Chapter 11

Protagonist (4)

Back in the living room, we became absorbed in revising the materials until afternoon.

After reviewing the content with Grace, there were far more parts that needed correction than I had expected.

Following the revisions she had brought, the material had practically become an entirely new piece.

At last, I took my hands off the keyboard and rubbed my stiff eyelids.

"This concludes the revisions."

"Good work."

I saved the updated file and glanced around the table where we were seated.

All around me, swordsmanship theory books lay open and overturned in disarray.

Ah...I didn’t even go this far when working on my own assignments.

But what’s done is done.

The theories I read while revising the document had been helpful, and if I considered the upcoming lectures, it had been a productive time.

Most of all—

"You're hungry, aren't you?"

I got to see Grace this close. And for this long.

Lost in a daze, I hadn't even realized she’d spoken and suddenly blurted out a reply.

"I was just starting to feel a little hungry."

I had skipped breakfast, and lunch too. I’d been so absorbed in the work that I hadn’t even noticed my hunger. Then, Grace brought over the plastic bag she had arrived with and set it down in front of me.

Inside the plastic bag were just a sandwich and a single pack of lukewarm milk.

"Eat. I couldn’t show up empty-handed."

But...

"……Did you only bring one?"

There were two people, yet only one sandwich and one milk.

Grace must not have expected it to take this long.

In that moment, I remembered something about Grace’s ‘setting’ that I had forgotten. She replied expressionlessly.

"There was only one left at the convenience store. Probably because it’s early morning."

……That’s a lie.

Grace probably didn’t have the money to buy two in the first place.

Grace Euclid—an Alpha-ranked Weapon Master of the Empire, even more, someone who had only recently served as the Commander of the Imperial Royal Guard—has no money?

To the average ear, that would sound strange. More than strange—it would seem like a clear setting error. But anyone who knew the truth would have no choice but to nod in understanding.

⸺ Grace Euclid, quietly donated a large sum for war orphans and refugees… Is the angel real…?

⸺ Grace Euclid donates 1 billion Ring in scholarships to the Imperial Relief School. “No one should be denied education because of poverty,” a wake-up call to the Empire’s hardened public sentiment…

⸺ Grace Euclid, donates again……

Just from what I know, there are over twenty such donations. Because she gives away all her income, Grace lives a life barely different from a commoner despite being a noble.

Come to think of it, back at that café, she only drank plain water too...

Anyway, this side of her is why Grace is called ‘Grace-sama’, and why I can’t help but love her.

"Please wait just a moment."

"Where are you going? If it’s cups, I can..."

"No. Grace, please wait here."

Rolling up my sleeves, I headed into the kitchen.

I took pasta from the shelf I had set up earlier and filled a pot with water, placing it on the stove.

I’d like to make kimchi fried rice, but this wasn’t South Korea—it was the Habledown Empire.

There wasn’t even kimchi at home, let alone rice for making risotto.

Boiling.

So what I was making now was spaghetti.

People don’t realize this, but spaghetti is actually easier to make than ramen.

Boil the noodles, pour in pre-made sauce, stir-fry briefly in a pan with a bit of olive oil, and that’s it.

"I'm sorry, but could I ask you to clear the table?"

"Hm? Alright."

As Grace, who had been watching my back in a daze, cleaned the cluttered table, the spaghetti was steadily nearing completion.

"I figured the sandwich wouldn’t be enough, so I made some spaghetti. As you know, Professor Grace, I’ve always had quite the appetite."

Carrying the spaghetti plated nicely in a small dish, I returned to Grace.

She studied my actions intently with a gaze full of questions.

"You cooked for me too?"

"I didn’t want to eat alone. This time, it’s my turn to ask something."

Then, I placed the fork in Grace’s hand.

A quiet afternoon.

A meal shared with the one I love.

That was all I wanted.

Of course, it was only natural for me as an assistant professor to help with Grace’s work—but if this could make up for a stolen weekend morning, then I was satisfied.

Without a word, Grace raised the fork and twirled a strand of spaghetti, placing it into her mouth.

"How is it…?"

As I anxiously awaited her reaction, Grace’s pupils slowly widened before she gave a small nod.

"It tastes like something from a restaurant. It’s delicious."

"I’m relieved it suits your taste."

Only then did I relax and begin eating in peace.

We shared the sandwich that came with two halves as well.

The meal was mostly quiet. Only the clinking of utensils and the sound of my eyes sneaking glances at her face filled the room.

Halfway through the spaghetti, Grace, who had put down her fork after spearing a meatball, casually asked:

"When did you learn to cook?"

"I’ve lived alone for a while, so I picked it up naturally."

That wasn’t entirely true. Though it was embarrassing to say aloud, the truth was that I had practiced this spaghetti over and over, hoping one day I could serve it to someone I loved again.

And thankfully, that wish was now coming true.

"Rohan."

"Yes, ma’am?"

"You seem very different from the last time I saw you."

"Excuse me?"

"And I’m glad."

……I knew that gaze, so gently resting on me, wasn’t actually meant for ‘me.’

"You talk more now, and sometimes you smile a little. I always worried you might turn out too much like me… but it seems I worried for nothing."

Even that faint smile meant to hide her awkwardness—wasn’t meant for ‘me’ either…

But I didn’t mind.

If Grace could stay as she was, it didn’t matter who I was...

"If you feel that I’ve changed, then that must mean I have."

No matter what becomes of my fate…

"I will always be ‘Rohan’."

Such things didn’t matter.

***

Grace, now ready to leave, turned to me as I saw her off.

"Rohan. May I ask one more favor?"

As I was straightening her coat, I paused at her words.

"I have a dinner appointment with Lord Lippenstein tomorrow, and I’d like to bring you as my escort knight."

The moment I heard that name, my mind went blank.

‘Lippenstein.’

The true ‘protagonist’ of this story I was once obsessed with—and the ‘lord’ Grace must someday face.

‘Michael Lippenstein’ was currently working as a professor in the Department of Magical Defense at Springwind University.

The reason I hadn’t encountered him yet was because I had deliberately avoided the places he frequented.

Then Grace’s voice brought me back to my senses.

"Rohan?"

"Apologies. I was thinking about my schedule."

"You don’t have to accept. Rohan, you’re not my subordinate anymore."

"Not at all. I, Rohan, will faithfully carry out my duties as your escort knight, Professor Grace."

As I adopted a formal posture, Grace raised her hand to stop me.

"That’s not what I meant. I just… wanted to invite you to dinner, is all. ‘Escort knight’ is just a formality."

"Still, failing in duty is against my code as a knight."

"You haven’t changed in that way, I see."

It couldn’t be helped. The moment Grace meets Michael, I have no idea how fate might shift—so I can’t afford to let my guard down, not even for a second.

And this development, fortunately, was one I remembered.

The incident where Grace, reuniting with Michael after a long time, would once again face his cold, icy rejection. In my memory, tomorrow’s dinner was one Grace barely managed to arrange, begging Michael for a meeting for work-related reasons.

……But even then, Michael neither looked at her nor offered a greeting.

The only reason he attended was one:

To formally receive her ‘breakup.’

So then—Am I supposed to stop even that breakup from happening?

"Professor Grace."

Before that, there was something I wanted to ask.

"Lord Lippenstein… What kind of person is he?"

I couldn’t bring myself to ask her what Michael meant to her.

Even that much—I couldn’t.

Perhaps my question had caught her off guard, because Grace didn’t answer right away.

The longer the silence stretched, the more something like a claw of emotion dug into my palm.

Eventually, she answered.

"He’s authoritative and cold, but in truth, he cares about the people more than anyone."

Of course. He was the ‘protagonist.’

"And he has a gentle side too. Long ago, he used to respond with a smile. A very long time ago…"

That’s why you were ‘written’ to fall in love with Lippenstein. Because he’s the protagonist.

"I believe Lord Lippenstein will protect this Empire. Enough that I could die suddenly and still feel at peace."

Yes. He was the protagonist. And I was no more than ‘Character 344’—a background figure no one would notice disappearing.

That’s when desire arose. And with it, a question.

……What would happen if I became the protagonist of this story?

***

That question came to me not long after I first opened my eyes in this world.

‘Why did I possess Rohan, and not Michael Lippenstein?’

If I had been Michael from the start, I could have corrected Grace’s fate.

She wouldn’t have had to suffer any wounds—she could have received the attention and the words she longed for.

Was this the author’s trick? Did they throw me into this world just to watch me struggle?

Even so, I had no regrets about the furious comment I had once left.

In fact, it felt good. Because I had said everything to the author that I wanted to.

And yet, the question remained.

Why wasn’t I Michael? Why wasn’t I the protagonist?

"This way, Rohan."

While lost in thought, I had arrived at the restaurant where I was to meet Grace.

I approached her as she shyly raised her hand in greeting.

"I didn’t think you’d arrive so early. If you’d told me in advance, I could have⸺"

"I just… the weather was nice."

At that, I followed her gaze and looked up at the sky.

A blue twilight spreading overhead.

A warm breeze brushing beneath it.

The weather truly was ‘nice.’

And perhaps to erase a certain ‘expectation,’ I chose to believe that statement.

"……."

Then I glanced at Grace’s profile.

My Grace was, today as always, dazzlingly beautiful.

What was she thinking? If only I could read your heart, the way I used to read novels…

Vroom.

At that moment, a luxurious limousine pulled up in front of the restaurant.

Grace and I quickly turned toward the chauffeur opening the rear door.

Step.

As the door opened, what appeared from inside was the exact ‘description’ I had read countless times.

Grace’s smile flickered like the neon of a busy street. And stepping out behind him—Ariel Lippenstein.

As if every description had been written for him, as if the entire world moved to his rhythm.

"……."

Michael Lippenstein furrowed his brow at the sight of us.

At last, this page was being written with the 'true' protagonist.

SomaRead | I Became the Savior of the Final Boss - Chapter 11