Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: A Deceptively Peaceful Month
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The novel kept updating steadily.
Honestly, it wasn't even providing any useful info, and watching those kids have fun without me was starting to bum me out, so there were times I thought about just stopping altogether.
But human curiosity is an unstoppable force. Whenever a notification pinged on my phone, I'd end up reading it without thinking.
And so, today again, I found myself compelled to open my phone and dive into the novel, as if under some spell.
In the story, Han U-sol was teaching Reisi Hearts how to shoot. The novel's Reisi had been convinced by him to abandon the romance of daggers for the practicality of guns.
It pissed me off a little, but whatever.
The real Reisi had already been fully trained by me into a perfect ranged-weapon hater. She wouldn't even glance at a gun.
I could almost hear Han U-sol shouting from the pages.
"You bastard!! What did you do to Reisi?!"
"Reisi? Oh, that silver-haired girl? She was such a pretty, sweet kid."
"But now she's a kid who hates and despises ranged weapons."
"Kii, you bastard!!!"
'Heh heh heh.'
I cackled wickedly to myself, lost in my delusions, then tapped out a comment on my phone.
I have a dilemma.
Well, not a huge one.
'Hello? This is Anis, who always has a ton of worries. Nothing major, though.'
It's been a month since I entered this brutal world of angels, demons, magic beasts, and villains.
Yet...
'It's too peaceful. That's my problem.'
Why hasn't anything happened?
A whole month. That's not a short time.
The novel's up to Chapter 17. Not a small number either.
Even if not a big event, something should've popped off by now, but it's way too calm.
To the point where I accidentally thought, "Wait, isn't this just a slice-of-life academy story?"
"U-sol..."
A girl called out to Han U-sol, her face flushed. New face—probably from another class.
Anyone could see she was head over heels.
"Um... wanna talk for a sec?"
"Huh...? Sure."
Slice-of-life academy? Scratch that. This is a school romance!
"Ooh~ As expected of the handsome popular guy."
"Haha..."
Yoon Na-rin teased Han U-sol and glanced at me. He chuckled awkwardly and snuck a peek my way too.
What? Those looks? Are they mocking me, the guy from my past life who couldn't even talk to a girl, let alone confess?
'......'
I knew it. They don't know my past life, no reason to mock me. Just my trauma flaring up.
If you ask why I have so many traumas, I'd confidently say I could hold my own against anyone in quantity.
Yeah. Turn my traumas into medals, and I'd be a hero who'd collected every one of Korea's 56 kinds.
And trauma's a scary thing—it turns innocent actions into overanalysis, victim mentality, and endless self-loathing.
"Uh... I'll be right back."
"Don't let her break your heart too bad. Give it to her straight."
"Yeah."
As Han U-sol left the classroom, he glanced at me once more.
'Ugh... What's with that look... Bragging about getting a confession!?'
Overanalysis.
'Saying you're way better than a loser like me...'
Victim mentality.
'Ugh... Yeah... Someone like me...'
And finally, self-loathing.
"Ugh..."
I writhed under the trauma triple combo.
"Anis...?"
Yoon Na-rin looked at me with worried eyes from the side.
Yoon Na-rin considered herself pretty perceptive. And she was, usually.
But over the past month, she'd started doubting her instincts a bit.
'Hmm... Han U-sol definitely likes Anis, but she seems oblivious.'
Before they got close, Anis paid attention to every little thing he did. Back then, she clearly looked like a girl with a crush.
But once they warmed up, that vibe faded. Even when Yoon Na-rin deliberately threw them together, Anis showed no reaction.
She'd light up when he made swords or weapons, but that seemed more about friendship than romance.
'Hmm... Maybe she was just looking because she wanted to be friends?'
Did she misread it early on? If so, it was one-sided from Han U-sol, and oblivious Anis wouldn't notice.
'Hmm... What to do?'
Should she help? As she pondered...
"U-sol... Um... Wanna talk for a sec?"
"Huh...? Sure."
A girl from another class pulled Han U-sol aside. The vibe screamed confession.
Yoon Na-rin glanced at Anis, who had a distant, thoughtful look.
"Ugh..."
As Han U-sol followed the girl out, Anis groaned softly.
"Anis...?"
She was so deep in thought she didn't even respond to her name.
'Hmm...?'
Watching Anis, Yoon Na-rin sank into her own thoughts.
She thought Anis had no romantic interest, but this reaction to a potential confession? Looked like jealousy over a rival.
If she truly didn't care, she'd have tossed a playful jab at Han U-sol like usual.
And seeing her snap at him later...
"Hey, go get me some macarons."
"Uh... Okay."
...Yeah, definitely.
'Maybe she likes him but hasn't realized it herself?'
Pure, innocent Anis? Possible.
'But she doesn't seem curious about the confession outcome.'
'Hmm. No clue.'
It was confusing.
'Whatever. If they end up together, great. I'll root for them.'
Yoon Na-rin decided to go with the easy answer.
"Hey, go get me some macarons."
"Uh... Okay."
Han U-sol stood and headed to the vending area.
Still sour from my trauma flare-up, I sent him on a macaron run.
Partly revenge for triggering me, but there was more.
'Turning eyes to other girls with Na-rin right here? The nerve.'
No matter what anyone says, my main girl—er, soul friend—is Yoon Na-rin!
With that thought, I scarfed down the macarons he brought.
'...But are these two even a thing?'
Lately, I'd been getting confused.
I'd assumed they'd become a couple eventually.
But after watching closely this past month, no such vibes in reality or the novel. Just friends.
'Hmm...'
No idea.
'Whatever. If they end up together, great. I'll root for them.'
I went with the easy answer.
"Kids, about the picnic next week. Where do you wanna go?"
Silbi Bell announced during homeroom. Picnic? Teacher, is this really a slice-of-life academy story?
From my perspective, way better than dangerous genres— a thousand times welcome.
But considering this novel's world, this peace felt like the calm before a massive tsunami.
Students were raising hands, suggesting spots. Seemed split between cherry blossom viewing and amusement park.
'Amusement park's a no.'
One of my 56 traumas slept there.
—Hey punk, what school you from? How much cash you got?
'Ugh...'
Just thinking about it triggered me.
"I like the amusement park."
Yoon Na-rin muttered beside me. Outgoing type, she preferred parks over picnics.
"Amusement park!"
Reisi seemed the same. Han U-sol didn't care.
"Anis, you like amusement parks too, right?"
I'd stayed quiet, so Yoon Na-rin narrowed her eyes at me.
Uh, um, er, hmm...
"......Yeah."
'...Gah! No!'
Her intense gaze pressured me into agreeing. I'd accidentally voted for the park.
'Please, cherry blossoms!'
I prayed inwardly for picnic victory.
"Hmm~ Looks like cherry blossoms win by a bit. Picnic it is~"
Silbi said. My face lit up.
"...You look thrilled, Anis."
Sharp Yoon Na-rin caught it and shot me a suspicious look.
"Huh? N-no...? Kinda bummed..."
"...Really?"
But ten years rolling under delinquents honed my improv. Dodged it clean.
Sorry, Na-rin. Parks scare me.
Even without trauma, what if a ride breaks mid-drop? Heights freak me out.
Anyway, picnic—cherry blossom viewing— it was.
I got excited.
'Picnic!'
Never thought that word could thrill me so much!
Past life picnics were all bad memories.
Dad never gave money, no friends. Just wandered alone.
But here? Different. Excitement bubbled up.
Maybe I'd be too hyped to sleep the night before.
Silbi started listing supplies on the board.
I whipped out my notebook from my bag to jot them down.
In it,
Ah.