READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 217
“No, really, it’s not like that!”
The time for the anticipated interrogation came faster than expected.
The monsters, motivated by the rare task, sequentially visited various parts of Earth.
Even the magical girls, both domestic and international, remarked, “Somehow, the monsters’ momentum was overwhelming,” indicating the intensity of the situation.
Even the “Black Area” where Mari was located was no exception, but the outcome didn’t change much.
As usual, the monster, captured as an invader, hurriedly explained under her relentless questioning about whether they had secretly dug a hole and built a base somewhere.
“…Really?”
After a brief silence, she looked at the monster with suspicious eyes, responding to its frantic explanation.
“Seriously, is that what you’re saying? You went all the way to the Arctic, pushed everything aside, and now you’re saying you wouldn’t do it again because it’s crazy…”
As she questioned with an untrusting look, the unfamiliar monster, as if flustered, continued speaking as if saying more would lead to nagging.
Waving its arms, the monster explained with nonsense.
“Really, I can even swear on my mom.”
“Don’t swear, you crazy bastard.”
The monster, having misunderstood Earth’s culture somewhere, tried to make a gesture resembling “that hand motion” while swearing on its mom.
I told it not to, but realizing I wasn’t in a position to say much, I shook my head.
Whether the monsters were genuinely not plotting anything or just good at acting, I still had unanswered questions.
With a disinterested expression, I crossed my arms and sat quietly on the floor, pressing the monster further.
“Why didn’t you come for three months?”
“Ah, that?”
The monsters, when asked one thing, would explain ten, including their hardships.
They summarized a long 1.5 sets… about 99 days of sad spaceship confinement into a five-minute explanation without even breathing, and listening to it, I somewhat empathized.
Cut off from various information, limited vacations.
An environment where only analog entertainment, far from digital, was possible.
This is exactly like the military before cell phones were allowed, where accidents happened.
Seeing the monsters’ living environment as similar to the military, the three-month gap didn’t seem so strange after all.
‘Interesting.’
Amazed by my overflowing understanding, I stroked my chin with my thumb and bent index finger.
The reason monsters didn’t appear worldwide was that during an investigation of parachuting executives, the higher-ups got involved, leading to a three-month work suspension?
To a common-sense civilian, this explanation sounds like nonsense.
Of course, it’s natural to call out such lies, and it wouldn’t be strange to split heads on the spot.
But all the previous explanations neatly fit under the name “military,” making it understandable.
Isn’t this the magic word?
Plausible stories sound like lies; implausible ones sound like truth.
Listening to it, it doesn’t seem much different here or there…
“Sigh, alright, go on.”
“Yes…”
With a click, the sound of a blunt button being pressed, the monster’s shimmer intensified as it became transparent.
Though described as transparent, the shimmer was likely part of the teleportation process.
Seeing such technology, their spaceships and all, their tech is way above Earth’s, so why do they always get beaten?
Well, in superhero shows, even those who conquer the universe and drag spaceships around can’t conquer Earth because of five guys in spandex.
Thinking again, it doesn’t seem so strange.
They could end it all with a space bombardment, but they don’t.
Of course, if real interests were involved, the story might change.
Maybe sending monsters is cheaper than the cost of bombardment…
‘Ah, no way.’
Folding away the ridiculous thoughts I just had, I let out a funny snort.
Strictly speaking, from the monsters’ perspective, it’s like being at war, but could they really be operating on the Korean military mindset of “people are cheaper than machines”?
Anyway, the job’s done, let’s go home.
Kicking off the haphazardly worn sneakers, I enter through the front door.
“I’m home!”
“Welcome back?”
“Uh-huh-”
Entering through the front door, Gomteng greets Siyeon first.
Responding to Siyeon’s question about how it went, Gomteng shakes its neck, making a vibrating sound, then flings off its clothes into the laundry basket.
Ultimately, the three-month gap was due to the monsters dealing with incidents and accidents.
I couldn’t fully trust it 100%, but amidst the consistent statements filled with frustration, it didn’t feel like a complete lie.
As monsters that hadn’t appeared for three months started popping up again, the media initially went crazy, shouting about peace being shattered and the world ending.
After about a week of such fear-mongering articles, as people got used to it and reacted indifferently, saying, “What’s with these articles saying the world’s ending?” the media finally quieted down.
“Shall I take you again tomorrow?”
“Uh-huh~”
One noticeable change in school life after becoming a high school student.
Open dating.
I don’t know what it means, but some female students are seen with male students of similar age, being escorted to the school gate.
Surely, they have to go to school too, but they go out of their way to come to someone else’s school gate.
By the way, there are quite a few middle schools around, but besides ours, there aren’t any high schools, right?
Which school is that guy from?
He looks quite a bit taller than the girl he’s dating…
Could he be a middle schooler?
Leaving the couple showing subtle affection at the school gate, I pass through the gate and enter the hallway on the first floor.
From here, of course, I part ways with Siyeon from class 8 at the end of the hallway.
“See you after school~”
“Yeah, don’t cause any trouble.”
“Pfft, that’s my line?”
Half-jokingly telling her not to cause trouble, Siyeon retorts as if to say, “Who’s telling whom?” puffing out air.
As if to say she wouldn’t cause trouble, but I might.
Opening the back door of class 1 and entering, the day as the unwanted vice-class president begins.
There aren’t any special events just because it’s an all-girls school.
The usual game or comic talk that guys would obviously do.
On the other hand, girls less interested in games talk about male celebrities or things with a distinctly feminine vibe.
It’s just a difference in whether the conversation topics are male-oriented or female-oriented.
Of course, girls aren’t particularly quiet.
Active kids play among themselves, sometimes even shouting, and if they’re sleepy, they just lie down and sleep.
At least, being of the same gender makes it somewhat more comfortable than co-ed schools.
Why, even if they don’t pay attention to each other, in co-ed schools, one gender has to completely vacate the area to change clothes before PE.
Well, that’s a small advantage of being less uncomfortable.
The downside is everything else.
A space where you don’t have to mind the opposite sex, gathering peers of the same age, can only be described as hell.
Just as three close guys regress to their childhood, girls aren’t much different.
“Hey, look at this shirt?”
Turning my head towards the noisy voice.
A girl from afar points her finger at the shirt button of a friend with a bursting chest.
Like unlocking a smartphone screen, a light push makes the button pop open.
“Ah, you crazy bitch, stop it.”
The student who got pranked vents her frustration, buttoning up the undone shirt.
So, it’s not just in cartoons that buttons fly off?
First off, this kind of prank is rare between male and female students.
Actually, the pranked friend’s shirt size seems a bit tight…
If you really put some force into it, maybe you could see buttons flying like in cartoons?
“Hey, Mari, stretch out your hand like this.”
“Huh?”
While briefly glancing at the friend with a voluptuous upper body, I turn slightly at the class president’s voice.
Demonstrating first, she unexpectedly asks me to stretch out my hand forward, so I stretch my fingers vertically.
Clap, the distinctly different-sized palms overlap.
“Wow, your hand is really small.”
Small hands, still small height.
Ignoring the warmth felt from the touching hands, the situation where one joint almost makes a difference.
It’s not like there’s a medical issue causing short stature.
It’s just that while others grow five centimeters, I only grow half of that.
If it were a disease, at least treatment would be possible.
Under the name of constitution, there was no solution.
“You’re short too.”
“Shut up.”
Hyewon, who sneaks in from the back seat, touches a sensitive spot.
Among the friends I met in high school, there were always types like Sunhyuk.
The kind that, as soon as they find a place to make a joke, they poke right in…
The type that automatically makes harsh words come out.
It’s a bit annoying to talk with them, but since neither Sunhyok nor Hyewon cross the line of discomfort, I generally get along with them.
Being right behind me, there’s no way to avoid them.
The duties of the vice-class president aren’t as many as one might think.
Unlike the class president, who gets called to the staff room when bored, it’s essentially a reserve class president position.
“Vice-class president? We need to change the water.”
“Yes.”
Normally, the water tank of the chalkboard eraser is changed after school.
But on days when the chalkboard is used a lot, the water gets dirty quickly, so sometimes it’s changed during class.
Trudging with powerless steps, carrying the water tank to the restroom.
Is this the vice-class president or the water tank manager?
Pouring the cloudy white water tank, stained with chalk, into the restroom sink and turning the faucet upwards.
Swoosh. The water stream spurting from the faucet.
While the transparent plastic tank fills with clean water, I think of the comments that appear on internet videos with each technological advancement.
‘What, as machines advance, robots will take all human jobs, blah blah…’
Looking at the situation, it seems we’re still far from that era.
For now, simple actions are still cheaper with humans.