READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 271
I thought for a moment.
Should I tell the other kids about Noir Corporation’s ultimate goal? Should I tell Cherry too?
Logically speaking, it would be better to say something.
After all, Noir Corporation is the villain here.
The webtoon emphasized the irony of ordinary, everyday people working under a shady corporation that tries to extract the feeling of human despair to create and sell immense energy… but still, they’re ultimately just trying to do something with all human emotions on Earth.
I know just how nonsensical that is. This was also a story from the webtoon.
In the end, the story didn’t progress much, and what continued issue by issue felt more like a single episode wrapping up rather than a continuation of a plot.
Back when it was serialized on a blog, it was mainly comedic, but once it became an official webtoon, it transformed into a dark absurdist drama where the irony was amplified, and the sense of humor had significantly diminished.
So, one wrong comment led me to this world.
What does the author think of me now?
They must have wanted to see me, a mere extra, suffer for criticizing the content they had in mind, but now I was right there with Ha-yoon.
“Ji-eun?”
Ha-yoon, who was sitting next to me, spoke up.
We were in the dining hall.
It was lunch hour. There were many kids around us. Some were friendly enough to be called friends.
We were no longer as selective about who we interacted with like before, so there were many kids who spoke to us without hesitation.
Well, most of those kids probably wanted something in the end.
Especially, it seemed like there were an unusually high number of kids who were concerned about Ha-yoon’s parents.
As for my parents…? Well, nobody knows.
It seems rumors about me are circulating around the school. Especially about my “parents,” who don’t even exist in this world.
The rumor that I don’t have them seems to be comforting enough, but instead… how should I put it?
There are whispers suggesting that my “parents” are of an unusually high status.
Every time kids ask me about it, I say no, but I wonder if saying no is just making the rumor grow bigger.
At this point, I’ve given up, not knowing what to do anymore.
“…Ji-eun?”
Ha-yoon called my name again, bringing me back to reality.
“Yeah?”
“Do you have something on your mind?”
I do.
Like about the orphanage, or how well I know the person I’m facing.
If I had to choose, the latter is less serious than the former. The fact that I know something about the other person can be kept quiet without anyone realizing, but the story about the orphanage… once someone else knows, it’ll spread like wildfire.
“No, it’s nothing.”
So, I responded that way for now.
Ha-yoon tilted her head, but she didn’t press further for the time being.
…I really am stubborn.
Whether I hide it or not at this point, it really shouldn’t matter.
I know very well that I won’t just get left behind by Ha-yoon just because I live in an orphanage.
This is just stubbornness. Stubbornness I can’t give up because of my pride.
At least until I become an adult.
Just until then, I want to show that I can be better than others without anyone’s help.
To prove that I have no reason to be pitied.
That way, I feel like I can stand beside Ha-yoon with my head held high.
Ha-yoon tilted her head again at my answer.
It seems that the time we’ve spent together over the long haul has built a deep connection that can’t just be ignored.
*
But in the end, the deeper the secret becomes, the more people are bound to take an interest.
“The mysterious magical girl of unknown identity.”
Ridiculously, some reporters gave me that nickname.
My face is out there. They know what school I attend. The only thing they don’t know is about my family.
In fact, if the reporters really wanted to, they could dig up plenty about my background. Some might already know my true identity.
However, that conclusion seems to have been influenced by various factors, such as having to be cautious, and deciding it’s better to keep that title as it is.
I’m not sure what the intention of the Galactic Federation is, but Cherry, who leads the magical girls, definitely leans towards protecting us.
Yet, despite that—
There are still those who act completely oblivious.
“Ji-Ji-eun…”
Ji-hye looked somewhat scared as she stared intently at her smartphone screen.
On it, sadly, was an article like this:
[Magical Girl, Triumph of Humanity.]
“….”
If someone saw it, they’d think it’s a compliment.
No, of course, the article was indeed about such things.
It’s a story about a character with a difficult past, overcoming adversity to eventually become a magical girl. Someone might question if it’s half-made up, or that I didn’t really struggle as much as expected, or say it’s written a bit too sentimentally, like it was thoroughly wrapping me in cotton wool.
But the problem lies within the intention behind it.
The reporter who wrote it, as well as the officials from the Galactic Federation, knew that they were preventing articles from writing about my circumstances. After all, they’re reporters.
But they wrote it this way on purpose.
“Noir Corporation.”
The internet newspaper that published the article is a subsidiary of Noir Corporation.
What could be the reason for publishing such an article?
Thinking about it, it’s a type of article they wouldn’t likely suppress.
Teenage mentality is typically delicate. Even trivial matters can shake emotions greatly. If one can sway a fighting opponent, it’s best to utilize that information.
Moreover, it was an article that the Federation purposely blocked. There’s even less reason for them not to publish it.
“……”
When I raised my gaze, Ji-hye was fidgeting beside me.
Could she be worried that I might think she said something?
“…It can’t be helped.”
I can’t get angry in front of Ji-hye.
Isn’t that obvious? Ji-hye did nothing wrong.
Ji-hye’s friends know she lives in an orphanage. She’s never been ashamed of it at all. Her friends accepted it without a second thought.
Her good, lively personality probably led them to treat it as a trivial matter. Ji-hye’s allowance was decent enough, coming from the Federation, so it wasn’t lacking.
In fact, making such a request to Ji-hye not to tell seems like it would be the unreasonable request.
“Are you okay?”
I’m not okay.
I might seem fine, but it feels like I’m so shocked that my head has gone blank, making me think I’m alright, or maybe I really am doing better than I expected.
But whichever it is, it’s not “okay.” The phrase “better than I thought” definitely isn’t used for something that is “absolutely positive.”
“Yeah. I’m okay. It’s just… now that it’s out in the open, it feels much easier.”
I said that while looking at the newspaper again.
…Yeah, if we’re nitpicking here, the ones who blocked the article have more to answer for.
Besides, attending an orphanage isn’t something to be ashamed of. The slander against this article could be about how it invaded my private life, which I didn’t disclose.
But even that wouldn’t resonate much with those who’d be “moved.”
There are always people willing to risk their lives to uncover the secrets of a celebrity.
Having shared a room for so long, Ji-hye probably saw the fragments of my emotions and quickly realized that I wasn’t really okay.
Ji-hye didn’t say anything more until we laid down with our blanket.
…I felt sorry that my small secret had frightened Ji-hye, who was right next to me.
*
I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing that the article came out on a weekday.
If it was Friday… the kids who’d have lingering curiosity over the weekend might’ve bombarded me with questions as soon as they got back to school on Monday. But at least I would have had two days to prepare myself mentally.
But today is Friday.
The article came out yesterday evening, so among the kids coming to school today, some might have already read it.
“Hi, Ji-eun.”
Ha-yoon, whom I met in front of the bus stop like any other day, waved at me with a bright smile.
Does she not know anything?
Well, Ha-yoon doesn’t seem like the type to go out of her way to read the news after becoming a magical girl.
She probably wouldn’t have wanted to read it knowing her own story was featured.
Most of the kids around us, those who also go to the same school, didn’t seem to look at me at all.
However, a few did cast fleeting glances my way.
Whether it was because they saw the magical girl or because of the article.
…And among them, there were also a few adults, especially some elderly figures whose appearances suggested they’d take an interest in someone else’s business, casting glances like they were showing pity.
“……”
It seems today at school is going to be a tiring one.