I Became the Traitor in an Academy Story

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“Hmm, I was trying to properly give this up for Katyann. How did it end up like this?”

I felt the tentacles pulling me into the darkness by my nape, and I couldn’t help but wonder why it had to be me.

It’s not like the deities of heaven and earth were scheming for Minho and me to get together… so what could their intention be? After pondering deeply, an idea struck me.

What had happened inside?

The ability of that monster dragging Minho and me was to create the most horrific space based on the memories of the sacrifices and torment us.

They said that if it loses its reason somehow, it just gets absorbed.

Hmm. Before that happens, I’m planning to escape, but I seriously doubt Minho will cooperate. The memories manifesting in that inner space must be mine, after all.

When many people get sucked in, it targets the one with the worst memories. And Minho has had a pretty comfortable life…

Surely my memories will be displayed for Minho. Every single moment of my life, without missing a beat.

Well, I’ve never been genuinely happy in my life. Minho would probably be shocked, wondering why there’s so much bad stuff, and what kind of life I’ve lived.

Honestly, that’s not the kind of reaction I wanted from him. I’ve never hoped for someone’s sympathy.

Wrapped in the tentacles, I was quickly pulled into the crack, crashing into various things until finally landing on something warm and hard.

“Kek…!”

Ugh. It seems like I fell on top of Minho. So he got dragged in too. Sorry, Katyann, but it looks like I’m tangled with him again.

Ah, I really didn’t want to get this involved. I was hoping to postpone the reveal of my secrets as long as possible.

Now there’s no avoiding it; everything I’ve been hiding will be laid bare. If I try to think positively…

But there’s nothing positive about this situation.

It doesn’t seem like Minho is ready to accept me yet. An unofficial agent of Heros Company and a janitor loved by an executive? No way that’s gonna fly.

What should I do? Should I drug him and knock him out? But then I would have no way to escape. In the end, I have to show him the truth.

…Hmm, could this all be karma? Ah, I should have lived more righteously. At least I could have done some charity or something.

Regretting it, I felt Minho, who was beneath me, groping my lower body and muttering something like what the heck is this?

“To do this to a person, that’s just too much. I’m Blanca.”

…Before crashing, you don’t know until you do it, so maybe I should try bumping into him. It feels like Minho has been curious about who I am all this time.

Seeing him take care of me, maybe there’s a chance I’m registered as a heroine.

I thought a gamble like that might be worth it. After all, the truth would eventually come out, and someday we’d need to confront it surely.

Let’s try it. Gathering my courage, I crawled over to Minho, who was apologizing profusely, and told him he didn’t need to.

“You did it unknowingly, so there’s not much to say about it. There are people who want to nitpick about that kind of stuff in the world, but…”

I bitterly smiled, recalling times when I was scolded by that old man. Most of it was for things I wasn’t even aware of.

Why would they lash out at me for something I didn’t know?

“Anyway, Minho. Do you have a flashlight or something? Something that can shine light.”

As soon as I said that, I heard some rustling nearby. Then Minho’s bewildered voice floated to my ears, complaining that it seemed like he’d vanished.

“Really? I figured it would turn out that way. Hold on a moment…”

As I was about to synthesize some phosphorus to start a flame, I decided I wanted to confirm one thing with Minho first.

“Oh, right. Minho. Even if you find out your friend was a bad person, would you still remain friends with them?”

“…Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

Minho may not know it all, but he wasn’t lacking in wisdom, quickly catching on to my intent and probing me about my meaning.

“Hmm, well… it’s because soon, my biggest, biggest secret is about to be uncovered.”

“What?”

“Remember? The day after the tournament ended, you asked who had taught me to fight so well? Do you remember my answer back then?”

Wearing a playful smile that couldn’t be seen, I directed it towards where he might be.

It was an action without much meaning, just a habitual gesture.

“…You said it was rude to pry into someone’s past.”

“Yeah. That’s right. It’s still rude. But here, I can’t hide it even if I wanted to. So I wanted to confirm. Whether you would despise me or not. Hmm, this is getting long-winded. It’s quicker to just see it yourself.”

From here on out, it was entirely up to him. All I could do was lift the darkness and uncover the truth.

– – – –

“…”

What am I… seeing right now?

I rubbed my eyes repeatedly, unable to believe what I was witnessing. Doing so wouldn’t change the scene unfolding before me.

It was a landscape that could only be described as drenched in blood.

From childhood until now. Growing up in the darkest shadows of Heros Company, all I had were memories steeped in blood.

“This is me.”

Blanca said this was the reason she desperately tried to hide her past.

This was why she avoided answering my curiosity.

“Haha, I guess I can’t even speak of it. I thought it wouldn’t be that bad… but it was that bad…?”

Half of her words were true. It truly left me speechless.

…Because it was pitiful.

“After all, a murderer feels a bit off, doesn’t it? Yeah, I’m sorry. For hiding it for so long. I thought if I got close enough to you while keeping it hidden, you’d accept me. But it turned out like this. Ha, haha. Ahaha… Huh. Hehe…”

I couldn’t tell if she was laughing or crying. She appeared like a broken person, smiling while sobbing.

No. She must be a broken person. Living a life like that, there would be no way she could be normal.

“Blanca, I…”

“No, don’t say it. Don’t say it. Please.”

I didn’t know what Blanca was thinking. I didn’t have the power or ability to understand. However, from how she had treated me…

She had been quite reliant on me.

So she must be scared. Scared of being cast aside by me.

But Blanca, there was one misunderstanding.

“…I believe, Blanca, that a person can have the chance to improve.”

I had no intention of casting her aside. I figured she must have gone through something tremendous in her past.

None of the heroines had a mild history.

…Though I never expected it to be this severe. Still, I was a person who truly believed that people could change for the better.

“What do you mean by that…?”

“What I mean is… I’m not planning to cast you aside. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to excuse what you did.”

It was true that Blanca’s life was harsh and pitiful, but that didn’t mean I could support the evils she had committed.

It was fitting for her miseries to be pitiful, but her wrongdoings also needed to be condemned.

…Though saying that, honestly, did I even need to judge her?

Her entire life was already a punishment.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I don’t get it. I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

Blanca, perhaps overwhelmed with emotions, asked me to explain it in a way that was easier to grasp.

“You’re still my friend. That’s all it means, Blanca.”

When she heard that, her eyes widened and she asked me if I really meant it.

“Of course. How can anyone be perfect? Blanca, in your case… you do have more issues than others, but… still, I believe you can get better.”

Blanca repeated what I had just said, in disbelief, but that wouldn’t change my answer.

She needed someone to help set her right, not punishment.

…And I was probably the only one who could do that.

Thank goodness it wasn’t Jinhyeon who got dragged in here. If it were him… well, he would’ve undoubtedly hit her, calling her evil without hesitation.

She seemed to be blinking as she organized her thoughts, then stood up from the ground and approached me steadily.

“Minho.”

“Huh?”

“Minho.”

“I’m listening.”

“You’re not planning to tell anyone about what happened today, right?”

“Unless you decide to reveal it, then it’ll remain a secret forever.”

“…I see.”

“Blanca.”

“Yes?”

“You’re not planning to give up on your revenge, are you?”

“No matter what happens, absolutely not.”

I see.

“Then Blanca, do me a favor. Let me help you with your revenge.”

Blanca looked at me. I couldn’t tell if her hollow eyes were looking at me or something beyond.

“…Of course, I will.”

[Censorship lifted.]

[Blanca’s affection level increased from 3 to 4.]

With just those words from her, Blanca’s hidden information was unveiled.

It was all things I already knew, so seeing them now felt meaningless, but still, I felt a bit emotional knowing she was completely trusting me now.

“…Now, all that’s left is to get out of here.”

“How do we get out?”

She probably knew how, but I wished she would tell me directly.

“…With a kiss.”

A kiss, huh.

“Isn’t it a little early for that?”

“Then we can stay here forever.”

Her words, which had become oddly blunt, prompted me to make a joke about the sudden change and approach her.

And then, just like that.

 

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