Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Plan
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"You all, be careful. Word is someone broke into a dorm room last night."
"Eek, that's creepy."
"Ah, that's you. They got startled by your face. Go apologize quick."
"Nah, they got startled by your face."
The students' laughter and chatter rang out, but Siu and Amelia didn't hear a thing.
They'd just heard something impossible.
They stared at each other with baffled expressions.
…What?
An intruder? For real?
"Judging by the method, it's probably the same criminal we talked about yesterday. Everyone stay cautious. They'll catch 'em in a few days."
"Yessir."
Siu's face twisted in confusion.
He glanced at Arte, and sure enough, she was gazing back at him with a beaming smile.
Guess I'll hear about that plan after class.
Things were unfolding in a completely different direction from what he'd expected.
"Whoa, a second incident already! Guess I gotta use my detective eyes and investigate hard!"
"Detective!"
Amelia's eyes sparkled at the word "detective."
Why's she so obsessed with that?
Arte right in front of you is the enemy, you said it yourself.
"So, what's this plan?"
"It's nothing too complicated. You haven't forgotten the club we joined, right?"
"Oh. The Exploration Club."
Arte nodded at Amelia's words.
With a bright smile, she pointed out something they hadn't considered.
"Yes, exploration. There are people who can go where others can't and see what others can't, right?"
…"The club president."
"You know it."
Something felt off.
Siu and Amelia had assumed Arte reported it.
But maybe not?
Why would she help them this much?
Doubt crept in.
…Maybe I should test the waters?
Worst case, I won't die.
From what he'd seen of Arte so far, she wouldn't kill him.
I won't die… I won't die…
…Right?
Okay, deep breath.
Good.
"Hey, Arte."
"Yes?"
"Actually, I'm the culprit."
"?!"
Ignoring Amelia's horrified glare—like what the hell are you doing?!—he stared at Arte.
So, what kind of reaction would she give?
His heart started pounding.
Ever since enrolling in the Academy, his heart felt overworked.
Maybe he needed heart meds?
Arte's reaction to his sudden confession was more intense than expected.
"Pfft."
Like she'd heard the funniest joke, she burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! S-Siu as the culprit? Pfft. That was a good one!"
…Success.
He'd thought it was a 50/50 gamble, but it worked.
Arte knew nothing.
Amelia's face lit up as she realized the same.
"H-Hey, Arte."
"Yes?"
"Ever hear the victim's name?"
"Hmm, no idea. One of the girls, I guess. Don't really know."
She really didn't know.
Amelia and Siu exchanged relieved sighs.
…?"Anyway, we meet in the clubroom after school, right?"
"Yeah, got it."
"Okay, I'll head to class first. Take your time."
Once Arte vanished into the distance, Amelia and he could finally savor their relief.
"We weren't caught! We weren't caught!"
"Y-Yeah…! We're safe!"
Maybe because they'd escaped potential jail time, only to learn the victim didn't even know she'd been hit.
The hyped-up Amelia declared:
"Even if we get caught later, we pin it on that jerk!"
…"Yeah! Let's do it!"
"When we catch him, aim for the mouth so he can't talk back! Got it?!"
Normally, Siu would've marveled at Amelia's lunacy.
But not this time.
…For once, he wholeheartedly agreed with her.
Rifling through Arte's underwear?
What a vile bastard!
We'll send him straight to jail.
Siu vowed it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hm? You want the intruding villain's location?"
"Yes. As Exploration Club president, figured you might know something."
"S-Suddenly? W-Well! I am pretty awesome! Of course I know!"
Ehehe, the president let out a goofy laugh.
…Kinda reminds me of Writer-nim.
That childish side, getting all puffed up from a little praise.
"But the teachers will find 'em. Why risk something so dangerous?"
"For the club's growth, of course. Catching a villain no one else could—that's perfect for the Exploration Club, right?"
…"!"
The president's enthusiasm ignited in an instant.
Easy.
[Writer-nim: Hmm, Chameleon beastkin… Where to place it for maximum novel fun… Grr.]
Normally chatty Writer-nim had gone quiet.
Still pondering, huh.
What's so hard about it?
She'd said she couldn't decide where to introduce the Chameleon beastkin, then dove into solo brooding.
…Hmm, can't voice my thoughts with people around.
Ah.
Got a good idea.
"No matter how I think about it, a villain breaking in and rummaging through a girl's underwear has impure motives."
"I think so too! Definitely a pervert…!"
[Writer-nim: Impure motives? Pervert…?]
Perfect, she bit.
If I can't say it directly, just dress it up as deduction and spit out a plausible setup.
Writer-nim started paying attention to my chat with the president.
Time to drop more hints…!
"Hiding in plain sight among crowds means some kind of stealth ability, probably."
"R-Right?"
"A pervert sneaking around invisibly…"
"Ah! High chance he's in the women's restroom or changing room!"
[Writer-nim: …! T-That's it!]
Hm, whether that villain's actually a perv doesn't matter to me.
Could just be a standard stealthy Übermensch villain.
But what if Writer-nim changes the setup?
"I thought that too, but exposing stealth is tough. Any good ideas?"
"Uh, umm…"
[Writer-nim: Looks fun! Perverted Chameleon beastkin peeping on heroines' nude bodies, enraged protagonist slices him in two! And damn, that guy's hot! …This works!]
Yes!
Hooked Writer-nim's interest!
Fellow student's betrayal.
Monster attacking the Academy on day one.
All these early incidents were starting to worry Siu's mental state.
You know those protagonists?
The ones who tremble after killing one person.
Or snap from accumulated small traumas.
That's normal—staying unfazed after killing makes you a psychopath, right?
But modern webnovels get slammed for "sweet potato" plots if they drag that out.
I'm out. Writer-nim, you can get off too.
…What if our Writer-nim heard that?
Horrifying. Can't even imagine.
She might go berserk and do something crazy.
So Yoo Siu's mind can't break.
She can only polish the plot so much.
Mending a shattered mentality is hard—better handle with care from the start.
"Oh, got one."
"What?"
"This detects nearby mana. Seniors made it before to find hidden passages."
[Writer-nim: Heh, heh. I've grown…! Crafting this setup is a piece of cake…!]
Amazed at Writer-nim's speed.
So decisive.
Slipped in a detector to expose stealth in under a minute?
Tears welled up at her growth.
Just do it!
Our girl's a pro when she tries.
"Then if we get close to the culprit with that…"
"Yeah, easy to find!"
Amelia and Yoo Siu were visibly thrilled.
Yeah, happy they get to catch the villain themselves.
Fitting for protagonist and heroine.
"Hmm, but how do we pinpoint it?"
"Simple! After swimming class, catch the peeping culprit!"
"But bringing weapons to swim class would look suspicious."
…"Ugh!"
I could snag him with Thread, but no need to say that.
Gotta involve the protagonist.
"Guess Siu has to handle it!"
"M-Me?!"
"Yes. Siu ambushes the detector-found culprit and slices him apart! …Cool, right?"
"B-But I…"
Hm?
Siu, about to argue, suddenly clammed up.
…What? Wasn't gonna say he can't enter the girls' changing room as a guy?
Well, fine.
No objection means easier.
No persuasion needed.
"Then it's settled! President, can we borrow the detector?"
"Of course! Take it! The Exploration Club special detector! …Exploration Club special!"
"Yessir. We know."
I tuned out the president hyping the club-made device to boost its rep.
Good, this should do it.
A fanservice scene with Amelia might stabilize his mentality.
Boys that age forget stray thoughts seeing a pretty girl's bare body.
I know from experience.
Dunno if it'll dull first-kill shock, but better than nothing.
Plus, Amelia's a heroine.
She'll comfort him well, right?
Clinging to her soft heroine chest would help.
He should stay unfazed even after killing.
Hope he ignores the small stuff.