Why Didn't I Feel It?
Morning came with an eek—?!
I headed straight to the classroom.
Irene Rock had replaced the entire lesson with practical training again.
The Gangbuk breach—an event that never happened in the original story. It was one of the butterfly effects it had triggered.
The other classes were in a similar state. Everyone was focused on building practical experience.
The suspicious part is how it's oddly teaching monster countermeasures and ability user countermeasures at the same time.
Ever since the mandatory ability user registration system was implemented, all ability users had been under strict control and surveillance. Academy cadets didn't feel it much, but I, coming from outside the game, could sense it clearly.
In other words, ability users siding with the monsters were all from before the system— a tiny minority.
A loud commotion erupted nearby.
A group of boys and girls were holding up a large sheet of paper, letting out exclamations one after another.
...Familiar names caught my eye.
No, it's a newspaper.
Ivy Lane, Ja-an, Han Ye-seo. My face and Ja-an's were small ID photos pasted on it.
The ability user body really was convenient.
Stamina E+, Strength D+, Agility C+. Those were my current stats.
Even with numbers like that, I could read the fluttering newspaper from a distance.
Probably around 2.0 vision... or more. Dynamic vision influenced by Agility would be even higher.
Anyway, what are they exclaiming about?
Focusing on the paper, I spotted Han Ye-seo.
Ja-an and I only had the academy-provided ID photos, but Han Ye-seo had been hounded by reporters at the front gate, so... it made sense.
I tuned into the noise.
It was within B-Class range for me, so A-Class students could definitely hear. Or maybe they were shouting on purpose.
If they really wanted to sneak peeks, they'd do it in a corner or the bathroom among themselves.
Spreading out a newspaper in the middle of practical training? Not even a smartphone— an actual newspaper? Seriously?
I doubted anyone in this academy even read newspapers.
Okay, what to do?
I subtly checked Han Ye-seo's mood.
Why had she tried to leave through the front gate yesterday?
Because her close friend Ivy Lane wouldn't open the dorm door for her.
She was probably still sulking.
I'd pondered how to cheer her up, but I'd never picked a gift a girl would like.
Maybe just wait it out till she gets over it.
People have all sorts of personalities.
Most women, when mad, want the guy to trail after them like a puppy, performing tricks. It takes two to three hours, or even all day in bad cases, for the anger to fade.
But this wasn't a guy-girl thing—it was same-sex friends.
I'd had few same-sex friends, let alone female ones.
How do girls make up when they're mad at each other?
...Drink?
I was stumped.
Ja-an picked up on the weird vibe between us and started glancing back and forth.
Yeah, he's got zero patience, so he's about to bring it up.
Right on cue.
Ja-an spoke up.
"You two, did something happen?"
"Yeah."
"What happened?"
"Reporters swarmed the front gate yesterday. Ye-seo asked if she could crash at my dorm."
"And?"
I hesitated a moment before answering.
"I said no."
"...Why?"
"My place is a mess."
No lie there.
My room was filthy. I hardly ever cleaned.
Though if asked if that was reason enough not to invite her, I'd dodge the question.
Han Ye-seo whipped her head away.
A clear signal: zero attention or interest for us.
She was advertising her sulk.
Ja-an whispered to me, fidgeting in a way that didn't suit him at all.
"Ivy, what're you gonna do?"
"...Let it be?"
"What?"
"Half-assed coaxing might backfire."
Ja-an thought for a second.
"But maybe smooth it over now. The longer it drags, the deeper the rift."
Solid advice. But... I didn't do anything wrong!
Wasn't Han Ye-seo the bad guy for assuming she could barge into my dorm?
What reason did I have to apologize here?
Inviting someone over is the homeowner's call!
Sulking over going out the front gate alone? Wasn't she the petty one?
I had data from observing countless relationships.
Trailing an angry person and sucking up didn't suit me—and it risked turning friends into boss-subordinate.
Time heals all. Old wisdom doesn't lie.
Ja-an eyed me before speaking.
"Still, she's a friend. Today together..."
"Nosy much?"
"Ugh."
"She'll cool off in a day."
Second reason I wasn't soothing her: I'd done the math.
If she were truly furious, she'd challenge me to a spar or vent to other students—especially Dana.
But no.
Why? She wasn't that mad, but it'd be nice if you apologized first. Less embarrassing that way—
I patted Ja-an's shoulder and turned away.
First, tidy those things left in the dorm.
The two gift boxes on my desk, syringe, note—I'd stashed them carelessly, figuring checkpoints meant I could rewind if caught.
Had to handle it fast.
Burn them. Solid plan.
"Gonna hit the convenience store."
"Huh?"
"Skipping practice today."
"...You sure?"
"One day won't hurt. I've been diligent so far."
Ja-an nodded reluctantly, model student that he was—never skipped a class.
After Ivy peeled off from practice, anxiety gnawed at me. I decided to tail her.
[Tail her.]
Chosen.
If what that man said is true...
I slowly recalled my conversation with the principal.
The Inheritance and Collection Spear was lodged in her heart.
I didn't know its exact effects, but if the principal was telling the truth... I could guess.
Ivy Lane—she was a regressor.
A regressor walking around with a Type 1 relic stabbed in her own heart.
One reason for that.
Inheriting her info and memories through the spear...
I tailed her carefully.
Even if her physical stats lagged behind A-Class average, she was still an ability user.
Her senses outstripped a normal person's, no doubt.
Had to be cautious.
Ivy glanced around before entering the convenience store.
Now that I knew she was a regressor, I started reading meaning into her every move.
...Even a regressor hits the convenience store sometimes.
Yeah. I was overreacting.
Overanalyzing every action would never end.
Better to stick to observing her at the academy.
And just as I turned to head back—
Ivy grabbed a lighter from the display.
A lighter?
I pondered its use.
Only one thing you buy a lighter for at a convenience store.
Cigarettes?
Maybe to burn something, but everyone knew the academy had an incinerator.
She didn't look like someone who'd buy a lighter despite that to torch stuff.
Yeah, this had to be...
No way she's playing with fire?
Definitely not.
Cigarettes were more likely.
Gulp. I swallowed, took a deep breath, and stepped into the store after her.
Made it in without notice.
The bell jingled, but she didn't look my way.
I sidled up beside her, thinking.
What now?
No other purchases—she plunked just the lighter on the counter.
Has to be smokes. No doubt.
Academy cadets were legally adults—heck, we were adults anyway.
Smoking, drinking—all legal.
Close enough to lecture her on health?
Are we... that close?
Technically friends, but not besties—there was a distance.
How'd I handle frontline buddies? Couldn't recall.
Hoo. Deep breath. I copied what Han Ye-seo—way more sociable than me—would do.
Poke.
I jabbed Ivy's side.
"Eek—?!"
The store went dead silent in an instant.
And in that moment, a question flashed through Ivy Lane's mind.
—Why didn't I sense it? Why were her fading senses hitting now?