Reality Check

When I woke up, the tent above me glowed with a soft blue light—morning had arrived.

My legs still felt numb, but the pain was gone.

Outside, the murmur of knights chatting and moving about filled the air. Everything sounded... normal.

I let out a sigh.

So, the endless nightmare of snakes was finally over.

But how did I get here?

The last thing I remembered was drifting in the river, my body overwhelmed by pain.

"Hmm..." A low sound came from beside me.

I turned my head—then immediately sat up.

"What the hell is she doing here?"

It was the parasite that nearly got me killed yesterday.

Did she save me from drifting away?

No way. This leech didn't have that kind of power. It was probably Evan or one of the knights who pulled us out.

I leaned over and shook her by the shoulders.

"Hey! Wake up!"

"Oi, healer girl!"

She mumbled something in her sleep.

"Mama… this is the last piece of cake… pleaseee…"

I blinked.

What the hell?

Is she... dreaming about cake?

My eyes twitched. Without thinking, I curled my fingers into a fist and struck on her head.

Bonk!

"WAHHH!"

She jerked awake, sitting up and clutching her head.

"Why did you hit me?!" she cried, eyes already welling up with tears.

I ignored her.

"Who brought me here?" I asked instead.

She sniffled. "A knight named Edric."

Edric? My eyes widened.

If he had helped me....?

No doubt it's Selene's doing. I clenched my jaw. She was the last person I wanted to ask help to.

The healer girl narrowed her eyes at me, clearly amused.

"Oi, Koala, what are you staring at?" I snapped. "And why are you even in my tent?"

"I am not a Koala! My name is Elise!" she huffed.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Koala. Just answer the question."

She crossed her arms and glared at me.

"I healed you for so long that I completely exhausted myself! And yet you are...." she declared with a dramatic puff of her chest.

I scoffed. "And who's the reason I got bitten in the first place?"

"You ran the wrong way!" she shot back.

"I ran that way because you were clinging onto me like a dead weight!"

"But I told you to run toward the knights!"

"How the hell was I supposed to run straight with a mountain strapped to my back?!"

"I am not that heavy!"

Oh great. She won't even admit her mistake.

From my experience on Earth, girls like her—who never took responsibility—were a nightmare to deal with. I sent a silent "sorry" to her future husband.

I let out a sigh. "Alright, Koala. You rest here. I'm going outside."

I pushed the tent flap open and stepped out.

"Wait! Don't leave me alone here!" she yelped, immediately scrambling to my side.

I groaned. "Go cling to someone else, damn it. Leave me alone."

"Don't act like you're some big shot," she snapped back.

I sighed. Yeah, she's right. I usually wouldn't act like this, but yesterday's mess was still crawling under my skin.

I stepped outside. The camp was bustling — knights talking, tending to weapons, keeping watch. Birds and small animals were feasting on the snake corpses scattered around. The stench was horrible, but no one seemed to care.

As I moved forward, heads turned to look at me… then turned away, pretending I wasn't even there. Figures.

In the corner, Evan sat by a fire, lazily chewing on snake meat skewered on a stick. In the end he didn't even try to help me yesterday. Was I expecting too much from him?

Maybe… maybe it's pointless. No one's going to change their opinion of me.

Before I could think further, the camp's healer rushed over. His face twisted into something between pity and guilt. He stopped in front of me and bowed his head.

"I'm sorry, young master. I heard what Elise put you through. She's been spoiled and lacks proper manners. Please, have mercy and forgive her."

Haa… This again? The same hollow apologies. Just like Evan's excuses. It wasn't even real — they all knew I had no power to punish anyone. This was just a formality.

"Uncle…" Elise's voice came from beside me. It sounded… off. Softer. A bit regretful.

I exhaled sharply. "It's fine. I forgive her." I forced a bitter smile.

"Thank you, young master," he said, bowing again. This time, he glanced at Elise, who lowered her head too.

Whatever. Scram.

I walked past them, fists clenched. My chest burned with anger. They're all riding on me, walking all over me — because I'm weak.

Enough.

I wasn't going to stay in my safe little corner anymore. The game's hero was coming for my head, and here I was, worrying about getting pushed around. No more.

I headed straight for Selene's tent. I had avoided her long enough. These past two weeks made one thing clear for me—No point in avoiding and running away.

Edric sat at the tent's entrance, his sword resting beside him. He glanced up as I approached.

"I need to talk to Selene," I said before he could speak. "I'm not here to cause trouble. Just let me through."

He stared at me for a moment, then nodded. "Selene already told me you'd be coming."

What?! My jaw tightened.

She knew? My every move — predicted. It was like she was pulling my strings from the start.

I gritted my teeth and pushed past the curtains.

Selene sat inside, poised on a small wooden chair. Her arms rested on the sides, legs crossed. Her expression was blank, but… something in her eyes felt like a smirk.

"Why did you save me?" I asked, cutting straight to the point. Selene wasn't someone who saved people out of kindness.

She raised an eyebrow. "What? Aren't you the one who said you'd help me find 'the path'?" Her voice was calm, measured. "How could I let you die before that?"

I clenched my fists. "Drop the act. You already have a plan — you don't need me. Don't treat me like an idiot."

She tilted her head slightly, watching me with that same unreadable gaze.

"So… you're saying you've been playing an idiot this whole time, then?" she asked slowly.

Her voice was light, but I could feel the weight behind it. She didn't trust this sudden change — and why would she?

I swallowed hard. There was no way I could tell her the truth — she was the last person I'd ever admit my transmigration to. My anger burned in my throat, but I forced it down, letting out a slow, heavy sigh.

"Whether I've been a fool or a pervert doesn't matter anymore. But don't think I'm some puppet dancing on your strings."

For the briefest second, Selene's eyes widened, but the surprise vanished almost immediately.

"So… you came here just to say that?" she asked, voice flat.

My fists tightened at my sides. You're never going to change, huh?

I stared at her for a moment longer, then turned to leave.

"Oh — and don't play the fool and cling to others to survive, that is what the least you can do" she called after me. "So, I won't have to waste my energy saving you again."

This bitch...

I steadied my steps and walked out, but my mind was boiling.

My gaze landed on Evan. He sat by the fire, chatting like nothing had happened. The bastard. I'm stuck dealing with all this humiliation because of him. I saved his sorry ass, gave him a weapon — and he didn't even lift a finger when I was dying.

It's been three weeks since I ended up here. Three weeks of pretending, scheming, trying to stay alive. Yet, I've never felt this hopeless. Not even back on Earth — not when I worked myself to exhaustion, not when I watched my mother's health deteriorate.

But now… seeing this world for what it really is? My so-called allies?

Relying on people who never planned to help is like biting into a stone, hoping it'll soften.

I didn't want to see anyone else's face. I went straight to my tent and sat down, forcing myself into meditation. I needed to resonate with mana. I needed power.

I focused.

Nothing.

My heart felt like it was in a vice, but I kept going. Again. And again. If I had to break my heart with sheer willpower to get stronger — I'd do it. Gladly.

But no matter how hard I tried, my exhausted body refused to obey. The pain blurred into numbness. My limbs gave out, and I collapsed, face-first onto the dirt floor.

Fuck… even my own body's rebelling against me.

A bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat.

Maybe I was wrong to fight this hard. Maybe I should've just enjoyed this twisted life as Nathan — harassing Clara, raping other maids, taking whatever I wanted, living without consequences.

At least he lived the way he wanted.

Not like me — struggling, hoping things would get better, only to end up more miserable than before.

Nothing's different. This life, my old life… it's the same. Struggle. Suffer. Die. And this time, the protagonist's sword will make sure of it.

I let out a dry, hollow chuckle.

Some villain I turned out to be.