Chapter 8

Among the scattered fragments of truth, I must uncover the truth that pertains to the “Queen of the School.”

It’s not as if the genre of this Romantic Visual Novel suddenly changed to a mystery, yet I couldn’t help but wonder why I had to find this so-called “Queen of the School.” But at the same time, it wasn’t entirely feasible to ignore the task.

Character scenarios usually involve the protagonist gathering the strengths of those around them to solve problems.

Though some storylines seem to progress without consequence even if the player doesn’t clear them, there are quite a few Visual Novels where failing to clear the scenario results in an extreme ending for the character.

And these endings aren’t just self-inflicted by the character, but are often forcibly assigned by others.

Thus, it would be safer to avoid a forced bad ending that could ruin life here. The issue, however, was—

“Where do I even start looking?”

The system suggests asking the people around me, but with my reputation visibly tarnished, finding the real Queen of the School seemed nearly impossible.

Even if I were to ask, there’s no guarantee that I’d receive accurate information.

It would be sheer madness to inquire with Inna, whom I had just speculated might be the Queen of the School. And the girl who brought me here also felt somewhat suspicious.

The ability to manipulate falsehoods. I hadn’t seen anyone aside from the main heroine properly using their ability, but the unsettling feeling lingered within me regardless.

While contemplating how to uncover the Queen of the School, a cheer erupted from our 2-1 classroom as I drew closer.

Considering that we were running late, it was odd to hear cheering during morning assembly time, but their voices were filled with a kind of frenzy.

“Ahahaha~ Friends, nice to see you! I’ve been so busy recently, I haven’t been able to visit often, but I’m glad you welcomed me this way.”

“Sing for us! Sing!”

“I will get punished by the teacher if I sing now… Do you want me to get punished by the teacher?”

“We’ll get punished together with you!”

Curious to see what was happening, I entered the room. Apart from a few individuals, everyone was gathered around a single desk.

Listening to their chatter, it seemed like an idol might have arrived, adding another potential candidate to the list of Queen of the School contenders. Determined to switch seats, I headed toward my own.

…The desk was unnaturally clean, as if it had been swapped with someone else. Even after checking all around, there was no sign of my usually messy desk, except the spot occupied by the idol, estimated by the crowd.

“I guess there’s no need to switch seats with someone else, right?”

Inna turned to me from her seat, her question leaving me puzzled.

Assuming the switch was orchestrated by Inna, I was surprised by how swiftly a new seat had been arranged. Or could it have been someone else?

As I wondered, the crowd parted to reveal an apparent celebrity—a woman with smooth blonde hair and iridescent eyes like gems.

“I see we’re in the same class. I haven’t been coming to school often, so I didn’t recognize you earlier. Now that I think about it, I was told I’d meet you here eventually… I guess we already knew each other in class, didn’t we?”

I had never seen this person before. Yet she acted as if she recognized me. Was she someone who knew me from before like Inna? To confirm, I glanced above her head for her name, only to freeze on the spot.

[Han Ye-seul]

[Ability: Voice]

This was the person who had struck me with a car yesterday as if it were a hit-and-run accident. Could this really be the same person who was now presenting herself as an idol here? This world of Romantic Visual Novels was surely due for destruction.

Though it was just a fleeting thought, the shock I experienced was undoubtedly real.

Her voice didn’t seem particularly extraordinary, yet the students were begging her to sing. What kind of remarkable skill must she possess to achieve this? I would definitely want to buy and listen to her CD when I have more money someday.

For reasons unknown, she glanced at the desk where I was sitting and let out an exclamation.

“I didn’t know this was your seat, but since people might suspect me first if they hear about bullying in our class, I cleaned it up for you. See, like this.”

Simultaneously, a cut mark appeared on my desk but disappeared within ten seconds, as if erased.

What others would perceive as an optical illusion confirmed the existence of her “Ability.” Her “Voice” power was a definitive reality, a clear piece of evidence.

Initially, I assumed her power would be something that charmed people, but learning it belonged to the verbal command category made sense considering her voice wasn’t extraordinarily enchanting.

If any words she utters could achieve her desired results, then her power must be balanced, not tied to charm at all.

As I hesitated what to say in response, a woman with green-tinted hair appeared beside me.

“Hey, do you two know each other?”

” Yes, we met recently and have developed some level of familiarity.”

Seemingly keen on understanding the nature of my friendships, Inna asked confidently, to which Han Ye-seul readily agreed.

She boldly claimed to have formed a friendship with me despite knowing I was being bullied. Her behavior suggested she didn’t care whether others isolated me or not.

“We decided to be friends. Regarding the membership fee this time…”

The knee pain from when I agreed to pay her medication fees was still faintly present. Yet, she referred to it as part of a “friendship fee.” I quickly discarded any further thoughts regarding her attitude and covered her mouth with my hand.

I was certain her supernatural abilities could easily remove my hand, yet she stayed still.

Inna’s crimson eyes bore into my hand covering the other’s mouth as if trying to burn it off.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t remove my hand, fearing that the next phrase out of her mouth might relate to the “friendship fee.” At precisely that moment—

The world froze.

My body became immobile.

Inna, whose eyes had been glaring intently, stopped moving. Even Han Ye-seul, who had effortlessly repaired the desk, froze in place.

In a world now completely still, four sentences appeared before me.

[Inna, if you made an agreement, you must keep it. Do I really need to say this out loud?]

[Ms. Han Ye-seul, are you not curious about the person who helped solve the stalker incident the other day?]

[Erica, if you keep acting this way, it will result in something bad happening to my current girlfriend.]

[Teacher, to avoid any trouble, everyone stop now and return to your seats.]

The sentences slowly lit up one by one, as if carefully chosen by someone. The last one to glow was the very last sentence.

And then normalcy returned. My fingers began to twitch, and the breathing sounds of Inna and Han Ye-seul gradually came back as well.

“Teacher would find it troublesome if this continues. Let’s all stop and return to our seats.”

The voice interjecting this situation belonged to a boy with black hair, possessing quite ordinary black eyes, yet they sparkled distinctly. His face seemed innocent, even cute.

Though blending into the ordinary, something special lay within this boy. It didn’t require checking his name to know why, unlike extras, his skin wasn’t entirely darkened.

The phenomenon I had just experienced, coupled with the sentences that appeared during that moment, clearly defined a role in a Romantic Visual Novel.

[Security Level Check.]

[Maximum Level of Security.]

[Confirmed: Opponent has self-declassified.]

[Accessing Opponent’s Profile.]

[Kim Ha-neul]

[Role: Protagonist (Hidden X)]

[Ability: The World’s Affection]

[Current Favorability: -100]

This boy was none other than the main character of this Visual Novel, the person who had stolen my ex-girlfriend after some supposed agreement.

…After confirming the protagonist with this odd set of characters appearing.

By declassifying his security state, even my natural ability to detect roles couldn’t see him as the protagonist beforehand?

As I tried to think further, I turned to face the direction he had pointed to.

On the indicated side stood a bespectacled woman slightly cowering in our direction.

With my notoriety from attempted s*icide attempts, Inna being universally popular, and Han Ye-seul resembling a celebrity, even a teacher would hesitate to confront us.

“Tell me later when you met Han Ye-seul.”

“I’ll give you what I promised during the break.”

Everyone listened to him and returned to their seats. If this is labeled as the main character’s ability, then it must be considered such an ability.

After watching all the heroines return to their seats, I grabbed the wrist of the boy heading back to his.

Without my volition, my foot lunged to kick his shin but was effortlessly avoided by him stepping back, despite his wrist being held.

A commendable level of athleticism.

His speed and reflexes could easily handle dramatic hero-like events such as deflecting a flying projectile or pulling a heroine out of the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Is the role of the main character earned easily? With the “World’s Affection” ability, harming him physically might be near impossible.

“I think it’s completely reasonable to dislike me. Even if you kick me or lash out physically, it doesn’t bother me. But this is interrupting class, so I’ll hear you out later.”

His words carried a paternalistic tone, dispensing mercy from the top down, treating me like a child.

Fitting the image of the main character.

Labeled as an ordinary student yet holding a special role, his demeanor was worthy of a main character. But despite this rational understanding, my feelings rebelled, and I felt a pang of emotion upon hearing his words.

Is it the effect of the -100 favorability? Though I don’t feel inclined to love him, his words still automatically affected my body. This involuntary reaction infuriates me and fosters further antagonism.

“I really hate you.”

To prevent this cycle, the solution would be to entirely push the main character away.

Bolstered by the natural animosity arising from my body and the urgent need to distance myself, I stared him down, but he chuckled.

“I understand. Please bear with it a little longer. This will be finished soon.”

…What exactly is being finished?

Could he be referring to “conquering” me and finishing it quickly? If that were the case, could he have allowed himself more time?

A shiver ran down my spine, but he didn’t speak further, lightly patting my shoulder before sitting down.

Thinking the situation was resolved, I sat back down, and the teacher who had been crouched in the corner stood at the chalkboard.

[Kang Yu-jin]

[Role: Event Heroine]

[Ability: Advice]

“Eh, there was a bit of commotion, but we’ll start the morning assembly now.”

Second year.

The period of my teenage years had now restarted within this world of other people’s youth stories portrayed in the Romantic Visual Novel.

…But where is my former lover who was the Student Council President?

Perhaps in another class.