Chapter 66

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The Academy, by its very nature, subjected its students to grueling training.

Every supernatural was inherently a superhuman, surpassing human limitations. This included even the young, inexperienced students.

Capable of shrugging off gunshots with a mere “that stings!” kind of reaction, the curriculum was considered excessively rigorous, even Spartan, from an outsider’s perspective.

Perhaps because of this, the Academy’s cafeteria was always crowded during lunchtime.

All meals were free, and eating wasn’t mandatory. Students could skip meals if they wished, but very few did.

Not only was the food delicious, but it was nearly impossible to endure the afternoon classes on an empty stomach.

“…Why do I feel so many eyes on me?”

Eugene furrowed his brows as he set down his tray, looking uncomfortable under the weight of curious stares from all directions.

“You’ll have to put up with it for a while.” I said, offering a wry smile. “Word’s spread, you know.”

The incident with Class A had become common knowledge throughout the Academy.

First-year students on a real-life mission, a genuine battlefield experience—they had returned in one piece, though not without trials.

The story had naturally piqued the curiosity of their peers. Not just among first-years, whose own missions had been canceled, but even among upperclassmen.

Typically, Academy students didn’t face true “combat” situations until their third year—and even then, only top-performing students were selected.

Most students encountered the harsh realities of the battlefield only after graduation, once they joined the Celestial Corps.

In that context, it was no wonder that first-year freshmen who had faced monsters and returned were the center of attention.

Among them, Eugene was particularly under the spotlight.

Taking down dozens of monsters with a single strike was astonishing enough, but he had also fought against a high rank monster.

Considering the overwhelming threat such monsters posed, Eugene’s performance stood out so much that the rest of Class A felt like mere spectators in comparison.

“Sure, I fought a high rank monster… but I didn’t win,” Eugene muttered.

“The fact that you fought is what matters,” Arin interjected. “It wasn’t a one-sided defeat, either. You held your ground.”

“That was only because Si-ul was there. Without her, I wouldn’t have lasted, let alone put up a fight.”

“Most wouldn’t last a second,” Arin sighed. For elite captains or deputy captains, high rank monsters weren’t much different from ordinary ones. But for anyone else, such creatures were insurmountable foes—so much so that combat guidelines explicitly warned against engaging them one-on-one.

Yet Eugene had stood against one as a mere student—a first-year at that.

Arin glanced at Eugene, who looked visibly burdened by the attention.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t help but smile.

This is what it means to be the protagonist, Eugene. You’ll have to get used to it.

If he found this much attention overwhelming, what would he do in the future, when he would be hailed as the next Supreme Captain?

In time, Eugene would face foes far worse than high rank monsters and bear the weight of expectations far greater than anything he was experiencing now.

As a heroine, it was our role to support him through it all.

Yes, our role.

Alice was the one most suited for it, of course.

Sure, I was also a heroine, and so were Arin and Anastasia, but there was no contesting the role of the main heroine.

The sooner I helped Eugene and Alice get closer, the better. It was already clear how much Eugene was struggling under the current spotlight. Students were constantly sneaking glances his way, to the point where he couldn’t even eat his lunch in peace.

If he had someone to truly rely on, perhaps things would be easier for him.

Our table had become much noisier lately.

Before, it had just been me and Alice. Since neither of us talked much, it had been relatively quiet. But over time, the number of people had grown, starting with the field mission. Sharing life-and-death experiences had naturally brought us closer.

Now, our group had grown to nine.

Anastasia, Arin, Eugene, Lucia, Alice—and Anastasia’s four doppelgängers.

Yes, that made nine.

If you excluded Leo, who was still hospitalized, the so-called “Golden Generation” was all here.

In the original timeline, this group would have formed after summer break. I had planned to connect with everyone except Alice during the second semester, but… at this point, thinking about the original was pointless.

Lucia’s not a loner anymore, at least!

“This is delicious.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I don’t think so, either.”

“It’s bland.”

“The sauce is too salty.”

The five doppelgängers, identical with their silver hair, shared their opinions on the food.

Their hairstyles, uniforms, and even the food on their trays were all identical.

With bits of tonkatsu sauce smeared around their mouths, they picked at their meals.

These were the clones Anastasia had created during the mock battle. Why she hadn’t dismissed them yet and was eating with them instead… only Anastasia knew.

No one commented, though. Her eccentricities were nothing new.

After all, this was the same girl who once filled the entire cafeteria with her doppelgängers—until Angelica went around smacking them on the head one by one to make them disappear.

“……”

Alice looked a bit uncomfortable.

She wasn’t used to eating with so many people yet.

Still, she was doing better than before. Alice might be shy around strangers, but once she got used to someone, she would act as if she had never been reserved in the first place.

She’d adjusted to Arin and Anastasia over the past few days, but the addition of more people seemed to have reset her shyness.

Even as she quietly ate, Alice occasionally stole glances at Eugene.

The gaze wasn’t friendly. It seemed that Eugene still didn’t have much of an affection for her.

Heh, don’t worry. I know how well these two match.

Even if it’s awkward now, they’ll eventually become a couple that can’t live without each other.

I’ll push them from behind, and once they’re together, they’ll surely repay me for my help.

But I wonder if our protagonist is eating properly?

For the first time, he’s receiving attention and stares.

It must be uncomfortable and awkward for Eugene, who’s still inexperienced.

I stared at Eugene, resting my chin on my hand with a bit of concern.

Although he didn’t show it, he seemed fidgety.

…Hmm? Did our eyes just meet? Was that a mistake? Well, it was probably just my imagination.

Anyway, Eugene was eating without really knowing what he was eating, his expression blank.

I worry he might end up with indigestion.

◈

After lunch, we headed to the infirmary.

Of course, I wasn’t the one hurt.

Lucia didn’t need medicine or treatment.

Why would she need treatment when she can regrow limbs?

But that wasn’t the case for everyone.

Super regeneration isn’t a common ability, and not everyone possesses the same regenerative power I have.

“How are you feeling after taking the medicine? Are you okay?”

I guess the proverb “Be careful what you wish for” is true.

Eugene had eaten so slowly that I worried he might be suffering from indigestion, and sure enough, he had.

Even someone with superhuman abilities who fought a high rank monster could still suffer from indigestion just like anyone else.

“Y-Yeah, don’t worry. It’s nothing.” Eugene said.

“Nothing? Your face is bright red like a ripe tomato.”

I patted Eugene’s back as I examined his flushed face.

A moment ago, his complexion had been pale, but now he was bright red after taking some digestive medicine.

When indigestion occurs, you feel nauseous, your throat gets blocked, and your stomach feels full. The usual solution is to throw up what’s inside to feel better, but Eugene didn’t seem inclined to do that. It’s understandable; after all, vomiting everything right after a meal is a bit much.

We arrived at the infirmary about five minutes ago.

Eugene had been eating without realizing whether he was using his mouth or nose, and finally, he had ended up with indigestion. We brought him to the infirmary.

There was no one else in the infirmary. The nurse must have gone for lunch, and Alice and Anastasia had gone with Arin, as she had something to prepare for the next class. I tried to help, but Eugene insisted that I leave him and go, saying he could manage alone.

Well, I understood why Arin had asked me to take him.

When you’re not feeling well and there’s no one around, it can be rather lonely.

Even if you can’t be of any help, having someone nearby can be a comfort.

Yes, Arin really is the class president.

“When you’re feeling this way, you should try pricking your finger… but do you have a needle here? If not, I can use my sword…”

“Eugene, that’s an unverified folk remedy. It’s probably just a placebo effect.”

“…Is that so?”

Eugene blinked, looking a bit confused.

Then he muttered quietly to himself, thinking back to when he had done the same for Yui.

‘I remembered a time when I had tried pricking my finger for indigestion. Back then, I was scared to death, but now I’d probably laugh it off.

How did I become this way? It’s not like I mind, though.’

“Here, sit down for a bit.”

It really felt like an academy after all—the mattress on the bed in the infirmary was so soft and plush.

Eugene awkwardly sat down on the bed. After taking some medicine, it wasn’t a serious case of indigestion, so with his regenerative ability, he would be fine within 30 minutes. Still, since I had decided to help, I figured I might as well assist a little more.

“Eugene, give me your hand.”

“Huh?”

“Your hand. Give it to me.”

Eugene blinked, not understanding at first. But after I repeated myself, he finally stretched his hand out. He lowered his head and didn’t meet my gaze.

This reminded me of the time when I tried to help him by licking his hand. I had been licking it like it was a popsicle, and it had been so hot that my mouth had burned. It wasn’t a bad taste though.

“When you have indigestion, it’s good to massage between your thumb and index finger.”

I took Eugene’s right hand and pressed my fingers between his thumb and index finger.

It felt oddly firm, probably because of the calluses from gripping swords. It didn’t feel like I was pressing anything at all.

“Isn’t that just another folk remedy?”

“Eugene, that’s not the case. This is acupressure. It’s much more effective than just pricking your finger.”

I smiled mischievously as I continued pressing on Eugene’s fingers. I didn’t remember the exact name of the point, but I was sure it was something like “Hapgok”(Korean name for the fourth acupuncture point on the large intestine meridian in traditional Chinese medicine) or something similar.

It was a form of hand acupressure that I had learned from a sketchy internet source, so I didn’t know all the details.

Anyway, Eugene’s hands were huge. They looked really strong. His arms were muscular too, slightly tanned, probably from working in the sun.

His face was pale, but his hands were the opposite. It was a bit unbalanced, but if you looked closely, you could see faint scars from burns.

They seemed to be from when his abilities weren’t fully developed.

“Eugene, you’ve really worked hard, haven’t you?”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly saying that?”

“I don’t know. But holding your hand, I can kind of tell.”

This wasn’t the kind of hand a high school boy should have.

Calluses, blisters, burns.

These were the marks of someone who had awakened their superhuman abilities during the Great Catastrophe and had been training diligently for five years.

“I can feel the sweat you’ve shed each time I press your fingers or palms. There’s no way someone could have such hands without putting in a lot of effort, right?

You’ve been pushing yourself all this time, haven’t you? Eugene, you’re amazing.

Stand tall. Don’t worry about the stares from others. This is all the result of your hard work. All those efforts you’ve made—aren’t they proof of your achievements?”

Eugene’s dreams were grand, but he was surprisingly humble inside.

He had big aspirations of becoming the leader of the Celestial Corps, clearing all monsters, but the expectations from those around him were more of a burden than motivation.

“Still, I’m a bit worried. You’re pushing yourself so hard—I’m afraid you might collapse.”

In the story, Eugene had actually gone through something like this. He suffered from an obsession to grow stronger, and pushed himself to the limit, eventually fainting.

His fanatical obsession with strength is what created the Eugene we see now, and it will shape his future. I’m not trying to deny that. In fact, I accept it.

But everyone needs rest.

“Eugene, you seem to be a little too anxious sometimes. You look like someone constantly being chased by something.

When you’re tired, why don’t you stop for a moment and rest? If you keep pushing yourself too hard, your body won’t be able to take it.

Proper rest is essential. Got it? You’re not alone. You don’t have to carry everything on your shoulders by yourself. Whenever you’re struggling, just look around.

There are people who will help you. They’ll be there to support you so you don’t collapse. You don’t have to look far for them. They’ll be right next to you.”

Like Alice, for example.

Or Frey.

Aren’t they the same person?

Well, it’s complicated (winks).

But what’s going on with me? Why am I saying such random things? This is all because Eugene’s hands are unnecessarily solid.

My masochistic tendencies are acting up. I almost added more, but I stopped myself before anything weird came out. It was already strange enough as it was.

“…….”

Eugene didn’t answer. I had made things awkward by saying something out of the blue. I smiled awkwardly and continued pressing on his hands. I pressed on his blood vessels, but even after a few minutes, there was no sign of him feeling better.

His face was still flushed. Was it really just indigestion? Was it worse than I thought? How uncomfortable must he have been to be like this…?

“Lucia.”

Should I rub his stomach too? I was seriously thinking about that when Eugene, who had kept quiet until then, finally spoke. His voice was a little shaky.

“Hm? What is it?”

“About the wish token I mentioned this morning…”

Ah, that.

I had been waiting for it.

Hehe, this is the perfect timing—no one else around and just the two of us.

Okay, tell me. Lucia is willing to grant any wish, but don’t go making strange requests. I only give this to the protagonist as a special service. It’s a rare opportunity, so use it wisely.

…Though knowing Eugene’s personality, he probably wouldn’t ask for something strange.

Eugene took a deep breath and covered his face with his left hand, breathing evenly.

Maybe it was hard for him to say? What kind of wish could it be?

The quiet health room was filled with the subtle scent of medicine, and Eugene’s soft breathing added to the atmosphere.

Eugene seemed to hesitate, unable to speak. Huh, now I’m getting suspicious. This room is just the two of us, unlike the classroom earlier. What could possibly be holding him back from speaking?

Wait a second…

Could it be that the wish he’s about to make is…that kind of request?

Well, even if it is, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, right? But if Eugene really asked for that…

No, no, that wouldn’t happen. Eugene is a man of virtue and justice, after all. He’s not going to use his wish token for something like that.

Still, Eugene is a guy, and if it’s something perverse, I’d understand it perfectly.

Men are all wolves. They act all gentlemanly, but their minds are filled with perverse fantasies.

So, no matter how virtuous Eugene seems… Hey, could this be really dangerous?

“It might be uncomfortable for you, are you sure you’re okay with it?”

Eugene spoke in a low voice.

He was still covering his face, leaving only his trembling lips visible.

The hand I was pressing on suddenly became damp with sweat. I didn’t know whose sweat it was.

“…Of course. I told you—I’d grant you any wish.”

I had said it countless times, and I wasn’t going to back out now.

Honestly, part of me was joking around.

I figured Eugene would ask for something small and harmless.

My heart started pounding.

I stiffened and gripped his right hand tightly.

This feeling, it was similar to that time.

The time I went to visit him in the hospital, where everything felt hot due to Regina’s drug. But this time… I was fully aware of what was happening.

“Lucia.”

Eugene called me.

He lowered his hand from his face and looked at me directly.

In his blue eyes, my own reflection smiled back, trying to mask my anxiety.

“This is my wish,”

“Y-yeah…”

I thought it was too early, but if the protagonist wants it, then I’m ready.

After all, I always knew this moment would come. Maybe it’s happening earlier than I expected, but that’s not a problem, right? No, it’s fine, isn’t it?

Aah, aah… But what about leaving Frey for me? But if Alice ends up with Eugene, then Frey will automatically…

Ah, no. My thoughts aren’t connecting.

Should I do it? Should I just go ahead and do it?

…No. It’s not up to me to choose.

I’m just granting the wish.

So, from now on, anything that happens is Eugene’s fault for making such a strange request.

Lucia has no free will, right?

I suppressed my racing heart and waited for Eugene’s next words.

I slapped my thighs together and straightened my back.

On the outside, I tried to maintain my composure as much as possible, while I gathered strength in my knees, which felt like they could buckle any moment.

Phew, okay.

I’m ready.

I’ll grant any wish.

Even if it’s a perverse request from a teenager who’s just beginning to awaken to their desires!

Did my determination get through?

Eugene, with a face of firm resolve, declared loudly.

“Please… be my friend.”

…Huh?

What? What did you say?

A friend?

Is that it?

Really?

I, Lucia, said I’d grant any wish!

There are only the two of us here!

The food’s already prepared, and we’re about to eat, but you’re sprinkling ashes on it?

…Is this guy a lolicon?

I should’ve known ever since knowing that Alice was the main heroine.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Actually, there was a 19+ IF side story where Eugene accidentally makes the wrong wish.

There was the real slave-mode Lucia.

But that didn’t happen.

I still haven’t recovered from the internal injury I suffered when I wrote a 19+ story last time… (Throwback to the deleted chapter, heh.)

So, let’s pretend it never happened.

I’m going to be a healthy, pure author.

No dirty stuff!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):

Checks chapter list

Yeah… about that. Heh.