One Step 2

It was past morning when the girls returned to the children in the slum.

They tidied up their blood-stained bodies and removed the fishy smell.

“Where did you go so early in the morning?”

“It’s a secret.”

Because they didn’t want to show such a bloody appearance to the children.

“If I give you a hint, should I say it was senior’s and my first collaboration?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“There are things like that. Children don’t need to know yet.”

“…?”

The children just tilted their heads.

“I’m going.”

It’s time to go back soon.

All objectives have been completed, and any more unauthorized absences would be difficult.

“I’ll come again. So, don’t cry when this big sister isn’t around, okay?”

“Wh-Who says we cry…!”

“Then that’s good.”

She ruffled each child’s hair, messing it up.

She deliberately moved her steps far away from the familiar house.

“─Big sister.”

She paused for a moment.

The girl looked at Han Seoyeon.

“Thank you.”

It wasn’t gratitude for an absolute being saving a pet.

It was a friend thanking a friend for saving them.

“Thank you, big sister.”

Han Seoyeon decided to accept it proudly.

At least for today, she had the right to do so.

[Quest Clear!]

A refreshing alarm rings.

The original story has been twisted.

Undoubtedly, in a much better direction.

[Save the children.]

[Difficulty: S]

[Monster Wave Defense: Complete (1/1)]

A quest that wouldn’t have existed originally.

She led it to success.

Moreover, an S-class quest with the highest hidden rewards.

[Calculating rewards….]

Rewards that couldn’t be obtained in the original story.

[Calculation complete.]

Han Seoyeon had claimed them.

[Reward List]

Normal Skill: Clear Mind and Still Water (S)

Exp: 120000

The Constellation ‘Daughter of the Star Queen’ is watching you.

What should be said?

If she were an ordinary munchkin protagonist in a web novel, should she say ‘I’m lucky’?

Han Seoyeon decided not to do that.

This was inevitable.

It was the just reward for her efforts.

It wasn’t something like luck.

[Level Up!]

[Lv. 75 → Lv. 81]

[Skill: A new function of the Falling Star Sword is unlocked.]

[Ability Absorption is activated.]

Han Seoyeon and Michaela’s first collaboration.

This was the result.

Since they hunted monsters together with a certain level difference, most of the main contributions weren’t by Han Seoyeon, so she didn’t receive experience for that.

She wasn’t particularly disappointed.

Anything more would have been excessive.

[Clear Mind and Still Water]

[Details: A calm mind without turbidity. Nullifies all mental interference skills and abilities.]

[Tip: This does not apply to pleasure activities with individuals with a certain level of intimacy.]

Her level increased by 6 at once.

She obtained a cheat-like skill.

She acquired a supporting star.

[Registering information for a new player.]

[Synchronizing gallery…]

[404 Error: Not Found]

[This is a non-existent Code.]

Unfortunately, even though she acquired a supporting star, she couldn’t enter the gallery.

The gallery is a kind of system created by the constellations.

Without the correct path, one couldn’t access it.

It was ridiculous to treat the ‘Daughter of the Star Queen’ the same as other random constellations.

Friendly to humans, and above all─.

“Don’t stand there blankly. Let’s go.”

“…Ah, wait! I’m coming with you, senior!”

Waving her hand to Aria, Han Seoyeon walked.

The deviation was over for now.

The position of Academy Student Council President is weighty.

Though a student, they are the leader of a proper military group.

The Academy’s principal, Hero Lee Yeon, is too busy.

It’s not a schedule that allows for paying attention to the school at all.

Representing such a Lee Yeon, all regular Academy duties were delegated to the Student Council President.

For example, conduct or attitude.

Or even issues related to attendance.

“…So.”

Lee Ha-yul looked at the two girls seated before her eyes.

Black hair and red eyes.

Silver hair and blue eyes.

Two girls with symmetrical colors but opposite personalities.

However, both girls were also model students.

Although there might be some issues with note-taking.

“Let’s hear the reason. Why you two friendly skipped school together.”

Lee Ha-yul couldn’t guess why these two girls had skipped school simultaneously.

“Well, I wasn’t feeling well…”

“Rejected. If you weren’t feeling well, you should have been resting in the dormitory. You didn’t even go to the hospital, there’s no need for an overnight stay on a weekday.”

“…Ahaha.”

Excuses that didn’t hold water were rejected first.

“Wittelsbach, what about you?”

“I had extremely personal circumstances.”

“So, what are those personal circumstances?”

“I can’t say.”

“…”

How should this be taken?

Lee Ha-yul took a moment to consider.

“…If you don’t give a proper reason, I’ll have no choice but to mark it as an absence.”

“That’s fine.”

Absence.

Some might think what’s the big deal about not coming to school for just one day, but this was the Academy.

And the Academy was also a military facility.

Expulsion was among the disciplinary actions.

“…I see.”

Lee Ha-yul hesitated.

It was behavior uncharacteristic of her, a meritocrat.

“…”

Originally, even considering it would have been impossible.

The leader of a group must handle all matters correctly.

However, Lee Ha-yul knew.

Michaela’s conduct, who usually helped with Student Council work.

Han Seoyeon’s conduct, who didn’t back down even when faced with terrorists.

If they had some circumstances, it surely wouldn’t be anything evil.

The top of a group shouldn’t just have a hard head.

There needs to be a certain flexibility.

This was a military facility, but they weren’t soldiers of the old era.

“Alright.”

Finally, she made a decision.

“You can go. I won’t make an issue of it.”

“…Really? Really?”

Han Seoyeon asked back in a surprised tone.

As if she had seen something impossible.

“Since it’s something Wittelsbach did, there must be some reason.”

It was a reasonable response.

Indeed, this would have been impossible for the previous Lee Ha-yul.

“Some reason.”

It was an excuse with half a lie.

Lee Ha-yul’s gaze was fixed on Han Seoyeon, not Michaela.

It always comes to mind clearly.

Despite being weak, despite being powerless.

The image of the strong girl who didn’t yield to terrorists.

She must have done something again.

She must have helped or saved someone.

Lee Ha-yul had no right to pry into that.

After all, it was thanks to that that she herself had survived.

“It’s true, so go ahead. I’ll take responsibility.”

Sometimes she thinks.

If her values are not right.

Then what meaning is there in becoming a Hunter anymore?

She will take responsibility.

If necessary, she can even quit being Student Council President.

It was an arbitrary judgment.

Lee Ha-yul self-deprecatingly thought.

“Th-Thank you!”

It’s foolish talk.

She had looked down on her, ignored her so much.

She hadn’t apologized even once.

How could Han Seoyeon smile brightly without any sign of dislike towards such a woman?

Lee Ha-yul wondered about that.

…Come to think of it, she forgot to express her gratitude.

Gratitude for saving her life.

“She’s changed somehow. That girl.”

“Really…?”

A murmur from Michaela.

Han Seoyeon didn’t quite sympathize.

“She’s become more flexible than before.”

“How can you tell something like that?”

Quick perception.

An ability opposite to the insensitive ruined world protagonist.

It was an ability Han Seoyeon wished she had too.

“I can tell by looking.”

Michaela left just one munchkin-like remark.

For a moment, a flash of realization struck Han Seoyeon’s mind.

Michaela could tell what situation Han Seoyeon was in just by her expression.

If that applied to other people too, it meant─.

“Se-Senior!”

“What’s wrong? All of a sudden.”

“Um, you know…”

With a suddenly anxious voice, Han Seoyeon asked.

“Do you, like, like her or something?”

“Who?”

“The Student Council President, for example.”

Lee Ha-yul and Michaela are second-year students.

They’ve spent a year longer together than Han Seoyeon.

Moreover, didn’t she say she often helped with Student Council work?

She even mentioned it casually as if they were close this time.

It’s far from Lee Ha-yul’s behavior of handling everything by the book.

That means, perhaps─.

“I like her.”

“Wh-What…!”

“Only as a friend, though.”

“…You scared me!”

That’s a relief.

The unthinkable didn’t happen after all.

Feeling relieved, Han Seoyeon stroked her chest.

…She felt a bit upset too.

It was always Han Seoyeon who ended up being deflated like this.

“Senior, I hate you─”

“Let me state one thing.”

Just as she was about to whine, those lips drew near her ear.

“I am a virgin.”

“─!”

“Both physically and mentally.”

Her anger subsided.

The anger subsided, but her face was burning.

“Are you reassured now?”

“Yesh…”

Her tongue got twisted too.

It felt like her eyes were spinning.

“To be shy over just this much.”

[Abnormal Status: Charm detected.]

[Activating Clear Mind and Still Water.]

[Abnormal Status has been removed.]

It was just for a very brief moment.

The new skill helped Han Seoyeon regain her senses.

She shouldn’t be flustered.

Han Seoyeon was the active one.

She was certainly not the passive one!

“You’re still young.”

A seductive voice is heard.

Unlike usual, it’s somewhat aggressive.

[Abnormal Status: Charm detected.]

[Activating Clear Mind and Still Water.]

[Abnormal Status has been removed.]

“With just that much, you can’t…”

[Abnormal Status: Charm detected.]

[Activating Clear Mind and Still Water.]

[Abnormal Status has been removed.]

She smiles with her eyes.

It’s subtle, but there’s a change different from usual.

“You’re still far from being able to win me over.”

[Abnormal Status: Charm detected.]

[Activating Clear Mind and Still Water.]

[Failed.]

[Abnormal Status: Charmed.]

What’s Clear Mind and Still Water, you weeb?

Senior is a god and invincible!