My Desertion Would Be Faster Than Heros’ Obsession

Meanwhile, Altair seemed oddly amused as he patted Winter on the shoulder.
"Hey, this is the place you talked about before, right? Egott Village."
"Yeah."

"Oh, so this is that place?"
Altair and Yuri seemed to know something about Egott Village. Curious if there was something special about it, I turned to look around.
Aquila had mentioned that this city was home to many prestigious noble families, and sure enough, it looked grand but also old-fashioned.

There was a small but historic castle in the distance, along with statues, monuments, and libraries scattered throughout the village.
However, since I couldn’t find anything particularly interesting, my curiosity faded, and I lost interest—until Winter suddenly spoke up.
"That place over there is my home."

"…What?"
I blinked, my expression blank with confusion. But Winter looked completely serious. He wasn’t joking. So I could only stand there, dumbfounded, staring at the place he was pointing to.
"That’s really your home, Winter?"

"Yeah. It’s where I’ll return once I’m discharged."
The place Winter was pointing to was the castle I had just been looking at.
I didn’t even bother questioning how someone who wasn’t a noble or even an imperial citizen could possibly live in a place like that.

There was a far more important issue at hand.
‘Wow, his male lead power is off the charts right now.’
Winter’s "Duke Energy" was exploding.

I had always thought words like "duke" or "grand duke" suited him, but now that I knew he actually owned a castle, he seemed even more duke-like than before.
And the castle itself—it was undeniably grand and elegant, but the entire outer wall was pitch black, giving it a strangely ominous aura.
It was like something straight out of a romance fantasy novel, perfectly balancing "a beautiful castle" and "a terrifying castle" at the same time.
And on top of that, this place was in the north. His "Northern Grand Duke Energy" was skyrocketing.

As I stood there, slack-jawed with admiration, I noticed a hint of pride flicker across Winter’s face.
"You’ve been living there all your life?"
It was impossible not to be curious. When I asked, Winter, looking faintly pleased, began to explain.

"A long time ago, when the emperor was traveling through this region for a retreat, my ancestor saved him from a sudden monster attack. As a reward, our family was granted this land."
The reward must have included the castle, the land, and probably a mountain of gold.
I tried to recall if this detail had ever been mentioned in the original novel, but since the story focused solely on the military, it never really explored their lives outside of service.

‘Winter… was this rich all along?’
I had no idea why the original story never played up this ridiculously male-lead-worthy backstory.
Winter, Male Lead Power +100.

As I was still gazing at the castle with interest, Winter’s voice suddenly took on an unusually kind tone.
"Are you interested in that castle?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I was just admiring it. It looks impressive."

"If you want it, there’s a way you can have it."
"…What?"
What the hell?

Even if I got discharged and left with my 3,000 Marknes, there was no way I could afford that castle.
So what kind of method was he talking about?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Altair’s face lit up with interest, while Winter’s expression grew more serious. Not that his face ever really wasn’t serious, but somehow, it felt more serious.

"What way?"
"If you come with me—"
"Winter."

Before he could finish, Ishina abruptly cut in.
Wearing a strained expression, Ishina grabbed my arm and pulled me to his side, positioning himself between me and Winter.
"What exactly are you doing right now?"

"What do you mean?" Winter’s tone remained calm.
"Aren’t you the strictest rule-follower here? Why are you acting like this? You should be more restrained."
"If I have to follow the rules, should I also point out how disrespectful your tone is?"

"Punish me however you want. But lately, everyone keeps pushing the limits, and I’m getting sick of it."
Now I was completely lost.
‘What the hell? What is happening?’

All I did was admire Winter’s castle, and suddenly, Winter and Ishina were acting like two male leads fighting over the heroine.
Something felt off.
This… this was just like…

"It’s been a while! The romance fantasy trope circuit is back!"
Could it be that all along, the male leads secretly had feelings for me? That after gaining more seniority, their obsession was starting to emerge?
I stared at them with hopeful eyes.

Maybe, just maybe, my romantic novel storyline was finally about to begin.
But before I could let myself fully indulge in those fantasies, Altair stepped in and broke up the standoff between Winter and Ishina.
Instead, Winter began talking separately with Altair and Yuri, while Ishina, still holding my collar, dragged me a little further away.

Then, he let out a long, exhausted sigh as he stared at me.
"Salvia."
"Yes?"

"You almost fell for it."
"…Huh? What do you mean?"
"Listen carefully."

Ishina lowered his voice, speaking gently, like he was explaining something to a child.
"If you want to buy a castle, what do you need?"
"…Money?"

"Exactly. But even after discharge, you won’t have enough to buy that castle, right?"
"Yeah, that’s true. Oh! Then… I could start a business and make money?"
Most transmigration heroines use their Earth knowledge to start successful businesses.

But unfortunately, I didn’t have any particularly useful modern knowledge to take advantage of.
So how else could I make that kind of money…?
And then, a realization hit me.

Winter had been implying that there was a way for me to obtain his castle—meaning a way to make money.
And Winter was a rule-obsessed, principle-following lunatic.
"If you come with me—"

Winter had been about to tell me to join him in something.
"But once I’m discharged, I’ll be losing something. That’s why I can’t fully celebrate it."
Earlier, Winter had seemed reluctant about getting discharged.

Almost like…
Like someone who was considering reenlisting.
Which meant…

"Wait a minute. Winter, were you seriously trying to convince me to reenlist in the Border Defense Army?!"
So that was his plan. Since he was already considering reenlisting and saw me struggling to figure out how to make money, he figured, why not convince me to stay with him?
Wow.

Winter, as a senior, how could you do this to your junior? This was beyond cruel.
"Y-yeah… Sure. Think of it that way…."
Even Ishina, usually the most composed person I knew, looked genuinely shocked.

"…That’s right. Winter was trying to get you to reenlist. And you almost fell for it."
"Like hell I would! Wow, I really didn’t expect this from you, Winter. That’s low."
Seriously, what the hell was I even thinking? I should throw my romance novel fantasy circuit into the trash. A male lead who tries to get you to stay in the military forever? That’s just wrong.

***
"Pfft—HAHAHA!"
The moment Altair saw Winter’s face, he burst out laughing.

Winter, meanwhile, looked completely dead inside.
"Wow, you still haven’t changed at all? You’re so good at everything, but you still can’t handle romance? Pffffft!"
Altair was laughing so hard he was about to collapse.

Meanwhile, Yuri let out a sharp scoff.
"See? I told you there was zero hope for you."
"……."

"How do you expect anyone to suddenly fall for you when you act like the strictest, most rigid senior all the time?"
Winter’s face was growing darker and darker.
Altair, seeing this, tried to defend him.

"Hey, come on, at least Winter’s rich, smart, and—most importantly—he’s good-looking."
"That’s all he’s got?"
"…And he’s got broad shoulders? And a nice chest?"

"That’s it?"
"Isn’t that everything?"
Altair looked a little offended, but Yuri was relentless.

"No. He’s missing the most important thing a man should have."
"What’s that?"
"You know. That."

Yuri didn’t even bother explaining. She just looked at Winter with an utterly disappointed expression.
"Think about it. To Salvia, you’re about as memorable as Lady Louise or Plato."
"……."

"You’re just not an option. Not at all."
Winter, who had been listening silently, finally spoke.
"Then… what should I do?"

"Hmm."
Suddenly, the atmosphere became heavy.
Altair, for once, also adopted a serious expression as he looked at Winter.

"At the very least, you need to set yourself apart from all the other seniors."
"Meaning…?"
"You need to make yourself special in her eyes. More than just another senior."

But Winter still looked lost.
Altair and Yuri exchanged knowing glances and shook their heads.
At this rate, Winter was doomed to remain just another FM senior in Salvia’s eyes until the day he was discharged.

***
While I was still reeling from Winter’s betrayal, Yuri, now done talking to him, stormed over to me.
"Salvia, we need to talk."

"Huh?"
Before I could react, Yuri firmly grabbed my wrist and yanked me away from Ishina.
Wow. Yuri, Male Lead Power +60.

"Salvia, I feel like you keep forgetting something, so I’m going to remind you again."
"Uh… okay?"
"Like I told you before, the most important thing in a man is social skills."

"But, Yuri, you’re not exactly—"
"I know! I know I don’t have social skills! That’s why I’m saying this!!!"
Yuri, normally cool, minty, and icy, suddenly exploded in frustration.

"Aquila and Winter, those bastards have the worst social skills!"
"Wait, why are you suddenly bringing up Aquila and Winter—"
I raised an eyebrow, but Yuri flinched and quickly cleared her throat.

"Ahem. I was just using them as examples of people with no social skills. Anyway—"
"Ah, okay…."
"Just pick someone who hasn’t been in the Border Defense Army. Every single soldier who’s been through here is a little messed up."

"Wait, but—"
This time, my expression turned serious.
If I ruled out soldiers, that meant my only options were imperial citizens.

But there was no way in hell I was ever getting involved with an imperial citizen.
Because…
"Imperial citizens are corrupt garbage."

"…What?"
"I think all imperial citizens are awful people. They treat us like we’re subhuman, and I can’t stand it. Corruption must be cleansed."
"Uh… okay?"

"That’s why I think Arkons are better."
Yuri, looking slightly uncomfortable, nodded stiffly. Then, regaining her focus, she reiterated her main point.
"Anyway, people without social skills are a no-go. Absolutely not."

…Did that mean I had social skills?
I wanted to ask, but I knew better than to push my luck.
But more importantly, if I really thought about it, considering that this world was based on a romance fantasy novel…

‘Wait. Is Yuri unintentionally setting up a romance flag with Altair?’
If her biggest priority in a partner was social skills, then the most socially skilled person I knew was Altair.
By her own logic, wouldn’t he be the best match for her?

Was everyone getting romance flags except me?
But I kept my mouth shut.
If I said anything, Yuri would destroy me.

I’d just wait patiently for the day I heard about Yuri’s inevitable romance arc.
***
A while later, our standby ended, and we finally received our mission details.

Apparently, strange incidents had been happening in this village for a while now, and all signs pointed to black magic.
Given the timeframe of these incidents, it was highly likely that the black magician had been living in the village for a long time.
Our job? Find them.

"God, this is so annoying."
I gritted my teeth and muttered under my breath.
"Seriously, fuck, how many times have we had to do external deployments because of these goddamn black magicians? I’m so fucking sick of this."

"Uh… she’s mad. Let’s stay quiet."
"Yeah, just go with the flow."
"I CAN HEAR YOU, YOU FUCKERS."

After scaring my juniors into silence, I let out a deep, exhausted sigh.
"So, the black magician we’re looking for is one of the three great black magicians of the Northern Empire, right? The last remaining one?"