The directory of names the Family provided me even included portraits, and the cover of 《NaSE》 had an illustration of the protagonist. But even without those reasons, I would have recognized him right away. That’s how distinctive his appearance was.

Short black hair, an eyepatch covering his right eye, and the exposed golden eye. No matter how you looked at it, the person in front of me was undoubtedly Reisir.

For the record, the eyepatch is only to hide his second Ether by covering his silver eye; there’s nothing wrong with his vision.

As if he sensed my presence, his head turned toward me, and his expression hardened with wariness.

But right now, the expression on the protagonist of someone else’s novel had to take a back seat. Because something more important had caught my eye.

The two books Reisir was holding.

On their covers was written 《The Gate From My Novel Devoured the World》.

If anyone were to ask me why that’s a problem, I would answer that the title of my second novel is exactly the same.

Not only that, but on the bookshelf next to the Original Protagonist, I could even find books with the same titles as my first and third serialized works.

'This can’t be a simple coincidence, can it...?'

Even without opening them to check the contents, I was sure those novels were mine.

While scanning the titles of the books with special characters for pen names as I walked here, the possibility that my novels might be here did cross my mind.

But to not only actually find them like this, but for one of them to be in the hands of the protagonist of the novel I’ve been possessed into?

I had no idea how to take this situation.

"Was what you were talking about earlier about that novel? Have you read it?"

My head was spinning with confusion. I think a slight chuckle might have slipped into my voice from the sheer absurdity of it all.

Was that why?

Reisir’s tense expression crumpled at my words.

"Now you’re going to start criticizing my taste in novels too?!"

It seems he took my astonished question as a taunt.

In his glare, I could feel resistance—a will not to be trampled by Karvaldr.

I had just asked a single question, and he suddenly raised his voice like that. If someone who didn’t know the original story saw this, they would wonder, 'Why this sudden outburst out of nowhere?'

But since I had read the original story, I could understand Reisir’s reaction.

'Because at the end of last semester, Reisir was suspended because of Karvaldr, and because of that, he couldn’t take the final exams. As a result, he had to stay at the Academy for the entire vacation to take remedial classes.'

Unlike me, who was dressed in casual clothes, Reisir was currently wearing his school uniform, which was proof that he had taken remedial classes today as well.

Moreover, right before Karvaldr returned to his territory for the vacation, he had deliberately sought out the protagonist.

Solely to mock him.

Since their last meeting had been like that, it was only natural for Reisir’s ill feelings toward this possessed body to be at their peak.

Then, when I suddenly picked a fight with him, that emotion exploded.

Ah, of course, I had no intention of picking a fight with the Original Protagonist. That was simply how it must have felt to him.

'As someone who isn’t the real Karvaldr, this is incredibly unfair, but...'

On the other hand, I was happy.

To think he would get that angry over something that wasn’t even a serious insult made me glad he enjoyed my novel that much.

To be honest, I felt a little proud.

And thanks to Reisir’s sudden outburst, my confused mind snapped back to reality, which was helpful to me in a way.

So I decided to shake off the unfairness and focus on the current situation.

After all, I won’t be able to find the answer to 'Why are the novels I wrote here?' right now.

Right now, it’s more important to clear up Reisir’s misunderstanding and work toward resolving the grudge.

"I have no intention of doing so. I think your taste in novels is quite excellent."

"As if!"

"I’m being serious."

"Don’t lie! Once the semester starts, you’re going to mock this novel in front of the others, aren’t you? And when they agree with you, you’ll reveal that I like this novel and sneer that it’s a novel perfectly suited to my level! I know you’re planning to insult me and this novel all at once like that!"

"......"

The example was not only strangely specific, but also incredibly realistic.

I wondered how badly he had been burned by Karvaldr to be able to spew out words like that.

Moreover, he seemed to have even forgotten that this was a library, with his red-rimmed eyes shouting in rage.

He wanted to give up resisting and wondered if the bullying would lessen if he were to submit docilely, but at the same time, he was afraid the other party would see him as an even easier target and do something worse.

He didn’t want to do anything that would please the guy bullying him, and it felt like if he knelt once, he’d never be able to stand up again.

I could see that he was holding on, craning his neck stubbornly.

No, I had already read the original story and understood Reisir’s psychology.

That’s why I felt sorry for him, and my own past overlapped with his, making my heart feel heavy.

'But... didn’t this guy like my novel?'

Then why is he so sure others will agree with mocking my novel, and even go so far as to talk about its level?

This makes it sound as if my novel is low-quality.

Feeling a little discouraged, I opened my mouth.

"...It’s a misunderstanding."

"What misunderstanding!!"

"Calm down and lower your voice. Even if there aren’t many students using it during the vacation, this is a library."

At my words, Reisir made an "oops" expression and covered his mouth with one hand.

Then, with a flushed face, he glared at me resentfully.

It seemed he thought it was my fault he shouted in the library.

It was quite a fierce glare.

But I was able to take it without flinching.

Since what he was glaring at was nothing more than the shell I was wearing.

Satisfied that Reisir had quieted down, I was about to attempt a proper conversation.

"Thankfully, you seem to be well aware of where you are. So, could you please go outside and fight now?"

A new voice came from behind me.

When I turned, I saw a small girl in a school uniform standing there with a displeased expression.

I had received a directory of names from the Family, but it only listed people related to the possessed body, professors, or children of important families.

The girl was not from a renowned family, so she wasn’t listed in the directory.

Therefore, I currently had no way of knowing who she was.

Still, despite her very young appearance, I could immediately tell she was a senior one year above the possessed body and a member of the Library Club.

At Valhalla Academy, necktie colors differ by enrollment year, and the girl’s necktie was blue.

Near the collar of her clothes was a Library Club badge.

Was she wearing her uniform because she was in the middle of club activities?

"I’m sorry..."

Reisir bowed his head deeply toward the much smaller girl and apologized politely.

Of course, I remained still.

The ill-mannered and arrogant Karvaldr would never apologize for something like this.

Besides, Reisir was the only one who shouted. Since I was trying to calm him down, I had done nothing wrong.

"Sorry or not, if you don’t want to be put on the library ban list, both of you, please leave at once."

Despite the Original Protagonist’s polite apology, both of us were kicked out of the library.

During this, Reisir selected two more books from the shelf to borrow, making four in total, and the Library Club member accepted his request.

But I had no time to search for the Ether-related books that were my original purpose, so I left empty-handed.

'I didn’t even raise my voice in the library...?'

It’s so absurd, it’s almost comical.

Still, since I did meet the Original Protagonist, it wasn’t so bad if I considered it swapping today’s and tomorrow’s plans.

I let go of my lingering disappointment about the books I couldn’t borrow and began the opening remarks to improve my relationship with the Original Protagonist.

"I don’t think the misunderstanding has been cleared up yet, so let me make this clear. I also like that author’s novels, and therefore I will never criticize your taste in novels."

"What?! You like what??"

Once again, Reisir’s voice grew loud, but that didn’t matter.

This time it was due to shock rather than anger, and we were now outside the library.

The door seemed quite heavy, so it should be well soundproofed, and no one would mind us talking in the hallway.

"And Reisir Daudabiner, I want to apologize to you. I’m sorry for last semester."

"A sudden apology...? What are you up to?"

"You can’t believe me? Well, I suppose that’s understandable, considering what I’ve done..."

As I said that, I looked down at a forty-five-degree angle with a bitter expression.

I had anticipated from the beginning that Reisir wouldn’t accept my apology meekly.

So I practiced this expression in front of the mirror.

To give him the impression that Karvaldr was sincerely repentant.

Even if he couldn’t forgive Karvaldr, he would at least let go of his intent to kill.

"Wha-what...? Are you being serious right now?"

"I will never bully you again. I swear it on the honor of the Austri Ducal Family."

This time, I looked straight into Reisir’s eyes as I spoke.

In truth, I couldn’t care less about the honor of the possessed body’s Family, but since I spoke with a desperate heart—'Please don’t kill me!'—my sincerity would surely get through.

Indeed, I could see Reisir’s eyes wavering, and he was noticeably agitated.

It seemed he was finally willing to believe my words.

"After bullying me all last semester, why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"Because... I realized that no matter what I do, I can’t get any attention..."

To create an atmosphere of 'I have a story I can’t tell, so don’t ask for details,' I once again looked down at a forty-five-degree angle and let my words trail off.

My mother died giving birth to me, and since no one in the family cares about me, I tried to get my father’s attention, and so on.

Given the prideful nature of the original Karvaldr, I didn’t think he would tell Reisir such a story.

'Most importantly, it’s not right to ramble on about the perpetrator’s personal misfortunes to the victim, is it? It’s not like I’m forcing him to overlook my past wrongs because I’m a pitiful kid...'

From that perspective, the right thing would be not to show any sign that I have a backstory at all.

But I had no choice.

I had to at least reveal that there was a catalyst for a change of heart, so that he would believe Karvaldr had truly repented, and so that Reisir himself could be at ease.

"What’s that...?"

"Don’t ask for details. I won’t answer."

"......"

An expression that said 'What kind of guy is this?' appeared on Reisir’s face when he heard my answer.

Seeing the Original Protagonist like that, I was relieved.

Because I could feel that although his animosity toward the possessed body hadn’t completely disappeared, it had lessened a little.

"Then I’ll ask something else. Is it true that you like this 'Star Author’s' novels?"

Reisir asked, holding up the book he had just borrowed.

I could see that in the spot where my pen name should have been written, there was a special character engraved: "★".

It seems that’s why he calls me "Star Author."

"Is that important right now?"

"It’s important to me."

Reisir’s expression as he answered was quite serious.

It /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ seems he’s still worried that I’ll make a laughingstock of his taste in novels.

As the author who wrote something he enjoyed, this is quite disconcerting.

If I had it my way, I would have challenged him—'Are you that ashamed of liking my novel?!'—but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I just let out a heavy sigh.

"Haa... Yes, I really like it. Happy now?"

"No way, you’re lying! You like this kind of novel with a frivolous and flighty protagonist, written in the first person, with short and simple sentences that have no profundity or aesthetic sense? You?!"

"......"

Q. The protagonist of someone else’s novel insulted the protagonist of my novel. What should I do as the author?

▶ An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Retaliate with an insult about Senna, the author of 《NaSE》.

▶ Reveal that the novel with you as the protagonist, written from your point of view, wasn’t so profound either.

▶ Advise him to stop badmouthing the work, as it encourages the author to stop writing.

▶ Cry.