15) Chapter 3. That's not it, actually...! (7)
Chae‑yi had actually wanted to get closer too.
Soi was a good kid. No matter how coldly Chae‑yi acted, she always came back to her, easily climbed over any wall Chae‑yi put up, brought her to fun places, and let her eat delicious things.
But not just Soi.
Rua.
Chae‑yi didn’t resent Rua for never coming back to find her.
Chae‑yi understood. In this world, children don’t get to do what they want.
After coming to the orphanage, she hadn’t even been able to see her own mother. So she knew she wouldn’t be able to see Rua again once Rua left the orphanage.
She also knew Rua had said those things back then just to keep her from crying.
That was why she wanted to be close again.
But—
“You can’t just befriend anyone.”
That was what Chae‑yi’s “guardian” said.
“If you’re going to be a hero, you need to know how to choose the right people. Even if you think someone is close to you, once you become an adult, they’ll eventually start asking for things. People will definitely want your power.”
Those were the words of her guardian, Cheong Hwirin, who had seen Chae‑yi’s talent and trained her strictly.
“You already struggled to keep up with your grades at your old school. If you waste time playing around, you won’t improve. But if you really want to befriend someone, tell me. I’ll check whether they’re suitable.”
So she hated it.
If she got close to anyone, they would have to pass that harsh screening.
She didn’t want anyone to become that kind of “connection.”
Even if she did get close and received permission—
“Excellent! It’s a good thing you transferred to this school. Isn’t it better to build connections like this than fall behind?”
—she would still be “evaluated.”
The whole reason she transferred to a normal school and came here was because of things like that.
Even if she truly became friends with those kids, to her guardian—her “mother,” Cheong Hwirin—they would just become “useful ties.”
If she became close to someone, she wanted it to be as simple friends. Like with Rua in the past—no benefits, no expectations, just being together because they liked each other.
Not forced closeness.
She didn’t want to go to school. If she went, Rua would definitely come find her with Soi.
And the closer they got, even if Chae‑yi didn’t want it, that relationship would eventually be “used.”
“No.”
So she answered without thinking.
Rua, who had smiled and held out her hand, blinked blankly and let her hand fall.
Chae‑yi sank into gloom again.
Of course she’d hate a kid like this. Someone who keeps saying no when she’s trying to be friends.
After a brief silence, Rua spoke.
“I don’t like it either.”
The same rejection.
Hearing it made Chae‑yi’s heart drop. The Rua she knew would never say something like that. No matter how much Chae‑yi clung to her or whined, Rua always said it was okay, okay, and gently patted her head and hugged her.
“But we’re going to be friends.”
At those words, Chae‑yi’s head snapped up.
“Huh?”
“I don’t like you saying you don’t want to.”
Rua spoke like she was throwing a tantrum.
“So we’re going to be friends.”
Rua grabbed her hand and pulled her up by force.
As Chae‑yi stumbled to her feet, Rua glared at her and said:
“Let’s go.”
“I don’t want to…”
“Let’s go to my house.”
“Okay!”
Soi shouted and jumped up.
“But…”
Even as Chae‑yi opened her mouth anxiously, Rua only stared at her with stubborn, stern eyes.
Just a little while ago, Rua had stuttered whenever she stood in front of Chae‑yi.
“…Okay.”
In the end, Chae‑yi nodded.
Rua pulled her along, and Chae‑yi followed—
“Th-that’s nice.”
Suddenly, a voice behind them.
A voice that grated slightly, unpleasant to hear.
“C-can I come too, friends?”
Rua’s body stiffened as she looked up behind Chae‑yi.
The face that had been smiling moments ago turned pale, her eyes widening—
Yank.
Rua’s hand pulled hard. Chae‑yi nearly fell into her arms. Rua caught her and pushed her away.
“Go!”
“L-Rua?”
“Soi, take Soi and run! Hurry! Chae‑yi, you awakened too, right?!”
Before she understood anything, someone grabbed her hand—Soi. Soi shouted something and tried to run toward Rua, but both of them were shoved away at once. Even without moving their legs, they were flung far back.
“Rua!”
Chae‑yi screamed, but Rua didn’t look back.
“Protect Soi!”
That was the only answer.
*
Right. Things had been so peaceful that she’d forgotten, but this world was like this.
A world of heroes and villains with supernatural powers.
Some villains used their powers for simple robbery.
But some were real sadists or rapists. The novel had described them clearly.
I had skimmed the novel. Honestly, I barely remembered most of the plot.
But it did say that some areas had terrible security.
No matter how hard heroes tried, no matter how many police were deployed, they couldn’t stop every crime. Especially if the criminal had powers too.
But this was strange. Even so—this suddenly?
Everyone knew villains were dangerous. They were powered criminals.
When a villain appeared in an area, alerts went out. Until they were caught, heroes patrolled and police flooded the area.
“Wh-what, so you’re a little hero.”
Man? Woman? Hard to tell. The voice was deep but wheezing, with some higher tones. Long hair. A face covered in dirt and scars.
Yes. Too many scars. As if someone had deliberately slashed them.
“Heh, heh… k-kid. I’m not actually interested in you.”
“Why, not your type?”
“Y-yeah. N-not my… type. K-kids aren’t my type.”
“Then you can leave.”
My legs trembled.
I swept the area with telekinesis, desperate.
Please, even a rock. Just one.
“Heh, c-can’t do that. That’d ruin everything. I finally got a chance, now that I’m alone.”
Step. The villain approached.
I backed away.
“Y-you hide too well. M-must be because of C-Cheong Hwirin. She’s raising her brat to be a hero too…”
Was he chasing her?
No, probably not. More likely, Chae‑yi had tried not to look suspicious while coming here. She said she hid whenever she saw police or adults…
Cold sweat ran down my back.
Right. You can’t commit crimes in front of people.
Then why? Why here?
“Revenge.”
Maybe he saw the question on my face.
“Cheong Hwirin, th-that f-fucking bitch.”
Ah.
“It was just robbery. But that bitch… did this to me.”
Now I saw it—one sleeve hung limp.
His face was covered in scars.
…When I first met Chae‑yi at school, she wasn’t this dependent. She wasn’t the type to blindly follow others’ words.
Just earlier, she had said “no” to me so confidently.
What happened to her? What broke her self-esteem so completely?
“……”
Got it.
Crack— A brick smashed into the villain’s head.
He staggered. My legs nearly gave out from the sudden release of tension.
I tried to grab the falling brick again with my power—
“—!”
My voice wouldn’t come out.
“D-don’t interfere.”
His hand was around my throat.
I couldn’t breathe. Strength drained from my body, and the brick slipped from my fingers.
Did I use too much power pushing Chae‑yi away earlier?
“H-how…”
“H-heh. Curious about my power?”
He laughed.
He looked happy. Maybe because he finally got to do what he wanted.
His face disappeared.
No—blended into the surroundings. Like a chameleon. His features shifted slightly.
The scars kept it from being perfect, but—
“U-ugh.”
“Hey, Chae‑yi!”
He shouted.
“Y-your friend is gonna die!”
He yelled loudly.
“If you don’t come out, your friend—!”
“Who’s dying?”
“Huh?”
Before he could react to the new voice—
Thud.
A force far stronger than my thrown brick smashed into his head.
The man who caught me as I fell to the ground said:
“Oh dear, are you alright?”
Seeing me stiffen in his arms, his expression grew angrier.
A hero.
Someone must have called for help.
“Rua!”
I heard running footsteps. Two voices calling my name.
The hero quickly set me down.
“Stay with your friends. People will be here soon. I have to go catch the villain.”
“O-okay.”
Just as he said, sirens wailed in the distance.
As I lay carefully on the bench, I heard Soi and Chae‑yi’s trembling voices.
Ah, I was really useless.
If I’d just called for help, I wouldn’t have had to act tough…
My consciousness drifted.
“No, Rua! You can’t die!”
Chae‑yi shook me, sobbing.
“I still have things to say! I didn’t mean I hated it! I didn’t mean that! That’s not what I meant!”
Her crying voice shouted:
“It’s not that—I just…! I just wanted to become friends with my own strength…!”
Ah. I see.
So she didn’t hate me.
She didn’t dislike me.
Thank goodness.