“Yeah. I was,” I answered.
“I knew it. You’re completely different from the Arius in the game. And what happened in the dungeon definitely made me think you were abnormally strong, but that was evident in normal classes. I’m surprised you just admitted it, though. Does that mean you’re not trying to hide it?”
“I don’t intend on going around telling people because it could turn into a mess, but I don’t mind if people figure it out. There are other reincarnated people in this world anyway, and it wasn’t like the people here hunted them like witches.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Milia couldn’t help being surprised, I guess. I was the son of the chief minister—which allowed me to get whatever information I wanted—and I had been using my connections to gather information from around the world.
On the other hand, Milia might be the protagonist of Love Academy, but she is just a normal student in the end. She could only get information a normal person could. I hadn’t heard talk about other reincarnated people in Ronaudia, so she wouldn’t have heard that others like us exist.
“I’m certain of this information since I looked into it myself,” I started. “It’s rare, but there are other people who were reincarnated into this world. I was surprised how readily they were accepted. My parents and the people close to me already figured it out.”
Not that I asked them directly about it, but Rhea and Darius knew I was reincarnated, and they still treated me like their own son. Grey and Selena noticed, too; I was sure of that. That was likely why they never treated me like a child.
“Are you trying to say there’s no need to hide it then?” she asked.
“No, I’m not saying that. Some people would try to use the knowledge and power of people who were reincarnated. There’s even a chance we could be treated as heretical or discriminated against, which is why it’s best if people don’t know. The reactions of people in the Academy and the capital could be particularly unpredictable.”
The capital of Ronaudia, the Academy, and its surroundings were the only part of this world held in the cloistered universe of Love Academy.
“Only this place is the world of Love Academy,” I explained. “There’s a whole different world beyond the capital. Oh yes, Milia, you’re from the countryside, right? Your hometown is probably outside the bounds of Love Academy, too, isn’t it? You must have felt something was off when you came here.”
She fell into thought as if trying to sort through my claims. I was sure she knew what I was talking about. Then she stated, “But the attack during the dungeon class didn’t happen in the game. Assassination doesn’t fit Love Academy’s world.”
She must be wondering, if the capital really was a closed box for Love Academy, then how do things outside of the plot happen?
“It’s because this isn’t a game—it’s a real world. It’s unsurprising there are people who’d interfere with Love Academy’s world. I would say it’s more unnatural that Academy life developed so that it’s full of nothing but love-brained idiots.”
There was no way authority and restrictions would do nothing when it came to a school where royalty and nobles attended. Nevertheless, I preferred dealing with that to lovesick idiots.
“Love-brained idiots?” asked Milia. “Arius, are you making fun of Love Academy? If so, you’re really going to annoy me.”
“Sorry, but I’ve got no interest in otome games. That’s why I’ve been thinking of nothing but getting stronger since I reincarnated as Arius.”
“Hm… Guess that’s why you’re so abnormally strong.”
“Arius’s base specs were always high, anyway. Stupidly high because he’s a love interest in the game.”
“That’s true. I guess it’s what you’d expect if Arius threw himself into training. But Arius is supposed to be a shy, quiet boy with glasses. You’re wearing glasses, at least, but you destroyed the rest of the character.”
“Same goes for you. You’re not like the protagonist of Love Academy at all.”
“And whose fault is that?!”
Come on. Coming at me with complaints all of a sudden? But I did know what she meant. “I figured with all the showing off I did in the dungeon that other reincarnated people would figure me out, if there were any. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you were reincarnated.”
She paused. “What do you mean?”
“Once you realized I was reincarnated, you figured—based on what I said before—that I had also realized you were. That’s why you called me here, isn’t it? To make sure I stay quiet. I don’t intend to say anything, and I don’t care if you were reincarnated or not. The person in front of me right now is the Milia of this world, and I don’t hate the Milia of this world. What I’m saying is, I’m not planning on barging in and destroying your world.”
“Even if I tell everyone you were reincarnated?”
“I don’t think you’re the type of person to do that,” I responded immediately, and she stared at me again. But it was honestly what I thought. “Okay, for argument’s sake, even if you told people I was reincarnated, I wouldn’t do anything. Again, my parents and the people close to me already know. If there’s anyone who would treat me differently if they find out, then I guess our relationship wasn’t much to begin with. On top of that, I’m an adventurer; I can live anywhere in the world. It’s not a problem for me if I get chased out of the capital because people found out.”
However, it was never going to happen. Even if Milia sacrificed me to prevent others from finding out, I wouldn’t hate her for it. It was true that I was reincarnated.
“Urgh, now you really are annoying me,” she remarked. “Looking at me like you see through everything, trusting me for no reason, not caring even if you get found out… You don’t get anything, do you?”
She pouted and turned away before continuing.
“That’s not what I wanted to ask you about. No, not even ask. Not what I wanted to say. I was reincarnated into this world and decided everyone was just a character, and I just played the role of Milia. What you told me…it changed me.” She spoke slowly, expressing annoyance on her face. “And during the dungeon class, it was Prince Eric who dragged us into his plan, right? It had nothing to do with you, but you still protected us until the end. And so, I…as a thank you…wanted to tell you that I was reincarnated, too. To tell you that you’re not alone… But if there’re other people who were reincarnated, then I’m just stupid for thinking all that!”
Oh. That was what she meant. And I went and said things I didn’t have to, making her say things she didn’t have to.
“It’s enough for me that you felt that way. Thank you, Milia.”
“And that’s what annoys me about you!”