|I know you, Nyrel Loyster.|
I read and reread the piece of paper in my hand, hoping it was a mistake. It couldn't be true, but there it was, in black and white: "I know you, Nyrel Loyster."
My heart pounded in my chest, and a knot formed in my stomach. It couldn't be possible. I thought I was the only one who had been reincarnated into this world. But someone else had been sent here too.
"Are you kidding me…"
[<Amael?>]
"Wait Cleenah…Jarvis!"
I immediately called Jarvis, hoping he would have some answers.
[Yes?]
'Please tell me you know something about this!'
I hoped it was just a joke from Tokyo or Jarvis bothering me. They were the only ones who knew my full name and could pull this off.
[This has nothing to do with me or my master, Edward.]
'Then…?'
I didn't feel well, so I leaned against the wall.
[I'm not sure how this is possible, but I understand what it means. You might as well have reached that conclusion.]
My stomach was really knotted.
Jarvis said they had nothing to do with it.
No, it can't be…
I didn't know how it was possible, I knew what it meant. Someone else had been sent to this world.
I leaned against the wall, feeling uneasy. All my plans for this world were now up in the air. The person who wrote that note knew me from my life on Earth, but they hadn't revealed themselves to me. They could be a friend, but they could also be someone hostile. My life on Earth wasn't a happy one, and I had made some enemies along the way.
Please, tell me it's a freaking joke!
"!"
I noticed the cameras in the corners of the ceiling.
If someone had come to my room and left that note, the cameras would have caught them.
Just as I was about to leave to check the footage, the door in front of my room opened.
It was a red-haired young man my age who emerged from it. Eric Scarlett, a [Pretender]. We had been neighbors for a month, but we hadn't spoken in a long time.
"..."
Eric gave me a look before shifting his gaze to the piece of paper I was holding.
I ignored him and dashed to the elevator.
"All was going too well... dammit!" I punched the metallic door in frustration. I had been acting like a child, thinking that I might be the only one reincarnated in this world. But now that someone else was here, I couldn't help but worry. What if they were in a strong character's body and had an advantage over me? What if they had played this game before and knew everything that would happen?
Of course, if that person played the game, he wouldn't try anything stupid, knowing the bad endings, but I couldn't trust that.
The elevator doors opened and I strode purposefully towards the reception desk, pushing people out of my way. I ignored the queue and walked straight up to the receptionist.
"I need to see the security camera footage for the S-1 floor," I said brusquely, tapping my finger impatiently on the desk.
The receptionist looked confused at my demand. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait in line like everyone else, sir," he said.
I cut him off. "No, you don't understand. I need to see the footage now," I said coldly.
The receptionist hesitated. "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't just give you access to the security cameras without proper clearance," he said.
I felt my anger flare up. "Do you know who I am?" I asked in a threatening tone.
The receptionist's expression turned nervous.
Of course he knew who I was.
"I am a member of Falkrona House. If you don't show me the footage I need, you will face the wrath of my family," I said, my voice low and menacing.
The receptionist's face turned pale. He reached for the phone to call someone, but I snatched it from his hand and threw it away.
"Bring me to the room, now!" I shouted at him.
The receptionist scrambled to his feet and led me to the security room with a trembling hand. I ignored the whispers and stares of other students as we passed.
Once we were in the security room, I demanded the footage I needed. The staff started pressing buttons on their keyboards and brought up the relevant clip. I watched it carefully, my eyes scanning the screen for any sign of the person who had put the note in front of my door.
As I watched, I noticed something strange. The paper suddenly appeared on the doormat, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Rewind," I commanded, my eyes glued to the screen.
The staff obeyed, and I watched the footage again, this time in slow motion. And then I saw it - the paper had slid out from under my door, pushed by an unseen force.
My heart pounding, I turned to the receptionist. "Is it possible for the records to be tampered with?" I demanded.
The receptionist shook his head. "No, sir. The security room has a unique code that only we have access to. It's impossible for anyone to tamper with the records without being detected," he stuttered.
I gritted my teeth in frustration. "Then how did that paper get there?" I muttered to myself.
At that moment, Aurora appeared in the room. "Edward, what's going on?" she asked with a frown.
I ignored her and turned back to the receptionist. "Give me the names of the people who have access to the code," I grabbed his shirt.
"Edward!"
I ignored again Aurora.
[The records had not been tampered with, Edward. You have to accept that someone or something has the means to enter your room without leaving any trails.]
I know, but I can't believe it!
This is the most secure place of the academy.
Each entry and exit is checked carefully by top ranked people. If that place wasn't safe for me, then that guy... could easily kill me or the others.
That message was brief, but it sounded threatening.
It will be the end if that guy kills me or Jayden.
I shouldn't judge him without knowing what his intentions were, but I couldn't stop myself. So far, everything has gone exactly as planned in the game, and that guy has done nothing.
Why?
Maybe he just had regained his memories?
Several ideas and theories ran through my head, but none of them were useful.
Fuck!
"I-I regr-"
When he was about to refuse me, I tightened my grip.
I was also doing it for them, dammit.
If that guy had bad intentions and knew about the game, he could spoil everything and cause the end of this kingdom.
"I-I-"
The man grabbed my arms in pain.
"Edward, stop this! You're scaring people!"
Aurora shouted, unable to bear it anymore.
Her powerful mana bore pressure on me.
Aurora had royal blood coursing through her veins and a powerful bloodline like mine, but unlike me, she trained from a young age. Now, in terms of strength, she was now one of the top students in the academy. She could beat second and even third years.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance and pushed the receptionist back in his chair. "I'll find out who did this, with or without your help," I said to him, before storming out of the security room.
"Useless guys. Can't even feel safer in such a place."
I made sure to speak out loud so everyone could hear it.
I was trying to hide my anxiety behind anger, and it worked really well.
I walked away to take the elevator.
I didn't even want to enter my room after what I saw, but do I have any choice?
I've only seen such things in horror movies.
"Using your status to pressure others is strictly prohibited inside the academy," Aurora scolded me.
Of course, she wouldn't let me go after the ruckus I caused.
"I'm not 'inside' the academy. I'm in the dormitory," I retorted, not bothering to turn around.
My insolent response only seemed to anger Aurora further. "As part of the student council, I can still make decisions against you despite your status, Edward," she warned.
Aurora was indeed part of the student council. She was the vice president of one of the three most important organizations in the academy, so her authority was extremely high.
Was that a threat?
Despite her words, I couldn't help but smile. It seemed like every single one of the Heroines was against me in this game. Even when I stopped harassing or annoying them, they found new ways to interact with me. Well, not all of them, but in the course of the last month, I felt that.
Miranda, Aurora, and Lyra hated me.
Louisa and Clara had zero faith in me.
Layla doesn't think anything of me.
Milleia, well, she wasn't even aware of who I really was.
Despite being warned by many people to avoid me, Kleah may be the only one who is normal with me.
Maybe it was just my imagination?
I didn't know.
"Aurora, you hurt me," I said, feigning hurt as I turned to face her. I held my chest dramatically for added effect.
[<Edward, I think you should leave; rest a little.>]
I heard Cleenah's voice in my head, warning me not to talk back in my current state, but I ignored her.
Since Aurora hates me that much, it won't change anything if I speak a few more words to provoke her.
"You called off our engagement, and now you're enjoying yourself with your neighbor, Jayden Rayena, a commoner."
"!"