The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

“How is it?”
“Just so-so.”
That day.
Though he answered his sister’s question briefly, in his mind quite a few doubts were swirling.

The Fallen Noblewoman Simulation seemed on the surface like an ordinary romance fantasy life simulation, but it had a very peculiar system.
“Is it always this random?”
“Why? Is that strange?”
“……Isn’t it a bit odd, logically, that there aren’t any fixed events at all?”
“That could be.”
“The harvest festival happens some years but not others? They say the sword tournament is every five years, so why didn’t it happen? And the traitor suddenly appeared out of nowhere with no warning.”
“That’s what makes it fun. Surprise, variables.”
Everything was random.
No predetermined developments.

“I’m really asking because I don’t know — what’s this Demon Lord thing? Can there even be a Demon Lord in a background like this?”
“Of course there is! Demon Lord’s cool.”
“What kind of person is he?”
“Something like a presence of darkness.”
“…….”
Every reason was simple.
“Unexpected characters, unexpected fun, unexpected meetings, unexpected developments, unexpected endings! How great is that.”
“……It’s certainly unexpected.”

In many ways, it was an unexpected game.
He didn’t even want to comment on the strange mix of medieval and modern in the setting.
Well, it wasn’t a game that had to observe strict historical accuracy anyway.

The part where the imperial capital alone had over a million citizens was now part of the Great Delightful Mountain’s territory, so he let that slide lightly.
Wars big and small broke out daily all across the continent, and once you left the castle, beasts and bandits would pick fights with you.
Rebels, criminal organizations, mercenaries, and swindlers flooded the islands.

Yet in the imperial palace, parties and festivals never ceased.
All of this was possible because it was a game.
His only question was one:

‘When exactly does this protagonist become happy?’
Even after looking through the ending list called the Memory Album, every single one seemed bitter and disappointing. At least to his eyes.
Even marrying a prince usually ended with hints of a tragic finale.
“That’s what makes it more fun.”

More fun?
“Hmm.”
 
‘Let’s go to the islands.’

Come to think of it, there had been many chances to go to the islands in previous rounds.
First of all, the continent’s largest educational institution, the Academy, was located on the islands.
It was natural that most big and small events in high society took place in Roadness.

Any knight with some reputation would head to Roadness under the pretext of the islands’ sword tournament… to meet the noblewomen gathered there, and Lancel had certainly received such invitations many times. More accurately, he was constantly hounded with them.
So why was he still stuck in the countryside?
On the other hand, what reason was there for him to go?

Even in the past, when the entire continent praised Lancel and erected statues for him, he still lived and died on the battlefield.
Moreover, he had little interest in festivals, high society, sword tournaments, or romances with noblewomen. His desire for advancement or marriage was also weak.
Over more than a hundred years, he had spent maybe five years in total in relationships. He had never even considered marriage.

In the third round, when he earned his greatest fame as a knight, Lancel had even rejected the princess’s courtship. By the way, despite rumors going around at the time, his masculine function was perfectly normal.
‘But now, I have to go to the islands.’
He knew the secret of this world.

Finally, there was a reason he had to go to the islands.
“Happy eighteenth birthday, Lancel Dante! Did you chew on a bug? That’s an unusually serious face for you.”
“Father. I am an adult now, so I will ascend to the islands.”
“That’s not allowed.”
“Why not?”
“You’re not skilled enough to play on the islands yet. I won’t let you tarnish the proud name of the ancient Dante family.”
“Well then, that’s good. Draw your sword and come outside. This son will teach you a lesson.”
“Krkrkr. Interesting. I will personally confirm that the blood on your head isn’t dry yet. When the warm stuff drains out, you’ll understand your place.”
Exactly three sword strikes later, the head of the Dante family lay flat like a frog.

“I’m going to the islands.”
“I’ll write you a letter of recommendation. There will be someone who will provide you a place to stay.”
The next day, Lancel boarded the carriage heading straight to the islands. Only a small amount of spending money and three servants accompanied him.
After a journey lasting over a month, when he crossed the walls of Roadness.

“……?”
Nothing appeared before his eyes.
“You’ve grown a lot while I wasn’t looking, Lancel. Please consider this place your home.”
“I will consider you my father as well, Lord Ibil.”
“That’s good. Lord Dante really knows how to raise a son well.”
“Too well, in fact, since he’s lying in bed now.”
“Well, bear with that.”

A middle-aged man with a shiny healthy face and black hair clasped his hand.
His name was Baron Ibil Shen, who looked like a typical wealthy island noble.
Though called a baron, his position on the islands was practically that of a merchant, and the rumor mill whispered he was the “most successful stable owner.”

He made a business out of buying quality horses, dressing them up, and selling them to nobles.
Well-raised horses were like luxury goods for the decadent island nobles. Baron Ibil Shen exploited their desires to make a fortune and rose as a newly minted noble.
“Money really is good.”
“Right? Even though they call me a stable owner, I have a fine house like this. How could I stop smiling?”
“Indeed. I apologize now for the prejudice I had before coming here.”
“I’d like to hear what kind of prejudice that was.”
“Let’s just say it’s inappropriate to say on a good day.”
“Lord Dante really does raise a son well.”
“I hear that a lot.”

Baron Ibil Shen, who lent the entire top floor of his three-story mansion, soon disappeared on hurried footsteps.
Lancel decided to upgrade his status from a rustic nouveau riche who smelled of manure to a wealthy, stingy miser.
 
One month.

Since arriving on the islands, Lancel had spent almost a month as a loafer.
When hungry, he called a servant to prepare food; when bored, he wandered around various places on the islands to kill time.
It was good for a guest that the homeowner was a diligent miser. Since the house was always empty, there was little need to be cautious.

But the Shen family servants, who had so far thought nobles must be busy, considered Lancel a bit strange.
“You have nothing to do. You’re a noble.”
“He’s been lying in bed sleeping for two whole days.”
“He’s a knight, but I haven’t seen him train. What’s going on?”
Lancel, hearing all this from afar, just chuckled.

‘You live over a hundred years too. You get unbelievably good at killing time.’
Of course, Lancel didn’t do this out of choice.
‘Why isn’t it showing up?’

The Fallen Noblewoman Simulation.
No matter how much he searched the islands during the past month, he saw no trace.
Even when he carefully checked every corner, all he saw was the bustling island scenery.

“How long do I have to wait?”
Two months.
Three months.

Four months.
One year passed.
Lancel just stared blankly at the passing time.

‘When does this damn game even start? Am I missing something?’
That evening.
Lancel brought up the topic to Baron Ibil, who had just come home to enjoy dinner after a long time.

“Have you heard anything about # Nоvеlight # the Merigold family?”
“……!”
The Merigold Count family. The protagonist’s family in the game.
Once prosperous but now completely fallen and vanished, it was a family every noble had heard of.

Baron Ibil’s eyes snapped open at the name as he glanced around cautiously.
“You’ve heard it too?”
“……?”
Lowering his voice suddenly, Baron Ibil made Lancel blink. His reaction was unexpected.

“The woman caught poaching outside the islands recently… turns out she was the Merigold family’s daughter.”
Lancel lifted his teacup, hiding his agitation.
“The world is truly unpredictable. The renowned Merigold family turned to ruin overnight, but for even the last bloodline to end like that…”
“So when will she be released?”
“Released? What do you mean?”
Baron Ibil lowered his voice further.

“She was already executed by hanging long ago, thinking she was a commoner. Anyway, never mention this anywhere else. If rumors get out, it’ll disgrace the nobles.”
That was it.
Poaching was punishable by hanging.

Nobles could escape it, but she was the daughter of a fallen noble family. There was no one to vouch for her status, so no one would believe her claims in prison.
‘So this world in this round is already after the protagonist disappeared?’
—Unexpected developments, unexpected endings! How great.

And so,
Ten years passed.
Lancel finally was able to see the game system screen he had longed for.

[Playtime 0 years 29 days]
—Merigold has died.
—No marriage partner.

—No achievements.
[Bad Ending 8. Merigold Falsely Accused]
—Ending recorded in the Memory Album.

—Would you like to restart the game?
“……What the hell is this……”