Chapter 140

Read̀ өn Ka​ｔ​R̀&e;aｄi​ｎgC̀afе

If things had gone according to Lucia’s plan.

The two of them should have been at the academy library by now.

But neither Eugene nor Frey felt like peacefully holing up in the library to read books.

Even Alice, who genuinely loved reading and could spend all day with books without getting bored, didn’t feel like reading right now.

They were somewhat aware that Carlos from Class D wasn’t as dangerous as the rumors suggested.

Based on the information Arin and Anastasia had secretly gathered while tailing him.

Carlos was just a man of few words with little change in expression.

Surprisingly, he was a diligent, hardworking, and affectionate person.

But you can’t truly know someone from just one meeting.

Even if someone pretends to be kind and virtuous on the surface, it’s hard to see through that in a short time.

It was only a matter of time before Alice and Eugene’s opinions aligned.

Even though they knew it was rude to Lucia, they decided to secretly follow her.

‘…No, actually, that’s just an excuse.’

Eugene felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

All the students in Class D were troublemakers who had caused social disturbances.

Carlos might be a dangerous person.

What if he’s deceiving Lucia…?

For her sake, they couldn’t let their guard down.

Yes, that was definitely one of the reasons.

But what was the real reason?

Eugene asked himself.

The answer came quickly, without much thought.

‘I’m scared and worried.’

What if the relationship between those two deepens?

He couldn’t just sit still.

If his thoughts ended with just that, it would be fine, but what if they didn’t?

As Arin said, no one could predict what would happen.

“Sigh…”

Eugene let out a deep sigh.

At first, his mind was in turmoil, but as time passed, calmness returned.

As his excitement subsided, he began to reflect on himself.

Is this really okay?

Secretly tailing Lucia.

What if Lucia finds out…?

Of course, he thought she would forgive him with a smile.

But forgiveness aside, Eugene felt a pang of guilt.

How is this any different from taking advantage of her kindness?

“That kid… she’s clinging too much to Lucia. Stop hugging her. Can’t you let go already?”

“She’s just a kid… Alice, you’re not jealous of a child, are you?”

“…Tch.”

At Arin’s remark, Alice clicked her tongue.

Her demeanor was a stark contrast to the usual Alice.

The Alice who always slightly bowed her head and hunched her shoulders, was like a small animal.

She would carry a stack of books in her arms and follow Lucia around like a little kitten.

A fragile and delicate girl.

But now, she was a fierce predator.

Sharp and menacing, as if ready to sink her fangs into her prey at any moment.

Her red eye, occasionally filled with heat, was eerily sharp.

‘Alice… no, Frey.’

Eugene quietly murmured the name.

The more he looked at her, the more convinced he became that she wasn’t Alice.

The trigger was undoubtedly the moment he was attacked by Alice in the hospital.

The name Lucia had shouted while trying to stop her.

It wasn’t Alice, but Frey.

Why was she calling Alice by the unfamiliar name Frey?

That was where the questions began, one after another.

A hidden twin of Alice?

No, their supernatural abilities are the same.

Moreover, the constant change in her personality and speech patterns was also concerning.

It was as if two people were sharing one body.

After much contemplation, Eugene reached one conclusion.

Alice has two personalities.

Dual personalities.

Alice and Frey, two personalities coexisting in one body.

It was just a hypothesis, but Eugene was half-convinced.

If it was indeed dual personalities, all the previous questions would be resolved.

The sudden changes in her behavior could easily be explained if there were two personalities.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and follow. If you fall behind, I’ll leave you.”

Frey glanced back at Eugene and spoke.

While he was lost in thought, Lucia had moved far ahead.

Eugene stared at Frey for a moment, then forced a bitter smile and took a step forward.

‘Frey resembles her more than Alice.’

His younger sister.

Yui.

To be precise.

A mix of Alice and Frey, perhaps.

Suddenly, that thought crossed his mind, and Eugene smiled dryly.

Alice is Alice.

Frey is Frey.

Yui is Yui.

It was rude to overlap them just because they resembled each other.

Yet, he couldn’t stop comparing and contrasting them…

It must be because I’m weak, right?

◈

Anna was typical for her age.

The drive to act immediately when something came to mind.

But there was no concrete plan.

She lacked preparation, acting on impulse as soon as an idea formed.

Yes, kids are like that.

They get easily absorbed and just as easily bored.

They’re full of enthusiasm but lack the plans to realize it.

Getting me and Carlos to meet.

That much went according to Anna’s plan.

The problem was that she hadn’t thought about what came next.

Just get them to meet!

What next? I don’t know!

Big sister and big brother will figure it out!

The word “irresponsible” naturally came to mind.

But as I said earlier, kids are naturally irresponsible.

Young, immature, and lacking experience, they’re inadequate in everything.

Well, it’s unavoidable because they’re young.

Even the most capable people were like that in their childhood, right?

It’s the role of adults to make up for children’s mistakes.

But isn’t Lucia still a minor?

Ahem, mentally, I’m an adult.

“Big sister Lucia! Big brother Carlos! Hurry up!”

Anna energetically ran around the square.

Since it was her first time here, everything seemed fascinating to her.

She looked up at the statues commemorating the heroes in awe.

She laughed cheerfully at the elegantly spurting fountains.

In one hand, she held the vanilla ice cream I bought her, too busy running around to focus.

The square in the 6th District boasted the largest scale in the country.

Although there didn’t seem to be any special events due to the recent chaotic times, there was still plenty to see if you looked around.

Next time, I’ll bring Alice along.

I’ll definitely bring Eugene too.

Hehe, I’ve already thought of a good excuse.

“I’ve been there, and it’s nice.”

“Next time, let’s go together.”

That’s how I’ll set up another date.

“She’s really full of energy.”

I said, watching Anna.

Just a few days ago, she went through such an ordeal, yet she’s so lively.

It was a horrifying scene that would leave even adults traumatized.

Maybe it’s because she was rescued early?

If she escaped the park and fled to a shelter before the situation worsened, she might not have fully grasped the gravity of the incident.

“I’m glad she doesn’t seem to have any aftereffects.”

“That’s not the case.”

Carlos narrowed his eyes slightly as he spoke.

A deep shadow lingered in his blue-gray eyes as he looked at Anna.

“She couldn’t sleep properly. She stopped eating and drinking and suffered every night.”

“Anna?”

She looks so cheerful, though.

I was taken aback and looked at Carlos.

The gray-haired boy didn’t seem to be lying.

There was no reason for him to lie about this.

“That’s why I asked for help.”

Carlos said that and then fell silent.

His bad habit of cutting off his sentences seemed to have resurfaced.

I poked his side lightly and said,

“Why did you stop mid-sentence?”

“…”

“Who did you ask for help, and what did you ask for?”

“Did I stop mid-sentence again?”

“Yeah.”

“I see.”

Carlos nodded a couple of times.

Then, with a short sigh, he continued.

“Seri. She’s my friend.”

“Ah…”

If it’s a friend from the academy, it must be someone from Class D.

Seri from Class D.

One of the three troublemakers.

I’ve met her before, but unfortunately, I don’t remember.

She erased my memory as a prank.

Next time I see her, I’ll ask her to restore the memories she erased.

“I asked her to make her forget the memories of that day.”

For Seri’s hypnosis, that’s a piece of cake.

Hypnosis is absolute against non-supernaturals.

Supernaturals can resist with their mental barriers.

But ordinary people without mental barriers find it hard to resist hypnosis.

There are rare cases of non-supernaturals enduring mental corruption from monsters, but they’re extremely rare.

Hypnosis is the same. Only a handful of people have the mental strength to overcome it.

Erasing or altering the memories of a child like Anna is truly nothing.

“Anna has forgotten most of what happened that day. The only thing she remembers is that you saved her.”

“…I see.”

Perhaps the reason Anna doesn’t remember Alice and only considers me her savior is a side effect of the hypnosis.

Thinking that, I felt a pang of pity.

She seemed fine, so I didn’t realize, but there was such a backstory.

“Big sister, big brother!”

Anna ran over and hugged me. I patted her back naturally, just like I do with Alice, and she looked up at me with sparkling eyes.

“They said there’s an exhibition hall underground in the square! It’s a must-see! Let’s go there too! Huh? Huh?”

“Haha, should we? What do you think?”

“If Anna wants to go.”

Carlos answered briefly.

Though he seems cold and blunt, he’s devoted to his family.

It’s truly admirable that he didn’t lose his warmth despite being raised as a tool by the Family.

“Ahem.”

I looked at Carlos with pride.

But Anna seemed to interpret that gaze differently.

She puffed out her chest and cleared her throat.

She put her hands on her hips and raised her head.

It was as if she was demanding praise.

Anna is misunderstanding my relationship with Carlos.

In her own way, she’s trying to bring me and Carlos together.

It’s a ridiculous misunderstanding, but Anna’s proud expression was so cute that I decided to play along a little.

“Alright, Anna. Hold my hand so you don’t get lost.”

“Okay!”

First, I took Anna’s hand.

I gently held her small, soft hand.

Then, I reached out to Carlos.

“You too.”

“?”

“I’m bad with directions. We can’t get separated.”

“Is that so?”

Carlos took my hand without hesitation.

His hand is quite firm. It’s similar to Eugene’s.

But it lacks warmth. Eugene’s hand is warmer, which feels nice.

“Then, let’s go!”

“Hehe.”

“…”

And so, the three of us moved toward the underground entrance where the exhibition hall was located.

An exhibition hall, huh.

I wonder what’s there.

I’m really looking forward to it.

“…?”

But why does the back of my head feel tingly?

It feels like someone’s glaring at me…?

Unable to contain my curiosity, I looked around, but the feeling disappeared as if it was never there.

Was it just my imagination again?

I don’t know why I’m feeling like this today.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Just an imagination (not). 

When will Lucia become more perceptive?

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Let’s kidnap Lucia!