Chapter 56

The school trip is not just a journey for students to go and have fun.

It can be accurately regarded as a trip with a purpose of academic performance.

Thus, the destination chosen by the school – Busan.

At the time when the concept of superpowers suddenly permeated this world, it was the place where Korea was in the most turmoil, and it was also where a man who greatly amplified that chaos was born and perished.

Due to superpowers, the prohibition of killings started because of the incidents caused by that man.

Rebellion.

And a revolution.

Busan was the most crucial location in the modern history of superpowers in Korea, so when Busan was selected as the destination for this academic project, there was no opposition from the students.

Among the students, who would rebel against the school-selected destination for the school trip? Plus, Busan was a place with a lot of attractions to enjoy and sights to see.

On top of that, since the trip was scheduled to start on Wednesday and end on Friday, those who wished could stay longer and enjoy without issue. However, they had to inform the teachers beforehand so that return train tickets could be booked appropriately for those dates. But that minor inconvenience was tolerable.

While other groups had already determined who would stay behind and play together, one group gained an additional member just four days before the school trip and convened.

Six of the school’s celebrities gathered at a café for the school trip preparations.

Typically, people don’t converse in cafes because loud music may be uncomfortable, conversations from other patrons might disturb, or their own conversations might disturb others. However, since they had spent two weeks together but were not close enough to invite each other home, meeting at the café was inevitable.

“So, what will I be doing in this group?”

Despite having the ability of falsehood as a transfer student pretending to be an old queen, such an ability can only turn occurrences into non-occurrences, not uncover something unknown.

Actually, uncovering something unknown was more the domain of Kang Yu-ri, the old queen who possessed the insight to construct the whole from mere fragments of information, and who was the nemesis of wisdom.

The gaze of Kang Yu-ri, a disguised transfer student who joined the group led by Erica, was directed not at the group leader but towards the person she perceived as the most leader-like and well-known in this group.

Kim Ha-neul.

While everyone only knew that his hands glow when using his full power, no one in this school knew the true nature of his superpower.

However, it was a fact everyone in the school knew that wherever he went, incidents occurred and he resolved most of them while extending a helping hand to those involved.

Even though still confined to the small fence of school, Kim Ha-neul was someone who demonstrated his greatness during the first year, so when Kang Yu-ri looked at these five, she looked specifically at him. Yet, he simply shrugged his shoulders and diverted his gaze in another direction.

“You should ask our enthusiastic bus driver who insists on refusing to be one.”

A girl sipping a sweet type of coffee then glanced sideways at Kim Ha-neul after he had passed the question to her, removed her lips from the straw, and lightly licked her lips to clean any possible stains, before speaking.

“To be honest, this guy has nothing to do.”

“Eh?! You were nagging me so much just now, and now you’re saying this?!”

In response to Erica’s calm answer, the girl, whom Kim Ha-neul had labeled as his “gum eraser,” shrieked.

Rather than being due to the “group assignment,” Erica, who had been burned from past work experiences, was being stricter than usual to avoid a repetition of her past ordeals. She was focusing more on gathering information about the members of the group rather than information related to the assignment, hence her reprimand of Kim Da-seul.

Without much intention to provide a lengthy explanation, Erica explained to Kang Yu-ri why she need not take on any role.

Also partly for Kang Yu-ri’s understanding,

“We’ve already taken care of everything internally.”

Character research was assigned to Kim Da-seul, known for enjoying historical investigations of superpower users in Busan. To Kim Ha-neul, who had high school recognition, the task was given to survey people around and identify less overlapping destinations.

The task of embellishing destinations alongside Kim Ha-neul was handed to Inna, while organizing information about the superpower users investigated by Kim Da-seul with the chosen destinations was assigned to Rao Ha.

Eliminating unnecessary details, filling in necessary components, and compiling crucial information into organized files was handled by Erica herself. All that remained was the feedback and impressions from the trip.

“So, in the group assignment, everyone needs to participate, so if there’s nothing to do, you can simply be the presenter.”

“I’m good at presenting, so that would work for me~.”

An easy role that involved merely presenting the well-organized data gathered by all members. However, considering that assigning other responsibilities to the latecomer could potentially result in abandonment, it was the best option.

The reasonable girl turned her attention to the other two who hadn’t participated in the discussion.

Inna was tightly hugging Erica’s arm, while the woman dressed in splendid gold was playing a phone game.

‘You do know it’s morning for her, right?’

Inna had whispered to Erica during break time that the transferred student was actually the former queen, so this implicit rejection of the transfer student’s inclusion was understandable.

Rao Ha didn’t try to engage with anyone who didn’t approach her first, meaning two out of the six were avoiding conversation with the transferee, so it was unlikely for the conversation to flow.

As an uncomfortable silence settled, Erica quickly broke it.

“So, this conversation ends here. If you ordered something extra, finish eating. And if you think there’s no need for a long meeting, let’s keep it short and meet during the break times next time.”

When transfer students come into your group, don’t they typically ask questions and try to get closer? Though Erica hadn’t done it herself, she had observed other students doing so and thought this was slightly unusual, but she didn’t verbalize this thought.

This world is, after all, a romantic visual novel.

Even though situations flowed differently from her memories, there was nothing strange about that here.

“So, uh… where are you from?”

Kim Da-seul was the only one showing interest in the transfer student. Surprisingly, no one left even though the meeting was supposed to be over. At this awkward moment, someone tapped the shoulder of Erica, who was silently sipping her drink.

An androgynous-looking boy was flashing a charming smile.

Perhaps because Erica had never viewed ‘men’ as s*xual objects, she wasn’t affected by it.

“Hey, you said you wanted to meet my sister, right? My meeting ended earlier so I have some time. When do you want to meet her?”

“Today?”

If meeting would take a long time, how could it be possible that she could meet her right away?

In visual novels, the protagonist’s special strength often equates to her suitability as a romantic partner.

Given the situational certainty that Kim Ha-neul liked his sister, Erica was caught off guard with the unexpected news that she could meet her soon and was having trouble managing her expressions when the woman clutching her arm suddenly spoke.

“No way! I don’t like it. I don’t want to meet!”

A statement that seemed to answer for Erica.

This was also a warning to Erica.

A warning that she didn’t want Erica to meet another girl.

And it wasn’t just verbal; the woman squeezed Erica’s arm to deliver a painful message. However, Erica didn’t respond to the pain as her protection hadn’t activated.

“So, when and where shall we meet?”

“About ten minutes after I leave?”

“…Why do you have to leave all of a sudden?”

“Because I need to call her.”

“So, will you come back?”

“No, I have things to do, so I think only my sister will come.”

Even though Kim Ha-neul was talking, the inexplicable flow of the conversation made Erica feel confused.

Why not just call if it’s so urgent? And where are all the older brothers in the world who call their sisters and then leave them behind?

Despite the confusion, Erica nodded to meet [her] again since she wanted another chance to converse with [her].

Then she glanced around. Although everyone had supposedly dispersed, women remained, pretending to sip coffee while eavesdropping on her conversation.

Because all eyes were on her except for Kim Da-seul who was trying to understand the transfer student’s back story, she knew leaving this setting would just lead to her being pursued.

As Erica couldn’t think of a good way to slip away unnoticed, she finished her drink and got up.

“Well then, I’ll leave first. Please tell her that we’ll meet in ten minutes there.”

“Alright, see you guys next time.”

After Erica left, Kim Ha-neul also slowly waved goodbye and exited the café, but ran off in the opposite direction from Erica.

Although Erica left first but moved slowly, Kim Ha-neul left later but sprinted. The pursuers, after a moment of hesitation, decided to follow Erica.

“Hey! Wait! Just tell me what your superpower is before you go! I won’t tell anyone! Hey!”

Kim Da-seul became the sole pursuer, chasing their tails as the game of tag commenced…