“Okay, let me explain the plan.”

Amelia declared confidently. 

Her self-assured manner was nice to see, but it made Siwoo uneasy.

…Is she coming up with some weird plan again?

Amelia’s plans always made him anxious.

“It’s not weird, is it?” 

“What are you saying! Just listen, and don’t be surprised.”

Her assertiveness only made him more anxious. 

What is she up to?

“A date!”

“Huh?”

“I mean, a date! When a guy and a girl go out and have fun!”

He was surprised. 

It was a much more ordinary situation than he expected.

Well, a date may be casual, but it’s still daunting.

“…Where? No, how in the first place?”

There was a major obstacle to her plan.

First, there was no reason for them to date.

If, by some chance, she had feelings for him,

And if, really giving her the absolute benefit of the doubt, that was the reason for Arte’s actions,

Even if that was truly the case, there was no relation between them.

They had no particular relationship….At least on the surface.

They were just classmates and club members, nothing more.

They’ve never really talked before.

He’d just get rejected if he suddenly asked her out on a date.

“Don’t worry. We have the club, right?”

“…The club?”

“Remember, the president said last time that since we won an award, they allowed us to take an outing.”

Siwoo’s head started pounding.

Outdoor activity? 

He didn’t recall the president ever mentioning that.

…No, he was pretty sure she didn’t.

Something seemed off.

The club only has four members, and he would have remembered if she said something like that.

She never mentioned anything like that, did she…?

“When we go on that outdoor activity as the club, that’s when we’ll pair you up with Arte!”

“…Amelia. Did the president really say that?”

“You have a bad memory, don’t you? You were there too. We caught the Chameleon Villain and got a big reward, remember? Don’t you remember?”

‘Did we?’

Well, there have been a lot of incidents lately. 

Maybe he just forgot from being tired.

Siwoo decided not to worry about it.

***

“Ehehe. I’m so happy.”

“You seem very pleased.”

“Of course! Look at this award!”

The president proudly held up the award certificate.

It was an award certificate stating that as students of the academy, they had brilliantly defeated a villain who had infiltrated the academy.

It was an award for the Exploration Club.

“They even gave us a generous budget…! I’m so happy! You guys are the best!”

“I’m glad you’re happy.”

I smiled faintly at the president.

We were supposed to get an award, but the reward was supposed to be much smaller than this.

“This is all thanks to you guys…! Thanks to you, we can go on a trip and raise the club’s status!”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this. Even if it’s just the four of us, shall we go and have fun?”

“Yes! This is why underclassmen are worth keeping around!”

Of course, the outdoor activity has to align with the club’s purpose.

The Exploration Club is literally a club for exploring, so…

If we claim going camping is an exploration, that’s what it is.

That’s why Siwoo and Amelia are also excited about it.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun!”

Yes, it will be fun.

For the nameless readers watching the Author’s writing, that is.

[Thump, thump…! A new event is starting!]

Yes.

The start of a new event.

Claiming to be an academy novel, yet going outside?

There are usually two possibilities in such cases.

Either chasing after the enemy or being chased by them.

Of course, our protagonist and heroine duo have yet to identify the true enemy.

They only know that Lyla belonged to the Übermensch organization, and the villain hiding in the academy was also a member.

So what will the outcome be?

Well, what else? An ambush, obviously.

“I’m looking forward to whatever fun event awaits us.”

“Hmm, it isn’t summer yet, maybe not the beach? How about the mountains?”  

“The mountains sound fun!”

“Hmm, or maybe not…? What about a scenic area?”

“Haha, that also sounds enjoyable.”

When the president asked where we wanted to go, I responded that anywhere was fine.

She couldn’t decide where to go anyway.

The one who decides is the Author.

Not these puppets.

“Heh, heheh. Heh~”

As the president hummed a little tune, pondering where to go, the Author spoke up.

[Let’s save the beach for a summer event… Okay, I’ve decided! Into the unkempt mountains we go!]

“Ack, pricey….Alright, let’s go here.”

We all gathered around to look at the location the president had pulled up on her computer screen.

The mountains.

“An area untouched by human hands, perfect for camping! They say there used to be a dungeon there too!”

Look at that.

In the end, they couldn’t choose for themselves.  

In this world, only the Author and I have free will.

The rest are just puppets bound by the strings of fate.

When the Author switches up the strings, they act according to their destiny.

“This will be fun.”

“The mountains seem a bit… Won’t there be bugs and such…?”

“But there’s nowhere else suitable for just the four of us to go. The scenic areas were too expensive to enter. Want to see?”

When Amelia expressed concerns about the mountains, the president showed the exorbitant entrance fees for the scenic areas.

They were quite pricey.

Even with the generous reward for defeating the villain, it wouldn’t be enough for all four of them to enter.

No matter how generous the reward, the entrance fees are per person.

Of course, the Author could have adjusted the reward amount to allow entry if she wanted.  

But she wanted the mountains.

So, the scenic area fees ended up being that expensive.

I’m not quite sure what a “scenic area” is. Probably just some setting the Author included.

…Well, the name alone gives a general idea.

“But if I chip in…” 

“We can’t use personal funds for a club activity!”

“Eek!”

Is that really a given?

I glanced at the others but couldn’t confirm whether it was true.  

Well, it doesn’t really matter.

The Author can make it so if it’s not a given.

“So, our destination for the outdoor activity is here! Got it?”

“…Yes.”

“This will be fun. We’ll have to bring lots of meat and seafood!”

Who knows.

I doubt we’ll get to actually eat any of that.

A mess is clearly inevitable.

[Heh, meat…Seafood…I want to eat it.]

…If the Author wants to live vicariously, I suppose we can eat whatever she wants.

***

“Ah, Lyla. You’re early.”

“…Yeah, I guess.”

She tensed her body with anxiety.

Last time, it was a simple mission, but what about this time?

Could she end up dying this time?

“I have another request for you.”

“What is it…?”

“This mountain here.”

She trembled momentarily as she looked at the map Arte had given her.

…This is where the Übermensch’s hideout is located.

She was told to flee there if anything happened.

“I plan to have Lyla and her former colleagues enjoy themselves there.”

“I see…?”

“Yes. Since there will be quite a few people, I’m asking you to keep things under control.”

“Con…trol?”

Control? 

…Control what, exactly?

Despite her fear, curiosity welled within, and she asked without thinking.

Her stiffened ears and tail plainly showed her tension.

‘Damn. These emotions show too easily.’

Fortunately, Arte didn’t seem to pay much attention to it, answering nonchalantly.

The content may have been casual,

“Ah, that’s… So civilians don’t accidentally wander in, you know?”

“…Why is that?”

“Because if they come in… Ufufufu. Nothing good will happen.” 

This woman is insane.

She’s not in her right mind.

She trailed off, but Lyla understood what she wanted to say.

If anyone wanders in and more bodies pile up, it will be a hassle, so preemptively control the area.

Damn it.  

She resented her past self.

To think she got entangled with such a dangerous person out of petty insecurity.

She had lost her mind.

“…Ah. That’s right. I said I would give you a reward.”

Her ears perked up for a different reason than before.

…A reward?

Now that she mentions it, she did say something like that.  

Arte said she’d give her a reward for buying a swimsuit, but after she bought it, there was no further mention, so she assumed she was just talking nonsense and let it go.

“Well, I wasn’t satisfied with the swimsuit you gave me…But that was my fault for not specifying properly.”

She started mumbling to herself in the air.

…Here we go again. That “Author” of hers.

She had no idea who she was referring to, but it’s probably best if she doesn’t find out.

She decided to feign ignorance.

‘The most precious thing is my life.’

Survival is paramount.

Lyla only realized this truth after experiencing the fear of death.

“Here, take this.”

“What is this…?”

“Something good for the body.”

What she handed was some reddish-brown substance.

Its ominous color made Lyla recoil.

“…What is this?”

“Eat it. It will make you stronger.”

For a moment, Lyla wanted to throw away the object in her hand, but she managed to restrain herself through sheer patience.

Another drug.

The cause of the purple wolf ears and tail on her head.

…Is she giving this to me knowing she hated drugs now?

No, surely not.

There’s no way.

“…What if I don’t eat it?”

“If you don’t want to, I don’t mind.”

Arte gave a faint smile.

…It sent chills down her spine.

It was an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“However, if you don’t take it and end up dying, I won’t take responsibility.”

“… I’ll hold onto it for now.”

“Yes. That’s wise. It takes effect instantly, so you’ll grow stronger the moment you ingest it.”

Nonsense.

Potions are not that type of drug.

It takes time for the body to metabolize them.

That’s why it took a while after taking the potion for the wolf’s ears and tail to appear.

“Ah, and make sure you don’t forget to take care of my request.”

“…Got it.”

“Good. I’ll be counting on you.”

After Arte left with those words, it took Lyla a while to truly realize she was gone before letting out a deep sigh.

“I’m going crazy…”

Lyla looked up at the sky.

The beautifully shining crescent moon filled her vision.

Disgustingly pretty.

She never understood why people craved cigarettes so much.

But for the first time, she wanted to try.