It Seems I've Been Reincarnated As A Mob Character In An Otome Game World, But The Prince Dropped Out Before It Even Started - Episode 16

There were various things that happened since morning, but the First Prince and his entourage safely (?) left the royal capital.

The black cars that were lined up in a row of nine split into groups of three along the way and headed in three different directions.

To distract the people sent by the Empress who will be chasing after us.

Um, the poisoned cookie that the cashier stepped on and crushed into pieces.

The empress will probably not find it amusing once she learns the details.

That’s why harassment will come. Definitely. Taking out his frustration is his specialty.

Lord Cedi is running two sets of dummies, but for some reason, I’m also riding in the winning car.

To be precise, Cedi-sama and Josh ended up in the same car.

Since the preliminary meeting was conducted by the subordinate, it seems to be to deepen the friendship between the two who are meeting for the first time.

However, Josh threw a tantrum wanting to be by my side, so I ended up riding along with him at the last minute.

They say there’s a fine line between genius and madness, but Josh threw a tantrum, not wanting to be separated to the point of regressing to a childlike state.

It had been a really long time since we last met.

In the morning, he stuck to me during lunch, but by the afternoon, he finally seemed to settle down and sat next to me normally.

The seating arrangement in the car is Cedi-sama and Ian-sama facing forward. Opposite Cedi-sama is Joshua, and next to him is me.

The front-facing seats in a car are interesting in terms of past life memories, but since this is a world of otome games where carriages are still in use, it’s normal to sit facing each other inside.

“Ah, that damn woman was talking about the ‘Dragon Saintess,’ huh?”

“Let’s stop with the bitching, okay? Joshua, just like that person.”

That person whose name I must not say (since I haven’t received permission to call them by name). I always refer to them as the villainess in my mind.

Joshua nods with pursed lips at my educational guidance.

Adorable gestures that only a girl could pull off. But even so, I’m still called the leading expert in dragon research in the Kingdom of Cunningham.

It seems that we will be taken care of by Lady Cedi, who has secluded herself in Lakewood for her lifelong work of studying dragon ecology.

Lakewood, located on the border of Cunningham Country, is famous as a dragon’s habitat, but it’s also a royal retreat (with some issues). Only those with connections are allowed to enter.

Josh will be able to gain a patron, and Master Cedi will be able to welcome the renowned Dr. Irving as a guest, creating a win-win situation.

But according to Joshua, he wouldn’t have bothered to help me if I weren’t Lord Cedi’s subordinate.

I decided because I can legally be with “my younger brother,” she told me sweetly and cutely.

Hmm, no matter how you look at it, he’s an adorable boy in girl’s clothes.

Her tsundere attitude and sharp tongue are so impressive that no one dares to underestimate her, so as a family member, I feel relieved.

Well, since this morning was the first time Cedi and Josh met, they have been actively interacting since the morning to get to know each other’s personalities directly.

And the conversation had shifted to the dragon research that Josh was majoring in.

With his red eyes sparkling with the light of wisdom, Josh, showing a mature expression befitting his actual age, began to explain.

“I’ve already published it as a paper, but I’ll explain it briefly.”

Dragons probably have no interest in humans, or they might even dislike them, right?

“But actually, they show interest in humans who meet certain conditions. In folklore, these humans are called ‘Dragon Maiden,’ and in the temple, they are referred to as ‘Dragon Saint.'”

“It’s an episode straight out of a fairy tale.”

“It wasn’t a fairy tale, Prince.”

With a sly grin, Josh chuckles mischievously.

“Indeed, dragons sometimes show interest in humans under certain conditions and may even exhibit affection.”

I have elucidated those conditions. At this point, it’s merely a hypothesis, but I intend to demonstrate it in Lakewood, the dragon’s habitat, where we can collect many samples.

“What are the conditions?”

“Virgin”

Huh?

What kind of fairy tale setting is that?

I couldn’t help but stare intently at Josh. However, the young genius looked at Master Cedi with a calm gaze.

Virgin. Or virgin.

The condition is that it doesn’t matter whether the person is male or female, or whether they are the same s3x or the opposite s3x; they must be inexperienced.

It seems that they judge beings who have never had s3x as “children” and consider them as objects of protection. We haven’t figured out how they determine whether someone is inexperienced or experienced yet, though.

The dragon takes care of a “pure-hearted child” it likes, just like it would with its own kind, and tries to fulfill their wishes if they have any.

There are legends in various places about dragons raising abandoned children, but I suspect those are true stories――.

Lord Cedi frowned and fell deep in thought.

“In other words.”

If it’s a person who hasn’t experienced it yet, could it be that, in extreme cases, they might be able to control a dragon at will?

Congratulations, Prince.

The day when the Dragon Knights will be formed in the Cunningham Kingdom might be near.

Returning to his smirking, Josh shrugged and said, “Well, for now, it’s still just speculation.”

“First, we need to start by securing personnel who can be used for verification.”

Most humans, especially young children, would be too frightened by dragons to communicate.

It would be ideal to have subjects who can maintain their composure in front of a dragon, but most of the people who have undergone such training are already experienced…

Ian-sama is staring at me intently. His gaze is unsettling.

Noticing that Cedi-sama was unaware, Josh asked, “Excuse me, but…”

“Are you saying that you and the members of your lab cannot verify it?”

“That’s right. Everyone had already done what they needed to do.”

I originally came from the slums, but I thought I shouldn’t have sold myself for a pittance. Well, I got beaten up badly due to trouble with a customer, but it was through that incident that I met Alexis, so I don’t regret it.

You can’t say that, Joshua! The world of otome games is getting further away again!

When I was really young, I lived in a world that was too real.

Joshua was—probably gang-raped, subjected to all sorts of other violence, and then thrown away like garbage.

Such a situation, can it really be associated with a pure and righteous otome game?! I believed I had been reincarnated into a world of demons until I saw the opening scenery!

I feel relieved that the person I comforted while crying and dragged back to the orphanage doesn’t care about the past at all now.

“Dr. Irving”

Ian-sama opened his mouth while keeping his gaze fixed on me.

“Regarding the verification of the dragon’s reaction, I wonder if Alexis Irving over there could assist.”

“Huh?”

“Because he is a virgin.”

Ian-samaーーー！！！

Hugh?! Are you hearing this from Hugh?!

Before that, I’m a man! I’m not a “virgin”!!