Chapter 66
Chapter 66
The Illusion Terror Incident - 3
****
“…What is this, Han-na?”
I asked as I helplessly placed the mirror down.
It was a sudden painting right before the Illusion attack was about to happen…
I had just told her, “Draw whatever you want.”
That was my response to her question.
And the result…
“….”
A crooked kiss mark was painted on my cheek.
A pink kiss mark, at that.
I had to fight the villain De Roque with a kiss mark on my face.
Choi Do-han would probably find it hilarious if he saw me interfering like this.
“How long does this take to wash off?”
“Pfft.”
I picked up the mirror again, rubbed my cheek, and then asked. Han-na, sitting beside me, suddenly burst into laughter.
It was a laugh close to a sneer, forced out through tightly pursed lips.
But,
‘…She never smiled even once in the original story.’
This was the first time I had ever seen Han-na smile.
Both in the original story and since I possessed this body.
She always maintained an aloof demeanor, like a medieval duchess, that I wondered if she even knew how to smile.
Yet, this sudden smile from her.
For some reason, it soothed my irritated mood.
“…Why, why are you laughing?”
“Pfft.”
I wasn’t sure if it was my sullen expression or the kiss mark on my cheek that amused her,
But Han-na covered her mouth and laughed again.
Then, she lowered her head, her shoulders shaking as she chuckled.
As I continued to rub the kiss mark with a grumpy expression, Han-na, calming down, wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at me.
‘…Was it that funny?’
“Well, it suits you.”
As I always said, Han-na was a character made for a villainess.
In medieval times, she’d be a cold-blooded duchess.
I knew what she meant by “it suits you,” accompanied by her laughter, but somehow, I didn’t feel offended.
How could I spit on a smiling face?
Especially since she'd put so much effort into drawing it, even sweating over it.
So, with a slightly bitter expression, like chewing on an unripe persimmon, I gave her a playful smirk.
Whatever.
If it meant gaining favor with the main heroines, I’d even offer up both my cheeks.
And,
‘Ercia… you’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?’
I found solace in looking at Su-ah, who had a distressed expression on her face, her cheeks adorned with Mi-jin’s skillful painting and Renia’s… less skillful one.
Well… the solace didn’t last long.
“The highlight of a festival is face painting! Oh?! Master, you still have one cheek left! Hohoho!”
Renia approached me with a wicked grin, like a witch.
Her sinister smile was exactly like that of a witch targeting a shota.
“Uh? No, one is enough…!”
“Oh, no, that won’t do. It’s a festive day, you need at least two face paintings!”
‘Since when did you care about that?!’
“Han-na, Mi-jin? Can you hold my Master down for me?”
“Okay! Anything for you, unnie!”
“…It’s childish, but it might be fun.”
‘What?’
‘Since when did you three become so close?!’
‘Have you become Renia’s henchwomen now?!’
‘I have to fight a high-ranking Illusion executive in two hours!’
But oblivious to my inner turmoil, Han-na and Mi-jin quickly grabbed and restrained my arms.
And,
“S-Su-ah? What are you…?”
Su-ah approached me with a grin and held my head still.
‘No!’
‘Ercia, you shouldn’t be doing this!’
‘Weren’t you just nervous about the Illusion terror incident?!’
‘You said you had a bad feeling about it!’
‘And why is a 52-time regressor participating in this childish game?!’
“For the sake of my brother’s dress-up…!”
I struggled like a fish caught in a net, but I was completely immobilized by the combined strength of the three girls.
*Why are you all so serious about this?!*
“Okay~ Let’s get started~”
*Swish, swish,* Renia painted without hesitation.
In the end, I had to sacrifice(?) my other cheek.
Renia proudly held up a mirror for me with a “Ta-da~!” and I sighed.
A pink kiss mark on one cheek.
A red heart on the other.
I looked ridiculous, considering I had to fight the high-ranking executive De Roque in two hours.
Resigned, I sighed and stood up.
“…Let’s just go eat.”
‘Whatever, I need to fill my stomach first.’
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Cheers~!”
‘…Was this why Ercia said knowing the future wasn’t always a good thing?’
Knowing that the Illusion attack would begin in an hour, I couldn’t enjoy this cheerful atmosphere.
I couldn’t focus on either the impending attack or the dinner.
It felt like I would mess things up because I couldn’t concentrate on one thing.
Of course, I still thought, ‘It’s better than not knowing’, but I suspected that after experiencing the 52nd regression, I might change my mind and think, ‘Ignorance is bliss.’
‘Well, let’s at least fill our stomachs.’
If I had grown solely through my own strength, without the advantage of Hidden Pieces, I would be going crazy with anxiety right now.
But thanks to monopolizing the Hidden Pieces, I was much stronger than Choi Do-han was at this point in the original story, so I could at least afford to relax a little.
It felt strange to be having dinner at the same table with Renia, Han-na, Su-ah, and Mi-jin.
Well, I hadn’t had any interaction with Perna Ella yet, one of the original main heroines.
Ella was a fan-favorite heroine, though not officially recognized as one in the story, and her importance grew only in the latter half of the original, so I wasn't even sure if she could be considered a main heroine.
‘Park Na-yeon was more likely.’
Ella was popular because of her seductive, ‘femme fatale’ charm, but setting-wise, Park Na-yeon, my Master, was closer to being a main heroine.
Anyway,
Looking at the main heroines and Renia laughing and chatting, raising their glasses for a toast, brought a smile to my face.
It felt like an epilogue, a peaceful world after the story’s end.
“But Tae-jin, aren’t you drinking?”
Mi-jin suddenly asked.
Ten bottles of soju and beer had already been emptied since the street food stalls opened an hour ago.
Since Su-ah and I weren't drinking, it meant that Mi-jin, Han-na, and Renia had finished them all on their own.
They were serious drinkers.
I wasn’t one to refuse a drink either, but I was preparing for battle, so I was only having a little beer.
By the way,
“Hee? Mashter… Mashter not dwinking?”
‘Renia… you have a lower tolerance than I thought.’
She had readily accepted every glass offered by Han-na and Mi-jin, and now her eyes were glazed over.
Her tongue was already slurring.
“I am drinking. I’m just eating first because I’m hungry.”
“Hehe, should we cheers again~?!”
‘…Did she even hear my answer?’
“Yes!”
“Shu-ah, have a dwink too~”
‘Renia…?’
‘I know it’s a festival, but haven’t you forgotten that you’re my bodyguard before you’re an honorary student?’
Well, it was the first time I had seen her so uninhibited, so it was quite interesting.
She was cute, a thousand-year-old Succubus acting drunk.
And come to think of it, this might be better.
It would be easier to move without her noticing.
The promising cadets would be looking after her anyway.
“If you can’t hold your liquor, you can’t get married! Oh~ poor soul~ Drink up~! Bottoms up~!”
Renia sang cheerfully as she filled the glasses.
And,
“Pfft.”
“Heh.”
Mi-jin and Han-na burst out laughing.
Su-ah also seemed to be stifling a laugh, wiping under her nose with her index finger.
‘Renia…’
‘What era are you from with that song…?’
I felt my face burning with embarrassment.
Renia exclaimed, slightly offended,
“Why are you laughing?!”
“Oh my, unnie… aren’t you 26?”
“Why, why…?”
“I thought my mom was here…”
Renia chuckled, cupping her face with her hands.
She was still the same ditzy Renia.
“Hehe, your mom must be very beautiful~”
“….”
‘Was this a generation gap?’
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold, and I had to jump in to save the situation.
I raised my glass.
“Let’s all cheers, shall we?”
A toast was the best way to break the awkward silence.
Thankfully, everyone raised their glasses, and the lively atmosphere returned.
The drinking party was in full swing.
Han-na and Mi-jin’s faces were flushed.
I checked my watch.
8:12 PM.
Only eight minutes remained until the attack.
Now that the time was approaching, anxiety washed over me.
Suppressing my nervousness, I reviewed the events of the original story.
Knowing yourself and your enemy ensured victory, right?
‘De Roque and Choi Do-han definitely fight inside the gymnasium.’
Not far from where I was.
There, De Roque would fight Choi Do-han, following God R’hell’s orders to capture him alive.
Park Na-yeon would arrive late and attack De Roque, creating an opening.
Then, the mid-rank executive, Rokta, would detonate a ‘Super Mana Bomb,’ deviating from the plan.
De Roque would be severely injured while trying to contain the explosion.
And then, Choi Do-han would deliver the final blow.
In other words, to obtain the [Level Up as a Harem!] hidden information from De Roque, I had to deliver the final blow.
In terms of contribution, the Super Mana Bomb was the most significant, and Park Na-yeon’s attack was also critical, so Choi Do-han obtained the hidden information because he delivered the final blow.
There was a mention of this possibility in the original story.
Therefore, my main objective in this [Illusion Terror Incident] was to wait for the right moment and deliver the final blow before Choi Do-han.
Even if Park Na-yeon didn't help, Rokta's Super Mana Bomb incident would proceed as it did in the original story.
Only one minute remained.
Su-ah was also glancing at the time.
Even as a 52-time regressor, she probably didn’t know why Choi Do-han could match De Roque.
She wouldn’t know about the [Level Up as a Harem!] hidden information.
‘She's probably hoping this incident would end without any problems for me.’
But without any incidents, there would be no progress. Taking risks for growth was a matter of course.
I touched my mana pocket, where I had stored my equipment, and watched the second hand of the clock hanging on the tent pole.
‘52, 53… 59.’
And… ding!!
-KABOOM-!!
Exactly at 8:20 PM, a loud explosion, like a thunderclap, echoed through the air, and the lively atmosphere instantly froze.
“What was that? What was that sound?”
“Wasn’t that fireworks?”
“Yeah, I think I saw them setting up fireworks earlier.”
Seeing Han-na and Mi-jin discussing the sound, I stood up.
[Illusion Terror Incident]
It had finally begun.