Chapter 123

The Queen used her ability to dispose of the bodies, and because the distinct odor of corpses disappeared along with them, the students could approach the exam with a more relaxed mind.

Of course, I’m not sure what she might ask for in return, but it’s already done, isn’t it? I decided to consider this particular incident as a kind of retainer fee.

The biggest problem for me wasn’t someone tormenting me or what Kang Yu-ri might do next. If you don’t bother me, I won’t bother you—this was actually quite a sound arrangement.

My focus had to be solely on the exams themselves. After all, one slip-up could dictate the rest of my life here, and that was a weight I couldn’t ignore.

“Do you have anything to say?”

Even during the exam break, the Student Council President came to the rooftop without hesitation at my request, her gaze sweeping around the place.

If it were another student, they’d be too busy reviewing the tests they’ve taken or studying another subject to even think about coming up here.

Once she seemed satisfied that we were alone, I cautiously began speaking.

“By any chance, do you know the people who did something unpleasant to my desk today?”

“It’s ambiguous.”

Should I even ask her to look into it? The thought barely crossed my mind before she bluntly responded.

I wasn’t sure what she meant by ‘ambiguous,’ but the fact that she ended her sentence with “da” instead of “yo” this time suggested she’d established a greater emotional distance between us than before.

“There were students from both the first and third grades involved. While there are many seniors who dislike you for various reasons, none of them would risk their own exam results to h*rass you. It seems someone incited them, but I haven’t been able to identify who.”

That much was clear from the quick succession of her explanations—there was someone manipulating these people, but we had no idea who yet.

Normally, the perpetrators should be punished too, but in this world, where others’ wills can be casually manipulated through supernatural abilities, any punishment wouldn’t necessarily be that severe.

“Do you think the perpetrator might be someone I’ve encountered before?”

Honestly, given how in Romantic Visual Novels a lot happens around the protagonist, it occurred to me that the culprit might be among the people known to the Student Council President, who occupies a place close to the protagonist.

The Student Council President, with her [Wisdom], seemed to understand whom I might be referring to but shook her head.

“Not her. From the start, she’s so integrated into your life that if she were plotting something, you’d have noticed immediately.”

I admit that Yu-inna’s ability to charm others goes far beyond what I expected, so I asked just in case. But if the Student Council President has more familiarity with this world of Supernatural Ability Users, maybe she could spot something about Yu-inna’s powers that I overlooked.

My initial assumption that she and the Former Queen might be the prime suspects probably stems from the fact that I simply don’t know many other potential candidates.

The Doll Maker tends to send dolls around to build experience, and while the Terrorist woman is strong, this sort of crude scheme doesn’t fit her style. As for the others, they haven’t even properly formed connections with me yet.

“So, we can’t find the instigator. Would it help if I gave you the list of perpetrators?”

“No, that’s fine. They’re all busy studying for exams anyway. Why should we waste time seeking out these so-called ‘perpetrators’? If they persist next time, we can deal with it then.”

“…Are you forgiving them again?”

Again? At first, I wasn’t sure which incident she was referring to, but then it dawned on me that she was talking about the event that happened when I first came to this school. Since I let the perpetrators off without punishment back then, I understand why she’d be curious why I don’t seem inclined to retaliate.

A little pride wouldn’t hurt if I borrowed my sister’s Power, and I could certainly punish the offenders directly if I wanted. But the truth, which I didn’t need to hide, was simple.

“To be honest, it probably won’t make a difference if I forgive them. Also, this feels more like kids’ pranks.”

Because it’s a Romantic Visual Novel, it’s easy to see the bullying as playful, but I myself graduated from the notoriously tough South Korean high school system.

Things like stealing glasses only to break them later? Trifling, it was said. Slipping cutter blades inside shoes? They never found out who did it.

Though the act on my desk today was somewhat similar to things I’ve endured before, given the nearly month-long gap between incidents, I could argue I’ve had plenty of downtime compared to my previous struggles here.

“…Do you not trust the teachers?”

That’s why I didn’t bring it up during the exam period, but either my explanation was too brief or the distrust against the teachers was too obvious in my tone, because the Student Council President unexpectedly said something different from what I expected.

“I trust my Homeroom Teacher, but for some reason, I can’t trust the others.”

“…As I said before, that’s understandable. Even the Homeroom Teacher might seem distrustful from your perspective.”

This world feels dangerous, yet oddly gentle at times.

When Erica was bullied and the Homeroom Teacher failed to intervene properly, I didn’t hold a grudge—it just confirmed that the Homeroom Teacher wasn’t someone I could count on fully.

As much as I’ve confided in her, the Student Council President is far more reliable than the Homeroom Teacher, but that also means she’s someone to keep a watchful eye on.

“Let’s stop talking about this. I’ve already made this point once before, and I’m tired of repeating myself.”

I wanted to end the conversation and leave the rooftop. The Student Council President always has a knack for piecing together fragments of information and uncovering the truth.

“Phew, I still have to ace these exams because of my sister’s bet, so let’s head back downstairs.”

“…Wait a moment. Did you mention a bet? Did I hear about it?”

“I don’t remember specifically telling you, but someone—Yu-inna, or maybe even your sister—must’ve mentioned it.”

Did I forget about it, or was I unknowingly swayed by charm? Though there’s always a chance the Student Council President misinterpreted things, it made more sense to question my own memory rather than doubt someone with [Wisdom].

No matter how much I thought, nothing concrete came to mind, so I simply asked for the details.

If memories could be manipulated in this world, no one was more reliable than the master of Wisdom to confirm the truth.

“I don’t think I ever explicitly shared this, but please tell me what you remember.”

“It wasn’t anything major. If I ever fail to place first, then I’ll freely spend all the monthly allowance, and your sister plans to return home.”

The former point only mattered for the original owner who disliked owing anyone; it didn’t concern me much. However, the latter point was significant.

I already found the house complicated with the Former Queen and Yu-inna around—how chaotic would it get with my sister joining in?

Regardless of the main story scenario, failing to place first would essentially be a personal hell for this body and, by extension, for me who is borrowing it.

“The rules also include a few other conditions, but no one has shared those specifics with me.”

“That’s plenty. That alone gives me enough incentive.”

Suddenly, the urge to study surged in me. The current level of stakes is sufficient for motivation; further elaboration wouldn’t add much.

If anyone tries to torment me again, I’ll respond accordingly depending on the level of provocation. What concerns me more is how this body’s Character Scenario might rapidly change with my sister’s appearance.

When a Heroine’s Character Scenario concludes without the involvement of the Protagonist Kim Ha-neul, one typically ends up with a Bad Ending, regardless of the kind.

Without being chosen by the Protagonist, happy endings are rare for Heroines.

Thus, considering my personal scenario, I wanted to delay it as long as possible, so the arrival of my sister—a critical element in this scenario—wasn’t exactly welcome.

The rapid progression of my scenario meant either strengthening the bond with the Protagonist or inching closer to my bad ending—neither of which was ideal.

Therefore, maintaining the highest possible academic performance as planned might be the best course of action.

“The time is almost up; let’s head back.”

“That’s true.”

As she spoke, the Student Council President was glancing away from me, staring somewhere else. I followed her gaze, but there was nothing there.

Only a teddy bear, left behind as if forgotten on the bench.

It seemed slightly odd for a high school student to carry around a stuffed animal.

It was more than slightly amusing, actually…

Although, in all honesty, given this world’s context where high school students are at least 19 years old, it did feel a bit juvenile.

Perhaps that’s what drew her attention momentarily.

Because it wasn’t the kind of thing high school students normally carry around?

“We’ll be late and miss the exam if we linger here.”

I grabbed the Student Council President’s hand and pulled her away, despite the lack of supernatural force. Nevertheless, she followed without resistance.

Whether the stuffed animal was some kind of visual surveillance device or simply something the Student Council President found endearing didn’t matter at the moment.

If it were the latter, I could always buy her a similar one later.

And if it were the former, the exam still took precedence over everything.

With that, we dashed swiftly back to our classrooms and managed to take our seats just before the bell rang.