Chapter 153

Meeting with the Student Council President

To put it differently, my date with Lee Seo-ra could be considered as such, but ever since I entered this body and went through numerous events, it was as though there had never truly been a proper date with either Inna or the Student Council President.

Both of them were avoided because I thought they might use their feelings for the former Erica, but there was another reason as well.

Whenever I thought about going out with Inna, I felt uncomfortable around the Student Council President, and when considering going out with the Student Council President, I felt the same discomfort toward Inna.

The reason behind planning this meeting was partly because, with Inna gone, there was no longer any need to be cautious about her reactions.

“Isn’t it such a trashy thought to believe that if I keep having meetings like this, Inna will react and come closer to me?”

In any case, it wasn’t purely out of affection for the Student Council President that I planned this meeting, and so observing her reactions filled me with an intense sense of guilt.

“Here, please eat.”

Although I had come with Han Ye-seul yesterday, the mysterious Heroine hadn’t shown any reaction, so I returned to the meat shop hoping to uncover her identity through Seo-ra’s perspective.

Despite not being dressed for eating meat, the Student Council President didn’t utter a single word of complaint. When I tried to take the tongs, she insisted on keeping them and immediately started wrapping meat in lettuce as soon as it was cooked, intending to feed it to me.

The way the Student Council President smiled contentedly, as if she were the one eating, while personally feeding me meat, seemed strangely satisfying despite not eating any herself.

If I were to say this, it might upset both Inna and Seo-ra since they seem similar in that they seem happier taking care of me than eating themselves.

Inna’s actions could be justified as fulfilling her purpose by imbuing her care with some sort of enlightenment.

But the Student Council President?

Her abilities did not seem to derive from feeding others, yet seeing her satisfaction from feeding me made it oddly more guilt-inducing than when I was around Inna.

This was further compounded because it seemed difficult for her to expect anything in return from me.

“Alright, I’ll eat on my own.”

“…Yes, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have forced such a thing upon you, considering we’re not even particularly close.”

No, it wasn’t subtle — she outright reacted this way.

Seeing the Student Council President’s deflated demeanor after I requested she stop feeding me made me regret rejecting her offer.

By trying to avoid feeling guilty, I told her not to feed me anymore, but now seeing her act like a scolded child for not being allowed to feed me anymore, made my heart ache even more.

“…No, it’s fine. But if you keep this up, you won’t be able to eat, and I’ll feel guilty.”

Without any lies, just the truth.

Before the Mistress of Wisdom, any flimsy lie would be easily exposed. Therefore, it was best to honestly explain to her why I disliked eating the meat she offered.

So far, the Student Council President had only taught me the basics of using my supernatural ability as the Mistress of Wisdom, but there must be a reason why she became the main Heroine with the power of Wisdom.

“Ah, yes. If you feel guilty then I’ve failed. Sorry, I hadn’t thought of that aspect.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

Apologies and more apologies.

Though the Student Council President should logically have high self-esteem given her position, today she seemed oddly apologetic toward me.

Surely, it wasn’t because I hadn’t contacted her often that her self-esteem had decreased. Given the rarity of me inviting her for conversations on the weekend, this could very well be her true nature.

“Hmm~ Customer. You were with a different woman yesterday and now you’re here with another lady. You must really love meat, huh?”

Hmm, the conversation from the other table barely reached my ears. However, any sense of apology from the Student Council President quickly vanished from her gaze. She’s well-versed with being a Villain after all…

Realizing that the mysterious Heroine might intervene, and using this to erase the sense of guilt she felt towards me, perhaps shows just how exceptionally intelligent she is.

“I’ll do the grilling like yesterday, so don’t worry. Wasn’t it delicious?”

I deliberately ignored the talk from the adjacent table and turned my focus towards the Student Council President sitting across from me.

Confusion flickered on her face; unsure whether she should be upset with me or continue apologizing.

Though I had promised to return, it was a one-sided promise. From the start, the Student Council President had no means to prevent me from seeing other women.

However, knowing her love for me, she also understood her public s*icide attempt at school, so it wasn’t surprising that seeing me with someone who wasn’t Inna caused her confusion.

“People over there are talking to you, and you’re just ignoring them~. Though, considering you’re a customer, I’ll overlook your pretty face!”

Here she was subtly twisting the situation with her few words while claiming she was being lenient.

Observing the surroundings for a teachable moment for this arrogant part-time worker, my eyes landed on what seemed to be the Shop Owner—a Black Human—keeping a watchful eye on the scene.

I signaled him telepathically to intervene and have her step away.

Though, I did want to know the reaction keyword of the mysterious Heroine, but not in this way. I certainly hadn’t anticipated that interrupting a meal with another Heroine would trigger her response.

That happened last time and this time too.

It feels like this woman only reacts during meetings with the Student Council President…

Could it be because the Student Council President is rumored to be Kim Ha-neul’s lover? Or, is the Student Council President herself the trigger for the rogue part-time worker, Ilia?

With too few samples, it’s unclear, but visiting this place with Lee Seo-ra a few more times might confirm things about what triggers this woman’s reaction.

However, that wasn’t important now.

“…Alright, that’s enough.”

Perhaps because of the condescending remarks about my ignorance, Seo-ra’s ever-smiling face was now stiffening in real-time.

Though I’m at fault, I wasn’t particularly angry, but seeing the Student Council President’s greater fury over it made me feel somewhat odd.

The very title ‘Student Council President’ was my personal demarcation line for her, an attempt to prevent her favorability from rising too high too fast.

Looking at her favorability now, it seems all my attempts have been in vain.

“Last time as well, you kept doing this. Why do you keep taking the tongs when I say I’ll cook my own meat?”

“Eh-hehe~. Don’t decline. The free service provided by part-time help is one of the reasons people come to restaurants. Take full advantage of it.”

“If that’s the case, then go grill for other tables. There are quite a few customers here; why do you specifically bother our table?”

Lost in thought, the situation in front of me only escalates.

The shop owner’s deliberate non-interference clearly shows this is someone even the establishment owner can’t easily dismiss.

[Her method of choosing prey involves two people who seem deeply in love coming here together. Though she has blue hair, her nature can be categorized as the so-called ‘Golden Sun Cheating’ attribute.]

The system provided some basic information without even showing a detailed profile, which caught me off guard since the system is usually not this helpful.

“Ahhh, finally, she’s gone.”

After successfully driving away the part-timer with words, the Student Council President glanced alternately at my plate and the grill before speaking:

“Let’s wrap it up here, shall we?”

“Yeah, let’s just leave.”

Though I wanted to learn more about Ilia through the Student Council President, I didn’t want to strain my relations with one of the few people who assist me. Also, I had eaten enough meat.

The ‘Wisdom’ of the main Heroine should have given her a high probability of learning something about that woman during this brief meeting.

…Would she tell me if I asked? Based on her current apologetic demeanor, she likely would, but thinking about showing interest in someone we just quarreled with might be too much to ask of her.

“Here’s the bill.”

“Ah, yes. Customer, let me take care of it for you~.”

A woman aiming for NTR…

Unless she holds some significant secret, it might be better not to pursue this Heroine.

Thinking that while handing over the card, Ilia instead softly brushed the back of my hand with hers.

“…?”

“What are you doing?”

When I realized the words were spoken by the Student Council President, not me, she didn’t stop at just saying it, grabbing Ilia’s hand off my hand immediately after.

“We’re close enough to do this sort of thing, but you’re intervening without knowing anything about our relationship, aren’t you, Erica?”

“…?”

The realization that she likely knew something about my past.

This thought made a lot of things clear.

Like how she easily spoke casually to the customers,

or her focus on grilling for my table.

It must be due to some sort of close relationship.