#128
“Hey, how can you just drop a bomb like that and leave?”
I groaned, “Ugh,” looking towards the trailer door where Han Nari had just walked out, feeling she was heartless. But immediately, Shin Haejun grabbed my waist, pulled me close, and gave me a fierce look.
“Somehow, that word choice doesn’t sound good. What do you mean, hyung?”
Shin Haejun’s lips were curved in a smile, but his eyes were not smiling at all. I felt a cold sweat running down my spine as I forced a laugh.
“Jaeha-ssi?”
Hyun Dowoon didn’t seem to have any intention of helping me either. I bit my lip, wondering how to get out of this situation.
How did Han Nari know the item name in the first place? I didn’t tell her.
‘Ah…!’
A sudden realization made me sigh inwardly. I hadn’t told her directly, but I remembered that when the item was first activated, the name “Love-Love Earphones” appeared. I had just ignored it because I was used to it, but thinking about it now, it could have left quite an impression on Han Nari.
“So… what exactly happened?”
I rolled my eyes slightly and then spoke as soothingly as possible.
“You see, it’s just a name. It’s just a communication device.”
“There must be a reason for that name, though.”
I was trying to appease Shin Haejun, but Hyun Dowoon pressed me with a cold smile. For a moment, I couldn’t say anything, as if my lips were glued shut.
“Well… haha. You see… it’s called that because the voice sounds like a whisper in your ear.”
“I want to tear off Han Nari’s esper ears and wear them. She’s been listening to Jaeha-ssi’s whispers all along.”
“Speaking of whispers….”
I bit my lip nervously, then pulled Hyun Dowoon closer.
“…I could do it now if you want. For me, Dowoon and Haejun always come first.”
I whispered softly when his ear was close to my mouth. Unusually, Hyun Dowoon’s face turned red.
Despite realizing Hyun Dowoon’s weakness, I had to endure being lectured for quite a while longer about “never using an item with an L attached to it with Han Nari.” Only after repeating this pledge 10 times was I finally released.
“Oh, by the way, can I also receive the video footage Han Nari shot?”
“Of course… um, why?”
It seemed like he was about to give permission but then changed his mind. I tilted my head, then came up with a suitable excuse. I couldn’t explain about Limitless Nine.
“The dungeon we went to today… somehow felt strangely familiar. I felt something off about it, and I want to check if it’s not some trick by the author.”
When I said that, Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun glanced at each other, then spoke to me.
“Isn’t that not allowed…?”
“No, if Jaeha-ssi wants it, we should comply. However, the center needs to analyze it first. It might take a while, is that okay?”
Seeing Shin Haejun initially suggest it wasn’t possible, it seemed the footage wasn’t originally meant to be provided to me. Nevertheless, I felt grateful to Hyun Dowoon for offering it for my sake.
It would be nice if I could receive it before this sense of unease disappears, but I couldn’t push to get it faster when they were already making an exception. So I just nodded.
“Alright. I’m even more grateful that you’re going this far…”
“…There’s no need to be grateful. It’s Jaeha-ssi’s request after all.”
Hyun Dowoon muttered, turning his head slightly. Is he shy? I looked up curiously, but I couldn’t see Hyun Dowoon’s expression clearly.
“I think it’s about time we head home… Jaeha must be really tired.”
Suddenly, Shin Haejun said with an ambiguous smile. Hyun Dowoon nodded and immediately went outside the trailer.
It felt like they were changing the subject, but it was indeed strange to keep the trailer door closed here. If we didn’t move, it was obvious that the reporters would find it suspicious.
‘I’m glad they didn’t ask exactly what kind of unease I felt.’
I need to consult with Nine about this. The light weight of the phone in my pocket somehow felt very reassuring.
***
After returning home, I locked myself in the bathroom under the pretext of taking a bath. Then, sitting in the warm tub, I turned on Limitless Nine on my phone.
: Yeonsoo-nim! The quest has been completed!
Ah, right! The quest!
I opened the quest window to check the quest reward.
: *Spread Your Fame Far and Wide*
Quest Rank: E
You have completed the quest. You will receive a reward!
Reward: ‘Author’s Memo’ Viewing Right
What? I can check the author’s memo?
I was so surprised that I stared at the quest reward section. I hadn’t expected it since I couldn’t see the author’s tweets anymore, but Nine had brought an incredible reward!
It’s unlikely they would give old memos here, so it must be recent ones. If the author hadn’t given up on writing yet and was trying to continue it in some way, this would surely help in knowing what’s to come.
※Rough plan for the future: Pretend it’s Part 2 and introduce a new number. Insert Ray as the new number, take away Lee Jaeha’s position, and reveal his misdeeds. Use Han Nari to make Lee Jaeha commit evil acts, and expose them.
After reading the memo, I could only gape in shock.
Treating everything up to now as Part 1 and inserting a completely new character to create Part 2 seemed like a possible way to salvage the situation.
But making Ray the new protagonist?
‘By Ray, do they mean that person who tried to kidnap me last time?’
The pure blonde beauty. I remembered thinking I had a bad feeling when I first saw him. I also recalled thinking of Kim Sehyun for no reason when I saw his picture in the news.
I thought Hyun Dowoon had taken care of everything and it was over, but it turns out it was just the beginning.
I started to remember details from our direct conversation. Ray was indeed bubbly and eye-catching. Given his handsome appearance, I could understand why the author might have envisioned him as a new protagonist.
‘But still… this is absurd.’
I suddenly felt chills. Having to go through all the hardships again from the beginning.
‘Couldn’t they just have made me the protagonist? Then… I might have been able to see the ending and return to my original world…!’
Along with feeling wronged, I suddenly felt scared of Han Nari too. She’s certainly a good person and hasn’t done anything wrong. But thinking that she would somehow be manipulated by the author to ruin my life made her seem terrifying all of a sudden.
If Ray is the new number… does that mean Liam, the esper who was with him, will become another ball? Are they trying to introduce new characters to punish the villain who took the protagonist’s place and appease the readers’ anger?
‘If it’s like this… they can keep rewriting… as many times as they want.’
I was clearly sitting in warm water, but somehow I felt a chill.
“Nine…”
I called out to Nine weakly. Nine responded with a worried expression.
: Yeonsoo-nim, you look really upset.
“What should I do? The author has created a new number. That… Ray, you know, the one who tried to kidnap me.”
: The author is really terrible!
“So, what should I do? I had other things I wanted to ask about, but this is so shocking right now…”
I muttered, biting my lip. Nine spun around angrily on my behalf.
: What do you mean what should you do? You need to establish yourself more firmly right away so the new number can’t push Yeonsoo-nim out!
“Huh?”
: From now on, you need to work harder in the dungeons! And get closer to the balls too! Then the public will like Yeonsoo-nim more, and the new character won’t find a chance to take your place!
Nine’s words were certainly logical. I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. I knew Nine’s words weren’t wrong.
Certainly, if I became a celebrity loved by the whole nation, a foreigner like Ray wouldn’t be able to easily take my place.
And the same goes for Han Nari, I just need to not do anything bad in front of her.
‘Evil acts, huh? Somehow it reminds me of the first quest I received.’
I sighed heavily.
‘It’s a romance story anyway. As long as those two don’t fall for Ray, it’ll be fine.’
I managed to overcome Kim Sehyun, who was the first number, and win the hearts of those two. I can surely overcome Ray, who’s the second.
Above all, I believed in the love of those two. They will never turn their eyes away from me, nor will they do anything bad to me.
: Become more lovey-dovey, Yeonsoo-nim! Receive love from people all over the world, and from the balls too!
“You’re right.”
The idea of receiving love from people all over the world felt a bit scary… but Nine’s thinking was correct. Nothing changes just by worrying about it.
“How can I… love… receive more love?”
I suddenly thought of Shin Haejun and Hyun Dowoon and muttered. Somehow my face felt hot. It must be because the water is hot.
: Come to think of it, do you like both of them, Yeonsoo-nim?
“Huh? Um…”
Nine sharply poked at the part I was worrying about.
I certainly like both of them. But I couldn’t understand at all how I came to like both of them simultaneously.
‘Is this really love?’
Is it possible to like two people at the same time…?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
