Chapter 11 – Square One
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 “It was unfortunate that you two found out so early on, I was about to prepare a massive surprise,” the Colonel started with a small sigh, pacing back and forth around the vast emptiness of the underground facility after the protagonist left. 

 

“Why?” I asked with narrowed eyes. 

 

A Colonel was by no means a minor position, which left me increasingly confused. Who was this man? Although I knew my knowledge of the original story couldn’t be relied on, he was simply too much of an outlier. 

 

“Hmm… Unfortunately, I can’t answer you. However, I do have a special assignment for you.” The Colonel reached his hands out to open a void, where he retrieved a manila folder. 

 

I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment. 

 

“Why?” I insisted again.

 

Aside from supervised expeditions, students were rarely involved in actual military and freelancer activities that involved the gates. At least, that rule will remain true until that day occurs. 

 

“You don't speak much, huh? Haha, don't worry about it. You can believe the earlier event to simply be a prank of sorts. More importantly, these here are also direct orders from your father.” As soon as the Colonel finished his sentence, I reflexively reached out my hands, snatched the manila file and opened it. 

 

With an open frown, my gaze burned through the stack of files inside. 

 

“Is that all?” I coldly stared at the Colonel after I finished my skim through. 

 

“That is all.” The Colonel casually replied as he retrieved the folder from me. 

 

“Understood.” With vacant eyes, I saluted the Colonel, who reciprocated the gesture. 

 

“If that is all, I wish you a good day, Second Lieutenant!” I robotically nodded in reply before I felt a similar darkness envelop me. Seconds later, the scenery returned to the concrete path outside of the gym, where me and Kim Si-woo had disappeared. 

 

[Wait, why didn’t you ask him anything?]

 

The freeloader’s comment brought a sudden sense of clarity to my mind. What just happened? 

 

Was it because of this body, or was it something else? Charlotte’s background wasn’t extensively fleshed out, all I knew was that envy was the main source of her descent into villainy. 

 

I contemplated what just happened for a moment.

 

Could it be…?

 

“How was it?” A voice suddenly called out. 

 

I turned around to the source. It was Kim Si-woo, who was sitting on a nearby wooden bench with a dissatisfied expression. 

 

“I have no information,” I replied, slightly downcasted. 

 

“No information, or no information that you could share with me?” Kim Si-woo’s gaze intensified. 

 

“I…” I hesitated for a moment. Technically, I couldn't reveal to him what I saw in those manila folders. However...

 

“It’s fine, your position is higher than mine anyway.” Kim Si-woo added as he saw my hesitation, with almost a sneer. However, his eyes weren't completely hostile to me, but rather something else. 

 

“Enjoy your night. I’m going to sleep.” With a small wave, Kim Si-woo disappeared into the distance. I felt some energy drained. 

 

[Sigh… back to square one]

 

I reached out my hand for a moment and contemplated following him, however, even I knew that it would only result in trouble. Not to mention, I had company. 

 

“Lotte!” Like a dog running to its owner after a day of work, Mikhail leapt straight into my body. Rather than a hug, it was more like a tackle. 

 

“Are you okay?” Liu Qiufeng rushed up behind him with a frown. She quickly inspected my body for any wounds. 

 

“I’m fine. More importantly, I have a question. Do you know anyone that goes by the name of Colonel Welsh?” I directly asked as I rubbed the fluff of Mikhail’s hair, who was holding onto me by the waist. 

 

“Colonel Welsh… Isn’t he your father’s advisor?” Liu Qiufeng revealed after a moment of contemplation.

 

Despite having lived in Charlotte’s body for months now, I’ve never had direct contact with both of my parents. The only person I’ve personally met was my elder brother, who officially served in the military and interacted with me on some days when he had a break. 

 

Charlotte wasn’t a simple throwaway stepping-stone character as I had thought. After all, this was reality. 

 

“Is there something wrong?” Liu Qiufeng tilted her head in confusion to my question.

 

“No, I was just curious-” I tried to reply. However, I was interrupted by two sparkling bursts of sunshine that peered at me from below. 

 

It was a warm light that differed from Kim Si-woo. 

 

“More importantly, where did you go?!” Mikhail perked up from holding onto my waist. Despite being a Corporal, he acted like a little kid who never learnt about personal space. 

 

He truly made me question the professionalism of the academy if it weren’t for seeing his skills in person. 

 

“I was teleported into an emergency meeting by a high-ranking official.” I decided to leave out any major details. 

 

As I watched the two concerned faces in front of me, I began to wonder. Did the original Charlotte have friends? 

 

I didn’t know how, but over time, I had become closely acquainted with these two, unlike the original Charlotte. Although their presence can be troublesome at times, they were reassuring to have around, like the voice. 

 

[Awww…]

 

Shut up.

 

As time passed, since I wasn’t much of a conversationalist, the other two began chatting away, I tuned out and checked my phone in the background.

 

It was 3 AM. 

 

It was bizarre how I was still filled with energy- a perk of having supernatural abilities. However, I tended to more important matters.

 

A text from my brother. Ignored.

 

A text from a telecom advertisement. Ignored.

 

A text from the academy’s orientation. Ignored. 

 

After a while, I focused on one particular text. 

 

Good job

From: Dad (3 years ago)

 

I wryly smiled at the text. 

 

I couldn't resist the instincts of this body, whether it be my dead face or my other desires. I found myself often revisiting this singular, simple message quite a lot over the past few months. It was unconscious. 

 

It was times like these that I wondered. What happened to the original Charlotte? The one who spent over a decade in this body, running in the fields as a child or thinking about her dreams after school?

 

I would be lying if I didn’t feel a tinge of guilt. However, I also had my own problems, like finding-

 

I clutched my head for a moment as a throbbing headache struck me.

 

“Are you alright?!” Liu Qiufeng held my collapsed body with a worried expression. 

 

“I’m fine… I must’ve been too tired,” I replied with a soft groan. 

 

“Here, we’ll escort you back to the dorms!” Mikhail added as he wrapped my arm over his shoulder.

 

“I’m fine. I can walk on my own.” I adamantly rejected the offer. However, as I looked up to meet the fierce eyes of the two, I could tell.

 

This wouldn’t be an easy fight.

 

After a bit of back and forth, I eventually relented and let the two carry me back to the dorm. 

 

I needed to rest for now. Tomorrow will be a longer day, because...

 

Tomorrow, Kim Si-woo will be mine. 

 

[Uwaa.... Also, wouldn't it be today technically?]

 

A tad late, thanks for reading!

Discord: https://discord.gg/sTscEap6h9

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