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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Meeting
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"This is bad."
"Indeed. We thought three would be enough to keep them safe."
"We realized too late that they were also an organization, so it couldn't be helped. They were stronger than we thought. We underestimated them. And of course, that guy was the first to die."
"Marmo was a bit weak, though."
The dimly lit conference room.
The empty chairs around the table, adorned with twelve different animal illustrations, bothered me.
Usually, everyone would be bustling.
Was I the only one who felt the atmosphere? Everyone seemed quieter than usual.
"...So? The Boss isn't here yet?"
"Didn't she say not to call her Boss? Don't you remember?"
"No, even if we're the Zodiac and executives, this organization was ultimately created by that person. What's wrong with calling the Boss 'Boss'?"
"Nothing wrong with it, but didn't I ask you not to? She said to treat her as an equal."
"...Ah, she's here. Boss."
"Haa. You never change."
Hmm. They say speak of the devil and he shall appear, but the Boss is a Dragon. The Tiger is sitting over there.
As I was lost in such trivial thoughts, the Boss, whose jade-colored horns shone beautifully, approached her seat.
And I naturally expected her to sit down, but why isn't she sitting?
"Boss? Your seat is there?"
The Boss acted as if she hadn't heard the question, walked towards the window, and suddenly flung the curtains wide open.
"What are you, children of darkness? Go get some sun."
"Aargh, my eyes! Boss, we *are* villains, so we *are* children of darkness! Close the curtains, quick!"
"...Is that so?"
As everyone groaned at the sudden sunlight, the Boss gave an awkward laugh and closed the curtains again.
The Boss is still learning useless things. Things she doesn't need to do. I know she's trying to be considerate of us, but she really doesn't have to do things like this.
After a chaotic moment, the heavy atmosphere lightened, but then, the single sentence she uttered after sitting down made everyone solemn again.
"Four people died."
"..."
"Wow, I never thought it would feel so empty just because a few people are gone. It's truly scary how quickly you get used to things."
"...Boss."
"I know, I know. We're villains, and it wouldn't be strange if we died or got arrested at any time."
The Boss briefly gazed at the empty chairs, then explained the reason for calling the emergency meeting.
"Listen up, everyone. The plan went awry."
"Yes, it went awry. What will you do now, Mir? Weren't we supposed to raid the Academy?"
"Yes, we were. ...There will be no changes to the plan. We'll push through with it as is."
"What? But that..."
"We decided it was possible assuming we had everyone, I know. But you know our goal."
"...Our goal. Yes, I know it well."
Is there anyone who wouldn't know it?
The secret room the Boss accidentally found, written about in the founding principal's memoirs. And the artifact sleeping within.
That was the key to the organization's ultimate goal.
"We need to obtain that to achieve our goal. That's why everyone was so happy when we lured that child, right? We thought it would be easy."
"And in the end, they died without us getting any benefit from luring them."
"Hmph, yes. It would have been great if they had just stayed alive."
The Boss sighed at the words of the other executives and declared to us:
"We have to find the artifact hidden inside the Academy. Only then can we fulfill our long-held desire. We can't delay the plan any longer."
"...It's because of Arachne, then."
"That's right. Those annoying guys. They seem to really hate villains."
It's understandable that they would hate us.
Villains, no matter how nicely you try to put it, are criminals beyond words.
Not just ordinary criminals, but criminals so powerful that their victims have no recourse and retaliation is impossible.
Even the authorities don't even try to catch Arachne, except for a few.
Tch. Aren't *they* villains too? Why don't they make a move?
Is it because it's convenient for them? That's the most likely possibility.
It must be very convenient. They get rid of troublesome nuisances that are difficult to handle.
"It would be right to deal with them and then raid the Academy, but..."
"No. The damage would be too great. That many people were wiped out. Everyone needs to join. Do you think the authorities would just let that happen?"
"...Not a chance."
"Having everyone gather on the day of the raid will be enough."
The sounds of the Tiger and the Boss talking echoed in my ears.
They must be discussing how to lead the organization in a better direction.
Amidst their voices, I began to hear the voices of other executives, but I closed my ears and lowered my head.
I don't understand such difficult things.
The Boss will take care of it herself. She always has.
"...Annie. Annie!"
"Oh, Boss."
"I told you not to call me Boss... Anyway, you fell asleep during the meeting again. I said it was important."
"But I don't really understand those things."
"Haa, what am I going to do with you?"
Even when the Boss sighed, I was just happy.
Because the Boss woke me up, it meant she had something to say.
"Is it decided?"
"...Yes. We're raiding the Academy."
"When?"
"The day of the closing ceremony. Security will be lowest then."
"I see."
"...Annie, you never question anything."
"Boss, no. Mir has always been the right answer."
I burrowed into the Boss's arms as she gave a bitter smile.
I am the Boss's loyal hound. I merely follow.
***
[We've decided to launch an all-out attack on the day of the closing ceremony!]
"...Huh?"
[The Übermensch! An all-out attack on the Academy on the day of the closing ceremony! The Academy will burn!]
"Are you crazy?"
Ah, a slip.
I accidentally blurted out what I was thinking.
The fortunate thing, perhaps, was that the Author was startled by my strong reaction?
For a moment, I tensed, fearing the Author would get angry, but thankfully, they didn't.
[Why, why...?!]
"What kind of academy novel has the academy burning down on the day of the closing ceremony? Aren't you even going to write about summer break events?"
[Oh, it won't burn down! The protagonist will brilliantly stop everything!]
What nonsense are you talking about? How can he take on eight people? Are you insane?
At this point, I need to be firm.
The most important thing is to convince the Author.
...Even *I* would lose if I had to face eight executives. That's for sure.
When I took on three, if my bluff hadn't worked, who knows what state I'd be in right now.
But Yoo Siwoo has to face all the villains at once? Are you joking?
If it's an all-out assault, strong villains will definitely pop up everywhere.
Yoo Siwoo hasn't grown that much yet.
I can certainly see him getting stronger, but...
He hasn't shown enough remarkable growth to be called *the* protagonist yet.
"He can't do it. The protagonist hasn't grown that much yet."
[But... wouldn't it be possible?]
Possible, my foot. What ridiculous things are you saying?
"Well, it might be possible if Yoo Siwoo suddenly gained abilities like becoming a phoenix. But you can't do that, can you, Author?"
[Uh, what?! N-no, I can't! No! Because it lacks plausibility!]
...What? Why are you so surprised? I know that too.
The most important thing in a novel is plausibility.
In reality, if someone suddenly dies from a random, unprovoked murder, we just grieve, but a novel shouldn't be like that.
The moment a main character suddenly dies from a random, unprovoked murder, readers would immediately explode.
That's why a novel needs to prioritize plausibility even more than reality, you see.
This is also why the Author isn't omnipotent. The Author is ultimately in the position of writing the novel.
Oh, I wish the protagonist was super strong! They can't just give him three or four abilities on a whim.
Since the setting is one ability per person, if you just hand the protagonist various abilities out of favoritism, the plausibility shatters.
It's impossible unless sufficient plausibility is built up, like a strengthened ability gradually evolving into a new one.
"It can't be helped then, Author. Does it absolutely have to be on the day of the closing ceremony?"
[I wanted him to coolly defeat the villains on the day of the closing ceremony, and then write a lot of slice-of-life parts during summer break...]
So there was a plan?
I thought they were just talking without any thought.
It's a vague, pie-in-the-sky plan, but since the Author, who's prone to whims, has made a plan, it's a bit awkward to interfere.
It was clear that if I tried to forcefully bury this plan by saying it wouldn't work, there would be resistance.
...It's not like a cosmic spaghetti monster has flown in to destroy the Earth, so maybe I should just stop here.
It's not like there's no solution either.
"Final exams are coming soon. And then the closing ceremony a little after that, right?"
[Yes!]
"Let's think about how we can reduce the number of villains in the time we have left."
[Yes...]
There was no time.
No matter what, I had to eliminate four of the executives before the closing ceremony.
***
"Aish, what are you doing? Try again."
"Ah, Arte...! Won't you come hang out with me?"
"No confidence! Again!"
"...Hey, Amelia. Are we really supposed to be doing this?"
Siwoo started to resent Amelia.
What exactly was this?
"I'd rather be looking for the secret room..."
"I saw you weren't concentrating at all! Just practice this! This seems to have more potential anyway."
"..."
What is the source of this baseless confidence of Amelia's?
Siwoo suddenly grew curious.
"Hey, Amelia."
"Hm?"
"What if, just hypothetically, Arte isn't actually in love with me?"
Amelia made a sullen face and was about to say something, so Siwoo hastily added:
Anyway, it's probably just going to be some 'of course it's love' or whatever. I've heard it to death.
"What if! *If* I said!"
"Do I really have to answer that question?"
No, did I say something wrong?
Is she really in love? For someone supposedly in love, she hasn't even asked to hang out once.
At first, I thought it might be true, but isn't it natural for doubts to sprout again?
Amelia answered my question as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
"Even if Arte isn't in love with you, there's no problem, is there?"
"...Why is that not a problem?"
"Because we'll just make her fall for you."
I was speechless.
What kind of confidence does Amelia have to say something like that?
"So get ready again! Come on, one more time! Naturally!"
"Haa..."
It couldn't be helped.
It was none other than me who upset Amelia by imagining how Arte might feel.
If I argued any further, Amelia would probably throw a fit, so I decided to go along with it.
"Arte, won't you come hang out with me?"
"Oh, that's pretty good. Again!"