Chapter 102

The Haeundae terror incident essentially ended the moment Busan Girl suffered defeat. The unidentified terrorists suddenly vanished from in front of Erica’s group, and no matter how desperately the remnants of Busan Girl’s forces resisted, there was no way they could overcome Erica’s group.

Busan Branch, which had been formally invited, ultimately shared various stories with Erica’s group, who had subdued Busan Girl’s rebellion without significant losses.

One of the stories revealed that the Haeundae terror incident was closer to an attack rather than an act of terrorism.

The merchants in Haeundae had already evacuated due to Busan Girl’s forces, and the same went for the people living and working there.

While Busan Girl was known as someone who would not hesitate to harm others to achieve her goals, it also meant that Busan Girl was the one who ensured the evacuation so that the people of Busan would not be harmed during their attack.

This attack, which ended without anyone getting hurt, ultimately had a rather mild conclusion due to the weakness in Busan Girl’s resolve. Thus, it wasn’t entirely accurate to call it a terrorist event.

Erica was able to confirm that the only potential victim of the incident—her junior—had managed to contact her after reaching the branch.

“Hello? Can you hear me, senior? I barely avoided the collapsing building debris, so my leg is slightly injured. I might return a bit late. Please don’t worry about me too much, and go back first.”

Though the junior mentioned being injured, her playful tone made it clear she wasn’t severely hurt; otherwise, she wouldn’t have had the energy to maintain such a lighthearted demeanor. Therefore, Erica’s concern for her junior was alleviated.

Busan Girl, who had been the main heroine from the Busan team—what would become of her now that she had lost her qualification as the main heroine?

Erica only felt a strange emotion about Busan Girl before walking out of the branch and heading toward their accommodation.

Not everyone wanted to return to the accommodation like Erica. There was a budding journalist taking Kim Ha-neul somewhere, saying they would explore the area since things were almost over. Han Ye-seul said her throat hurt, so she would stop by the pharmacy before heading back. Though Erica didn’t care much where people like them went.

“Looks like I’m the only one left, huh?”

As Erica was about to enter the accommodation, Inna was the only one left by her side. Though Erica’s group noticed that Student Council President and the Former Queen weren’t entirely pleased, they didn’t interfere with Inna’s presence.

The Former Queen had relied on her faith-based abilities, which she partially drained during the fight. The Student Council President, having used her strongest blade, suffered extensive injuries that left the weapon broken.

Thus, Erica was the only member of the group capable of immediately responding to any further issues. It was only natural that Inna, being the one most interested in Erica, stayed by her side.

Kim Ha-neul could be considered among the few who remained relatively unhurt but held back for Inna’s sake and didn’t intervene.

“Yeah, feed me.”

Since most of Erica’s time with Inna was spent eating, and because Erica was getting hungry from overusing her abilities, she spoke without much thought.

“No problem. You’ve had a tough day, so it’s understandable. Let’s sneak to a nearby restaurant for dinner just the two of us?”

Inna’s conversational approach was undoubtedly at the master level.

“Sure, why not.”

Though they were almost back at the accommodation, Inna suggested going out again—not because she hadn’t thought it through. Knowing Erica would most likely go to sleep after returning, Inna took the opportunity to create a memorable moment before the school trip ended. She knew people would assume they were heading back to the accommodation, but instead suggested going out for a meal, creating a natural chance for a date.

Considering Erica’s habit of immediately sleeping upon arrival, Inna’s suggestion was befitting her title as the Queen of the School.

Despite Erica’s bl**d-stained clothes and the traces of battle left behind, Inna’s outfit remained pristine—a testament to her ability to maintain her appearance amidst intense combat.

Thus, Erica was the only one who needed to change clothes or clean up.

Given they were already near the accommodation, it would have been natural for Erica to suggest changing before heading out or ask Inna to wait while she did so. However, Erica made no such requests.

Changing clothes seemed too bothersome, and all Erica wanted was to eat and sleep, regardless of what others might do. Since her focus was already on returning to reality, creating unnecessary memories seemed only to bring future pain.

Of course, the most pressing issue was whether anyone in the restaurant would accept a bl**d-stained girl. If no one did, they would have to return to the accommodation. However, neither Erica nor Inna seemed overly concerned while searching for a tempting restaurant.

Erica believed that such common sense could easily change in the world of this Romantic Visual Novel. Besides, Inna, standing beside Erica, could alter someone’s perception using her charms should Erica ask.

Walking together, with Inna feeling delighted at this rare date and Erica merely eager to eat, the two walked without caring what others thought.

Given their composed demeanor, they paid no mind when people occasionally glanced back at them as they walked.

It was clear that the one who initiated conversation was the one more interested in the other.

“Can I call you by your name again?”

Inna never addressed Erica by her name. She either referred to her without using it, or simply as “you.” This was because, after a previous wrongdoing, Inna had been forbidden by Erica from using her name.

Still, for Erica, who wasn’t the “real” Erica, allowing Inna to call her by name wasn’t much of an issue, and she considered granting permission.

After reflecting on various factors, Erica looked at Inna, who, though she hadn’t played a direct role in this event, had fought elsewhere, not out of lack of ability but tactical deployment. If simply being called by name could secure her alliance, it would undoubtedly be beneficial.

After contemplating this, Erica finally spoke.

“No.”

[Inna’s 2nd Favorability Cap Unlock Conditions have been revealed: Permission to use her name. Allowing this signifies forgiveness for what she did in the past.]

The reason Erica changed her mind, despite initially considering allowing Inna to use her name, was due to the notification that interrupted her thoughts.

If Erica allowed Inna’s use of her name, Inna, who could manipulate favorability through food, would quickly reach the 2nd Favorability Cap of 70.

It could have been avoided by not eating Inna’s food, but the stress relief Erica experienced through meals prepared by Inna made that an impossible option.

“Alright, I was just asking. Shall we go to that place?”

“Any barbecue place will be delicious.”

Considering how Erica hadn’t asked this before such a major event and was now too tired to provide a thoughtful answer, it wasn’t a casual inquiry.

However, Erica couldn’t simply agree to let Inna call her by name, so she smoothly redirected the conversation in line with Inna’s intent.

“Will you grill the meat?”

If Erica had agreed, she would have likely returned to the accommodation and gone straight to sleep. Therefore, this sounded like more of a demand than a suggestion.

But since Inna usually took care of grilling or cooking, it wasn’t so much a demand as an expectation of her role.

“Nope. I don’t even know how to grill meat since I can’t call you by name… So you grill it.”

Although Inna’s refusal contained a playful edge, her underlying hurt from Erica’s continuing refusal to let her use her name, even now, was evident.

“What?!”

The girl, who had been counting on Inna’s grilling skills, was shocked. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. They had come this far without resting for a reason…

But asking to grill the meat in exchange for letting Inna use her name also seemed inappropriate. Trapped in a more complex predicament than the terrorist attack, Erica struggled to find a way to get her meal.

“Just kidding. Sort of.”

“Does that mean you’ll grill half of it?”

“Keep asking and I might really refuse.”

“Sorry. I’m sorry.”

After the incident, the two spent their time recovering from both mental and physical fatigue through light-hearted jokes.