Chapter 130

After exams end and students go out to have fun, it’s a common occurrence. However, I never once considered myself included in such regular student affairs.

During school trips, terrorists attacked, and during the final exams, delinquents launched an assault. Naturally, I anticipate a high likelihood of something happening this time as well.

While expecting potential issues, I remained tense even after school had ended.

However, upon arriving safely at our first destination without any incidents, as I served the items I had ordered on a tray, I couldn’t help but ask a question I hadn’t thought to ask earlier:

“Are you guys uncomfortable?”

“What do you mean? But I’ll ask anyway—what is it?”

If I were to answer Gain’s question, there would be much to say. First, the woman sitting next to Gain didn’t approve of my inclusion in this group from the beginning, unlike Gain, who was wary of me but didn’t exactly dislike me.

Though they agreed to head out to other places after chatting a bit at the café, it wasn’t because they wanted me to join but rather because I had no reason to oppose them.

Since agreeing to a plan usually avoids creating any animosity, while declining might irritate the other party, I naturally went along with their decision. In any case, I had already anticipated something might happen.

That’s why I became curious—why had Gain’s feelings toward me changed so drastically? And did Inna have anything to do with it?

“You guys, do you feel uncomfortable around me?”

“I don’t feel uncomfortable.”

Since Inna was sitting beside me saying this, I doubted I’d receive a straight answer.

Trapped with no way to casually slip away because the pathway was blocked, I sipped a macchiato brought by another friend.

It’s delicious, indeed. Though some might say it’s unmanly to enjoy sweet things, they clearly don’t understand. The truth is, the high-caloric sweetness that I consume only proves my strength, as I burn it all off like a true man would.

Since I’ve always enjoyed sweets, even as a man, I firmly believe in my logic.

“Do you find us uncomfortable?”

“If I said yes here, wouldn’t it make me a bad person?”

Inna asked what was essentially a rhetorical question, ensuring that my true feelings wouldn’t surface.

Reflecting on this, I realized just how foolish my initial question had been.

I shouldn’t have asked this question in front of everyone. Next time, I’ll save it for when we’re alone.

Not only that, Inna, someone who shows no intention of backing off even if I feel uncomfortable, asked her question while teasingly touching my hand.

“Yes, that’s why I want you not to feel uncomfortable.”

She even went so far as to try to control whether or not I feel uneasy!

I’m unsure if this behavior is typical of Inna or if it’s an unusual jealousy—before I could ponder either, my phone vibrated in my hand.

[Are you guys having fun without me?]

An expected yet oddly timed text from the Former Queen, now alone at home, wondering if she’s bored.

Considering the time, she shouldn’t be expecting us to be done playing yet, but for some reason, she sent the message early.

Before coming here, I had mentioned to her that we’d return after playing, but respecting her feelings, I felt obligated to reply once the ‘1’ disappeared from the screen.

Indeed, this woman, who continually studies ways to torment me, even bothered to send a text during what should have been my moment of relaxation.

While feeling impressed by Kang Yu-ri’s move, I was just about to reply casually when—swoosh—my phone vanished.

There was no need to check where it went. It couldn’t be the people opposite or a sudden new visitor, so the person holding my white phone could be none other than Inna.

“We deserve your full attention when you’re here with us.”

“I was just going to send one quick message before focusing.”

Leaving the Former Queen alone is scary enough to imagine, and not replying to her text would likely make her even more upset—possibly enough to terrify me.

Actually, maybe it’s just annoying.

I reached out to retrieve my phone, but Inna pulled me closer, holding onto me with surprising strength while slipping the phone into her pocket, her other hand tugging at my body.

Resistance wasn’t completely impossible, but with coffee cups nearby, any struggle might cause them to spill, so restraint was necessary.

As a result, pulled onto her lap by sheer force, I avoided the gaze of the two women who now looked at me as if I were something cute by hiding my face behind a cup.

If I’m just a black silhouette, at least my emotions shouldn’t be visible, right? Yet, why does she manage to deduce my feelings despite covering my face?

While sitting there, asking the system why it doesn’t continually send replies unless something major occurs, it simply ignored me, acting like it has its own will while treating my words like nothing. The system itself might be the biggest issue.

“Well, since you pulled out your phone in front of us, there must be a punishment.”

“But no one said that pulling out a phone would lead to punishment.”

“Not disrupting social interactions is simple manners when you’re with people, so you deserve to be punished for not following proper etiquette.”

Sigh, I can’t argue against her statement that bad manners deserve punishment, even though I feel unfairly treated.

As I surrendered to her words, I could feel the heat rising to my ears.

It seems I truly deserve the punishment, even though using my phone wasn’t entirely due to my own choice but rather because of matters involving the Former Queen.

Even if I tried to justify my actions, she seemed content with her current position, softly humming to herself, showing no signs of letting me go any time soon.

Hiding my face didn’t mean the others watching from the front weren’t noticing; just as I reached to put the cup back on the table, someone’s voice broke the moment.

“How adorable~”

My grip almost faltered. Ahead of me stood a woman beaming with a wide smile.

Maybe this is actually hell. Maybe I accepted an invitation to hell without realizing it… While I was about to spiral into despair, a sudden realization struck me like lightning.

“Come to think of it, this way, you won’t be able to eat what you ordered.”

“Yes, exactly.”

The only way out of this situation is for Inna to release me willingly. Since we’re at a café, she’ll probably want to eat something herself, which would require letting me go.

Considering this, I thought my statement would be convincing, yet she didn’t budge.

“…Why aren’t you letting me down?”

“Because I don’t intend to eat. If you want to eat mine, you can finish it.”

Then why bother ordering?

Despite my pointed stare, Inna remained silent, laughing until I continued to glare at her, prompting her response.

“You ordered it intending for you to eat it, right? How many people think about you this much?”

“Fine, just let me down—I don’t need to eat it.”

I didn’t need to consume her beverage, filled with her persuasive intent, nor endure unnecessary embarrassment for it. If I could use my supernatural power in daily life, I could easily force my way out, but if I did, my opponent would likely respond with the same.

Moreover, if I use my powers and end up trapped by a machine like before, it would be useless again…

Of course, the machine mentioned earlier was not a typical one, as further online research revealed it wasn’t something commonly available. Hence, while my power isn’t entirely meaningless, it often seems to be when I’m overpowered, especially by women.

I wondered if the real problem isn’t about my power but rather about ‘protection.’ Though the original source claims ‘protection’ has immense potential, they didn’t disclose the method to awaken that potential, leaving me with no solid understanding.

[If you had used your protection during the previous final exams, even with an incident, there would’ve been a 90% probability of scoring 100%.

…Huh?

Contrary to my usual confusion, my sharp intellect quickly deciphered this message. If protection can borrow someone else’s power to defend oneself, such as the wisdom of the Student Council President, then I could have resolved the exam problems regardless of the morning incident.

While the system’s message about misusing my power subtly criticized me, my inability to control my expression slipped by unnoticed.

“Aww~. You two look so cozy. Shouldn’t we pay slightly more attention to the people who brought the orders too?”

Gain, who had silently observed us, broke her silence, criticizing our behavior. Precisely aimed at the person she dislikes—me.

“Nah, nah. We’re fine.”

Despite being cloaked in darkness, it’s evident when observing the movements. Song Gain’s side was gently prodded by Sora, something I could clearly see.

“No, continuously ignoring others just isn’t becoming.”

“You agreed to help Inna with her romance, right?”

“…Saying that will make Inna angry.”

“That’s why I’m whispering so quietly. Look, I’m whispering right now.”

“It’s unlikely she won’t hear you, sitting right in front. If Inna gets scolded, I’ll pretend I know nothing, and you’ll handle it yourself.”

“It’s your fault for mentioning her~ Anyway, it’s all your fault.”

Loud and clear.

Listening to their whispered conversation, I wondered about the woman behind me. Was she smiling as usual, annoyed, or accepting the situation?

Had I not been privy to her profile, even someone attentive like me might have taken time to understand her devious mind fully.

Since the beverage ordered by Inna belonged to a Latte category, I assumed it was indeed intended for me and quietly started sipping it while the two kept bickering.