How to get on the protagonist’s flower path

What’s there to criticize about the people around me?

I silently flipped them off as I read the comments.

Let’s read the next one.

085
While I was eavesdropping on my companions’ conversation, a loud noise echoed.

Bam—!

Yggdrasil kicked the door open.

I naturally thought she would show up alone as usual, but contrary to my expectations, she brought along a kid I had never seen before. She looked like a cute hybrid of a mermaid.

What’s this? According to the information I acquired from the game, there shouldn’t be any students like this in Class A at this time.

…No.

This is reality.

There are countless variables.

Especially with me, a reincarnator, and Nayuhan, a reincarnator herself, being added to this game, it’s clear that this has had a significant impact.

It wouldn’t be surprising for unfamiliar characters to show up, just like that fox-human hybrid boy I saw in the Valder family.

“A new student? Is it thanks to the lucky letter?”

At that moment, a classmate’s excited voice pierced my ears.

“Lucky letter.”

In the game, this was a random event. It seems it has happened in this world.

While it mostly brings benefits to users, it can bring misfortune to those who are unlucky, making it a malicious letter.

Not good.

I’ll have to warn my companions later.

185

…Huh? Lucky letter event?

Suddenly, the strange letter that Kang Yu received from Shion today flashed through my mind.

If it’s an event that occurs randomly in the game, it wouldn’t be surprising for me, who only understands it through the novel, to be unaware of it.

Since it could potentially bring bad or dangerous outcomes, I needed to subtly mention it when Nayuhan provides information.

I kept the keyword “lucky letter” in the back of my mind as I continued reading.

085
“Everyone, quiet! As you might have guessed, we have a transfer student! She’s younger than you!”

“I’m Kang Yu! I’m fourteen years old! Nice to meet you!”

While Yggdrasil introduced the new kid named Kang Yu, I quickly scanned his stats.

And I was shocked.

[Status]

Name: Kang Yu

Class: Mage

Level: 1

Strength: C

Agility: C

Endurance: C

Magic: S+

Magic Element: Water
[Skills]

Passive: Blessing of Endless Magic (Water)
Recovers magic as long as water or magical water is present, even if the magic is depleted.

Active: Magic Conversion (Water)
Can convert magic of other elements into water or water magic.

Active: One with Water (Water)
Can manipulate water or water magic as if it were one’s own body.
Is this a superior version of Shin Haeun?

No, this is… a top-tier version!

Where on earth did such a monster suddenly come from? I need to contact Nika to get information on this guy—

Just then, the transfer student strode up to me.

“Huh?”

What is this?

Could it possibly be an unexpected enemy? I tensed up, preparing for anything.

However, what came out of his mouth was rather unexpected.

“Hyung. Give me that seat.”

“What?”

“Give me that seat.”

…?

I was confused.

185

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What is this? What’s happening?

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Author, there aren’t enough foreshadowing elements.

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Damn, is it another male character?

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Author, is this XXX out of her mind with all this heroine distribution?

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Reverse harem is delicious.

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?

What was that last one?

Anyway, the readers are reacting so immediately. I frowned as I saw the comment section criticizing my brother.

He might act impulsively at times!!!

If I could, I’d love to shove a gun in the faces of those trash-talking Kang Yu.

No, I should hold back.

I can’t do anything about those people.

I ground my teeth and continued reading the next part.

085
While I was still in shock, Yggdrasil approached us.

“Um! Now that I think about it, that would be good! Nayuhan is friends with Kang Yu, so it would be best for Nayuhan to help Kang Yu adapt to the academy!”

“Right?”

“But this is originally Yuhan’s seat, isn’t it? I’ll sit with Kang Yu over by the empty spot by the door.”

“Sounds good!”

So they know each other?

If so, is this irregularity due to Nayuhan?

An irregularity is one thing, but since this irregularity is sitting right next to Nayuhan, it’s making it too hard for me to concentrate on class.

In the end, as soon as class ended, I practically ran over to them.

“Who are you?”

“She’s my sister.”

Sister? Could it be that Nayuhan is a mermaid hybrid?

So that’s why she looked like an angel in the water.

“I live in an orphanage. Kang Yu is my brother who lives there with me.”

At that moment, I heard Nayuhan’s response.

Suddenly, a past memory resurfaced.

Back when I thought of this world as a game, I tried to stop Nayuhan from donating money to the orphanage.

So this was what it meant to be indebted to someone…

I felt embarrassed for looking at Nayuhan like she was a fool when she didn’t know anything back then.

185

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Oh, it’s a sister, then.

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It would have been nice if it was a little sister for a sister harem.

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Isn’t she actually a boy dressed as a girl? They say he’s cute.

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Oh.

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I guess the previous donation was because she’s from an orphanage.

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Having too many dependents is a bit much, though.

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? LOL Are you the one who’s obsessed?

The reactions of those who criticized me for donating to the orphanage with comments like “sweet potato” and “being foolish” seem to have improved to “I can understand it now” as the orphanage background was revealed.

The heated public opinion about Kang Yu also seemed to have calmed down a bit now that it was revealed he’s my brother.

Thank goodness.

085
As I was lost in thought, Nayuhan called me aside.

I followed her to a secluded area.

Nayuhan smiled softly before suddenly becoming serious as she spoke to me.

“What’s going on?”

“You remember what I mentioned before, the key? The reason I want to get the key from you is because I’m worried it might put me in danger, right?”

“Yeah. We don’t know what variables might arise—”

“But if me having this puts me in danger, then if Yuhan has it, he might be in danger too. I don’t want that.”

Hearing that, my heart felt warm in a way.

You care about me this much.

I’m so grateful for that, I like you.

I trust you.

“That…”

“Yuhan. I want to share your burden. So please trust me. If it gets really dangerous, let’s think about it together. That’s what friends are for!”

“…Okay. I’ll trust you.”

I see her smiling at my answer.

And I like seeing you smile like that.

“But if it gets dangerous, you have to tell everyone right away. It’s a promise.”

“Of course!”

My dear comrade.

The most trustworthy person from the same world as me.

I’m not alone.

Somehow, I felt something swelling up in my heart.

In that moment, the ground shook.

Boom—!!!

Nayuhan hugged me tightly, as if she was worried I might fall.

I felt that soft touch again and froze up.

While I took a moment to assess the situation, Park Yul-ah’s voice echoed from the speaker.

Drum drum drum—

The ground shook again.

Nayuhan held me even tighter, seemingly concerned that I might fall.

For some reason, my face kept getting warmer.

But…

“Kim Kang-ha and Park Yul-ah have already met…?”

In the game, they should have met at least after the second semester started, right?

Moreover, Kim Kang-ha had been cooped up at his master’s house throughout the vacation, and there was no way he could have met anyone.

Unless someone introduced them, it would be impossible for them to meet Park Yul-ah.

…Thinking back to when she called Nayuhan’s name, could it be thanks to Nayuhan?

Thanks to that, a disaster has occurred…

“Hey!”

While I was trying to think of something else to avoid being engulfed by Nayuhan’s scent, I heard Kang Yu’s voice.

The party that had been in the classroom managed to arrive here quickly.

It’s a secluded place, but did they track my location or something?

However, Kang Yu’s gaze as he approached was anything but ordinary.

His eyes were devoid of light, what people would call dead eyes, and he whispered to me softly.

“What are you doing, hyung?”

He seems to be quite jealous.

I concluded that as I watched Kang Yu rush toward Nayuhan.

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ㅇㅇ
What’s this, a sis-con?

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Living with in-laws seems tough…

Oh, it’s understandable if my little brother is a bit clingy. Why are they calling it a sis-con?

I muttered to myself as I lightly skimmed through the remaining parts. It seems that the key issue is getting wrapped up here.

After that, there didn’t seem to be any important content, so I casually read through.

085
Nayuhan lifted me up in a princess carry.

“Let’s go, Yuhan!”

“Sis?!”

“Should I carry you instead?”

Kang Yu’s gaze felt piercing.

And Park Si-woo, back off.

I have no interest in being princess-carried by a guy.

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But has his strength stat increased? It’s still F, right?

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Well, at least his skills and items have improved, and his magic power has increased too.

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Since he’s in the wizard class, I guess his physical strength won’t increase?

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Ah, weakness is part of our protagonist’s identity!

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That kind of identity is unnecessary…

He really is weak.

I made a cold conclusion and skimmed down to the next part.

85
“Hmm… If my sister likes him, then I can’t help it, but he has to be an impressive person! He needs to be stronger than me!”

“Does he have to be strong?”

“Yeah! That way, he won’t be a burden to my sister!”

Choi Soo-jung, who suddenly threw a question at Kang Yu, giggled as she patted my back.

“Hmm, I see~ I’ll have to cheer him on, junior! Good luck!”

“What are you cheering for?”

“Don’t you know?”

Know what?

185

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What a dense guy…

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What a blockhead…

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Backstabber…

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The standards are strict;

Aside from that, probably because I was in the main heroine position, everyone seemed to link Nayuhan and me together.

Nayuhan genuinely looked confused, but the comments were all in unison expressing their disdain.

Well, it’s beneficial for me, but isn’t it better to stop investing in a stock that can’t possibly succeed?

***

After that, there was just a brief mention of the after-school sparring session.

Unfortunately, when Lee Hana and Nayuhan talked separately, I couldn’t confirm if I was mentioned in that part.

Next, let’s check the fragments of the story I obtained this time.

I opened the story fragment window.

[Current collected story fragments: 10] – Genius Commander of the Academy: 4
– ???? ??? ???? ?? (Locked): 6

I pressed the red gem, the fragment of “Genius Commander of the Academy” that I just acquired.

Then, like before, a video unfolded.

***

In front of a deserted vending machine,

Nayuhan placed a device on the machine and paid for something as she spoke.

“You heard about the deal with Senior Soo-jung, right?”

“Yeah. She said she would help lift the curse on me.”

“Yes. Someone who will help lift it will be coming to the academy soon.”

Upon hearing that, Lee Hana looked surprised.

“Really? Is there someone who can lift this curse?”

“There is. We’ve invited a fox who is hard to come by.”

Nayuhan turned to Lee Hana and chuckled, wearing a confident smile.

“Senior, your curse is different from ordinary curses. You know that, right?”

“I know. Those who placed the curse on me are something special.”

“Exactly. May I sit down for a moment?”

“Sure.”

The two sat side by side on a bench near the vending machine.

Nayuhan opened a cola can and said,

“Your curse cannot be lifted with ordinary items. The only way to suppress it is to draw the ice attribute magic from items or magic stones. You must have felt that, right?”

“Yeah. No item or method of lifting it worked on me. The only time it had a temporary lifting effect was when I had the tail hair ornament of the Cheonho.”

“The only reason you can maintain a lifted state when you have that item might be because it’s part of the ‘Cheonho,’ which has special power… But let’s put that aside for now.”

Nayuhan cleared her throat and continued,

“The being that placed the curse on you, ‘Gemini,’ is the one who created the tower, a being born from the Cheonho. In Germany, there are clans that worship the Cheonho and deeply study its existence.”

“The creator of the tower…”

“Yes. Their name is ‘Valder.’ They are thoroughly researching the Cheonho, so they are also studying the ‘Gemini’ created by it. Therefore, there is already some data regarding their curse, and methods of lifting it have also been researched.”

“One of those people is coming?”

“Yes. …I’m sure they’ll be able to lift it. So…”

Nayuhan spoke confidently but hesitated as if unsure of what to say at the end.

Seeing that, Lee Hana smiled.

“I trust you. I’ll wait… Thank you.”

“…Yes.”

Feeling shy from Lee Hana’s clear, earnest blue eyes, Nayuhan averted her gaze.

185

Finally, they’re going to lift it.

I felt a weight lift from my heart that had been worrying about whether things would differ from the novel.

The tail hair ornament of the Cheonho, which supposedly releases all status abnormalities upon contact, couldn’t completely lift Lee Hana’s curse.

How much I had pitied her, having to always carry that ornament to unleash its full power!

Thank goodness. I smiled slightly.

The person who will come to lift it is probably Nika Valder; it should be fine.

If there’s a problem, I’ll use metaphor points to resolve it.

Lee Hana is already someone precious to me.

“Phew…”

After checking all the appearance parts and story fragments, feeling relieved that nothing was amiss, a message arrived on my device.

Got time?
I have something I want to say for a moment.