98) Chapter 15. ……It Was Warm (11)

“No.”

Instructor Justina’s voice was firm.

She groaned as she stood up on her freshly bandaged leg.

“I know I’m not the one who should be saying this. I didn’t send you down right away, wasted time with you kids, and then did something stupid and ended up needing help.”

She brushed dirt off her clothes, and a bit of blood smeared onto her hand. Soi looked away.

Her palms were burned from holding the overheated baton. The wounds wouldn’t scar after treatment, but they weren’t easy to look at.

“But even so, I can’t send a student into a place where a landslide might happen. If you escaped, that’s it. You go back and rest.”

“B‑but…”

But Instructor Justina only looked at me quietly.

In the end, I closed my mouth and nodded.

I couldn’t argue with her logic. If I went back up and made another mistake, there would only be more people to rescue.

And besides, this wasn’t in the original story.

I didn’t know if a landslide would really happen. If it did, how big it would be. Where to block, how to stop it.

I didn’t know anything.

So we had to wait for the teachers to gather the students and bring them down as quickly as possible.

“…….”

Chae‑yi’s expression was dark.

As if she felt guilty about the situation. Even though none of this was her fault.

She couldn’t use her ability unless she faced the villain directly. And when she did, she was incredibly strong.

Everything was a mess.

I should have spoken up from the beginning. Even if they doubted me, if I had explained the villain’s ability in detail, maybe they could have prepared better.

But now it was too late.

We were escorted down the mountain with the other students.

My whole body hurt.

The pain in my hands from scraping against the rocky ground was gone — those hands didn’t physically exist, after all.

But my body still ached everywhere.

I’d never used my power so intensely before. Maybe this rebound was normal, and I just never pushed myself far enough to feel it.

In the original, Seo Rua barely used her power for anything more than lifting flowerpots, maybe because she feared the pain.

“…….”

Did I ruin everything?

As we walked down the mountain path, that was all I could think.

*

Near the mountain entrance was a sort of shelter. More like an office for the people who managed the mountain. It wasn’t right at the base of the slope, but a little farther out, built sturdily. It doubled as staff housing, and teachers sometimes stayed there on duty — especially on days like today when classes went up the mountain. It was a kind of base camp.

The mountain didn’t collapse while we were heading there.

Not all the students were down yet, and not much time had passed, but we still heard a few more rumbling sounds.

A few more groups arrived afterward, and the teachers who weren’t too injured went back up.

I heard there were more villains. Most of them were hiding and attacking from cover, making it difficult.

“…….”

The students who had expected a light hike now wore dark expressions. Of course — someone had been hurt.

How many of them had ever faced a real villain?

Someone who genuinely intended to injure or kill?

Probably almost none.

“Rua?”

When I stood up, Soi called out anxiously.

“I‑I’m just going to the bathroom.”

“I’ll go—”

“N‑no.”

I answered quickly.

My stomach churned.

I didn’t want anyone to see me like this.

“…….”

Soi and Chae‑yi exchanged glances, then nodded quietly.

I pressed my lips together and headed to the bathroom.

I hurried into an empty stall and closed the door.

“Ugh.”

I grabbed the toilet and sat down.

Nothing came out, but sourness burned up my throat. My stomach twisted.

Was it my fault?

Was it because I hid information just to avoid being doubted, even though I knew someone might get hurt?

If only I had told the principal everything from the start. This world had superpowers — they might have believed me. They might have thought it was just another ability.

…But if they found out I originally had the mind of a man, what would my friends think?

Would they be disgusted?

We shared a room. Sometimes we changed clothes in the same space.

We lived so closely together.

“…….”

My body trembled.

Today proved that staying silent could make things much worse. Even knowing something was wrong, I still didn’t want to talk about it.

Where did everything go wrong?

…Was it because I decided to be kind? Because I didn’t want to use Soi and Chae‑yi?

Really? Is that why everything twisted like this?

“Ugh.”

Another wave of nausea rose—

“Meow.”

Tap. Tap.

Something brushed my leg.

“H‑huh.”

Startled, I looked down.

A black cat stared up at me.

One I’d seen around the school before.

“You’re…”

The cat Jinwoo adored. Not her pet — just a stray that wandered nearby.

The black‑furred cat—

Meow.

It lifted its head proudly.

Around its neck was a collar I’d never seen before.

And taped to the collar was a folded piece of white paper.

“……Huh?”

The cat narrowed its eyes, as if telling me to take it.

It was a familiar expression.

But… but.

It couldn’t be.

That woman didn’t have this ability. She controlled animals by threatening someone else, not by herself.

How—

With trembling fingers, I took the note.

[Isn’t it amazing?]

[All that shaking, and yet the mountain doesn’t collapse.]

[As if someone is holding it up.]

[Ah, my arms hurt.]

[I think I’d feel better if I saw my cute daughter.]

[If you don’t come, my strength might suddenly give out.]

[If you bring someone with you, jealousy might make my strength give out too.]

[Hmm, but can my daughter sneak out without being noticed?]

[Don’t worry. A friend of mine will guide you.]

*

*

*

……It was warm.

Jinwoo sat blankly, hands still clasped tightly together.

The hand she’d held all day.

She had never held someone’s hand so tightly, for so long, in her life.

Her heart kept pounding.

She knew this wasn’t the time for such thoughts.

There were still sobs around them, injured students groaning.

But still—

“…….”

She didn’t know what to do with this feeling. She had always been alone.

Afraid that if she got close to someone, they’d find out. Afraid to talk to anyone.

She didn’t know if she was allowed to feel this way.

Because Rua was a girl.

Even if Jinwoo was “playing the role of a boy” right now.

That was different. Rua didn’t seem like someone who would think that way. And if she misunderstood Rua’s kindness, it would be a disaster.

“—Something’s wrong!”

Jinwoo snapped back to reality at Chae‑yi’s panicked shout.

Rua had been gone too long, so Chae‑yi went to check the bathroom.

“What?”

Soi’s voice sharpened.

Chae‑yi almost shouted something, then clamped her mouth shut and hurried over, face pale, sitting down heavily.

The curious glances from nearby students faded quickly. Normally they might have eavesdropped, but right now everyone had too much to worry about.

Their injured friends needed them.

“Rua is gone.”

Chae‑yi whispered.

Soi blinked. Hyeonji and Jinwoo did too.

“Rua?”

“…Yeah.”

Then Chae‑yi pulled a crumpled note from her pocket.

“……This is…”

A note calling Rua.

The word “Mom.”

Jinwoo had heard the rumors. About whose daughter Rua was.

About the witch.

No — it wasn’t just rumors. She had seen the video long ago.

Soi and Chae‑yi’s expressions twisted with emotion.

They were definitely going to go after her.

Hyeonji’s expression was even more complicated, but deep down, she had already made up her mind.

Jinwoo clenched her hand.

It still felt warm.

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Pub: 01 May 2026 09:55 UTC

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