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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Sudden Acceleration
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"Ah, this is a bust."
"I know, right? It's just... not scary at all, is it?"
Amelia and I couldn't hide our disappointment.
We'd actually been a little excited when they said monsters would pop out.
But then again, what did we expect?
Maybe for safety, but the monsters seemed to have a screw loose, so there was no tension whatsoever.
A haunted house should be at least a little scary, you know?
One or two supers might have felt some tension... but there were three academy students here.
It's a bit much to say myself, but all three of us are excellent students with real combat experience.
Were we expecting too much from the guys popping out in this playground?
"No, isn't that obvious? If three supers were feeling tense, this place would have to shut down the moment an accident happened."
"That's true, but... I feel kind of cheated."
"...Right, you're that kind of person."
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing."
Hmm, come to think of it, Amelia and Yoo Si-woo's relationship feels a little different from what I expected.
Amelia, whom I consider the main heroine, since the author didn't seem to have any plans to increase the number of heroine candidates.
Her relationship with Si-woo felt more like a friendly antagonism.
Not like they saw each other as members of the opposite sex, but... what's the word? Right.
Like two friends of the same gender chatting about trivial things? Something like that.
It was like that a few days ago, and it's like that now.
Their bickering felt just like close friends.
They're like this now, but will there ever come a day when Amelia falls for Si-woo?
I suddenly started to worry. ...It'll be possible someday, right?
"Oh, that. What about that? I bet even you could enjoy that."
"...What, the Ferris wheel?"
"Yeah. A Ferris wheel should be fine."
"...! You're smarter than I thought!"
Excited by Si-woo's suggestion, Amelia started running towards the Ferris wheel.
A Ferris wheel. Yeah, well. Amelia could probably enjoy this.
It's not the kind of ride that relies on speed or thrills.
Yoo Si-woo and I definitely enjoyed the rides, but Amelia couldn't, probably because of her ability, so she seemed to be drawn to things like that.
"Haa. Grandpa said it would be fun."
"...Grandpa?"
"My butler. When I told him I was going to an amusement park with friends, he told me all sorts of things. It was a little different from what I expected, though."
Amelia grumbled that Grandpa had just spun a bunch of lies.
I see. Amelia's a rich young lady, so it's not strange for her to have someone like that.
[Oh, I see. That's good to hear.]
"...Isn't that something the author set up?"
Watching the two of them teasing each other as they walked, I quietly spoke to the author.
[I only need to intervene when necessary! If it's not strictly needed or already looks fine, I tend to leave it as is. I haven't touched this place either.]
"...Right. That's how it was."
This amusement park was also part of the author's puppet show world.
But the author had never touched this place, and the visitors were laughing and chatting, enjoying the special atmosphere as if it were a childhood memory.
To me, who had watched everything from the commercial district around the academy to my own home change in real-time, that fact felt incredibly fresh.
That specialness.
The specialness of being untouched by the author's hand.
It was incredibly enjoyable for me. I had never seen a place in this world untouched by the author's hand until now.
Was that why? Rides for supers only, a haunted house for supers only. Even with rides that couldn't possibly exist in reality, it felt just like reality.
"Author. You really haven't interfered with this place, have you?"
[Huh? ...Right? Why suddenly ask that...]
"No, just..."
I swallowed the words I was about to say.
This isn't reality.
Even if the author hadn't manipulated the surroundings, it was still just a stage.
The world was still filled with puppets.
"What are you doing, Arte! Come on, hurry up!"
"So impatient. I'll be right there."
***
"...This is bad."
"What's wrong?"
"No, well. It was supposed to be your date with Arte..."
"Now? It's way too late for that."
"Ugh..."
Amelia glanced sideways at Arte, who was slowly catching up, and stomped her foot.
No matter how much urgency she expressed, it was already too late.
A date? Please. We were here as a group of three.
No one would think this was a date.
"Ugh, I got too excited. Alright, there's a perfect opportunity now, so I'll somehow..."
"Opportunity?"
Amelia didn't answer me.
She just waited for Arte in silence.
...An opportunity, what on earth was she talking about?
"Over here, Arte. It's a super huge Ferris wheel! So cool."
"I know, right? I don't think I've ever seen one this big."
"Let's go in quickly. Come on!"
Without knowing what kind of opportunity she meant, Arte and I started entering the Ferris wheel car at Amelia's urging.
"Customers, we're about to depart, so please prepare..."
"...Ugh, guh. Sorry, guys! My stomach suddenly... ! You two go ahead and get on!"
"Huh?! Amelia! Where are you going?! Hey!"
...She vanished.
That speed, she definitely used her ability.
Stomach ache, my foot. She was perfectly fine a moment ago, and if her stomach really hurt, she wouldn't use her ability to escape.
Amelia's earlier words suddenly came to mind.
...Opportunity. Was *this* what she meant?
"Uh, well."
"Let's go in, Si-woo. People are waiting."
"...Right."
I internally vented my complaints to Amelia.
Opportunity, she said? This was clearly an act of sabotage, not an opportunity.
Putting Arte and me alone in an enclosed space?
I didn't think I would die, but I had no idea what to even talk about.
"Oh, we're going up."
But it had already started, so nothing would change.
While the Ferris wheel completed one rotation, what on earth was I supposed to do...?
"Whoa!"
"Wha?!"
"Why are you so stiff? Is it because I'm too pretty? ...Haha, just kidding. Don't be nervous."
"R-right..."
Arte, who had startled me by suddenly striking a pose across from me, as if about to pounce, smiled brightly and moved away.
...A faint scent lingered at the tip of my nose.
"...? What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing."
I couldn't say it.
Even if Arte wasn't a villain but just a normal student, there was no way I could possibly say it.
That I could smell her body odor because I remembered the scent of your leotard.
Or that my gaze inadvertently drifted to the leotard peeking out at her neck because of that scent.
If I said it, I'd die. Not Arte killing me, but me hanging myself.
"It's really been a long time since I've been on a Ferris wheel. ...It's the first time since I was a child."
Fortunately, Arte only showed a momentary flicker of curiosity and didn't press me.
I-I'm alive...
As I watched Arte gaze at the scenery slowly rising, Amelia's urgent advice came to mind.
The purpose of coming here was to charm Arte.
If an opportunity came, somehow create a good atmosphere. That's what she said.
...What was I supposed to do, being told that, when I'd never even dated before?
But if I didn't do anything after she'd forced this opportunity on me, the nagging would start again.
I had no choice but to gather my courage and try to talk to her.
"...Hey, Arte."
"Yes?"
"Arte, do you... have anyone you like?"
Ah.
Si-woo inwardly cursed himself.
What kind of idiot starts a conversation like that?
Not knowing what to say, I couldn't resist Amelia's pressure in my mind, and nonsense just blurted out.
Damn you, Amelia.
To infect me with your rosy delusions.
"No, I don't. ...Are you trying to hit on me?"
"Oh, no. It's just. I realized I've never heard anything about Arte's private life."
Good, well done, Yoo Si-woo.
Considering how badly I messed up the start, I got through that pretty well...!
Fortunately, Arte seemed to let it slide indifferently.
"There hasn't really been a need to talk about it."
"...I see. Maybe someday you'll find someone you like."
"No."
"...?"
The atmosphere suddenly shifted. Si-woo couldn't help but feel it.
The Ferris wheel slowly ascending, Arte's gaze now cold as she looked at me.
Her eyes seemed to be looking at something inhuman, not a person.
"I have no intention of dating anyone."
"I-is that so...?"
"I'd rather die than be with puppets who can't even forge their own path."
Puppets.
I couldn't understand Arte's words.
Who on earth was she referring to?
"Uh, Arte. You seem a little too agitated. I think I said something wrong. I'm sorry."
"I won't be tied to puppets. No matter what, I'll go back. I can't stay in a puppet show like this forever."
What was the problem? What word had made her like this? Si-woo couldn't tell.
However, there was only one thing he could tell right now: Arte was struggling with something, unlike her usual self.
Si-woo didn't know what it was.
So, Si-woo tightly hugged Arte, who was still muttering something.
"?!"
"It's okay, Arte. I don't know what's wrong, but it's okay. Don't worry."
The Chameleon incident—she had comforted me then.
So this time, it was the opposite. I had to help her.
That simple thought filled Si-woo's mind.
He didn't consider whether she was a villain or not. If he received help, it was only right for a friend to return the favor.
Even if she didn't consider him a friend. Even if she was truly the Villain Slayer who killed villains.
All that was in front of Si-woo right now was a friend in distress.