Chapter 4
─A strange rumor is circulating at Olympia Academy.
An eccentric who runs around the entire campus, starting from the dormitory, from early morning.
They say he even does weight training by the lake after finishing his run.
There's even talk that it's a Magic Department student, not a Knight Department one, sparking curiosity about who this peculiar person might be─
"So it was you!"
One of those curious individuals.
Helene's eyes sparkled as she addressed me.
...Wait, why?
***
Chapter 1, Act 1 of <Song of Sword and Magic>: The Entrance Exam.
While the protagonist of the mage route, Irina, handled the magic ball, the knight route's protagonist undergoes a different kind of test.
*'Complete a lap around the entire Atenel Island in the fastest time possible.'*
In other words, the test content is exactly what I've been doing in my daily routine.
"Hut, two, hut, two."
────────────────
**【Strength has increased!】**
**【Stamina has increased!】**
**【Agility has increased!】**
**【Strength has increased!】**
**【Stamina has increased!】**
**【Agility has increased!】**
────────────────
Once again, those delightful sentences pop up.
Yeah, I'm still continuing my exercise regimen without change.
To win at the Inter-year Exchange Competition.
It's still a long way before the stats rise to 2, but if I keep this up consistently, it'll happen soon.
As I run like this, I can hear wailing from behind.
─*Huff, pant, fuck. How is that guy... shit... not tired...?*
─*Wheeze, wheeze. Damn, I heard he's from the Magic Department, so why is he faster than us, wheeze.*
─*Hey, hey. Don't talk. It's draining...*
It's the Knight Department freshmen.
The new students have been racing continuously from the starting line.
By chance, it was similar to when I usually start, so many of them were pacing alongside me.
However, if there's a stark difference...
"Hut, two, hut, two."
It's that I'm not tired at all.
*'Tsk tsk.'*
These weaklings want to become knights?
What's so hard about running on unpaved roads for 2 hours without rest?
Ignoring the jealousy, shock, and envy coming from behind, I keep walking.
Eventually, they fade away behind me, the distance between us widening.
"Phew..."
Then suddenly, a thought strikes me.
*'I'll probably be getting closer to the protagonist soon.'*
I'm not sure exactly what route they're taking, but.
Having secured the top spot in the Knight Department, they must be leading the pack.
I need to be careful since I'm catching up thanks to my physical cheat.
"I should take a detour to avoid meeting them."
Let's change up the routine just for today.
I deviate from the path. Instead of going around in a circle like I usually do when running,
I draw a straight line to shorten the distance and.
Head straight in the direction that leads directly to the lakeside in the southern part of Atenel Island.
*'This way, I should be able to get there faster than the protagonist.'*
Even if they come along the official course later, I'll already be at the lakeside.
Hmm. That's reassuring.
I absolutely must avoid getting entangled with the protagonist.
On the way to the lakeside like that.
Near the forest clearing, at a point where no Knight Department freshman has reached yet.
There, I spotted a woman.
A beautiful woman with brilliant golden hair braided down.
Helene, the heroine of <Song of Sword and Magic>, was waiting for me.
***
"Hello there?"
Her bright smile is incredibly friendly.
Helene stood up, dusting off her skirt. She seems quite down-to-earth for her status.
However, my heart wasn't quite as light.
*'Why is she calling out to me?'*
Helene's first appearance. In the knight route, it's during the entrance exam.
She stops the protagonist who's earnestly racing, introducing herself as having been waiting for him, but.
*'Yeah, I can understand that.'*
In <Song of Sword and Magic>, the protagonist's gender changes depending on the route.
For example, if you choose the Knight Department, that side gets a male protagonist, while the Magic Department side gets a female protagonist.
*...Ah, shit. What the hell! You're in the way!*
Considering that I met Irina, the Knight Department protagonist must be male.
So I can understand why Helene is here.
I get that, but.
"...Do you have business with me, Your Highness?"
Then you should be talking to the protagonist.
Why me?
"Ahaha, you don't need to be so nervous. You know, despite appearances, I'm not one to enjoy class distinctions."
"Ah. Yes."
"Hmm. You're still not letting your guard down at all..."
Helene tilted her head, and then finally explained why she was standing here.
"I was waiting for my destined person."
"...Destined person, you say?"
"Yes!"
Destined person.
In the original work, Helene says this to the protagonist.
That you are my destiny.
"I saw it in a dream. You see, I can foresee the future. I had a revelation that if I waited here quietly, my destined person would come."
"That's a misunderstanding."
Quick rebuttal.
Helene is misunderstanding right now.
The one she was waiting for is the knight route's protagonist. Certainly not me.
"It's not a misunderstanding, you know? In my dream, I clearly met someone who was running around this entire academy. That's you."
"I'm not doing this because of the entrance exam. It's just what I usually do."
"...???"
I calmly continue my explanation.
Helene is mistaken. In the proper storyline, Herak has no reason to come here.
It's just a misunderstanding that occurred because I possessed this body.
Let's correct her misunderstanding, using even the rumors that had been floating around the academy without my knowledge as evidence─
"So it was you!"
Instead, Helene's eyes lit up even more.
"I've been so curious about this for a while now. A mage who exercises! You really are my destined person."
"I'm telling you, I'm not."
At this point, it's getting irritating.
I certainly won't show it in front of the princess, but that's how troublesome this is.
*'Why is she mistaking me for the protagonist?'*
Helene is clearly the heroine of < Song of Sword and Magic >.
Of course, she has many roles to play in the story, so I absolutely must not get entangled with her.
Things like mistaking me for the protagonist shouldn't happen.
"If you insist, then let's wait. Your destined person will come soon, Your Highness."
"Oh my. You're not listening to me at all."
You're the one who's not listening.
I plop down on the ground.
Originally, I should be heading to the lakeside for weight training, but given the situation, there's no choice. I'll have to go along with Helene.
*'Destined person.'*
The reason Helene falls for the protagonist in the knight route.
Like me with my **【Ultimate Physique】**, she's the owner of a 'Unique' trait.
Helene's unique power is **【Heaven's Revelation】**.
A special power that could be called future sight, or seeing fate.
In the original work, Helene uses Heaven's Revelation to meet her match.
*'I don't understand why she's mistaking me for that person, though.'*
If you're going to reveal heaven's secrets, do it properly.
How can you confuse the protagonist with an extra?
"You said you're in the Magic Department, Herak?"
"Yes."
"That's so interesting! A mage who exercises so diligently. It's really something I never imagined."
"I hear that often."
Despite my lukewarm response, Helene doesn't back down.
Considering her status as a princess, it's rude behavior, but her disregard for this is also due to her background.
"I recently went to the Magic Department's freshman orientation, and the atmosphere was really intimidating."
"It often is."
"But Irina, this year's top student, didn't tremble at all. She's really amazing!"
"That's just how she is."
Although she's become a woman, she's still clearly the protagonist.
Irina will face many events as she navigates the story as the female lead.
*'And the male protagonist of the knight route will help her with that.'*
That's the reason for having protagonists of different genders.
It's easier to develop the story if one is male and one is female.
The core is the rivalry and friendship that blossoms between them.
*'In the end, the male protagonist has to be the main one, though.'*
The player needs to immerse themselves in the protagonist they chose, so the male lead takes the dominant role.
Especially for defeating the Act 1 boss, the combined skills of both the male and female leads are necessary.
Although the male lead takes charge, both protagonists are essential.
Anyway, since the male lead in this world seems to be a knight, let's leave Helene to him and get out of here.
That should correct the misunderstanding too.
"Ah. Who might that be? Someone's running towards us."
Speak of the devil, a freshman is running towards us from far away.
There's only one person running the course faster than anyone else.
*'The protagonist.'*
I immediately stood up.
"That's the one. The destined person Your Highness was waiting for."
"Huh? Are you still misunderstanding?"
"We'll see who's mistaken if we watch."
Let's end this awkward situation quickly and go do some weight training.
I stepped onto the course without hesitation.
Just as I was about to stop the approaching protagonist and bring them to Helene─
"Huh?"
Frozen.
My body stiffens. My mind stops, unable to comprehend the situation.
Flowing silver hair, a ponytail brushing against the nape of the neck.
A small build compared to peers, but agile, continuing a swift run.
I could see the modest swell of a chest beneath the shirt worn as an upper garment.
It's the appearance of < Song of Sword and Magic >'s knight route protagonist.
...Or more precisely, the female protagonist's appearance.
"...A woman?"
It was all clear now.
There is no male protagonist in this world.
─Therefore, the combined skill to defeat the Act 1 boss is impossible.
"Fuck."
We're utterly and absolutely fucked.