Chapter 41

Dragged to the restroom by her friend, Gain was extremely tense. Inna is a good friend under normal circumstances. That fact hasn’t changed.

However, there are times when she doesn’t listen to her friends’ opinions and solely asserts her own position whenever it involves Erica.

What could the girl with the exotic name possibly have to say about this? Song Gain inevitably became irritated whenever Inna prioritized Erica over her friends, yet she couldn’t express this irritation.

The reason why Gain, a promising athlete in sports, can’t be upset with Inna was because an angered Inna was even frightening to Song Gain. The feeling of being completely overwhelmed as if her whole body could be crushed at any moment—this is why the physically powerful woman could not become angry with Inna.

“Alright, don’t be scared. Would I ever k*ll a friend? What are you worried about? You’re the one who didn’t do anything wrong here.”

Huff—Haa—After a quick deep breath, the woman finally spoke words that could easily ignite Inna’s anger.

“You know very well what happened when I followed your advice and tried approaching her before! And do you remember how angry I was when I heard what she said to me that time—”

“You can express your anger in front of me. I just said you shouldn’t do so when Erica is around. Were you very angry back then? Do you want to get revenge? Our Erica seems uniquely gifted at upsetting others.”

Inna, covering her mouth with her hand, chuckled softly in a way that was nothing like the social and kind Yu Inna that Song Gain usually knew. It was as if a dark and wicked snake had taken human form and now smiled—a chilling sensation.

“You can be angry. Just don’t dismiss Erica entirely like you just did; try to be more approachable towards her. Instead of getting mad like you just did, maybe you can express your dissatisfaction in another way?”

“Another way?”

“Yes. A way that allows you to remain pleasant while also making Erica regret what she did to you.”

—Don’t you want it?

Whispering into her ear like this felt so unlike her usual self that even though Gain wasn’t mad at Erica, she was compelled by the fear that she somehow needed to follow Inna’s advice. Besides, frankly speaking, the reaction that Erica might show if she followed Inna’s strategy intrigued her.

Empathy. This was the supernatural ability that Inna possessed—a skill that could even influence others with her desires. The closer the relationship with her friends, the more effectively her ability worked. While using this ability so that Song Gain wouldn’t notice, Inna silently smiled.

“Let me show you something.”

Either recall the time when you lost your memories or be humiliated by someone you ignored before losing them.

Even while granting Erica blessings with her supernatural abilities, Inna plotted to ensure her friend got what she deserved, despite Erica treating her like a mere girl instead of the woman she truly was.

*

“Are those two doing something in the restroom?”

As most of the break time was nearly over and they still hadn’t returned, I muttered in irritation while the woman who had been absentmindedly stroking my hair murmured, “It won’t be long.”

Through the system, I had a premonition—an intuition or a vision—that Yu Inna might be brewing some kind of scheme, but I wasn’t completely idle either.

Recently, I had been trying my best to open up my heart to Kim So-ra, and the system indicated my favorability towards her had already increased enough for me to access her profile.

[Self-harm keyword already recognized. The first-tier favorability cap is unlocked. Simultaneously, Kim So-ra’s offensive profile is revealed.]

[Name: Kim So-ra]

[Favorability: 20(50)]

[A gentle and kind woman who loves helping others with their appearance and is especially fond of small and cute little girls. While she has a f*tish tied to her habit of enhancing others’ appearances, where styling others’ or her own appearance is a source of enjoyment, she remains unenthusiastic about engaging too intimately with the lead heroine. Therefore, she can only be considered an extra unless directly tied to the main heroine’s narrative. Thus, for now, you can relax.]

As long as there’s no connection to the main heroine, the Student Council President, Kim So-ra remains just an extra role, and you can relax around her.

Although I don’t understand why she prefers small and adorable girls, since she’s unrelated to the Student Council President, it must mean her role hinges on involvement with the main heroine despite her preferences.

While I was processing my thoughts after reviewing Kim So-ra’s profile, the back door opened as the two people we had been waiting for came in simultaneously.

Since Inna sits beside me, that is understandable, but Song Gain also approached me, standing at the desk in front of me. It was evident she had something to say.

“…Sorry about speaking so harshly earlier. I was thinking about the past instead of considering your changes, and I said some things without thinking.”

“It’s okay. I had some faults too, so it’s alright.”

I accepted her apology calmly. Since it ended Kim So-ra’s time beautifying me, I gained some favorability points instead.

This was a story about not receiving strange orders from Inna yet. Once I unlock Kim So-ra’s inner self through increasing favorability, I’ll learn if any strange orders existed or not.

“That went well, right? Gain isn’t such a bad person after all?”

“It’s good to see you’ve made more friends besides me.”

Kim So-ra was pleased, as if a child from her own home had apologized. Meanwhile, Inna was making some kind of assessment through her words.

Actually, when I first tried to interact with Inna as if she were similar to Kim So-ra, I mistakenly assumed she was impersonating one of the most kind-hearted people she knew. Or maybe they had just started resembling each other as friends.

If their friendship made them alike, Inna must have a part of Erica within her too. Is there some aspect of Erica’s essence still residing in Inna?

Before I could deeply ponder it, the bell rang and we returned to our seats. Inna, who had swapped to sit beside me, sat there without issue.

As I waited for the teacher to arrive, an indicator similar to a small bell flashed in my peripheral vision. As I looked at it, the system window appeared, covering my vision.

[Although you’ve adjusted somewhat to this world, there are still things you have yet to fully grasp. To avoid possible misunderstandings, I will now clarify a few things.]

[Should you achieve the true ending with the true heroine, your exit from this world—or staying in—will be optional. However, if you leave, you will receive Erica’s current body, not your previous one. No matter how damaged your current body becomes, it cannot be repaired, though injuries can be. If you’ve played certain types of games, you’d understand. In the other world, there will be no status or identity but you can carry over your supernatural abilities and wealth from this world, giving you some advantage.]

What nonsense. Even if I reach the true ending, I’ll still end up as a woman? And instead of status or position, I’ll gain supernatural abilities and three hundred million won. What benefit is that?

There is absolutely no benefit.

If even with status, being transferred as a woman, then even getting 300 million won wouldn’t count as a benefit.

The system’s tone seemed intentionally mocking all my hopes. My teeth clenched, careful not to let Inna notice.

There’s more—it says injuries can be healed, but the damaged body cannot, which leaves room for interpretation. Let’s skip that for now.

[Secondly, extras involved with the protagonist or the main heroine can rise in rank. Conceivably, the true heroine might be hiding among these extras, so you shouldn’t overlook anyone.]

The true heroine might be hiding among the extras?

Now I finally understand why the protagonist was indiscriminately pursuing heroines. If one of the extras could be the true heroine, it would naturally make sense to pursue all of them, including the extras.

[Thirdly, if you leave this world, the existence of Erica will be considered as deceased here. So, you shouldn’t feel obligated to leave anything for Erica or act for her sake.]

[Fourthly, Erica will remain in a mental state, occasionally speaking to or touching you, but the body’s ownership is always yours. Unless you attempt a form of spiritual s*icide, Erica cannot take control of the body, regardless of your wishes.]

…As much as I’d want, I need Erica.

If I leave, Erica will surely leave behind deeply hurt people who cared for her. That said, I cannot turn down this opportunity to leave.

Even if I consider yielding her the body before reaching the bad ending, I’d rather not if I’d see her d*ath worse than mine.

[Lastly, once the bad ending’s course is set, no matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to escape. It may deteriorate but cannot improve. Even Erica in her mental state would dislike taking the body at that point, so using a trick to hand the body to Erica during or post-bad ending is not feasible. However, under your consent in certain unique circumstances, she can possess the body temporarily during the progress towards the bad ending.]

The system’s response to my trick was clear and direct; thus, I gave a bitter smile.

In conclusion, everything said implies that no matter what, Erica’s body will only function under my approval. During the bad ending sequence, even this isn’t possible.

—Original Erica is effectively dead, and all actions I undertake for her hold no significance.

Perhaps sensing my persistent efforts to return the body to the original Erica, the system had surfaced rather awkwardly.

After all, I had neither uncovered any clues, nor increased another person’s favorability, nor experienced any events before this system notification surfaced.

“Sorry,” I apologized to the girl within me, knowing full well I wouldn’t be able to return Erica’s body as she wished.

With the system’s definite declarations, it was clear Erica had probably done something drastic.

During the 3 days she wasn’t at school,

she must have engaged in self-destructive attempts beyond self-harm,

causing me to come to this world in this body.

And likely, she had done it out of a hope to make me regret abandoning her.

[Your understanding of Erica has increased by 10 points. No rewards.]

I didn’t wish for it, d*mn it.

As the middle-aged male teacher walked through the front door, I averted my gaze from the system and focused on the lesson ahead.

“Hmm, hello everyone. Shall we turn directly to page 80?”

…Avoiding Inna’s piercing gaze—I had probably become awkward while fixating on the system.

I pretended not to notice her gaze and concentrated on the lesson at hand.