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I appeared in the guise of Bickamon for a simple reason.

First, I shouldn’t disguise myself as a member of the Academy to join the boycott.

This point was what held me back the most.

Disguising as an existing character was sufficient with Hanon.

Given the troubles caused by Hanon earlier, I couldn’t take the risk of masquerading as someone else.

Thus, I needed to select someone who was not a student but was familiar with the situation at Jerion Academy.

After all, Bickamon is a rather insignificant character aside from his appearance.

Moreover, he never had close relationships, so the rumor of his reappearance wouldn’t have much impact now.

He’s a man who got kicked out of Jerion Academy and even his own family.

In an academy filled with nobles who value status and skill, it’s incredibly rare for anyone to show interest in Bickamon.

It’s a painful truth, but Bickamon was an utterly inconsequential human being.

Second, the Hanon I initially disguised as is in the student council.

Hanon needs a reason to remain in the student council going forward.

He could be placed in a spy role, but this is just a two-person boycott.

It would be different if it grew larger, but for now, the spy role holds no value.

Third, Bickamon has a justification that even those in the boycott could understand.

Bickamon is not a completely random character that the boycott members wouldn’t comprehend.

He got expelled from Jerion Academy.

Naturally, he wouldn’t be unaware of the internal affairs of the academy and harbors some grievances against it.

Moreover, it’s understandable that he would hide in Jerion Academy, furious over Nikita’s death.

Above all, there’s no need to take the risk of disguising as another person.

Thus, I personally judged that he was the most useful option.

And that led to an entirely unexpected outcome.

Third floor of the abandoned building.

In the chemistry lab.

I found myself frozen in place in front of Isabel.

Isabel’s gaze quietly scanned Aeling and Rozamin.

The two of them also froze at Isabel’s sudden appearance.

Isabel’s eyes returned to me.

The moment our eyes met, I hurriedly spoke.

“Isabel Luna, it’s been a while.”

“Ah, um, yeah, I guess.”

Isabel responded with a slightly puzzled expression.

Damn.

Her reaction revealed that she knew I was Hanon.

‘Wait, I’m Bickamon, so is this even a deception?’

I leaned forward before the situation could get any more complicated.

Taking advantage of the moment everyone was stiffened, I grabbed Isabel’s wrist and pulled her outside.

“Wait, you!”

Isabel protested as she was dragged along, but I paid her no mind.

Once I brought her into another empty classroom, I finally let go of her.

Isabel wrapped her hands around the wrist I had just released.

Did I pull too hard?

But there was no time to be sorry about that.

“Isabel, why are you here?”

As I asked the question, Isabel flinched slightly.

Naturally, there was no reason for Isabel to come to an abandoned building.

As she hesitated, Isabel subtly averted her gaze.

That reaction confirmed it; she knew I was Hanon.

I decided to stop maintaining Bickamon’s manner of speaking.

“…Could it be you followed me?”

“Ah, no, it’s just that you were going to a strange place, so I figured you might be up to something weird, so I just followed to keep an eye on you!”

I had a dumbfounded look on my face.

So.

You’re saying Isabel stalked me?

Who would have thought I’d end up with a stalker in my life?

First, there was Professor Barcob, and now a new stalker was born.

My head was spinning.

It seems Isabel was watching me more than I thought.

‘At this rate.’

Whatever I did, there was a high chance Isabel would be watching me.

“I never thought you’d do something so sneaky.”

“What? Sneaky? I just—!”

Isabel faltered, perhaps realizing her own guilt.

But soon after, she contorted her face as if something dawned on her.

“And who was the one doing the sneaky stuff? The boycott against the student council? You’re the student council, after all.”

Isabel confidently shouted, asserting that she had a good reason for watching me.

The stalker has got quite a bit of gall.

This world is truly unequal.

“And in that guise.”

Isabel gazed at me with a face full of various thoughts.

Bickamon had a history of bullying Lucas.

Though he ultimately repented, he wouldn’t be a welcome character for Isabel.

Then Isabel revealed a question.

“By the way, how do you know that person…?”

“I think I have more than enough reasons to dislike the student council.”

I cut her off before she could ask further questions.

Isabel hesitated.

She also knew well that I was close to Nikita.

Nikita, the one I was close to, is now dead.

It’s only natural I would be furious about that.

Isabel didn’t know that I had saved Nikita.

Only Iris had a vague inkling about that.

Isabel’s eyes shook violently.

I read the emotions hidden in her gaze.

Isabel had also lost someone precious like I did.

She knew that pain better than anyone.

“That…”

With Lucas’s death, Isabel cast aside her emotions and gave up on life.

The sole target of her resentment after Lucas died was the Apostle.

She couldn’t harbor grudges against anyone else.

But my situation was different.

I had clearly defined anger to aim at.

Isabel’s eyes began to open wide.

“…You didn’t get close to Iris with that intention, did you?”

Isabel seemed to have misunderstood something.

‘Ah.’

And I caught onto Isabel’s misunderstanding.

I was surprisingly unperturbed by Nikita’s death.

Not only was I busy preparing for the upcoming scenario.

But originally knowing that Nikita was alive, I didn’t express much emotion.

But to Isabel, that was extremely strange.

A person close to her got blinded by revenge and attacked the princess, leading to their own destruction.

At the very least, there should have been emotional changes.

However, the actions I took afterward were even more difficult for Isabel to comprehend.

Right after Nikita’s death, I became romantically involved with Hania.

Even if it was a contractual relationship.

Being next to Iris, who played a key role in Nikita’s rampage, would seem even more bizarre to her.

‘Isabel must have cared about my relationship with Hania not just for psychological reasons, but also for this point.’

And now.

Isabel’s doubts dissipated.

The reason I approached Hania and remained near Iris.

It was because I aimed for revenge against Nikita.

“…That’s a misguided direction of anger.”

Isabel looked at me with the intention of stopping me.

Her eyes shone with a scarlet brilliance.

In the dark night, defying it, Isabel bloomed a field of sunflowers around her.

The unwavering resolution to stop her rival from going astray.

She was showing her true main heroine side.

And I had to appropriately take advantage of that as her rival.

It wasn’t intended, but the justification was made.

Isabel couldn’t suspect my reasoning.

That alone was more than enough advantage for me.

“What do you mean ‘misguided direction of anger?’”

I’m going to become a vengeful spirit aiming to repay Nikita’s grievances.

A chuckle escaped my lips.

“Isabel, if Lucas were killed by someone, would you just let it slide?”

Isabel’s eyes widened.

But she had nothing to say.

No one understood better than she did the pain of losing someone precious.

“I’m not going to.”

My gaze was boiling with rage.

Even if it was fake, it burned fiercely.

“No, I can’t.”

Fortunately, I had things to fall back on, so I was confident in my acting.

Long ago, I practiced expressions tirelessly to ease my stiff face caused by facial paralysis from an injury.

No one could match my skills in using facial muscles for acting.

Isabel’s lips quivered.

She seemed to have a lot to say but couldn’t bring herself to speak.

At this point, nothing could stop me.

“So don’t get in my way.”

“I won’t allow you.”

The flame of resolve that wouldn’t be thrown aside in the face of injustice.

Something similar to that flame still lingered within Isabel’s heart.

She too was someone who was once ignited by Lucas’s flame.

“I will stop you. I won’t just stand by and watch you go down that path.”

Isabel stared directly at me.

“By what right do you think you can stop me? Wouldn’t this be good for you, too? The annoying one is taking a dive on their own.”

“If it’s Lucas.”

She shouted passionately, fists clenched tightly.

“There’s no way he would have done this.”

A semester ago.

The lifeless eyes that felt no strength burst into vitality.

Those eyes carried a strange power that empowered those who looked upon them.

Within Isabel, the signs of awakening began to stir.

Someday, the main heroine who would wield a sword against the Evil Zone alongside Lucas.

Her innate qualities as a main heroine began to sprout.

“Yeah, Isabel.”

You had that potential all along to replace Lucas.

That means you have the strength to carry forth the narrative.

‘In this scenario, the main character will surely be Isabel.’

Then, I just needed to be the obstacle in the narrative.

The boycott incident with the student council originally belonged to Lucas and the gang’s domain.

By a twist of fate, they got caught up in the boycott and would face off against the boycott group.

And Isabel is one of those individuals among Lucas’s group.

The gears of the scenario began to mesh once again.

“And.”

Isabel didn’t stop her words.

“I also don’t want to see you disappear down that path.”

In the end, Isabel’s desperation was evident.

Isabel was seeing me overlapping with Lucas.

And she hoped that I would continue being her goal and rival.

As much as she leaned on me.

Isabel absolutely didn’t wish for me to crumble.

‘If that’s the case.’

Isabel wouldn’t try to resolve this on her own, she wouldn’t inform anyone about it.

If she let others know, I would immediately face ruin.

Fortunately, I had caught a lucky break with the safety net.

“Alright then.”

I transformed back into Hanon’s form and turned away.

“Go ahead and do as you wish.”

With that, I had laid the groundwork.

Now, all that was left was to proceed with the narrative.

‘As an ordeal.’

I would execute the scenario.