I Became a Squinty-Eyed Character with Time Stop Ability.

Eris Betelgeuse.
According to the game’s setting, she’s a 17-year-old pipsqueak with a height of 150cm, flat-chested, and has golden hair.
However, unlike her small appearance, her magical skills were not to be underestimated.
As one of the three main heroines, her character settings, or rather, her specs were top-notch.
‘She’s even stronger than the protagonist in the early chapters until Episode 3.’
Eris Betelgeuse is one of the few seers in the “Apocalypse LoveCom” universe who can communicate with constellations.
She’s a magician who awakened the Star Power of Orion, and simultaneously a disciple of the Great Mage.
Among the three heroines, she’s the only one who can be immediately deployed at full power.
Until the 100th bad ending, I frequently used her to get through the early episodes.
‘It took her the longest to fully awaken, so I stopped using her later, but just looking at where we are now, she’s excellent.’
I had doubts about whether she was beautiful enough to have followers, but there was no disagreement that she was an outstanding magician.
Yes, at the age of seventeen, this level of skill is quite impressive.
Perhaps it was because she was such an excellent magician that she sensed something off about what just happened.
“…You just now…huh?”
Eris Betelgeuse frowned and tilted her head.
I thought she might have noticed what happened, but it seems she wasn’t entirely certain.
She didn’t see my movements with her naked eyes, but rather felt a vague disturbance in the flow of energy.
It was understandable that she’d be confused.
‘How could you explain a moment when time slowed down?’
Personal time has always been inconsistent.
It crawls like a slug when doing something boring, but races faster than a Shinkansen when doing something enjoyable.
If you asked someone to count ten minutes with their eyes closed, few people would get it exactly right.
Somehow it felt like time flowed slowly when I turned my head. The distance to the person at the end of the corridor seemed to have suddenly shortened.
A sensation that would normally be dismissed as an illusion.
And indeed, that’s often the case.
However, the blonde pipsqueak before me was more suspicious than most curious magicians, and she soon narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
“You, what did you just do?”
Oh dear, I did a good deed by saving someone, but being interrogated like this isn’t pleasant.
More accurately, I should say it feels unfair.
Feeling indignant to the point of breathlessness, I shrugged and answered.
“Nothing much, I just saw our fellow student about to fall, so I quickly ran over and caught her. I was really scared that something serious might happen.”
“…You don’t look surprised at all. Just tell me honestly, are you perhaps related to our side…”
“Ugh.”
The blonde magician Eris stopped questioning me when she suddenly heard a sound.
Perhaps the pain arrived when the tension eased, as the female student grabbed her ankle and groaned.
It seemed she had properly twisted her ankle while going down the stairs while only looking at the yellow back of someone’s head.
The followers, who apparently knew each other already, made a fuss over the groaning female student.
“Oh my, Sawako. Are you okay?”
“Miss Sawako, are you in much pain?”
“Goodness, so careless… Shouldn’t we stop by the infirmary for some pain patches?”
“…No, I’m fine.”
Perhaps it wasn’t a serious injury after all.
The female student, with a frown around her eyes, barely managed to regain her balance by holding onto the stair railing.
Then she immediately bowed her head to me.
“Thank you. I was momentarily distracted… but thanks to you, I only ended up with a sprained leg. I’m truly grateful.”
Goodness, what a proper young lady.
I decided to think of her not as just another follower, but as ‘Sawako’ from now on.
I waved my hands dismissively and said:
“Oh, why say such things! It’s only natural to help fellow students.”
“Still…”
“If it’s really weighing on your mind, just greet me kindly the next time we meet.”
“Ah, yes.”
Upon hearing those words, the female student smiled brightly, her pain seemingly gone.
I too shook off the indignation in my heart and displayed a gentle smile on my face.
When the atmosphere becomes this warm, it becomes difficult to interrogate someone.
“…Hmm.”
After observing the situation for a moment, the blonde magician and boss of the followers, Eris, cleared her throat with a “ahem” and slightly bowed her head to me.
“…Thank you for saving our Sawako.”
“Ahaha, don’t mention it.”
Finally, proper etiquette is being observed.
I nodded with satisfaction and graciously accepted her thanks.
‘Fortunately, I got through that well.’
As if I didn’t have enough to deal with, for some reason, a pink-haired yandere has been clinging to me.
It would be troublesome if Eris became suspicious on top of already having my hands full with Sawamura Sento.
Thankfully, I managed to get past that dangerous moment due to Sawako’s timely assist.
‘Is Hotaru the only one who has no suspicions?’
If that’s the case, I should at least make sure that the Fire Priestess, Ichinose Hotaru, doesn’t discover any of my little secrets—I reaffirmed this to myself.
After lunch ended, I returned to the classroom and attended classes alongside Sento. During breaks, I chatted with Kenichi and Hotaru, who sat in front of me.
Sawamura Sento, who had seemed like she might do something, surprisingly attended class without any issues.
“Ah, sorry. My eraser fell over there… could you pick it up for me?”
“Ahaha, of course I’ll pick it up when my seat partner asks for help!”
“Oh, and that pen that rolled next to it too.”
“Haha, it seems my seat partner tends to drop things often!”
“Ah, another mistake.”
She kept dropping things on the floor, perhaps wanting to make conversation with me, but fortunately, nothing else happened.
‘I was worried something might happen, but thankfully not.’
The Ancient Weapon, Sawamura Sento.
Her ability doesn’t purely manifest through her own will, but involves so many unpredictable variables that it’s rather dangerous.
Like a nuclear bomb that could detonate anytime, anywhere.
Since I had unintentionally lit the fuse without even realizing it, I needed to keep a watchful eye on her.
‘After the protagonist’s awakening, she doesn’t help much with episode progression for a while…’
It’s better to be vigilant than to rely solely on the protagonist (laughs) who might trigger a bad ending at any moment.
“Oops, dropped it again.”
Sawamura Sento, professional abandoner of school supplies. Need to keep an eye on her.
“But the important thing is this, right?”
Perhaps we had gotten somewhat closer today.
After school ended, I walked home with Kenichi and Hotaru, who sat in front of me.
Eventually, our paths diverged…
“Shiki! See you tomorrow!”
“Ichimaru-kun! See you at school tomorrow!”
The protagonist Kitagawa Kenichi and the Fire Priestess, Ichinose Hotaru.
In the evening shadows, they waved goodbye to me with bright smiles.
I too waved my hand above my head with a grinning smile.
“Yes, see you tomorrow! Everyone!”
No matter how unremarkable, they’re still the original game’s protagonist and his childhood friend.
Very important figures in a world that’s soon to face destruction.
I’ve been thinking about it all along, but was secretly worried since this crappy game has no rehearsals.
“I’m so relieved.”
There’s probably a limit to how much intimacy can develop with someone you just met today, but I think this level of progress is successful.
We ate together and walked home together, so we must be friends now.
Yes, it’s an achievement worth celebrating.
“Maybe I should buy some cake as a reward for my hard work.”
My mood quickly improved, and I headed to a bakery on my way back to what I’d call my home, or rather, my hideout.
With the decent amount of money I’ve saved up, I can afford this kind of small celebration.
“Whipped cream… no, chocolate cake would be good. Or maybe cheesecake?”
In the midst of such happy deliberations, my sharp senses suddenly detected an unpleasant birth of a presence.
“Hmm.”
Looking up, I saw the sunset disappearing in the distance and the sky gradually darkening.
Evening and night are times when ghosts and yokai run wild.
At least in this world, that’s how it is.
“Oh dear, it seems something has come up.”
If a disappearance were to occur in my neighborhood, I’d be too uncomfortable to sleep.
Reluctantly, I headed into an alley to resolve this selfish discomfort.
Into the shadowy darkness that didn’t even properly receive the sunset light.
As I pushed deeper into the darkness, the murderous intent (殺意) I felt grew increasingly intense.
If an ordinary citizen felt this pressure, they probably couldn’t even breathe properly, but no one else seemed to notice.
“Indeed, it’s a matter of consciousness, isn’t it?”
In the “Apocalypse LoveCom” universe, ghosts and yokai exist, but ordinary people can’t sense them.
Only those with innate spiritual power or those who have awakened supernatural abilities—the “related individuals”—can recognize monsters.
Well, if everyone passing by on the street could see them, it wouldn’t be special at all, and game progression would be difficult.
As a gamer, I think it’s a convenient setting.
“Well, it makes my job easier too.”
Is this what you call a win-win?
Strictly speaking, I’ve been unilaterally assigned to save this world, but I don’t mind.
Honestly, each of these dangerous moments has been enjoyable lately.
“But if I get home late, the landlord will worry, so let’s handle this quickly.”
I drew a small knife from my chest and approached the monster deep in the alley.
There are many gyukatsu and beef grilling specialty restaurants nearby; perhaps this is a collection of their vengeful spirits.
A monster with a cow’s head—well, I’ll just call it a Minotaurus.
It spotted me and immediately shouted:
—Uwooeoeoeoeoe!!!!
It roared.