Chapter 16: A talk
Eventually, I forced myself to sit up. The symptoms had largely reduced, but they still left me feeling terrible. A general weakness and dizziness clung to me.
Soon enough, a familiar red-haired figure approached.
’She’s finally making her move.’
Song looked rough too, breathing heavily, her previously neat hair ruffled and sticking to the sweat on her forehead. Her jacket was crumpled as well. Of course, she was probably in better condition than me.
She stopped a few feet away, her voice guarded.
"We need to talk."
I tossed her a glance, making sure my reaction gave nothing away.
"Here?"
She seemed to consider it, then shook her head.
"No. After lunch by the cafeteria. We’ll be free then."
"Alright, that seems fine."
The girl turned to leave, with no intention of continuing the conversation. I called out,
"Is the class almost over?"
She paused, answering without turning back.
"Yes, that Shang Fuc— I mean, Instructor Shang left not too long ago. There should only be a few minutes left."
I thought as much. Shang wouldn’t have let her walk freely otherwise. If you had the energy to walk, you definitely had enough for one more lap.
I turned toward the field, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction when I found most cadets collapsed on it. Of course, the ones still standing were the usual suspects. Varic, Racheal, Maki, Alexa, Shin, a few other high-potential kids and... Ayo?
The dark-skinned heroine stood to the side, laughing boisterously as she mocked the cadets lying on the ground.
Like I said, she was a rather weird one.
Anywho, Shin must have noticed me staring at the field. He waved before approaching, a dopey smile stretching across his maw.
Even though he could trash me easily, I still felt like beating the bastard.
’Who the hell calls fifty laps easy?’
"So, how was it?"
I didn’t have the energy to curse him, so I just flipped him the middle finger. He burst out laughing.
So he wasn’t completely clueless.
’This sneaky bastard, he was being coy.’
He extended a hand to me.
"Come on, then. Class is over now."
I rolled my eyes but took it. Still weak, I used him for support as I stood. Shin went on.
"Seriously though, this was him going easy. He gave us a hundred yesterday. Most collapsed before even halfway."
But not Shin. His wolf form gave him insane stamina. I had no interest in discussing it further. Even if Shang had set only ten laps, I still would have collapsed.
’I have a sinking feeling collapsing might become a recurring theme for me.’
"Yeah, yeah. Fuck you too. Are you going to the cafeteria?"
Shin paused, then shook his head with a smirk.
"No. Honestly, I feel much more comfortable eating in my room."
That made sense. No risk of stares or misunderstandings there. I pushed off him.
"I guess this is where we part ways, then."
I offered a hand, which he took, patting my shoulder.
"Guess it is."
A bluish light flashed in his eyes.
Suddenly, something popped up in front of me.
[Do you wish to save Shin Tae-young as a contact?]
[ (Note: This will also share your contact with Shin Tae-young)]
>[YES] [NO]
’Ohh, convenient.’
I selected yes, and the screen dropped immediately.
With that, Shin left, tossing me a wave as he headed, I assumed, toward the station.
And so, I was alone again. I realized I’d been lucky to run into Shin on my first day. Discounting his wolf-like appearance, he was one of the more normal characters, especially compared to nobles and their ilk.
At least until he snaps.
Still, I had his contact now. Connections were forming already, and those were absolutely necessary for me to survive here—especially with a burden like mine.
It wasn’t obvious at first glance, but I wasn’t exactly the most social person. Hard to build decent social skills after growing up in a scummy area, especially when you weren’t in a gang.
It certainly wasn’t always going to be this easy to make connections. On that note, I had a meeting coming up with a certain red-haired girl.
I glanced back at the path. I still remembered the way to the cafeteria, so I didn’t need the arrow.
Maybe it was my burden acting up, but I felt even chillier now. Tightening my jacket, I moved forward.
The sky fascinated me still. It probably wasn’t more than an hour past noon, yet the surroundings had only brightened a little since morning.
Knowing this school, they absolutely had the resources to layer a fake sky over the barrier, simulating a normal day. It was the same tech used in domed cities.
Its absence was clearly intentional. And it made sense.
After all, what use was training hunters if they couldn’t get used to waking up under constant grey skies? That was also why most dorms were underground. The school wanted cadets to feel what the outside world was like.
Soon enough, the cafeteria came into view.
I already knew the process, so I picked a tray and got in line. The line was shorter now since many had gone to eat in their dorms.
The variety at the front made me freeze for a moment. In the end, I went with a safe option: a burger with chips and that purplish drink from earlier.
I quickly found an empty table and sat down. The burgers here amazed me every time, nothing like the greasy traps back home. This was practically gourmet. I’d had one for lunch and dinner yesterday, but it still felt novel.
Sadly, it ended quickly. Unsatisfied, I went for seconds and devoured them just as fast. I might have gone for thirds if a cough hadn’t broken my flow.
Looking up, I found Song standing beside my table, gazing at me like I was a pig.
Being the gentleman I was, I wiped the sauce off my cheeks with a napkin and cleared my throat.
"You said you had something to discuss, right?"
She facepalmed, then pointed to a deserted corner of the cafeteria.
"Let’s talk over there."
I gave my unfinished grape juice a longing look, then followed her.
My brain had already kicked into high gear back on the track.
I knew Song had fainted at the same time as this body. I knew she’d undergone a ’second awakening.’ I knew she hadn’t lost her memories. And I knew she’d been a third-rate villain in my novel.
Based on that, there were three possibilities. First, another transmigrator had taken over her body but, unlike me, they retained the original Song’s memories. Second, Song from the future had regressed and triggered a second awakening. If transmigration was possible, regression made sense too.
Finally, though unlikely, Song might have experienced a legitimate second awakening.
Either way, there was a simple way to test it. If she was a transmigrator who’d read my story, I only needed to say my author name to smoke her out.
The moment we settled in the deserted corner, I spoke.
"SigmaHustleGrindWriter6669..."
Her eyes widened immediately.
’So she’s a transmigrator too...’
She glanced around, then whispered.
"Did you also receive memories from a strange world?"
’Or not.’
Apparently, there was a fourth possibility. She’d received memories from Earth. Meaning the Song I was talking to was still herself, just with knowledge of the plot up to the third year. Well, maybe not exactly herself. Those memories might have changed her.
’Still, this complicates things.’
"Can you hear me?"
Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
’Right, I have to answer.’
Something told me it wouldn’t be wise to admit I was the author. No one wanted to learn that all their suffering was written by the person standing in front of them.
There was an easier option.
"Sorry, I was just surprised to learn it wasn’t only me who got them."