I Became A Slave To The Mastermind

Not to brag, but I'm not particularly smart.

That doesn't mean I'm terribly dull-witted either.

What I'm trying to say is, unlike the characters who possess remarkable composure and craft meticulous plans to fend off incoming dangers in other stories, I don't have such abilities.

Therefore, even if I know about the countless disasters looming in the future, there's no way I can handle them all on my own.

Look at me now.

I originally planned not to interfere with anything.

The steadfast resolution I made has vanished without a trace, and here I am, fully immersed in the heart of the original story.

It's a bit unfair, but still…

Anyway, it's sheer arrogance to think I could craft some grand plan on my own to fend off the approaching threats.

Rather than stopping them, I'd probably just make things worse. It'd be a relief if I didn't.

So, I thought to myself.

If I can't stop them.

Why not share the knowledge I have with someone capable of doing so?

"Wait. Wait a moment, calm down."

The director held his head in his hands, as though pained.

As I stopped talking, he let out a short sigh and looked at me.

"Surely, you don't expect me to believe all of that?"

"…Hmm."

It wasn't an unexpected reaction.

Of course, if someone suddenly came up and started listing off future events, no one would believe them. Most people would think they were crazy.

There's a reason why protagonists in other reincarnation stories hide knowledge of the future and act on their own.

But my situation is a bit different.

I had something that could lend weight to my words.

One was a letter Athena had sent me.

Two years ago, I had contacted Alina separately to get it.

Although I had no intention of intervening in the original story, I had kept it just in case it might come in handy someday.

A letter vouched for by none other than the Empire's hero.

The only reason the director is even entertaining my absurd claims is probably thanks to that letter Athena wrote.

But to truly persuade him, the letter alone wasn't enough.

That's fine. There's another way.

A little flimsy, but still.

It's the second cheat key often used in reincarnation stories, right after amnesia.

I confidently looked the director in the eyes and spoke.

"I'm a prophet."

"What?"

"Not everything, but I can foresee some of the events that will happen in the future."

A prophet.

A mysterious figure who gazes into the future and foretells events.

But because of their nature, it's difficult to determine the source of their abilities.

Isn't that so? It's not time magic or regression, just predictions made through a third sense—how could anyone prove that?

Thus, most people regarded prophets as individuals who claimed divine inspiration.

If their predictions came true, they were called prophets. If not, they were dismissed as lunatics—an incredibly uncertain profession.

But I know all the events that will happen in the future.

Which means I also have countless stories to back the credibility of my words.

"A prophet, huh. That, too, is hard to believe."

The director crossed his arms and snorted as he spoke.

"Those who call themselves prophets are usually delusional ramblers."

"I know who you really are."

"Hmm?"

With one eyebrow raised, Darcan gave a puzzled look but soon chuckled lightly.

"You say amusing things, young lady. Alright, then. What am I?"

"A fairy, aren't you?"

"…What?"

"Specifically, the fairy who guards the mountains. An Oread, to be precise."

At my words, the atmosphere turned cold in an instant.

The old man, who had been grinning playfully, now wore a grim, contorted expression.

"How… do you know that?"

Despite the oppressive energy pressing down on me, I managed to keep my composure.

"I told you, I'm a prophet."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"If I weren't, how else would I know? The only one aware of your true identity should be the Great Sage."

"…And how do you know that?"

The director stared at me silently for a moment before letting out a deep sigh and standing up.

He then closed his eyes briefly and muttered something under his breath in a low voice.

With a 'poof' sound, the old man collapsed to the ground, and before my eyes appeared something tiny, barely the size of a palm.

A small girl fluttering her wings, scattering shimmering dust in the air.

With bright green hair and eyes, she exuded an enchanting, mystical aura.

This girl was none other than Darcan's true form.

Despite her dainty appearance, I knew well how much power lay dormant within this small, beautiful fairy.

Darcan looked at me once before clicking her tongue and flying right up to my face.

"You. What exactly are you?"

I gave her a small smile and replied,

"I told you, I'm a prophet."

At that, Darcan grabbed her head and began groaning to herself.

"A prophet, really? But the only one who knows my identity is… And considering Athena vouched for this person… Ugh…"

I brought my hands together beneath her, creating a platform where she could stand.

After a moment of intense deliberation, Darcan stopped fluttering her wings and gently landed on my hands.

She gazed at me with her large, sparkling eyes as I spoke to her in a serious tone.

"Director, what's important right now isn't my identity but the fact that the academy students might be in danger."

"Please, believe me."

I knew.

I was acting recklessly right now.

In a normal situation, I would have been dismissed as a lunatic and thrown out immediately.

But I understood Darcan.

A director who deeply loved the academy.

And one who cherished the students living there as dearly as her own life.

How else could she have swallowed her pride as a fairy—a pride so famously unyielding—and admitted her mistake the moment a student got hurt?

Though she seemed carefree on the surface, deep down, she must have been feeling a profound sense of guilt about the academy being attacked.

In the original story, this incident ended without anyone getting hurt. But unlike then, the scale of damage this time had been significant.

And so, I took a gamble.

On her kind nature, as depicted in the novel I knew.

On her love for the students.

Since I know your preferences for translations, I'll ensure proper formatting for clarity.

I didn't think she would let my words go in one ear and out the other.

Even if it meant taking a risk, I decided to tell her.

Not Athena.

Not Mari.

Not Robin.

But her.

When it came to matters related to the academy, she was the one who would act the most cautiously.

Thus, for a moment, silence flowed through the room.

As time passed, Darkan lifted his head with a serious expression and looked at me.

"…From the beginning to the end. Say it again."

***

The weather is nice.

Bright sunlight seeped through the window, warmly wrapping the classroom.

But unfortunately, the brilliantly shining sunlight couldn't warm my heart.

"Iris… Are you okay?"

Ariel was looking at me with a worried expression.

I tried my best to smile and answered her.

"Yes, I'm fine."

No.

Actually, I'm not fine.

This endless pain that torments me from within, I haven't been able to sleep even for a moment.

Even now, my heart aches endlessly.

There's no sign of it ending.

It's too much. How long must I endure this pain?

If this is what love is, if it means suffering like this, then I never want to love again.

You could scold me for being so troubled over someone I just met. But I… I've been holding it in alone for so long.

In a world where everyone shares love, I was the outcast, standing alone.

Knowing that if my feelings were revealed, I would be criticized and abandoned, I've suppressed my heart all my life.

And then I met her.

I thought she was my destined one.

I love Lily too, but… my heart raced so wildly for her.

When she first said she accepted my feelings, it truly felt like I was soaring through the sky.

I thought the goddess had taken pity on me, offering a gift to someone who had endured and suppressed so much.

I was so happy I couldn't hide my bursting laughter.

But as much as I was happy, the sorrow of learning the truth was overwhelming.

I looked at my face in a hand mirror.

Bloodshot eyes from crying all night.

Hollow eyes from sleeplessness.

And a pale face from not eating.

Ariel must be looking at me now, worried about how I look.

"…Goddess."

I'm struggling so much.

My heart hurts so badly.

I want to stop being tormented.

Please help me.

Spending time in such agony.

The class ended. I was on my way back to the dormitory.

"Ugh!"

My weakened legs gave out, and I fell to the ground with a thud.

My knee scraped, and bright red blood trickled down my leg.

The sharp pain made me wince for a moment.

"….Huh?"

But even as blood flowed down.

I couldn't help but be surprised.

Just now.

Even if only for a fleeting moment.

My heart didn't hurt.

I cautiously looked at my scraped knee.

Thanks to the Goddess's blessing, it was already healed.

There wasn't a single trace of injury left on my knee.

But the ache in my heart slowly began to return.

Unable to contain my curiosity.

I swallowed hard.

And this time, with my own will, I slammed my knee down onto the hard floor.

"Ahhk..!"

The healed knee split open again.

Fresh crimson blood began to flow out.

Though it was painful enough to make me grimace, I couldn't help but smile.

If it's like this…

Ah.

It's true.

My chest doesn't hurt.