I was Reincarnated as an Incompetent Leader with Zero Popularity who met his downfall early on. Instead of banishing the hidden cheat Protagonist, I decided to embrace him, and somehow, I ended up being treated like a Hero instead. - Chapter 19

I watched the fireball forming in Mian’s palm, desperately trying to think.

Here’s a quiz: why am I about to be killed by a party member?

Because Mian is a dangerously unstable woman?
Because there’s absolutely no trust between us?
Because horrifying monsters like “brain parasites” apparently exist in this world?

All of the above. But that’s not the whole story.

It’s because I’m not acting like Alva.

You’re supposed to be Alva.

There’s no way I’m going to let someone like Mian kill me over something so absurd as not being myself.

A venomous voice echoed in my chest, and before I knew it, the words spilled out.

“Do you really think any party would take in a walking disaster like you after I’m gone?”

Even if they did, you’d either get kicked out immediately or storm off on your own.

I sneered, looking down on her as if she were beneath me.

The cold, murderous intent in her eyes evaporated, replaced by a flush of burning anger.

Was this the right move? My nerves were screaming, but a detached part of me remained eerily calm, as if whispering, This is how you deal with her.

“What did you just say!?”

“All high and mighty about being a noble, yet you gorge yourself like a pig. You look down on others, but you can’t even take care of yourself. No wonder neither men nor women can stand you—Mian, the self-proclaimed noblewoman.”

My voice was dripping with contempt. The flames in her hand vanished, and in their place, her white palm struck my cheek with full force.

In response, I shoved her lightly, almost instinctively.

Her small frame collided with the table, knocking the plate of pastries to the floor.

Violence met with violence, as naturally as breathing. This was Alva Grayblood.

“…Die. I hope you get eaten alive by monsters and die miserably,” she spat, her curses vicious and unrelenting.

For a moment, my instincts told me to grovel and apologize, but I resisted.

Right now, I am Alva. Acting like Alva is the only way forward.

I forced myself to embrace this role, shifting my focus to that of the brash, red-haired swordsman.

Without thinking, I grabbed her chin roughly and tilted her head up before pressing my lips to hers. The motion was so natural, it felt as simple as picking up a fallen receipt.

Wait—does this body have an unnaturally quick hand when it comes to women?

Though I thought about it as if it were someone else’s problem, the truth was that every action was my own.

In Mian’s violet eyes, I could see myself reflected—the very image of Alva Grayblood.

“You… always jump to this, you stupid dog…”

The Mian who had been raging just moments ago suddenly quieted. Even her sharp voice now carried a faintly coquettish tone.

Her flushed cheeks spoke of a different kind of heat, and her moist eyes made her emotions clear.

But I couldn’t understand. Weren’t we supposed to hate each other?

In my novel, Mian and Alva had parted ways after a failed quest, their bickering ending in a clean break.

Yet, Alva’s body seemed to know what Mian was expecting next.

“Hey… why don’t we go to my room?”

When she pouted like that, she suddenly seemed like an entirely different person—almost endearing.

Was this my sentiment as Takumi Haimura, or Alva’s reaction?

Regardless, this wasn’t the time for it. I had come to confront her about Chrono’s injuries, not to indulge in something else entirely.

But if I went along with her now, would it keep me safe?

On the other hand, rejecting her might get me labeled a “monster” again, and this time, she might actually roast me alive.

As her soft body pressed against mine, I hesitated, neither pulling her closer nor pushing her away.

“Alva? What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Alva…?”

Mian’s annoyed voice and Chrono’s hesitant tone reached me almost simultaneously.