"What the hell happened? Why did an event like this trigger?"
"As far as we know, a development like this shouldn't even be possible..."
Late that night, Zenon and the rest of the reincarnators gathered in a classroom once again to hold a meeting.
The agenda: a specific event that had occurred at noon today—the duel between Yugo and Marcos.
"Why did Scum Yugo and that Marcos guy fight? And you're telling me Yugo actually won?"
"What is going on? This seriously makes no sense."
The group was baffled by the clash between the two despised nobles (though one had technically been disowned) and the shocking outcome. As they searched for a cause, they began to recount the profile of the man Yugo had defeated.
Marcos Borg... A student in the same year as the protagonist and the eldest son of the House of Borg—a family of decent prestige, though not quite top-tier. In the world of Luminous History, players knew him as a character who could be recruited into the party early on.
With the Magic Item Giga Scissors equipped to his left arm, his attack and defense stats were respectable. However, he was utterly useless when it came to magic, both offensive and defensive—a pure physical specialist. Even Zenon had relied on him during his first playthrough.
As players went through the game multiple times, they usually prioritized other characters, and even on a first run, Marcos was typically benched by the middle of the story. The mystery wasn't his strength, but his motivation: why had he challenged Yugo to a duel?
Originally, Marcos envied and hated Yugo for his high-ranking lineage, but he was too terrified of the powerful Magic Item Galandil to ever act on it.
His character arc was supposed to begin after the protagonist defeated Yugo. Thinking that even if he couldn't beat the "top dog," he could surely take down a newcomer like the protagonist, Marcos would issue a challenge. After losing and eventually fighting alongside the main party, he would grow from a petty, arrogant noble into a decent human being. In the end, he would pour his heart out to the protagonist—his new comrade-in-arms—accept his own weaknesses, and become a true leader.
So, why had that same Marcos faced Yugo instead of the "protagonists" in this room?
While the others puzzled over the anomaly, Zenon spoke up with an easygoing, almost exasperated shrug.
"It’s not that weird, is it? Did you guys even play Luminous History? Marcos was only afraid of Scum Yugo because of Galandil. But now, Scum Yugo has lost to me and I've confiscated the item. Naturally, Marcos got cocky and thought he could take him. It’s perfectly logical."
"I guess... but doesn't that mean your timing in taking down Scum Yugo was too early, Zenon? You've already started Butterfly-Effecting the events."
"What, you got a problem with that? Who cares? Was anyone here actually planning to put Marcos in their party?"
Zenon’s brazen question was met with dead silence.
It was clear from their lack of response that none of them cared about the fate of a mid-tier male character who wasn't particularly strong and certainly didn't belong in a harem.
"See? No problem. Let’s just call it a random deviation and move on. If this changes Marcos’s personal story, it might even be interesting to watch from the sidelines."
"...Yeah, you're right. It’s not worth worrying about."
"I just hate that Scum Yugo’s reputation is actually improving! 'Fighting to protect his brother'? Give me a break. He probably just didn't want the human sacrifice he's saving for later to get scuffed up."
Despite the slight deviation, they concluded it involved an irrelevant character and wasn't worth their time. With that settled, the group moved on to the real reason for the meeting.
"So, about that character..."
"First come, first served, right? I don't see any other way to handle it."
"Actually, Zenon, you should sit this one out. You've already bagged your precious Claire-tan, so you're set, aren't you?"
"No way in hell. Claire is my number one, obviously, but that doesn't mean I don't want other cute girls in my party! Besides, she’s... well, you know?"
Zenon wasn't the only one who let out a low, creepy chuckle. Every person in the room joined in.
They were all thinking of the same female character. The discussion eventually concluded with a formal agreement: the first person to trigger her flag would claim her.
"There doesn't seem to be a way to force the event early. We just have to act the second the flag appears."
"I’m going to be the one to get her! And then... heh-heh-heh!"
"Ugh, gross! You guys are seriously repulsive. I know exactly what you're imagining, and it's disgusting!"
While trading barbs and keeping a wary eye on one another, the reincarnators finally filed out of the classroom. Even after parting ways, Zenon walked alone with a distorted smile, his delusions running wild.
I feel a little bad for Claire-tan, but building a harem is the golden rule of being reincarnated in another world! First, I'll claim that girl, and then... heh...
The character the reincarnators coveted so desperately was, like Marcos, a female student who could be recruited at the very beginning of the game.
Because she was tied to a specific event, there was nothing they could do at this exact moment. Conversely, if they didn't move with lightning speed once that event arrived, their rivals would beat them to the punch. Now was the time for preparation—to stay calm and refine their plans.
As Zenon fantasized about the "fun" he would have once he possessed her as he did Claire, his heart raced with anticipation.
However, there was one minor, regrettable piece of news.
Due to the duel that had taken place today, a certain man had already beaten them to the punch. He had already set the flag to meet her.
By acting early to secure Claire for himself, Zenon had inadvertently destroyed his own chance to claim the girl he was currently dreaming about. Neither he nor the other reincarnators had any way of knowing this yet.
The fact that the girl every reincarnator yearned for would be snatched away by the man every reincarnator loathed was a reality they would face the very next day.