Townsperson A Stops the Villainess

And so, autumn arrived. In our world, autumn meant one thing: the season of cultural festivals. You might wonder why a fantasy world would have a cultural festival, but you have to remember—this was a Japanese otome game. Consequently, the Royal Academy had a festival of its own, just as tradition dictated.

In the original game, this was an event where Amy would flirt and frolic with the various capture targets while they worked together on an exhibit. Since this timeline felt like it was spiraling toward the reverse harem route, she would likely be putting something together with the whole gang—all the capture targets, plus the villainess.

For the record, the rules for this festival were quite lax. You could do whatever you wanted as long as the offering stayed within the bounds of common sense, and apparently, it had no impact on your grades. However, "doing nothing" was strictly forbidden.

My spirit had already been ground into dust by that independent research project, and since the specific event I wanted to prevent usually took place in the hallway anyway, I saw no need to embed myself within Amy’s group.

Besides, after everything that had happened, I doubted Anastasia would come to me for help again.

With that in mind, I decided to run a solo stall selling grilled Orc meat skewers. I went ahead and filed the paperwork. I was an adventurer, after all; I figured the students might find it entertaining if I hunted an Orc and put on a little butchering show.

I was lost in these thoughts when Anastasia called out to me.

"Hey, Allen."

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"Have you decided on your contribution for the cultural festival? If not, would you consider assisting His Highness once more?"

Wow, seriously? We had barely spoken since the report incident, so I’d assumed the requests were over. This was a surprise.

"I’m sorry. I’ve actually already submitted my application to run an Orc meat skewer stall."

"...I see. Then I shall look forward to it. Do your best."

"Thank you, My Lady."

I bowed my head, but as she turned, her usually frozen expression looked just a little bit dejected. The guilt I felt was overwhelming.

"Ah, but... if it’s absolutely necessary, I could—"

"No, it is fine. Since you're putting in the effort, I shall make sure to go and eat there."

"Yes... thank you."

With that, Anastasia turned on her heel and departed.

Still, Amy was acting suspicious. I decided it was best to keep a close eye on things after all. With my mind made up, I moved to prevent the worst-case scenario.

---

It was three days before the festival, and I was currently infiltrating the workroom assigned to Anastasia’s group.

It seemed the Crown Prince and his circle had settled on an exhibit about the "downtown culture" of the Royal Capital. In short, they had designed a stage specifically for Amy to shine.

While the group was composed of the same members as in the game, Anastasia was clearly the odd one out. The power dynamic was painfully obvious: Amy and the capture targets decided everything, while Anastasia was denied any say, relegated to the role of a glorified errand girl.

No matter the political necessity of her being there, I knew that if I were in her shoes, my mental health would have snapped long ago.

Lately, whenever the capture targets left the room and Amy and Anastasia were alone, Amy would begin making sharp, snide remarks. Even now, unaware that I was watching with my presence erased via 【Stealth】, she began her verbal assault.

"Anastasia-samaaa, are you still herrrrre?"

"..."

"Being so uncute is exactly whyyy Karl-samaaa is going to lose interest in youuu, you knowww?"

"...Our engagement is not a matter of affection. It is for the sake of the kingdom."

I was glad I’d stayed to monitor. It seemed an event was starting in a place I hadn't expected.

"Ehh—? But that’s so sad for Karl-samaaa! I think Karl-samaaa, and the citizens tooo, would surely preferrr a much moreee lovely Queen-samaaa, don’t youuu?"

I felt the air in the room turn cold. I don't mean the atmosphere grew tense; I mean the room became physically freezing. A visible chill was drifting off Anastasia.

"Araaa? What's the matterrr? You can’t look like thataa! A future Queen-samaaa is supposed to smile! Smi-le!"

To provoke her further, Amy flashed a beaming grin and tilted her head. She balled her hands into fists, sticking out only her index fingers to poke her own cheeks. It was the classic, nauseatingly cutesy "burikko" pose.

The most terrifying part was that while her mouth was smiling, her eyes were completely dead.

"Amy, are you insulting me?"

"No way—! Anastasia-sama is so scaryyy!"

Watching from the sidelines, even I felt a surge of irritation. I had to hand it to Anastasia; she was a saint for not screaming at the girl.

However, I remembered the dialogue from the game being much more... "flowery." It shouldn't have been this malicious. There was no doubt about it—Amy was deliberately trying to enrage Anastasia to get her to turn violent.

It was a shame I didn't have a smartphone to record this, but I kept my watch.

Anastasia let out a heavy sigh and began a lecture she had likely given a dozen times before.

"Listen. This kingdom is built upon a social hierarchy. That is a reality that cannot be overturned, even among students of the same academy. You must learn your place."

Amy, completely unfazed, argued back.

"That’s just sillyyy! Becauseee, Anastasia-samaaa and I are both human beingsss. Everyone is equal before Goddd!"

"That is a sentiment for the Presence of God. I am merely telling you to show proper respect. And what is wrong with you, anyway? Snuggling up to men who already have fiancées... Do not act in a way that invites such misunderstanding!"

The thread of Anastasia’s patience was fraying; her voice was gradually rising.

"That’s not true at allll! Karl-samaaa and I are just friendsss! And Marcus tooo, and Leo, and Oscar, and Claude... they’re all precious friendsss! Please don’t talk bad about my friendsss!"

"That is exactly what I am calling strange! If you want friends, choose men who aren't engaged!"

"You’re just an outsider, Anastasia-samaaa! Stop trying to ruin our friendshippp!"

"You... what?!"

Just as the temperature dropped another ten degrees, the capture targets came rushing in, alerted by the shouting.

"Anastasia, what is the meaning of this? Weren't you two supposed to be preparing together? I distinctly remember telling you not to fight. Can you not even manage that, despite how much you love to lecture me?"

"Your Highness! This woman...!"

"Karl-samaaa! I just wanted to get alonggg, but Anastasia-sama said I was being rudeee..."

"You!"

Anastasia bristled at Amy’s nonsensical explanation, but the Crown Prince cut her off with a shout.

"Silence! Close that mouth this instant! That is an order!"

"Guh..."

"The relationship between you and me is a matter for the world outside. Do not bring your petty grievances into this academy."

"I... understand..."

Anastasia’s expression froze into a mask of ice as she silently returned to her work.

---

In the evening, the capture targets escorted Amy out of the room. Anastasia continued working in silence for a while until she reached a stopping point, then packed her things and left.

I followed her stealthily.

After walking down the hallway for a bit, we came across Amy, who was leaning against a wall. As Anastasia tried to pass, Amy smirked provocatively and let out a biting remark.

"How pathetic. How does it feel to have your fiancé stolen?"

Anastasia’s eyes went wide. Her face flushed a deep crimson, and she raised her right hand high.

"A-CHOO!"

The moment she moved, I deactivated my concealment and let out the loudest sneeze I could muster.

Startled, Anastasia froze mid-swing, her hand still hovering in the air.

"O-Oh? Anastasia-sama? And Amy-sama too? Ah, were you two in the middle of a private talk? M-My apologies!"

I played it off like I’d just happened to stumble onto the scene, then hurried away with a series of panicked, clumsy footsteps.

I’d stopped her. It was a performance so perfect I felt I deserved an Oscar. Once I was out of their line of sight, I ducked into a shadow, reactivated 【Stealth】, and crept back to resume my watch.

"It seems words are wasted on you," Anastasia said, her face once again a frozen mask. She hadn't followed through with the slap. "But remember this: His Highness is the future King of this nation. Someone like you, who fails to comprehend the duties of the royalty and nobility, is unfit to stand beside him. Stay away from him."

She walked away without another word. Amy remained in the hallway, glaring at Anastasia’s retreating back with pure frustration.

"What is going on?" Amy muttered to herself. "That mob character, Allen... he wasn't even in Extra Mode."

She stomped off, and a moment later, the Crown Prince and his lackeys hurried past me, chasing after her.

Extra Mode? Was there a version of the game I hadn't played? I was certain I’d never seen anything like that on the Wiki...

The details were wildly different, but that was definitely the event I’d been trying to stop. In the original game, a furious Anastasia slaps Amy. Amy, shocked by the violence, collapses into tears. The Prince and the capture targets then arrive to witness the aftermath, condemn Anastasia, and effectively end the engagement.

Well, the engagement looked pretty dead already, to be honest.

I waited until everyone was gone before deactivating my concealment.

One thing was now crystal clear: Amy was just like me. I was certain of it.

A woman who had played the game had been reincarnated as Amy, and she was treating this world like a playground, aiming for the reverse harem route.

I suppose I could understand it. For a woman, being surrounded by a circle of handsome men must be a dream scenario. If I’d been reincarnated as the protagonist of a dating sim, I might have aimed for a harem route myself.

But still...

I don't like her style!

The "capture" Amy was pursuing would ultimately lead to the total destruction of the Royal Capital. This wasn't a game world; it was a reality where my mother, my master, my fellow adventurers, Monica, and everyone who had ever helped me were actually living their lives.

"Fine then," I whispered, my resolve hardening. "I'll play this game to the end."