The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

---

It took some time, but somehow I managed to reach the shelter where the World Tree was located.

It was strange that the sapling I had received as evidence of my friendship with the elves was carelessly left in the corner of the Academy, but perhaps it was for the best for me.

A boy climbed up the World Tree and picked a fruit, and I found out that it was a commoner who did such a thing?

He would definitely become the target of Exipri’s disdain. If that happened, it would be the end. Only someone like a Crown Prince could get away with such a mishap, while a commoner would be buried for it.

Perhaps it was because lunchtime was nearing its end, but there wasn’t a soul in the shelter. Maybe it was because it was tucked away in a corner.

There were elves among the Academy students, so I had come to check how many people were around today, but unexpectedly I made an unexpected discovery.

Even if someone were here, it could just be postponed for later. I really didn’t need to have a daughter right now. But that sense of relief that comes from having it in hand made me want to act immediately.

“Strength.”

I felt a strange sensation as mana coursed through my body, filling me with power. Was this a perk of being a reincarnated person? I could use simple magic.

Even if it was a perk, simple body enhancement or breathing fire from my hands was about the limit. Of course, considering how nobles spend lavishly just to learn such simple tricks, it was a valid advantage.

Still, I was a commoner who would die if they got in their way. That’s why I was so busy building connections with the heroines from now on.

Without connections, I wouldn’t even be able to keep my own skin safe, let alone beat the ending. I didn’t know the extent of this body’s talent, but no matter how strong it was, I didn’t think I could defeat the final boss who could turn the world upside down with just a gesture.

The true power behind the White Empire, and perhaps the mother of the White Royal Family’s Eldest Daughter, no.

An entity.

Onbyeolbi.

There was no way a mere human could win against that. It consistently overwhelmed the protagonist, who was aided by divine blessings and the support of various heroines, causing the original protagonist to meet a bad ending.

There were almost no weaknesses to speak of, making it impossible for the protagonist at that point to win. They only realized the weakness at the very end, but by then it was already too late. There was no way to realize it.

As I climbed the tree, thinking about the original story, I found myself near the top before I knew it. Now I needed to find the fruit, and despite being young, the World Tree was incredibly massive.

It was described as being the size that would fill my hand, so while it might be large compared to ordinary fruits, in this vast space, it was still tiny.

I had almost lost hope about when I would find it, but since I was already up here, I had no choice but to search for it.

As I moved between branches, nearly falling dozens of times, sheer luck prevailed and I found the fruit.

It was almost the same size as a golf ball. The only difference was that it was green and had a small stem.

I had no idea how to use this, but I was sure it would be the first step to twisting the ending.

According to what the author revealed during the post-completion Q&A, to defeat Onbyeolbi, the protagonist would have to conquer all the heroines.

That included not just the original members but also heroines like Camilla, who were forgotten due to lack of popularity, and those who inevitably fell away or betrayed the protagonist. A ludicrous condition to conquer them all.

It wasn’t revealed whether conquering them would grant the power to contend against her or if another method would arise, but since it was recognized by the author, it would surely work out somehow.

Just as I was pleasantly preparing to descend, I spotted someone coming to the shelter. They were approaching with a rather cheerful step, so I pondered whether to go down or just wait until they leave, ultimately deciding to keep my presence concealed and wait.

I didn’t think I could descend quickly while holding the fruit without being detected by whoever was coming from afar.

As I watched who was approaching from a distance, my mouth involuntarily dropped open.

With white hair mixed with black hair reminiscent of a tiger’s stripes, it was none other than the White Royal Family’s Eldest Daughter. However, something was different.

First, I didn’t sense the deadly aura or venomous intent that I had felt when confronting Anya. Her expression was much more relaxed and natural, and above all, she was smiling.

Though her lips only curled slightly, it was enough to make me wonder if she was really the same girl who radiated a deadly vibe when spoken to.

I hadn’t noticed it when she was scowling, but she was indeed beautiful. Simply looking at her appearance, I couldn’t help but think she was perhaps above Anya or even the other heroines who would appear later.

But it was all just surface-level. I didn’t know everything about her yet, but at least I could tell she wasn’t showing any goodwill towards this Academy.

First impressions were already like that, and since she was the culprit who disrupted my event with Anya, an irregular who initially seemed dangerous but now was someone I should try to avoid if possible.

Whatever made her feel so good, she sat down on a bench, looked around, pulled something out of a paper bag, and started munching on it. Her tail was wagging gently, and her ears were perked up, so it seemed like she was in a good mood.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be cream bread. Seeing her, a princess, eating cream bread triggered an inexplicable mix of emotions that I found hard to process.

Watching her eat with a face of pure happiness made me realize that I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.

Feeling jealous of my growling stomach as I watched her eat, I thought surely she wouldn’t hear it from this distance.

Even if beastkin had keen senses, I didn’t think they could detect the sounds of a rumbling stomach from six floors up. That was until she gestured at me.

Could it be she heard that sound?

Before I had time to be surprised, she gestured for me again. It was a clear indication for me to come down, so I had no choice but to climb down the tree.

My efforts to go down without showing her the fruit seemed rewarded, as she didn’t ask me what I was holding.

Instead, what happened next was even more absurd.

She pulled out a cream bread from the bag and silently offered it to me. While it felt like she was handing it over as a gesture to receive it, there was absolutely no reason for her to give me bread. This made it all the more puzzling.

She had acted as if she would kill Anya, yet treated me, a commoner, like this?

After a moment of thinking, she casually tossed the cream bread toward me, and I hastily caught it with one hand. I almost reached out with the hand holding the fruit just then, causing me to sweat profusely.

“That rumbling sound can be heard down here too. Go on and eat. There’s no bad taste in eating food in front of the hungry.”

So, she could wear such a soft and benevolent expression toward others.

It wasn’t a reason that was easy to comprehend, but I had no reason to refuse the bread she gave me, so I accepted it.

“…Ah, yes. Thank you.”

After hearing my thanks, she stared at me for a while before suddenly asking for my name.

“Now that I think about it, I’ve never heard your name. Would you tell me your name in exchange for the bread?”

My name. When I entered the Academy, I had given them my original name, but I wasn’t sure if it was alright to tell her.

I had a strong premonition that she would ask if I was from the Eastern Continent upon hearing the name Han Dogon. But seeing her face lit with curiosity, I thought it might be okay.

After all, who cares about a little made-up backstory?

“…I am Han Dogon.”

“Han Dogon, huh. Are you perhaps from the Eastern Continent?”

I felt a slight thrill when she reacted exactly as anticipated, but I also began to worry if my hastily created backstory would hold up. Still, since I had already revealed my name, it was worth a shot.

“No, I’m not from the Eastern Continent. However, both my parents are from the Eastern Continent.”

Since my parents were from the Eastern Continent, it wouldn’t be unusual for their child to have an Eastern Continent-style name. But did she still have more questions? Just as she was about to speak, the lunch bell rang, indicating that lunch break was almost over.

“Is it already time? You can go. Oh, and make sure to eat the bread.”

Although she appeared slightly disappointed, she said this and then left. It was both cute and amusing that she said something appropriate for someone leaving, yet she was the one who left first.

Watching her retreating figure, I tore open the packaging of the bread and took a big bite.

It wouldn’t fill my empty stomach entirely, but it was better than nothing. After swallowing it down, I decided to head not to the gymnasium but somewhere else. Primarily to conceal the fruit, and secondarily, to help some heroine who would be late for Physical Education class.

With the thought that the cream bread had a very comforting taste, I hurriedly made my way to twist the ending.