“What about Father? He couldn’t make it after all?”
My mother and Do Ye-eun, who had come to Academy City at the invitation of me and Yeon Haneul.
While happy to see them, I asked my mother.
My mother let out a bitter smile.
“He said he tried to get out of work somehow, but it didn’t go well. These days, the Family Head….”
“Ah… It can’t be helped.”
I didn’t need to hear the rest to know.
Grandfather was taking out his anger about me on Father, working him to the bone.
‘Father, hang in there. Fighting!’
To my father, who was surely being buried in work at that very moment.
I wished him luck internally.
Then I changed the subject.
“Don’t just stand around here; let’s go eat. Haneul said she made a reservation at a delicious place. Ye-eun, you’ll like it too.”
“Really? Lots of meat? And sweets too!?”
“Of course. I heard their cake is delicious.”
“Yes! I was hungry anyway, Mom, let’s go!”
“Yes, Mother. I’ll guide you. Just trust me today.”
“Is that so? Then shall I look forward to it?”
Do Ye-eun, who would graduate elementary school next year and seemed to grow every time I saw her, shook her hips excitedly.
Mother, as if resigned to being unable to stop her, covered her mouth and giggled.
Yeon Haneul and I also burst out laughing.
Right then, we moved our steps to have lunch while looking around the streets.
“Oppa, Unnie, this place is so cool! Everyone uses magic so naturally, and the atmosphere seems so free!”
At the various matches taking place on the streets.
Do Ye-eun exclaimed in excitement.
Her eyes sparkled repeatedly.
It seemed…
‘She’s completely smitten with Academy City.’
I knew that feeling well.
Because I had felt similar excitement when I first experienced Academy City.
Not wanting her to bump into people, I pulled Do Ye-eun’s arm and said,
“It’s partly because of the festival. It’s usually relatively quiet. Sometimes… students pick fights and cause problems. No, I should say it happens often….”
“Ah, really? Cool… So intense. Academy City is the best!”
“…You are listening to me, right?”
Ye-eun is completely worked up….
I was bewildered.
Then, she pleaded with me.
“I want to try competing in a match too… Oppa, isn’t there a way?”
“Well, let’s see… You might be able to participate in the middle school division matches. I heard participation is open.”
“That’s right, for the middle school division, as long as you meet the age requirement, there are no restrictions and you can register on the same day. Ye-eun, if you want, shall I help you?”
“Really!? Of course I want to! Please! Unnie, I love you!”
Do Ye-eun’s face brightened at having her wish granted.
Yeon Haneul fondly cherished her as she came burying into her embrace.
‘Haneul scored points with Ye-eun. No, at this point, is she my sister-in-law?’
It was a sight that naturally brought a pleased smile.
It was nice to see.
The corners of my mouth lifted.
Then, my mother beside me scoffed with a smile and said,
“Fortunately, you seem to be doing well. I was worried when coming here, but it seems I don’t need to worry.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Still, though….”
With a face pretending to scold.
Mother pinched my side and continued.
“No matter how rushed you were, how could you get married without Mother’s permission? Do you know how upset I was when I heard?”
“That’s… ahaha… I’m sorry.”
“If you’re sorry, you shouldn’t have done something to be sorry for. Who did you take after to be like this?”
“Father?”
“Hm… You’re not entirely wrong.”
Mother affirmed playfully.
She quietly lowered her hand.
“Gyeonu.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Calling me Mother… You’ve grown up now.”
“I have to take responsibility for Haneul now, so I have to be grown up.”
“You could still be younger for a while longer… Yes, what you say is also right.”
As if disappointed somewhere, yet proud.
Mother smiled.
“We are always on your side. So if anything is difficult, rely on us anytime. Definitely. Don’t be discouraged, and hold your shoulders high with pride.”
“….”
At my mother’s words.
Suddenly, faded memories of a past life brushed past my ears.
—If only you hadn’t been born…!
—My life wouldn’t have been ruined! Because of you! Because of you…! If only someone like you hadn’t been born….
—When I make a lot of money later, I’ll come get you for sure. Can you wait here quietly until then?
—Take care.
There were things like that in my past life….
But now, it doesn’t bother me at all.
Because my parents are here.
Having settled my old past life memories, I opened my mouth.
“…Yes, I will. Thank you.”
“Live happily from now on.”
I will, without fail.
I responded with a nod.
Afterward.
The four of us had lunch and spent a pleasant day looking around the Mirae Festival.
“Ah, right! Oppa, did you know? Mom and I got hit on earlier. While we were waiting for you and Unnie, some guys came and asked for our numbers, you know? I think they thought we were sisters.”
“What, really? Who were they? So? Did you give it?”
“Ye-eun? Didn’t Mom definitely tell you not to say it because it’s embarrassing? Why are you being so tactless?”
“So? Did you give it?”
“Of course not. Still… I felt good because I guess I still look young.”
“Oh, you definitely look young enough? Mother is truly beautiful and elegant. I want to resemble you too.”
* * *
Just like last year’s Geumgang Festival.
The Mirae Festival also had various events aside from the regular episodes.
Being put in as a substitute for specific matches, forming connections with the Family Heads of the Ten Great Clans, sparring with famous hunters or promising talents, finding rare metals that appeared randomly in Academy City, subjugating event monsters, and so on….
There were quite a lot of elements that allowed one to gain opportunities and purely enjoy themselves.
Therefore.
My heart burned with the desire to clear every single event for the growth of my friends and me, but….
Unfortunately, in this world that was not a game, there were realistic constraints.
In terms of time, and physics.
And physically.
‘It’s not like I have two bodies; how am I supposed to handle events occurring at the same time? What about events with high randomness or ones located far away… Academy City needs to be a bit smaller… How hard is it to cross the Geurim River back and forth? I might collapse from exhaustion at this rate.’
I also had my duties as class representative, tournament matches, and Shield activities.
More than anything.
‘I mustn’t get distracted by events and forget my priorities.’
There was the Mirae Festival episode.
One that was connected to the game’s bad ending, so it had to be cleared.
That was why.
‘The kids will do well…’
I decided to focus mainly on the episode and leave the events to my friends.
The reason I was on Shield duty that day lay here.
‘I think it’s about to happen…’
Since Yeon Haneul was tied up with the student council.
I was patrolling District 23 with Gang Han-byeol, Kwon Bo-ram, and Yu Ga-eul.
Shortly after.
[… Chairman of the Hall of Honor, attacked. Three perpetrators, presumed to be Villains. Currently fleeing toward Naeil-ro 8-gil, District 23. Nearby members are to cooperate with Sword to track the perpetrators immediately upon receiving contact. Detailed information via the app…]
A transmission from Shield headquarters came through the in-ear devices we were wearing.
Kwon Bo-ram opened her mouth.
“If it’s Naeil-ro 8-gil… it’s right near where we are.”
“Then we should go catch them. Let’s go, Bo-ram seonbae!”
At Gang Han-byeol’s spirited insistence.
Having reached an agreement, we set off to apprehend the Villains.
Meanwhile, I organized my thoughts.
‘It’s unfolding just like in the game.’
Because so many people were visiting.
During the Mirae Festival period, Academy City’s security inevitably weakened.
It was a good opportunity for Villains to sneak in or hatch schemes.
So in the game….
It was then that Gang Han-byeol shouted.
“Found them! Seonbae, aren’t those them!?”
“They do. The descriptions match perfectly.”
“…Let’s drive them in. Follow me.”
On the opposite sidewalk.
Men running urgently as if being chased came into view.
They were the Villains we were looking for.
We immediately followed Kwon Bo-ram, leaping onto the road.
We dodged the quickly approaching cars and headed for the opposite sidewalk.
At times even stepping on vehicles….
“Hey, what are you people!? Are you crazy? Do you want to die!?”
“We’re Shield. Sorry for startling you. If there is any damage, please report it to headquarters later.”
“Sorry, we’ll be passing through!”
Kwon Bo-ram spat out words like a machine gun to the driver poking his head out the window, as if it was second nature.
We were no different.
We leaped from the car hoods and finally arrived at the opposite sidewalk.
“Damn! It’s Shield!”
“They’re kids, should we take care of them?”
“Why waste time taking care of them!? Just avoid them and run!”
The Villains who spotted us just moments ago cursed.
Then they quickly changed direction.
That was our intention.
After all.
‘Because that’s a dead end.’
Sure enough.
The Villains ran into a dead end not long after.
With a wall before them, the choice they made….
“They’re just students anyway! It’s not over!”
“These brats have no fear… Back off if you don’t want to die.”
“See, that’s why I said we should take care of them….”
The Villains, back against the wall, revealed their hostility.
They manifested the mana in their bodies.
Still, without showing fear, we calmly waited for Kwon Bo-ram’s orders.
“You must not kill them. We don’t have that authority. So capture them alive if possible.”
“Yes.”
While acting as Shield members.
We had faced Villains often.
Without a moment’s hesitation, we moved to subdue them.
“…!”
Perhaps they hadn’t expected us to move first.
The men flinched.
They soon tore their mouths into long grins, as if deeming us foolish, but….
“H-how can students….”
The battle ended in an instant.
The Villains couldn’t overcome our strength, which surpassed that of ordinary hunters.
‘And it was four against three, too.’
We bound their limbs.
Right then.
Tap!
“….”
Suddenly, without a sound.
People wearing black masks dropped from the walls surrounding us on three sides.
They surrounded us in an instant.
“…Who are you.”
“Are you with them?”
At the appearance of these unidentified people.
Kwon Bo-ram and Gang Han-byeol were on guard.
But I, who knew the game’s progression, was not shaken.
And Yu Ga-eul.
“It’s alright.”
She soothed Kwon Bo-ram and Gang Han-byeol, then stepped forward past them.
She continued.
“They’re people from my clan. So you don’t need to be tense.”
“…Your clan? If it’s your clan, Ga-eul….”
“Yes, that’s right. The Jamyeong Yu-ga.”
To Gang Han-byeol’s question.
Yu Ga-eul nodded, her back turned to them.
Then she asked the masked people.
“What business do you have?”
“We’ve come to transport the Villains. They are presumed to be connected to Tacheon.”
“Is that so.”
“The authority to arrest them lies with Shield and Sword. However, attempting to transport them is an overreach of authority. I acknowledge the prestige of the Jamyeong Yu-ga, but as a Shield member, I cannot comply.”
The man in the black mask turned his gaze toward her.
“We have already received permission from the upper echelons of Shield and Sword. You need not worry.”
“If that’s the case, it’s fine… but I will verify it directly. Please wait a moment.”
“Yes, do that. However, we would appreciate it if you could verify quickly. Others will arrive soon, so we would prefer not to stand out.”
Kwon Bo-ram’s stiff face relaxed at the man’s cooperative attitude.
While she asked for understanding and contacted Shield.
“Villains connected to Tacheon? Does that mean the crime they committed is also related to Tacheon?”
“That is….”
Gang Han-byeol asked curiously.
The masked man seemed unable to answer rashly, and let his words trail off as if troubled.
Then Yu Ga-eul chimed in.
“It’s fine. They are all trustworthy people. They are tight-lipped as well. I guarantee it.”
“If the young lady says so… understood.”
Afterward.
The man began to speak.
It was the background of the Mirae Festival episode.
* * *
A gathering of fifty who had contributed since Academy City’s founding and devoted themselves to its development: the Gongheonhoe.
They were also known as the rulers behind the scenes, and as such, they could exert an immense influence over Academy City.
‘For example, they say Academy City’s mayor is elected solely by a vote of the Contribution Council.’
Yet despite the rumors about the Contribution Council being widely known,
no one truly knew who its members were.
Over the course of more than 150 years, with generation after generation passing the torch, even the members themselves did not know one another.
Only a few members who were frequently active in public had been revealed.
The heads of the Ten Great Families, So Hyeyul, and…
“The same goes for the chairman of the Hall of Fame, who was attacked by them this time.”
Someone like the chairman of the Hall of Fame.
As I quietly listened, Kang Hanbyeol voiced his doubts.
“So… you’re saying the villains deliberately targeted a member of the Contribution Council? Why? For what purpose? Because he was valuable as a hostage?”
“No. There is another reason. Look at this.”
The man shook his head.
Then he showed us the badge recovered from the villain.
“It is a badge of the Contribution Council. This badge is what the villains are after.”
“What would they do with that badge…”
“To activate the artificial satellite Star Light Road.”
“…”
“It is a story everyone in Academy City knows, but… in her youth, the Star Witch, Chairwoman So Hyeyul, created the artificial satellite Star Light Road and became a threat to the world. That has not changed even now. That is why the Contribution Council at the time tried to win the Star Witch over by giving her a seat on the council, so that she would never turn into a villain. At the same time, they wanted to obtain Star Light Road.”
It was reason enough for the Star Witch to belong to the Contribution Council.
After all, she had donated Star Light Road to Academy City.
Strictly speaking, she had agreed to use some of its functions and authority for Academy City and share them with the Contribution Council, but…
In any case.
The man paused briefly to catch his breath.
“When the Star Witch joined the Contribution Council, the council created a manual regarding Star Light Road. For instance, with the authorization of ten or more members, Star Light Road can be used as a strategic weapon…”
“…”
“And in such cases, authorization can also be substituted with a badge proving one’s membership.”
“So that’s why the villains targeted the chairman of the Hall of Fame for his badge. …No, wait. Ten people? Then they wouldn’t have targeted only the chairman. Surely the other Contribution Council members as well…”
“Yes, that is correct. During the Future Festival, a considerable number of Contribution Council members gather in Academy City. The villains intend to attack them and obtain their badges. That is what our intelligence indicates.”
“This is serious… If those badges fall into their hands…”
Unlike usual, Yu Gaeul wore a serious expression.
She muttered under her breath.
Kwon Boram and Kang Hanbyeol, having heard the story and grasped the situation, also stiffened.
On the other hand, I…
‘Yep, it’s going exactly like the game.’
I felt no sense of crisis at all.
I was perfectly calm.
At that moment, the man declared in a heavy voice, as though trying to instill fear.
“As soon as they gather the badges… they will invoke Star Light Road’s authority and strike Academy City. Right now, prominent figures from all over the world have entered the country to attend the Future Festival. They… Fallen Heaven intends to throw not only our country, but the entire world, into chaos.”
And in the end…
A bad ending awaited.
Destruction!
“Yeah. This is serious. I’m scared…”
Dun!
Dududun!
“…Oppa? Are you laughing right now?”
“No. Why would I laugh? In such a serious situation.”
“Ah, yes…”
“…”
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss