Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: I Hate Attention (5)
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"What's the temperature?"
"......36.3 degrees."
Normal. I'd never really thought he'd catch a cold—he's way too tough for that—but still, you never know. No matter how much I disliked him, I didn't want him getting hurt because of me.
...But his constant sidelong glances were starting to grate on me. If he had something to say, he should just say it. I snatched the thermometer from his mouth and shot him a glare.
"Got something to say?"
"...Yeah, kinda."
So he did. I furrowed my brow slightly. There was no point in dragging it out... but ignoring him completely felt off too. If he had something to say and I just left, he'd feel awkward for no reason. I shrugged, as if to ask what it was, and Zenon hesitated before speaking.
"...You're not hurt?"
"If I was, I'd have frozen you solid for life."
"...Yeah, fair enough."
If I'd gotten caught in that explosion, I wouldn't have let it slide so easily. I'd have kept him frozen for a very, very long time—until I felt like forgiving him. Then he'd probably catch a cold. Suffering from a burning fever... coughing nonstop.
...Why did imagining that make my chest feel so tight? Irritated by the strange sensation, I looked back at Zenon.
"That all? Nothing else you wanna ask?"
For someone like him to worry about a near-stranger was rare. He probably had something else on his mind. Especially now—did he even have time to care about others? His head was likely filled with hatred for his father.
"Nah, that's it. As long as you're not hurt."
"...Really?"
You're not the type. As my eyes narrowed, he waved his hands, denying it. It didn't seem like a lie... Well, if he had nothing else, that was fine by me. I nodded slightly, and he spoke up.
"Don't you have anything to say?"
"...Me?"
Just being alone with you in the same room is driving me crazy—what could I possibly have to say? I shook my head, and he dropped his gaze to the floor, mumbling.
"Like... why I fought."
"Not really."
"...For real?"
"No intention of lecturing you or anything. It was worth fighting over, right?"
Him starting fights from day one at the entrance ceremony was surprising, but I didn't think it was wrong. I knew what his mother meant to him... and besides, who'd just sit there if their parents were insulted?
"...Even so, fighting like that on entrance ceremony day is weird."
"I know... It's not some reasonable fight, and I never expected others to understand."
He hung his head as he said it. Probably... no one but me could easily understand why he fought. The meaning his mother held for him. And considering that 'Carmen' name I'd overheard earlier, the fight was inevitable the moment their eyes met.
Edwin Carmen—Zenon's father, and this world's Top Hero. Zenon's resentment toward that father wasn't simple. It was a political marriage for a good ability, but all his mother got for bearing a child was persecution and contempt...
The prestige of 'Top Hero' turned all the blame meant for him onto Zenon's mother. Things like 'toying with lowly trash for good seed' or 'whore who tricked a Top Hero into fathering her child.' Even reading it as a novel from outside the world made me grimace.
How could a child like that one? Even as a reader, I couldn't casually bring it up.
"You'll probably get expelled. Fighting like this on entrance ceremony day—they won't just let it slide at the academy. And that Carmen kid... it won't end with mere suspension."
Zenon, head bowed, spoke flatly of expulsion. Like it was nothing, but it hit me differently. The protagonist getting expelled? From my selfish perspective, maybe not so bad. If we never crossed paths again, no heroine nonsense, and he could graduate quietly, maybe even become a hero.
But... I couldn't let that happen. Too selfish. The protagonist becomes a hero later. I didn't see the ending, but he'd surely surpass his father as Top Hero. How many would he save? Even possessed, I didn't see this world as just a novel.
I was breathing, living here. Ray Meyer from earlier, Zenon in front of me—they were real people pursuing goals by their own will. Should I abandon those he'd save in the future just to avoid becoming heroine?
I shook my head.
No expulsion. Punishment was inevitable after what happened, but he couldn't disappear from this academy. Even if heroine risk lingered.
...I'd just work harder to dodge it.
"No expulsion or expulsion."
"...Huh?"
"...I said it was worth fighting. No one got hurt, the auditorium didn't collapse. Why would that lead to expulsion?"
Academy rules on ability use were strict, but not ironclad. With all sorts of ability users, total control was impossible. Fights like this probably happened occasionally.
The Carmen girl started it—explain Zenon's side a bit, and expulsion could be avoided. It happened in the original too. So the key now was his will. Not resignation like this...
He needed to tell the academy his story, at least somewhat.
"She insulted your parents first. Say that—she was wrong first. So I attacked. I regret starting a fight in a crowded place. Forgive me just once. That's all you say."
"You think that'll make people understand?"
His eyes, filled with deep distrust of adults, made my breath catch. He mumbled softly.
"Is there... anyone who wants me to stay at the academy?"
Something surged in my chest. His desolate gaze drifted into space. Closing his eyes and sighing, he looked so lonely—I stared blankly.
"...There is."
I couldn't say it was me, just murmuring quietly. Did he hear? He glanced at me, smirked faintly, and spoke.
"...Thanks."
"Why tell me?"
"Just."
"...Anyway, tell the teachers that, and you can avoid expulsion."
I stood up. I'd never planned to talk this long—a few words at most—but it felt off. His gaze lingering on me, maybe I slipped up?
I'd been a bit prickly to lower affinity...
I just wish he hated me. Then no more worries.
Heading home brought a familiar feeling. Not my original home, just Aisha's place, but still. Probably from all today's chaos. Breaking up those idiot freshmen fighting on day one, teachers dumping cleanup on me and bolting, hauling two people to the nurse's office.
Plus talking the protagonist out of accepting expulsion. Whether he'd listen to some newbie he just met today—who knows. If he leaves the academy, what do I do?
"What can I do... Roll with it."
Overimmersion, maybe. Why care about unrelated people? But I knew the feeling of needing help.
Once, I yearned for a hero too.
...Though none came.
Me, entering this novel world as the aspiring hero Aisha… what a strange feeling. Being a heroine? That wasn’t important. I just hated getting involved with a guy like that… What mattered was surviving in this world.
I could've skipped the academy. No heroine worries then. But... I knew heroes were treated like legends. Hero DC, pensions, housing...
Heroes risked life subduing villains, so the perks matched. I wasn't abandoning that, and having read ~200 chapters, better to go through known events.
No regrets now, post-entrance ceremony.
Just... didn't want to play main heroine by the protagonist's side. Can't I just be a side supporter? I could help plenty.
Poke—
"Urgh..."
I buried my face in the pillow, groaning. Woman in a day, gained ability, tangled with protagonist, now he's expulsion-bound. Entrance ceremony exploded instead of quiet—everything twisting gave me a headache.
I hated the attention, all protagonist's fault. Kicking off the blanket covering my stomach, I cooled my flushed face. How am I supposed to go to school...!
...Better clear my head. Rest today, think tomorrow.
With that, I forced myself to sleep.