How to get on the protagonist’s flower path

“Whether they’re a government-supported Awakened or someone from the Awakened community, people who project themselves onto others and demand the same will always meet the same end.”

I thought about Shinbaran’s environment. An environment that took high achievements like Shinbarun’s for granted. An environment that treated Shinbaran’s grades as if they were nothing.

“In the end, it destroys that person.”

Shinbarun demands that others become just like her, as if it were obvious.

“Even if I say this, you probably won’t understand right away.”

Within that, Shinbaran had to grit her teeth while looking at Shinbarun, who had to be the way she was, and at Nayuri, who possessed the excellence she believed she had to achieve.

Yet, to avoid resenting them, she convinced herself that it was all due to her own shortcomings and their greatness, admiring and longing for them.

“As much as you are recognized for your achievements as an outstanding Hunter, it would be difficult to change your belief that only your path is the right one. Still, I can’t help but say this.”

If there is something shining, and if one cannot become that shining thing, then they decide to play the role of helping it shine even more beautifully.

I read a certain sentiment in her heart.

The characters in the novel each had such shining qualities. That’s why I liked them.

Even if I couldn’t remember their appearances, I could remember their stories.

What I loved about Shinbaran’s shining quality was her vulnerability.

Shinbaran would become teary-eyed if she felt someone was genuinely hurt, even after she was the one who scratched them first. She would worry about a situation where she awkwardly dug a trap and thought it had succeeded, then end up getting conned by the conman, feeling sorry when something went horribly wrong. In other words, she was a child whose malice was even clumsy.

“I just can’t stand to see you putting so much pressure on your innocent sister and stressing her out.”

“…Pressure?”

Maybe I’m afraid that Minjaeyoon, Shinbaran, and the others will break down if things don’t go according to the story, just like in the novel.

Seeing myself yelling at Shinbarun to protect the two kids who easily get hurt made that pretty clear.

“Nahyun, sister…”

Seeing Shinbaran fidgeting nervously between the two of us, Shinbarun and I quietly stopped our mental tug-of-war.

Silence enveloped the room.

I decided to end the mental conflict, thinking about Shinbaran. While I was patting Minjaeyoon, who had crawled onto my bed, and checking my device, I suddenly realized that it was time for my appointment. The appointment with Dumdum, to be exact.

Students on field practice in the fortress must be accompanied by a Hunter to move around inside. In other words, I had to take a Hunter with me to go out…

“Hunter Choi Garam.”

It seemed a bit much to bring the captain, especially after just having a fight with Shinbarun.

“Why?”

Choi Garam, who was lounging around, responded lethargically.

“I was supposed to meet Siwoo for dinner.”

“Oh, a date.”

“It’s not a date. I’m sorry, but could you accompany me for a moment?”

“Sure~.”

Choi Garam lazily stood up and leaned against the door. I cautiously laid Minjaeyoon back down on my bed and walked over to the door.

“Let’s go.”

Choi Garam walked out lightly, while I stepped out with a bit more weight.

“Oh, but thinking about it again, I have an appointment too. I’ll switch Hunters for you.”

“…What?”

Choi Garam glanced around and waved to a Hunter wearing a helmet. The Hunter hesitated for a moment before awkwardly approaching us.

“What… is it?”

“You there, this girl has somewhere to go for a bit. Can you accompany her?”

“Oh, sure…!”

…Huh? That voice sounds familiar?

Before I could recall where I had heard that familiar voice, the Hunter took my hand from Choi Garam.

“Well then, have fun~.”

“Are you really going?”

“Yeah. I’m going to take a break too!”

Choi Garam cheerfully disappeared. Wait, is it really okay for a mentor to just drop a student off anywhere?!

I stared incredulously at her retreating figure, letting my shoulders droop.

That habit of leaving people to fend for themselves hadn’t changed at all. Is it because of her free-spirited nature?

“Let’s go…”

At my words, the helmeted Hunter silently nodded and led me through the fortress. He was strangely quiet.

It felt odd; he had a voice that seemed like it would be quite talkative. And yet, it was also a voice that felt oddly familiar. Was it just my imagination?

As I pondered the source of this déjà vu, I continued to try to engage the helmeted Hunter in conversation, but he remained silent.

What’s going on? Just as I was trying to catch a hint of something, the meeting place came into view.

Dumdum spotted me and waved.

“Ah, thank you.”

The place we agreed to meet was inside the fortress.

We could talk privately, but the Hunters could still keep an eye on us from a distance.

In a corridor lined with the fortress’s cannons, known as the GAH series, we began our conversation.

“What about the Hunters?”

“They’re down that corridor. When I asked for a place to talk just the two of us, they stepped aside with knowing looks.”

Looking that way, I could indeed see a Hunter watching us from a distance with a pleased expression, definitely far enough away that we wouldn’t hear their voices.

The helmeted Hunter’s expression was hidden, but given how earnestly he was nodding next to the smiling Hunter, I suspected his attitude wasn’t all that different.

This is a misunderstanding.

But even if I wanted to clarify, it seemed pointless, so I decided to focus on something more productive.

“……”

Dumdum was sitting on the stairs, quietly looking up at me. It was difficult to read any emotions in his blue eyes.

What should I say to break the ice? I plopped down beside Dumdum and asked,

“Um… so… did you know from the beginning?”

“Acting? Or that strange power of yours?”

“Both.”

“I noticed the acting from the start.”

As expected.

“But even when you complimented me and the others, and even with your constant effort… not everything was an act. I just thought you had a lot you wanted to hide. Am I right?”

“Right.”

“That’s related to Yuhan.”

I hesitated for a moment, considering what to say, then ultimately nodded.

“That’s true.”

I thought about mentioning my meta system but decided against it. It would be foolish to reveal my hand when I didn’t know how much information he already possessed.

Especially since he might be someone who could effortlessly glean details about me and the con artist through some unknown ability.

“I… need to look good in front of Yuhan.”

At that moment, my gaze met his deep sapphire eyes.

Only then did I realize I had been avoiding his gaze.

“‘Need to look good.’ Not ‘want to look good.’”

“……Yeah.”

He really picks up on things quickly. I clicked my tongue internally.

“Is that why part of your energy is always with Yuhan?”

“……What?”

Dumdum’s eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by my reaction.

“I don’t know what kind of skill or item you’re using, but… part of your energy is always with Yuhan.”

“My mana?”

“It’s similar to mana, but it’s a different kind of energy. I’m sensitive to the flow of energy, including mana, so I can pick up on these things.”

I recalled our conversation from the first day.

“Oh, I sensed the flow of mana nearby.”

“Mana detection? That’s something even Hunters find difficult, right?”

Mana detection. And the detection of energy that isn’t mana.

The con artist’s Insight and my meta system don’t appear in a typical status window.

But what if the ‘appearance part’ of the meta system operates through my specific energy?

And similarly, what if the con artist’s Insight operates through a specific energy he possesses?

Then it could be a type of energy unique to beings from another realm.

I thought about what the con artist had described: a status window that doesn’t exist for certain awakened beings, like Tornito.

“Did you see that energy from the tiger beastman who kidnapped me?”

“Yeah.”

So, could Tornito also be a being from another realm?

What exactly is that energy, to begin with?

If Dumdum can sense that energy, did he know about the Insight in the original novel as well?

However, there was no mention in the original novel that he knew about the Insight… Ah, Dumdum didn’t have much significance either. The story focused entirely on the con artist.

“I see…”

At my response, Dumdum glanced at me like a puppy that had misbehaved.

“I didn’t want to ask, thinking you might have personal reasons… Should I have told you?”

I firmly replied, “No, I’m grateful you didn’t tell me. Please don’t mention my energy again in the future. Let’s go with the idea that I’m just an ordinary person with mana.”

“……? Okay.”

Dumdum nodded obediently. He seemed like a well-behaved large dog.

With that thought in mind, I asked what I was curious about next.

“Do you know what that… strange ability I have is?”

Dumdum seemed to think for a moment and then said, “……The ability to observe Yuhan?”

That’s correct.