[No Title Provided]
In the original story, Ayumi's death wasn't described in detail. It just briefly mentioned that she died in the gate incident, then focused heavily on how deeply the protagonist plunged into despair because of it. So players just assumed she got killed by a monster or something. There were occasional posts asking if it was foreshadowing, but what foreshadowing? Nothing came up in the original.
But after overhearing those sewer rats blabbing among themselves, I got a strong hunch. These bastards killed Ayumi.
"Her body looked too intact for something killed by a monster... Guess that wasn't just game censorship."
Come to think of it, I remembered descriptions after the prologue about unusually heavy casualties among the first-years. Back then, I figured the world-building was trash and inexperienced freshmen got wiped out. But maybe not.
No solid proof on who ordered the rats to do it. But with my original knowledge, I could narrow suspects down to about five in my head. I even had guesses on their motives.
The real problem? How the hell do I stop it...?
Saving Ayumi? Easy. Just stick to her side on the day it happens.
But is that enough? The rats targeting clueless academy first-years?
Sure, those kids were immature, reckless idiots who screwed up left and right, but that didn't mean they deserved to die. They were aspiring heroes, dreaming of contributing to the world. We couldn't let them go out like this.
So how? I couldn't babysit them all personally.
I chose the direct approach.
"...So. The sewer rats figured out the exact time a gate opens and are plotting to murder our academy first-years in the chaos. That it?"
"Yes."
Instructor Sonya fixed me with a piercing, chilling gaze. I met it head-on without flinching.
Even if it was some punk freshman spilling this, it'd be suspicious coming from a crime syndicate plot. But when that freshman was me, Joo Hyowon? Different story.
"How the hell would gutter trash like them know a gate's opening a week in advance? Even our academy can only detect them a day ahead at best. And plenty are undetectable until the last second."
"No idea. Could be bullshit. But we should prepare for the worst."
If my info was legit, this was a massive issue we couldn't ignore. Preparation was never overkill.
But, Sonya asked,
"How'd you get this intel? No way the rats blabbed to some random academy kid."
"I had connections to those rats."
Sonya sighed without surprise. "An active academy cadet with ties to sewer rats. If that leaked to the press, it'd be a headache."
"You guys already knew anyway. Don't act shocked."
The academy's intel wasn't half-bad. No way they thought a middle-school dropout handling gates solo—rushing anywhere in under an hour—was legit without backing. No signs of a legal group, so crime syndicate it was.
And knowing all that, the higher-ups still let me take the entrance exam and pass because they hated wasting my talent.
That's why I went direct.
"I'm not asking you to buy it blindly. But at least warn the cadets it could happen."
Fighting monsters while knowing humans you were taught to protect might stab you in the back? Huge stress for first-years.
But what could we do? Warnings were the least.
"...Fine. I'll buy it. Not sold on the gate timing yet, but I believe the rats are scheming something nasty if it happens. We'll do the training like you said, and handle other countermeasures ourselves. ...Not enough time to hunt and beat those rat bastards ourselves, huh."
Too soon for full relief. But this would mean way fewer casualties than the original.
Job done... right?
"If your info checks out, you've crossed the line from rat to hero. That's my call."
"Wow, some line. Rats and heroes separated by one damn sentence?"
"Surprisingly, yeah. Heroes and dictators, saints and sinners. They look opposites but differ by a hair. Plenty of trash can't cross that thin line."
Sonya smirked—mocking? Pitiful?—then asked one more.
"Personal question. Those rats targeting first-years... Vivian involved?"
She knew Vivian too? Personal ties or just intel? Didn't matter. My answer stayed the same.
"Nah. Seems unrelated."
"Good. That's a relief."
The decisive moment approached.
Today's goal: one thing. Flip Ayumi's fated death.
To do that, stick to her without a second's break.
Best action? This.
"Excuse me."
"Come in! Welcome! Wow, I'm so excited! First time a friend's sleeping over! Ahh, I'm nervous, pumped! So, so, what first? Anything you wanna do? Huh? Huh?"
Ayumi's tension spiked dangerously at my visit. Seeing her clueless, beaming innocently about her doom tore at my heart.
"I was shocked, seriously. You asking to sleep over first? Means your heart's more open than I thought. I'm thrilled!"
"...Just worried it'd be rude."
"Rude? Nah! Friends crashing over don't sweat etiquette! House is empty anyway—just me."
One thing bugged her, though—she pointed.
"What's in that weird long case? A staff?"
"...Oh, this."
Badass Japanese sword inside. But showing up armed for a sleepover? Psycho vibes.
"Nothing much. Fashion accessory."
"Eh? Fashion? Not for carrying stuff?"
"People wear glasses for style even without bad eyes?"
"Oh... yeah?"
Ayumi tilted her head, unconvinced, but dropped it. Thank god.
"Come in! I was hyped since you said you'd come! Let's party all night!"
All night, huh. Normally just hype talk. But I'd literally stay up.
Gate opens around 3 a.m., right?
Snooze even briefly or stay sharp? No contest. With a life on the line, sleep? Fat chance.
I came here to guard her from gate open to close, never leaving her side. One slip, and if she died? I'd curse my negligence to death.
"No dinner yet? Let's eat! Tons to catch up on!"
Ayumi, oblivious. I played along like a normal friend visit.
Dinner together, binge popular drama, late-night spicy tteokbokki demolished.
Ayumi shared tons of Yujin memories. At first, seemed like subconscious crush vibes. But nah—something else.
She's pitching Yujin's good side to me?
Ayumi died too early in the original for deep character insight. Who knew she was a shipper?
Classic high school—er, college?—girl afternoon. Bedtime hit. Then I realized my fatal mistake.
"Ah, no PJs? Borrow mine! Super cute ones! You gotta try!"
Ah, that's a bit...