kscans

Chapter 51 - Because I Am the Chosen One (By Whom? Who Is?)

Falty watched in a daze as the two figures walked away. Carla and Vernella left without stopping, chatting amicably as they went. Falty's ladies-in-waiting all rushed to her side, worrying over her, gently stroking her back, and offering words of comfort in unison. Yes, this was how it was supposed to be, wasn't it?

《My, are you an idiot?》

Just as she was about to savor the joy of being cherished once more, despite the hardship...

She realized the colors and sounds around her had vanished.

"...Hh, System!!!"

Appearing with its usual unpleasant static was the very entity that had instigated her, taking on Falty's own face. This time, it had meticulously replicated her appearance, complete with an expression of utter annoyance. It always appeared so suddenly, Falty thought, gritting her teeth. You never come when I need you! she cursed inwardly, only to be met with a contemptuous glare.

── Something's wrong.

She'd never been looked at with such eyes before. Was something twisted? Or was there something else she needed to do?

《I thought everything would be fine since you reached the ending. And then this happens.》

With a heavy sigh, the 'System' closed the distance until their noses were nearly touching. Falty's body tensed, and the System continued to speak, their faces inches apart.

《You turned out to be an incredible screw-up.》

"What?!"

She didn't recognize the word, but she knew without a doubt she had been insulted. She tried to ask what it meant, but the words wouldn't come out. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound emerged. It was utterly silent.

"............! ............ ............?!"

She refused to take this lying down, lashing out with a torrent of curses, but none of them made a sound. Not even the sound of air escaping her lips could be heard; every noise Falty tried to make was completely blocked by the 'System.'

(Why...)

As Falty stood there in a daze, the 'System' finally pulled back and spat out coldly.

《The moment I released those involved after you reached the ending, it all fell apart.... You're just a book-smart honor student. A defective product with no adaptability.》

It let out another heavy sigh. You've got some nerve, Falty fumed, but its next words left her truly speechless.

《I thought about entrusting the next phase to Lady Lupia, but she refused.... This is...》

The gaze directed at her was filled with contempt.

《You're just a helpless child who blames others for the 'events' you failed to clear.... The previous young ladies were easier to deal with since they were all romance endings.》

Was it reminiscing? The 'System,' still in Falty's form, narrowed its eyes wistfully.

《By the time they reached their endings, they had done their jobs perfectly. They captured the heart of their target and even built a friendship with their rival! But you... you couldn't even do that!》

She had thought she had built a friendship with Lupia. But it was only in terms of numbers. She hadn't known it was so important. If it was that important, she wished it had told her sooner. She wished it had taught her more carefully. And besides, Falty added, finally able to speak again.

"You should have guided me more carefully! You're the useless one, aren't you!"

《...What?》

Falty's shriek-like voice overlapped with the electronic voice of the 'System,' which sounded just like her own. An emotional scream and a flat, cold voice.

"...Y-You have no right... to insult... me!"

《Why is that?》

"You're the one who chose me, aren't you?! Because I was talented, because I could reach the grand finale!"

《Falty-Ardia, I believe I told you this.》

The quality of its voice changed. It became a grotesque sound, neither male nor female. No, it was just 'noise.'

《I will help you achieve your desire. In return, I want you to reach the 'Grand Finale Ending.'》

"Ah...!"

《I thought you were intelligent.》

The 'System' spoke dispassionately, in the past tense.

《You were intelligent. Yes, you were good at studying.》

The figure that looked like Falty blurred, transforming into a shadowy, indistinct shape, then into a bizarre form like a black mist. The sheer terror of it made her legs give way, and she collapsed to the ground.

《You reached the position you desired, did you not? But you failed to achieve it. No, in a way, you did. You reached the 'Queen Ending.' But that's not it.》

A strange sound that she couldn't describe wormed its way from her ears into her head.

It's loud, it's loud, it's so loud!

Even when she covered her ears, the noise slithered in through the gaps. Zzzzz, jjjjjj—a multi-layered symphony of static assaulted Falty, a flood of sound that was unbearable.

"Agh... ah...!"

《A self-centered, selfish woman who can't be considerate of others. That is you.》

"N-No, I... I am..."

《You only see Lady Lupia's value in numbers. Ah, I should have made her the protagonist, no matter what it took!!》

"Sh-Shut up."

《Ah, but that's no good. That woman doesn't need to do any of this, let alone aim for a grand finale! She's too perfect!》

The 'System's' voice, chattering away as if talking to itself, was grating.

Falty was always being compared to Lupia. To think she would be compared even by this thing was something she had never imagined. Because this was supposed to be an entity that helped her, that guided her well, and...

《...You are the complete opposite.》

It shouldn't be a being that reviled people like this. That's why, Falty thought.

Slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes holding a light tinged with crazed fury.

《...Oh?》

"The defective product... is you, isn't it...?"

The sounds around her were still gone. And she couldn't move.

"If you had guided me properly... I... wouldn't have... failed!!"

Ah, so she resorts to shifting the blame after all. This one is useless.

《This is most unfortunate, Falty-Ardia.》

The mist reached a hand out towards Falty.

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

As if to envelop her, she was swallowed headfirst, completely covered by the black mist.

"............Hh!!"

She flailed her arms, trying to bat the mist away, but it was no use. Worse, she could feel it slithering into her ears, a disgusting sensation. The mist had no physical form, so what was this?

It was like something resembling smoke.

And it was slowly, horribly seeping into her.

《You will no longer act on your own will. Your actions, your words, are a nuisance to those around you.》

──No! I'm not a nuisance to anyone!

Falty desperately denied it, trying not to be consumed. But the 'System' continued, as if mocking her.

《When you began your Crown Princess training, how many people refused you? How many people were displeased by your remarks?》

──That's...

《In the end, the busy Queen had to personally make time to take on your education. If it had been her, that would have been unnecessary.》

──Stop it. Don't compare me anymore.

《What a strange thing to say. It's only natural that you be compared, isn't it?》

──Liam chose me of his own free will! Even if it was the result of raising his favorability with your guidance, the fact remains!

Falty was desperate. Even if she had been instigated, her actions were what produced the results. She had worked hard, she had steadily raised his favorability. Therefore, she tried to continue, but the thing trying to consume her was merciless.

《I said it was a 'game,' but... did you ever consider what that meant? That your actions would inevitably make some people unhappy.》

──Huh?

This was a deal the 'System' had brought to Falty, a story to be enjoyed by tracing the events of a one-year game.

To treat the people who live here as a kind of toy.

Finally understanding the meaning of those words, Falty let out a small, "Ah."

《Oh my, don't tell me you hadn't thought that far ahead!?》

With a cackling laugh, it continued to corrode her.

──I've done... something terrible.

《Too late now, you fool.》

I'm sorry. As her consciousness faded, Falty finally offered a sincere apology from the bottom of her heart. It was an apology to Lupia, and to Liam, whom she had come to love but was also a capture target. It also included an apology to everyone whose lives she had even slightly derailed by taking the hand of this terrible entity this past year. It was because she was talented, because she was ambitious, that she had been taken advantage of. She finally realized it, but it was too late.

With a sickening squelch, she was consumed, and Falty's consciousness plummeted.

──Lupia-san, I'm sorry. I've done something truly awful.

With those final words, the consciousness of 'Falty-Ardia' was extinguished.

"...She certainly made me work for it."

What emerged in her place.

"Now, let us drag you out...!"

Though it should have been unable to interfere, the 'System' had manifested by hijacking Falty's body.

"The ending this one reached is fine. An achievement is an achievement. However, I must correct its course, or we will proceed into a twisted future. That will not do."

It spoke in a theatrical tone, then looked down at its own form.

"Now, 'I' shall proceed towards a wonderful future. The Queen Ending has been achieved. All that's left is to properly become queen."

The inside was different, but the outside was still 'Falty.' It stood up. With a distorted smile, time began to move again.

"Your Highness!"

Surrounding her were the ladies-in-waiting, all worried about Falty.

"...I'm alright.... It seems... I was getting ahead of myself. I must apologize to the daughter of Duke Calmond..."

It would erase 'Falty's' failure. In its place, it would arrange a venue for an apology and draw Lupia back to its side. Because she was the one most suited to put everything in order.

To the ladies-in-waiting who were worried about the tearful Falty, it offered a weak smile. In its heart, it held something akin to worship for Lupia.

Unbeknownst to Falty, who had sunk into deep darkness, the end was approaching.