapping gently around all three of us.
...What is this?
"Did either of you just cast a spell?"
"Huh? No?"
"A spell? What are you talking about?"
Neither of them seemed to notice anything unusual.
Then... what was that aura?
It was the same as what happened with Ms. Lina.
Could this be... another flag? Maybe something related to forming a party?
Damn it. The story is changing more and more. All because I didn't die in the Starting Village like the original route intended.
Where is this world heading?
The big plot points might still follow the game's path, but if these small moments keep shifting... even major events might end up totally different.
"It's getting late, MarMar. Want to stay over tonight?" Ran asked.
"H-huh? Here?"
I blinked. That was sudden. And honestly, this room wasn't exactly palace-grade. It was tiny and plain—definitely not fit for a noble lady.
Margrethe gave me a quick glance.
"O-okay, but..."
Her cheeks reddened again.
"It's already dinner time," Ran said cheerfully. "Let's head to the dorms—girls' and boys'. We'll eat and then meet back here."
"Y-You don't have to rush!" Margrethe said, standing quickly. She brushed off her skirt and straightened her clothes.
"Alright then, Mobu," she said softly. "See you later..."
Notes:
• Margrethe - Female. A new student and sub-heroine character in the game. She is a Mage class with low physical strength. Her appearance is not described in detail, but she is noted to have a pleasant scent. She initially comes off as hostile but warms up to the protagonist, Blaze, over time. She is proud and insists on being addressed with honorifics, reflecting her noble upbringing. She has a strong dislike for men, considering them weak and arrogant. Her relationship with Mobu starts on a tense note, but she eventually shows a more vulnerable side, acknowledging her need to improve her physical strength.
• Blaze - Male. The protagonist of the game, born into the wealthy Rosinore family. He has blond hair and a heroic appearance. Blaze is kind and lacks arrogance despite his status. He is destined to become a hero and defeat the Demon King. His relationship with Mobu and Ran is complex, as they are not part of the main story.
• Ran - Female. An orphan and a close friend of Mobu. She has long, dark hair and a gentle appearance. Ran is kind and trusting, often relying on Mobu for guidance. She survives the demon attack by hiding in the secret base with Mobu.
• Ms. Lina - Female. The kind-looking elder sister at the academy's reception desk. She has a relaxed demeanor and a gentle smile. She oversees the entrance exams and allows Blaze's impromptu battle with Mobu and Ran, noting their shared hometown. She flips through documents casually, suggesting she is organized yet laid-back.
• Starting Village - A small, poor village located in a rural area. It was founded by the Village Head after he cleared the wilderness. The village is now safe from monsters, and Mobu and Ran are considering it as a potential base for survival.
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