Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Dungeon Practice (2)
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"...It's really way too obvious."
Laira didn't seem to have any intention of hiding it.
The fact that she wanted to kill me.
✎ Writer-nim ✎ Yeah, right. I set her up as turning villain out of an inferiority complex, but maybe I overdid the inferiority? I'm starting to doubt if she even wants to hide it. Her blazing gaze boring into the back of my head stung.
She was openly showing me her hostility.
Pretending not to notice was exhausting.
"Have you decided who you're teaming up with?"
✎ Writer-nim ✎ Of course! One spy, the protagonist—our dear reader—and one extra! Perfect! "You added an extra?"
✎ Writer-nim ✎ I have something in mind for that. Writer-nim was scheming something again.
I prayed it wasn't headed in a bad direction.
I couldn't control every little detail.
If I tried to micromanage Writer-nim's every move, my body wouldn't hold up.
✎ Writer-nim ✎ Hehe, I'm so excited for the dungeon! "...Oh, right. Writer-nim."
✎ Writer-nim ✎ Yes? "Give me some money."
✎ Writer-nim ✎ What?! I was starting to feel the need to squeeze more money out of Writer-nim.
The omens of crisis were beginning to swirl around the Academy.
I needed to prepare.
✎ Writer-nim ✎ I can do that, but what's it for this time? "I want to buy some clothes."
✎ Writer-nim ✎ U-Using me for personal gain?! Reader, I never pegged you for that type! What are you talking about?
Of course I'm buying them because I need them.
"I have to stick close to the protagonist, right? I need something to cover myself if trouble breaks out."
✎ Writer-nim ✎ ...Ah! I hadn't thought of that! As expected of our reader! Think about it.
You deliberately teamed me up with Yoo Siu and Laira just so you could watch the protagonist shine.
What if—just hypothetically—Laira and Yoo Siu end up in a one-on-one, and I can't see it?
Like last time with the monster attack, she might throw a tantrum and some ancient beast could pop out.
I have to prevent that.
No matter what, I needed to keep an eye on Yoo Siu's actions during key events.
But following him around openly would raise suspicions.
I'd have to hide, but the protagonist's ability is Intuition, right?
Writer-nim said it only detects physical threats...
Who knows.
Better safe than sorry, given what Writer-nim's capable of.
Best to have something to cover my face, just in case I'm caught—I could play it off somehow.
"I'll get a mask and a hood."
✎ Writer-nim ✎ Want me to add voice modulation to the mask and facial recognition jamming enchant to the hood? "...You can do that?"
✎ Writer-nim ✎ Nothing's impossible. "Please do."
She's reliable in moments like this.
What was it...
It felt like playing an RPG with a cheat that spawns infinite money and items.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Oh, you came. Whore."
"Don't call me whore, Jeffrey."
I turned at the flippant voice, and sure enough.
A sleazy-looking guy was approaching me.
Well, I knew without looking.
He's the only one who calls me by that ridiculous nickname.
"Why not? It's true. Woman who wields a spear? Spear-whore."
Whoosh!
I accelerated the spear in my grip in an instant, pressing it to Jeffrey's nape.
"Eek?!"
A tiny cut appeared on his nape from the sudden attack, and only then did he shut his mouth.
"A-All right, I get it. Sorry, Amelia."
"Call me that one more time, and I'll rip your mouth off."
Sigh.
This guy is so flippant and annoying.
Even after all these warnings, tomorrow he'll be back to 'whore this, whore that' like nothing happened.
For now, he'd shut up, so that was enough.
I didn't want to keep talking to this lightweight...
But no choice.
His skills were the real deal.
He'd built a rep as an informant even before enrolling at the Academy.
Couldn't afford not to use him.
"So, her info?"
"...Which one?"
"Laira first."
"Got it."
He lounged back on the park bench and began to speak.
"First, that underachiever. No idea why a girl like you is digging into trash like her, but..."
"Just the facts."
"Nothing special. Aside from suddenly getting stronger lately."
"...Any suspicious behavior around the time she powered up?"
"Nope. I'm telling you what I got paid for—no long trips or anything."
"Tch."
A bust, huh.
If he says so, there really wasn't anything.
Just an ordinary nobody, aside from her sudden strength boost.
As I felt a twinge of regret, I noticed him staring at me intently.
Something felt off about the vibe.
"My take? Your real target's not the underachiever. Probably someone connected to her."
"Why think that?"
"C'mon, obvious. Anyone looking into this would think the same."
His face twisted as he flipped through the files with sharp eyes.
Like he'd lost a bet to someone.
Not just any bet, but in a field he prided himself on.
His pride was scratched.
"Arte Isis. Elementary records: unknown. Middle school: unknown. High school: unknown. No birth registration. Parents: unknown. Relatives: unknown. Birthplace: unknown. ...You're kidding."
"..."
"A blank slate like this just waltzing around as an Academy student?"
"But it's real."
"Puhahaha!"
Jeffrey's booming laugh drew glances from students in the park before they scattered.
He laughed until he was gasping, then suddenly sobered up and declared,
"Sorry, miss. I'm out."
"...What?"
"I'm still a student. Got plenty of life ahead. Don't wanna die. Honestly, coming here felt risky already."
"Jeffrey, wait...!"
"Listen close—this is worth what you paid."
I wanted to stop him as he moved to leave.
But his expression halted my hand.
Pure terror.
Had he realized something I couldn't?
Arte Isis Records All traces erased. Security beyond Academy norms. "Arte Isis's records are sloppily faked. Academy teachers lack the clearance to notice, but any outsider digging once would spot it."
"Then—!"
"Still don't get it? Fine, straight talk. Someone who barely exists got planted in the world's most secure Academy."
"...!"
"The second anyone sniffs around, it'll flood with fake info. Where she lived, who with, parents... even a childhood friend who never existed."
Desperation laced his rapid-fire words.
He wanted out, fast.
...But as an informant, he had to finish the job.
So deliver the info quick and cut ties.
That was his read.
"They just haven't felt the need yet. I don't think someone like that's harmless."
"...Got it. I won't drag you into danger."
"Good. ...Sorry, miss. Next time, cheaper."
"Good work, Jeffrey."
I couldn't hold him back in the end.
...But it wasn't for nothing.
I learned she's effectively a ghost—no birth record, nothing.
Only her status as an Academy student proved she existed.
"...That's how it went."
"Doesn't exist in the world..."
Yoo Siu and I racked our brains, but the conclusion was the same.
Midterms would be dangerous.
"Siu, you were definitely on the same team as her for midterms, right?"
"Yeah. Laira, me, Arte, and one other."
What I'd overheard when Arte talked to 'Writer-nim' was that the Academy would be attacked someday.
No clue when.
"Be careful, Yoo Siu. Laira definitely has some connection to her."
"...Got it."
Honestly, I was anxious.
Of all people, teamed with Laira and Arte?
Fate's cruel joke.
I sighed in lament.
Yoo Siu just spaced out for a while.
"Still, you probably won't die. Relax a bit... but don't drop your guard completely. Just in case."
"Huh? Won't die?"
Worried he'd panic and cause a mess from over-tension, I decided to boost his spirits a little.
Not hard.
Just sprinkle some imagination onto reality and feed it to him.
"That girl has her eye on you."
"...Yeah?"
"No idea why yet, but do you just up and kill things that interest you?"
"No way!"
"Exactly. Same thing. As long as Arte finds you intriguing, she won't just kill you off."
Truth be told, I had no idea if that's true.
Villains act in all sorts of ways.
But no need to amp up his anxiety now.
Still, he couldn't relax too much, so a bit of caution wouldn't hurt.
"...Don't let your guard down completely, though. Laira's different. She might kill you over a disagreement."
"Yeah, I'll be careful."
Who knew normal Academy life would turn this chaotic?
I remembered praying back at enrollment for an exciting time here.
That past me was so annoying.
Exciting? This was life-threatening.