"···."
Yu Siwoo watched Arte, who was talking with Amelia.
Before he knew it, Dorothy—now recovered from her hangover thanks to a remedy—was sitting with them, and the three of them were eating in a state of utter exhaustion.
"Aren’t you going to eat?"
"Ah, I’m fine. I’m not really hungry."
"Oh?"
Unlike Dorothy, who looked half-dead, Amelia had already regained some of her energy.
When I refused to eat, she took my share of the hangover soup and started eating it with relish.
···She’s really digging in. Does it taste better because it was mine?
I considered snatching it back out of petty spite, but I shook my head. The thoughts from last night had completely killed my appetite.
Yu Siwoo looked at Arte and wondered. What was she thinking about right now?
People and dolls. And free will.
After yesterday’s events, he was certain that was the source of Arte’s inner conflict.
Arte was in a precarious state.
She divided others into two categories: people and dolls.
There was no way that could be considered normal.
Dolls and people. He had spent the whole night pondering what that distinction meant, only to doze off without realizing it···.
But thanks to that, Yu Siwoo had come to a realization.
Arte was truly messed up.
"Ugh, my head… Let’s keep it low-key today. I went way too hard yesterday…"
"Agreed…"
Arte couldn’t see others as people, which was why she could be so cruel.
Realizing that, Yu Siwoo had spent a long time lost in thought.
How could he make Arte see others as people, not dolls?
At first, that was his question. But he quickly abandoned it. He’d discovered a far bigger problem.
The reason Arte felt no guilt was because she didn’t see people as people.
So what if she *did* recognize them as people?
What if she realized that all the things she’d done to “dolls” were actually done to *people*?
···Well. At the very least, nothing good would come of it. That was Yu Siwoo’s conclusion.
So how could he make her recognize people as people without it breaking her?
Yu Siwoo reached his answer: it was impossible. Arte *would* get hurt.
"Arte…"
No matter what, Arte was going to be hurt.
Yu Siwoo knew it. Arte—no.
Arachne was cruel. Cruel enough to make those with grudges against villains cheer.
So as a member of Arachne, Arte must have committed countless cruel acts herself.
Even so, I’ve seen a side of Arte that no one else knows.
She’s inscrutable, and sometimes her actions are impossible to understand… but…
Yu Siwoo believed it. At her core, Arte was kind.
It was just… just…
Her mind was simply sick.
Others might not see it, but Yu Siwoo could.
A deadly poison, rotting her from the inside out.
A disease where the only cure was removing the afflicted part—but doing so would likely kill the patient.
There was only one way to treat such an illness.
Remove the afflicted part, and replace it with something that could take its place.
Yu Siwoo made up his mind.
Even if Arte got hurt someday, he would be her strength.
"Yu Siwoo! Are you just going to stand there the whole time?! We’re at the beach—you’ve gotta have some fun!"
"...Ah. I'll be right there."
"Hurry up!"
First, maybe I should start by making summer memories for Arte.
"...Sigh."
[What's wrong, Reader-nim?]
"No, it's just... I realized it's been a while since I've seen a school uniform..."
[Hmm, that's true. Are you upset because school is starting again?]
"Yeah..."
I couldn't stop the sigh from escaping.
Summer break was already over. Time really flew.
Even though the break had been extended by a whole week, it didn’t feel like it at all.
Time always passed quickly when you were having fun.
[I’m happy! Both you and the protagonist were just at home the whole time! It was boring!]
"Just at home...? We went out every day."
[Going to see the protagonist doesn’t count as going out!]
"..."
I tried to argue with the Author-nim, but I only ended up losing more.
...Damn it.
Well, whatever. It *would* be boring if all I did was watch the protagonist.
"Fine, fine. I’ll go out soon, okay?"
[Yay! Fun school life!]
"..."
It wasn’t that Academy life wasn’t enjoyable...
But regardless, on the first day back, my whole body felt as heavy as a waterlogged sponge. It was frustrating how the Author-nim could say that so easily when they weren’t the one attending.
[You can look forward to it! The Academy has a new look!]
"Oh, right. There was talk about that."
Yeah, they had mentioned it before.
The Academy had definitely... what was it called again? I forgot the name.
...Anyway, it had been half-destroyed by that attack from those animal friends.
And while cleaning up the mess, they’d discovered some secret room, which made them decide to rebuild it because it was too dangerous.
I’d been curious how they could rebuild it in a way that the Author-nim would find exciting.
When I reached the Academy’s front gate, I understood.
"...Isn’t this bigger than before?"
[Yes!]
"There are a bunch of machines everywhere..."
[It’s a cutting-edge system that intercepts unidentified intruders! ...That’s the setting, at least!]
It didn’t feel like a school anymore—more like a fortress.
"...Is this really okay?"
[Hey, the Academy was half-destroyed! They had to prepare this much!]
"No, that’s not what I—"
How had they built all this in just the short summer break?
...How?
When I voiced my doubt, the Author-nim grinned and said,
[Well, the materials were handled with superpowers, and heavy machinery? Just call in some superhumans, so it’s way faster than you’d think... Right? Hehe.]
"..."
I didn’t get it.
And at this point, asking wouldn’t change anything.
Superpowers took care of it all. That was explanation enough, I guessed.
"...This might come as a surprise, but we’re starting midterms today."
"What?!"
Ms. Claire, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, dropped a bombshell on the class the moment we reunited.
Midterms already? Right after summer break? The students, still gloomy from the end of vacation, were stunned.
I couldn’t hide my shock either.
"Author-nim...?"
[Not me! Not me! I had nothing to do with this!]
Yeah, even the Author-nim wouldn’t do something this cruel.
Starting midterms right after the first day back? They’d get nothing but complaints.
But that actually happened. And the author didn’t even touch it.
Just what in the world is going on here?
"I know it’s shocking."
"S-Shocking doesn’t even cover it! School just started again, and now we’re having midterms?!"
"Do you remember what happened on the last day of break?"
"···."
The students fell silent.
Well, of course they hadn’t forgotten. It had been a major incident.
No students were seriously injured, but quite a few teachers had been hurt protecting them.
How do you think the students who saw that felt?
"The Academy was attacked, and its reputation was dragged through the mud. There were even talks of shutting down for half a year."
"But! We defeated the villain—!"
"We did. But that’s not the point. People got hurt. Buildings were destroyed. Villains invaded. Do you understand what that means?"
"Uh, well..."
"It means even I could do it. And more idiots will start thinking the same."
Hmm.
Well, the Academy had never been attacked before, so an incident like that would change things.
There’s a difference between something with no precedent and something that’s happened once. I think I got the point.
...But what does that have to do with midterms?
"Th-That’s what I was going to ask! What does that have to do with—"
"It’s relevant. The midterms have been changed because of it."
Cutting off the student’s question, Teacher Claire opened a black, rectangular box.
"This midterm period will last from today until one month before finals begin."
"What?!"
"The content will be point accumulation."
A student roster, floating in blue light, emerged from the box.
"Earning points is simple. Subdue villains, help citizens—anything like that. The amount of points awarded will be decided by at least three teachers who witness the event."
"B-But we’re students! We don’t have time for that kind of—"
"Until finals, it’s independent study."
The students were completely flustered by Teacher Claire’s announcement.
Of course they were. But she didn’t wait for them to recover before continuing with the notices.
"This is a time when villains will be most active. The teachers have decided you’ve all had enough rest and need some real-world experience."
"But it’s dangerous—!"
"That’s why there are other ways to earn points, like social contributions."
Ignoring any further objections, Teacher Claire gathered the holographic box and spoke.
She had always been blunt but kind. What had happened during break to make her like this?
Leaving the students’ questions unanswered, the teacher brought someone in.
It was a familiar face. At least to me and the author.
[Hmm, a candy cane is a bit much. Cigarettes are still cooler, though.]
"Lastly, to replace someone who can no longer teach, I’ll introduce you to your new instructor."
"Nice to meet you all."
Maybe she’d given up her usual cigarette in front of the students.
With a candy cane in her mouth, she grinned.
"I’m former investigator Lee Hayul. Please take care of me."