LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 18
It hit me like a ton of bricks when I finally arrived at the monorail station near the Academy on a Monday.
It’s been a week since I entered, yet it feels like a whole month has passed.
It’s definitely not easy. Just a week in, and I’m already juggling this level of hassle. It really makes me feel like I’m in the midst of the main characters.
Of course, over half of this mess is my own doing, and I even walked right into one of the problems that I could’ve avoided.
But really, don’t you think the incidents are piling up too quickly?
If things keep escalating this way, it’s only going to get worse—not better. It’s already this chaotic!
I found myself wondering if I’d even make it to the end of the semester with all my limbs intact.
Given the medical standards here, they probably could reattach lost limbs one way or another, considering the main character and heroine managed to keep theirs intact, maybe I’m worrying for nothing.
It’s one thing for the extras, but at least the main players haven’t lost any limbs.
As I made my way towards the school gates, I didn’t really feel surprised to see reporters swarming like flies around a corpse.
These guys were relentless, shoving microphones in the faces of both students and staff, just trying to snag a juicy story.
It was such a familiar sight from either side that it made me chuckle.
Of course, no one was giving them real answers.
Why would they? They don’t know anything.
There were even some students getting outright angry.
That one over there must be from the Hunter department.
If they’re from the Hunter department, they must be steaming inside right now.
It’s frustrating for them that the hero candidates cleared the gate instead.
It’s a well-known rivalry between Hunters and Heroes in this world.
Rivalry… but honestly, it’s more like a clear-cut conflict as to who started the fight first.
At some point, they’ve set up this competitive dynamic.
Hunters go out and bring home resources to keep society running, while the media only showers the heroes with praise, and they hate it.
And the Heroes are like, “Hey, have we ever caused you harm?” Plus, if a rescue call comes from inside a gate, it’s us who rushes in! Talk about a messy relationship.
It’s not the perfect analogy, but you could compare them to worker ants and soldier ants.
If Hunters are like worker ants fetching resources, then Heroes are the soldier ants protecting the colony.
Of course, this is within the abilities-user community.
In the comparison of abilities users and regular folks, regular people would be the worker ants, and abilities users would be the soldiers.
If you want to separate them that way, then sure.
Avoiding the reporters while mentally buzzing with the thought of that child on screen, I spotted Yeonhwa, looking overwhelmed and buried among them.
“I-I didn’t do much. It was mostly Jinhyeon who did it…”
“But the walls of flame stopped the villains, didn’t they?!”
“But that boy wasn’t doing anything in the video!”
“Did you learn that technique from your father?!”
Just from watching that, I could tell how the conversation was going.
With her kind nature, Yeonhwa was probably answering their questions, which had the reporters all tangled up.
Where the heck was that guy when all of this was happening?
Wow. Did he really leave his childhood friend hanging while she’s in distress?
What a jerk.
I scattered some smoke casually, and the reporters bolted, squealing about some kind of attack.
“Oh, Blanca…?”
Finally liberated from the reporters, she looked exhausted.
Well, any sane person would suffer mentally after roasting a bunch of humans alive.
With her gentle heart, Yeonhwa must be more shocked than most.
“You’re too kind-hearted for your own good.”
With a bitter smile, I grabbed her hand and led her through the school gates.
“Thanks, Blanca.”
“What’s there to thank? I just did what he should’ve done. It’s ridiculous watching the daughter of a benefactor struggle while he runs off.”
Expressing my disdain for Jinhyeon so casually, Yeonhwa explained that it wasn’t like that at all.
She’d pushed herself to the limit, so she decided to take the day off and rest at the hospital.
“If that’s the case… well, I’m at a loss for words.”
Still, my irritation didn’t change.
Inwardly grumbling, I offered some half-hearted advice to Yeonhwa.
“Yeonhwa, as a friend, I suggest you don’t go above and beyond for everyone. You don’t need to be kind to everyone.”
It’s kind of funny that I’m saying this, knowing she might betray me one day, but I genuinely meant it.
Your kindness isn’t endless, after all.
Too many people think that if you treat them kindly, they’re entitled to it.
Yeonhwa looked like she was going to have to deal with those types.
“Thanks for your words, Blanca. But… I like it just the way it is right now.”
“If that’s what you want, I’ve got nothing more to say. Just remember it.”
Seriously too easy on people.
You should be a bit more cautious around them.
…But maybe it’s crossing the line to meddle further since she’s not really a true friend.
As we entered the school debating our short tales about Jinhyeon and weekend plans, a swarm of kids suddenly buzzed around us like bees drawn to honey.
In that moment, I doubted if those past awkward kids were the same folks.
“You okay, Blanca?!”
“Are you hurt? No? Good!”
“I was so scared…! So many people, and nobody I knew in the classroom…!”
“…You seem fine.”
“Phew, you’re alright. Thank goodness.”
Most of them were Yeonhwa’s friends, but there were a few who looked out for me too.
Fukukin, Ageha, and other losers.
Lapiz was whining about something.
Minho, Lucia…
“I saw your interview. I heard you were the one who took down the boss monster, is that true?”
…Even Im Changwon was here.
I’ve never even talked to that guy.
Why is he suddenly interested in me?
—
In the original work, Im Changwon wasn’t the type to take an interest in anyone first.
He was merely a benchmark for the protagonist and then later a good rival in the story.
So I really had no idea what was going on.
It seemed like she was just as puzzled as I was.
Whether she knew what kind of person Im Changwon was or if he was just some stranger approaching her.
That part was a mystery.
…In any case, I definitely felt a throb in my head.
Does she even realize that just by existing, she’s already messing up the original story?
The Villain’s Attack had to start at least from the field trip, not now.
Plus, these ‘Suicide’ villains? I’ve never even heard of them. The fact that there’s an abilities user who can open a gate right here in the middle of the city is shocking enough.
Since Lapiz took down that villain, I shouldn’t worry about any gate showing up that I’m unaware of…
But that’s not the important part.
The crucial thing is that the original story I know is slowly changing.
I found myself wondering if I was getting worked up over nothing given it’s still so early, yet there’s already significant changes happening.
Right now, I’m either sparring with the rejuvenated Fukukin or chatting with Lapiz, or even watching out for Im Changwon who approaches me.
I opened the status screen and clicked on her entry.
Nothing had really changed since then.
Just the same old info about her body and name that wouldn’t amount to much.
All the other info was locked.
To unlock that, I need to build a connection with her…
But there wasn’t any companion quest to help me do that.
It’s making me anxious.
All the other heroines have their relationship quests visible, so why is it that only Blanca’s is hidden?
After all, relationships aren’t strictly about quest completion… right?
Even if the quests don’t request it, I could still just reach out personally.
She wouldn’t refuse or run away.
But I was afraid of what kind of repercussions that might unleash.
I’ve never run into trouble by simply following what the status screen suggests, so I really had no clue what might happen if I deviated from that guide.
Yet, sitting still without doing anything feels just as uneasy.
“Minho. You look deep in thought. What’s up?”
“Ah… sorry. It’s nothing important, Seolhwa.”
“You were just watching that kid earlier, weren’t you?”
It was hard to tell whether her neutral expression meant she was mad or just curious.
If only she had a tail like Blanca, I could at least gauge her mood a bit better, but sadly I had no way to do that.
So all I could do was act under the assumption that the worst-case scenario was the most likely.
“I’m sorry. I lied.”
“No need to apologize. It’s fine. I’m just concerned too.”
Thank goodness it seems her interest was purely curiosity.
So if Seolhwa’s taking an interest, it seems the successful dungeon clear is more significant than I thought.
…Really, finding out more info quickly seems to be the best approach.
—
“No way, I can’t believe we’re losing our lead!”
“Who do those pathetic dog bones think they are?! How dare they get ahead of us!!!”
“If they’re calling themselves ‘Suicides,’ they should just drop dead instead of causing trouble…!”
“…If this keeps up, our footing will get all wobbly. We’ll just end up being considered mere copycats.”
As our team watched the news reports all day long, they vented their frustrations as if they were about to explode.
All of it was insults directed at that group of villains now labeled ‘Suicides.’
It’s no wonder, given they must’ve picked up these scrappers off the streets; they’re downright pitiful.
Issues like this usually get overshadowed by bigger headlines.
“Stop whining, you guys. If we make a bigger and flashier explosion, who cares? Didn’t the ‘elder’ say he’d support us in this? Why are you so worried?”
“Looks like you’re not a know-nothing idiot after all!”
“Ah, come on. What does location even matter? Now, we’re all citizens of South Korea. Don’t you think, Alexei? Let’s be friends, shall we?”
With a laugh, I grabbed one team member by the throat, lifting him off the ground.
“…You’re genuinely pissing me off.”
“Do you have a plan, Wang? I refuse to play second fiddle to anybody.”
“I do have a plan. The attack will proceed as scheduled. But… that day, let’s target that cross-eyed girl.”