Chapter 12

If one ventures outside for counseling, the destination is usually predetermined. As evening approaches, a restaurant or a café would be the natural choices.

People inevitably relax while eating something delicious; counseling someone in such a relaxed state has been an ancient technique passed down through the ages.

However, if one of the students accompanying you is a celebrity, using that technique becomes impossible. No matter where you go, attention will be drawn inevitably and even if you go far enough away from both students and teachers, avoiding stares is impossible.

And with people staring, conducting proper counseling is out of the question. Hence, the options available to the owner of this car seeking to counsel me were limited: either the student’s home or the teacher’s own home.

And since it’s uncommon to head to a student’s house without asking, the homeroom teacher can only be heading to their own home.

“Mr. Myung is indeed logical.”

Even though my body changed, I nodded at the exceptional reasoning skills that remained intact.

I thought this body was dull because I didn’t understand the lesson material, but it’s abnormal to instantly understand everything after years without studying.

I was a genius in the previous world, but since I wasn’t born with abilities like perfect memory, it was always destined that I wouldn’t understand the lessons from the start.

The suffocating feeling I felt upon hearing that this body was the top student subsided a bit. Both bodies could excel intellectually, yet one of us was older and, therefore, less bright because of simply not studying for a long time. It made perfect sense why I didn’t understand the lesson today.

Of course, being older doesn’t equate to true aging.

I managed to resolve a lingering doubt I’d harbored since the class began. I wanted to learn geography too and was tempted to look out the window, but kept my gaze forward. The girls on either side of me would jab my ribs mercilessly if I glanced their way, so maintaining a straight-ahead gaze was better. Studying geography by gazing out the window would have to wait for another day.

Although there was no guarantee the teacher would drive me home, I wanted to punish those who ruined my plan and jabbed my ribs, using the white lightning phenomenon from this morning, but the phenomenon wouldn’t repeat just because I wanted it.

Since supernatural abilities usually require certain conditions, the first priority is to find the conditions under which my ability can be activated. That way, I might fully protect myself, as the student council president, my former partner, had mentioned.

Given the superior physical capabilities demonstrated by women endowed with supernatural abilities, it seems prudent to regain whatever protective ability I once had in order to shield myself from a potential attack by a Yandere heroine.

Even with two girls sitting next to me who would jab my sides if I moved my head, I harbored a question.

Honestly, it’s understandable to excessively protect someone like my childhood friend, considering their past actions, but why is the woman with vocal abilities involved?

She declined the money I offered as repayment; it’s clear she’s trying to make me feel at ease by giving me some money. But her repayment plan isn’t through simple material transactions—it seems far more insidious.

Naturally, I don’t intend to let her pay it off easily. I intend to use it at a critical moment, so I haven’t pressured her at all.

Yet, why does this woman keep stubbornly following me? Is it because she is too principled to live with debt, or could it be due to a bewitching charm capable of captivating even idols?

However, that charm must stem from my appearance, which I haven’t even checked in the mirror. Assuming both my brilliant looks and the heroine’s beauty, it’s reasonable to be pretty. But there are different kinds of beauty.

I lack sufficient evidence to declare that my beauty dazzles even those of the same gender. Without seeing the magnificent light from my soul—viewed with a keen eye—this is hard to accept!

“Alright kids, we’ve arrived—let’s get out.”

As the car stopped, the sound of the lock releasing could be heard. As soon as they were to exit, …

“Do you not want to get out?”

“Go first, and I’ll follow.”

…This turned into some kind of psychological battle right here. Neither showed any intention of exiting, so I remained silent, and the homeroom teacher sighed heavily, looking at us via the rearview mirror.

“Kids, please. At least follow my advice once we’re home.”

Everyone present probably realized that this was a wish beyond the timid teacher’s reach.

*

Was this planned from the start?

As we entered the teacher’s house and the fridge was opened, her card was handed over to the other two, with permission to buy groceries and eat what they wished.

Effectively, the teacher was getting rid of those two in order to have a private consultation with me. Surprisingly, contrasting their earlier squabbling in the car, these two backed off without resistance, seemingly aware that refusal wasn’t an option this time.

“…Could they have pretended to be clueless from the start?”

Given that the woman is a student yet active as a professional idol, and the girl is someone popular among classmates, I should have realized they weren’t truly clueless. Why did I fail to see this?

Their “cluelessness” seems linked to my sore ribs.

Perhaps they pretended to like me just so they could jab my ribs at will.

Realizing this made me grind my teeth. How devious! Acting for the mere pleasure of hitting me…

They will surely pay for this once I manage to escape this situation.

While I fumed over their actions, the homeroom teacher diligently prepared for our counseling session. She poured us some orange juice from the fridge, placed it on the table, and prepared cushions for seating.

The prep was swift. Counseling fundamentally requires only two individuals—counselor and recipient—so there wasn’t much to prepare from the start.

“Then I’ll ask again what I asked before: Are you facing any difficulties recently?”

Her counseling began with a reiteration of the earlier question.

While I couldn’t speak honestly earlier, now I could.

“Actually, no.”

That’s right—honestly, no.

“Huh?”

I thought of the teacher as a novice since she tried to bring Inna into the counseling session at first, but now, by cleverly dismissing them, it seems she already understood the essence of counseling.

The most critical aspect of counseling is ensuring confidentiality.

But if she adheres to that principle then, I can’t share everything that I’ve experienced. Of course, I don’t fully understand what this body went through yet.

It seemed like Inna might be hiding valuable information about me. Given I’ve only been here a short while, without Inna, I wouldn’t have a clue what to say to the teacher.

But then, a blue glowing window appeared before my eyes.

“The counseling event is about to begin. The essence of the event heroine is to provide events for particular character roles. Kang Yoo-jin’s event is counseling.”

“During the counseling event, you will have the same choices available as the protagonist.”

“Currently, you are in the beginner protection period. Regardless of the outcome of this counseling, the probability of any information leaking out to others during this period is extremely low.”

“During the counseling event, you can obtain unknown information. Additionally, based on the results of the counseling, you may also receive special rewards, so please participate as enthusiastically as possible.”

What is this beginner protection period?

The term suggests something.

In games, it’s customary to have a protection period during which inexperienced players receive safeguarding until they adapt. However, such periods are more prevalent in games where others can attack, rather than in RPGs.

So, it implies that there could be others who came here from my world.

Given the unfavorable period suspected to have started a year ago, what if there are players or even multiple players navigating this visual novel game?

If whoever brought me here has any integrity, such absurd competition shouldn’t exist.

Naturally, if this world involves competitive content, there must be defined rewards from winning such contests here.

The ability to return to my original world.

“Hmm… How about your school life, then?”

While I remained silent, the teacher, aware of possible bullying yet assured of my safety, fidgeted and asked another question. Her confusion was justified given my previous answer.

Why aren’t the choices appearing? I wondered after the system mentioned they’d show. And then they did.

“I haven’t faced physical violence or being drenched with water in the restroom, so I’m fine. To restate, nothing like that has happened.”

“I’m truly fine. I just wanted to take a break for a moment.”

“If you answer my question first, I’ll properly address yours.”

The options that appeared before me. The world didn’t freeze like it does when the protagonist chooses, though.

Maybe only the protagonist gets such luxury in time during choices.

Though the world didn’t stop, the teacher waited patiently for me to respond, and her eyes were solely focused on me.

The first option is essentially about bullying, emphasizing that even though I’m not bothered by it.

The teacher might naturally steer us towards a school violence notification route, reacting with fury.

The second option dismisses the counseling. If I insist nothing is wrong, it’d be strange to continue.

The final option is about a trade. I’d provide information in return for her knowledge.

Each option had its pros and cons. However, if others from my world are also here…

“I’ll respond if you answer my question first.”

“Huh? What would you like to know?”

“Could you tell me everything Kim Ha-neul has done from her first year till now?”

Are there others who might interfere?

In that case, finishing this quickly would avoid any interference.

…Of course, if she tells me about Kim Ha-neul, the information I provide would need to be fabricated lies.

A mere teacher won’t throw a fit over minor fabrications or unfairly punish me.

I trusted that and stared at her with bright eyes, and after some hesitation, she began:

“It’s just common knowledge?”