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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Dungeon Training
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"It's... really too obvious."
Lyra didn't seem to have any intention of hiding it.
The fact that she wanted to kill me.
[I know, right? I set her up to turn into a villain because of an inferiority complex, but maybe it's too severe? I'm starting to doubt if she even *wants* to hide it.]
Lyra's scorching gaze, fixed on the back of my head, was stinging.
She was overtly displaying hostility towards me.
Pretending not to notice was agonizing.
"You've already decided who to team up with, right?"
[Of course! There's one spy, the protagonist, you, the reader. And even an extra! It's perfect!]
"You included an extra?"
[Well, I have something in mind.]
The Author was thinking of something again.
I prayed it wouldn't be in a bad direction.
Because I couldn't control every little thing.
If I tried to control the Author's every move, my body wouldn't be able to handle it.
[Hehe, I'm looking forward to the dungeon!]
"...Oh, by the way, Author."
[Yes?]
"Give me some money."
[What?!]
I felt the increasing need to squeeze more money out of the Author.
The first step, as the winds of war began to swirl around the academy.
Because there were things I needed to prepare.
[It's possible, but what is it this time?]
"I want to buy some clothes."
[You're... you're using me for personal gain! Reader, I didn't take you for that!]
What are you talking about?
Of course, I'm buying them because I need them.
"I need to be around the protagonist, after all. I'll need something to cover myself if anything happens."
[...Ah! I hadn't thought of that! You really are the Reader!]
Think about it.
You deliberately linked me, Yoo Si-woo, and Lyra together because you wanted to see the protagonist's exploits, didn't you?
What if, and this is a big 'if,' Lyra and Yoo Si-woo have a one-on-one fight and I can't see it?
Another ancient beast might pop out if I throw a tantrum like I did during the monster attack last time.
I have to prevent that.
I needed to observe what Yoo Si-woo would do in crucial events, no matter what.
But if I openly followed Yoo Si-woo around, I'd be suspected, wouldn't I?
I'd have to hide, but the protagonist's ability is intuition, isn't it?
The Author said he could only sense physical threats, but...
Well...
Considering the Author's actions, there's no harm in being more careful, right?
Even if I get caught, it's best to cover my face so I can somehow bluff my way out of it.
"I'm going to buy a mask and a hood."
[Then should I add a voice modification function to the mask and a facial recognition jamming enchantment to the hood?]
"...Is that possible?"
[Why not?]
"I'd appreciate that."
In that sense, they're quite reliable.
What should I say?
It felt like playing an RPG with cheats that provided infinite money and items.
***
"Oh, you're here. Spear-whore."
"I told you not to call me a spear-whore, Jeffrey."
I turned around at the frivolous voice, and sure enough.
The man with the playboy-like impression was approaching me.
Well, I knew it without even needing to check, but.
Because he was the only one who called me by that absurd nickname, 'spear-whore'.
"What, it's true, isn't it? You're a woman who uses a spear, so 'spear-whore' it is."
Whoosh!
I instantly accelerated the spear I was holding and brought it to Jeffrey's nape.
"Eek?!"
Only then did he stop talking, as a small cut appeared on his neck from the sudden attack.
"Ah, alright. I get it. Sorry, Amelia."
"Call me that one more time, and I'll rip your mouth apart."
Haa.
This man, he's truly frivolous and I don't like him.
Even after such a warning, by tomorrow he'll probably be singing 'spear-whore, spear-whore' again as if nothing happened.
For now, I'll be satisfied that I made him shut up.
I don't want to keep talking to such a frivolous man, but...
I have no choice.
Because he's undeniably capable.
He's been famous as an information broker since before he even entered the academy.
I can't afford not to use him.
"So, her information?"
"...Which one?"
"Lyra, first."
"Alright."
He sat leisurely on a park bench and began to speak.
"First, that underachiever. I'm not sure why a lady like you would ask me to investigate someone like that, but..."
"Just get to the point."
"There's nothing particularly special about her. Aside from the information that she suddenly became stronger recently."
"...And did she engage in any suspicious activities around the time she got stronger?"
"No. I'm telling you this because the payment was substantial, but she hasn't moved far away to anywhere."
"Tsk."
A dead end, then.
If this man says so, then there really must be nothing special about her.
She's probably perfectly ordinary, aside from the fact that she suddenly became much stronger.
Just as I was feeling a bit disappointed, I noticed he was staring intently at me.
Something feels... off about the atmosphere.
"In my opinion, you. Your target isn't that underachiever, is it? It's someone else? And that underachiever probably has some connection to her."
"Why do you think that?"
"Ha, it's obvious, isn't it? Anyone who investigates this would think the same."
His face, which had suddenly taken on a sharp gaze, twisted as he flipped through the documents.
A look like he'd lost a bet with someone.
Not an ordinary bet, but one he was confident in, a field he specialized in.
It was a look that showed his pride had taken a hit.
"Arte Isis. Elementary school records unknown. Middle school records unknown. High school records unknown. No birth registration. Parents unknown. Relatives unknown. Birthplace unknown. ...Are you kidding me?"
"..."
"Someone with absolutely no background is freely walking around as an academy student?"
"But it's true."
"Bwahahahaha!"
At Jeffrey's loud laughter, the gazes of the students in the park momentarily gathered, then dispersed.
After laughing for a long time, so hard he almost lost his breath, he suddenly hardened his expression and declared.
"My apologies, miss. I'm pulling my hands out of this."
"...What?"
"I'm still a student too. I have a lot of life left to live. I don't want to die. Honestly, I came here thinking it was already a bit dangerous."
"Jeffrey, wait...!"
"I'm telling you this because the payment you gave me was quite substantial, so listen carefully."
I wanted to speak to Jeffrey to stop him from leaving immediately.
But his expression made me stop the hand I was reaching out with.
A look of utter fear.
Was there something he realized that I couldn't comprehend?
"Arte Isis's records are quite sloppy. It's just that the academy's teachers don't have the authority to notice, but if anyone from outside investigates her even once, they'll immediately realize it."
"Then!"
"Still don't get it? Then I'll tell you directly. ...Someone put a person who seems not to exist in this world into an academy that boasts the world's highest level of security."
"!"
"If anyone so much as hints at noticing, she's the kind of person who will instantly be covered in false information. Where she lived, with whom, who her parents are... she might even suddenly gain childhood friends she never even dated."
Desperation was evident in the way he spoke, like a machine gun.
He wanted to pull out as quickly as possible.
...But as an information broker, he had to finish the job.
So he'd deliver the information as quickly as possible and avoid getting involved with her any further.
That's how he seemed to have decided.
"Right now, they just haven't felt the need. I don't believe such a person is harmless."
"...Alright, I understand. I don't wish for you to be in danger too."
"Good. ...My apologies, miss. Next time, I'll give you a discount."
"Good work, Jeffrey."
In the end, I couldn't stop him from leaving.
...But it wasn't without its gains.
Because I realized she was someone who didn't even have a birth registration, practically nonexistent in this world.
Only the fact that she was an academy student proved that she was a real person.
"...That's how it turned out."
"Nonexistent in this world..."
Even after Si-woo and I put our heads together to ponder, the conclusion was the same.
The mid-term exam was dangerous.
"Si-woo, you were definitely in the same team as her during the mid-term exam, right?"
"Yeah. Lyra, me, Arte, and one other person."
The result of eavesdropping when Arte contacted 'the Author' was that there would be an attack on the academy someday.
Though I don't know when that will be.
"Be careful, Yoo Si-woo. Lyra definitely has some kind of connection with her."
"...Got it."
Honestly, I was uneasy.
Of all people, to be in the same team as Lyra and Arte?
I lamented, wondering if it was a trick of fate.
Yoo Si-woo was spacing out for a long time.
"Still, you probably won't die. Don't worry. ...Of course, don't relax too much, just in case."
"Huh? I won't die?"
Si-woo was too nervous, fearing a major disaster, so I decided to give him a little encouragement.
It wasn't that difficult.
Because all I had to do was add a bit of imagination to reality and tell Si-woo.
"You've got that woman's attention, after all."
"...Right?"
"I still don't know exactly why she's interested, but do you suddenly kill someone you find interesting?"
"Of course not!"
"Exactly. It's the same thing. As long as Arte is interested in you, she won't just kill you outright."
To be honest, I don't know if that's truly the case.
Because villains' methods of action are so diverse.
But there was no need to say such a thing now and increase Si-woo's anxiety.
Still, I shouldn't let him relax too much, so perhaps I should also give him some warnings.
"...But don't relax too much. Lyra is different from her. She might kill you just because your opinions differ."
"Okay, I'll be careful."
Who knew academy life, which should have been ordinary, would be so eventful?
I resented my past self who, upon entering the academy, had prayed for an academy life that wouldn't be boring.
Far from boring, it's brutal.