I Became the Extra the Heroines are Obsessed with

Chapter 3
The Problem Child (1)

『 Translator – Divinity 』

Born in an insignificant rural territory.

Age 21.

A healthy adult male.

He grew up in an orphanage, receiving a decent education and accumulating knowledge, and then…

By chance, he was recognized for his talent by an Arcane professor visiting the village and even got special admission.

‘There’s nothing particularly unusual, is there?’

After I was possessed, Theonar’s memories were completely transferred to me.

At that time, the situation was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to think things through, but…

I briefly retraced past memories to see where the changes in the heroines began.

Why, you ask?

‘You never know. I might have met them before.’

I wondered if there was some story like, “The most beautiful women in the academy turn out to be childhood friends!?” So I dug through even the smallest memories, but…

“Oh well, let’s just give up.”

All of Theonar’s memories were useless.

“Sigh… I’ve confirmed Sylvia and Venice for now. The other two are the problem.”

Their attitude towards me, their subtly different speech patterns, and their changed behavior…

It’s been proven that these two are already far from the original work.

But the important issue is this:

Why are they interested in me, not the protagonist?

‘Is it because the protagonist isn’t getting attention, or is it because of me?’

There’s nothing I can be sure of right now.

I’ve been having small conversations with them for a year, but…

‘Maybe because it’s a romance fantasy, they had a fixed ideal type.’

They lived for the protagonist and died for the protagonist.

The reason I called this novel a messed-up, depressing, trashy novel?

It’s all because of the heroines’ personalities.

The world setting being bleak and dark? That’s understandable. These days, such dark fantasies are a dime a dozen.

The people around them dying off? That’s also understandable. It’s necessary for dramatic effect.

But the heroines’ personalities themselves being twisted is a different issue.

The way they change in a distorted and warped direction because they can’t get what they want is disgusting even from a reader’s perspective.

Things like imprisoning the protagonist and conducting drug experiments to make him look at them.

Or committing crazy acts like eliminating all the women who approach him.

Or deceiving the protagonist with a divine revelation and going on a pilgrimage together, just the two of them.

Or… trying to kill the heroines who are interested in the protagonist.

“Ugh, that’s creepy.”

They should be thinking about defeating the final boss together, but instead, they engage in petty love squabbles and even commit atrocities that endanger the continent, driving the readers crazy.

“Thinking back then, I thought the author had gone mad. It became a strange hybrid that was neither a romance fantasy nor a typical fantasy.”

Anyway, I can’t touch the heroines right now.

Things might change once the protagonist gains more attention and becomes the center of public interest.

“But… the heroines are one thing, but what do I do with this protagonist?”

Ian, the protagonist of this world.

By now, his shoulders should be rising with an M-shape as he defeats the senior students who pick fights with him one by one, building his reputation.

But because this idiot got completely crushed from the beginning, there haven’t been any events for him to shine.

From secretly observing him, I’m relieved that he seems to be training hard, but regardless, it’s not a good sign that his prominence as the protagonist is decreasing.

“Hmm… what should I do?”

His stepping stone for growth is combat in extreme situations.

An overpowered character who grows by defeating enemies that attack relentlessly.

But now that he’s become ‘talented freshman #1’ instead of ‘the protagonist,’ wouldn’t there be fewer enemies actively seeking him out?

Then, as his Daddy Long Legs, what should I prepare?

“…Should I just throw him into the enemies’ den?”

I’d love to throw him into the mouths of the enemies he’ll face in the future, but that could end the story immediately.

“Should I forcibly create an urgent situation?”

If the enemies don’t come to the protagonist…

Then I just need to give the protagonist a reason to seek out the enemies.

“Just wait, I’ll spoon-feed you somehow, my problem child.”

***

Two weeks into the new semester.

Today was a special joint class day.

“Here’s the list, so gather with your group members. It’s a practical class to subjugate magical beasts that inhabit the vicinity of the academy, so don’t let your guard down and focus.”

“Yes!”

A practical class conducted with a mix of first and second years.

[Group 24]

[2nd Year – Ilde Canua]

[2nd Year – Theonar]

[1st Year – Ian]

[1st Year – Terua Minerva]

‘Woohoo, super lucky!’

I was almost tearing my hair out trying to figure out how to approach the protagonist.

And then, bam! The protagonist’s name and mine were right there on the list!

It was a fortunate piece of news amidst the misfortune.

Our problem child, Ian.

Seeing him all dejected with his confidence shattered at a time when he should be full of himself made me feel a little sorry for him.

‘A protagonist needs a bit of arrogance to be enjoyable.’

It was a messed-up, depressing, and bleak novel with no respite, but I still liked the protagonist’s character.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have read it to the end.

‘The way he faced desperate situations alone and with resilience when separated from the heroines was impressive.’

Maybe because it was the part I enjoyed reading the most, I can’t forget the protagonist’s struggles back then.

“Group 24, depart.”

As I was reminiscing with a satisfied smile, the departure signal went off.

“Alright, let’s go.”

The group leader was Ilde Canua, my classmate.

He was a skilled individual ranked within the top 100 among the second years, and since he was a senior compared to Ian, he naturally took the lead.

This place was the Forest of Magical Beasts located next to the academy.

Since it was a place created by the Empire for students, there weren’t any particularly strong magical beasts.

‘At most, a 5th-grade magical beast might appear.’

But if it proceeded this smoothly, it wouldn’t be a romance fantasy, would it?

A sudden encounter with a powerful mutant, the heroine getting caught up in danger, and then…

The protagonist appearing to save the day – this kind of cliché is a must-have in the romance fantasy genre, isn’t it?

This novel wasn’t without such scenes, but…

The problem is…

‘The group has changed…’

Originally, the protagonist belonged to Group 1.

But now, he’s in Group 24 with me.

Considering the departure time and route…

Reaching the place where the mutant appears is practically impossible.

Unless I’m the leader, I can’t suddenly change the route.

‘Is there no other way?’

In this situation, I have no choice but to use my trump card.

[Magical Beast Pheromone (C)]

[Attracts the attention of magical beasts even from a distance.]

[EXP – 1,000]

[Would you like to purchase?]

‘Hurry up and give it to me.’

The points I’ve been saving up until now…

I’ve been keeping them because I wasn’t sure how to use them, but…

It’s time to put them to use.

“Let’s take a break. We need to catch our breath and quench our thirst.”

It had been three hours since we started wandering through the Forest of Magical Beasts.

Canua suggested we take a short break and sat down under the shade of a tree.

The other group members followed suit and settled down in suitable spots.

I also enjoyed a short rest, drinking water refreshingly.

Of course…

“Oops, sorry Ian, I tripped.”

“…It’s alright.”

I didn’t forget to apply the Magical Beast Pheromone to him while pretending it was an accident.

‘I wonder how effective it will be.’

Most of the items bought with EXP are unknowns.

I know roughly what kind of power the items mentioned or used in the original work possess, but…

Since this Magical Beast Pheromone was something I’d never seen before, I didn’t know its exact effects.

‘Well, it should attract them to some extent.’

I’m not hoping for a dramatic effect.

I just hope it attracts three times… no, even twice as many magical beasts as we’re encountering now.

Humming a tune as I walked through the Forest of Magical Beasts, I…

In just one hour, I couldn’t help but regret the atrocity I had committed.

.

.

.

.

.

“Holy shit!”

The corpses of magical beasts lay scattered around like pebbles.

The lush green forest had turned into an autumnal landscape, stained red with blood.

The thick, sticky scent of blood that pierced my nose was so strong it could paralyze the mind.

The rotting flesh polluted the air.

‘Damn that shop.’

One hour. Just one hour.

In that time, we encountered groups of magical beasts eight times.

A feast of battles that continued without a moment to breathe.

‘I was crazy. Completely crazy.’

Trying to raise the protagonist, I put myself in danger.

At this rate, forget the protagonist, even I’m going to die.

‘Couldn’t they have told me something like “appropriate amount for one-time use”?’

Was it a mistake to use half of it?

Or was the effect itself just that strong?

“Minerva! Contact the professors immediately!”

Terua Minerva, a first-year like Ian.

At Canua’s urgent voice…

“Y-yes!”

She tried to pour magic into the communication device given out for emergencies, but…

Crack

“Minervaaa!”

A magical beast that suddenly appeared from above crushed her head, and the communication device fell to the ground.

“Ugh… Gah…”

Minerva suffered a serious injury, her skull slightly caved in.

Fortunately, she seemed to be breathing, but if this continued, she would really die.

‘Damn it, this wasn’t my intention.’

I simply wanted to create a situation where the protagonist could grow.

So I used the pheromone, and the magical beasts appeared.

But there was one thing I overlooked.

‘This is a shitty world with no dreams or hope.’

The magical beast that attacked Minerva was quickly dealt with by Ian, but this was only temporary.

Soon, other magical beasts would swarm in.

“The communication device?”

“…”

The communication device that fell to the ground…

It was already shattered and broken.

“Damn it!”

Canua and Ian, who were fighting the magical beasts at the forefront…

They were already reaching their physical limits.

‘What do I do? What should I do?’

I have to find a way.

I can’t just sit here and wait for death.

As I bit my nails and racked my already overworked brain,

Rustle

I sensed a presence beyond the blood-soaked bushes.