Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Sixth Sense
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"...Really, you think it'll show up?"
A few days later, right after swimming class ended.
Amelia was glancing around anxiously.
She had a dubious look on her face, wondering if a villain would really appear.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Service scene and the protagonist's anguish at once...! E, eheh. "Don't worry. It's definitely going to happen."
"R-Really...?"
Of course it has to happen.
Writer-nim said it would.
Look at that.
She's already excited about what kind of scene it'll be.
There being no villain here is simply impossible.
"Hmm, well, I hope so..."
"No reaction yet."
I tapped the detector in my hand.
I'd named it a detector, but it was just a small, round orb that fit in one hand.
It didn't look like a detector at all.
I'd wondered if it could really detect mana, so I'd tested it by using my ability from far away.
The result was a resounding success.
It went off like crazy.
Even from that distance, it was too sensitive, so I asked the chief about it, and his answer was something else.
"The students made it, so the performance isn't great!" or whatever.
So that's why it couldn't find the secret passage and just sat in the warehouse.
No, why make it realistic in such a useless spot?
Could it be Writer-nim...?
If it worked too well, it'd be easy to find the secret room, so maybe Writer-nim nerfed it on purpose?
No, would Writer-nim even think that far ahead?
Who knows. Just roll with it.
"But you're not worried?"
"...Huh? About what?"
"You know, guys seeing your body. Siu and that villain."
Ah.
So that's what she meant.
"Not worried."
"Why?"
"...It's a secret."
As if I could tell her.
Why would a guy be embarrassed showing his body to another guy?
It's not like we're exposing ourselves out in the open like last time.
We're not naked. We're in leotards.
But right now, I look like a girl.
No point telling Amelia; she wouldn't get it.
Best to redirect.
"What about you, Amelia?"
"Huh? ...Me?"
"Yeah. I can brush it off, but you must feel weird about it."
I might be originally a guy, but she's a girl.
No way Writer-nim made her a TS heroine or anything.
"I'm not worried either."
"...?"
"Because it's to catch the culprit."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ooh. A model heroine. Writer-nim and I were both impressed by her resolve.
Truly heroine material.
Overcoming embarrassment to take the lead in catching the villain—perfect.
Just keep going like that.
-Beeeep! Beeeep! Beeeep!
"This is...!"
"Aha. Looks like it's here."
While chatting with Amelia, the other students had all left, leaving the changing room quiet and still.
Just as I was getting bored wondering when it'd show, the detector in my hand blared loudly.
Man, it's really loud. Hurts my ears.
...And they just kept it stored like this?
Impressive they didn't toss it.
Well, it works, that's for sure.
The sound forces its way into your ears whether you want it or not.
Naturally, Yoo Siu rushed in from the boys' changing room upon hearing it.
"Th-The culprit! Where's the culprit...!"
...Clumsy guy.
Yoo Siu glanced at Amelia and me, then hurriedly turned his head away.
His flushed ears gave away why.
Isn't he a bit too weak to girls' bodies?
Amelia has a great figure, sure, but blushing like that on sight?
The protagonist in an academy novel should be used to girls, hitting on them and all.
"Who knows. It's definitely here somewhere. Want to look around?"
"M-Me?!"
"Yep. With that intuition of yours."
"B-But my ability only activates when I'm under attack."
Yeah.
I figured he'd say that.
But isn't it about time his ability grew a bit?
This is the third incident already.
Monster attack, spy infiltration, and now this.
If you count service scenes and class stuff, even more.
Time for the protagonist to power up, or readers'll get bored.
Or maybe it's already too late.
"No. In that case, your ability should be crisis detection."
"...Huh?"
"There's a reason it's called Intuition, right? ...Come on, focus. Look around."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...! Protagonist enhancement event! Yes.
Writer-nim gets it right away.
Protagonist gives up because he can't find it with his own power, then gets advice and powers up.
Classic awakening event.
No need for detailed advice.
Writer-nim'll fill in the blanks.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...Huh? No, wait. The ability...? Huh? "Something wrong...?"
I wasn't addressing anyone specific.
Yoo Siu had his eyes closed, sweat pouring down, while Writer-nim sounded puzzled.
"...?"
What, why'd she trail off?
What's with the ability?
How do I ask Writer-nim without tipping anyone off?
You're killing me with curiosity.
But that thought didn't last.
Siu suddenly opened his eyes and swung his sword at the air.
"...There?!"
-Clang!
A swing at empty air should slice through smoothly.
But if it stops short in an empty spot?
...And makes a metallic clash like steel on steel?
The meaning was clear in this situation.
The protagonist had found the villain.
"How...! My stealth is perfect! I erased my scent completely! You can't detect me visually either!"
The panicked villain shouted loudly.
He seemed pretty rattled. Can't blame him. He infiltrated the academy, only to get stopped by a mere student.
"Aha. Not sight or smell."
"What does that...!"
Literally.
Yoo Siu's ability is pretty plain for a protagonist.
No flashiness, no instant body buffs, no explosive firepower.
But it shines more as it grows.
Touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell.
Beyond the five senses, Yoo Siu has one more.
That's Intuition.
The sixth sense, feeling what others can't.
Sixth sense. You could call it that.
He can sense something without seeing, smelling, touching, tasting, or hearing it.
Once it fully grows, it might even predict the future.
A nightmare for villains.
No matter how they attack or ambush, he sees through and dodges.
Plain but terrifying.
...And now, that ability had strengthened.
Abilities that fool the five senses don't work on Yoo Siu.
"Grr...! Damn it!"
The irritated man vanished in an instant.
...Whoa, chameleon for real—not a trace.
Is he still there? Or already moving?
As I admired the invisibility, Yoo Siu moved again.
"Guhk?!"
"...Even if I can't see you, I know you're there. Hiding's useless."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Kuh...! So cool! More! Say more cool lines! Ow, seriously.
You're breaking my focus.
Like watching a movie with someone yelling beside you.
"Y-You brat...! The great power of Übermensch, foiled by a punk like you...!"
"...Übermensch?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ah. Come to think of it, I forgot to casually clue the protagonist in... Hey?!
...S-Somehow I forgot too!
Laira never said her organization's name.
Didn't call it Übermensch.
I don't think she ever mentioned the name out loud.
We're screwed...!
"You... that form. Chameleon?"
"That's right. The great power of Übermensch. Interested?"
"No, I've just seen something similar. She was a wolf, though."
Phew...
Thank goodness Yoo Siu's sharp.
He must've recalled Laira's animal transformation, linking it to her.
"Wolf...? Ah, right. The new recruit. Heard she died on a mission at the academy. ...Did you kill her?"
"..."
"...Even if I've never met her, I can't let you live after killing one who inherited great power."
Pfft.
Ah, w-wait.
Almost laughed.
"Inherited," and suddenly that forced backstory pops into mind.
What was it again?
Ancestors did it with a werewolf and their descendants?
And Laira being a wolf beastkin makes it funnier.
N-No laughing. Important scene.
I held it in and watched the fight resume.
"Die...!"
The vanished villain appeared behind Yoo Siu in a flash.
Whoa, fast.
...Aiming to slash from behind?
Just in case, I prepped my threads.
Can't let him get hurt.
But no need.
Without even looking back, Yoo Siu spun and kicked him in the side.
Superhumans are stronger than normals, sure.
But even superhumans aren't invincible.
A mana-charged kick like that? Fatal, even for one.
Whoa, did his guts rupture...?
"Gahk?!"
"Told you, mister."
Maybe from taking the mana-infused kick defenselessly.
Yoo Siu pressed his sword to the chameleon beastkin's throat as he clutched his side, kneeling in agony, and murmured softly.
"I can tell even if I can't see you. ...No matter how fast you move, I see where you're coming from."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ah, damn. So noisy.