NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 125 - Overslept
TN: Thank Viiyen for the chapter.
*Siwoo’s POV
“How is it today?”
“Ah, sunbae. Seems like nothing unusual.” (TN: Sunbae is like senior.)
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“If things continue like this, we should be able to find it within a few days.”
I responded to the senior who approached him while surveying the surroundings.
She has been consistently talking to us since the meeting, taking a special interest in me and Arte.
Today, this senior decided to accompany us instead of Arte.
“…By the way, that girl overslept. What’s the reason?”
“She drank. Because of a hangover.”
“Alcohol?… Aha, it’s because of you, isn’t it?”
“…”
“Treat her well. She’s angry because her boyfriend won’t spend time with her.”
I let out a small sigh.
Judging by the senior, who is the informant here, saying this, the rumors have already spread as far as they could.
“We’re not dating yet.”
“Yeah, yeah. Do your best. She’s pretty.”
She doesn’t seem to believe me at all.
Perhaps realizing that I’m uncomfortable…
The senior naturally changed the subject.
“But I really don’t get it. Are we really searching? Aren’t we just walking?”
“We are just walking.”
“…Then how do you know where to go?”
“Intuition.”
How else could I describe it?
Intuition.
That’s the only way I could say it.
How should I explain that I vaguely know it’s this direction without any clues?
I felt slightly sorry for the senior, making a dumbfounded expression, but that was the truth.
“… Didn’t you hear what my ability is?”
“I knew, but… I thought it was like finding some kind of hints.”
“It’s not like that. I just kind of know.”
“…Is that really a detection ability?”
“Who knows.”
It was only natural for the senior to express doubt.
As far as I know, it’s impossible to use detection-type abilities this way.
Looking around, all I see is the scenery of a city dyed in gray.
But it would look different to detection-type ability users.
They might see the footprints or scattered fur of monsters in detail.
Or if not that, they might see the distribution of mana floating in the atmosphere with their eyes.
Most detection ability users are like that.
They acquire information much more diversely and precisely than others from limited clues.
And based on the collected information, they draw conclusions.
…This is the biggest difference between me and other detection-type ability users.
To me, this city is just a gray, ruined city.
Nothing more, nothing less.
This place, which is like a treasure trove of information for detection-type ability users, is just a backdrop to me.
Even though my senses are sharper than other superhumans, that’s all.
It can’t be compared to those who have related abilities.
Yet I could tell.
I could have more conviction than detection-type ability users.
They make inferences based on information. So, there’s a possibility of heading in an unintended direction.
But I was certain that this direction was correct and the answer we sought would be here.
That we can meet them soon.
“I think it can also be used for detection.”
While training with Dorothy’s enhancement, I suddenly realized.
That his ability is not just Intuition.
It was hard to understand the amount of information being directly injected into his mind, to the point where it couldn’t be dismissed as just Intuition.
There was too much information to be dismissed as merely that.
…That thought became even more firm as I trained and grew every day.
When he desperately tried to land a hit on that villain…
That scene was being played nonstop in his mind.
Just one enhancement, and it pops up frequently.
The feeling of knowing in advance what the situation will be like in a few seconds.
What the outcome will be depending on the direction I act.
Precognition?
Who knows.
It felt a bit different from that.
“Well, anyway. It doesn’t matter to us as long as we complete the mission.”
“That’s true.”
“How about now? Do you know?”
“Ah, yes. Probably in about two days…”
…Intuition rang alarm bells.
A feeling that something is critically off.
It felt like I belatedly realized that the premise itself was wrong.
“…? What’s wrong?”
“…”
I’ve felt this feeling before.
The sensation was similar to when I saw that bizarre presence attached to Arte.
I felt it a few other times too. The feeling that the world is twisting.
…And every time, something happened.
As if it were a sign of an incident.
Damn it!
“Quick, the communication device!”
“Uh, huh…?!”
“Hurry!”
Knowing it was rude, I hurriedly snatched the senior’s communication device and attempted to radio.
“HQ, HQ. Respond! Respond! This is the search team!”
“… What’s going on, Student Siwoo? Didn’t you say there would be nothing unusual today?”
“Incident occurring, incident occurring! Quickly be on alert and prepare for battle! Hurry!”
“…What?”
“There’s no time to explain! Hurry!”
Fortunately, perhaps because he believed my urgent voice…
I heard the Commander hastily giving some orders.
“You guys too, quickly…!”
“We’re already prepared.”
“This isn’t the first or second time we’ve seen it. This much is easy.”
Fortunately, when I made a serious expression, Amelia and Dorothy seemed to have noticed something was going wrong and started preparing to retreat.
As expected of these girls, they may be annoying usually, but they’re reliable in times of danger…!
“So? Where are we going?”
“To HQ! We need to join up quickly! If we’re left behind, I can’t guarantee our survival!”
“Got it.”
“Wai-Wait…! What is this? Explain what’s going on…to…me…”
The senior’s questioning words gradually faded, and his face turned pale.
He probably can’t believe the sight in front of his eyes right now.
It was the same for us.
“…Is that it?”
“…Probably. No, definitely. That’s it.”
“My beauty sleep…”
Anyone who sees the sight before them would be at a loss for words for a moment.
It was a tremendous sight unfolding before our eyes.
…If I were to describe the scene in front of my eyes in words, it would be waves.
Black waves would be appropriate.
Just like waves surging, a huge number of spider demons were rushing towards us.
“Ugh, I’m a bit weak to bugs…”
There was no playfulness at all in Amelia’s expression as she joked in a bright voice.
There was only urgency.
“Quick, give me all the luggage first. I’ll move it.”
“…Will you be okay?”
“Okay or not, I’m the fastest! Hurry! There’s no time!”
“Sorry. Please work hard.”
“I’ll be back!”
Carrying all the luggage except the bare minimum, Amelia disappeared from sight in an instant.
She would have been much slower in the past carrying such luggage, but it seems Amelia has also grown a lot.
But there was no time to admire Amelia while watching her.
We had to move quickly too.
“Let’s join up quickly! It’s dangerous to stay here!”
“Y-Yes! Let’s move!”
How many times have I been grateful for my ability?
I estimated the distance between HQ and here by eye.
…No matter how I think about it, if the reaction had been a bit late, only Amelia would have survived.
The speed of the spiders in sight was faster than expected.
They also look small, so if it’s just a few of them, we could easily handle them, but…
Once we get swept away by that swarm of spiders, there’s no chance of survival.
Because it’s not just one or two.
For now, we decided to join up with HQ as quickly as possible.
***
*Arte’s POV
“Mmm…”
I frowned at the sunlight penetrating through my closed eyes.
Is it morning already?
With a hazy mind, I tried to turn my body to avoid the sunlight.
Ah, come to think of it, Siwoo was hugging me. I won’t be able to move…
That’s what I thought, but…
As my body naturally turned over, I turned my head.
Huh, why isn’t Siwoo here?
Feeling something cold, I decided to get up from the bed and check the clock.
It’s a feeling I’ve occasionally felt.
Even before coming to this world, and even recently, I rarely had a deep sleep.
That’s why I always had to get up while feeling annoyed that I had to get up by tossing and turning in the morning.
But today was different.
…Why does my body feel so light?
My mind became alert due to the worst-case scenario that came to mind.
There’s only one reason why my body would feel this light.
I hurriedly picked up my phone to check the time and despaired that my uneasiness was not wrong.
“I’m late…!”
The drowsy feeling was gone, and my head instantly cooled.
The clock was already 11 o’clock.
…No wonder my body felt refreshed after sleeping in like this.
As soon as I realized the obvious fact, cold sweat started to flow.
I’m late.
Very late at that.
I’m sure the search was supposed to start at 9 o’clock today as well.
It’s already close to lunchtime.
“I-I-I’m late…! Author-nim, why didn’t you wake me up…!”
[…You only look for me at times like this.]
“Shouldn’t you wake me up for things like this?!”
[Reader-nim’s affection has cooled…]
I wanted to express my irritation towards the Author but somehow suppressed it.
Because now wasn’t the time to waste time doing that.
…But I couldn’t help but say this.
“I never had affection in the first place?!”
[Th-That’s a lie…!]
Please stop denying reality, Author.
Why should I like you in the first place?