The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 9
Emergency. This is an emergency!
‘You wanted to live in this novel, right?’
So, even if I’m a different character from the original, can the story change like this?
Isn’t it normal for me to follow the original no matter what I do?
I silently screamed inwardly as I asked.
“Why?”
His face, now noticeably more relaxed, held a calm yet overpowering presence.
He whispered in a clear voice,
“Because I have no reason to live.”
Did he think I didn’t understand because I remained silent?
He continued as if chewing on the words.
“There’s no existence of life’s purpose.”
As his gaze passed me by, I glimpsed a deeper abyss than I had anticipated.
The despair in his eyes was like a swamp. The further you tread, the deeper you sink into the abyss.
I found myself at a loss for words.
‘Has Robert’s influence been this significant?’
It’s clear that Duke Apharantes had a tremendous impact on his youth.
Ellina Apharantes, the most remarkable guide in history, who boasted perfect guiding abilities as the mother of Robert Apharantes, the Duke.
There was no guide like her.
He wanted to become a guide like his mother, but the Duke of Apharantes, who lacked the ability to reach that level, firmly believed that his problem lay in gender.
Soon, he came to believe that the most perfect existence for a guide was a woman.
He began cross-dressing Hedonia, denying his gender identity, and even went as far as taking suppressive drugs to hinder his growth.
Ignoring the fact that he was a man, the Duke pursued only the honor of being a guide.
This was the reason why Hedonia despised the Duke.
Come to think of it, the reality was rather grim, fitting for a main character.
But there’s a bright future waiting for you!
I tried to portray his future in a positive light.
“Many things will change once you awaken.”
“Perhaps, or perhaps not. Isn’t it naive to view the world too easily?”
Hedonia responded to my words with a grumble, nervously tousling his hair before shooting me a piercing look.
“I don’t even want to become a guide like my father, so why would awakening have any merit for me? Foolish.”
It felt like hitting a wall.
…I think I understand why Karina and Hedonia’s initial meeting was portrayed negatively.
Hedonia couldn’t stand the idea of Karina becoming his replacement, his stand-in because she was that much of a trash.
Here’s where the problem arose.
‘I just wanted to look good to the main character, I didn’t want to become an enemy.’
My head was spinning. What should I do?
‘Should I follow the original like this?’
Should I try to hold onto some semblance of sanity?
But changing my attitude so suddenly now would make me look insane.
And I consider myself a perfectly normal citizen. I can’t just grab someone by the hair out of the blue.
I quickly racked my brain.
Hedonia needed a valid reason to live.
If there’s no purpose in life, then make one.
“Hate can keep you alive too.”
The words popped out of my mouth before they even went through my brain. But they weren’t wrong.
That’s right. You can’t do anything if you’re dead.
‘Damn, I think I just said something pretty good.’
But Hedonia didn’t seem to be affected by my words at all.
I felt a sense of impatience in his expression.
‘No, I didn’t expect things to turn out like this!’
I am bound to the Duke of Apharantes by a contract.
I have to save Hedonia now.
Otherwise, my life will be in danger.
I hastily opened my mouth.
“I will play the role of a stand-in from now on. I’ll gradually take away everything that rightfully belongs to you, Hedonia. Isn’t that unfair?”
Hedonia finally raised an eyebrow.
Alright, it seems like the villainess cosplay is working.
“You may regret it before you die. I shouldn’t have just died like this. Why did I do that?”
“Huh, yes, yes.”
…was my misconception.
“Seeking revenge on me is only possible if you’re alive.”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
I tried to appeal to the fact that I could become a bad person, but there was no reaction from Hedonia.
The effect was disappointingly minimal.
My head was spinning again.
‘I need to bring up a topic that will get a reaction from Hedonia.’
I recalled what Hedonia had said when I first arrived.
[Has he finally found the guide he so desperately wanted?]
Hedonia only reacted when the topic of the Duke of Apharantes was brought up.
In that case…
“Seeking revenge on the Duke is the same.”
…Jackpot.
Like the gears of a long-stopped clock slowly starting to turn again, Hedonia’s eyes gradually lit up.
“Say that again.”
A chilling expression accompanied by a voice that seemed to find it amusing.
A shiver ran down my spine.
…This is it.
The reason for my changed self.
The reason for Hedonia to live.
“Why don’t you live to become a guide and seek revenge on the Duke?”
He immediately pointed out the flaw.
“How is becoming a guide a form of revenge? It’s just doing what my father wants.”
I racked my brain again.