Meeting another protagonist was a first for them. The少年 who had completely wrecked the abandoned factory to the point it could no longer even be called one collapsed onto the spot.
Whether or not he manipulated the air, the other protagonist from a different genre persistently attacked from a distance, while theGirl used shadows that wouldn’t vanish even underRadiance in an attempt to irk her opponent.
This combination came as a shock toKim Ha-neul, who had thought they could fight alone.
Though they didn’t use their ultimate power as their last resort, the other side also refrained from it while trying to push back against them.
“Still… It seems I need allies.”
Without someone to handle theGirl whose abilities included darkness, space, and shadows, a one-on-one battle wouldn’t be feasible. Yet, achieving one-on-one combat was the only way to create an opening to defeat the protagonist from the different genre.
Despite resolving countless affairs over the span of a year, Kim Ha-neul was someone who had handled all direct confrontations alone. This event gave a significant revelation—perhaps they couldn’t see the world’s ending by themselves.
“So, what are you going to do? The Association will soon arrive to investigate the incident here.”
TheSupernatural Ability Users were restrained under the threat of invasion by other countries’ users, which is why they avoided using such abilities, except for killings.
However, for the demolition of a single abandoned factory, the Association wasn’t so forgiving. Despite knowing this, the boy didn’t prepare to escape but instead looked up at theStudent Council President looming above them.
With the condition of adhering to the agreement came a temporary team—an alliance meant only for this occasion. But what Kim Ha-neul truly needed was a real companion, someone who could share even their deepest secrets.
‘I’ll k*ll them.’
Why did the image of theGirl, who had been theStudent Council President’s lover, come to mind as the ideal ally? Perhaps it was because the latter already knew Kim Ha-neul’s secrets.
While pondering various things, the boy glanced up at the sky. The yellow moon, emanating its lucid glow, seemed little different from the one outside.
Even so, the boy yearned deeply to see the moon outside again. This longing intensified within him because there was something he had to accomplish outside.
To realize that longing, even briefly separating two lovers—a brute act—didn’t seem so difficult.
Together, they waited for the Association’s personnel: the boy, now burdened by slight guilt for the damage he caused, and the victim of his rampage.
“Why are you guys here?”
Neither had expected thatErica andInna would arrive alongside members of the Association. These relationships among them were vaguely awkward.
Before the uncomfortable air solidified, one of the Association’s members clapped their hands to draw everyone’s attention. The man then bluntly said,
“For now, let’s head to the Association building to discuss everything. Standing and talking here won’t get us anywhere.”
Investigating suspicions could wait until they reached the building. Before night fell deeper, the Association personnel led them all toward the headquarters.
Yet, encountering theSilver-Haired Woman there resulted in all charges being dismissed within ten seconds—an event almost too coincidental.
—
“Master, how does your body feel?”
The boy wieldingRadiance from his hands, capable of transforming into any weapon for the fight, found his adversary, “Kim Ha-neul,” indeed very powerful. Especially to a girl who possessedBlack Darkness, Kim Ha-neul was nearly her archenemy.
However, the girl was more concerned about her master’s injuries from protecting her than her own state.
Even though the woman gently stroked the girl’s head, her body wasn’t as heavily wounded as the girl feared.
With a power that bordered on “omnipotent,” surpassing even special adults due to their skills in romantic conquests, this was a protagonist whose body could withstand mistakes in a world where a single misstep could cost lives.
Certainly, the superficial wounds he received were due to him fighting passively with the sole aim of protecting her.
How could one expect this woman, whose combat prowess excels despite belonging to a different genre, to fall?
The memory of the girl they’d fought in the abandoned factory crossed the woman’s mind while she lay down in a new hideout, reminiscent of a daughter of wealth on the surface yet inwardly protective of her own circle, surprisingly wise once you understood her.
Perhaps because she resembled the foolish man she once loved, her promise to remain silent crumbled, and she involuntarily began speaking.
Though reality might change their roles here, becoming trapped in someone else’s body offered no guarantees of encountering familiar faces.
“Shall I investigate this for you once?”
The girl who wieldedBlack Darkness could see into the subconscious of others. However, Supernatural Ability Users often resisted, so it required the subject to feel at ease.
If the girl gained the trust of others, she could confirm the authenticity of the identity the woman’s master sought.
Unmatched in combat, yet lacking in uncovering others’ true identities or inner thoughts, this is where theBlack Darkness-wielding girl could assist.
While she might fall short compared to the genericProtagonist in combat, the multifaceted girl could achieve what the woman couldn’t.
The girl could sense the woman’s thoughts without speaking, but this time, the words spoke to the weight of her concern.
“Yes! I’ll confirm everything and return swiftly. Please inform me if something urgent arises, and I’ll hurry back immediately.”
Upon hearing the master’s request, the girl beamed brightly, prepared to leave and investigate further. She had already been spotted near the targeted school, and for a perfect disguise, she would need some assistance from a fellow student.
Thus, throughout the night, the plan to infiltrate the school whereErica’s main storyline unfolded continued.
—
“Did we… really fail?”
A darkened room overflowing with trash. Sitting before the monitors, aGirl gnawed her nails till bl**d came out.
The scheme was simple enough: Lure aStudent Council member, exploit their abilities, and set them against the Student Council. The plan was that theStudent Council would lose but, as collateral, theAssociation backing them would confront the group.
Basic and seemingly foolproof but now failed, not due to the other side’s countermeasures, but because an unforeseen individual disrupted their plans.
“How did this fail? Why did it fail? It should have succeeded! I worked so hard on this… I didn’t even ask for much! Why does everything I plan always fail?!!”
The raven-haired Girl resembled a ghost as she pulled her fingers out of her mouth and started ripping her own hair in frustration.
Though clumps of hair were pulled out each time, there was no visible bald spot on her head.
Not because her role as theHeroine prevented hair loss from her constant self-inflicted damage, but because of the sole supernatural ability she possessed. Unlike other protagonists who benefited from systems or other advantages, her single power ensured her hair regrew after falling out.
Frustrated but unable to rashly seek revenge against the one who spoiled her plan—because the firstHeroine was someone who had helped her sporadically during the last thirteen years—she could only stew in her rage.
She had no intention of pursuing any of the other protagonists to win theTrue Heroine’s love or finding an alternative love interest. Her goal since the start had remained unwavering—to drive away all the men and women surrounding the girl and possess her alone.
Tired of the screen displaying only failures, she turned it off and fell onto the trash-strewn bed. Moving a bit, she pushed the trash to one side.
“Hmph, you looked beautiful after such a long time. I wish I could see you more… but it can’t happen if I’m done with the mission, can it?”
Having a random idea, she awkwardly typed out a text with her eagle-like method and lay back down again. Her face bore a smile, anticipating what might come from the message.
The one determined to charm theTrue Heroine and leave this world.
The one who, regardless of theTrue Heroine, wanted to relive old love with someone from the real world.
The last one, who loved this world’sHeroine.
Each with different or shared goals, they prepared themselves to move with even greater vigor toward their objectives.
And under the night sky, the moon climbed to its highest place.