"It's quite noisy, isn't it?"

"Princess-sama"

The one addressed as "Princess" was Claire Granrose. With her pink hair elegantly curled into vertical ringlets, she perfectly embodied the image of a princess.

Mireille explained the situation to Claire. She expressed her doubts that I may have tampered with the level measurement device.

I understood. Something like level 9999 was baffling indeed. Her concern that I might have committed some form of trickery that could tarnish the school's reputation, wasn't completely unfounded.

"Is that so?"

Damn it, even the princess suspects me? Is it possible that the favourability rating towards game characters applies to me in reverse?

Like instead of a hero's buff, it's somewhat like a villain's debuff. Will I always be subjected to baseless accusations and labelled as the bad guy, no matter what happens?

"In that case, how about settling it with a duel, like students of Heinrich Noble Academy should? Mireille-san and Erd-san can engage in a duel, and the winner will be considered in the right. If he truly possesses a level of 9999, there is no way he could lose."

And so, the princess arbitrarily made a suggestion like this. Mireille, going along with it, responded...

"Ah! As expected of the princess-sama. You're right. Alright, you! Let's duel right now! Let's move to the dueling arena."

"Eeh..."

And so, I found myself in a duel against Mireille.

Fortunately, it seems that Alt was not present in the classroom and hadn't gotten involved in this situation. If that person were to show up now, it would only complicate matters further.

However, a duel with Mireille, huh? If I remember correctly, she didn't have such a high level. If that's the case, I'll have to go easy on her to a certain extent...

That's right, most of the new students should be within the level range of 1 to 100.

On one hand, in order to prove my innocence, I need to win this time... On the other hand, if I make it seem like my level was a mistake, I could avoid further trouble... Yes, I've decided, let's intentionally lose.

As I pondered over such thoughts, Domingo and Arday kept bombarding me with enthusiastic cheers and encoragement.

"Erd-sama! Please defeat this person! You can do it, Erd-sama!"

I had already planned to do nothing, aiming to lose intentionally.

Mireille drew her sword and approached me.

"Let's do this! I'll expose your tricks, you insolent bastard!"

For the time being, I held up my sword intending to parry Mireille's sword.

Mireille's sword made contact with mine...!

—clang!

However, at that moment, Mireille let out an audible groan.

"Kuh...! Guaaaaaaaaaa!"

"What happened…!?"

"Hand—my haaaaaannnnndddd"

It seems like my sword was too tough, and it caused significant rebound damage to Mireille's hand. Huh? I didn't do anything though...

Is there really that much of a difference between level 7 and level 9999...?

I've never fought anyone before, so I wouldn't know.

"Damn... it seems like it's true that you have a fairly high level...! But as a noble, I can't afford to lose a duel I initiated...!"

But Mireille still seemed to be motivated, and she boldly came at me again.

It's no good. At this rate, I'll just win.

If I block it with my sword again, this time Mireille's arm will probably break.

I decided to deliberately throw away my sword.

Just before Mireille's sword made contact with mine, I let go of my sword and pretend to drop it on the ground

Phew, with this, the matter should be settled with my defeat. I'll have to bear a slight stain on my reputation, but at least I can stay low-key. If rumours started spreading that the Level 9999 was a mistake, by the second term, everyone will probably forget about me.

That's what I thought—

"Woah...! I dropped it!"

(Monotone)

My sword drops to the ground.

And then Mireille's sword pierces my arm.

Well, let's endure some pain for now. I guess I'll have to fix it later...

—Swish! ! !

However, unexpectedly it was Mireille's arm that was actually cut and bleeding.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaa!"

"Ha…?"

To my surprise, the sword that hit my arm immediately snapped into two.

And the broken tip of the sword ricocheted and dug into Mireille's arm.

At that moment, my victory was officially declared by the referee.

"That's it! The winner, Erd Schmarken!"

Somehow, even though I was planning to lose inconspicuously, I ended up winning...

I didn't do anything, you know?

I never thought that the difference in levels would have such an impact on the battle...

And to think that merely using healing magic could make me this strong, it's truly astonishing.

Is it possible that the current me could use magic other than recovery magic?

As I mulled it over,

"Ugh... You did well... It appears that the level 9999 is indeed real. I'll admit it."

With a frustrated expression, Mireille said that.

She was holding her bleeding arm, looking pained.

Oh... This looks like quite a deep wound. If it worsens, she might never be able to wield a sword again.

Without hesitation, I rushed over to help Mireille who was in such a precarious state.

"Hey, are you okay? I'm sorry for injuring you. Let me heal you now."

"Huh...? Eh...?"

I gently placed my hand on Mireille's injured arm and cast a healing spell. Over time, I've treated many grievously injured slâves, so mending a wound like this should be over in a matter of seconds.

When I did that, Mireille looked surprised.

"W-What did you do just now...?"

"What do you mean? I simply healed your wound. As Arday said previously, I'm proficient in healing magic."

"I-I see... I'm sorry, thank you..."

"No, it's not a big deal. It's an injury caused by my own actions, so this is a minor compensation"

"I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted your level and the kindness you've shown me. I didn't realize how kind and caring you truly are... Thank you very much. This arm is something I can't afford to lose; it's really important to me. Now, I can wield a sword again."

[T/N: Isn't everyone's arm important to them? O.O ]

Mireille blushed slightly and thanked me. Wait, why is she blushing in this situation?

What Mireille refers to as 'important' is probably the matter involving her sister, right?

In the game, Mireille's character setting was that she wielded the sword for the sake of her sister.

Wasn't it because of these circumstances that led to the flow of events where she teamed up with the protagonist Alt to defeat the Demon Lord?

Approaching us in at a brisk pace was Princess Claire, the one who had provoked us into a duel just moments ago.

When Claire arrived, she commended our performances during the duel.

"What a magnificent battle that was. Erd-san, I sincerely apologize for any doubts I had about you and I retract them here. You are truly formidable."

"Ah, ah... well, it's fine if you understand."

Well, considering I've actually won so the fact that I'm at level 9999 would be undisputed from now onwards.

"The truth is, I was actually testing you a little, Erd-san."

"Eh…?"

I felt unsettled. The princess was testing me...?

"Erd-san, whether you're truly strong or not... I wanted to confirm that, which is why I did this. But I'm relieved. Erd-san really is level 9999..."

"That's... what do you mean...?"

"For the sake of this kingdom, would you consider forming a party of heroes in order to defeat the Demon King?"

"Huh, haa...?"

I couldn't comprehend this. How did it turn out like this?

"Actually, it's predicted that the Demon Lord will be revived in the near future… This is still a secret known only to the royal family and a select few... However, with Erd-san, especially a level 9999 Erd-san, you would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming battle!"

"W-wait a minute..."

Oi oi, what's going on? Far from triggering a death flag, instead you're telling me to become a hero and defeat the Demon Lord...?

So what about the protagonist?

In the world of Egoistic Fantasy, it was naturally Alt, the protagonist, who defeated the Demon Lord.

It should be the same in this world.

Alt was the Hero of Light.

Um, wait a minute.

I remember a story from Egoistic Fantasy from within the far reaches of my memory.

Come to think of it, there was a reason for Alt being recognized as the Hero of Light...

If I remember correctly, think Claire was somehow involved...?

As my memories began slowly started to come back to me, I started feeling more and more nauseated.

I felt like I was about to throw up.

Ah, that's right. It was Claire.

The one who nominated the Alt as Hero should have been none other than this princess.

What does that mean now? Are you trying to make me into that hero?

Wait wait wait wait wait. I had no intention of replacing Alt, you know?

At this rate, the story will be all jumbled up.

Is there any way to avoid it?

I trace my memory further.

Speaking of which, there was an event where Claire and Alt had a sudden close encounter.

That happened right after the entrance ceremony, didn't it?

That's right, it's just about now...

Then it happened.

Claire suddenly began to cough.

Then, she vomited blood and collapsed on the spot.

"Cough Cough... Gwof...!"

"Claire…!?"

I panicked and hurriedly supported Claire. Shit... why now of all times?

I've completely remembered. Yes, this event.

Right after the entrance ceremony, Claire collapses like this. Claire was born with a naturally weak constitution, and it was part of her character setting to frequently collapse like this.

Her condition suddenly worsens, and she collapses at the academy. According to the plot, that's when Alt coincidentally uses his power of light to heal her, if I recall correctly.

With this as a trigger, the bond between the two begins to strengthen.

Following that, Alt gradually awakens to the power of light, and Claire finds herself increasingly attracted to him.

However, Alt isn't present here, and in his place, there's this puzzling scenario where I'm holding Claire in my arms...

Damn it, it's because I intervened in the early stages of the story, the timing of events has become messed up, hasn't it?

This situation, all of this was due to Mireille's odd remarks.

No, in the first place, it's because I threw out that absurd number, level 9999.

No, to go even further back, the reason I ended up at level 9999 was because I had been trying to master healing magic since I was a child.

Arey…? Is this a dead end?

I practiced healing magic to avoid the destruction flag, and now we're in this predicament because of it.

So, in the end, what should I have done...?

"Uu…Uuugghh…"

While I was lost in thought, Claire groaned painfully in my arms.

Damn, I can't just leave it like this.

It would be nice if Alt showed up here...

I had always been reluctant to be involved with Alt, but now more than anything else, I wished he was here...

"Erd-sama! Princess Claire looks like she's in pain...! Could you please use your power here to somehow help her...!"

With that, Arday looked at me with eyes filled with expectation.

Yeah, that's right. With how things are moving, it looks like I'll have to be the one to administer treatment.

Damn it, what should I do? Is it really okay for me to be the one to administer treatment...?

However, if I leave things as they are, Claire will end up dying.

If I let the princess die right in front of me, it wouldn't be surprising if I were executed.

Oh well, whatever happens, happens.

I shot my strongest healing magic at Claire.