The Protagonist Doesn’t Want to Feel Pain!

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING, TRASH?!” her voice shrieked, like glass shattering in everyone’s ear.

I was still half collapsed on top of her, blinking like my body had totally shut off. Words couldn’t even start to describe the level of embarrassment flooding me. My skin felt like it was searing off, as if I'd fallen onto a stove—not onto the actual bust of the most dangerous noble in the country.

Of course she didn’t just stand there screaming—she actually slapped me. But, like, she missed me and hit the air instead.

I shot up, twisting my torso back.

HA! Even though it’s not my original body, my mind still remembers how to dodge! Bless you, Teodoro, for dragging me to those classes.

Still… those eyes… total nightmare fuel.

“I‑I didn’t mean to, I swear! I tripped! The boots! The floor! Your hostile vibes! Karma! Whatevs!” I blurted.

The prince was barely containing his laughter. He brought his hand to his mouth like it might make him look serious, but his golden eyes were lit, like he’d just witnessed the funniest show of the month.

“You’re hilarious! Kathryn Adelheid, wanna grab dinner together later?”

Carlotta’s expression shifted from disbelief to disgust the moment her fiancé spoke. Can you blame her? Who’d like their fiancé flirting with someone else like it’s totally normal?

Then that idiot winked at me and blew a kiss…

“OMG, I’m dead!” I screamed internally. How can this guy look more interested in me?!

And here I am, doing all this exactly to avoid getting into his route or making him like Kathryn. Otherwise—I would’ve never done that! I’m not a freak! I didn’t even like it…?

But the System wasn’t gonna let my dignity off that easy. Just then, another shiny notification floated in front of my eyes:

[Mission Complete! You’ve unlocked a new exclusive scene with Carlotta Von Wiebke  +20 Protagonist Points]

“Exclusive scene?!” I thought. That wasn’t in the game. What does that even mean?

Whatever it means... it can’t be good. Nothing involving these loons ends well.

Okay, time for a classic strategic retreat.

Or as I prefer to call it: tail-between-legs escape—literally and figuratively.

I took a step back, my boots clacking against the polished marble hallway as I watched Carlotta’s pale hands come together as if to applaud, then point.

I’m no expert—hell I’ve only played this game half a day—but even I know what that pose means.

“Valak,” she said in that syrupy sweet voice, her smile looking like absolute perfume‑drenched death—a killer with glitter.

“I’m going to give you a proper punishment, bargain‑bin Nen. Piercing Blood.”

Crimson symbols lit up the backs of her hands, reddish squares pulsing like neon lights on an abandoned street. In the center of each was a geometric droplet silhouette.

The tattoo spun around her wrists like a ballerina dancing, and at her fingertips formed a crimson orb. Vibrant. Deadly. Exactly lipstick‑shade.

“Carlotta, stop!” Kaelvarion cut in with a warning note, but she didn’t flinch.

“I apologize, Your Highness,” she replied sharply, “but this girl’s insolence has crossed all boundaries. I must reclaim my honor.”

And then she cast the spell.

The crimson orb shot toward me, leaving shimmering droplets like poisoned rose petals in its wake.

It was headed straight for my face! Like I was some carnival target.

But... my muscles moved on their own.

Like Kathryn’s body had a built-in memory, my back arched in a perfect curve, dodging the attack with precision I couldn’t pull off in my real body—even in my wildest dreams.

...What the hell was that? Instinct? Main-character reflex? No. It was pure fear.

Fear of dying. Again.

Seriously, my body actually felt the threat so real?! So it did aim to kill me!

“Are you out of your damn mind?!” I yelled as I straightened. “That was about to blow a freaking hole in my face!!”

A crowd had gathered behind the nobles. Of course nobody stepped in—they just stared like vultures.

Welcome to the circus. The clown’s on stage.

“Don’t make a scene,” Carlotta said with an arrogant smile. “It’s not like this body’s winning any beauty contests…”

Ouch. Even though that’s a lie. Objectively—it’s actually pretty. Perk of being the protagonist, I guess.

“I must disagree,” Kaelvarion stepped forward in smooth, deliberate steps. He grabbed my waist confidently and leaned in close. I’ll admit—Yoshikage can draw handsome guys. Too bad his personality ruined the package. “Lady Kathryn is very beautiful. Rivals the finest of the nobility, and I’m not exaggerating.”

Like I said—true. But I’m not giving credit to this creep.

“…Adelheid,” I sighed, trying to pry his hands off me. “I already told you. And seriously—could you not touch me like that? Thanks…”

I was about to drop the sarcasm when Carlotta’s gaze cut right through me like ice spikes. No need to see her face—her rage radiated, like a fire caged beneath porcelain.

And it wasn’t just her. Her clique behind her looked ready to drag me into a witch-hunt.

I immediately pushed the prince away and backed up.

“I think… I still owe you a few lessons on not flirting with other women’s fiancés,” Carlotta whispered, that elegant smile still intact.

“Wait, what?! How is that my fault?!”

Too late.

She raised her hands again.

I didn’t wait to see what spell she’d cast—I bolted down the hallway like the devil himself was chasing me.

“Fuck you, psycho!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, feeling another bloody orb shoot terrifyingly close to my face.

And just before I rounded the corner, I heard the prince’s soft, mocking laughter… that bastard.

“Come back here!! I’m not done with you yet!!”

“I FREAKING HATE THIS STUPID GAME!!!”

***

Think, think! How the hell do I get rid of this jealous, possessive psycho with murder tendencies?!

Okay, let’s see… what do I remember about her? Scanning the data bank of my brain... nothing useful. Just a couple of vague notes, like how she’s obsessed with perfection.

“Great job, Julia! Super helpful!” I scolded myself as I shoved past students, some of whom were already whispering as I ran by.

Luckily, Carlotta wasn’t completely unhinged yet—at least not enough to start blasting blood magic in the middle of a hallway full of innocent bystanders.

Still... I couldn’t keep running forever.

What do I do...? Wait.
Perfectionist. Obsessed with her flawless image. Maybe… maybe I can use that.

I spun around after weaving through a group of students, who now looked at me with a mix of awe and confusion.

“Hey! You psycho blonde freak!” I shouted over the murmurs. “If you keep chasing me, you’ll be late for class! You really gonna ruin your perfect attendance record over me?!”

Her face twisted into a sweet, murderous smile. If that’s even possible.

“Even more reason to catch you quickly,” she growled, her eyes lighting up like burning coals.
Right… that only poured gasoline on the fire.

But it gave me an idea.

Class. She can’t kill me there… right? Yeah. Sure. Definitely not. Hopefully.

“Come on, Kathryn’s memories—I choose you!” I muttered like I was summoning a Pokémon mid-battle.

And as if some part of me actually responded, the info came flooding in:
Cross the main courtyard. Then right. Second door.

Alright, let’s go!

A sizzling blast zipped past my ear.

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” I screamed, speeding up as my heart slammed against my ribs.

“OUT OF THE WAY, MORONS!!” I yelled at another group blocking the hallway. “A GORGEOUS GIRL IS BEING CHASED BY A PSYCHO JEALOUS NUTCASE!!”

At first, they just looked confused… until they saw who was chasing me.
Within seconds, they scattered like roaches—diving into lockers or flat-out bolting.

No judgment. I’d have done the same.

I burst through the door to the courtyard and spotted the polished tile corridor ahead. Sunlight poured through the stained-glass windows, warm and golden—utterly at odds with the current panic sprint vibe.

But I didn’t have time to admire the architecture.

Behind me, Carlotta stormed in like a hurricane, aiming both hands at me with an expression that screamed less “noble” and more “needs therapy ASAP.”

I bolted again… but pain exploded in my left heel.

I dropped to my knees with a groan, my palms scraping the floor.

A shadow fell over me. The shadow of death.

I turned, stomach clenching tight—visions of my murder flashing through my head.

But it wasn’t that psycho. It was Carlotta.
...Not that it made things any better. But at least it grounded me in this new reality.

Her flawless skin was glistening with sweat. Her perfect hairstyle somehow still held firm, and her smile… that smile was a damn sonnet of cruelty, wrapped in silk.

“Well… at... last...” she panted, chest heaving like she’d just cast a high-level spell.

Mental note for future survival: Kathryn’s body has way better stamina than Carlotta’s.

“You… wanna catch your breath? I’ll wait. No rush,” I tried to joke, even though my voice trembled.

“Don’t… be... condescending… you... commoner...” she inhaled deeply. “Okay… just... one sec…”

I tried crawling away, but a blood blast slammed into the floor inches from my hands.
I froze.

“You always get under my skin… You made me put on a whole damn show.”

“ME?! I didn’t ask you to chase me! Go bother your prince-boy-toy, that blond little—”

A second shot pierced through my left hand.

I screamed.

The pain was sharp, blinding—so intense I genuinely thought I might pass out.

“You may find this hard to understand,” Carlotta said sweetly, “but you really shouldn’t speak that way to someone clearly more skilled in magic.”

“You sounded better when you couldn’t ta—”

The next shot hit my shoulder.

My entire body convulsed, and I collapsed onto my side.

Blood soaked through my uniform—warm and thick.
Tears wanted to escape, but I swallowed them with pure rage.

Carlotta approached and knelt beside me with the elegance of a damn ballet dancer—like what she’d just done wasn’t horrific at all.

“That expression… yes, that one’s better,” she whispered. “That little grimace of pain suits you, Nen. Listen well: stay out of my way, got it? And please… fix your appearance before entering class.”

She stood and gently caressed my cheek like I was some unruly child.

Then she turned and walked away—graceful as a lead actress in a final act.

“Go to hell,” I muttered from the floor, barely audible between ragged breaths.

Carlotta paused.

“Excuse me? I thought I heard something…”

“Uh… nope. Probably a mosquito,” I said, voice shaking.

“Mmm… yes. A very stupid one, daring to annoy me while I’m in a bad mood. Your stench must’ve drawn it in.”

And with that, she left—her perfume and her threat lingering in the air.

“And what are you all looking at, huh? Never seen a gorgeous girl get beat up before?” I snapped at the bystanders who hadn’t lifted a finger to help.

***

“Quit whining already. I thought Nens were supposed to be tough. She didn’t even punch a hole through you. You’re just a crybaby,” said the nurse, as if I’d scraped my knee—not been shot with magic.

“No way! It felt like she stabbed me! And if I’m not hurt, then what the hell is all this blood?!” I protested, still shaking, clinging to the stretcher like my life depended on it. Because, well… it kind of did.

And yes: after the beating that psycho gave me, I somehow managed to drag myself to the infirmary like a dying soul. Literally. Not metaphorically.

“Lady Wiebke uses blood magic. That’s her blood, not yours,” the nurse replied blandly. “Now tell me—what’d you do this time to set off the ‘Sadistic Witch’?”

“What do you mean ‘what’d I do’?! This already happened before, Miss…?”

I left the sentence hanging, hoping she’d fill in the blank.

After all, in the game, this beautiful woman had exactly one name: Nurse. They didn’t even try.

“Seriously? Did Lady Wiebke hit you so hard it scrambled your brain? We met last week.”

“Right!” I replied with the fakest smile my face could manage. My cheeks hurt.

Come on, Kathryn. Give me something useful here.

…Ah. Nurse Carola.

Now I remembered. Petite, with a wrinkled white coat and a permanent cup of coffee in hand—more sarcastic than warm. Yup. That’s her.

“But it wasn’t my fault that time I dumped food on her… well, okay, that was my fault,” I admitted with a defeated sigh.

Kathryn—the original one—had been walking through the cafeteria, internally monologuing about how perfect one of the heroes was. She crashed into Carlotta. The rest is bloody history.

“Well, if you don’t want her torturing you again, stop provoking her.”

“Uh-huh. And what about her?”

“What about her?”

“Don’t play dumb! She shot me! Isn’t she getting suspended or something?!”

“…Good one. I’ll remind you her family donates half this academy’s funding.”

“Dammit!”

Another one of those wonderful otome world conveniences: can’t go to the teachers because they’re all butt-kissing the villainess’ family!

“Yeah, sucks for you. But it’s great for me. That’s where my salary comes from. Anyway, you’re fine. But if you wanna skip class, you can stay here and I’ll tell them you’re sobbing like a baby.”

“…Thanks. I guess.”

“Well, I’m off. Teacher meeting. Watch your back. And I mean that.”

As the door shut, silence filled the room. Silence… and my paranoia.

I sat up and looked at my bandages. I couldn’t trust what Carola had said.

That blast hurt like I’d been drilled through!

With shaking hands, I peeled off the bandage. I was bracing myself for a horror show—ripped flesh, exposed muscle, the whole gore-fest.
Honestly, the trauma of that night came rushing back.

But to my surprise… it was just red scrapes. Shallow ones.

“What the hell…?” I whispered, touching the raw skin. It was like the pain had been… fake. No—not fake. Just exaggerated. As if this body felt things way more than it should…

Shit, that’s right. This body is more sensitive. I’d forgotten in all the adrenaline.

Which means… if I keep getting into trouble, I’m gonna feel that level of pain again?!

“God, I never want to feel that again!” I covered my face with both hands, still trembling.

But that damn game… that damn System... was definitely going to put me through crap like this over and over.

I needed a fix. Something. Anything.

And as if it read my thoughts—because let’s be real, it totally did—the menu popped up in front of me, glowing with that soft, irritating light like spam you’re too tired to block.

[Protagonist Points System: 40 points available. Upgrades unlocked.]

“Forty? Wasn’t it twenty? Where’d the rest come from?”

[Protagonist Points are not earned just from completing quests. Any event considered ‘protagonist-like’ will grant points. Example: Mocking the Villainess +5.]

“…Okay, that’s stupid on so many levels. But it actually makes sense in this messed-up world.”

[Would you like to view the Upgrade Menu?]

“Yes! Show me!”

[Available Upgrades:]

Physical Magic: Vitality: 20 PP, Attack: 20 PP, Perception: 20 PP, Defense: 20 PP.

Creative Magic: Construction: 20 PP, Modification: 20 PP, Twisting: 20 PP, Taboo: 40 PP.

Manipulative Magic: Water: 25 PP, Fire: 20 PP, Ground: 20 PP, Air: 20 PP

(You can read the description of each one before confirming...)

The moment I saw that magic word, I didn’t hesitate.

“ALL INTO DEFENSE!”

[It is recommended to review the descriptions before—]

“DEFENSE! I DON’T NEED TO READ TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!”

[Would you like to consider the other opti—]

“DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE!” I yelled, practically chanting it like a national anthem.

There was a pause… a long… awkward one.

[…Very well. Defense assigned. Defense has increased to Level 1!]

“HAHAHA! Hear me, you weird thing that only shows up whenever it feels like it!”

[Yes!] the menu replied instantly.

“All my Protagonist Points are going into Defense, got it? All of them! If I max that stat out, nothing will ever hurt me again! HAHAHA I’m a genius!”

[…It is still recommended that you—]

“DEFENSE!”

[…Understood… Defense will now be set as your automatic priority…]

I stared at the menu for another second, and for some reason… the tone of its text?
It felt disappointed.

Wait… is that even possible?
Did I just disappoint something without emotions?

…Shoot.