Chapter 59

The Association’s training room is a place where you can insert ‘settings’ to train.

Settings for the situation or settings for the opponent.

You could experience fighting in a burning house to prepare for battling an ability user related to fire, or fighting in a place where water masses fly around to prepare for battling an ability user who manipulates water. This is what the Association’s training room could offer.

Since the organization that restrains ability users consists of equal ability users, when such users fight, experience generally decides the upper hand.

The Association’s training room was designed to annihilate ability users of the same level by confronting them with holograms simulating other ability users.

Naturally, creating these holographic settings was beyond contemporary technology and could only be made possible through the powers of ability users, which was why it was only available at the Association.

Therefore, users of the training room generally utilized it with settings applied.

This feature being exclusive to the training room meant it was unavailable elsewhere.

Given there was a function to face simulated supernaturally-abled opponents, it would make little sense to visit the Association’s training room and not utilize settings.

Still, today’s visitor came here without the luxury of any setting adjustments.

This was because the Association’s strongest person, by sheer force of presence, had personally come down to supervise the training.

Though it might be more accurate to say she had come because she had agreed to oversee the training.

The vast white space in which these two figures stood provided definitive proof that no setting had been added to the training room.

The silver-haired woman in the black coat looked down at the girl collapsed on the floor without showing a trace of her usual affection, her gaze piercing.

The entire space in which they stood — a massive area rendered entirely in pristine white — was unmistakable proof of the absence of any additional training settings.

“Hurts… like I’m about to d*e…”

Erica pushed herself up from the smooth, white marble floor.

Despite having exerted little effort, her legs trembled uncontrollably.

Compared to other super-ability users, her body was laughably frail. Even in minor training drills, her muscles and joints reacted as if she had undergone extreme physical exercise.

Erica’s greatest flaw was possessing a body so weak it would collapse before her supernatural abilities even came into play.

Though she wielded an ability that could render her near invincible when purely on defense, this did not mean Erica could effectively serve as a shield.

She was simply a slow-moving, though sizable, shield.

In gaming terms, one might liken her role to a tank.

But what’s the point of a tank who struggles to keep up with the rest of the team?

Nothing.

The moment the shield fails to protect and an enemy attacks from an exposed flank—it’s game over.

Short of lucky circumstances where no incidents unfolded near her, Erica’s weak constitution and slow running speed left her no choice but to passively prepare for any situation.

Because Erica was aware of these weaknesses, she had sought training under the strongest person she knew who was also personally close to her.

Yes, nominally her “elder sister,” who despite holding important positions at the Association, made it a point to spend her weekends training Erica.

Almost as if this was the only time she could spend with Erica.

“This training isn’t that effective anyway. Is this going to work?”

Erica’s training entailed being lightly pushed off-balance while running, designed to build endurance and accelerate the activation speed of her supernatural abilities.

Her power of protection, which could only activate under extreme duress like the sensation of her arms being torn, wasn’t being particularly improved by this exercise, yet she continued it for one reason…

“It’s not so desperate that I can’t handle it, so it’s fine.”

Because other effective training methods, when she recalled the description from an earlier prompt, simply didn’t appeal to her.

“This event happens when the heroines train with you. The event content and effectiveness may vary depending on which heroine you train with, and you can select the type of training.”

“The types of training available from your sister are two: standard training—average efficiency training—or S training. The S training boosts the motivation of the trainees, instilling a sense of crisis during the training, thus significantly increasing efficiency. However, you dislike such intense training, hence the efficiency.”

The moment she read the system explanation, Erica realized that S-battle was likely some form of inappropriate encounter, something s*xual.

Since having this body confirmed a decision to respect the original owner in every way—even if it was a last resort, she could no longer make choices that disrespected it.

She intended to live a life untethered by the system or romantic visual novel games upon leaving this world.

Given this goal, it was more crucial for her to select the safer path rather than grow stronger quickly at any cost, as decided by Erica’s current mindset.

“But if you’re fine with this, I won’t force anything.”

While her “sister” seemed to have some underlying schemes in mind, she still respected Erica’s choice if she strongly resisted.

This attitude minimized Erica’s concerns about her sister intending any sort of S-training.

“Again.”

Because to avoid doing unwanted things in this world, she needed to grow stronger.

There was no need for Erica to be angry with the person who could restore some part of her former strength.

“If you eat this and continue, I might be reported for cruelty. I don’t want that to happen.”

Without becoming angry, the only thing left was to diligently follow her instructions and continue the training.

As Erica calmed her legs while conversing with her sister, a bottle of water was handed to her instead of a resumption order.

As Erica drank, the woman sitting beside her spoke.

“While resting, listen. I doubt I’ll be able to accompany you on the school trip due to a new case. If you’ve been following the news, you probably know what I’m referring to.”

The incident of the Black Nightmare, which had wiped out a group of people in an instant.

With an ability user openly defying ‘the law’, it was impossible for someone in her high position at the Association to take leave to accompany her sibling on a school trip.

Erica felt the timing of this accident near the school trip hinted at some intent to interfere with her plans, but without solid evidence, she decided against telling her sister.

And even if she tried to explain that someone was interfering to prevent a final boss from being drawn into the school trip scenario, she likely wouldn’t be understood.

“If your power was in its normal state, I wouldn’t be worried, but since it’s much slower than before, you’d be in danger if those terrorists attack.”

The emotion behind her sister’s words was clear:

Worry.

Had she known how strong the original Erica was, she wouldn’t be worrying.

A protection ability that activated instantly upon sensing danger used to be her almost invincible secret.

But the current Erica was different. Her power only activated when her arms were being dragged by multiple women and caused unbearable pain.

In such a condition, someone could accumulate damage during the activation period and use a hit-and-run tactic, attacking just as the effect wore off—ensuring Erica could be defeated.

Though she had recently mastered how to activate her power voluntarily, using it this way came with the consequence of preventing its use for a short time, depending on the strength and duration of the activation. It wasn’t something to be carelessly utilized.

Thus, Erica was undergoing this training to overcome these shortcomings, though two weeks of ordinary-level training had shown limited improvement.

Even though the probability of the criminal involved in recent incidents targeting her younger sister was low, it couldn’t completely disappear from her mind.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me; I’ve made plenty of friends.”

“Uh, hasn’t a pink-haired woman moved into your house recently? Is she one of these friends you mentioned?”

The way her sister spoke about something seen on CCTV as if it was gossip might seem eerie to some, but to Erica, it was endearing.

Having zero social skills, disregarding how CCTV surveillance might make others feel, this behavior seemed akin to the original Erica’s before her soul had entered this body.

Family is family, after all.

Even though the original owner of this body may have made irreversible decisions, considering this woman a sister brought a warm, slightly endearing feeling, despite the knowledge that she didn’t exist in the original world.

As Erica responded to the sister-like woman’s questioning, calling her “sister” while feeling more like she was speaking to a younger sibling:

“Yeah, that’s why I asked you before.”

—The queen hasn’t caused any major incidents yet, so if you can forgive her, please do.

Though she thought her request might be rejected, it was surprisingly accepted. The red in the woman’s eyes flickered, recalling that past request.

“That… Did you really bring the former queen into our home and care for her? You didn’t tell me that.”

Did she forget to mention it? Erica paused briefly, searching her memory, but quickly recovered.

“She’s here now. Can’t you just leave her be?”

With concerns that the former queen’s mental state might deteriorate in the stark white room, Erica had invited Kang Yu-ri to live on the first floor, a fact possibly missed by CCTV since there were no cameras installed there.

Recalling this detail, Erica observed the quietly simmering anger in her companion’s expression.

“…So she’s been living here this whole time?”

After demanding the former queen be found due to her being a dangerous person, it was understandable that her living arrangements would anger her.

Since Erica understood her sister’s frustration was justified, she sought to explain herself quickly.

“First, I have the right to bring friends home. She just happened to fit that criteria. Besides, she’s strong enough to potentially protect me.”

Avoiding mention that this was a deliberate move to recruit her as an ally, Erica chose her words carefully, mindful of her sister’s potential displeasure.

For whatever reason, the threatening aura dissipated almost instantly.

“Fair enough, I shouldn’t interfere in relationships you’ve built. However, remember, Erica: though we are helping her at your request, the reason we couldn’t find her earlier is because she possesses an exceptionally powerful ability.”

“I understand.”

While considering the former queen a potential ally, Erica knew better than to underestimate her. She had never planned to overlook someone of ultimate boss caliber from the beginning.

Erica sincerely acknowledged her sister’s advice, despite her spotless outfit now being heavily wrinkled after rolling around in the immaculate training room.

“Don’t push yourself too hard; you’ll catch a cold. Let’s end here.”

“What? Already?”

“Yes, while you decide to start training, the decision to stop rests with me, so please comply.”

Exhausted and drenched in sweat, her hair still damp despite resting, her appearance resembled someone who had just finished exercising.

While mentioning the dangerous ability user who had killed people was not meant to imply Erica had become strong enough to confront her—it was more precautionary advice suggesting she run if encountered.

The reason behind helping Erica activate her supernatural powers was not to make her a true shield, but to use her abilities responsibly to protect herself.

“Yes, I understand.”

Understanding this sentiment, Erica readily complied.

No amount of forceful teaching could make her stronger if it risked her receiving a proper training ban, and she still had other options to grow stronger.

[Your awakening rate is 9.5%.]

The required 10% to survive an encounter with the former queen’s abilities, though the exact origin of this number was unclear, perhaps suggested a beneficial event awaited at that threshold.

Given someone who could help increase her awakening rate existed, Erica fiddled with the phone in her pocket.

Perhaps enjoying her weekend somewhere, Erica was nonetheless prepared to contact a certain boy to arrange a meeting.

Thus, to achieve the 10% mark…