Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: The Farce Continues
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Anis is dancing.
Betty is playing the violin.
Cheer up, Anis Harper! Don't lose!
Taang—! Gunshot, no, firework.
Peureong—! Bomb, no, firework.
A nightmare that swallows the night, a wolf that spits fire.
So, my weapons are the nightmare that swallows the night. The wolf that spits fire.
#Comedy.
My life.
So, my novel.
#Fantasy, #Modern, #Comedy.
But mixed in with #TS and #mistaken identity.
The title is Acamedy Academy.
The academy doesn't feature much, but since it's in the title, #Academy too.
Comedy.
Farce.
Charlie Chaplin, tragic protagonist.
Sorry, but this novel is a farce. No place for you.
Extra.
I'm the protagonist, and you're the extra.
So, your life is a tragedy.
So, my life is a farce.
We're all living a farce.
Everyone's happy.
Greet them.
Bow.
To someone out there enjoying the novel of your life.
At the edge of the stage, bow in thanks.
Me too, you too.
We're all alive and breathing because of them.
Dance.
Dance and play the violin.
Tic.
Tic.
Tic tic tic.
-
Jjeok.
The second hand reached its position, and the alarm clock blared.
"Anis! Get up!"
"Ugh?"
I opened my heavy eyelids. Through my blurry vision, I saw Betty shaking me. I focused my hazy sight on Betty's face.
"Dinner's soon. We were going out together today, remember?"
"...Ah."
I unscrewed the cap of the 1.5L water bottle rolling by the bed and took a swig. The lukewarm sensation sliding down my throat cleared my foggy mind.
"Leaving right now?"
"In a bit."
It was the day we were all going to meet the refugees at Camilla's request, along with Han. I splashed water on my face, roughly washed up, and shook off the drowsiness.
"You and Han should probably head out first."
Betty and Camilla had to meet that executive first, they said.
"Got it."
I nodded to Betty to show I understood.
Water droplets trailed down my skin, soaking the bedsheets.
A few days had passed since arriving here, and Han U-sol felt a stark sense of contrast seeing Daniel, who had grown so much. For a kid in his growth spurt, three years was plenty of time for big changes.
His appearance hadn't changed drastically. It was like the face from three years ago, just taller.
But that alone made his impression totally different. In Han U-sol's memory, Daniel had been a frail, scrawny kid, but the boy before him now looked like a proper young man.
"Fucking parachute bitch."
Han U-sol gave a wry smile at Daniel's casual curse.
His rough speech, unfiltered with swears, and black hair—it reminded him straight of Anis.
Was he always like this? Han U-sol tried to recall, but it was ambiguous. Maybe, maybe not.
He hadn't spent much time with Daniel to begin with, and their talks had always been brief. Recalling fine details from faded memories was tough.
"Drops in out of nowhere like a parachute, barking orders left and right, then says do nothing for a while. Is that supposed to make sense? What a fucking bitch. Right, bro?"
Han U-sol scratched his cheek and averted his eyes at Daniel's seeking agreement. A bit rough, but Daniel wasn't wrong.
Still, Han U-sol couldn't agree or disagree. He'd been dispatched with Ronel and was nominally her adjutant.
"Anyway, that fucking bitch. So goddamn thick-skinned."
Daniel kept badmouthing Ronel, ignoring Han U-sol's ambiguity. The gripes were wild—mostly personal attacks laced with curses.
It felt a tad excessive, but Han U-sol could kind of understand why Daniel was like this.
To the people here, Ronel was just a parachute backed by the Hero Association, shoving aside Reisi. She'd never been viewed favorably.
Han U-sol was treated as her adjutant too, but since he was Reisi and Daniel's acquaintance, people didn't look at him too badly.
Of course, Daniel's heated rant here wasn't solely because of that.
A few days ago, Ronel had gathered all the heroes staying in the building and declared:
'From today, all refugee matters are on hold. Heroes, stop investigating the refugees and just do light patrols for the time being.'
Light patrols in name only—it was basically telling them to halt refugee probes indefinitely and do nothing.
All the heroes in the office were baffled, and Han U-sol was just as thrown by Ronel's order.
They'd been sent to curb refugee unrest, yet her first command as leader was to leave them be and stand by indefinitely.
When he asked what she was thinking, she just said it was an order—follow it.
So now, displeased with Ronel's attitude, Daniel was secretly trash-talking her from the back of the office.
"Ugh, that fucking bitch."
"Hey, Daniel!"
"Ow!"
Smack!
Someone flicked Daniel's forehead hard as he badmouthed Ronel. It was Hailey, Daniel's academy classmate.
"Why hit me!"
"I told you to watch your mouth!"
Hailey was a sharp, no-nonsense girl. She often reined in Daniel when he got too out of line.
"But it really is weird. What do you think she's planning?"
Reisi quietly muttered and turned to Han U-sol.
"You really don't know anything? Sudden indefinite standby—super suspicious."
"...Dunno."
Han U-sol just shook his head.
"Ah, seriously. Everyone's so hostile toward me."
In her assigned personal quarters, Ronel grumbled into the receiver in her hand.
"Treating me like an incompetent boss who parachuted in and does nothing. Scary stuff."
—But you are doing nothing, aren't you?
A man's voice came from the receiver.
"No, the commissioner told me to do nothing and wait."
—True.
"I was just following orders. Stop all refugee investigations and sit tight. Now everyone's glaring at me with resentment. Especially this one guy, straight-up cursing me out..."
Ronel twirled her hair around her index finger, complaining. The man on the line went silent for a moment, then sighed.
—Should've played it more tactfully. Dragged it out subtly instead of being so blatant...
"I prefer being upfront over all that sly maneuvering."
—Then deal with the backlash yourself.
"I know. Just venting."
Ronel held the receiver as she brewed coffee from the machine. Cheap beans, but perfect for feeling like the head of a group.
Black liquid filled the cup, releasing a rich aroma. Cheap or premium, coffee always smelled good once brewed.
"Anyway, when's D-day?"
Ronel stirred her cup with a teaspoon and asked the man about the next schedule.
—Three days from now.
"Hope it goes well~"
—It will.
With that, the call ended.
"Who was that?"
Camilla eyed the man setting down the receiver.
Colton Keil.
A Hero Association executive with influence in the city's business scene, big and small. A man brimming with ambition and lust for power.
Even if it meant betraying humanity—he'd use any means for his goals, like a snake. At least, that's how Camilla saw him.
And since he'd accepted her proposal, her judgment wasn't off.
"One of my subordinates."
"Hm. Direct report?"
"Not direct, but someone aligned with my goals."
Camilla picked up her coffee cup from the table and savored the aroma.
Sniffing it, she realized the coffee Colton had brewed lacked the depth she'd hoped for—and it was made from cheap beans.
Having expected something upscale, Camilla playfully voiced her disappointment.
"Figured a high-up Association exec would use fancy beans. Nope. And your brewing skills aren't great either."
"First person to clock that from the smell alone."
"I'm sensitive to this stuff. Thought you were all ambition and drive, but this coffee quality? Might be underwhelming."
"Haha, sorry. I focus on important things over luxuries like coffee."
"Not a bad trait."
Camilla nodded. Ambitious, yes, but not blinded by greed to indulge in mindless extravagance.
She took a sip, then passed her cup to Betty beside her. The taste didn't satisfy.
"Whoa, both cups for me?"
Betty, mid-munching snacks, beamed and took Camilla's cup. She'd just finished hers. Cheap beans or not, Betty just needed something to wash down the heavy snacks.
She could ask for more, and Colton would bring it, but in this fancy reception room, even Betty felt too shy for that.
"Who cares if the beans are cheap or premium? As long as you can drink it. Han says better a hot bowl of soup than pricey coffee."
"That's 'cause you're still young, Betty. You'll get it when you're older."
"So that means you're an auntie, Camilla."
"……"
Camilla fell silent at Betty's gut-punch. She knew her age was creeping into "auntie" territory.
"Anyway, Colton. What were we talking about?"
Camilla finally changed the subject.