Chapter 70

It’s been a while since I’ve traveled with friends. Of course, from my standpoint, if I were to be precise, it’s hard to categorize these people as “friends.”

We haven’t spent much time together. The memories they recall and the memories I recall are different. Moreover, our mental ages are different from the outset.

For a variety of reasons, I could argue that these people aren’t my friends, but if others were to look at the relationship between us, they would likely call us friends.

Therefore, I only refer to these people as within the ‘friend’ category, though the word “friend” does not truly resonate from my heart.

And that is what has been continuously tiring me — the alienation I feel between me and the people of this world.

Moreover, the fact that after watching the True Heroine’s ending and leaving this world, I’ll likely feel alienated from the people of my original world only makes me more tired.

Even if I leave this world, unless this body changes, I’d still possess powers that others in the other world don’t have, leading to yet another sense of alienation that I’d have to live with.

“What are you sprawled out like some world-weary elder on the bench for?”

A woman approached me, her face hidden under a hoodie, asking as I lay stretched out on the bench. Her voice wasn’t particularly special, but the system had labeled her as someone with an extraordinary voice.

Even with her face covered, her attire was distinct enough that even if I couldn’t remember her name, I could have guessed who she was just by looking at her outfit.

Han Ye-seul from “H.” – the soloist or idol whose name extends beyond the school’s walls.

“Nothing much.”

Upon meeting a woman from the same world as me, who supposedly knew my past self, a wave of existential weariness hit me.

Why did I come to this world? If being gifted is a mistake, then perhaps there’s nothing I can do about it…

While I, as the unofficial leader of the team (even though Kim Ha-neul is technically the team leader, I feel like I’ve been leading, so let’s just call me that), should have been actively overseeing the investigation of the revolutionary man from Busan’s birthplace, I was lying around lazily, prompting the woman to ask with a curious gaze:

“So, how have you been? It’s been a while since we last met.”

“We saw each other the other day.”

Even though the singer’s schedule is packed, she often visits the school, and I still remember the last time we exchanged pleasantries not too long ago.

Still, why is she acting as if it’s been ages since we met when she clearly remembers our recent meeting? Puzzled, I asked her, and in response, she sang her reply in a cheerful tone:

“Well, since we haven’t had a private conversation in a while, I’m calling this a long time.”

She has never once given off the vibe that she enjoys spending time with me. So, was she perhaps enjoying this trip with her friends?

This woman’s Favorability hasn’t reached the point where I can view her profile, so I could only guess why she was happy.

And even if I figured out why she was happy, it wasn’t as though I could make her happy anyway, so I wiped all guesses from my mind.

“You mentioned you were looking for the Queen who defaced a desk. I’ve been busy and couldn’t tell you until now. So, did you discover that the person was Inna?”

“Huh…?”

She actually meant it was Inna’s doing?

When the Former Queen, Kang Yu-ri, admitted to something, I instantly believed she was the perpetrator. The scenario seemed neatly wrapped up.

However, now, if she implies that the culprit wasn’t Kang Yu-ri but Inna, it’s baffling and disheartening.

“You haven’t confirmed it yet?”

“It’s Kang Yu-ri, isn’t it? It doesn’t make sense for these guys to adore Inna so much that she lets everyone around her suffer from her nasty tactics.”

After recognizing my confusion, Han Ye-seul seemed slightly surprised, but I proceeded to explain why it wasn’t Inna.

“Well, did anyone tell you that Inna’s ability only works on people? Her ability isn’t limited to humans.”

I remember a scene where Inna fought with another woman, and the ground moved as if it came to her defense.

Yes, just as she said. Her ability could possibly control objects, such as using her power to make people carve into the desk and create foul-smelling milk.

Still…

“It doesn’t matter anymore. I already resolved the case according to my own understanding. And how do you even know about this?”

While I’ve withstood being tormented by the Former Queen of the old school, Kang Yu-ri, and concluded our unfinished business when she kidnapped me out of fear of a bad ending, I had no hatred or desire for revenge over her desk vandalism.

“…Are you interrogating me right now?”

Rather, I’m curious why she’s bringing it up now. Especially since we’re outdoors, and Inna might return from checking the house and potentially hold a grudge against her.

Though I was interrogating her tone, she responded as though it was ridiculous, but naturally, in this world where insane heroines like Inna or Kang Yu-ri are more invested in the protagonist over other heroines, I suspected she might have a different agenda.

“…Ah, I’ll tell you. Don’t jump to conclusions. Just listen carefully. Sounds echo, and that’s called an echo. That’s how I found out. Got it?”

No, I didn’t get it. But as she likely assumed I understood after such an explanation, I quietly nodded.

This isn’t out of false pride…

It’s just that upon recognizing Han Ye-seul’s innocence in revealing a principle of her ability to avoid misunderstanding, I spared her the detailed questioning regarding her powers.

“And the reason… This isn’t something to be overheard out here. I’ll tell you next time when we’re alone. Even with her face covered, you never know.”

“It’s fine. You can tell me later.”

Even though I’m talking casually now, in the original world, she’s a celebrity with whom I have no connection.

I almost forget because she’s participating in the school event in this romantic visual novel universe, but naturally, there must be paparazzi trying to uncover her secrets. Therefore, it’s understandable that she keeps details of her private life private.

“Still, one reason is that I want to get closer to you.”

“Why?”

“Do you need a reason to want to be friends?”

After hearing her response, I had no more words and nodded again. It seems like there really isn’t a specific reason.

We ran out of things to talk about, so I looked around at the mansion of the Busan revolutionary, pondering why he decided to start a rebellion.

Perhaps because he just hadn’t lived long enough after his birth and d*ath, this place wasn’t that ancient. Normally, when someone says “birthplace,” one expects a traditional Korean house or a log cabin, but this revolutionary’s home was a modern-style house, leading me to question—

“Why did this man decide to start a rebellion?”

The textbooks say it was out of lust for power, but in a world where people who feared his rebellion still live, as well as those who supported him, isn’t there a better reason?

“You probably investigated more about the assignment than me, but regarding this one case, I happen to know. It was probably about the rights of Supernatural Ability Users.”

Rights? Since I’ve entered this world, I’ve obtained a fair amount of general knowledge, but there are details one can only know by receiving information from other standpoints.

Without saying anything, I waited quietly for her story as if I were a grandson listening to his grandmother’s tales.

“Supernatural Ability Users can only use their abilities up to the point where they do not commit m*rder. Of course, they use their powers under the premise of not harming others, but most people with powerful abilities still push their limits as much as they can without crossing the m*rder boundary. I do too.”

This is something I am aware of. Had I been caught using my powers to harm someone, I would have faced punishment for breaking public property when I first used my protective abilities in a violent way. However, I didn’t receive any such penalty.

“But do you know the reason such laws were put in place? It was because of Kim Tae-sung, the revolutionary from Busan. The government’s initiative to suppress supernatural abilities to reduce chaos only led to Kim Tae-sung, who was already resisting against others, amassing combat experience with his powers, growing to an unstoppable level. If others had been given more chances to train their abilities, he could have been stopped earlier. This is why the government doesn’t want to overly suppress supernatural abilities.”

That’s something I learned during my investigation, although it was also new to me in some ways.

“Had he not existed, we would still be living in a society where supernatural abilities were heavily restricted. It would be very constricting.”

This was because her personal opinions were naturally interwoven into the information she provided. Anyone who listened would believe her explanation to be true.

“But isn’t that the benefit we gained from his rebellion rather than the reason he started it?”

“That’s true. However, wouldn’t the government have been less kind in preserving his information? Is my speculation really that off?”

Surely, she just stood silently staring at me, but the mirage of her hitting her forehead as if exclaiming “Deh-deh” appeared before my eyes.

Anyway, since the members of the group were about to return, it was time to get up and head over to where they were. Both me and the system, it seemed, knew this, as the screen suddenly expanded to initiate a conversation with me.

[You’ve gathered information about Busan’s revolutionary Kim Tae-sung while visiting his birthplace. By collecting bit by bit, learning who he truly was, you may acquire his power. You have obtained the fragment 1/7 of his mysterious power ???]

Power fragments?

And the method to acquire the powerful supernatural abilities of a man watched by the nation?

This is intriguing.

Especially given that the information I received could be biased.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

The woman the system assumed would leave me behind, and according to Han Ye-seul, someone who directly harassed me, approached with Kim Ha-neul by her side, looking as if she had just witnessed her partner playing around with another man.

She was clearly irritated.