I Became the Narrow-Eyed Character in the Little Prince Game

The execution order for Vanity, and the extermination campaign against the businessman.

After those major events came to a close—
We were granted a brief moment of peace.
No one had been particularly injured, and the aftermath had been wrapped up cleanly.

From the moment we gained the Emperor’s backing, the outcome was as good as decided.
The past we had steadily stacked up, step by step, now dictated the future.
‘Well… it does feel a little ominous though.’

The calm before the storm.
Was that foreboding feeling just needless anxiety?
I was already walking a path completely different from the original story.

I could no longer predict what was to come.
‘Is that so.’
If things had gone as they did in the original, the Academy would’ve already fallen.

Galimar, betrayed by the drunkard, would be on its way to ruin.
The cult, having made a grand reappearance, would be running amok all over the continent, their allied businessman expanding a massive drug operation.
The Imperial Rose’s depression would have reached its breaking point, and the Emperor, who had shared her curse, would be facing death.

Vanity, seizing the opportunity, would be preparing a full-scale coup.
Naturally, the twins would’ve already been eliminated by their uncle.
The underworld, thrown into chaos by the [Usurpation War] that had dragged on for four years, showed no signs of settling down.

Because of that, it wasn’t rare for dark sorcerers to join hands with the powers lurking in the shadows.
And somewhere deep in a snowy wasteland, a monster destined to scorch half the continent was still sealed away.
The world of the original was undeniably spiraling into ruin.
But—

‘Everything’s changed.’
I changed it.
The drunkard repented, and the Academy never collapsed.

The businessman met his end before he could make his move.
Vanity was purged before it could act on its coup.
The Imperial Rose never withered, and the Emperor’s ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) curse was healed.

The [Usurpation War] of the underworld had long since ended, and the forces in the shadows had been shattered.
And I even took in the monster once fated to set the continent ablaze.
That was the path I’d walked over the past four years.

These were the things I had accomplished.
‘It’s already been four years, huh.’
The present had completely changed.

But said another way, it meant that the future had also completely changed.
The knowledge I once had of the original had long lost its usefulness.
Such is the fate of a transmigrator.

That was why I’d moved so quickly to eliminate Vanity and the businessman.
I believed I had to clear out as many risk factors as possible before the butterfly effects could return.
To Vanity, I delivered judgment. To the businessman, his end. And to the Sovereign, I fastened shackles.

With that, most of the original’s villains were dealt with.
Except for one—Baob.
‘The cultists’ gathering, Baob.’

In some ways, they were the most problematic force.
It wasn’t just about their scale or their threat level—they were simply unpredictable lunatics.
And maybe because they resembled cockroaches, their survivability was repulsively high.

In short, the kind of thing that kept dragging the story out until the bitter end.
They were a troublesome bunch to deal with.
‘What’s more dangerous than strength… is madness, after all.’

I swallowed the unpleasant feeling.
Since I’d finally been given some breathing room, I decided to take a short rest.
The series of incidents recently had pushed my powers to their limit.

I had to manage myself to avoid running dry of life force like before.
While consumed output could be restored in a single day, life force required at least two weeks of rest.
If I used my powers recklessly before that, it would finally start to eat away at my lifespan.

Which is why I always had to be extra cautious when it came to output.
‘Because I decided I wouldn’t spend my lifespan anymore.’
The last time I used up my life was during the Usurpation War.

It was when I brought down a kingdom and faced the Sovereign in single combat.
I’d been inexperienced in handling my powers then, so I often failed to control the output properly.
If I hadn’t burned through my life at the time, my head probably would’ve ended up displayed on the Sovereign’s castle walls.

That’s what lifespan is for—moments that desperate.
It’s a concept that doesn’t regenerate.
‘For now, I should focus on recovery.’

I cleared my head of idle thoughts.
Since the lockdown order, the academy district had been unusually empty.
Everyone must have become more wary of the cult’s presence.

It was a positive trend, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
I missed the lively atmosphere we’d had just last year.
It really made me feel how much time had passed.

"Feels like just yesterday we were taking the entrance exams."
Yesterday, already gone. Today, merciless. And tomorrow, still on its way.
Within that flow of time, the other kids were running forward too.

The protagonists were doing their best, even in this rewritten story.
And I stayed by their side, in the midst of daily life.
"Student Yuda."
"Master."
"Aren’t you working a bit too much these days? Feels like it’s been ages since I last saw you."
"Hm? I’m sure I helped you with paperwork just two days ago…"
"But you didn’t come yesterday. Do you know how much I missed you?"
"…I clearly remember spending time with everyone at the dorm yesterday."
"Then let’s rephrase it—roughly twelve hours without seeing you."
"I appreciate the precision."
"I’m always thinking about you, Yuda."

First came Selena.
Now that I had some free time, I helped her with the paperwork I hadn’t been able to before.
It was somewhat exhausting, but she seemed to enjoy even that.

As usual, she nestled into my arms as we worked.
Occasionally, our eyes would meet, and she’d smile brightly.
"Fufu…"
"Is something the matter?"
"I’m just happy. Whenever I’m with you, Yuda, I feel at ease."
"That’s very kind of you to say. It’s an honor for me to serve you, Master."
"That’s… a pretty shameless thing to say for a man with seven women."
"…I’d like to offer a defense, if I may."
"Of course, I’m only teasing."

Maybe it was the composure of someone older.
She’d occasionally toss out some tricky topics, but since she looked pleased, I let it slide.
The old bottles tucked in the corner of the lab had gathered a decent layer of dust.

Feeling the weight of that change, I held the woman in my arms.
She was no longer the drunkard she used to be.
"Um… Yuda."
"Yes, Princess Elize."
"Mhm. Me too, Yuda."
"Yes, Princess Charlotte."

Next were the imperial princesses.
The two girls were almost never apart, so whenever we met, it was always the three of us talking together.
After all the recent events, their daily lives now looked more peaceful than ever.

Something they wouldn’t have even dared to dream of just a few months ago.
An ordinary daily life for ordinary sisters.
"You know…"
"Please, go ahead."
"It’s nothing really, but… could I get a treatment again, since it’s been a while?"
"You mean for mana circulation. We haven’t had the chance lately."
"Yeah… we haven’t had any time alone."
"No problem. I’ll visit your dorm tomorrow."
"…I’ll be waiting."

The Rose nodded gently.
Though she tried to avert her gaze, her cheeks were already red like flower petals.
Maybe it was the vivid spring sunlight—

The air smelled unusually fragrant.
"A promise…? Just the two of you?"
"O-Onii? You were listening…?"
"Leaving someone out is mean. I want to be with Elize too."
"I-It’s not like that… I mean, this is, um, an extension of the treatment, kind of…"
"Treatment? Are you feeling unwell? Is it lingering effects from your illness…?"
"No! It’s nothing like that, so please don’t make that face…!"
"Elize, you can’t be sick…"
"……Haa."
Elize was no longer bound to a wheelchair.

Charlotte had become far more honest with her feelings.
Their story, which was once destined for misfortune, no longer carried any darkness.
Only a world of light remained by their side.

I watched the two girls fondly.
And then—
"Today was rough again…"
"You’ve worked hard, Lady Emilia."

Emilia had been absorbed in magical research recently.
Maybe it was because of her successful use of [Property Alteration] before.
Once the fire had been lit, the girl became focused on honing herself.

Sometimes, after an especially exhausting day, she’d let herself act spoiled.
"…Hug me."
"You’ve been especially clingy lately, haven’t you."
"Stop talking nonsense and hug me."
"As you wish."
It hit me again just how much had changed.

The girl who once gave off the worst first impression was now the clingiest of them all.
She still had that prickly aura, but the venom in it had dulled.
I suppose finally cutting ties with her family had lifted a great weight.

The title of villainess no longer seemed to suit her.
And finally—
"Lady Regia."
"Young Master…"

Our protagonist, Regia.
Unlike the others, she had seemed down lately.
Her expression had visibly darkened, as if burdened by deep thoughts.

It looked like she was still blaming herself for what happened last time.
She must’ve felt how powerless she was.
"It wasn’t your fault that Lady Irene collapsed, you know."
"But… Miss Irene collapsed while trying to protect me."
"That’s the fault of those who attacked, not yours."
"Even so… if I’d been a little stronger…"

Was this the classic anguish of a protagonist?
I remember that around this point in the original story, she’d faced similar worries.
Inability to master her abilities, and frustration with her own shortcomings.

I think it was the part that hinted at her true awakening.
‘Maybe… there’s no need to worry.’
She was strong.

Even if her heart was delicate, her spirit was never weak.
Eventually, she would find her answer and take her next steps forward.
Because she was the protagonist of the story I loved—the story I had loved.

So I decided to step back for a moment.
To give her space to wrestle with it on her own.
"I… want to try harder. So I won’t be a burden to anyone."

A quiet, flowing everyday life.
For the protagonist, it was a time to reaffirm her purpose.
***

Meanwhile...
An interesting scene was unfolding at Astro’s headquarters.