Chapter 109

As always, the one who awakens opens their eyes. The ceiling I see is not the gray one I used to see often, nor the white one I’ve grown accustomed to more recently—it’s a strange ceiling with unfamiliar stains.

Recalling the Former Queen I last saw, I have no idea where I am and so I sit up. My body reacts sluggishly, as if it’s buffering, moving slower than expected.

Before I can fully rise from the bed, I’m pushed back down by someone’s hands.

Ah, the bed feels just as soft as the one we all fought over at the accommodation, which immediately gives me a vague idea of where I am. This is still the accommodation located in Busan. Though I remember being in the arms of Kang Yu-ri, known as the Former Queen, I’m not sure which accommodation this is.

Not having a clear sense of who pushed me, I ask the person directly.

“Who’s there?”

Was it the Former Queen who brought me back here? Or maybe one of the others at the accommodation pushed me, telling me to sleep more? We’re not exactly close enough that someone would push me to tell me to rest…

“Who, you mean? It was the person besides the Student Council President who worries about you the most.”

My question is answered by someone nearby, though they didn’t directly say who. However, given the young, familiar voice—one that only belongs to one close friend in this world—I immediately know that the one who pushed me must be Kim Ha-neul.

The one who, deep down, I believe is the protagonist of this world.

“So, what about Inna?”

According to what he said, Inna must be the person who worries about me the most, aside from the Student Council President.

Thinking about it, I decide not to get back up and ask, instead lying still, why Inna is not the one who cares the most about me. Honestly, I find it hard to admit.

It’s true though; even in my biased perspective, the Student Council President clearly cares the most about me. Kim Ha-neul’s words hold truth in that case. After her, it can only be Inna who cares deeply about me. Regardless of any negative feelings she might harbor, her concern for me remains genuine.

“Well, even if her concern runs deep, when combined with her other feelings, the worry part likely only amounts to this much, right?”

He holds his thumb and index finger apart, leaving only enough space for a needle to fit through.

Rather than laughing, I feel perplexed by his remark.

Kim Ha-neul seems to view Inna with some distaste, sharing a sense of camaraderie with me, since I know he disapproves of my getting close to Inna.

“…Do you want to d*e?”

The reason for my confusion becomes clear as a girl steps forward. Even if what she says implies gossiping about the boy, given that she was with Kim Ha-neul, it was likely a joke.

Indeed, it was probably a joke. Kim Ha-neul wouldn’t actually do anything reckless, not when he knows he’s the closest person to me outside the Student Council President, and especially not given his relationship with her.

“I’ve been keeping watch to make sure none of their fingers even touch you. Did I do well?”

“Yeah, perfect.”

To the girl’s inquiring gaze, I gave her a thumbs-up with my left hand. Though the main character of a romantic visual novel probably wouldn’t do anything lewd just because he’s with me, it’s always better to be prepared, isn’t it?

Somehow, it feels like the initial appearances of Kim Ha-neul and Inna were planned this way to leave a positive impression on Inna, though such conspiracy theories are irrelevant when it comes to trivial matters like favorability.

“Haa, who said anything about touching? Anyway, the teachers wanted us to keep quiet about the events so as not to cause unnecessary distress among the other students. Didn’t you hear when they told us to gather over here?”

Though his tone was sharp, his voice carried a sense of inquiry, so I wasn’t offended.

“Did nobody tell you?”

The vague direction the teachers pointed me towards as I left likely wasn’t where the accommodation was after all…

During the brief moment when my memories of the previous events faded, Kim Ha-neul murmured something to himself.

“Anyway, since they were shocked by yesterday’s events, they might have mistakenly thought they informed you. Anyhow, we have a day’s use of the accommodation, so Yu-ri brought you here last night. Didn’t anyone tell you?”

“No. I don’t remember anyone telling me.”

I suppose I was too tired from talking earlier to properly recall, but I would definitely remember if something important had been said. Like the news that the Busan Girl escaped—something I still vividly remember.

“Ah, by the way, did anything unusual happen today? Anything special?”

I sat up, looking at them while asking to verify if the Busan Girl truly escaped or not.

They were already dressed for the day, having presumably woken up much earlier than I had.

“Hmm… How you know about it is a mystery, but yes, there is something. The girl known as the Busan Girl who led the attack group escaped from the Association last night.”

My verification was successful.

It seems the Former Queen wasn’t lying based on Kim Ha-neul’s accurate recounting of what I wanted to know.

Given that I, someone directly involved in yesterday’s events, would naturally be curious about that, it wasn’t strange for Kim Ha-neul to have guessed my concern. What’s odd, though, is that he isn’t curious about why I immediately asked about it upon waking.

“Although we call it an Association, this is just a local branch, so either their security wasn’t strong enough, or the group that helped her escape, supposedly revolutionaries, was incredibly capable. Honestly, people will be quite disappointed in the abilities of the Busan branch.”

The red-haired woman who entered as the door opened nonchalantly sat on the bed I was lying on, as if it were normal.

Though Yoon In-na stared her down, the woman paid her no mind, focused solely on me.

“Before the revolution, this particular branch was reputed to be outstanding compared to other regional branches…”

“Is information about the Supernatural Ability Users’ branches commonly known?”

“Not really. But everyone here has close ties with the Association. In my case, they often consult me, and the other two are exceptionally talented.”

And I, having an influential sister within the Association, don’t need much further explanation.

The Student Council President, rumored to be in a fake relationship with the protagonist; Yoon In-na, supposedly targeted by Kim Ha-neul; and me, supposedly rejected by the protagonist— all of us heroines are closely tied to the protagonist and have connections with the Association. Could this be a hint toward the main scenario, or am I just mistaken?

Given that this world is a school-based setting, once I gather more clues connecting the Association and the school, I might understand how the main scenario unfolds. But information isn’t so easily obtained, so I’ll have to proceed carefully.

“What’s the verdict on the accommodation staff?”

“The teachers told us to stay here ourselves, so what could they say? We just accepted it. To be fair, I wasn’t exactly close with any of them anyway.”

With a slightly sharp tone, Yoon In-na interjected during our conversation.

At first glance, it seems like she might be jealous of my mentioning others, but looking at the direction of her intense gaze, it’s clear her jealousy isn’t directed at them but rather at the Student Council President, who I was just talking to.

It’s strange—usually, sharing an event brings people closer, but maybe it’s because we fought in separate places, or perhaps the divide between them is simply too deep, even after going through something together.

It would be nice if Erica, who supposedly holds all the memories of this body, stepped in in situations like this, but the system seems to only let her act when it pleases, and she remains conspicuously silent.

“Anyway, one of you two who are still tired from yesterday’s fight woke up and is being harassed by the other two who aren’t even injured. That’s why I brought them here. If you’ve finished checking his condition, could you please leave now?”

“Hmm~ what’re you gonna do if I say no?”

If the sun’s attributes are light and fire, Yoon In-na’s smile—like the sun—shines brightly for others, but when it’s directed at the Student Council President, it turns into an aggressive fire.

Though it seemed like she might charge at the Student Council President right away, she was stopped by someone pulling on her sleeve.

Turning around, the girl identified her companion, then alternated her gaze between me and the Student Council President before sighing deeply.

“Alright. Alright. You look very tired, so I’ll leave now. See you later~.”

With a slightly mocking tone, Yoon In-na waved at me, then forcibly grabbed Kim Ha-neul, who had shamelessly planned to stay, dragging him out of the room despite his feeble resistance.

He could have resisted more if he truly wanted to stay, but he let himself be dragged away by Yoon In-na, leaving the room with only me and the Student Council President.