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 23

Mian, whose magic had been sealed, was unexpectedly quiet.

She neither flailed her limbs in a disgraceful tantrum nor tried to curry favor with us by suddenly changing her behavior.

Her calm demeanor, coupled with her persistently pale complexion, led me to inform her that the magic seal would automatically lift after a certain amount of time.

“That doesn’t mean you should try anything foolish. If needed, I can just seal your magic again.”

And next time, I won’t stop at just sealing it.

When I showed her my sword in its sheath, she nodded silently.

“Alva, you don’t need to go that far…”

“Come on, I’m being lenient here. She tried to burn me alive. This is nothing.”

I retorted lightly to Chrono’s comment.

But still, showing concern for someone who nearly killed you? Is that what makes a hero?

As I looked down at the girl staring worriedly at Mian, I realized once again—I’m not suited to be the protagonist.

“You’re too soft, Chrono. Honestly, Alva, I thought you’d at least knock all her teeth out.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t do something like that to a woman…”

“You would. It’s you we’re talking about.”

Mian’s confident assertion was terrifying. And honestly, the thought of her having been in some kind of relationship with such a dangerous person was equally unsettling.

True, I had modeled Alva’s appearance after a male idol.

But does having a good face and body really mean women will accept even the worst personalities?

Disappointed, I also felt guilty for somewhat understanding the reverse dynamic.

“For some reason, I’m just thankful you’re not acting like your usual self.”

The witch undid her signature twin tails, brushing her golden hair with a comb as if the messy state bothered her.

As she did so, she seamlessly transformed into a mature, stunning woman.

There was no need for her to intentionally dress in such a childish style.

But I kept that thought to myself.

There’s a difference between what suits someone and what they want to wear.

Even Chrono, though her plain male disguise doesn’t look bad, would undoubtedly be far more beautiful adorned with flowers and dressed in a gown.

Though it wasn’t exactly penance, I decided then and there to buy her proper clothes.

It was thanks to Chrono’s magic seal that I was still alive. A bit of indulgence seemed reasonable.

However, considering that the black-haired girl referred to herself with boku, she might not even have a desire to dress up as a woman.

While I mulled over this, Mian unexpectedly suggested her own departure.

“Alva, I tried to kill you, the leader, and I lost to Chrono. If I leave all my money and go, that should suffice, right?”

“Wait, that’s…”

I hadn’t anticipated this. It was supposed to be Chrono getting expelled, not Mian.

Admittedly, in the novel, Mian parted ways with Alva after a fight following Chrono’s expulsion.

Her role was to separate from Alva one way or another.

Frankly, her absence would make things easier.

Mian, while a skilled mage and a beauty, was selfish, hysterical, and dangerous. She recklessly wielded fire magic as a means of violence.

If not for Chrono’s magic seal, she could very well have killed me this time.

Mian also seemed to have a special attachment to Alva Grayblood.

Even though she was calm now, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t consider me a monster who had stolen Alva’s body and attempt to kill me again.

I wasn’t the Alva she cared about. I wasn’t completely different, but I wasn’t the same either.

“Mian… I don’t want that. We’re comrades, aren’t we?”

“I’ve never considered you a comrade.”

Chrono tried to stop her, but Mian shut her down with a single sentence.

Why does she hate the black-haired girl so much?

As I pondered this, Chrono, undeterred, began trying to convince Mian.

“But Mian, when I said I wanted to find Alva, you helped me, didn’t you?”

“What?”

That was news to me. I couldn’t help but react in surprise.

Sure, I’d heard that I had gone missing for about a week.

But for Chrono to search for me—someone who had treated her like a slave—and for the notoriously lazy Mian to help?

“And when I got injured taking on an unfamiliar frontline role, you let me rest in Alva’s room, didn’t you?”

“That was… that was just to annoy that redhead! He absolutely hates having someone else’s scent in his bed!”

Mian pointed at me as she said this.

Ah, so that’s why.

Now that I thought about it, Mian had mentioned that she and the others had taken on Alva’s solo missions.

Perhaps they considered the possibility that I had encountered trouble during my solo adventures and decided to search for me.

If that were the case, could the other three members who weren’t at the base also be out looking for me?

In reality, I had simply been at the temple, drinking with the goddess and listening to her complaints. The sheer guilt of the situation made me want to run away.

“But I know Mian was worried about you, Alva. I was surprised when she almost burned me, but…”

It just means she has strong feelings for Alva, doesn’t it?

Chrono interpreted Mian’s actions in the most positive way possible, speaking to her earnestly. Once again, I couldn’t help but think, That’s what makes a protagonist.

Although the blonde witch looked genuinely displeased at Chrono’s words regarding her supposed feelings, she still didn’t lash out.