Chapter 2

In the northern part of the Icthus continent where we live, there is a country called Lucanland.

It is a country with harsh winters, also known as the land of ice and snow.

I knew about the tragedy that occurred in Lucanland from my previous life's memory.

One member of the Lucanland ducal family went mad and massacred the entire clan.

– There are even whispers that he didn't go mad but turned into a werewolf.

In fact, there is a sole survivor of this "Werewolf Massacre Incident."

That girl is the heroine of this game, Chloe Lucanland.

After this incident, Chloe was taken in by a wealthy merchant family and assumed the false name Chloe Cloakina.

At the age of fourteen, in the fall, she enrolled in the magic academy in the city of Reindes, and once again became involved in a heinous crime.

The target for the game is, I believe, seven people. Each hero has their own scenario.

It's a type of game where, after clearing the initial scenario, subsequent scenarios are unlocked one after another.

I am still in the process of clearing this game, and I have only cleared two endings so far.

I had just started the third scenario on my way to work on the last day.

No, I haven't fully cleared it yet.

I was murdered three days after the release date!

Haha, tough, isn't it...!

Anyway.

First, I need to consolidate my memories from my previous life and the present.

I'll spread out the large parchment map and check the geography of this world.

This country is roughly divided into four regions.

North Lucanland, East Haifan, West Aurelia, and South Ignisia.

These are all old country names, and the old royal families rule these regions.

North Lucanland is a country created by the oldest ethnic group that moved north, known for its sturdy and brave swordsmen.

East Haifan is the oldest country created by the second ethnic group to arrive on this continent, located deep in the forest, known for producing talented mages.

South Ignisia is the country of dragon riders who can ride dragons.

When they first came from the southern continent, the country that ruled the Icthus continent was Casketia.

Ignisia, with the powerful dragon riders, destroyed Casketia and conquered all the countries on this continent.

They are proud conquerors.

West Aurelia is the country of alchemists created by the last ethnic group to arrive on this continent, the "Navigators."

Although turning base metals into gold is still impossible, since the discovery of a vast gold vein, it has become the wealthiest region.

My father is the current Duke of Aurelia.

My mother died before I turned three, and since then, my father has remained single.

My memories of my mother are extremely vague.

I can only remember her gentle singing voice and the soft touch of her fingers on my cheek.

Am I a heartless child, or is it because memories from before the age of three are hard to retain?

"Erika-sama~~, where are you~~?"

I can hear the maids calling for me.

I was about to indulge in sentimentality, but now is not the time.

I'm sure an event that will raise my death flag is about to begin.

Right now, I need detailed knowledge about West Aurelia and East Haifan.

I want to reinforce my knowledge as Erika Aurelia.

Especially, if possible–

"Oh, there you are. You shouldn't make the maids worry too much, Erika."

I was found by my brother.

By the way, this is my brother's study.

It's no wonder I was found.

"Brother, I wasn't hiding or running away. I was gathering information and preparing before encountering the death flag!"

"Death flag...?"

Oops, I let that slip.

"Ah, no, it's nothing."

"Okay, then let's go. Everyone is waiting for you."

I didn't expect to meet that person the day after I regained my memories.

It was a close call.

If it had been one day later, I would have made an irreparable mistake.

Today is the day the Haifan ducal family visits the Aurelia family.

Among them is Klaus Haifan, one of the targets in the starting scenario of "Riber Monstorum."

The Klaus I know, the target in the game, is this kind of character.

A versatile mage at the age of sixteen.

A handsome and sharp face.

A cold personality.

A dark-eyed boy filled with unerasable regret and resignation to humanity, despite being a genius.

According to the setting, he has black hair and blue eyes, but in the stills, his eyes are drawn in a color close to black.

Why did he become such a person?

It's because he believes he killed his sister, Anne Haifan, due to his own mistake.

However, the one who really killed Anne Haifan was me.

To be precise, I lured Anne to a dangerous place out of mere mischief.

The cause of Anne's death was the young villain Erika Aurelia.

(This part becomes the reason for my death six years later.)

All the messenger owls were killed, turning the magic academy city into a landlocked island.

There, Erika Aurelia, whose entire body had turned to gold, was found dead first.

This is the beginning of the first scenario, "The Golden Madman Murder Case."

If I reveal the plot, Anne was possessed by an ancient evil spirit in the Aurelia ruins.

The ancient evil spirit was a legendary alchemist.

The only one who successfully created the Philosopher's Stone, he was killed by his fellow alchemists who tried to steal his secret.

The evil spirit, driven by revenge, nostalgia, and hatred, caused a series of mysterious deaths at the academy, known as "Midas's Curse."

After six years, the spirit, now fused with Anne, targeted me first, the one who framed and killed her.

Yeah, I totally understand how she feels.

So.

Today, I will meet the Klaus and Anne siblings!

I don't mean to be mean, but I'm so scared I might die!

If meeting Klaus and Anne triggers my awakening as a villain,

I might become a villain like the original Erika, who traps people in her schemes–

Just thinking about the possibility makes me shudder.

"Erika, are you okay? Do you have a cold? You're shaking..."

My always kind brother worriedly places his hand on my forehead.

Thank you, brother.

Thank you for treating me kindly even though I'm completely out of it after regaining my memories from my previous life.

"I'm fine, brother. I'm just a bit nervous about meeting the Haifan family for the first time today."

"Don't worry, Erika. The people from the East are gentle and kind. By the way, the Duke of Haifan has a son who is two years older than you and a daughter who is one year younger."

"Yes, Father told me. Klaus and Anne, right?"

"I hope you can get along well."

"Yes."

Talking with my brother calmed me down.

I'll do my best.

I just woke up to my memories from my previous life yesterday, so I haven't had time to prepare properly.

Still, I can't let the tension crush me before it even starts.

"Oh, right. Here, take this. It's a stone with a spell to give you courage, so even shy Erika can be kind to her friends."

With that, my brother put a necklace with a stone that emitted a faint blue light around my neck.

(This is a star crystal...)

Star crystals are a mineral unique to Aurelia, also known as the "Navigator's Star."

They are special crystals that emit light in response to weak magical energy, becoming brighter in the dark.

If you put a small piece of star crystal, about the size of a fingernail, into a glass tube and use it as a lamp, it will maintain the brightness of a candle.

The "Spring Palace" is equipped with such star crystal lamps everywhere.

However, I have never seen a star crystal of this size and purity before.

"Brother, this is..."

"Keep it a secret from Father? I explored the 'Navigator's Ruins' with a friend from my magic academy days. I thought it would make a good gift for Erika. I had it cut and made into a necklace. A high-quality star crystal of this size should not exist anywhere in this world except in those ruins."

"Wh-What!?"

The Navigator's Ruins.

The moment I heard those words, I froze.

"Brother, thank you. But Father said the ruins are dangerous, didn't he...?"

"That's why it's a secret from Father."

The Navigator's Ruins are where Anne lost her life and where the ancient evil spirit sleeps.

In the game "Riber Monstorum," the reason Klaus and Anne sneak into the Navigator's Ruins is this star crystal.

The young villain Erika taught Anne the entrance to the dangerous ruins because she wanted this beautiful gem.

The lines from the game Erika, complete with character voice, play in my head.

(This is a precious stone I received from my brother! If you want it, go find it yourself!)

Is this it! Is this my real death flag!!

I almost threw it out the window, but I can't treat a gift from my brother and his friend like that.

I want to avoid wearing this prominently when sitting with the Haifan family.

I need to be careful and talk to my brother with a smile to avoid showing my suspicious behavior.

"Brother, I'm very happy, but... Father will notice, won't he?"

"Hmm, I guess that won't work."

"Then, how about hiding it inside my dress?"

"Good idea, that's a good solution."

I'm steadily removing the death flags.