NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7 - Stalker.
TN: Thank Dragons33 for yet another chapter.
[Are you really going to do it?]
“Of course.”
The next morning.
The Author was still uneasy, so they asked me again if I would do it.
I had agreed, but still,
I wanted to refuse.
While trying to reassure the Author, they suggested an idea.
I got scared and said I didn’t want to, which made them start crying, so I had no choice but to say I would do it.
…To be honest, I’m still a little reluctant to do it.
But I have no choice. If I want to resolve the Author’s sulking, I must keep my promise.
[Hehe… If you observe the protagonist all day, you’ll definitely get lots of material!]
“…”
That’s right.
There’s no point in hiding it.
As compensation for ruining the protagonist Yu Siwoo’s debut, what the Author demanded of me is something I originally planned to do anyway.
Monitoring the protagonist.
But then why did I refuse at first?
They wanted 24-hour monitoring.
It’s very different from just casually observing him as he trained.
Literal 24-hour monitoring.
From this morning until tomorrow morning.
I thought just monitoring the events happening inside the academy would be enough, but the Author thought differently.
Something about the protagonist’s daily life could also provide material or something like that.
No matter how much I tried to persuade them that a male protagonist’s daily life wouldn’t be needed in an academy novel, they were unmoved.
They even said monitoring once during ordinary days and once during his date with the heroines would be more profitable, proclaiming it was good material.
But the protagonist and I have our own private lives to tend to…
This time, I have no choice.
I silently apologized to Yu Siwoo, who will be monitored all day and night by me.
Since I can’t blatantly tell him that I’ll be monitoring him,
I’ll just have to monitor him without him noticing at all.
Hmm, I’m a little worried about whether I can really do it well.
[Ooh, I’m looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of day he’ll have…! Maybe a ton of crazy incidents and accidents will happen?!]
“Even if he’s the protagonist, I don’t think his ordinary days are that eventful…”
No matter how I think about it, I don’t believe the kind of scenes the Author wants will happen.
Even if he’s the protagonist, it’s not like the kinds of events you’d see in novels happen to him every single day, right?
[No way! Of course they will, since he’s the protagonist!]
What is the basis for this unfounded confidence?
I let out a small sigh.
“I guess I have no choice. Just this one time, right?”
[Ehehe…! This will be fun…!]
Fun for who?
I just hope they don’t end up disappointed.
***
“From now on, you all will be learning ethics.”
The muscular male teacher entered the classroom and spoke.
The students, who had naturally assumed they would be training their abilities or learning how to become stronger, protested loudly.
“Not practical training?”
“We came to the academy to become heroes, you know.”
Yu Siwoo could sympathize with his classmates’ complaints.
They had worked hard since childhood, training to become heroes, and passed through the academy’s difficult entrance exam.
So, of course, they assumed they would be training themselves and learning techniques.
But ethics out of nowhere?
The teacher smirked at the protesting students.
“Yes, I knew you all would hate this. Your seniors all felt the same way too.”
“Then why…!”
“But despite all the opposition, this class has always been kept. The reason is simple–you need this class to become heroes.”
Because we need it to become heroes?
The students started paying closer attention to what the teacher was saying.
It seemed he was about to say something important.
“Math, science, literature, English… You all probably only learned those basic general knowledge levels.”
“Of course. We didn’t have enough time for more with all the training.”
“Exactly. You don’t need to learn those in-depth. Heroes don’t need to be great at math or know science perfectly.”
The teacher stopped a female student who was about to say something.
“Indeed, you all came here to become heroes, and you all indeed have stronger senses of justice than ordinary students your age. I know that well.”
“Then why do we need to learn ethics at all? We’re just wasting time…”
“That’s precisely why you need to learn the most essential ethics. Tell me, what do you think heroes do?”
Suddenly put on the spot by the teacher’s question, the flustered female student–Amelia, or so he remembered–hesitated before answering.
“Defeating monsters and catching villains.”
“Right. More precisely, protecting citizens from threats.”
“And what does that have to do with ethics…!”
The teacher questioned the protesting girl.
“Do you have firm certainty that you all won’t become villains yourselves?”
“…Huh?”
“In other words, do you have any guarantee that you won’t end up as a villain?”
“Of course not! We’re aiming to become heroes…!”
“You all must not have heard that there are cases of academy graduates turning into villains.”
“?!”
Not just Amelia but many students were shocked by that statement.
Academy graduates becoming villains?
“That, that can’t be…”
“Unfortunately, it’s true. Graduates can turn villains by getting drunk on power or being scouted by criminal organizations. There are also more nefarious methods.”
An academy student becoming a villain.
Yu Siwoo glanced sideways at Arte, then quickly averted his gaze forward.
Because his eyes had met Arte’s subtle smirk aimed at him.
“And we can’t preemptively eliminate any potential for villainy from you all, either.”
Stomp, stomp.
The teacher paced around the students, probably trying to set the mood.
The students, who had started concentrating on his words, were met with his sharp gaze.
“That’s why we can only rely on your consciences, which is why we teach ethics. It’s a minimum safeguard, so to speak.”
“You really think a mere class like this can prevent us from turning villainous?”
“I don’t know. But it’s better than nothing, isn’t it?”
“…”
“If you’re convinced, take your seats. Class is starting.”
Lost in thought, Yu Siwoo’s heart grew complex as well.
There are cases of academy students turning villains…
Then could villains also be infiltrating the academy to begin with?
A chill ran down Yu Siwoo’s spine from the gaze he felt on his back.
On the way home, Yu Siwoo’s heart was troubled.
Ethics. He had never really thought about it seriously before.
Come to think of it, what the teacher said wasn’t wrong.
For villains, seducing a hero means gaining an ally while eliminating an enemy.
Plus, as always, destroying is easier than protecting.
Heroes are always overwhelmed with tasks.
Unconsciously looking around, Yu Siwoo noticed scenery he normally would have ignored.
Someone naturally littering after eating.
Someone spitting on the ground.
These were signs he would normally have dismissed but now made him frown in discomfort.
Suppressing his discomfort enough, he continued on his way home.
Ahead of him, an elderly woman was pulling a cart uphill.
“…Grandma, would you like some help?”
“Oh? You’ll help me? Thank you.”
Someone who needed help, which normally he would have missed noticing, now caught his eye.
So Yu Siwoo helped pull the elderly woman’s cart up the hill.
Once they reached the top, the grandma smiled.
“Thank you. I was able to get up easily thanks to you.”
“No problem.”
Although embarrassed, having someone thank him for his help warmed his heart.
Yes, the teacher was right.
Heroes exist to help others, after all.
Ethics really are important…
“…!”
The warmth in his heart that had bloomed suddenly withered as if winter had arrived.
“Just now… Behind that utility pole…”
He thought he saw a head of wavy black hair reaching down to the chest—the hairstyle of the person worrying him recently.
The once warm breeze felt chillingly cold now.
No, that couldn’t be.
There’s no way Arte could be here.
It was definitely just someone with a similar hairstyle… Probably.
His thumping heart was deafening.
Arte Iris.
‘She is definitely following me.’
There’s no mistaking those slit pupils.
“What in the world…!”
Could it be?
The teacher had mentioned there are cases of academy students becoming villains.
‘Is she trying to seduce me to the villain side?’
Is that why she’s been watching?
He couldn’t tell.
What reason does she have for following him like this?
A chill ran down his spine, and he drew the curtains shut as soon as he got home.
“Phew, phew…”
His ragged breathing was unsettling, knowing he was being followed.
Memories of her actions flashed through my mind.
Hacking the academy’s database, taking an unusual interest in me, and somehow being involved in the monster incident.
Plus, according to the teacher, the incident was caused by a criminal’s blunder.
I don’t know if the criminal was Arte’s accomplice. But orchestrating the incident is no ordinary feat.
There is definitely some grand conspiracy hidden behind it all.
What’s certain is that she is plotting some event with the being she calls the “Author,” and she has taken an interest in me.
“…Is she gone?”
I peeked through the curtains slightly.
Night had already fallen… Surely she had left by…
“…!”
Yu Siwoo hastily closed the curtains again.
She’s there, she’s there!
It was blurry, but he saw her.
She was definitely watching this place!
“Why, why is she doing this to me…”
As indignant as I felt, Yu Siwoo couldn’t cry out loudly.
He was afraid of provoking Arte, who was watching outside.
Yu Siwoo leaped onto the bed and pulled the covers over himself.
Like hiding after watching a scary movie as a child.
Teardrops rolled down his eyes, dampening the pillow.
That night, Yu Siwoo couldn’t sleep at all.
Translator’s Corner
That is the end of the bonus chapters. Hopefully, I can relax with the single chapters now.
-Ruminas