Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: If Worst Comes to Worst, Sex...
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Han Ye-seo, who had been dragging us along, suddenly stopped in our tracks.
A dark back alley came into view.
...This place looks familiar.
There was one fatal drawback before deployment in practical training: no way to obtain growth resources.
And the feature added to address that drawback.
The back alley.
It was the place I'd originally planned to head to on the day the syringe plunged into my neck.
Ja-an opened his mouth.
"...Where's this?"
"The black market!"
"Black market? That's illegal. Not a place for students."
"No way! It's just called that because it's shady and out of the way! Even the seniors on the front lines use it all the time!"
Han Ye-seo raised her voice, rebutting Ja-an's words.
Well, the black market existed in that ambiguous gray area between illegal and legal, so they were both sort of right.
As we hesitated, milling about, Han Ye-seo spoke up again.
"Fine. If you're that nervous, how about some icebreaking?"
"Icebreaking...?"
"Huh? Ivy, you don't know?"
"No clue."
"It's when you spend time getting to know each other to loosen up the awkward vibe!"
Another game for the popular crowd, huh.
Ja-an scratched his head.
"Do we have to...?"
"We haven't really hung out or talked properly yet! We're friends!"
"Friends, yeah. Sure."
Ja-an seemed to be struggling to match Han Ye-seo's energy, too.
Her voice was way too loud, and she talked way too much.
My ears felt like they were bleeding.
"Can I ask you something I'm curious about?"
Han Ye-seo looked at me.
"...Sure."
"First off, why'd you come to the academy?"
"It was my only path."
"You didn't have to risk your life to pass the selection. Plenty of people go into support or production roles without heading to the front lines."
There was no reason.
Or rather, 'Ivy Lane' knew the reason. I didn't.
But I had to answer anyway.
"I want to save people."
I gave the textbook response.
Han Ye-seo flashed a slight smile.
"I was hoping for something a bit different... Ja-an, what about you?"
"Me...?"
"No cookie-cutter answers, okay? It'll be exhausting with two goody-two-shoes."
"No real reason. Just kinda happened?"
"Kinda happened and you end up top of the academy? You're the only one that could pull that off. Makes me so mad...! I worked my butt off and still only got third!"
Had the protagonist ever mentioned why he joined the academy in the game?
I don't think so.
Eh, just some backstory. Whatever, move on.
Clap!
Han Ye-seo clapped her hands loudly.
I flinched in surprise.
"Great! Atmosphere's nice and loose now... let's head in!"
"Why does it always lead to this?"
"Hmph, coming this far meant we were going in anyway? You two were such dead weight."
I looked at Han Ye-seo.
She startled, then started making frantic excuses.
"You were light! It must've been that guy who's super heavy!"
"Yeah."
"Not offended, right?"
"It's fine."
I didn't really mind.
I'm not some delicate girl who's sensitive about her weight, am I?
Yeah. Not mad at all.
Grind.
I clenched my teeth.
Han Ye-seo broke out in a sweat.
Ja-an glanced at me, then tossed out a line.
"Let's go in."
"For real?!"
"Nothing else to do, and you said it's legal."
"Yay!"
We stepped into the back alley.
The scenery was surprisingly mundane.
Illegally expanded buildings from haphazard development blocked out the sunlight.
Utility poles and wires tangled everywhere, cluttering the view.
Lower your gaze, and finally, signs of human life appeared.
"Feels too... quiet for a market."
"I heard it usually opens at night."
"Then what's the point of coming now?"
"But... it's scary in the dark!"
Next to me, Ja-an was naturally chatting with the heroine, Han Ye-seo.
Of course the protagonist flirts even in a situation like this...
Impressive in all sorts of ways.
...Just in case, Checkpoint.
[Checkpoint set.]
I closed the Status Window.
I looked ahead again.
It was a bit different from the scenery in the game.
The game only let you visit at night, and it didn't open during the day anyway...
If there's any items I can snag here, maybe I should.
The syringe in my pocket was nagging at me.
The Status Window had flagged it as an abnormal status: drugs.
Probably, the fix was injecting more of the same drug or finding an antidote.
If it was made by an ability user, no antidote...
We're screwed.
A mental-acting drug with a latent period? Or maybe it affects memory...
Just tough it out with willpower?
I don't wanna turn into a junkie.
Still two days left, so let's ration it as best I can.
Han Ye-seo suddenly popped up beside me.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"...Huh?"
"You weren't saying anything, just walking. Got me curious!"
"Figured I need gear. We'll be doing practicals soon, so prepping ahead isn't a bad idea."
Han Ye-seo nodded like she got it.
"Want some recommendations?"
"Recommendations?"
"Yeah! I saw your spar!"
"Kinda embarrassing."
"No biggie. I'd be the same against Ja-an! Nothing to be ashamed of!"
Han Ye-seo comforted me.
It felt perfunctory.
Because... in the game, there was a low-probability event where Han Ye-seo beat the protagonist.
Meant she could hold her own.
Guess that's third place for ya.
I gave an awkward smile.
"See? People look way prettier when they smile!"
"Huh?"
"You were always so expressionless. Even when we first met."
"I think I smiled a few times."
"Did you? Dunno! Smile more often?"
I nodded lightly.
I touched my face with my hand.
Smooth. Really smooth.
I awkwardly prodded near my mouth.
When did I stop being able to smile naturally?
From the first time Mom's fist connected? Or when Dad's thrown bottle cracked my skull?
Couldn't really remember.
Water under the bridge anyway.
Yeah.
—That's your problem.
Me? No problems here.
Shut up.
So damn noisy.
"Hm...?"
Ja-an made a sound beside me.
He'd stopped, staring intently at something.
Han Ye-seo grabbed my hand and dragged me over to him. No resisting—just went along.
"What? Find something cool?"
"Huh? Nah, just feels familiar."
I snuck a peek at what Ja-an was looking at.
A long sword.
Nothing special, like basic gear from early in the game.
Han Ye-seo tossed out a comment.
"Doesn't look high-quality. That's your taste?"
"Nah, reminds me of gear I used on the front lines."
"Ah, yeah. Nothing beats what you're used to, huh?"
"Pretty much."
Han Ye-seo pondered for a moment, then spoke up.
"You got anything for ranged?"
"Huh?"
"Not asking what your ability is—just how you handle it. I'm mostly immune to physical force! Like a slime!"
As she spoke, Han Ye-seo turned part of her body into sticky black ink.
It was kinda gross.
Sensing my gaze, her hand reverted to normal.
Ja-an answered.
"I can kinda read it."
"Huh?"
"Like, I predict the trajectory ahead of time and move."
"Precog? Prophecy?"
"Sorta. But not seeing the future. More like probabilities or possibilities."
Model student through and through.
Explains his power in a way that reveals absolutely nothing...
Han Ye-seo nodded like she bought it.
"Not fair! I spilled everything!"
"...Sorry."
"But I get it. No worries! I don't mind!"
Her gaze shifted to me this time.
Meanwhile, Ja-an had grabbed a plain sword and headed to the counter inside the building.
Dead set on buying it, apparently.
"What?! I'm right here and he's only looking at that guy?"
"...Oh, sorry."
"You like him?"
"No!"
I shouted before I knew it.
Getting accused of being gay? Felt awful.
"Heh heh... Strong denial means strong affirmation, right?"
"Not really planning on dating."
"Why not?"
"The front lines are dangerous."
I gave the most by-the-book answer possible.
Couldn't exactly say I used to be a guy.
Han Ye-seo heard me out, then fell deep into thought without a word.
Surprising.
That serious expression.
Didn't know she had this side.
I'd never seen her serious before. Didn't realize she could get this serious.
"Still, better to enjoy it while you can. The front lines... once you experience them, there's no going back. You can dodge till graduation, but after? No escape."
I nodded.
"Thanks."
"What I'm saying is... have fun! Confess! Date! Right? If worst comes to worst, sex...!"
I immediately reached out and clamped my hand over Han Ye-seo's mouth.
Because Ja-an had just finished paying and stepped out of the shop.
Didn't want any weird misunderstandings.
"What were you talking about?"
"Huh? Nothing!"
Han Ye-seo peeled my hand off her mouth and started awkward excuses.
She was loud, but... it was kinda nice.
Felt like I was finally getting the normal school life I'd missed out on.
Han Ye-seo walked ahead.
"Shall we keep going? Still tons more to see!"
Ja-an and I exchanged glances, sighed, and followed behind her.
...It was fun.
Feels like we're getting a little closer.
The corner of my mouth twitched up.
A natural smile.
Ahead, Han Ye-seo beamed and started explaining the back alley street.
"When it comes to this street, y'know? Back in the day..."
Thud.
Something dropped.
Wavy white hair dangled down, down, until it nearly brushed the ground.
Han Ye-seo's hair.
No body attached.
Someone in a black hood, face hidden, stood where she'd been just moments ago.