Sentinel Phobia
Silence hung in the air. Everyone was tense. The female protagonist had blocked a fairly high-ranking attack from Jeongguk. That alone was high enough. And for that Ignore-rank to be able to auto-guide tirelessly, it meant her Guide-rank was even higher. If she had blocked the SS-rank Jeon Jeongguk's copy, her Ignore-rank would be at least SS. With recovery, her Guide-rank would at least surpass SS.
Ah. Was this even possible? It would only take a moment for her, the highest-ranking guide, to be pushed out. Thump— thump— Heeyeon, unconsciously biting her fingernails. Thump—ah-!!The flesh she'd bitten off accidentally was torn off, bleeding. Then, she felt lonely. Now, there was no one to notice her biting her nails and pull them away. The members turned around at Heeyeon's scream, almost a sigh.
"Heeyeon, I told you not to bite your nails."
"Oh, that's..."
"Are you sick? Do you want to go to the infirmary?"
Seokjin, the eldest brother and the eldest sibling, took care of Heeyeon. Yes. No matter what, Heeyeon was also a precious younger sibling he had known for a long time. He knew from the beginning that Heeyeon was using them. It was just because she was close to my younger siblings... because my younger siblings liked her... One by one, reasons were added until Heeyeon had become a precious younger sibling, and he was taking care of her without any reason.
But even this wasn't enough for Heeyeon. If it were normal, her older brothers and younger siblings would have been eager to follow her. But now, no one wanted to come. Everyone was just going after that new vixen. Alas, Heeyeon had been so obsessed with her members, so she couldn't even look at the mood of others, that she lost track of reality.
Even the fox girl had inadvertently barged in here, and what truly mattered to them was that it was no longer Hee-yeon, but the heroine, and their hearts had long since departed from Hee-yeon. Yes. Her queen bee days were over. The friends who had played house with her were growing up, eager to find true love, not a made-up role.
To them, Hee-yeon was nothing more than a friend they'd played with, a memory they'd forgotten. The only one who'd penetrated deep into their hearts, who'd remain in their memories forever, was Yeo-ju. But poor Hee-yeon knew nothing. She hadn't yet grown up. She was truly a child, just a grown-up. She was the only one who didn't realize she was nothing.
"No. I'm scared to go alone. Come with me. The guides are going to pick on me. What if I go and get bullied?"
"Sister. That place is strictly Sentinels' space. What kind of guide would sit there in the medical room and harass you?"
"Are the guides not hurt? Are there any guides among the injured ones who don't like me?"
"If normal thinking goes on, who would harm someone with an injured body?"
"Do you think this place is normal? Everything here is crazy!! You know best, don't you? "
Hee-yeon's increasingly abusive and aggressive attempts to take them away seemed to be ignoring the fact that it was further damaging their affection for her. Why was there a medical room? Isn't it supposed to be a place for people to come for treatment? Bullying in a place like that? If they had some basic understanding, they wouldn't have caused a scene like that. And Hee-yeon, who was my team's direct guide, was the one who knew the basics. The guides were also well-versed in the basics, and everyone knew that harassing a renowned guide in a public place was detrimental to them.
Taehyung was gradually discovering Heeyeon's dark inner thoughts, ones he hadn't previously been able to discern. At least, those he truly cared about weren't. He suspected she could harbor ill intentions, considering she was someone he trusted and would always be with him. And that intention had led to this outcome.
No, well. What difference would it make if Taehyung knew her inner thoughts? The difference between B and A was clear. The Sentinels received guidance not simply to survive, but to experience the ecstasy of guidance and have a brief moment of respite. That was the purpose of guidance. Even if they didn't receive guidance properly, they wanted to be guaranteed that feeling of guidance. Perhaps that's why they volunteered to be Heeyeon's footstool, despite knowing her dirty inner thoughts.
"Don't go, then."
"Brother!!"
"Are you dissatisfied?"
"But I'm sick, how can you do that!..."
"You said it was scary."
" ..... "
If you're going to be harassed more when you go to the medical center for treatment, wouldn't it be better not to go?His hands clenched into tight fists trembled. He'd clearly asked her to come with him just once, but was that so difficult? Why did it all end up like this? Yes. It all started the moment that child showed up. His eyes, filled with resentment, were fixed on the female protagonist.
Is that kid that important? Then me? Am I going to be abandoned like this because I was one level behind that kid? Did everyone like me because of guiding? If... if it's because I was pushed back... then... if I get rid of him? Then... won't he come back to me? Yes. If I just get rid of him... then everything will come back. My reputation, their love. They are mine. You can't leave me. I have to be the top priority in everything! Hee-yeon's eyes sparkled with greed, desire, and possessiveness. She was already crossing a river of no return.
Whether Hee-yeon was thinking about it or not, they had already reached the leveling room. She felt nervous and sweaty. She quickly gathered her composure and approached the ability-testing machine, placing her hand on it. The machine began to suck up Ignore and Recovery inexhaustibly.
As I felt something leave my body, I felt a slight sense of unease. It was a feeling I'd never felt before. Soon, the power sucking my abilities ceased, and I released the machine, shaking off the strange feeling. Frowning slightly, the female protagonist opened the glass door located in the middle of the glass walls surrounding the ability-measuring machine and stepped out.
As I pushed past them, who all looked visibly surprised, I saw green alphabets on a black screen. Recovery SS, Ignore SS. A silence fell between them. Yes. It wasn't that I hadn't expected it. I could have definitely predicted that the Ignore would be high. But even Recovery was SS, and if I had been guiding myself to that high level without difficulty, if according to the female protagonist's words, Ignore SS and Recovery SS could be guided without much effort. How good was her guiding, exactly?
"...I, I... What is this... "
"...That's awesome."
" ....Huh, so..."
"Oh... I'm going crazy."
" ...SS ?... "
" ...... "
" ...yes?... "
"No, is this level of guidance enough?"
Each expressed their own level of surprise. It was truly surprising. Even with the highest rank, SS, they were still able to guide with sufficient skill. What would the alternate guide rank be? They couldn't have guessed. No, they couldn't have dared to guess. All seven eyes flashed with possessiveness.
And Hee-yeon, who understood that possessiveness better than anyone else, had enjoyed witnessing that swaying possessiveness herself. She bit her lip tightly. She hated and annoyed her. Who was she to dare take what was hers? Yes. To her, they were still nothing more than a necessary pawn. They were still toys to play with. That was all.
..I need to sort this out soon..It was a sign that something bad was about to happen. Given her resolve, I knew it wouldn't be that soon, but the longer she waited to prepare, the bigger the situation would become and the harder it would be to deal with. What exactly she was planning... she was probably the only one who knew. Whatever it was, something difficult was bound to happen.
Still reeling from the shock of the Sentinel ability test, they headed for the Guide Grade Measurement Room. No, they were about to head there. But was it really necessary? Three of them already knew the female protagonist's Guide Grade. Of course, it was hard to believe, but what could they do? There were three witnesses. In the end... a mess ensued.
"Annie, bro. Think about it. Please think about it!! Do you think that makes sense?! I'll only believe what this guy says if he says something credible!!"
"No, really?!"
"Brother, you're talking nonsense."
"Oh, stop it! Be quiet so I can check."
To the point where the female protagonist, who couldn't stand it any longer, had to intervene... When the female protagonist screamed, the surroundings suddenly became quiet, and there were Seokjin, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook with hurt expressions, and Hoseok, Yoongi, and Namjoon with pitiful expressions. That's how they ended up in the guide room, and the result was clearly reflected in their eyes.
Among those who were bickering with each other after confirming the results, there was one quiet person. It was Heeyeon. She was trembling with anxiety. Yes. I felt like I was about to be kicked out. Those who used to be so annoying that they never left me alone, now they don't pay any attention to me. It makes me feel lonely.
I was incredibly anxious and resentful of the heroine. It was so annoying. I wanted to make her disappear quickly.On the topic of runaways. Your runaway games will soon be over. I'll make it happen.She looked surprisingly confident, as if she knew what she was thinking.
In Heeyeon's mind, there was no thought of the members struggling with the guiding duties that would be rendered useless by her disappearance. All that remained was the afterimage of her members clinging even more tightly to me, the one who was better at guiding, even as she became even more inadequate. She was, surprisingly, selfish.
For a while, the members' interest would wane. For a while, they would stick by her side. But it didn't matter. As long as her running away game ended, they would come back to her. Even a substitute would do. After all, she didn't love them either. As long as she could keep the wealth, fame, and power she enjoyed, she was fine. Anything was fine.
"Oh, stop it!"
"Kim Yeo-ju, I raised you, so why are you so angry at me?!"
"Do you still think I'm that little girl?"
"Mommy, I still remember you changing your earwax, but you didn't grow up that much!"
"..what did you say?"
"...Brother. Can we see each other for a second?"
"Dung earwax... I saw it all..."
"Huh!!"
"God, another one is going to go next to me today. ^"
" ....Yu, Yun-g.. "
" ..... "
Seokjin, who sensed a murderous aura among the members after a single misspoken remark, quickly looked at his younger brother, Yoongi, whom he believed in. However, he sensed a significantly greater amount of murderous aura than he had ever felt among the five members, and he had no choice but to remain silent. Yeoju, watching from the side, didn't dare even think of intervening.
.....Something inside me kept bubbling up, but I held it in. I was getting annoyed. Who the hell was he? Still, I didn't want them to hate me, so I decided to keep quiet. I'd just tease the female lead a little. Since I wouldn't be seeing the kid much longer anyway, I figured it wouldn't hurt to tease him a little.
Seeing them, so innocent and innocent, made me sick. Yeah. You don't have much time left, so enjoy it now. I... who knows when I'll take that happiness away? Hee-yeon's eyes gleamed menacingly. She, once so bright, had fallen, almost ugly. Did she know? That I was losing my charm as I kept Yeo-ju in check. She no longer had the bright smile the members loved.