Leaving the dead beast behind, I blended into the crowd of students pouring out of the school, which had been placed under a temporary closure.
"Author-nim, how exactly do you plan to clean this up?"
[Huh, good question. I hadn’t really thought about it.]
"You ruined the entrance ceremony and didn’t even consider the aftermath…"
What the hell am I supposed to do?
This is definitely going to be in the news.
I figured Author-nim must have some kind of plan, but… nothing? Did they really do this without thinking about the consequences?
[Well, other novels didn’t have scenes like this, right? Maybe it’s fine if something like this happens at the Academy…?]
"Then how did those novels handle it?"
[…I think they all covered it up.]
"And you think that’s possible here?"
Well, I *have* seen plots where incidents get hushed up.
But in those cases, there were at most a classroom’s worth of witnesses.
How are we supposed to silence *every single freshman*?
[Maybe…? I-I’ll try!]
This is *so* worrying.
Can we really fix this…?
A cold wind howled, as if trying to sweep away my anxiety.
Ugh, it’s freezing. Oh right, I need to buy stockings and half-gloves.
"Author-nim, give me some money."
[Whaaat, again…?]
"Obviously. I’m a student, remember? Plus, *you’re* the one who gave me this ability."
[Ugh, this is so depressing. I don’t even have that much money… Why do *you* spend so freely, Reader-nim?!]
Yeah, who asked for this ability anyway?
Every time I use it, the cost adds up more than I expected.
I suggested just carrying a spool of thread, but apparently that’s “not cool.”
Then I asked if full activation—which leaves me *naked*—is cool, and… damn it.
When I was a kid, I used to dream about getting superpowers and using them however I wanted.
But now I’m stuck with an ability that turns me into an exhibitionist slut when I go all out.
…What the hell.
"Oh, and I’m planning to buy snacks and ice cream on the way home, so make it a little extra."
[This is so unfair…!]
Author-nim started whining about how it’s not fair that I don’t gain weight no matter how much I eat.
Then they complained about how nice my house is—like, who cares if it’s a countryside mansion with a pool in the backyard?
"No, *you* were the one who set it up like this."
[But, but…! It’s still unfair!]
As usual, I tuned out Author-nim’s whining.
Ugh, tomorrow’s going to be a nightmare.
"Ah, there you are. Could you come to the teacher’s lounge for a moment?"
"Understood."
The classroom was in disarray, with students too flustered to even exchange proper greetings after yesterday’s incident.
When the teacher called for me, I quickly left the classroom.
[Reader, you have no friends… How tragic.]
"…It’s your fault!"
"What did you just say?"
"No, Teacher. It was nothing."
I couldn’t hold back my frustration, and my voice rose slightly.
But it wasn’t like I had no excuses.
I didn’t have any friends because I hadn’t even spoken to anyone yet.
I muttered my complaints to the Author in a low voice, and they responded.
[But it’s still true that you have no friends.]
Well, of course! It’s because everyone avoids me!
I couldn’t call someone a friend without even talking to them first.
I wanted to have a conversation at least once, but they all just glanced at my appearance and subtly kept their distance!
That’s why my surroundings were empty until the teacher arrived, and the moment they called me, everyone scattered.
It was so awkward that I was actually relieved when the teacher summoned me.
Lost in thought over the atmosphere, I realized I had already arrived at the teachers’ lounge.
"Now, what was the student’s name…?"
"Arte Isis."
I still wasn’t used to my new name.
When I asked why the protagonist had a Korean name while I had an English one, the Author said that in Academy novels, protagonists often have Korean names.
It made sense when I thought about it, but I hated that I had accepted it so easily.
"Right, Arte. Don’t be too nervous just because you’re at the teachers’ lounge. The reason I called you here is…"
"Is it about the beast attack incident?"
"…Well, I suppose you couldn’t have missed it. Yes, that’s why."
Just how had the Author handled this?
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out.
Had they really silenced every single new student?
The suppressed anxiety surged back up.
"The Academy will award you a commendation."
"…What?"
"We plan to give awards to the two students who helped resolve the beast attack incident."
Wait, so they didn’t silence the students?
[Hehe, so? Not bad, right?]
As I puzzled over what the Author had done, the teacher’s voice continued.
"To be honest, the beast attack incident was clearly our oversight."
"Yes…"
Though I didn’t think it was really your fault.
At the Author’s voice, which sounded like they were grinning for praise, my head naturally drooped.
I was the one who should feel bad.
"We’ll have to endure the criticism from parents and reporters. Well, it’s unavoidable. It was our mistake for not maintaining proper security."
There was a hint of regret in their voice, so I glanced at the teacher’s eyes.
Sure enough, deep dark circles were etched beneath them.
They must have pulled an all-nighter yesterday.
"The Academy is an institution that trains heroes. So we’ve decided to treat this as the discovery of a promising student and humbly accept our mistake."
What?
This is too normal?
Aren’t places like the Academy and the Hunter Association in web novels all supposed to be shady as hell…?!
"So, a commendation?"
"Yes. Don’t worry. We also plan to give you proper compensation."
[What do you think? Aren’t you tired of the Academy always being useless? Wouldn’t it be nice if it were a little competent for once?!]
"…Hmm."
Just promising to compensate the victims properly, and suddenly the Academy looks competent. Why?
Well, whatever. Good is good.
It doesn’t seem like it’ll mess with the story’s flow.
"Excuse me. May I come in?"
"Yes, please. …Ah, you must be Yu Siwoo. Welcome."
[Ah, it’s the protagonist!]
The author’s excited voice and the teacher’s explanation overlapped.
…Why is he staring at me like that?
Confused, I stared back, and the protagonist quickly averted his gaze.
…What’s that about?
[Ohhh, as expected of you, Reader-nim! The protagonist’s already falling for the heroine!]
"…Pfft, what are you—"
[I’m serious!]
As I ignored the author’s nonsense, the teacher finished explaining and approached me.
"Now, we need to register your name on the list. Could you tell me your name again?"
"Arte Isis."
"Arte Isis… Huh?"
The teacher tilted her head and started fiddling with the computer more.
What’s wrong? Is there a problem?
"Student, could you write the spelling on this paper for me?"
"Sure, I guess."
Maybe she entered it wrong.
After writing down the name the author gave me on the paper, I handed it back to the teacher.
How tedious.
As I stared blankly at the ceiling, the teacher’s voice turned serious.
"Student, your name isn’t on the freshman roster…?"
"Huh? That can’t be…"
That can’t be right.
I’m a new student at the Academy, as the author declared.
If I’m not an Academy student, then who is?
There’s no way my name isn’t on the freshman list.
"…Author-nim?"
[A-Ah! My mistake…! J-Just a second! I forgot to set it up!]
Sigh.
I let out a small sigh.
I was hoping she wouldn’t cause any trouble, but here we are.
[Arte Isis, first-year at the Academy… There! Now she’ll be on the list!]
"Uh, teacher. Maybe you made a typo? Could I try entering it myself?"
"…Sure. Would you like to give it a try?"
The teacher, who had been sitting in her chair, scooted it back to make room for me.
Let’s see… Arte Isis… Got it.
"Here it is. Looks like there was a temporary system error."
"Oh my, really? Thank you."
"Hehe, don’t mention it."
After asking the protagonist for his name as well, the teacher input something and smiled brightly.
"Alright, everyone. I know the beast attack was rough, but thank you for making time. Let me see… Both of you are in Class A. You can head to Class A."
"Thank you, teacher."
"No, thank *you*… …Good luck! I’ll be cheering for you?"
[Hehe, what do you think? I put you in the same class as the protagonist! …D-Don’t be mad, okay?]
She didn’t need to ask so cautiously.
Of course I was mad.
"Let’s talk about it later."
[Hiiieek…]
But why did the protagonist keep staring at me?
She couldn’t actually be falling for him, could she?
*'No name on the roster…?'
Yu Siwoo had heard it.
When she realized her name wasn’t on the freshman list, her face had stiffened slightly, and he’d caught her quietly muttering “Author-nim” to someone.
Then, after she input her name, it had appeared on the roster as if it had always been there. He’d seen that too.
The teacher had explained that the beast had accidentally escaped from an illegal breeding facility.
But was that really the truth?
He was certain he’d heard it—back in the auditorium during the entrance ceremony, she had known about the beast attack in advance.
And then there was the way she kept talking to someone, as if in conversation.
She’d said “Author-nim” back then too, hadn’t she?
What had she said exactly?
*'You don’t seem interested in the teachers…' or something like that…?
"Excuse me."
"Y-Yes?!"
"Pfft. Why are you so tense?"
Her slender eyes emitted a crimson glow that felt like it was piercing right through me.
My body locked up from the tension, and my heart started pounding wildly.
"Yu Siwoo, right?"
"H-How did you—?!"
"I overheard the teachers talking earlier."
Oh… right. That’s how.
I’d been so flustered I’d forgotten.
As she smiled and extended her right hand, the muscles that had briefly relaxed in my body tensed up again.
W-What was she trying to—?!
"…? What’s wrong?"
"T-This is?"
She tilted her head, her empty hand still outstretched.
"Since we went through the same ordeal, let’s get along?"
Hesitantly, I took her hand. She smiled at me—an alluring, almost predatory smile, as if she’d just achieved some hidden goal.
"Arte Isis. Just call me Arte."
*'She’s not targeting the teachers… but a student. And she’s been watching me since the auditorium…!'
It was hard to believe.
…But it seemed she *was* targeting me.
And for reasons that weren’t good.