Chapter 68

Erica knew that an incident would occur during this school trip, but she didn’t know exactly when or where it would happen.

Would it happen on the first day’s schedule?

She didn’t know.

Or would it happen on the second day’s schedule?

She didn’t know.

Since she couldn’t predict when or what would happen, Erica naturally felt tense throughout all the schedules, which was why her cheeks were inflated like a pufferfish bristling with poison as she sat on the train with the rest of her schoolmates, heading toward Busan.

Even though she sat by the window, Erica couldn’t stop looking restlessly around the interior of the carriage, which might have driven the person sitting next to her insane—yet the woman seated beside her wore an unexpectedly kind smile.

Although Erica had been intentionally placed away from her favorite seat by the window, this wasn’t out of consideration but rather a deliberate move; however, since Erica wasn’t just gazing outside but occasionally glanced toward her, the woman felt pleasantly surprised despite the unclear reasons.

“Pu. Pu-pu. Pu.”

While some people on the train talked on their phones or chatted with friends all the way to Busan, Yoon-na, unlike others, was occupied by playfully poking Erica’s cheeks with her fingers, trying to deflate the air inside them.

After poking and releasing Erica’s cheeks for a while, Erica’s cheeks no longer inflated further, but instead, she glared at Yoon-na, her expression brimming with the unspoken question: “Why do you keep poking me?”

Yoon-na perceived this as the start of a game where they conveyed unspoken messages through their eyes. With crimson irises, she gazed directly into Erica’s, mentally saying, “I dressed up today hoping you’d notice and compliment me, but you didn’t. It would be nice if you complimented me now.”

However, without a word spoken, 10 minutes passed and neither could fully understand the other’s thoughts. Eventually, both interpreted the other’s gaze in their own ways and turned their heads away.

Ah, Yoon-na thought, Erica must have been bored and that’s why she kept poking my cheeks. Now that I understand, I won’t poke anymore.

On the other hand, Erica thought, if it’s not to my liking, there’s nothing I can do even if she dresses up more next time.

‘Despite their apparent bickering, these two seem to have a good relationship,’ thought a boy watching them diagonally from a distance.

Previously, when Erica had valid reasons to dislike Yoon-na, she would avoid her entirely, while Yoon-na, with her usual tenacity, continued to follow and tease Erica. But now, they seemed to have a somewhat equal relationship.

The boy’s expression, however, wasn’t entirely positive as he observed the pair, who were getting along well. It wasn’t because he was concerned about the possibility of a terrorist attack and their lack of vigilance. Yoon-na didn’t know for sure that a terrorist attack would happen, and after all, they were still students.

The boy’s dissatisfaction stemmed from one reason:

‘Still, if they’re so close, it becomes harder for me to approach either of them.’

As far as he was concerned, Erica had already been ruled out as a potential [True Heroine], and Yoon-na, who possessed an almost unbelievable amount of power, was difficult to court as well.

Of course, Kim Ha-neul hadn’t forgotten Erica’s warning not to mess with Yoon-na, but since he had already rebutted it—knowing he couldn’t heed such advice—there was no reason to stop pursuing Yoon-na because of Erica’s warning.

For his purpose to “return home,” he could overlook even the well-meaning warnings of a girl he somewhat liked. Quietly, he observed the person he aimed to charm and the girl who might interfere with that.

As all this unfolded, the train continued to move quietly forward.

All the while, seemingly unaware of any disturbances within, it progressed with the serene stillness that heralded an impending storm.

*

A three-day, two-night school trip.

The girl who had been bracing herself for an attack on the train disembarked safely without incident, alongside the other students.

Terrorists often target transportation because they control the vehicle, making it impossible for the passengers to escape; it also presents challenges for outside reinforcements to arrive. So if terrorism indeed occurred and it didn’t happen on the train, it had to mean something else.

Once the students dispersed into smaller groups in Busan, targeting all second-year students would become impossible. Unless each group was individually attacked by different terrorist cells, it was plausible that a specific target could be the main aim of the attack.

Perhaps the initial intelligence regarding the terrorism was inaccurate.

While contemplating these thoughts, Erica sat silently in her chair with her eyes closed, having no interest in the teachers’ final instructions before the students split up.

Yoon-na’s promise of a Busan specialty, sea water soda, held her attention much more. After all, when traveling, it’s only common sense to eat something unique to the region.

As the white-haired girl swung her legs, expectantly waiting for her friend to bring the beverage, an unknown woman approached and offered her an ice cream.

“Why were you so late?”

“I’m sorry. I took too long finding you. I wasn’t even considering the possibility of you sitting here.”

Hadn’t they agreed to meet at this bench? And this voice seemed a bit hoarser than Yoon-na’s.

Though puzzled by Yoon-na’s unusual tone, one that differed from the one she’d heard on the train earlier, Erica didn’t dwell on it too much since it was likely because Yoon-na had forgotten their agreement. After all, there was no other person who would sit next to her and so casually offer her a treat like sea water soda.

If there were ever another dangerous kidnapping, Erica was certain she could repel it with her protective powers.

“Anyway, you finally found me. So, is this the sea water soda you mentioned? Or is it ice cream?”

“It’s actually called Busan sea water ice cream. I tasted it just now, and it’s a slightly salty, sweet flavor.”

Indeed, so all it tasted was sweet and salty. Still, Erica had high expectations because it was considered a local specialty.

“Do people at your school treat you well? They don’t bully you, right?”

“Bullying? I’m not one who’d just take it lying down. As long as you don’t bother me, I’m fine.”

“…Haha, that’s true. If I weren’t here, you’re someone who’d likely never be bullied, aren’t you?”

It was both a warning and a gentle scolding, aimed at Yoon-na, who was known to torment those she liked to make them depend on her. However, the “Yoon-na” sitting beside her responded in a somewhat self-deprecating tone.

Hearing this response, Erica might have opened her eyes and glanced over, but she didn’t. She remained with her eyes closed, weighed down by exhaustion from maintaining her heightened vigilance on the train.

Even the few weeks of physical conditioning she had undergone couldn’t help her remain tense for the entirety of the train ride. Moreover, she didn’t consider turning to look at the person beside her necessary.

“Alright, I understood. If school life is enjoyable for you, then, hmm, I will try my best not to k*ll anyone here.”

“Killing? What are you talking about?”

At the sudden and shocking mention of d*ath, Erica attempted to open her eyes but couldn’t.

It wasn’t as though all movement was impossible. She was still managing to enjoy the sea water ice cream rather steadily.

The impossibility lay specifically in opening her eyes—the action itself, aimed at identifying the woman beside her—was obstructed.

This was clearly the doing of someone knowledgeable enough to know that Erica couldn’t identify people purely by voice.

“Yes, even if they’re mere bugs to me, if they mean something to you, I wouldn’t want to k*ll them.”

Her calm tone only amplified the unsettling implications.

Although the people present might appear human, their easy designation as ‘bugs’ was chilling, and even more disturbing, the assurance that they’d be spared simply because Erica disliked it.

“Anyway, this rare encounter has been pleasant, Soo-ya.”

“What, who is this?”

Her given name.

A name that no one present could possibly know was uttered, causing Erica to hastily stand up and finally, forcibly open her eyes—but all she saw now was an empty space.

“Huh, knew it was you after all. I wasn’t entirely sure, but this little test went well. See you later soon.”

—An acknowledgment by Erica of the woman she’d been seeking, followed by the mysterious figure’s departure. Still dazed, as though she’d just awakened from a dream, Erica remained bewildered.

“Did you wait long?”

“Yeah.”

“If the others are waiting somewhere, are you heading off?”

“Sure.”

With a cheerful smile, Yoon-na stood before Erica, holding two blue beverages, likely the authentic sea water soda, different from the ice cream Erica had been consuming.

As Erica swallowed the last of her ice cream, which now acted as proof of the enigmatic woman’s encounter, she prepared to start her first school trip with her usual words.

“Let’s go.”

Looking back one last time at the seat where the woman had briefly sat, Erica, the traveler in this world of strangers, followed her group mates onward.