Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Commission
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Right now, I had three options.
The first was to hitch my wagon to the protagonist and help him out.
I knew all about the events that were to come.
I even had the rare background of being part of the 21st Century Secret Society. If I put those advantages to good use, there was a slim hope I could help the protagonist steer the future in a better direction.
But there was a problem.
In the prologue, the villain extra Baek Do-hyun kidnaps Han Cheong-ah, which brings together 'Han Cheong-ah,' 'Lee Gyeo-ul,' 'Yubyeol-ha,' and 'Kim Si-hu.' That inciting incident hadn't happened yet.
Because I chose to 'release Han Cheong-ah and survive,' the story of Red Ark had completely derailed from its original path.
In other words, the plot had twisted so badly that smoothly jumping on board to help the protagonist was out of the question.
Even if I wanted to fix it somehow, getting the others to band together like in the original story—school included—was no easy task.
At this point, it wouldn't be wrong to say the 'protagonist's side' was utterly wrecked.
Kim Si-hu would probably start bustling around on his own to resolve incidents once Chapter 1 began.
But in the original story, Kim Si-hu solved those incidents and drove the plot not because of his own skills.
It was because he had solid allies like the Special-Class Hunter Lee Gyeo-ul and the genius cadet Yubyeol-ha helping him.
Helping him would be tantamount to declaring war on the 21st Century Secret Society and betting my life on Kim Si-hu.
There were too many issues with putting my life on the line for Kim Si-hu right now.
This option was scrapped.
The second was to hitch my wagon to the 21st Century Secret Society.
Even if this was the choice with the highest survival odds for me, I couldn't agree to their insane plan of reducing humanity's numbers by a thousandth.
I wasn't some sociopathic mass murderer who could commit slaughter and sleep soundly with legs stretched out.
If I'd ever planned to stick with the 21st Century Secret Society, I would've told Aria about Han Cheong-ah when we first met and outed Yubyeol-ha as the supernatural anomalies killer.
I planned to cut ties with this sociopath squad someday anyway.
No need to agonize—this was scrapped too.
The last option was to carve my own future.
By taking the initiative myself, I'd handle the dangers ahead on my own.
Directly intervening in the 21st Century Secret Society's evils and the countless incidents caused by Dimensional Beasts to reach a 'good ending.'
It was an incredibly arrogant idea.
I wasn't some world-saving hero or great figure.
Knowing all the threats to come, it wasn't something a comic artist who'd only drawn pictures until adulthood could casually claim.
But so what?
Life is something you steer yourself.
Whether protagonist or secret society, entrusting your fate to others was foolish and irresponsible.
An arrogant person was better than a foolish, irresponsible one.
'The mindset that you can do it is what's important.'
Recalling words from a friend who'd developed Red Ark with me someday, I shut down the computer.
I'd been glued to the site, and it was already 3 a.m.
Time to sleep.
Even vampires needed sleep.
I didn't want to wake up in pain like this morning, so I climbed into the black coffin that didn't suit the basement and turned in.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ At 4 p.m., students at Cuvette Psi High School got busy.
It was because dismissal time—the moment high schoolers around the world desperately craved—had arrived.
I watched the students packing up eagerly, chattering things like, 'PC bang today?', 'Pool hall, let's go!', 'Ollie today, they're having a sale!'
Those were the good times.
The one and only era where you could hang out with friends without calculating gains and losses.
"Do-hyun-gong. See you tomorrow..."
Like an old man watching the students, Wang sneaked glances at me and bid farewell.
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Unfortunately, I had no one I could call a friend.
Wang was the only one I even talked to at school.
And even that felt like I was the one initiating, with him anxiously eyeing me before responding.
Anyway, I couldn't blend in with the youths heading off to enjoy after-school life.
For a loner with no clubs, it was time to shoulder my bag and head home quietly.
A week had already passed since I started living as Baek Do-hyun.
In that time, some short but major events had occurred.
Releasing the kidnapped Han Cheong-ah, contacting the organization's executive Aria, fighting Yubyeol-ha, checking the supernatural anomalies community's site, and so on.
I'd somehow overcome the numerous crises...
And as a result, unlike the Baek Do-hyun who died in the prologue, I was alive like this.
In the now-empty Classroom 2-2, I savored the serene atmosphere as I slung on my backpack.
I kicked an abandoned empty can on the floor into the trash bin and headed into the hallway.
There I saw Han Cheong-ah.
She was standing in the hallway, busily tapping away on her smartphone with one hand.
Yet she still greeted me.
"Long time no see. Do-hyun."
"Hey. Yeah, it's been a while... Waiting for someone?"
She should normally be heading home with Lee Gyeo-ul from the same class.
But Han Cheong-ah was waiting alone in front of Classroom 2-2's hallway.
She pocketed her phone.
"I was waiting for you, Do-hyun."
"Me?"
"Yes. You promised to draw my portrait a week from then."
Han Cheong-ah spoke with excitement.
Ah, right. Now I remembered.
A week ago at the school gate, we'd made that promise.
To cut to the chase, I'd completely forgotten about my promise with Han Cheong-ah.
I wasn't the type to disregard promises.
But from the day we made it, so many things had happened.
All directly tied to survival, so I was too busy dealing with them, and the promise naturally slipped my mind.
"The painting supplies haven't arrived yet... So today might be tough."
"I... see."
Facing her eyes full of expectation, I couldn't bring myself to be fully honest and lied.
Then Han Cheong-ah's head drooped like ripe rice, and her body slumped as if all strength had drained out.
Hm.
Uhmm...
Uhhmm...
A guy can't help but be weak to a beautiful girl's tears.
With her openly showing how upset she was, guilt made it hard to meet her eyes.
Honestly, this was 100% my fault...
Tsk, what to do.
As I pondered, a lightning bolt of an idea flashed through my mind.
"Ah, right."
"Huh?"
"There's an art room."
I clapped my hands.
This school had an art room too.
Just this morning, we'd had art class as one of the subjects.
I hadn't drawn anything, but I'd attended class there and confirmed there were canvases, pastels, and various painting tools in the art room.
They weren't high quality, but good enough to paint Han Cheong-ah.
"If you're free today, how about we go to the art room and do it?"
"I'm totally free."
"Good. But there's one thing you need to know."
"What is it?"
"What I'm drawing now is a finished painting. Think of that croquis from before as just a sketch. So it'll take a long time. Got it?"
"Whether it's 40 hours or 60, I can wait."
I smirked.
Having someone like my drawings felt good.
I'd started drawing in the first place because my parents liked my pictures.
"Alright."
I resolved to give my all for my first client in Academy City.
Han Cheong-ah and I headed to the staff room.
After school, all classrooms except the staff room were locked, so we needed a key.
The art room key was with the art teacher.
I cautiously approached the art teacher's desk.
The young Korean teacher, nearing her thirties, was sipping coffee while browsing a shopping site.
"Um, teacher?"
"Kyaa!?"
We explained the situation to the startled teacher.
She glanced us over, then—for some reason—started looking at us fondly.
"Hmm..."
The art teacher handed over the key with a stern warning.
"It's fine to ask permission like today and use the art room after school, but if I hear about any impure behavior on campus..."
She'd clearly misunderstood big time.
I clarified that Han Cheong-ah and I weren't like that, but the teacher just said, 'It's okay, I won't spread rumors,' and playfully smacked my butt.
What was this mix of good and not-so-good feeling?
"Do-hyun."
"Yeah."
"Feel honored."
Han Cheong-ah placed a hand on her hip, looking triumphant.
I had no idea what she meant by 'honored,' so I asked directly.
And then...
"You got mistaken for a 'couple' with a beauty like me. Feel honored. You can play this awesome highlight reel of the deceased at your funeral."
If she just kept her mouth shut, she'd be a mysterious beauty, but that trap of hers was the problem.
I gave Han Cheong-ah a thoroughly cold stare.