Chapter 78

Not all villains have faces that are hidden. One could see that just by looking at the former queen quietly hidden within this world.

Thus, the reason the face of the woman picking a fight with Erica was hidden wasn’t because she was a villain, but rather due to the word ‘Sub’ preceding her title, which was highly probable.

While pondering this, the girl followed the extra crowd that had started a quarrel with her as they led her into the restroom.

The public restroom was rather dirty, seemingly used by many. It was easy to see that the accommodation management had neglected its upkeep since most rooms came with private bathrooms.

“Hmph, she just follows along like that. Is she stupid or does she want to be beaten like a pervert?”

Before acquiring supernatural abilities, the girl might have waited for a corner to escape, but since she felt confident in maintaining her body intact in any situation, she followed them, also hoping to learn something she didn’t know about her own powers in the process.

However, Erica didn’t think revealing the real reason she tagged along would change her opponent’s attitude, so she remained silent. Instead, she simply observed them, noting that not all of the more than a dozen people had entered the restroom; some remained outside.

Anyone who had ever been bullied would know: those outside were lookouts. If a teacher or another student approached, they were there either to stop them or notify the ones inside.

Typically, those uninterested in such antics or of lower rank within the school hierarchy took up the role of lookout.

“Huh? So quiet without anyone around, huh? Did you suddenly become mute?”

“Hahaha, calling someone mute who self-harms because of men? That’s kind of harsh, right?”

Their provocation was so typical it left Erica speechless.

As Erica brushed off the hand trying to grab her hair, she glared at the women snickering among themselves. Frankly, she didn’t care what strangers criticized; the talented often received envy from those less so, and if that was a crime, Erica’s only fault was excelling compared to those picking fights. Although her curiosity lingered about why they were causing trouble during a school trip.

‘I’ll figure it out slowly.’

“Why do you want to hear my voice?”

A power that activates only under specific levels of pain or shock.

There was no disputing the strength of this power, yet the inability to control its activation was a considerable penalty.

—One that others could easily exploit. And if others used her weakness against her, it also became clear how Erica should act to her advantage.

Before the dark-haired woman, holding the bucket, could pour its contents on her, Erica quickly stepped away without even turning around.

The others nearby tried to grab her but withdrew their hands when they saw the woman in front of Erica prepare to spill the contents of her bucket.

Whoosh!

“Hey! Where are you aiming? You’re not doing it properly, are you?!”

“Awww, this is the new outfit I bought for this trip!”

“Sorry… No, I was hurrying because I thought she was trying to escape.”

The water spilled out from the bucket onto those standing in front of them instead of hitting Erica.

Judging from their reaction to a mere splash on their clothes and the absence of any audible splashing sound, it was easy to tell the water hadn’t been sourced from anywhere proper.

‘Idiots.’

If they were trying to ruin her mood by splashing toilet water, they hadn’t considered that she might avoid it.

They must have assumed someone would surely grab her, preventing her from dodging, but there is always a flaw.

The likely leader of the group, the one who got drenched the most, looked angrily around the room but soon locked eyes with Erica.

“I was trying to let you off easily, and here you are defying me?”

Defying what?

Erica laughed quietly as she saw the leader’s face sneer at her.

Though trembling with anger, the leader refrained from hitting Erica. She knew well enough that if an ordinary person triggered Erica’s power—one of the strongest among supernatural ability users—the consequences could be disastrous.

“Kids, let’s just grab her. No point in continuing this.”

“But if we were going to use force anyway, why the sudden change of heart?”

Showing any sign of disapproval would only please the other side.

As the girls around her grabbed her arms, Erica tried to break free, but the combined strength of several ordinary girls proved too much for her.

“Stay still.”

“We’ll make sure to avoid unnecessary trouble if you cooperate.”

Although the girls gripping her arms spoke as though trying to reassure her, there were others who pulled out cameras and pocket knives. They claimed they wouldn’t cause major trouble, but their words implied minor annoyances were still on the table.

‘Should I just activate it against them?’

Erica’s eyes darted about, searching for a way out of the situation.

It was nearly impossible to activate ‘protection’ due to the gentle grip applied to her arms, but she could still use the power she had inherited from defeating the former queen.

[0th Bad Ending – Shall you use Laughing Sister and Big Sister in the bl**d-red World? Probability of reaching a Bad Ending is currently 10.2%. If used, you will have access to 10.2% of the power acquired at the Bad Ending phase.]

“Haa, you bastards. If you came for the school trip, why not enjoy it? Instead, you’re trying to stage a forced lesbian show in the restroom.”

Had a female, with dyed blonde hair showing faint traces of black, not entered the restroom voicing a familiar tone Erica recognized, the latter would have undoubtedly used her power.

This “sister,” potentially capable of bl**d manipulation, could unknowingly gift Erica a bad ending and the associated power.

“What are you?!”

“Hmph, don’t you recognize me?”

“That person is the Student Council Vice-President…”

Although looking like a delinquent, she held a position responsible for disciplining others, including delinquents. She wasn’t alone, carrying unconscious individuals foaming at the mouth in one arm.

The armband on her left arm clearly indicated who she was:

The Student Council Vice-President.

Unlike the others who were invisible even to Erica, she possessed a fierce demeanor visible to everyone. Thus, the one intending to h*rass Erica hesitated and spoke stiffly upon noticing the unconscious lookouts.

“Even as the Student Council Vice-President, you shouldn’t be assaulting students recklessly. Do you know what happens if you beat students to a point of foaming? If I report you to the police…”

“Report me then. Do you have any idea where you’re studying? The reason you’re saying such nonsense is because you don’t know the extent of the authority Student Council Vice-Presidents hold here.”

As the Vice-President approached, revealing her fangs like a savage beast, the leader of the group took a step back. Even though the violence would technically be justified under her role, the fierce look on her face suggested more than just a disciplinary warning.

“Breaking your arm wouldn’t draw any complaints from anyone. If you understand that, you should leave… If you don’t want a broken arm.”

The girls gripping Erica’s arms let go, but their leader hesitated, unwilling to leave the Vice-President’s sight.

“Aah, so you want a broken arm? Speak up, speak up. Let’s see~ Who’s arm should I break first?”

As the Vice-President extended her arm toward the leader, she finally fled the scene, taking the remaining group and their unconscious companions with her.

Such was the intimidation from the fiercest-looking person in school that the others, lacking both the combat skill and courage to fight back, predictably complied.

And quite a stroke of luck it was.

Being rescued by someone she met during a Student Council mission before she had her clothes torn or photos taken was more fortunate than Erica could have hoped.

Is there better luck than this? Sighing after witnessing Erica’s dismissal of the situation as mere chance, the Vice-President commented:

“You know, don’t you? I didn’t just happen to be here. The Student Council President called me. I don’t know why you’re avoiding proper contact with him, but at least meet him halfway. You know he cares about you, right?”

“It’s…”

The Student Council President had a cat-like face, close to Erica’s ideal type, and she didn’t dislike her.

However, the President’s feelings were directed toward the real Erica, and her abilities might reveal that truth at some point, forcing Erica to maintain a distance.

Whether it was guilt or fear of being revealed a fake and worrying about the President’s reaction, the original Erica might have found interacting with the president acceptable, but she could not.

“Whatever. It’s your relationship; you deal with it. Just don’t make him cry to me all the time.”

Before Erica could respond, the Vice-President’s face popped into her vision.

“Ugh!”

“Fearful, are you? I’ll escort you to your room.”

Despite the girl remaining stoic after almost being photographed in torn clothes, the playful scaring elicited a startled reaction, making the Vice-President smile as she extended her calloused hand.