Chapter 79

The time it would take for the Student Council Vice-President to escort me to my assigned room didn’t seem like it would be very long since it was in the same building—probably no more than two to three minutes. However, I didn’t want to waste this time idly.

The Vice-President wasn’t the kind of person who was always free just for the taking. If I had any questions, now would be the best time to ask them.

“Hey, do you know who those guys were earlier?”

There was only one thing I needed to ask right now: information about the enemies. Specifically, the group I encountered in the restroom. While it complicated things just to think about it, if the terror attack that I expected to happen on the train didn’t occur then, when would it?

This was different from matters involving the terrorist incident, which could pull in helpers like Kim Ha-neul or the Student Council President. The people involved were students, so the chances they would hold back their information were high. But the Student Council Vice-President, someone who could even intimidate others, wouldn’t care if the target was a student and might divulge the information I needed.

“Hah, I might know, but surely you’re not asking me to tell you? Are you stupid or something?”

There was no guarantee it would have been me. Still, with a derisive laugh, she rejected me outright. I awkwardly smiled.

It was probably a bad idea to ask something from someone I wasn’t close to. In the first place, the reason she had come to escort me was because the Student Council President had asked her to do so.

Because of this favor, she might think I was someone who exploited the influence of a friend to pry out information, lowering her Favorability towards me!

“Yeah, I am asking you to tell me.”

Unless I was mistaken, I couldn’t see her Favorability towards me, so it wasn’t something I was overly concerned about.

When the woman walking slightly ahead of me stopped, I stopped as well. Her face was scrunched up in a way that radiated a more terrifying aura than any dangerous gangster.

If there were a face that could be deemed the scariest in the world, it might be hers.

“I won’t repeat myself, so listen up.”

“Alright.”

Was she threatening me? As I waited, ready to use my power if attacked, instead of a punch…

“They’re students from the 2-2 class, which is next to yours. Your class is a so-called elite class and has more Supernatural Ability Users than most, whereas the one next door has more students who haven’t manifested their powers. Hence, they have a lot of inferiority complex. Moreover, you’re somewhat well known among the Supernatural Ability Users.”

Instead of a threat, it was a detailed explanation. Given that those with supernatural abilities generally get hired without much concern for effort or qualifications, it made sense that non-supernatural ability users might feel envious.

“How do they know about people who openly proclaim they have supernatural abilities? I don’t see many actually broadcasting it.”

“That’s like the case from your first year. Strong ability users just have different eyes and actions. Besides, it’s fun to beat them up.”

I asked her about the parts I didn’t understand and she readily replied. Though her answer was laced with personal hobbies, it didn’t seem like she was lying.

These individuals were likely those who, out of inferiority for not having supernatural abilities, caused trouble for others. I already had it ingrained that the presence of supernatural abilities would prevent me from facing great danger, so they probably wouldn’t find it hard to identify people like me.

While it’s also possible to annoy those with self-trained skills pride, such people likely weren’t the ones to be harassed continuously. They might instead be closer to a ‘Revolutionary’ rather than a mere Delinquent—someone with resentment towards those with abilities.

In typical Romantic Visual Novels, if there isn’t a main event about the conflict between Ability Users and Non-Ability Users, such a conflict doesn’t happen. So, the existence of the Delinquent girl might be a setup foreshadowing the major main event centered on that conflict.

“And I’ve heard there’s a specific reason why they hassle you, but you probably know better, right? Surely you’re not dumb enough to ask me to tell you that too.”

Well? Was it really the case that there was a specific reason instead of just random harassment because I apparently irritated them?

Her smirk and glance as she looked at me made her seem more like a Delinquent than any actual one, making it difficult for me to voice any lingering doubts.

After saying that, the Vice-President, as if she had delivered all her points, resumed walking. And less than a minute later, she stopped in front of a door.

“Your luggage has already been placed inside by someone who came earlier. So don’t come out unnecessarily. And don’t expect such considerate escorting next time.”

Because our walk had been interrupted by our conversation, we’d likely arrived earlier if she hadn’t paused. Having said that, she started to leave.

Even without her help, it was something I could have easily managed on my own. I’d already traveled this way, so I didn’t need the escort.

But had I gone alone, I might have had to resort to invoking a Bad Ending and its associated penalties.

“Thank you.”

At least, saying thank you was a matter of courtesy. As she walked away, she glanced back at me and kept on going without waving or saying anything.

Anyway, even without her assistance, I could’ve resolved things myself. The route wasn’t unfamiliar.

Just before she left, [Vice-President Riki’s Favorability increased by 10. Her Favorability toward you is now at 20. She knows your keyword. Favorability cap unlocked. Profile revealed.]

Instead of words, she left me her profile—correctly speaking, it left an impression on my heart.

[Her life had always been about conflict. Fights that ended in collapse. Whether she started fighting because of her abilities or developed them because she kept fighting, no one knows. However, she’s always been a fighter. The way she shows love is also similar to her fighting. Whether she likes stronger opponents, or because of her liking them, challenges them to a fight is unknown, but her actions against the ones she loves are a definite declaration. It’s a proof of accepting her love (fighting).]

A profile reveals itself when you have opened your heart to someone to a certain extent.

[Her method of pursuing you is through a challenge. A challenge to test if you are superior to her. The reason she challenges is that she has no other way to express her love. Unless you’ve been challenged, it’s unlikely her heart belongs to you. But if she does challenge you, it’s better to avoid it.]

Before she ever challenged me, I decided to assume her feelings weren’t mine. If she challenges, I’ll just sidestep. Thinking that, I knocked.

No one in our group shared the room. Since there was no one else sharing my luggage, I assumed this room would be full of strangers I didn’t know—and it was.

“Ah, are you the one who’ll be sharing the room? Hello, I’m Seol Hee-na.”

A girl I had never met before. Her pleasant demeanor reminded me of the term ‘Sub-Heroine.’ My impression of her was akin to Inna before I saw her profile.

A beauty and kindness that made her a prime candidate for a heroine in a romantic visual novel. Since I had learned after the whole ordeal with isolating others that such traits don’t make someone inherently harmful, and because this girl was unlikely part of a duplicate, she probably didn’t like other girls.

Even if she did, the chances she liked me were slim. The Student Council President and Inna already represented a number of heroines who liked the same gender, and this girl had enough influence and power to stand out.

“Hmm? I thought I heard the Student Council Vice-President’s voice earlier? Anyway, come in. Everyone else has already arrived.”

Seol Hee-na looked around the hallway and then gestured to me. She didn’t seem adversarial like those in the restroom, so I stepped inside after checking the shoe rack.

Including mine and Hee-na’s, there were five pairs of shoes. So, even considering the possibility of the restroom group hiding in the room, only five of them could be hiding.

The room housed seven people in total, but the information was already known, so I was just confirming that the group in the restroom would be at most five when I opened the door.

Inside the spacious room were five familiar or unfamiliar faces.

One girl leaned against the wall, reading a book. It was a student council member who I’d helped before sorting some books, assigned the position of librarian.

The girl with brown braids wearing glasses was the head of my class from the 2-1 class.

A woman sitting cross-legged with a wooden sword strapped to her back, who, as the Kendo Club President, might actually be more powerful than the Vice-President.

“They’re here!” “The last member has arrived!”

Twins, with red and blue hair. Though their faces were new to me, their designation as secret agents for the Association stood out. All of them were Sub-Heroines with proper roles, not just extras.

I mentally rechecked the title that Hee-na hadn’t revealed yet. Despite being new to the student council, her title of Art Club President was revealed.

“…I must’ve come to the wrong room.”

“Huh? Aren’t you staying here?”

Thinking this was my assigned room, I didn’t imagine it was one designated for the heads of clubs affiliated with the student council, class presidents, or members of the Association.

I nodded and quickly tried to make a dash. If it weren’t for seeing my bag against the wall, I definitely would have.

I had known nothing until now about who shared this dormitory with me, but now it was clear.

‘Trying to hide the ab*se of power.’

There was only one person responsible for setting up this situation.

The Student Council President. She seemed to have considerable power where I was, and she clearly knew I was concerned about the potential terror threats.

Every single one of them was a Sub-Heroine. Even weaker abilities become strong when you consider their versatility and application as demonstrated by Inna.

“No, actually, you’re right.”

“Huh?”

Confused if I was indeed the last member of the dormitory, Hee-na lingered at the shoe rack while I stepped further in.