Became the Academy Romantic Phantom Thief - Chapter 313



313 – Counseling

“Take me back!!”

Without even time to think deeply, the words that were overflowing in my mind came out through my mouth.

I can’t stay here even for one more minute.

I really don’t know what I would choose if I stayed here a little longer.

“···Hey, over there.”

She looked at me with her eyes wide open for a moment and then raised both her hands in a calming gesture.

But that doesn’t mean there’s any way to calm down.

On the contrary, seeing him calmly walking around the streets as if nothing had happened made me feel heated.

“You threw me into a world like this and I was just wandering around leisurely!?”

“Just calm down first…!”

He grabbed Victoria by the shoulders and shook her roughly, causing her to close her eyes and cower as if she was scared.

Only after seeing that reaction did she realize her discomfort and took her hand away.

Modern clothing and hairstyles.

Although her appearance was the same, she did not have her characteristic relaxed gaze.

To anyone who saw her slightly shaking body and the way she glanced at me, she seemed like an ordinary, slender woman.

No way… Does this mean she is also a resident born and raised in this world?

No, but that can’t be true.

From what I heard within the association, the Goddess of Fate herself revealed that she came down to earth a long time ago and has been living her life disguised as a human.

In other words, Princess Victoria is not an apostle of God, but God herself.

There is no way a personality identical to her exists…

If you think that way, it becomes impossible to explain why Eldina and Eterna, who are similar cases, exist in this world as ordinary students.

In other words, the person in front of her is the Victoria of this world, who only looks the same as her on the outside.

Are you saying that this person has nothing to do with the goddess of fate who sent me here?

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It was hard to understand, but for now I had no choice but to think that way.

More than anything else, there would be no reason for the goddess of fate to appear in front of me and act like this.

So I chewed my lip, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered my head.

“···I’m sorry. “She thought it was someone she knew and was rude to her.”

Just as I was about to turn on her helpless steps and trudge away, she called me out in her cautious voice.

“Over there… Wait!”

I glanced back to see what was going on.

Are you trying to report s*xual harassment just because I grabbed your shoulder?

Anyway, it doesn’t really matter. Anyway, by midnight tomorrow, I will no longer belong to this world.

No matter what, right now I just want to go home and rest as soon as possible.

As we have returned to the modern era after a long time, it would not be a bad idea to enjoy the benefits of civilization for a day before leaving.

Of course, if you get too absorbed in it, you might end up regretting it, so you should enjoy it in moderation.

As Victoria was immersed in such foolish thoughts, she hesitated and opened her mouth.

“···You seem to be worried about something. If you don’t mind, would you please tell me?”

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what she meant, so I stopped in a daze and thought over her words.

When I realized the meaning later, I frowned without realizing it.

Even if you think about it in light of the common sense of any era, modern or contemporary, this kind of reaction can hardly be called typical.

Rather, as I just thought, why not just report her as a pervert? But she willingly presents herself as a counselor to someone she has never met before, saying she seems to be in trouble.

“What does that mean?”

“Oh, actually, I’m an aspiring counselor majoring in psychology.”

As she said that, she took out one of her thick major books from the bag she was carrying on her shoulder.

In another world, she was the princess of the most powerful country in the world, but here she is a college student majoring in psychology.

It would have been much more plausible to have him be a third-generation chaebol, the successor to a mega-corporation.

“I was interested in what I just heard. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll listen to you, so why don’t you tell me?”

To be honest, it was such an unnatural and needy excuse that I immediately suspected that there might be some other hidden intention upon hearing it.

Just because you’re an aspiring counselor, you’re so willing to suggest a conversation with someone you don’t know?

Even the words I just blurted out were so absurd that it was difficult to take them seriously, even if they were just empty words.

It would have been natural for a normal person to treat me as a mental patient and run away.

···Well, if you look at it that way, Princess Victoria was not an ordinary person in the world.

Even when she was disguised as a princess, she continued to show a strange interest in me, and even after revealing that she was a goddess, she did not seem to have a normal way of thinking, as she gave me these strange tests.

Even though they are from different worlds, they ultimately have the same personality.

I had a rough guess from other people that even though times and backgrounds have changed, personality and values remain somewhat similar.

So, it is not strange to say that the Victoria of this world is an eccentric person.

But is that really all there is?

Could it be that she is the goddess of fate who is trying to reveal my true feelings while hiding her identity?

After thinking for a while, I came to a conclusion.

Regardless of which of the two was the correct answer, I had no reason to reject it.

Anyway, tomorrow is goodbye to this world. So no matter what nonsense you say, it all turns out to be nothing.

It doesn’t matter whether she is a psychology student or a goddess with a hidden identity.

Wouldn’t it be better to just confess your feelings and leave with a light heart?

“···Good. “I’ll tell you.”

“You chose well. Then shall we go to a nearby cafe? “I’ll buy you coffee!”

Although she got a little angry at the sight of her grinning and not hiding her favorite tea, she tried to calm her mind and followed Victoria to her cafe.

We sat in a corner where others could not eavesdrop and began a full-fledged consultation.

In fact, it was nothing more than a complaint that was too embarrassing to be called counseling.

If someone overhears, they might mistakenly think that I am explaining the contents of a fantasy novel.

Anyway, the story I wanted to say was long-winded, but the content itself was nothing special.

For some reason, I ended up in a different world than the reality I originally lived in.

I have a chance to go back, but in reality, this world was the most perfect and ideal state I wanted.

If I go back, this world may disappear. However, if we stay here, we cannot ignore the precious people who are originally left in the world.

“This is quite interesting. “I definitely think anyone would be worried in that situation.”

Victoria listened to my explanation seriously, nodded her head and expressed her impressions.

“I’m just asking to confirm. Is this world you came across not a dream or fantasy, but a real world?”

“If the goddess says so. …Actually, I never feel like this is a dream either.”

After hearing my answer, she chuckled and spoke lightly as if she was telling a joke.

“Then I’m glad. “I also don’t like the ending where I’m just a character in someone else’s dream.”

It’s a character in a dream…

I tried to look at everyone that way.

Even after I realized that this world was real, I tried to force myself to do it.

Of course, I would feel bad if others found out about my inner thoughts.

They will be very sad. Even if it were me, I would naturally be sad if one of them thought of me as nothing more than a character in a dream.

“I don’t know if this will be helpful, but I am definitely a living, breathing, thinking human being. My memories from the time I was born until now remain intact. In other words, this world is not a dream or fantasy, but reality, at least I am convinced of that.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say, so I just nodded quietly.

“But it doesn’t really matter what I think. “What really matters is how you think and come to your own conclusions.”

I don’t think the statement itself is particularly wrong.

But isn’t it too selfish to think only of myself?

“If I choose one side, the world on the other side…”

“What I’m saying is there’s no need to worry about it. Because there is only one world for you. Unless you want to live in both worlds at the same time, you have to choose one. From then on, you will never be able to cross to the other side again.”

Victoria sipped her coffee and continued talking as if it was such a simple matter.

“In other words, the moment you choose, the world on the other side disappears from the life you live. There is no need to feel regretful about something that is gone and cannot be found. “It would be overwhelming just to cherish what is left.”

“···There’s no way you can think in peace like that.”

“You have to think. You may be convinced that both worlds are real, but the truth is that the moment you choose one, the other becomes nothing more than a dream. “It is foolish to throw away the reality of living in the future because you are so obsessed with a dream that you have already broken.”

I bowed my head.

“···What happens if I choose this world?”

“No one knows that except God. And you are not God. “The moment you choose one world, there is no reason to worry about the other world.”

With those words, the goddess of fate spoke once again.

“There is no right answer. “There is only choice.”