"Cutman-san...? Why are you here? What are you doing...?"
"N-no! I—I... you've got it all wrong!"
Raiha stared at him, her voice trembling with confusion. Egos didn't belong in this room, nor did he even live in this dormitory. She pressed him for an answer, but Egos could only stammer. He desperately racked his brain for a way to manipulate her, to talk his way out of this, but no such escape existed.
In truth, there was no misunderstanding. He had broken into Yugo and Ryuga’s room, ransacked the place, and intended to steal whatever he could find.
He hadn't ended up here by accident, nor was he acting without malice. Even if he possessed the overwhelming charisma of a Protagonist, it was impossible to talk his way out of a crime like this.
"...I'm calling for help. If you have an excuse, please give it to the teachers, not me."
"W-wait! Just wait!!"
If this got out, a simple school suspension or school probation wouldn't be enough to save him.
Egos had broken in to find a way out of his predicament, only to make his situation infinitely worse. Desperate to stop her, he lunged at Raiha as she backed away, his voice cracking into something resembling a scream.
He was acting pathetically, but he was still a Reincarnator. He was a Protagonist who had received high ability scores as a bonus.
Possessing significant Agility and strength, Egos tackled Raiha with enough force to easily pin her down. Her small frame stood no chance against his momentum.
Her head struck the wooden floor with a sickening thud, and her consciousness began to drift. Straddling her limp body, Egos clutched his own head, his breathing coming in jagged, panicked gasps.
(What do I do? What do I do? At this rate, I’m ruined—it’s a straight shot to a Bad Ending...!!)
He was supposed to be a cheat character in a game world, living the yearning happy life he deserved. Instead, he was being treated with utter contempt, about to be exiled with the mark of a common thief. It was the absolute worst outcome.
Even if he tried to fix this, Raiha had seen everything. There was no going back.
It’s over, his rational mind whispered, presenting him with the cold reality.
He shook his head, refusing to accept it. Sweat poured from his body as he looked down at the semiconscious girl beneath him. Then, looking at the position he was in, Egos began the most despicable form of escapism.
She had a face as lovely as any idol’s and a petite, fragile body. And there, pressing against her uniform, was the large swell of her chest.
A realization dawned on him, and a small, twisted smile spread across his lips. If it was now, he could have his way with her.
(T-that’s right. If it’s all going to end anyway...!!)
She had caught him red-handed. Persuading her was impossible; she would surely report him to the faculty.
Since he was finished either way, he might as well do exactly what he wanted. Such is the logic of a man who has fallen to the very bottom.
Excusing himself with the thought that this was just a game world and nothing really mattered, Egos's smile turned purely predatory. He reached out for Raiha.
"Heh... hehehe...! I-it’s okay, right? I’ve cleared your Route so many times...! We’re basically lovers already, aren't we?"
Muttering a vile delusion that blurred the lines between the game and reality, Egos gripped Raiha’s clothes.
With a series of sharp snaps, he tore the buttons from her blazer and shirt. His bloodshot eyes fixed on her exposed skin.
Beneath her clothes, a sarashi was wrapped loosely around her as an undergarment. It strained against her large breasts, failing to hide her deep cleavage.
And then, Egos saw it. Seeing that certain something, he felt his lust wither for a brief moment.
(Oh... right. Come to think of it, that was a thing...)
The sight triggered a memory of a specific in-game setting, momentarily cooling his blood. However, the sight of a defenseless beauty pinned beneath him quickly reignited his depravity.
He licked his lips, his breathing growing heavier. Concentrating magic power into his fingertips, he ran them along the sarashi covering her chest, slowly slicing through the fabric.
"I-I can do it... I can actually do it. With a real beauty from the game...!!"
"Mgh...!? Mgh, mmmgh!!"
Raiha, hearing Egos’s whispered madness through her haze, finally seemed to regain her senses—but he had already clamped a hand over her mouth.
She let out muffled, desperate cries, but the difference in their strength left her at his mercy. Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head frantically.
"I-it’s okay...! You’ll feel good in a second...! That’s just how it works...!!"
In games, in manga, in light novels—it was always the same. The Protagonist had the skills to make any Heroine lose her mind. Thinking only of what was convenient for him, Egos spat out words that were nothing but repulsive.
If he used this to silence her, maybe he could still win. He wasn't finished yet.
With that thought, Egos looked down at her chest. The sarashi was a third of the way gone, revealing a bold, wide opening. As his excitement reached its peak, it happened.
"Hah!!"
"Gah—!?"
A dull impact smashed into his face. There was a sickening crack as his nose shattered.
Egos was sent flying backward, slamming into the wall. He slumped to the floor, blood pouring from his nose. Even as he lost consciousness, a grotesque, lingering half-smile remained on his face.
"What is going on here? What happened?"
"Ry-Ryuga-san...!!"
Stunned by the sudden disappearance of the weight on top of her, Raiha sat up. She saw the figure of the man who had delivered the kick and called his name.
Ryuga turned his eyes toward her. He saw Raiha’s torn shirt and her sarashi, which was nearly halfway severed, leaving her chest almost entirely exposed. His eyes widened for a split second before he immediately averted his gaze.
"...Forgive me. I didn't mean to look. Use this."
"N-no... Ryuga-san, why are you here...?"
"I was looking for you so we could go to En's Shop Gathering together. When I passed the dorm, I saw the lights on in this room. I thought it was suspicious, so I came to check... and found this."
As he explained, Ryuga pulled off his coat and handed it to her.
Raiha took his garment, using it to cover her exposed skin. She took a deep breath to steady herself before looking up at him with gratitude.
"Thank you. It feels like you're always saving me lately, Ryuga-san."
"Perhaps... but for now, we need to report this. I'll go call for help."
"Y-yes... I feel terrible for Yugo-san and the others, but I don't think I'll be able to join the gathering now..."
Raiha left the room to report the incident as Ryuga had instructed.
Ryuga remained behind to watch over the unconscious Egos. He kept his sharp gaze fixed on Raiha’s retreating back and whispered to himself.
"What is the meaning of this? Why...?"
He lowered his gaze, lost in thought. A certain possibility took root in his mind.
He knew it sounded absurd, yet he couldn't shake the suspicion. He shook his head slightly, looked up, and muttered once more.
"If that is truly the case... then that woman is..."