-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Sage, the Doll of Ruin
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chaff, a word meaning grain with only a husk, empty inside.
In all my life, I had never seen anyone to whom this word applied so perfectly.
Stylish golden hair swept back,
Expensive perfume and accessories,
A clearly expensive cape and a wand hanging from his waist.
The man standing next to Rose boasted an empty shell, as if he were wrapped in money.
Nevertheless, I had a reasonably rational reason for calling this person chaff.
"Alright, new students? Looks like everyone's here, why don't we introduce ourselves?"
The face of the chaff, clapping his hands to liven the mood, came into view.
His face was broad. Yet, his features were all small. The empty space covering most of his face created the illusion of looking at a completely deserted granary.
That was why. The reason I, who rarely judge people by their appearance, thought this person looked like chaff.
'God really screwed up.'
If God existed and had sculpted this man, wouldn't God have to prostrate himself and beg for forgiveness from him?
"But friend, why that expression...? Did something bad happen?"
Oops, did I stare too piteously?
The friend who looked like chaff tilted his head, asking in puzzlement.
"No. But who might you be...?"
"Ah, the top student doesn't know me. I'm Phaez. I'm a second-year, and I'm part of the student council."
This time, I tilted my head. I had definitely heard the name somewhere, but I couldn't recall at all who he was.
At that, Phaez's eyebrows twitched, as if displeased, and he continued.
"Haha, since you seem unfamiliar, I suppose I should add some context. I'm the second son of the Astrea family."
Phaez said, shrugging his shoulders with an arrogant demeanor.
'Now I remember.'
Who this guy was, and why I hadn't immediately recalled him.
'Because he died early on.'
Phaez was a character who was murdered early in the game. And by someone who was currently in this very room.
I felt no pity. Because he was a wicked fellow who deserved to die for his actions.
"Ah, my apologies. I'm Carmel."
Regardless of his wickedness, I bowed my head and showed proper etiquette.
Given the situation, there was no need to make an enemy of him, especially since he was, after all, the scion of a ducal family.
"Hm hm, alright. I look forward to working with you, top student."
Perhaps he was pleased to see my polite demeanor. Phaez patted my shoulder, then began introducing the other new students one by one.
First was the male student seated on the far right, a friend with short brown hair and impressively fierce eyes.
"Alright, this is Young Master Dyke of the Garcia Ducal family. He enrolled as the 5th ranked student this year."
"Nice to meet you."
"..."
Even though Phaez introduced him and I extended my hand amiably, Dyke just stared at me with challenging eyes, saying nothing.
'What an ill-mannered brat.'
While I was annoyed by his attitude, remembering who he was, I easily suppressed the urge to slap him.
Because in [Harem Academy], even though Dyke was a character who could be saved, I always chose the option to kill him.
The reason was simple. To make the game proceed more easily, and because I didn't want male party members in my group.
'Now that I see him, I feel a bit sorry.'
His gaze is fierce, and he has the kind of face that makes you want to slap him, but he's not a bad person at heart. It's just his family is incredibly messed up.
"Alright, this friend is quite famous, so I'm sure you know him."
Next was a character I knew all too well.
Deep blonde hair and clear blue eyes,
A tall stature and distinct features,
Even the starlight in his inner world visible through his All-Seeing Eye.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Fran."
The protagonist of this game I was once engrossed in, and the person I need to stop if he tries to do anything foolish. Fran van Gallantus.
Why is it? Looking at the hand extended towards me, I feel a strange sensation.
"Oh."
I took his hand and replied curtly.
I hadn't intended to be so harsh.
But perhaps it's because I know the world will be destroyed if he forms a harem.
Strangely, I just didn't like Fran.
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to cross swords with you sometime. What do you say?"
Fran asked me, his eyes gleaming with competitive spirit, as befits a passionate protagonist.
Thinking it was a very fitting gaze for a protagonist, I replied.
"Why should I?"
"Uh... by crossing swords, we can foster each other's growth..."
"Too much trouble. Let's do it another time."
"..."
Had he lost his words?
Or perhaps he hadn't anticipated such a reaction at all?
Dumbfounded, Fran eventually nodded and sat back down with a sullen expression.
Watching him, I felt a subtle sense of apology, but at the same time, I thought I'd done well.
My goal was to prevent Fran's harem, not to help him grow.
Anyway, this guy is a future hero candidate who, if he doesn't get distracted by women, will grow strong enough on his own to face the evil gods.
So, there's no need for me to sweat it out with this male and film some coming-of-age drama.
"Haha, everyone's so spirited. Carmel, I heard you two already know each other, is that right?"
Next was Rose, who was smiling brightly at me.
"It's good to be with you from now on, Carmel."
"Yeah, you too."
Seeing Rose in this spot, I felt proud and replied with a smile as well.
It was deserved. Originally, Rose wasn't even supposed to be sitting here, nor able to smile like that; she was an unfortunate child destined for a tragic end, suffering from heartache.
But now, Rose is smiling so brightly in front of me.
So, I couldn't help but feel proud.
"Alright, next is this person..."
Just then, Phaez's reluctant voice was heard.
Looking at his expression, his displeasure was overtly visible.
Knowing why Phaez was so displeased, I shook my head inwardly. No wonder he was murdered by someone from his own family.
"I am Sage von Astrea."
Perhaps she noticed Phaez's displeasure.
The person in question introduced herself to me first in a businesslike voice, even though Phaez hadn't introduced her.
My gaze drifted to the source of the voice.
Sky-blue hair swaying in the breeze,
Skin as soft and fair as white jade,
Beautiful features that made me involuntarily gasp in admiration.
And eyes as black as pitch, completely devoid of life.
If my heart were to freeze, this is what it would feel like.
This child, with beauty that inspired such thoughts, was a key character in the game I knew so well, and one of the potential heroines.
'Look at that.'
Sure enough, Fran was stealthily glancing at Sage.
I'm in a position where I have to stop this guy who's always looking around.
'This philandering womanizer.'
It looks like I'll have to pick a day to deal with him.
"Nice to meet you."
"Yes."
When I greeted her, Sage replied in a very stiff tone.
Her demeanor was chillingly cold.
It might have felt disheartening, but I didn't actually feel that way.
Because I knew why Sage was acting so cold.
'Because she's a magic doll without emotions.'
Sage is a magic doll created by Caroline, a great mage and high elf who was part of the Hero's party, who poured everything she had into her creation.
Though called a magic doll, she possesses not only the body of a real person but also a soul and heart, so it would be more accurate to call her a human.
'She was said to be Caroline's daughter, who died young.'
Caroline's daughter, Sage, died long ago. And Caroline grieved for her daughter her entire life, refusing to eat or drink.
During that time, Caroline learned a forbidden magic that infused an artificial soul into the body of the deceased, and she actually performed it.
The result of that is Sage, standing before me with lifeless eyes.
Caroline, longing for her deceased daughter, gave the magic doll she created the same name as her daughter.
Although there were side effects, such as a lack of emotions and the compulsion to obey her master's commands, Caroline regarded Sage as her own daughter and truly cherished and loved her as she raised her.
But the price for committing forbidden magic was severe; the penalty was death.
Sage directly witnessed the shocking scene of her mother losing her life to the hero Mort's sword, but she didn't cry. No, she couldn't. Because Sage had no emotions.
Perhaps Sage was intriguing to him, or perhaps he found her desirable. Duke Astrea, who was observing the scene, adopted Sage as his foster daughter.
'It was an unsettling story.'
It would have been better if it had ended there.
In the game, if the player didn't choose Sage as a heroine, her misfortune truly began from that point.
"Please understand, Carmel. She's my half-sister, but she has vulgar blood, which is why she's like that."
Phaez, who had a significant stake in Sage's misfortune, whispered quietly with a contemptuous expression.
While his animosity seemed pathetic, I couldn't entirely fault Phaez's perspective.
From his point of view, Sage was indeed a sudden half-sister.
Moreover, unlike him, who was lacking in ability, she possessed outstanding spirit magic and magical skills, so it was natural for him to feel jealous.
That was why Phaez envied and hated Sage.
But the problem with him was that his jealousy went too far.
In the game, Phaez and Jane, the Astrea family's eldest daughter, couldn't overcome their jealousy and inflicted all sorts of harm on Sage.
Sage, being emotionless, showed no reaction even when subjected to their torment.
As a result, the level of torment inflicted by Phaez and Jane gradually became excessive.
'Even so, selling her to the Chaos Cult was truly crossing the line.'
They even went so far as to commit the atrocity of handing their sister over to the Chaos Cult.
I simply couldn't understand this part.
Even if she was a half-sister, even if the jealousy was severe.
How could a person, born as a human, even conceive of handing their sibling over to the Chaos Cult?
Naturally, Sage, having been handed over to the Chaos Cult, became corrupted.
Not just corrupted, but an evil doll with power and cruelty comparable to the Seven Deadly Sins.
Incidentally, the corrupted Sage's epithet was 'The Doll of Ruin'.
'I can't stand to see that happen again.'
It's not as if there's no way to prevent this. Still, she's a heroine candidate in name, so there's no way there wouldn't be a method to save her.
I know the way to pull Sage out of the swamp of misfortune.
What's important here is that I'm not the protagonist of the original story.
What this means is that even if I bring salvation to Sage, the world won't be destroyed or anything like that.
Why? Because I'll be the one saving Sage, not Fran.
If that happens, Sage won't give her heart to Fran, and Fran won't be able to accept Sage as a heroine either.
Just as I was thinking this to myself.
"Hahaha, welcome, you new brats."
A familiar voice was heard.
I turned my gaze and saw everyone bowing their heads to someone. Who could it be that they were greeting so respectfully? With that thought, I carefully observed the person who had spoken.
'The old man who was cleaning?'
A long gray beard reaching his chest and curly hair.
The person was the old man who had directed me when I was lost and sweeping on my first day visiting the academy.
"Hey, you there. If the Dean has arrived, you should greet them. Why do you have such a startled rabbit's face?"
Now I remembered.
Hilda van Kerendius, the Dean of Arden Academy.
The identity of the old man who had given me a hard time.
****
A girl, covered entirely in blood, was rummaging through something.
"This is too weak."
The girl muttered, then threw what she was holding into the air.
-Thwack.
The thrown object hit the wall, bursting with crimson liquid, and fell to the floor.
"This is ugly."
The girl said that, picked up another, and threw it.
-Thwack.
The thrown object also slammed into the wall with a loud noise, then fell to the floor, gushing crimson and murky liquids.
"Clear it away."
The girl commanded the middle-aged man who was watching her, then began to busy her hands again.
"Understood."
The middle-aged man bowed his head, replied courteously, and began picking up the things the girl had thrown, placing them into a large sack.
First, someone's torn arm.
Then, someone's unknown face.
"Hey. Go get it."
Perhaps she was tired. The girl sighed deeply and gave a vague command to the middle-aged man.
"What would you like me to acquire?"
The middle-aged man asked back. More courteously than he would to the Emperor, the only one with a higher status than himself.
"A durable and pretty-looking one that I can play with."
"Coincidentally, I know just such a doll."
"A doll?"
"Yes. It's a doll that will perfectly suit Lady Greed's taste. I was just in the middle of sanitizing it anyway, so the timing is perfect."
"Oh."
The girl's lips stretched into a wide smile, almost reaching her ears, as she brightened with anticipation.
"I will bring it soon."
The middle-aged man bowed his head and thought.
Indeed, it was a good thing he had picked it up back then.