Story

As Rienta and her companions approached the village, Frieren spotted a bird-like familiar, and a blatant, murderous Mana emanated from the nearby church.

Just as the group was about to slip away to discuss their plans, the bird-like familiar discovered their presence.

Helpless, Frieren could only deal with the bird familiar in the process.

After briefly assigning their tasks, Rienta other two rushed towards the church.

Stark was positioned at the church entrance to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to escape.

He waited at the door for quite a while, but there was no movement from inside the church.

'To be able to instantly eliminate three mages, including Fern and Rienta, and even Frieren, without them making a sound...'

Stark looked at the church doors that seemed to have turned into an abyss and let out a long breath.

Inside the church.

Fern explained to Methode why his group had come to this village.

"I see. So Miss Fern also accepted this mission."

"Because we happen to be located on the Northern Plateau."

Frieren offered an explanation and was about to ask for details when a red figure wielding Poleaxe kicked open the church door, accompanied by an angry shout.

"Fern, Frieren, Rienta, I've come to save you!"

Although Stark's hand holding the weapon trembled slightly, he still carefully observed the situation inside the church with a resolute expression.

But the atmosphere before him, which was completely different from what he had imagined and even somewhat harmonious, left him stunned.

"Huh?"

Outside the village.

Rienta stared silently at the wooden house before her.

A wooden house that remained intact in a village ravaged by Demons.

There was even a familiar fragrance wafting from inside.

It's twice-cooked pork, stir-fried over high heat until slightly charred and fragrant; it's dry-pot pork ribs and potato slices, the kind with less Sichuan peppercorns...

Why am I here? And why am I thinking about cooking?

After leaving the church, Rienta originally intended to wait a while before informing Stark, since the situation had indeed been somewhat awkward.

Before I knew it, I had arrived here.

Rienta, whose thoughts were becoming increasingly confused, realized something was wrong, just as he was about to mobilize his Mana.

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out.

"Rienta, I've gone to all this trouble to come all this way, you're not just jealous of my cooking and want to cook for me, are you?"

"?"

Rienta paused, "What do you mean 'jealous of your cooking skills,' Red Egg?!"

Just then, the door to the cabin opened.

Wearing an apron, L996 Rienta tossed Rienta a piece of clothing and then said, "What are you standing there for? Come and help cook a couple of dishes."

After saying that, she ignored Rienta, who was still standing there in a daze, and went back inside to busy herself.

Feeling dizzy and lightheaded Rienta subconsciously looked at the clothes in her hands.

It's the same apron worn by someone who looks exactly like you.

However, the shirt he was wearing had "L996" printed on it.

The apron in her hand was printed with the number L464.

Rienta didn't understand, but since Frieren wasn't in immediate danger...

Lost in thought, Rienta had already entered the wooden house.

The entire wooden house vanished as if erased by an eraser.

At this time.

Upon entering the wooden cabin, Rienta's thoughts suddenly cleared, but various questions also arose.

"Stop spacing out! This cabin can block out the Rules, so you won't experience what just happened again. Come help me."

L996 Rienta was busy in the kitchen, and seeing that Rienta was still standing there in a daze, she urged her to hurry up.

"Coming, coming."

Rienta replied instinctively, then walked into the kitchen with a black line on her forehead.

There's no reason to invite guests to dinner and then expect them to cook for themselves.

However, I still have a lot of questions to ask this guy later, so I'll just go along with him for now.

After a busy period.

The six dishes and one soup were finally served on the table.

The two sat facing each other.

Seeing that L996 Rienta Rienta up her rice and started eating by herself.

This is rice that he specially cultivated.

After all, he had to do something while he was left alone in this world.

"Hey, why did you eat first?"

Rienta looked helplessly at L996, who had already started eating.

L996 Rienta was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled and said:

I thought you didn't have an appetite.

"Don't be shy, please."

Rienta was furious for a moment, then stopped talking and ate the food in front of her with a vicious glare.

If it weren't for his previous experience, he would definitely have taught this Rienta a lesson.

Having a wooden house that can isolate him from the influence of the Rules makes him far beyond his current ability to defeat.

After the meal.

Inside the living room.

Rienta sipped her tea contentedly, showing no trace of her earlier hesitation.

After all, this guy was the one who approached him first, and if he wasn't in a hurry, why should he be?

Looking at Rienta's pretentious pose, L996 Rienta smiled helplessly.

As a fellow Rienta, how could he not know what the person in front of him was thinking?

But his world had already vanished.

"Rienta, do you think you're the main character?"

"What's the meaning?"

Rienta looked at L996 Rienta with a puzzled expression, who had been smiling just moments before but was now expressionless.

L996 Rienta didn't explain directly, but instead looked at the apron hanging by the kitchen door and said softly:

"In the story of 'Rienta,' my number is L996. You should have encountered other Rienta setups before. That guy is a contemporary [Supreme Rank], number L163."

"So, my number is... L464?"

"Um."

Rienta with a hint of exasperation, "Don't tell me there's going to be Central Finite Curve, is there?"

No, not at all.

"That's good."

That's good?

L996 Rienta chuckled softly and asked the question again.

"Rienta, do you think you're the main character?"

Rienta suddenly remembered the question that L163 Rienta had asked Heiterge to ask her in L163.

'Rienta, are you satisfied with your life so far?'

The question asked is very similar to the one posed by Rienta in front of me.

But they seem completely different.

Time traveler.

Both parents are deceased.

Golden finger.

Guided by a millennium-old spirit.

He's practically the perfect protagonist template.

Just like it was all planned out.

A movie title suddenly flashed through Rienta's mind.

A myriad of thoughts flooded my mind.

A moment later.

Rienta calmly put down her cup, turned her gaze to the other Rienta who looked exactly like her, and said softly:

"First and foremost, I am, of course, the main character."

"Secondly, I'm not the protagonist who follows your script."

"Don't forget, I'm also Rienta."

By the time she finished speaking, Rienta's tone was unmistakably chilling.

Even though Rienta's strength far surpasses his own, and even though he is currently within Rin'en Tower's domain.

Rienta has been researching [Domain Magic] for a long time.

In addition, given what L996 Rienta had said earlier about the wooden house being able to isolate the Rules, she already had some suspicions in her mind.

But this Rienta in front of me is actually face to face.

It's important to know that [Supreme Rank] Rienta's L163 only communicates with herself thanks to [Water Mirror Demon] and Heiterge.

Regardless of what means the person in front of me used to achieve this, it is something I cannot contend with in my current state.

But just as Rienta said.

He is the protagonist.

He is definitely the main character.

Feeling exhilarated after achieving a state of clarity, Rienta stood up.

But there was no time to sing it.

L966 Rienta interrupted the spellcasting.

"It's time for you to go."

As soon as she finished speaking, an intricate magic circle suddenly appeared beneath Rienta's feet.

Upon seeing this, Rienta's expression changed, and the quote that was brewing in her mind transformed into a beautiful greeting.

"L996, you..."

With a flash of white light, Rienta disappeared from the wooden house.

L996 Rienta was left alone inside the wooden house.

There are two cups of tea on the table.

One cup was half left over from L464 Rienta's drinking, and the tea in the cup rippled.

One of the cups was one that L996 Rienta hadn't had a chance to drink yet; it was as flat as a frozen lake.

L996 Rienta chuckled softly and murmured:

"As expected of Rienta, who is only a teenager, although her mind has been somewhat affected by the Rules because of my appearance."

"But wild enough."

"This is how Rienta should be."

"However, those who think they can act tough with me are still too green."

"But you are the protagonist of L464, and I am also the protagonist of L996."

"L163 is also a [Supreme Rank] rank user."

"But so what?"

"I'm still all alone."

Can a protagonist who has nothing still be considered a protagonist?

Will you be the protagonist of the story [Rienta]?