Chapter 263: We Were Supposed to Dance
'Tired...'
I'd expected it, but I'd met so many people today. From the Lucy-Lumi twins to Liliana, the Nam Da-eun sisters, and two professors. No wonder I was worn out after pushing myself like that.
Still, now I could head to the student council.
'Come to think of it, Ellis didn't show up?'
Well, she wasn't the type to join something like this anyway. Even in the original story, Ellis hated crowds. She only mingled when work forced her to.
Click.
"Still no reply?"
I checked my smartwatch, but there was no response from Moon Sulin. She must be swamped. But I couldn't wait around forever. I was busy too.
As I crossed the party venue toward the student council, cadets were lounging everywhere. Some ate quietly, while others chugged booze, sang loudly, and drew stares like total attention whores.
'Energy for days. Just overflowing.'
I passed the noisy party crowd and reached the student council tent. The members were chilling around it, but Moon Sulin was nowhere in sight.
I approached a nearby senior secretary. "Hello, seniors."
"Oh?! What brings you here, junior?"
"Just saying hi. Didn't want you all working too hard."
They were all goofing off, so it looked like they had nothing to do today. Come to think of it, unless an incident popped up during festivals or sports days, the management team stayed quiet.
"Perfect timing. Sit, have some fruit?"
"Thanks. But where's the president?"
"She's buried in paperwork. We checked everything multiple times, but she insisted on verifying it herself."
"Ah... I messaged her, but no reply."
Why was Sulin noona the only one working? The student council structure was messed up. Relying on one person's skills wasn't healthy. If she collapsed, who'd pick up the slack?
"Haha, wait on that bench out there. I'll talk to her."
The secretary grinned slyly and headed inside. I slipped out and sat on the bench. Truth be told, I didn't know many of them well, so sticking around felt awkward.
'But if she's too busy to check messages, will waiting even work?'
It'd be fine somehow. I'd figure it out if she didn't show.
Luckily, my worries were for nothing. The tent flap opened, and our familiar student council president appeared.
I'd expected her academy uniform for the formal event, but she was in casual clothes—the same crop top and jeans from before, exposing her navel and hugging her curves. It clashed with her model student image.
I'd seen it torn during that ambush; maybe she'd mended it. Unlike other heroines with endless wardrobes, her simplicity made her seem adorably new to dressing up. Uniform was everyday mode; this felt like her killer outfit.
"Ho-yeon, wait long?"
I swallowed hard as she approached.
"Nah. You look swamped, noona. Hope I'm not interrupting."
"Mmm, it's fine. All done."
She beamed with relief.
Current Status: Thank goodness. Now I can hang out with Ho-yeon.
'Did the others help with work?'
No replies until now suggested as much. Her affection was high, but she wouldn't ditch duties just to see me. Safe to relax.
"Noona, that outfit looks amazing."
She smiled brightly. "What's up? Or just wanna hang with your noona?"
She leaned in, looking up at me like a puppy begging for playtime after its owner got home. I chuckled. She'd missed me a lot.
"Yeah. Play with me a bit."
*
Moon Sulin and I walked side by side.
"Where to? Oh, eaten yet, noona?"
"Mmm... no."
"Knew it."
If she'd eaten, she'd have replied. She'd probably forgotten meals amid work.
"Food first, then whatever."
"Thanks for looking out."
She stuck close, delighted.
"Hey? Having fun?"
Was every student council president a social butterfly? She greeted passersby nonstop. Unlike morning, professors were out now—and she greeted them too.
"Oh, cadets Sulin and Ho-yeon."
"Wow, Victoria Academy's stars. Perfect match."
Professors with drinks waved us over. Sulin, who'd handled it fine before, froze.
"Y-Yes? Th-Thank... you...."
"Thank you, professors."
I answered for her stuttering, flushed self and hurried off. No telling what she'd do if we lingered.
We grabbed seats and ate. The buffet-style venue let us fetch food and chat over meals. I wasn't hungry, so I just pretended—focus was on conversation. Time to seriously plot her route.
Testing topics, one thing stood out: The stalker arc was busted. She'd brightened up too much. Not the overworked mess from early on.
'Perp vanished, so naturally?'
Good, but... key to her route gone.
Current Status: It'll get dark soon... then the songs start.
Affection hit 88, but even for an easy route, events were needed. No post-dating slow-burn for me.
"Something on my face?"
"No. Just admiring how pretty you are."
"Wh-What... Ho-yeon, don't tease or you're in trouble?"
Cute when embarrassed, but...
'Contact the chairman?'
Stalker wasn't her only event. Her demon-turned father's revenge arc lingered. Issue: No context to casually bring it up with him.
'Takes two years in original for him to appear.'
Tricky. I shelved it—Sulin noona was blinking at me.
"Sun's setting."
Time flew chatting over food.
"Yeah. Music soon."
"Music, huh..."
She gazed softly. I wasn't dense; she wanted to dance. I'd delayed for other heroines.
'This should be fine.'
No heroines nearby. I'd spent morning with everyone but Ellis.
"Oh?"
As if on cue, music started. Cadets flocked center stage.
I eyed Sulin. She stared intently—adorably funny. I smirked. If she pouted later, I'd fix it.
"Shall we dance?"
"Y-Yeah?!"
"Be my partner. Not confident, but we'll go slow."
Gaming loner here—my dance experience? Grandma's knee-slapper as a kid. Slow would work.
"O-Okay! Just follow me!"
She clenched fists, nodding eagerly. Thrilled—good.
'But gotta stay alert...'
Terror signs absent. Due any second?
Ding-ding-
Her smartwatch buzzed mid-thought.
"Ah, Ho-yeon, hold on. Yes, student council president speaking. Yes... yes...?"
She shot up. Smile tensed; trembling eyes hinted at the crisis.
"A security guard's a mine..."
Lip bitten, fists clenched, she bolted—then turned. "H-Ho-yeon, sorry. Sudden attack... Evacuate, okay? Really sorry. We'll hang later."
Panicked but sharp. As combat-ready field commander, she'd head out personally.
"Noona, I'll help."
"No! Evacuate. Evacuate now."
She dashed outward without waiting.
"...I could help."
For my safety, sure—but her death dooms me too.
Snap.
Music cut; mic static crackled.
Cadets panicked amid halted music and alarms, scattering wildly.
'Follow her.'
Scoldings later—I'd help. I'm strong in a fight.
Thump-
But my heart raced. Familiar thrill. Battle sense kicking in.
Someone radiated killing intent at me.
"Hah..."
Shocking. How? Attack just started—no way inside yet. And even if, why me amid the crowd?
Me, among all these runners? Heart pounding, I sensed intensifying demonic mana—and something approaching.
"...You."
Mines retained human mana traces. People had 'patterns.' Even corrupted, habits stuck.
I knew this one.
Thud!
"Kyaaak—!"
"It's a mine! Run!"
It unleashed mana nearby. Student council VP Shin Dong-min.
The trash who'd hounded me, now mine-tainted. Sulin noona exposed his contact; society buried him. Guess he'd fully turned.
Reality beat fiction. Extras didn't vanish post-lesson—they just faded. Early ones avoided me after my growth spurt. Extras anyway, ignored.
But this pest persisted. His aura screamed S-rank minimum.
"..."
Extras stayed extras. Unbridgeable protagonist gap.
"Found you... Lee Ho-yeon."
I scowled at his eerie, mana-choked voice, drawing my own.
"Stay an extra, extra..."
Had to support Sulin noona fast.