Chapter 63: Chapter 63

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Interference

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"···What should I do?"

[We have to separate him from Yoo Si-woo no matter what! If we fail, we'll have no choice but to resort to extreme measures!]

The Author began to rush me.

Of course, they would; the protagonist is about to be in a dangerous situation.

But you're the one who caused this···.

It was absurd, but there was nothing to be done. What's done is done. The priority is to somehow clean up this mess.

"How strong are they?"

[Uh, uhm···. Well, seeing their output, they're probably top-tier···? Since they've already been observed, modifying them is··· a bit tricky···.]

"Haa···."

[···Ugh, ugh.]

I didn't hold back my sigh, and the Author made a dispirited sound.

But I didn't care. Top-tier in the world? They deserve to be chewed out.

Given the nature of academy novels, I can understand going through a dense half-year that feels like it'll conclude before the usual three years are up. Most novels are like that, after all.

And it's unavoidable to advance the plot in the first place.

However, if you ask if there's any protagonist fighting a top-tier world power before the first-year summer break, I can unequivocally say no. Not a fully developed, overpowered protagonist, but a growth-type one.

The protagonist isn't the strongest in the world; they're a growth-type protagonist.

But meeting a top-tier enemy in the world's power balance when they haven't even finished growing? That's extremely dangerous.

If the protagonist actually defeats that villain? The power balance would be utterly shattered.

If an incredibly strong enemy loses to a protagonist who hasn't even fully grown, then inevitably, the next enemies introduced would have to be stronger than that villain to pose a threat to the protagonist, wouldn't they?

What if the protagonist can't defeat the villain and loses? ···That's an even bigger problem.

Losing to a villain = usually dying. Everyone knows that without needing it to be said.

If they're to survive, there needs to be some reason for their survival, but how?

Should the villain suddenly fall in love with Yoo Si-woo?

Ha, I'd be lucky if I just got flamed for a lack of plausibility.

"It's not that there's no way···."

[Oh, really?]

"Yes. The outcome of a fight isn't always determined by who's stronger."

The most basic example is compatibility.

Amelia and Si-woo could be used as an example. No matter how fast Amelia is, she can't suppress Si-woo, who has intuition.

Other methods include joint attacks, weakening, and strengthening.

"What if Dorothy strengthens Si-woo, and that villain is weakened for some reason?"

[···!]

"Or, we could have another strong individual take on the boss, and then have someone deal with one of their subordinates."

[R-Reader!]

"You get so excited over such simple ideas···."

[N-No, not that! S-Something terrible has happened!]

"Huh?"

At the Author's urgent call, I quickly looked around.

···And then, I finally realized what the Author was saying.

Had a considerable amount of time passed while I was pondering how Yoo Si-woo could defeat that villain?

The tide of battle had significantly shifted.

"Oh, oh dear···."

[Wh-What do we do···?! Th-They're really much stronger than I thought! Aaaah, I kept putting off developing their settings···! W-We're doomed!]

I realized as I watched the students, who had been evenly matched, now struggling to keep their footing and being pushed back.

That woman with the dragon horns must be behind this. I'm sure of it.

If we leave it like this, it'll be dangerous.

It's not that the students might die that's dangerous. Perhaps due to her fate as a mid-boss, the Übermensch boss was moving in Yoo Si-woo's direction.

"There's no other choice. Even if it messes up the plot a bit, I have to stop that···."

[R-Reader! Watch out! Behind you!]

"?!"

- CRUNCH···!

At the Author's voice, I hastily rolled to the side, and an attack that had flown from behind me shattered the rooftop floor with a chilling sound.

Wh-What was that···?!

I had launched surprise attacks before, but this was my first time being ambushed, so I was utterly flustered. Amidst my confusion, the assailant who had attacked me, kicking up dust, began to show annoyance.

"What the, you. Do you have eyes in the back of your head or something?"

"···I'm just a bit lucky, I suppose."

"Well, I suppose you have to be this good to be Arachne. Don't you agree?"

[?!]

"···How do you know that?"

A man with a peculiar hairstyle, where white and black hair seemed to weave a pattern.

A tail made of the same colors.

···I think I get it. The last executive of Übermensch, whose location was unknown until just now.

Tiger.

Why is this bastard here? Wasn't he supposed to be looking for the secret room?

No, how did he even know I was Arachne in the first place···!

"Good, that's the right answer. I found you, Arachne."

"···Were you testing me?"

"No? In this chaos, who else would be leisurely observing the battle from the rooftop if not Arachne? Even if you weren't, it wouldn't matter if I just killed you."

"···."

Unable to find a retort, I closed my mouth.

Indeed, he was right. Villains and students. And the teachers were fiercely fighting.

Just the fact that I, dressed in a school uniform, wasn't fighting the villains was suspicious enough.

"Mir said it. That since there are guys always interfering, they'd definitely try to obstruct us somehow. So, she told me to look for places where there weren't people."

"···."

"Honestly, I was half-skeptical···. But it was the right answer. How does it feel, Arachne?"

"How I feel right now? I'd appreciate it if you moved. I need to go quickly."

I subtly conveyed my wish.

And the response I received was precisely what I expected, without a single deviation.

"I can't do that. You're just going to interfere with something else, aren't you?"

"···."

He seemed to have no intention of moving aside at all. ···This is bad. If a fight breaks out, it'll be dangerous.

I don't think I'll lose. The Author is behind me, after all. The Author must be in a hurry too, so they'll help me no matter what.

But if I waste time here, the protagonist will···!

"I know you hate us, but the feeling's mutual. We've been put through so much that we can't stand not getting back at you somehow."

"Get out of the way. Now. Immediately."

Anxiety enveloped my entire body.

There was no time for this. I had to somehow join up and help Yoo Si-woo. What if, what if the protagonist were to die···!

"I don't really know what you're trying to do, but you seem anxious. Are you in a big hurry?"

"I said, get out of the way!"

"This time, it's our turn to interfere with you, Arachne."

Tiger grinned slyly.

"Even if it kills me, I'll cling to you."

Everything for the plan.

***

"···This is the Founder's Tomb. The Founder's Cradle."

Mir looked out at the incredibly vast academy grounds.

The wind, enveloping her whole body, blew refreshingly, as if reflecting Mir's mood.

"Finally, I can confirm the true form of the Crucible···."

"But Mir. You said the Crucible is in the secret room, right? How are you going to find it? You said no one has found it for hundreds of years?"

"That's easy, Annie. The reason no one has discovered it until now is because their search methods were too passive."

"Passive?"

Mir began to condense wind in her hand.

The more it condensed, the more the wind raged wildly within Mir's hand.

"Yes. Everyone claimed they were searching for the secret room, but they never used extreme methods."

Mir threw the wind, condensed to its limit, into the academy's main building and smiled.

"Whether the academy breaks or not, all I need to do is find the secret room."

The flow of wind will guide its location.

"I see. But what if it's blocked by something like mana and you can't get in?"

The suppressed wind instantly unleashed itself, tearing through various parts of the academy.

···Wow, it's really sturdy, isn't it? The academy.

Normally, if something like that rampaged inside, it should collapse, shouldn't it? It's perfectly fine.

"If so, that's even better. It means the secret room is in a place where wind can't pass through."

"Heh."

"···And, you don't need to worry. I think I've found it."

Was Mir's long-cherished wish finally coming true?

As I looked at her, Mir was muttering to herself, her face flushed with excitement.

"···Finally, finally I've found it. How long I've waited for this moment."

"That's great, Mir."

"Thank you. ···Well then, shall we go? To the beginning of a new world."

"Yeah."

I was simply overjoyed.

Because Mir had finally achieved what she desired. Because I knew how long she had been planning.

That's why, when I saw those who were trying to obstruct Mir's happiness, I naturally felt annoyed.

"Haa, haa···."

"Si-Si-woo···! Wh-Why did you suddenly change direction··· Eek?!"

"···Who are you guys?"

"To, to stop you guys···. Pant, pant···. I came···!"

Is he crazy?

His entire body was covered in minor injuries. He probably got hit by the wind Mir had scattered on her way here.

It's impressive that he can still move like that after taking those hits, but he must have realized who attacked him.

And yet he followed. Has he lost his mind?

"To interfere in such a pleasant situation."

I'll make you the first sacrifice for the new world Mir desires.

Just as I was about to attack them, consumed by rage, Mir stopped me, pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket, and scribbled something on it.

"What is this···a map? Could this be···."

"Could you go to the secret room first, Annie?"

"What? B-But···."

"Don't worry. Their courage is impressive, so I just felt like playing with them for a bit."

Only then did I realize.

Mir was far more excited than I had initially thought. More than she appeared.

She seemed incredibly angry at these guys who had suddenly interfered right in front of the object she had longed for for so long.

Like a child whose mouth is open, ready to eat chocolate, only to be interrupted by someone.

She seemed utterly furious at the fact that she had been interfered with right before her eyes.

"···Take your time and enjoy yourself, Mir."

"No need. It'll be over quickly."