This is a double post, so please be aware. The story continues from Patty’s perspective.
“Mm, this world was based on a game world conceived by a person from another world named Akane Yamamoto. The Creator God (Producer) materialized and constructed it. When they reconfigured our existing world, they incorporated elements from her imagination, while also leaving existing things unchanged. Our existence as fairies is one of those things. And now that the system is in place to accept Akane Yamamoto, she has been reincarnated into this world as Rachel.”
“Huh?”
Patty was surprised by the fact Hanako had revealed.
“I had heard before that Rachel was a reincarnator from another world, but I never imagined she was so heavily involved in the construction of this world…”
Those working at Marie’s Bakery had been informed about Kent and Rachel’s circumstances. Therefore, they had a general understanding of her being a reincarnator, but Patty was learning for the first time how deeply she was involved in the world’s creation.
“But I don’t understand why the world was constructed based on what Rachel imagined.”
“Mm, it might have been due to the Creator God’s (Producer’s) whims. I have not been granted the authority to know the full extent of that.”
“So, it’s a matter of divine convenience, I guess.”
Patty had no choice but to accept it.
“Mm, originally, Master was not scheduled to be reincarnated into this world. But something unexpected happened, and Master ended up being reincarnated into this world as well. As an apology for that, the Creator God (Producer) gave him the terminal in question.”
Hanako also explained how Kent had come to this world.
“Anyway, to get back to the topic, what is ‘protagonist compatibility’?”
“Mm, protagonist compatibility means that compared to a normal person, when you study or exercise, your ability values, called parameters, increase faster, and when you equip or use items, your parameters are adjusted. In addition, you can also perform actions equivalent to the protagonist of the original game. In the game, you can develop relationships with Marc, Cedric, and Gordon, but those with protagonist compatibility can also deepen their relationships with those three depending on their actions. Unfortunately, by the time I awakened and regained my power, the flags for Marc and Cedric had already been broken, and I couldn’t interfere.”
“Parameters, huh? So that’s why I suddenly became good at studying and why so many guys started talking to me. But Hanako-chan, why did you need to pursue relationships with those three?”
Patty had never been able to improve her grades no matter how much she studied, but after getting involved with Kent and his companions, she suddenly became able to study well, and before she knew it, she was at the top of the class. Also, after using cosmetics that Kent gave her, she became popular with guys to the point of having a fan club. She could think of many instances that fit the description. However, she didn’t understand Hanako’s reasons for focusing on Marc, Cedric, and Gordon.
“Mm, this is an important part. If the protagonist doesn’t become lovers with one of these three, the world’s time will rewind, and it will return to April of last year. I don’t know when the rewind will happen, but I think it will be when all their relationships have completely broken down. If the relationships don’t progress by the specified period, this time will be repeated over and over.”
“So, that means Rachel-san has to become lovers with one of those three by the specified period?”
“Mm, that’s right. However, by the time I awakened, she had absolutely no intention of deepening her romance with any of the three and was instead interested in another man.”
“Could it be that Rachel-san’s favorite man is…”
“Mm, I cannot say that from my lips.”
Patty had a vague idea of whom Rachel was interested in, but she didn’t press Hanako further.
“Mm, if things continued as they were, repeating the same time would have been inevitable. But I discovered a loophole here.”
“Is that by getting me and Gordon together?”
“Mm, that’s right. Protagonist compatibility, meaning the ability to act like the protagonist. I decided to use that. By getting Patty and Gordon together, I can advance time without causing Master the pain of repeating the same time over and over.”
Hanako’s actions prioritize Kent, her contractor. She believes that some sacrifices are acceptable to avoid the pain of repeating the same time.
“Mm, fortunately, you longed to become a princess. That’s how I interpret it.”
“You don’t mean the story you read to me, do you?”
“Mm, yes. At that time, I also promised to grant your wish.”
“I can’t believe you took that story seriously…”
A long time ago, Patty had read a well-known fairy tale in this country to Hanako and her younger siblings. It was about a town girl who coincidentally met a prince who was secretly visiting, and they fell in love. After the story ended, her younger sister Till asked Patty, “Do you want to have a relationship like that with a prince?” and Patty remembered replying, “I do.”
“Mm, then I will grant that wish for you. But for now, I don’t have the power, so please wait a little longer.”
“Oh, my. Then, when you have that power, please grant it.”
“Mm, understood.”
At that time, Hanako said these words, and Patty replied, thinking it was a joke, but Hanako seemed to have taken it seriously. And when Hanako regained her power, she put it into action.
“Mm, I had been waiting for the opportunity. And the time has come.”
“That’s the incident during the company retreat, isn’t it?”
Patty looked back on the event with nostalgia now, but at the time, when she woke up in the morning, Gordon was naked in the same bed as her, and everyone around her was in an uproar. That became the catalyst for their relationship, which has continued to this day, a relationship more than friends, but less than lovers.
“Mm, actually, you were trying to sneak into Master’s bed. While you were moving, I cast teleportation magic and sent you to Gordon’s bed. You had also had some alcohol then, so you didn’t notice the disorientation that occurs when teleporting. You spent the night in Gordon’s bed.”
“The teleportation magic you mentioned earlier?”
“Mm, I will demonstrate. This is what happens when you use it.”
“Kya!”
Hanako and Patty were enveloped in a strong light.
“Wh-what happened? I-it’s cold!”
Patty shivered from the sudden cold.
“Mm, this is outside the castle.”
“Eh? Y-you’re right. We’ve somehow moved outside the castle.”
“Mm, teleportation magic is magic that bends space and moves you to another location in an instant.”
In front of Patty’s eyes, the castle walls stretched on. Recognizing the shape of the castle, she knew they were outside. The reason she felt cold was that she had suddenly gone from a room with a lit fireplace to the outside.
“Mm, then let’s go back.”
“Kya! Wait, this is the room we were just in, right?”
Once again, their surroundings lit up intensely, and when they realized it, Hanako and Patty were back in the original room.
“So, you used this magic to move me, who was trying to sneak into Kent-san’s bed, to Gordon’s bed.”
“Mm, yes.”
With Hanako’s actual demonstration, Patty understood teleportation magic.
“Mm, and that’s how I created the opportunity for you and Gordon to start dating. What happened next is as you know.”
“I had a rigid image of Gordon, but in reality, he’s kind, and he gently offered me a hand when I was in trouble. He even protected me with his own body at times.”
Patty recalled the time she had spent with Gordon. Seeing his straightforward but forward-looking attitude, she felt that those times were not bad at all, but rather pleasant.
“Mm, your relationship is progressing well. However, just like in the game, a trial will visit you both. That is the current situation.”
“A trial similar to the game… Those words make it sound like you know how to cure Lord Gordon’s illness, Hanako-chan?”
“Mm, that’s both right and wrong. I cannot resolve it myself. However, there is a means to resolve it.”
Hanako answered Patty’s question.
“Mm, as I said in front of Catherine, I do not possess the means to cure the illness. However, Master and Rachel, who foresaw this happening in advance, have already secured a cure… or rather, they should have.”
“Wh-why didn’t you tell me that sooner? We should use it quickly to help Lord Gordon…”
“Mm, now is not the time to use it. It must be done after the problem Master is currently facing is resolved. After it’s resolved, Master should bring it to the castle. We will wait until then.”
“I-is that so? Gordon will be saved, won’t he? I feel so relieved, my strength is gone. *Sniff* It’s good. It’s really good.”
Hearing about the cure from Hanako, Patty’s relief brought tears to her eyes.
“Mm, this trial will be overcome by the protagonist and Gordon together. But the original protagonist is already out of commission. To overcome this trial, your ability as a protagonist-compatible person is necessary.”
“My ability?”
Patty asked Hanako about the abilities of protagonist compatibility.
“Mm, when that power merges with the medicine that Master is scheduled to bring, this effect will be triggered, and Gordon’s illness will be cured. It involves administering the medicine mouth-to-mouth. Your fate will change depending on whether you have the resolve to do so.”
“What if I refuse?”
Patty asked Hanako what would happen if she refused.
“Mm, in that case, Master will administer it, so it will be fine. It is expected to have the same effect with the medicine infused with divine power.”
“Does that mean Gordon and Kent-san will, *gulp*, kiss?”
“Mm, that’s right. Their lips will passionately press together, their tongues entwining…”
“Kyaaa, stop! That’s enough! Just imagining it made something weird come out from between my legs!”
Patty imagined Kent and Gordon fiercely entwining. Her face turned red, her pulse quickened, and a slight moisture appeared between her legs.
“Mm, if you decide to cure him, you will be united with Gordon, become a princess, and head straight for the game’s ending. If you don’t make that decision, you will return to your commoner life as before. That’s all there is to it.”
“So, in the end, the decision-making power lies with me?”
“Mm, that’s right. Think carefully about what you will do before Master brings the medicine.”
“I understand. I will think about it so I don’t have any regrets.”
“Mm, then I must be going. Also, I apologize for messing with your fate for my own convenience.”
“Eh? Hanako-chan?”
With those words, Hanako’s figure disappeared.
“I…”
Left alone in the room, Patty murmured to herself.
The next chapter will return to the protagonist’s perspective.
