Chapter 14

The teacher usually should not speak about other students to a student.

This is because bias can easily seep in when talking about someone. Moreover, if the teacher is someone the students are vigilant around, they must be even more restrained in their words. Mishandled words could affect the students.

“Which is why, for now, I’ve only given compliments…”

She internally gauged Erica’s reaction. The words she had just spoken were, after all, only said because the student requested it, and even then, she had tempered her statements regarding Kim Ha-neul’s achievements.

Such as the incident where the daughter of a wealthy family brightly confessed her love on the playground,

Or the event where a princess from another country asked Kim Ha-neul to become her husband,

And honestly, there were larger incidents involving girls who, due to their infatuation with Kim Ha-neul, had gone as far as to make s*icide attempts. However, she refrained from mentioning them as they might have incited Erica’s anger.

Was Erica’s question perhaps due to her remaining interest in that boy?

Curiosity like this was unproductive, so she shook it off and focused all her attention on what Erica might say next.

A student asking a teacher about another student usually implies they want to understand the teacher’s opinion of that student before discussing their own concerns.

“Actually…”

The moment the student sitting in front of her, who had promised to share her story in return for speaking about Kim Ha-neul, was about to open her mouth,

Ding-dong!

The teacher froze as the bell rang. If only it had rung just a little later, she might have learned something about the student’s concerns.

After the card payment alarm sounded, were they on their way here right now?

Thinking, somewhat irritably, that they could have taken their time and used the money on the card to come more slowly, only for them to arrive faster than expected,

The teacher remained in an awkward half-standing position, neither heading toward the entrance nor continuing to sit there, ignoring it.

Ignoring the teacher’s pleading gaze for any last words, Erica’s eyes turned toward the entrance. An unspoken message: either be here or open the door.

…Realizing that she wouldn’t get what she’d hoped for, the teacher slumped her shoulders and opened the entrance to find girls who had just returned from grocery shopping, their hands full.

More food supplies than what had been purchased according to the payment record. The teacher was momentarily stunned by the unrealistic amount brought by the students who had been entrusted with the task. Without waiting further, the girls headed to the kitchen to put down the groceries.

The awkward tension between them grew. Something had apparently happened while they were out, leaving behind this cold atmosphere despite their previous seemingly good relationship.

Unable to gather her desired information and instead creating an uncomfortable atmosphere among her students, the teacher sighed deeply.

*

After Inna had prepared dinner with unmatched cooking skills, we soon returned home separately.

Though the teacher had offered a ride, Inna insisted it wasn’t necessary. Contrary to my wishes, we had to walk back to our homes. …I just wanted to ride comfortably.

Walking with Inna, my cheeks puffed up in anger over the effort I had endured, but as time passed, the air inside gradually deflated.

The night is dark. Even with streetlights or lights spilling out of convenience stores or residential areas, the absence of the sun casts an impenetrable darkness.

And the people passing by seem obscured in dark clothing, causing my eyes to perceive sudden apparitions, which startled me each time. Consequently, I couldn’t help but rely on the unique bright girl by my side.

“…Hmm? Are you scared of people?”

What I feared wasn’t the possibility of random violence but rather the ghostly appearance people assumed in the night due to the lack of clear visibility.

And if I were truly afraid of people, I might just entrust myself to a girl who seemed physically stronger than me.

“Alright, leave it to me. I’ll ensure no one touches you.”

Inna, unaware of my thoughts, walked protectively, placing herself between me and potential threats with a determined expression. Strangely, she seemed particularly wary of women based on their physique, which was quite peculiar.

Reflecting on this, I’ve considered since last time whether capable female supernaturals are more likely than male ones. Perhaps the women’s physical abilities surpass what I imagined due to their connection to superhuman powers.

As I thought over various matters, I noticed a window I had purposely ignored while with Inna. This window allowed transparency irrespective of anything obscuring my view, though I could delay content checks if not fully focused.

Now, finally focusing with clarity, I read the content:

[The event has not concluded properly. Whom might this abrupt end benefit? We’ll settle part of your choice to pick the first question due to the incomplete conclusion.]

[Currently, the protagonist Kim Ha-neul is seeking one of his victory conditions: the true heroine. Though multiple heroines might feature in the romantic visual novel due to its complex genre structure, there is only one true heroine in this world.]

[Your current victory condition, labeled as Erica, involves uncovering the true heroine, clearing her character scenarios entirely, and then achieving the true ending together.]

[A reward from the counseling event: A clue to the true heroine – she possesses a versatile supernatural ability that is utilizable across genres in this world that blend superhuman battles, everyday school life, and mind-control plots.]

[The other leads about the true heroine remain undisclosed due to the event’s incomplete termination. Succeed in multiple events for further knowledge on this world.]

[However, this improper termination is not your fault, and instead, your supernatural title will be revealed.]

[Ability: Protection.]

[Description: A protection that will guard the owner regardless of the world’s end. The usage method and exact title of this ability remain unclear.]

[Countermeasure: The degree to which you hold affection for someone affects whether that person’s harm can either be stopped or ignored by this protection.]

With that, the visible content ended. As expected, my Protection ability specializes in shielding my body.

Though I don’t fully comprehend why the precise usage method or title isn’t available, as predicted by the system’s early warnings, my weakness is glaringly clear: weakening due to emotional attachments.

Despite a previous ex having a supernatural power at a 57 favorability, it doesn’t appear very threatening. At 25 favorability, Inna’s abilities are somewhat troubling but not overwhelmingly powerful.

Her awareness of self-harm keywords from my twenties did accelerate favorability limits, but I doubt she’ll know about the potential keywords at 50, so I probably don’t need to worry much for now.

Of the things the system revealed, there are two particularly standout revelations.

If Kim Ha-neul’s victory condition is to find the true heroine, as I suspected, the person from the ‘world I originally belonged to’ might be Kim Ha-neul himself.

However, if this world features a romantic visual novel genre with three significant subcategories and includes DLC and side stories, the ‘protagonist’ might not necessarily be just one person.

While it’s possible a single protagonist might encompass all three genres, typically, a protagonist’s split nature fits more with distinct genres—especially when love involves either sensual manipulation or pure romance.

I glanced around after halting my concentration on the system window. Familiarity didn’t surface; only a stranger-filled street remained. The continuous unknown routes alerted me, and I quickly voiced out.

“Where are we going?”

“The nearest place is my home, so in that direction.”

Another bit of new information. The girl beside me smiled happily as if her conscience were unburdened, and said,

“Well, think about it. You lost your memory, right? Does it really matter whether you live where you do or I do?”

It seemed as if she had realized something from the moment I spoke, though it might have been her suspicion from yesterday.

I understood why this girl and the original owner of this body had fought. Initially seeming normal, her logic was completely skewed.

“Anyway, even if I were to cook, wash clothes, or help you bathe, honestly, you coming to my house would be far more convenient for you!”

Had she only offered to wash my hair and cook? It now included washing intimate items and bathing?

I fought with her once before, but is this right? Knowing her twisted logic circuits, it surprised me to hear she’d taken on so much for a former friend with a favorability of 0.

Frankly, thanks to the ‘Protection,’ the rods in my wrist could suffice for washing and bathing if I desired.

As if sensing my inner turmoil, the girl with emerald-green hair pointed to something.

“And the most decisive point: we’re almost at my house. Would you really want to go all the way to your place now? And this time, I’m not giving you a ride back.”

“Haa… Just for today.”

Tomorrow, I’ll sleep separately at the original owner’s house. And I will do my own washing and showering. I may be unsure why the original owner accepted help from someone they previously fought, but I have no intention of following that procedure.

There’s a chance the original ‘player’ here could notice me, so while I plan to follow a few past routines, some actions just feel embarrassing to receive from someone else.

“Okay!”

The girl, unaware of my inner thoughts, happily responded once more.