Academy Heroine’s Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 384

There’s a saying that you don’t realize the true value of freedom until you’ve lost it.

Now, having been resurrected for about two weeks, I’ve been deeply feeling the importance of freedom lately.

Why, you ask?

That’s because I’ve essentially been half-forced into house arrest.

"...Sigh."

The door is right there, so why can’t I just go outside?

I let out a sigh as I prepared a quick breakfast, reflecting once again on how I ended up in this situation.

It all started not long after I regained consciousness.

Unaware of how famous I had become in this world, I went out without much thought and ended up surrounded by people. Panicking, I tried to flee and ended up with a minor injury.

Naturally, Yoon Si-woo and Sylvia were horrified when I came back injured after going out alone. As a result, my dream of gaining independence was shattered.

But that was understandable enough; the real problem arose afterward.

It was the sudden declaration of an "outdoor ban."

One day, Sylvia and Si-woo abruptly forbade me from leaving the house!

More specifically:

‘For the time being, don’t wander around in crowded places unprotected, and if you must go out, make sure to be accompanied by one of us.’

But essentially, it was the same as telling me I couldn't go out.

Of course, I couldn’t help but resist such restrictions.

Controlling where I could go?

Ugh, I’d had enough of that during my two years in the army!

Triggered by a PTSD-like response, I strongly protested their attempt to control me again.

“I understand that you’re worried about me, but isn’t this going too far? I’m not a child, so why are you treating me like one?”

But when I said that, Sylvia exchanged a silent look with Si-woo and then said:

“...Miss Scarlett, could you come with me for a moment?”

She quietly led me to a room, and although I was confused, I followed her.

Once inside, Sylvia sighed and pulled out a magical device, showing me a video.

And what I saw in that video left me speechless.

It was...

Well, to put it mildly, it was a very explicit video.

The main character in the video was a red-haired woman with red eyes who bore an uncanny resemblance to me.

[Take this! How do you like the taste of the men you saved?] [Ugh... I'm so glad I saved you...!]

The sounds coming from the video were so obscene that it made me uncomfortable just to listen.

In the room, with that mortifying video playing, I was frozen in shock, watching a woman who looked disturbingly like me panting between a group of men.

Sylvia, standing next to me, added an explanation in a heavy voice.

She explained, with obvious disgust, that unfortunately, heroes are so popular that there are often illegal pornographic videos circulating in the underground markets featuring models that resemble specific heroes.

Because a hero’s honor is at stake, both production and purchase of such material are severely punished. However, despite the strict prohibitions, there are always people who violate the law, producing this kind of disgusting content.

And, though I didn’t want to know, the video in question had been released just the day before and had already set a record for sales in only a few hours before being caught.

“There are that many despicable, disgusting worms who lust after the very person who saved their lives…”

Sylvia muttered, her voice so cold it made me flinch.

Then, she turned to me and said:

“Miss Scarlett, earlier you said we’re treating you like a child, right? We know our concern is burdensome for you. Even though, by our standards, you’ve become as fragile as a child, you’re not actually one. So, yes, you would be fine by the water’s edge... in normal circumstances.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, her voice now filled with a frightening intensity:

“But now, we know there are predators out there like this. Pedophilic trash. How can we possibly feel at ease knowing that? Right, Miss Scarlett? You understand, don’t you? So, even if you feel frustrated, please bear with it for a little longer until we get rid of all this filth. Understand?”

With her glowing eyes locked onto mine, her hands gripping my shoulders, all I could do was nod.

And so, from that day forward, I haven’t been able to set a single foot outside the house.

...That’s how I ended up in this situation of being essentially confined.

Isn’t it absurd?

Who would’ve thought I’d end up like this?

The only small silver lining is that the issue with the video has been resolved.

From what I’ve heard, Sylvia was so enraged that Astra mobilized its full resources. They captured the entire production team and tracked down nearly all the buyers, recovering almost every copy of the video. So, at least I won’t have to worry about that problem coming back to haunt me.

The only unresolved issue now is the house arrest.

You’d think it would be fine by now, but Sylvia and Si-woo can’t relax after learning that such disgusting people exist in the world.

So, my outdoor ban remains in effect until a magic tool designed specifically for my disguise and protection is finished.

Apparently, it’ll be completed soon, but no one knows exactly when. So, for now, I’m just waiting for it to be done.

Which means I’ve been stuck inside, unable to go out for days now, and I’m going crazy with boredom.

Isn’t it funny how the human mind works? Normally, I wouldn’t care if I stayed indoors for a few days, but the moment someone forbids it, I can’t stand it.

Just a few days of not being able to go out, and I feel like I’m going mad. How did I survive two years of this in the army…?

I was lost in those thoughts as I ate the breakfast I had prepared.

"Ah, Scarlett. Good morning."

I saw Si-woo, just waking up, open the door and step out.

I sighed softly as I looked at him and replied:

"...Yeah, good morning. I made some for you too, so come eat."

"Oh, thanks. I’ll eat well."

Si-woo smiled as he sat down to eat, thanking me for the breakfast.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring myself to look at him too kindly.

It’s because his behavior lately has been irritating me.

Although I call it a “house arrest,” to be precise, they haven’t completely banned me from going out.

They just added the condition that if I want to leave, I need to be accompanied by either Sylvia or Si-woo.

In other words, I just have to ask them if I want to go out.

Honestly, given how stir-crazy I am, I’d love to ask them. But there’s a big problem.

Sylvia is always busy, given her responsibilities as Astra’s head, so she’s out of the question.

And lately, even Si-woo has hardly been home, making it impossible for me to leave.

He once said that since the world had become more peaceful over the past two years, there was less work for heroes. But why on earth is he so busy?!

If you’re not going to let me go out alone, at least stay home so I can go out with you!

While I glared at Si-woo internally, venting my frustration, he suddenly smiled at me, having finished his meal.

"Thanks for the meal, Scarlett. It was delicious."

What are you smiling for, you jerk? Always leaving early and coming home late.

But, as the saying goes, you can’t curse someone who’s smiling, so I just nodded and forced a smile in response.

"...Really? I’m glad it was to your liking. Just leave the plate; I’ll take care of the dishes."

"...Thanks again. You always get up early to prepare breakfast for me; it must be a hassle."

"There’s no need to thank me. It’s just a little extra portion of what I was already making for myself. Besides, it’s not like I wake up early just for you."

To be clear, I wasn’t saying this because I liked Si-woo or anything. It was simply the truth.

Since I’ve been stuck inside, I don’t have much to do, so I’ve been going to bed early and waking up early as a result.

Honestly, if I didn’t have something like cooking to do, the days would be so long that it’d drive me insane.

As I silently grumbled to myself, I saw Si-woo start getting ready to leave again.

Him going out meant another day of me being stuck inside.

Maybe that’s why, without thinking, I suddenly asked:

"...You’re going out again? Can’t you... stay?"

Si-woo flinched at my words and replied:

"...Uh! I, I’ve got work to do...! So, Scarlett, could you... let go of my clothes?"

"Huh? Oh..."

I tilted my head in confusion before realizing that I was gripping the hem of his clothes.

Oh my god, I was holding onto him without even realizing it.

I must really want to go outside that badly…

But still, I couldn’t ask him to skip work just to hang out with me.

Reluctantly, I let go of his clothes and, feeling sad at the thought of spending another day alone, said in a quiet voice:

"...Fine. Be careful. Come back as soon as you can."

Being alone is really boring...

Hearing the sadness in my voice, Si-woo, his face bright red, nodded quickly before practically fleeing through the front door.

"...Now what do I do?"

Left alone in the house again, I let out a deep sigh as I wondered how to make time pass a little faster today.