Chapter 158

Upon hearing a story that was closer to a threat than a suggestion, Erica entered the classroom much more slowly than Kim Ha-neul did.

The class bell had already rung, yet the teacher hadn’t arrived yet, so the classroom was less noisy than during break time.

When Erica walked in, some who were in the middle of a conversation paused briefly to look at her but resumed talking once they realized it wasn’t the teacher—a just-so-much kind of atmosphere.

The girl, taking Inna’s empty seat with no one needing to move aside for her, immediately began assessing the situation—what it meant for Kim Ha-neul to have revealed his true nature.

This true nature wasn’t even about treating Inna as an enemy but rather suggested hostility if he wasn’t sought out by Inna.

It implied that unless his purpose was obstructed, there was no need to consider him an opponent. Was he genuinely kind, or merely disinterested in people unrelated to his objectives?

Erica didn’t know which sort of character her counterpart was.

Because she had been afraid, staying distant from him due to his status as the protagonist, Erica never got an understanding of the kind of person Kim Ha-neul was.

Afraid and aloof, Erica missed out on the chance to truly know him.

Perhaps the reason the system required increasing favorability to unlock profiles, even while advising against falling for anyone, was to encourage Erica’s active participation.

The girl, uncovering the things hidden or arranged by the system one by one, had to make decisions and act even before a few hours passed, deciding not to run anymore—regardless of whether the teacher came in or not, she was lost in thought.

Figuring out what to do about Kim Ha-neul and Inna wasn’t something that could be decided in just a few minutes.

Naturally, if more time would have provided an answer, Erica might have already resolved Inna’s situation over the weekend.

“Mr. Kim Ha-neul, are we going together today?”

“I have something to do, so I’ll go ahead.”

Erica snapped out of her thoughts at the end-of-day dismissal when Kim Ha-neul announced his departure to his group of friends.

Still, her thoughts weren’t fully organized.

He intended to go see Inna.

Attempting to stop Kim Ha-neul, Erica moved to get up from her seat, but the protagonist of this world simply disappeared from the classroom without even glancing at her.

“Shall we go?”

Han Ye-seul, who had been looking curiously at the girl who suddenly stood up, seemed to have thought that Erica was rising to head home and reached out her hand.

As Erica stared down at her friend’s outstretched hand, she mentally overlaid it with another hand—the hand of a woman who craved her attention.

‘You don’t even intend to answer the question of whether you want to become my girlfriend.’

It was an unsolvable puzzle.

The student council president might be oblivious, but someone like Inna, who had been alongside Kim Ha-neul since childhood, surely had a closer relationship with the original owner of this body—not Erica.

Could she even interfere with Inna’s heart when she knew no answer could be given regarding Kim Ha-neul’s ‘salvation’?

While observing the girl vacillating between herself and the window, Han Ye-seul smiled faintly.

“Would you like to go somewhere else?”

“Huh?”

“You seem to want to go somewhere other than my place.”

Han Ye-seul’s expression was near-neutral, yet Erica’s transparent emotions were as clear as if they had been read aloud. This wasn’t any supernatural ability; Han Ye-seul’s pure heart naturally interpreted Erica’s intentions.

The rarity of having such a sincere person as a friend was truly fortunate.

In gratitude for this small blessing, the actress explained to Erica, who was waiting silently, why she sensed the girl wanted to go elsewhere: “You’ve been distracted since you came back from the hallway with Mr. Kim Ha-neul. Really, did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“No, I thought you might… But…”

“But?”

“I didn’t know if you’d let me go. I’m technically in your hire, aren’t I?”

Han Ye-seul, wondering what Erica thought of her, noticed the girl’s eyes were now fixed on the floor, avoiding direct contact.

The sudden avoidance was clearly due to Erica lying.

But wasn’t there really nothing that warranted a lie? Han Ye-seul then realized what she had overlooked.

The girl wasn’t weighing the importance of going outside versus honoring her contract.

She was simply afraid of change, using her promise as an excuse.

If that was the case, Han Ye-seul had something to say to Erica.

“If you don’t want to go there, just tell me.”

Han Ye-seul wasn’t entirely clear on Erica’s worries.

All she could guess was that something related to the absence of Inna and the corridor conversation with Kim Ha-neul lingered.

Not knowing the specifics, offering advice would have been meaningless, so the only thing Han Ye-seul could do was respect Erica’s wishes.

She couldn’t take Kim Ha-neul’s side in something she knew nothing about anyway.

“Whatever your reason, I’ll make it so that I have a need for you to stay by my side.”

And it wasn’t a false sentiment; Han Ye-seul genuinely wanted to be friends with Erica.

This kindness was expressed without the actress even considering her stalker issues or other problems.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

Erica looked up, unable not to notice the sincerity. Though she watched TV and only saw “black humans,” she realized Han Ye-seul must have plenty of prettier and more capable friends available to her.

Was it because of stalker concerns?

If she were truly preoccupied with that, she would have hired thoroughly secure bodyguards. Even women could overcome physical limitations in this world of supernatural abilities.

If she couldn’t remain in school with her, wouldn’t she have made a proper request through the student council?

With no restrictions on using her powers and possessing outstanding physical abilities, wouldn’t Han Ye-seul be able to hire someone much better than Erica?

Nevertheless, Han Ye-seul had chosen Erica, a question Erica had pondered since taking the job but hadn’t delved into too deeply, as Han Ye-seul’s actions benefited her.

“Hmm, it’s embarrassing to say directly, so I’ll tell you when I have more time. What are you going to do for now?”

Erica, in an attempt to prolong her thinking time by questioning Han Ye-seul’s actions, was immediately caught.

Now fully committed to providing a response, Erica pondered seriously.

Deciding to take an active role like the protagonist, she understood she didn’t necessarily have to intervene in everything.

After all, the protagonist in a school-based youth story wouldn’t be someone who forcibly attracts females; the actions fit for this world were those of a true protagonist.

Was repeatedly blocking Kim Ha-neul to keep deceiving Inna truly a protagonist’s behavior? And if it wasn’t, did she have a valid reason to continue doing so?

These questions had been occupying her thoughts throughout the class.

She had to make a decision now, if she wished to benefit from Han Ye-seul’s aid.

“I—”

Erica concluded all her deliberations and provided an answer.

“Yes, I will help.”

Even though she wasn’t entirely aware of what awaited her, Han Ye-seul agreed to assist Erica.

The almost-extra-like sub-heroine and the sub-heroine with her own conclusion temporarily united to hinder the protagonist’s advances toward the heroine.

Though Han Ye-seul herself didn’t yet know the exact purpose behind her assistance, had she been aware that she was helping to prevent her crush, Kim Ha-neul, from being distracted, she would have still assisted Erica.

Han Ye-seul genuinely desired to be friends with Erica—her only friend.

Even if she held affection for Kim Ha-neul, she would have helped Erica disrupt this minor distraction if she knew the circumstances.

Thus, Erica started running in pursuit of the boy who had departed more than ten minutes before. Han Ye-seul, who often jogged, easily kept pace beside her.