Chapter 42

Inna looked at me with suspicion when she noticed how I was handling eye contact, but aside from that, nothing particularly unusual happened until lunchtime.

From the start, it was somewhat odd how I handled eye contact, so there was no way I could uncover anything about the system—naturally.

Even during lunchtime, I had no time to rest.

I roughly informed the Student Council President, whom I met on Saturday, about the status of the task assigned by the Vice President, but it’s only proper etiquette to directly relay the message to the Vice President who gave me the task. As the top exemplary student born in the land of Eastern Courtesy, it was naturally my duty.

After finishing my meal, I planned to report the contents to the Vice President alone and return, but I didn’t expect that the two others would also come along, given the custom among friends to stick together.

Ah, yes, I recalled such customs faintly now. I remember boys and girls crowding around in groups.

In my previous world, where I was too outstanding and avoided by everyone at school, I had no reason to ever encounter such customs.

Though I could easily refuse, it was unexpected that the people I had just befriended decided today to join me because of this custom. After finishing my meal, the only thing left was the next task, but to be honest, it was a little burdensome having everyone move around together because of me.

That was also the reason why I entered the location with Inna without any objection, despite the Vice President’s statement that only those assigned to a mission could enter.

“To those who came along, there’s a resting room in the next room where you can relax with some light snacks.”

Since there was also a separate resting area nearby, I didn’t feel much burden leaving Sora and Gain behind and entering a more convenient place with Inna.

A peculiarly named room, [Request Office], inside the school.

That room had a sufficient reason for why ordinary students like Sora and Gain couldn’t enter.

The entire wall was intricately decorated with a map of the city, and at every location, papers with students’ requests were attached with tape.

So, this was the Student Council’s true request system.

And, delving deeper, it would likely be the central place in any school slice-of-life narrative.

Inna and I sat on the sofa guided by the Vice President, who sat opposite us.

“You successfully completed your first task. Of course, it wasn’t perfectly done. Who were the people who ambushed you? And if we catch them, can the students in that household return to their normal lives? We don’t know. Anyway, to cut to the chase, the police are also searching for the student they originally requested us to find, but it’s not easy. Even the busy President found time to personally search but said it’s as if they’ve vanished from this world. Therefore, your accounts of the people you witnessed will serve as the only evidence.”

The statement ‘only evidence’ implies they are the sole suspects. While it might seem that those arrogant superhuman ability users who can face the world alone could brainwash others to join their side, the Student Council likely has their own thoughts.

For example, they might be intentionally spreading false information to others. Considering Inna’s adaptability and the ability of one of those criminals to manipulate shadows, it was natural not to reveal the real information about them that others may speculate.

You never know when someone else might be eavesdropping. It’s not about limiting information because you know the criminals’ abilities, but rather being cautious because you don’t know what kind of abilities those superhuman ability users might have. Even if you’re close to the President, you can’t say you’ve perfectly completed the first task.

“It’s not much. One side had some unknown power, but each blow was strong. The other one seemed to handle darkness or something like that. That’s the end of what I thought. Doesn’t seem like it will help much, but is this okay?”

Despite my waiting, I conveyed exactly what I thought between the Vice President who was waiting for my answer and Inna, who didn’t appear inclined to speak.

“Ah, yes. Let’s consider this task done. If you have time, could you possibly take on more tasks? We plan to process the ones related to that student as completed, but we’d like to ask for your help regarding any matters connected to her if possible.”

[From now on, the probability of tasks that involve meeting heroines outside school will increase. Currently, there are two heroines you’re connected to who can only be seen outside the school: the Queen of the Old School and the mysterious heroine Kana. While you might meet new heroines, there’s a significantly higher chance of meeting them.]

While the format of a task must be maintained, the increased probability of encountering the Queen of the School is intriguing.

It’s true that I somewhat took the event lightly, but even without knowing how much the probability increases, finding the School Queen, who has the potential to manipulate reality, is precious simply due to the increase in likelihood.

“The most important thing is that I don’t have strength right now.”

Even if the probabilities are raised, and you meet the School Queen, you don’t have the power to subdue her. Therefore, you need to move together with someone who can subdue the Queen.

For example, in my previous encounter with the criminals, someone with a superhuman ability that presumably isn’t offensive—like using earth to block attacks—might be a person who follows my requests to some extent.

“Why suddenly?”

The girl, puzzled at suddenly being looked at, twirled her greenish-brown hair with her fingers while sipping the tea handed to her by the Vice President.

“If I take on a mission like this, will you come along?”

Since I’m unfamiliar with the geography, having someone help would be ideal. Asking the Student Council President would be too busy, and frankly, in a world where superhuman abilities exist, I felt the President only had a mediocre level of strength from our previous encounter.

When we eventually find the true Queen of the School, I can call the Student Council President separately. In that sense, asking Yoon Inna is more surefire. It’s better to discuss this now rather than separately.

“Then you were going to move without me? That’s unfair~.”

The girl who took another sip of tea teasingly smiled while lightly squeezing my shoulder.

Has her personality slightly changed? The goodwill in her gaze toward me hasn’t changed, but her tone is subtly shifting.

I’ve heard that inspiration doesn’t refer to her being influenced by others but rather others being influenced by her.

Therefore, honestly, I thought she was someone with an incredibly strong mind as the owner of inspiration.

If her intention is to inspire those around her, she must possess a tremendous amount of mental strength.

However, if her personality is gradually changing, it might mean she’s being affected by her superhuman ability.

An erosion-type superhuman ability.

I haven’t asked, but her ability might also be of the erosion type.

Maybe I should ask her older sister about the disadvantages and advantages of the erosion type. If I had known there were so many erosion-type users, I should have asked questions earlier.

“Don’t worry. I’ll assist you if you need as long as you provide compensation.”

“Compensation?”

While I was thinking about her, she whispered in my ear in front of the Vice President.

Compensation—it’s the same thing she mentioned when we met the two people who attacked us. The situation was intense back then, so I didn’t get a chance to ask properly.

“Something trivial if it’s trivial. We’ll talk about it later when we’re alone, right?”

What could be considered trivial when we’re alone later?

A little dissatisfaction arose, but it would be impolite to keep talking just between the two of us with others around. I shifted my gaze toward the woman in the black suit who patiently waited for our conversation to end.

“You seem to have finished the conversation. For now, if you inform me, you can come here anytime to take on a task. If you don’t intend to take one, you can sit for a bit and leave.”

[The prologue task for the event task has ended. It may not be considered a proper completion, but we’ve certainly passed the starting point. From now on, you can glimpse the攻略scenarios of all characters whose affection has risen to the first stage. Since this is from the protagonist’s perspective, you cannot see what the protagonist hasn’t cleared.]

[Sub-Heroine Yoon Inna’s攻略Scenario]

[Stage 1: A woman whose heart has already been taken by another woman. To take control of her heart, what must be done? First, distance yourself from that other woman and build affection with Inna. (Completed)]

[Stage 2: The strained relationship you forced open drove the girl Inna loves to attempt self-harm. The girl cannot d*e because d*ath would prevent her from loving that girl. Even Inna, who obsesses over that girl, doesn’t want her to d*e. Prevent Erica from dying by offering a hopeful future that they might reconnect. (Completed)]

[Stage 3: Though you have never made a proper approach to Inna, you’ve been continuously fulfilling her wishes. Due to your past actions, Inna has developed some level of affection for you. Now, approach Inna by helping her connect with the Student Council President. If she cooperates in making Erica fall in love with her, approaching her will be easy. (Completed)]

[Stage 4: The cooperative relationship between you and Inna unfolds unnoticed even by the observant Student Council President. It’s smooth but also precarious. If things continue like this, Erica will fall for Inna, and that’s the end. Though Inna can reveal some goodwill toward you as compensation, it will be compensation, not love. Prevent Erica from falling into Inna’s love, making Inna restless. This can be achieved either by making Erica fall in love with the Student Council President or with you, but it must remain unnoticed. (In Progress)]

‘What is this?’

This was definitely not the kind of content I should accidentally share with Inna, so I bit my tongue to avoid showing any reaction.

This is clearly the system’s content visible to the protagonist Kim Ha-neul.

What about the respect for our mutual romance, huh? Why was Inna being approached this way?

At this point, it’s absurd, almost beyond words.

Even though I thought I had grown close to her over the weekend, and in reality, I had, it’s now understandable why the original owner of this body disliked the protagonist based solely on this scenario.

The -100 must have been from reasons like this. Kim Ha-neul must have tried hard to hide these facts but was found out by Erica, leading to that -100 penalty.

Until now, I thought the reason for his -100 favorability was solely because he stole the Student Council President, but if he was also attempting to take the hearts of two other people around Erica and toying with Erica’s feelings, it makes perfect sense.

“So, are you going to take on a mission? Or are you leaving?”

Regardless of what Kim Ha-neul may have been thinking, this was indeed a dilemma.

—Should I continue missions with this woman to grow closer, or should I look for another partner? Given Inna’s scenario, it seems half-confirmed that she might be dangerous.

After pondering a little longer, I opened my mouth.

“…”

In response to my words, Yoon Inna nodded in agreement.