Kim Sia and Kim Siu
I'd doubted it at first, just hearing the names, but once I confirmed that these two kids had been added to my Character Compendium, I had no choice but to accept the truth.
Anti-Hero. The Vendetta Duo.
They targeted corrupt public officials stirring up scandals and crimes, delivering merciless judgment and punishment.
The woman called "Ven" was a spatial mage, while the man known as "Detta" was a physical ability Awakener. Those were their defining traits.
Their real names, as revealed in the original story, were Kim Sia and Kim Siu. The "Duo" moniker came from the fact that they were twins.
The story never explained why they turned to the anti-hero path, so I'd just assumed it was their concept. But to think...
"They're my little siblings, but they're really something, right?"
Who would've guessed these kids were Sea-a's younger brother and sister?
Everything started clicking into place in my mind.
What if I hadn't possessed this body and never gotten close to Sea-a?
What if Sea-a hadn't joined our club?
In that case, the villains would've slipped into Bucheon via Here and There, and Sea-a would've fallen right into their prepared trap—captured by the police without a chance to fight back.
With the fabricated evidence and testimonies, she'd have been shipped off to Niflheim for sure.
And the kids left behind? They would've harbored nothing but hatred for the organization that ruined their big sister. They'd have trained themselves up for revenge.
That would've birthed the anti-hero Vendetta Duo.
It even explained why I hadn't remembered Sea-a despite playing through the academy route. She was someone who vanished midway through the story.
"Oops, did I talk too much? Sorry."
Sea-a must've mistaken my dazed expression for boredom and apologized out of the blue.
"No, something just clicked, and I was sorting through my thoughts."
"Something clicked?"
"Sia and Siu. Ever thought about enrolling them in the academy?"
"...Huh?"
But now that the game world had become reality.
Now that I'd protected Sea-a from those bastards.
The kids' future could definitely change.
"Sia and Siu...?"
"I heard the academy's starting a kindergarten and elementary division this year. As your siblings, they'd qualify no problem."
"But they're not Awakened yet..."
According to the game info, their awakening trigger was "a certain incident." And that incident was undoubtedly Sea-a getting nabbed right in front of them.
I'd blocked the actual arrest, but those two kids witnessing their sister dragged off by detectives would be enough to spark it anyway.
Especially since...
'Their shells already seem to be cracking.'
I hadn't expected them to show up in the compendium this soon. This incident must've been a massive trigger for both, laying the groundwork for their awakenings.
"Of course, I'm assuming they'll awaken, so answer casually."
"Oh, got it. In that case... yeah, I'd love for them to get a better education. School hours would match, we could commute together. But... the issue is..."
Sea-a hesitated for a moment.
"Tuition?"
"...Yeah. My parents covered mine, but association policy only subsidizes one kid per household. If the kids wanted to go..."
She gave a wry smile.
She didn't say it outright, but I could guess the rest. She'd probably quit school to earn for their tuition.
Watching her, memories of my own past flickered up.
'...College? You wanna take my money without going where I tell you?'
'Spineless brat.'
'Figure it out yourself.'
'Failed child.'
...She was worlds apart from that person.
"There are tons of foundations in Korea. Your siblings would snag scholarships easy. I'm sure of it."
"...Really?"
"Of course."
If not, I'd make it happen.
Sia and Siu's talents were proven even in the game. The Calione family had scholarship foundations; using those, the kids could enter without issue.
Plus, the Vendetta Duo were rumored to become S-rank anti-heroes in the future. They were blue-chip stocks, guaranteed winners.
'Not snapping this up would be idiotic.'
And these weren't the only sprouts like them. There were plenty of other kids.
Should I compile a list of future prospects?
With that thought, I continued chatting about the kids.
"If they can live normal lives like everyone else, I'd love that."
"Good to hear. It will happen."
Sea-a reacted positively, so we kept talking amiably.
How long had we been at it? Glancing at the clock, I realized more time had passed than expected.
"...Time flies. Tea's gone, so let's call it a night."
"Whoa, yeah. Guess I should crash too... Been a long day."
As we stood to leave, I turned to Sea-a with a reminder before stepping out.
"I'll keep getting reports via the firm, but... if anything comes up, contact me right away like today. Got it?"
"Yes...! I will!"
With that assurance, no major issues should arise.
"Get home safe, Eugene."
"You too. Sleep well."
I closed the door quietly so as not to wake the kids and slid into the waiting car out front.
"Good work, Young Master."
"Yeah... straight home."
"Yes, sir."
Yeah, time to head home and crash. Gangwon, Bucheon, Incheon—been all over. Tomorrow was Sunday anyway...
Rest.
Things with Sea-a were resolving smoothly.
First, we'd secured testimonies and evidence from the two villains our organization had nabbed, packaging them anonymously for Deque.
Adding my testimony as one of the guys who caught Here and There in person sealed it. The police and prosecutors were scrambling to shut it down.
Not that I'd let them off easy...
But in the end, it wrapped up perfectly.
"Seriously, when Eugene burst in!! The lawyers kicked open the station doors and swarmed in! If it wasn't for you, I'd have rotted in prison forever. Evidence? Witnesses? How's that fair? I didn't even do it!"
And thanks to that, the moment we hit the academy, here was Sea-a venting her grievances.
"Looks like someone higher up pulled strings. You tell Instructor Ji Suhyun?"
Youngje shook his head after hearing her out.
"Yeah, I messaged her yesterday... but read and ghosted."
"Read and ghosted?"
"Yep."
"...Weird."
The club members knew Ji Suhyun wouldn't pull that, so they tilted their heads.
...Of course, I knew the real story.
According to Han Kwang-gi at the prosecutor's office during the Sea-a mess, Ji Suhyun had stormed in furious, hauling a demand for truth signed by academy staff, the president, and even the association chair.
Her own student's ordeal had pissed her off royally.
And true to form...
'Prosecutor's special abilities team mobilized in full force. They faced off at the entrance... One wrong move, and it could've gone down.'
Shed plowed in head-on. Showed her true colors as an attack-specialized spatial mage, not support.
No blood was spilled, thankfully, but she'd flipped tables, rooted out everyone involved, and caused a scene.
Han Kwang-gi said it smoothed things out for him, so yeah—classic Ji Suhyun.
"Hey, Jinwoo. My story boring you?"
"...Huh? Oh?"
"Wait. Why are his eyes like that?"
"...Huh. Yeah."
"Y-Youngje. Eugene. Jinwoo's eyes are freaky right now."
Turning at Sea-a's words, I looked at Jinwoo.
His usual sparkling, hyper eyes were dead fish—rotten mackerel style. And he was muttering, "Ha. Haha. Ha. Haha." in this creepy laugh.
"...What the hell did you do over the weekend?"
I asked cautiously, seeing a side of him I'd never witnessed. He replied slowly.
"...Training."
"Training?"
"...Hunted and butchered animals all day. Can't hesitate when hunting."
"Ah."
Right, that method. I knew it.
One of Han Yeo-eun's Artemis Guild training regimens: emotional desensitization. Specifically, eliminating hesitation at the blade's edge. It revealed her character and growth path.
She'd stabbed his thigh in their first mentor session, so it wasn't surprising, but having him butcher animals already? She must really like him.
Players could only access that training late-game, after maxing her affinity.
"So, boss. What'd you do? With Gwak Chunsik of all people. One of Korea's top heroes."
Youngje's question turned all eyes to me.
All I'd done was snag that weird pink bracelet...
How to explain this?
"Morning, everyone. Good weekends?"
Ji Suhyun kicked open the front door like a savior.
"Hm, looking at your faces, clear divide between the partiers and the grinders. Especially Jinwoo—didn't expect that from you. Love those eyes."
"...Pardon?"
"Live like that more often. Anyway, announcements. First period's self-study for staff meeting. And... Han Eugene."
My name, suddenly called. Bad vibes.
"Yes."
"Student council's recruiting new members during self-study. They want top two from each grade in the council room. Head there after the bell."
I'd forgotten.
After the current council formed, they'd built power this way.
At least no penalty for skipping usually.
"Mandatory?"
"Yeah, they said full attendance."
What?
No way...
...Damn butterfly effect.
"Sigh."
Confirming I'd hit that route, I rubbed my head without thinking.
"Student rep says it's mandatory, so just show. Wreck the place or whatever, I don't care."
Was she trying to get me killed?
Academy student council president wasn't a casual title. Only the absolute top monsters from all years could claim it.
What were his stats around now...?
Even for me, tangling with the president was a hassle.
"...Not doing that."
"Too bad. Was looking forward to it."
Looking forward to what, exactly? Me flipping the academy?
Ah... She'd done something similar last night already?
Forgot Ji Suhyun was totally the type.
"Anyway, announcements done, attendance checked. Self-study till the bell. Class rep, note the chatterboxes and report 'em."
"Got it."
"Yawn~ Okay. Morning roll call over. Later."
She whooshed out.
As the storm she'd stirred settled, I sighed and pinched my brow.
"Eugene, if top and runner-up go together... doesn't that mean she goes too?"
"What?"
"You know! The one always challenging you. Choi Yeon from the sword clan!"
"Ah."
Forgot that too.