A month and a half was enough time to forcibly loosen people's tension.
No matter how much they disliked it, eventually everyone started asking, "How long do we have to keep this up?"
Even knowing that the danger of an invisible threat begins precisely when vigilance drops, more people began weighing their freedom, peace, and safety against continued caution.
One became two, and two became four.
Of course, there were still some who maintained their vigilance, but those who relaxed and went about their business were far more noticeable.
Fortunately, the heroes and agencies hadn't let their guard down.
Heroes on patrol desperately turned their attention to preventing the collapsing Wall. At the same time, they checked whether any Strange Ones were sneaking in among the monsters pouring through.
At this point, it seemed like students could probably stop at just being trainees.
My device vibrated in my hand with a buzz. I figured it was probably another message telling me to go out as a trainee to gain field experience.
I was thinking about finding a place to hide when my device also vibrated.
Wondering if they were planning to send all students out like interns, I looked at the screen.
[Kanna Aurora is to come to the Academy.]
Since everyone else seemed to be heading to the Academy first, I thought this might be the same, so I casually asked Yoon Ha-min.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I need to go right over there where the hero Sela is. Why? Did they tell you to go somewhere too?"
"Yeah, they're telling me to go to the Academy."
If Ha-min had received the same message, I would have thought all students were doing this training, but seeing that wasn't the case, it seemed this message was sent only to me.
"Really?"
Ha-min tilted his head.
I figured that since the Wall had collapsed again, they probably wanted to check what I—someone they considered a person of interest—was up to.
If they saw any sign of me trying to make contact with someone suspicious, immediate execution. If not, would they offer protection? No, that didn't seem likely either. If my very existence contributed to breaking the peace inside this Wall, that would also be grounds for execution.
It felt like walking to the chopping block on my own feet.
I supposed I'd have to hope the person holding my lifeline would have a change of heart.
"Then I guess I'll head this way."
Thinking it was best to follow the instructions on my device, I started to turn away.
Ha-min grabbed my arm.
"Wait."
After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke with difficulty.
"Can't you just stay with me? Come along and get a feel for the field..."
"But wouldn't it make them more suspicious if I don't go where I'm told?"
"Then I'll just ask Senior Sela to take responsibility for you."
"What?"
I narrowed my eyes as I asked, but Ha-min seemed to think it was a good idea and firmly believed in it, immediately starting to make a call on his device.
Who was he calling? Mrs. Lucia, our homeroom teacher? Or Sela? Either way, I didn't think it would be as easy as he made it sound.
I thought this kind of attempt to gain independent action would only make them more anxious and make my position even more precarious.
Whether he understood my concerns or not, Ha-min put the device to his ear as the call connected and began talking.
"Senior, I was wondering if my friend could come along for training with me... Ah, yes, yes. That's right. So I was wondering if you could put in a word with the Association?"
I supposed asking a working hero would be better than asking a teacher. But I worried that making such a request might be an inconvenience to the other person.
"...If it's not possible, that's fine. What? It's okay?"
What? Really?
I was more surprised than Ha-min at hearing his bright voice, as I hadn't expected this at all.
I wondered how he could confirm whether it was approved or not in the middle of a phone call.
Was there someone as influential as Asrad there?
Which agency was Sela from again? Prika?
Prika Agency had President Lignum. I knew there was someone quite powerful there, but I was shocked they would give permission, whether they thought well of Sela or Ha-min.
I stared at Ha-min half in disbelief.
When the call ended, Ha-min turned to me with a bright expression and led me forward.
"They said it's fine! Let's hurry and join them!"
"O-okay...!"
So this is what it's like to have the backing of an influential hero, I thought.
Ha-min followed Sela to help stop the monsters coming through the gap in the Wall.
I was to join them after being guided by another hero, and soon met the person who had granted me permission.
Sitting across the table was Lignum Pellein, the president of Prika Agency, who swept his graying hair back as he looked at me.
His sharp blue eyes seemed to be trying to pierce through my secrets.
He stared at me intently as if contemplating something, then slightly loosened his necktie that had been choking him a bit.
"Have a seat."
"Yes."
I perched on the edge of the sofa in the middle of his private office.
He rose from his desk, took the seat of honor beside me, and continued the conversation.
"I don't have time for tea, so I hope you'll understand."
"Oh, that's fine."
"You're Kanna Aurora."
"Yes."
Lignum began speaking as if he already knew about me.
Since he was one of the influential heroes, I simply nodded calmly, assuming he would naturally have this level of information.
"Setting aside who I am, you know that the reason you're able to be here is because I've backed you up."
"...Yes."
"It's almost forcing things in terms of after-action reporting, but we're showing some interest in Yoon Ha-min."
I couldn't even manage a bitter smile as I tried to endure this heavy atmosphere.
He's showing interest in Ha-min. Prika Agency wants Ha-min to join them. It felt like he was trying to make me indebted to him.
Since this was like a typical academy story, Ha-min would face despair before even graduating, so I couldn't know which agency he would choose. I remained silent.
Either way, Ha-min would ultimately choose what he thought was right, so it wasn't my place to interfere.
As I maintained my silence, he stroked his short beard with his fingertips and continued.
"We'll assign as much surveillance as possible, but I called you here to let you know that it would be difficult for our side if you don't make an effort on your own, Kanna."
I nodded in response.
Seemingly satisfied, he smiled and instructed me.
"It would be good for both of us if you cooperate and can prove you have no connection. I'll send you to where Sela and student Yoon Ha-min are, so just keep in mind what I've said."
"Yes, yes. I understand."
Proving my innocence. Actually, rather than innocence, what mattered was that there should be absolutely no connection between me and the Wall's collapse.
Whether I was half-Strange One or a spy, it didn't matter to them.
The only issue was whether I was the cause of the Wall's destruction, which is why they had cut off my limbs.
"You may go now."
I left the office and was guided by another hero to the site near the Wall.
Soon I encountered Sela, with her blue hair and blue eyes.
And I also saw Yoon Ha-min with his black hair and golden eyes.
Upon seeing them, I stood dazed for a moment before glancing at the hero who had guided me.
A female hero with green hair and red eyes.
Since her appearance was unfamiliar to me, I thought she might be a hero who wasn't featured prominently in the story.
When our eyes briefly met, she shook her head.
"No."
What did she mean by that?
Was she saying I couldn't leave this place? Or did she think I wanted permission to act independently?
Since it didn't really matter either way, I just nodded without saying anything.
The hero seemed to find my reaction unexpected and glanced at me once more.
I stood quietly in a safe place and watched them.
Seeing Sela enveloping herself in blue flames to increase her output, and Ha-min using his star ability to create light and draw lines to defeat monsters, I was newly impressed by how amazing they were.
They were no less impressive than other heroes, and if not for their blazers, no one would have guessed they were Academy students, first-years at that.
In terms of experience or skill, there might be areas where they fell short, but their raw power output made up for it, which is why Prika Agency was interested in him.
He was exactly the type agencies wanted—someone who could be deployed immediately.
Who wouldn't want someone perfect in theory, practice, and even mindset?
What he faced were visions of monsters visible beyond the collapsed Wall.
I took my eyes off Ha-min for a moment and looked around.
Conscious of the diversionary tactics the Strange Ones repeatedly used, I turned my head, and the hero beside me looked at me.
"Are you looking for something?"
"...No. It's just..."
But I knew saying I was looking for Strange Ones would certainly cause misunderstanding, so I let my words trail off.
And soon, as if in response, a Strange One revealed itself among the monsters.
It was thanks to the heroes who were trying to spot the red eyes among the black eyeballs, aware that Strange Ones might be sneaking in.
"—The alert level has risen?"
The Strange One seemed monstrous in the truest sense, calmly looking around despite having the heroes' swords and spears pointed at it.