What was the Author’s purpose?
That was easy to figure out if I thought back on everything the Author had said so far. For fun.
Every single event that had happened up to now had been for that reason. There was no deeper meaning.
Changing Laila’s setting, unleashing villains everywhere, implanting memories of an old friend into Hayul.
Releasing magical beasts, creating secret rooms, even inserting events from 500 years ago—all of it.
It had all been for fun.
Most of the events so far had happened by the Author’s hand, so it was true that this current situation felt out of place.
A situation the Author’s hand hadn’t touched.
But because of that—
Precisely because the Author’s hand hadn’t touched it, the Author seemed pleased.
Pleased enough to suggest that going outside the Academy to resolve the situation briefly might not be a bad idea.
So maybe this situation in front of me was inevitable.
Because they were heroines. Because they were on the side of good.
It was only natural for them to come running when they heard their friends were heading into danger, trying to stop them.
And when they realized that was impossible, it was only natural for them to say, “Then take us with you.”
"Take me with you."
"Me too."
"…Sigh."
Dorothy and Amelia stood in our way, their expressions resolute.
Even though I’d already told them no multiple times.
"The front lines are extremely dangerous. Students aren’t allowed."
"Then what about you? Siwoo? You’re both students too."
"We have experience hunting magical beasts, so…"
"That was over half a year ago. Dorothy and I have experience dealing with villains. A lot, actually. Our combat skills haven’t rusted yet."
"That’s right! Take us with you!"
…This isn’t working. They’re not listening.
This is all Siwoo’s fault. If he hadn’t mentioned going to the front lines—
Even when I bring up our magical beast hunting experience, they just say it’s been too long and our skills must be rusty. They won’t listen.
My head aching, I turned to look at Siwoo. Noticing my gaze, he avoided eye contact.
Yeah, he knows he messed up.
Under my accusatory glare, Siwoo blurted out an excuse.
"…They’re our friends, though. I thought we should at least tell them. I didn’t expect it to turn out like this."
"Well, that’s true, but…"
Siwoo’s reasoning wasn’t wrong.
But their opposition was giving me a headache.
It was worse because they weren’t just opposing us—they were trying to come along.
And I didn’t have a good excuse to stop them.
Saying we were going because the Association asked for help felt a little off.
The front lines were dangerous.
A place where the most vicious criminals were mowed down like bullet sponges.
A place where, despite being packed with heroes so strong they were beyond imagination, the battle lines barely advanced.
That was the general perception.
You could tell just by looking at the extras around us—the other students. They knew it was a place they’d eventually have to go, but they also fully understood just how dangerous it was.
That was why their gazes were filled with pity. A sympathetic look, as if to say, “Isn’t it too soon for you to go?”
Starting to feel the need for backup, I turned to Hayul.
She was a teacher, after all.
She at least had the authority to make them see reason.
"...I’m sorry, but you can’t go."
"Why not?!"
"I’ve been explaining this the whole time..."
Hayu’s voice, which had been trying to stop the two of them, now carried a hint of frustration.
She had realized that despite all her efforts to explain, they hadn’t listened to a single word.
...So even with that cold exterior, she’s actually quite emotional.
Well, that’s probably why she ended up hating villains so much—because of her friend’s revenge and all.
"Like I said before, the front lines aren’t something you apply for. It’s something we *invite* superhumans to."
But her moment of gloom didn’t last long. Had she gotten used to being a teacher?
She had transformed back into the dutiful teacher, earnestly answering her students’ questions as she began her explanation again.
"I can’t go into detail, but... there’s been an unfortunate incident recently. It’s embarrassing, but we’ve decided to accept help from students."
"...Why?"
"You really haven’t heard anything, have you? I’m genuinely shocked..."
Hayu’s voice trembled slightly.
She was clearly shaken by the fact that they hadn’t absorbed a single word of her explanation.
"Intuitive abilities like that are extremely rare. You can detect things without any prior information, so that’s why they requested assistance at the front."
"But Siwoo is just a student!"
"We’re ashamed of it ourselves. But it wasn’t forced, and it’s not permanent. He’ll be back before winter break starts."
"...What about Arte?"
"She’s... the strongest among the students, and she has experience hunting magical beasts. Plus, she can lay threads to secure an area."
And since the two of them are friends, it might ease the loneliness of being away from home. Do you understand now?
Hayu finished her explanation in a calm voice, then smiled with a hint of pride.
Maybe she thought there was no way they could argue anymore.
She’s really gotten the hang of being a teacher. She’s changed a lot.
Maybe she always had a talent for education.
...But right now, Hayu was making a huge mistake.
Dorothy might grumble but eventually accept this.
She probably wouldn’t even consider the possibility of overturning the decision.
"...Uh, Dad."
"Amelia?"
"Yeah. Are you busy right now? ...It’s fine? Okay. No, it’s nothing big. I just need a favor."
Just as I expected.
Dorothy might buy it, but Amelia would *never* accept this.
At least, not the Amelia I’ve known up until now.
And unfortunately for Hayu, it seemed like Amelia had a way to flip this situation on its head.
"I want to go to the front lines. ...What? Stop talking nonsense? Oh, fine. Then can I burn all the *Love☆Deluxe* stuff Dad secretly bought and post it on SNS?"
What the hell is that?
Amelia’s conversation just took a bizarre turn.
"*Love Deluxe*? That’s definitely..."
"No way, Amelia’s dad actually watches that stuff? I thought that was just a rumor."
"Nah, no way..."
What’s going on to make them react like that?
Curiosity got the better of me, so I pulled out my phone and searched the title.
What came up were covers of manga and novels.
...Featuring half-naked girls.
"How did I find out? Come on, Dad. I get that you wanted to hide it, but at least *try* harder. Hiding it under the bed is way too obvious."
So it’s a light novel title.
Amelia’s father had apparently tried his best to hide that kind of taste, but it seemed Amelia had found out anyway.
She understood the desire to hide it, but…
Why did it have to be his own daughter who caught him?
And hiding it under the bed? What was he, a child?
Yu Siwoo couldn’t hear Amelia’s call, but the mood came through clearly.
Her father, who had once said it was absolutely not allowed, now seemed to be flustered, begging for something.
Otherwise, there was no way Amelia would be wearing that triumphant smirk.
"Ah, and one more besides me—add Dorothy Gale too. You’re saying that’s really not possible? I can’t hear you well, Dad. It’s really not okay?"
"···."
"I see. Ah, well, can’t be helped. Then I’ll just sell off all the secret collection you hid in the villa’s storage. You don’t need it, right?"
Dorothy, Haryul, me, and Yu Siwoo.
Even the watching students and teachers fell silent.
They realized this had gone beyond negotiation.
···This was blackmail.
"Oh, Dad. If you just close your eyes and do me this one favor, everything will be fine."
After a brief pause—
Amelia’s face lit up as if she’d heard something good.
"Great! Love you, Dad. I’ll keep that safe for you. Hide things better next time, okay?"
Amelia hung up with a cheerful click, then turned to Haryul with a bright smile.
"I got invited too, along with Dorothy. Is it okay if we go?"
"···."
"What’s with this atmosphere? Why is everyone like this?"
How could she not know?
As everyone exchanged that unspoken thought, Yu Siwoo stepped forward as their representative to ask Amelia.
"···Uh, that. Is this really okay?"
"Hmm? What is?"
"Your father. Is it fine to treat him like that?"
"Ah, it’s fine. He does it to me sometimes too."
*Sometimes?*
Her absurd answer left everyone stunned.
"If you heard what he’s done just to get me to say ‘I love you, Dad,’ you’d be shocked."
"···R-Right. I see. But… um, won’t this cause problems?"
"What kind of problems?"
"You said he wanted to hide it, right? The books he reads. There are a lot of people here… everyone heard, so…"
"I *wanted* them to hear."
"···What?"
Amelia didn’t even bother hiding the amusement in her voice as she said,
"If Dad had just been upfront about it, none of this would’ve happened. This is just a little payback."
"But… it seemed like a secret he really wanted to keep…"
"The hardcore fans already had their suspicions anyway. He just denied it so hard that everyone assumed it wasn’t true."
"···So you *intentionally* brought it up?"
"Yep. He’s probably clutching his head right now, seeing the rumors on SNS."
How was she planning to handle the fallout?
Then again, maybe Amelia hadn’t thought that far ahead at all.
"So, since Dad invited Dorothy and me too, is it okay if we go?"
"···Y-Yeah. Of course."
"Let’s go, Dorothy."
"···Yes."
She’s evil.
That thought circled in everyone’s minds.