I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind – Chapter 407

Lowell’s face went blank with disbelief.

Well, she’d been turned down more decisively than a rock to the face—what did she expect?

“Weren’t you the one who wanted my proof token?”

“Of course I wanted it. It’s something I absolutely need.”

“Then why…?”

“If you’d offered it from the start, I would’ve quietly taken it and walked away. But now you want to negotiate after you’ve lost? Do you even have a conscience?”

“T-That’s because you insulted my little sister, that’s why it came to this!”

“And yet you were the one who flat-out refused to make any deal in the first place. Don’t you remember saying that? Wow, your memory is this bad… Are you, perhaps, a bird of some sort?”

“Guh, grrgh…!”

Lowell’s face twisted in frustration, and she started groaning.

She didn’t have the strength to overpower me, and nothing worth offering to persuade me.

For someone like Lowell, who solved nearly everything with brute force, this kind of situation must’ve been pure agony.

Of course, it wasn’t just Lowell’s nasty attitude that made me refuse the proof token.

‘This is the real reason I turned it down.’

The main quest’s clear condition was to obtain “Lowell’s Proof Token” by any means.

If I accepted it here, the quest would end.

But that also meant—

‘The hidden piece linked to the Dark Beast Squad would be over too.’

No matter what anyone said, the core of the current hidden piece was the Dark Beast Squad.

And finishing the quest before their purpose was fulfilled? That was out of the question.

‘Positively impacting the main characters and their factions… that’s the reason the Dark Beast Squad exists.’

Given the flow of the story, the key figures here were clearly Lowell and Rodelin.

Honestly, even if the relationship between Lowell and Rodelin soured, it wouldn’t be a major issue. In the game, Lowell’s role wasn’t that significant.

‘That’s why I never tried to build any connection with her.’

Just talking to her put people in a bad mood. Sometimes, she’d even punch you, leaving you with a stat-reducing debuff for a while.

So it was no wonder most players didn’t bother getting involved with Lowell.

Same with me—there was nothing I could gain from her, so I intended to move on quietly…

‘But the quest tied me to her whether I liked it or not. Still, maybe…’

Rodelin cutting ties with Lowell—

Could that have been the real reason Rodelin’s future played out the way it did?

After the Trash Village episode, Rodelin let go of Lowell completely.

And Lowell, living her usual life chasing after the Second Legion Commander, got caught up in an incident… and died.

Clutching tightly the plush doll Rodelin had given her.

‘But sadly, that fact never reaches Rodelin.’

Her family kept it a secret, knowing how devastated she’d be.

—It’s better not to tell Delin. She’d definitely blame herself.

—I agree. She’s already carrying so much… No need to add more.

—I’ll respect your decision.

And just like that, Lowell disappeared from Rodelin’s life completely.

For the record, in the game, Rodelin doesn’t react much to Lowell’s death.

She had let go of her feelings long ago. She believed Lowell never loved her.

Which meant that the thing I needed to do now—

‘Was to repair their relationship and change Lowell’s fate.’

That was likely the true objective of this hidden piece, and the reason for the Dark Beast Squad’s existence.

Tak.

The final puzzle piece clicked into place.

Alright, time to begin.

“I insulted Miss Rodelin on purpose, actually.”

“What?”

“I wanted to see your reaction. And it confirmed something for me—you really do care about her, don’t you?”

“You think I care about that brat? What kind of nonsense is that? Why would I care about someone so useless?”

“Then why do you treasure that doll so much?”

“What’s that got to do with her? I just bought this at a street stall, that’s all.”

“You sure treat it like it’s more than that.”

“Wrong. I just didn’t want people saying a crazy lioness carries around a cute doll. I hid it, that’s all. Why would I care about something like this?”

As if to prove her point, Lowell flung the plush doll to the ground.

It rolled in the dust, gathering dirt.

Her eyes darted anxiously between me and the doll.

Even I felt sorry for her.

“Well then, would you mind giving it to me instead? I’ll keep quiet about it. You can hand it over instead of the proof token…”

“Fine! Just take the damn token!”

Lowell quickly snatched the doll back from the ground and tossed the proof token at me.

If it touched me and counted as “received,” that would be bad. I dodged back in a flash.

“Enough with the lies. You still don’t get it? I brought up the doll because I knew.”

“Knew what?”

“Miss Rodelin always carries around a similar doll. That’s how I knew you care about her.”

“So… Delin really… held onto it that much, huh…”

Was it relief? Emotion? Her voice trembled just slightly.

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Lowell snapped her head up and shouted.

“Wait a second—how do you know that?! Are you a stalker or something?!”

“Keke, a true champion of justice always acquires righteous information.”

“Don’t dodge the question with garbage like that! What’s your deal? Why do you keep meddling in our business?!”

Looks like dragging things out wasn’t Lowell’s style.

Fine by me. Let’s get straight to the point.

“Make peace with Miss Rodelin.”

“What?”

“Be kind to her. Like you used to be, carrying her around on your back every day.”

Lowell’s eyes widened. I’d just brought up something from ten years ago—something that happened in the castle. Of course she was stunned.

“Who… Who the hell are you? Did you work for our family? Or are you some hidden survivor?”

“Keke, that’s not what matters right now. Don’t be so reckless. Going off to kill a legion commander by yourself? Are you going through puberty or something?”

“Shut it!”

“Miss Rodelin still needs someone to protect her. Even if she doesn’t show it, she’s incredibly sensitive—you know that, right?”

“I said shut up!”

“Don’t tell me… you actually think you’re doing this as some sort of sacrifice? Wow. That’s… honestly the worst.”

“I told you to shut up!!”

Lowell screamed, her voice shaking with fury. Maybe she couldn’t contain the overflowing emotion.

Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes.

“You… what could you possibly understand?! The weight of the sins our family has committed… the helplessness of an older sister who has nothing to offer her younger sister forced to shoulder it all alone. You’ll never understand!”

“You’re right. I don’t. But there’s one thing I do know for sure.”

The more you try to bear everything alone. The more you wander without trusting your family. The more you try to protect someone—

“The farther you’ll drift from the person you love.”

“Shut up.”

“Just say it. Say it’s because you love her. That you’re terrified of losing her.”

“Shut… up.”

“Tell her you’re sorry for being a foolish sister. And ask if you can go back to how things used to be.”

“Please… I said shut up…”

Lowell collapsed forward, her whole body crumbling to the ground.

And it wasn’t just her body that collapsed. The years she’d lived since that day—the path she thought was right—came crashing down as well.

A path so broken it seemed beyond repair.

But there’s no need to rebuild a broken road.

You can always choose a new one.

“What you’re doing right now isn’t protecting her. It’s locking her away. What happened to that part of you that wanted to cheer Rodelin on, no matter what her dream was, and support her every step of the way?”

A cherished piggy bank, saved up penny by penny—not for her own dream, but Rodelin’s.

The thought that she’d take on the same job as her, just to support her from behind.

Even the resolve to accept a political marriage, if that’s what it took, so long as Rodelin’s dream came true.

Lowell had changed. The cruel world had made her change.

But even so—

That doesn’t justify hurting Rodelin.

“I… I don’t even know what to do anymore. We’re already… too far apart.”

Tears streamed from Lowell’s eyes.

They fell onto the plush doll. For a moment, it almost looked like the doll was crying too.

“Talk to her.”

“…Talk? As if talking is enough to fix something this broken.”

No. It’s enough. Talking isn’t just about words and ideas.

“Show her how you feel. Let the person you love know how much they mean to you.”

“…Show how I feel?”

Exactly. Emotions can be understood, too.

How someone feels about you. How often they think of you. And how deeply—

“They love you.”

I wanted Lowell to find her courage.

Lowell, the way you love Rodelin…

Rodelin loves you just as much.

“…”

Lowell silently wiped her tears.

Maybe she was embarrassed. She cleared her throat, adjusted her tone, and finally spoke.

“…Why are you even telling me all this?”

“I just felt bad for you. That’s all. I am a champion of justice, after all.”

“Well, that’s… a pretty convenient excuse.”

“And besides, helping someone as kind and adorable as Miss Rodelin—don’t you think that’s only natural?”

“Hmhm, yeah. My little sister is kind and adorable.”

Lowell smiled brightly. Just thinking about Rodelin made her happy, it seemed.

Hmm… She actually looks kinda pretty when she smiles. Not my type, though, so rejected.

Still, let’s flatter her a bit more. Keeping the other side in a good mood is the first rule of negotiation.

“And she’s very lovable, too.”

“Take it back.”

“Pardon?”

“Saying you love Delin. That’s something only I’m allowed to say! Take it back right now!”

“…?”

This one’s seriously unwell. Is there anyone sane in this world?

“…Alright, I take it back.”

“Hmph. I don’t know what game you’re playing here, but I get it. You’re not trying to kill me.”

“Kill? What a horrifying thing to say. That doesn’t suit someone as nice as me.”

“A champion of justice, huh…”

Lowell scratched her head like her stress was through the roof.

Can’t blame her, really.

Some weirdo shows up out of nowhere, asks for her proof token, then tells her to make up with her sister.

Even I’d be speechless.

“Fine. Do whatever. You said you needed this, right? Take it.”

Lowell picked up the proof token she’d thrown earlier.

‘Guess this is the end of the line.’

I’d stretched the conversation out as long as I could while avoiding receipt, but this was it.

Honestly, I wanted to say something like: “If you don’t make up with your sister, I’ll expose Rodelin’s most embarrassing secret to the world!”

But…

‘That’d ruin the whole vibe.’

Right now, I’m a mysterious figure from some secretive organization. Throwing a tantrum would just make me look pathetic.

There’s a time to push, and a time to retreat.

I decided to step back, hoping my words had reached her.

“I’m throwing it, so catch it. And you do know the family secret stays between us, right?”

“Keke, of course. I’m a champion of justice, remember?”

“…Let’s just stop talking.”

Lowell tossed the proof token.

It bore the emblem of a roaring lion.

It drew a low arc through the air as it flew toward me.

Nothing suspicious about it—we were standing a fair distance apart, after all.

I reached out for it as it descended slowly.

Tap-!

Lowell stomped the ground and lunged forward.

‘Damn it…!’

I took a quick step back. In the same breath, Lowell swung her right arm upward from below in a wide arc.

And in that right hand, of course—

Was her weapon: a longsword.

Lucid Family Style Fourth Secret Technique (Modified):

Reverse Sky Splitter.

An upward slash, starting from below—

KR-RRRK—!

CRASH!

The ground. The proof token. The sky.

Everything in the sword’s path was cleaved in two. I could clearly see the clouds split apart—it wasn’t just a metaphor. The sky literally opened up.

Frantically, I patted my body with both hands.

Nothing missing. Not a single cut.

I’d dodged quickly, yes, but the real reason was the narrow range of [Sky Splitter].

‘That was seriously—’

Just as I was about to scold her—

Crack…

Something shattered, and suddenly the world got brighter.

Plop. Plop.

I looked down.

There it was.

The snake mask—split clean in two on the ground.

…Yeah. My mask. The one I’d been wearing.

Lowell’s eyes went wide in shock. I was probably doing the same.

Ah—wait. I usually squint. So maybe not that wide.

Still, I probably had my eyes open like I’d activated [Eye Opening]—because yeah, it was that kind of moment.

“You… You’re…!”

Damn it.

My identity… had just been exposed.

–TL Notes–
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