NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
Fiddly-fiddly
Let’s take a moment to calm my mind and think.
This is quite a crowded subway train.
And my butt is being touched by someone.
It’s too intentional to be a simple mistake or accidental touch due to the crowd.
Fiddly-fiddly-fiddly-fiddly…
The intentions behind the touch are unmistakably clear.
The way they grip tightly or shift angles to expand their territory isn’t typical behavior for a mere pervert.
I’d say they’re likely a seasoned pro.
‘Hmm.’
What should I do at this point?
There are generally three patterns for someone being harassed.
– “Kyaaa! It’s a molester! That guy touched my precious parts!”
A type who screams to ask nearby citizens for help.
– “You crazy bastard!”
A type who directly confronts and subdues the scoundrel.
But the one that probably makes up the majority is:
– “……”
A type who does nothing and simply remains silent.
In most cases, it’s due to the fear and shame that paralyzes them after being molested.
But my reasons for staying still are somewhat different.
‘I don’t have any identity anyway.’
Engaging in public matters right now, without even a fake identity made yet, could become a hassle.
In the worst-case scenario, the security who come to catch the molester could end up taking me instead.
‘Let’s just stay here.’
Honestly, I’m not too distressed about a little groping of my butt.
It is a bit annoying, though.
Swipe…
But then this crazy guy slowly shifts his hand toward my side.
‘That’s really crossing the line.’
I caught his hand that was heading downward and turned my head back.
“Ah… Don’t resist… It’ll be good for you too…?”
Whispers dripping with seduction tickled my ear.
At least he has a smidgen of guilt, considering he’s hiding his face with a robe.
“Stop… please.”
“Haah… Haah…!”
“Quit it…!”
If this goes on…!
I’m going to slam a “Blanket Fort” right in his face!
Tsk.
This is annoying, but I guess I should just get off at the next station.
Just as I sighed internally.
“What the hell is this?”
Someone firmly seized the molester’s hand.
“U-uh…!”
“Disgusting trash…! To harass a man in sacred Polaris!”
“Uh, that’s not it….”
“No excuses are needed.”
Ah, so it’s a useless dialogue.
Without caring about what happens in the train, she grabbed the molester and slammed him to the ground.
BANG!
“Guh—.”
“You will be referred to the disciplinary committee, do you understand?”
The molester rolled his eyes and fainted.
Upon hearing the term disciplinary committee, I confirmed:
‘Shit, he was a student.’
I could see the Polaris academy uniform beneath his robe.
What on earth was he thinking to act like a pervert being a Polaris student…?
“…Are you alright?”
The one who subdued the molester asked about my well-being.
A beautiful girl with long gray hair looked at me.
*
After handing the molester over to the Polaris side, she took me to a quiet park.
“Here you go. Warm drinks help when calming down.”
She briefly went to a vending machine and returned with a warm can of coffee.
“Ah… thank you.”
Chik!
As I popped the can and drank, the sweet taste and fragrant aroma of coffee danced on my tongue.
Indeed, the king of coffee is canned coffee.
As I savored the caffeine for the first time in ages, she leaned forward and bowed her head.
“First, I apologize. It’s wholly inadequate to convey my regrets for our student doing something unmentionable…”
“Ah, no, please raise your head.”
Regardless of what has happened, this girl is my savior who helped me.
Moreover, she said she would deal with all the troublesome matters, so it’s a win for me too.
“By the way, you said he was a Polaris student?”
“I apologize for my late introduction. I’m in civilian clothes because I just returned from an errand.”
She pulled out a square card from her pocket.
It had an elegant black background with a golden star-shaped emblem.
『Polaris Academia Student Council Member』
<Vice Student Council President>
“I’m Elma, the Vice Student Council President of Polaris. Embarrassing as it may be.”
Oh.
This girl is the ‘Vice Student Council President’ of this round.
In the Valdeon Saga, there are NPCs with fixed positions.
For instance, Angela is always the princess, and Marco is the boss of the Yan family, no matter how many rounds you progress.
‘But conversely.’
There are positions which may change each round.
The Vice Student Council President of Polaris can be counted as one of those changing positions.
‘Certainly, the President of Polaris is fixed as Fernia, with only the Vice changing.’
Sometimes if an underqualified person is in the VP chair, there’s a route to beat them and sit in the position of actual power in the student council.
“You’re quite impressive.”
“I’m not. I’m merely a pitiful Vice Student Council President who can’t even manage the students properly.”
Elma lowered her eyes sincerely as if she felt truly sorry.
“I will make sure that guy pays for his actions.”
“Ahaha… yes, I believe you.”
Honestly, I’m not very concerned about what happens to that molester after this.
I sipped the remaining half of my coffee.
“And… there’s another matter I must apologize for.”
Why is she apologizing so thoroughly?
“I’m sorry for causing a scene due to my emotions and attracting attention while dealing with him.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve heard that a man who has been subjected to such treatment prefers to keep it a secret. I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds…”
“…Pffft!”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
To help and continuously apologize is a bit much.
‘Elma.’
Why didn’t such an NPC appear in the game?
She’s beautifully designed and seems to have a great personality.
If I had encountered her before my possession, I would have tried to charm her.
“Please don’t apologize. It’s incredibly hard to step in and help someone else.”
“But….”
“I truly appreciate what you did, Elma. So please, if you keep apologizing, it’ll just weigh on my heart. I don’t have a hobby of receiving apologies from my saviors.”
“…I understand.”
Elma smiled softly as if she felt relieved.
“Still, just to be safe, could you tell me your name? If you contact the student council of Polaris, we’ll provide assistance immediately.”
“Is that really alright?”
“Is there any reason it wouldn’t be?”
“I’m taking the entrance exam for Polaris this time.”
Elma seemed a bit surprised at my mention of taking the entrance exam.
“A man applying to Polaris…?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Oh, no!”
She covered her mouth with her hand and mumbled, “Certainly there’s no regulation against that…”
“In any case, it could become problematic if word about the exam comes up, right? For both of us.”
“Ugh… y-yeah….”
“So, my name is—”
I stood up and looked at Elma.
Huuuh—!
A cool breeze blew, making our clothes and hair flutter.
“I’ll let you know inside the academy?”
“Ah….”
Elma, who had been standing there dazed for a moment, nodded slightly.
“Understood. I’ll be waiting.”
*
After parting ways with the nameless man.
Elma sat in the park for a while.
“Who on earth….”
What was that man?
At first, it had been merely a sense of duty to save a man in trouble.
After all, maintaining public safety is also the task of the student council.
Catching the molester and quietly referring him to the disciplinary committee should’ve been the end of it.
– “S-stop it….”
That blurry face.
His delicate expression seemed like it was about to burst into tears at any moment.
“…He looked a lot like Alben.”
He resembled her younger brother too much.
That’s why her hand moved violently without her even realizing it.
If it were really Alben being molested, she would have drawn a sword instead of just using her hands.
‘Dark hair and dark eyes. A rough and savage impression.’
Looking just at his looks, I couldn’t imagine Alben at all.
But that ‘atmosphere.’
The way he spoke, considerate in some odd way.
His uniquely cute and charming smile.
In every aspect, she saw Alben overlapping.
“That kind of boy is coming to Polaris.”
When he said he was taking the entrance exam for Polaris, it was no wonder Elma was astonished.
It’s understandable considering that:
Polaris is a place where 99% of its students are female.
I was concerned if such a rough and aggressive boy could adapt at such a harsh place.
“As the Vice Student Council President… I should help the students who might feel alienated.”
Adding an excuse that sounded somewhat like a justification.
Elma gazed at the vast sky.
“Alben.”
The fact that I see you in that man.
That’s why I want to protect him.
Could it be a sense of atonement for not being able to protect you?
‘It hurts.’
Today, the emptiness without you feels so chilling and sharp.
*
To create a fake identity, it’s naturally necessary to use the black market.
The problem is, as often is the case with underworld dealings.
‘It’s expensive.’
Creating just one fake identity costs quite a bit of money.
Building connections with the central administration, manipulating documents, laundering the identity of a missing or deceased person…
Considering all the efforts involved, it’s understandable that it comes at a high price.
“Still, the money I have left is far from enough.”
The treasures that came from Angela’s pocket are slowly running out.
There were only enough living expenses left to eat and sleep until I entered the Polaris dormitory.
‘If I score top on the entrance exam, the registration fee is fully covered anyway.’
Now I just need to earn enough to create an identity.
Where and how to get that money has already been decided long ago.
You can’t just commit fraud in the black market.
In fact, you can also sell what you have.
[Mouse Hole]
The three-letter name scribbled on a worn wooden sign.
Though it reads ‘Mouse Hole,’ to my eyes, it looks like it says ‘Money Pit.’
“So, shall I go earn some money now?”
Today, I will sell ‘information.’
Only the information that I alone, having repeated this game and world thousands of times, know.