Became a Human Rights Advocate

33 – Episode 7. Back alley.

＜0＞

I still have memories that come back to me from time to time.

This is the story of the first day I came to Academia holding my parents’ hands as a child before entering elementary school.

The whole time I was looking around the academia, I was so bored.

My parents listened to the guide’s explanations as if they were interested, but the stories were difficult for me to understand at the time as a child.

So I said I was going to the bathroom, got out, and ran away.

The destination was already decided. This is an amusement park inside the Accademia that the guide vaguely explained.

It was close to the private elementary school where I was being briefed, so I just ran to it.

Looking back now, it was a bold act that was not like me.

I’ve never left the family gate on the mainland, so maybe the mysterious island of Academia excites me.

With the Ferris wheel as my destination, I hurriedly ran towards the amusement park.

We arrived at our destination shortly after, but something unexpected happened.

It was true that there was an admission fee at the amusement park.

It was embarrassing for me, who had never touched money before.

If I needed anything, I would ask the servant in the house and he would bring it to me shortly after.

I was sullen and tried to go back. But, unfortunately, I couldn’t find my way back.

It must have been because, unlike when I came to the Ferris wheel as a destination, there was nothing to use as a guide for the return trip.

I returned to the front of the amusement park in tears.

I felt like I was going to burst into tears at any moment, but the family mindset instilled in me from childhood prevented that instinct.

How long did it last?

‘Are you alone?’

A boy came to talk to me. I don’t remember his face very well, but he must have been about the same age as me.

‘I am not alone. I came with my parents.’

‘Where are those parents?’

‘Wow… ‘

At the boy’s question, I burst into tears.

Now that I think about it, that was a reaction appropriate for that age group, but at the time, crying itself was embarrassing, so he lowered his head.

‘Don’t cry and take this.’

What the boy gave me was a cheap key chain in the shape of a four-leaf clover.

‘This is… What is it?’

‘It’s a lucky charm.’

‘Amulet?’

‘Yes, so stop crying and follow me.’

The boy pulled me by the hand. It was an amazingly white hand, so I still remember it.

‘Because there is a secret passage here’

‘A secret passage?’

‘Come on, go in.’

I was dubious, but I followed the boy’s back.

Let’s pass through the small gap in the iron cage that only children can pass through-

‘Wow!’

It was inside an amusement park.

A parade of employees dressed in various costumes. Strange animals you’ve never seen before. Attractions where screams and cheers coexist.

All the sadness and fear in me disappeared, and only joy remained.

So I walked around the amusement park with the boy.

I couldn’t ride any of the attractions because I didn’t have money, but I couldn’t help but laugh just by looking around.

After playing for such a long time, the boy asked me when the sunset was going down.

‘What is your name?’

‘Kasuga, Kasuga is Suisei.’

‘It’s a pretty name.’

Looking back now, the boy was quite precocious.

After hearing my name, I immediately went to the information office and told them that they had found the lost child.

My parents were traveling all over the academia looking for me, and they had spoken to the amusement park as well.

The boy who left me at the information office waved at me and left.

‘Wait a minute.’

‘Huh?’

‘Please tell me your name.’

At my words, the boy scratched his head as if he was embarrassed, then, as if thinking of something, clasped his hands together and continued.

‘My name is-.’

Yes. The name the boy said was obviously-

＜1＞

“I think you can use your abilities at this level.”

“Already?”

At my words, the doctor laughed and continued.

“As the greatest cure for overwork is rest, Sihyuk’s case is similar. He took the medicine and rested properly, so it is only natural that his condition should return at this point.”

“That’s a relief.”

“However, please do not use the same ignorant method as before. If you do, I will forcefully hospitalize you.”

I nodded obediently at the doctor with a stern expression.

Now that I know that the way I used to put a strain on my body, there was no reason to use that method.

The basic output has been improved to some extent, so it’s time to put some effort into its application.

Unlike the environment in Legends of Academia, where you can only use certain skills, in this world, you can use it in many ways depending on your efforts.

I had to somehow get used to using my abilities because I didn’t know when I would get the essential items and end my awakening.

Actually, it is still unknown how to use the second skill and the ultimate skill.

The basic skill, ‘Colorless Element’, was summoned just by thinking about it, but I couldn’t handle the rest properly yet.

It would be nice to find a way in the process of learning the application… , Otherwise you will have to seek some other means.

I should think about forcing Lee Si-hyeok’s ‘Awakening’ event to proceed.

“Sihyuk?”

“Ah! Yes!”

I was concentrating on my thoughts for a while, so I ignored the doctor’s words.

The doctor looked at my face for a while, dissatisfied, then turned his gaze to the monitor and issued a congratulatory order.

“But don’t overdo it just in case.”

“Okay.”

With that, the medical treatment was over.

When I went outside, Joo Ji-young was waiting for me like last time. She seems to be knocking on her laptop nonstop as if she is still getting hit by work.

I wonder if the fact that my complexion is becoming emaciated as the days go by is that I am collapsing from overwork.

… Do you think your abilities will become a little stronger if you go to the hospital and stay together?

Hiding such dark feelings, I sat down next to Joo Joo-young.

“When did you come?”

“I just got here. What does the doctor say?”

“I’m fine now.”

That’s good. Saying that, Joo Ji-young closed the laptop and stood up.

“I’ll give you a ride.”

“Oh, today is fine.”

There is a schedule every Friday. It is also a schedule that requires moving a little far away, not near.

“Looks like you have an appointment. Yeah, don’t play too hard. You’d better get some more rest.”

“Please stop sending those two away.”

“Why, isn’t it fun going to school with two beautiful girls?”

“… Teacher.”

When I looked serious, Joo Joo-young laughed and put her laptop in her bag.

“It’s a joke. A joke. OK, let me tell you.”

After breaking up with Joo Ji-young, I left the hospital and headed for the tram.

The place to travel by tram is the northern district, a district where the gap between the rich and the poor is extreme.

Close to the center is lined with high-end mansions housing students from wealthy families, while the farther north you go the more slums there are.

I got off at the northernmost tram station and moved towards my destination.

Ferocious eyes were glaring at me in every alley, but fortunately, no one came up to fight directly.

The girl I’m looking for is in the deepest part of the slum. I was standing near the entrance to the Back Alley.

“Oh brother, are you here again?”

A black mask with heavy make-up on the eyes.

A funky fashion with colorful circle lenses in the eyes and piercings dangling from the ears.

There was even a skull beanie that didn’t fit the season, and her bleached white hair protruded from under the beanie.

From noble mtl dot com

“I came to look at some stuff.”

“Are you just going to watch today? Why don’t you go buy one?”

“You have to buy something useful.”

“Ha ha ha, that’s right. These are the things I picked up in moderation from somewhere. Most of them are junk. Take a look around though. Maybe you have something useful?”

The name of this friendly woman has never been revealed, but everyone in the community used to call her ‘Binnie Girl’.

Even when all the characters were wearing swimsuits during the summer event, it was impressive to see them stand firm in their beanies.

He is given a fairly important role in Legend of Academia. He is a backstreet merchant who brings various goods to a specific place in the northern district every Friday.

In some cases, common items were sold at exorbitant prices, but there were also cases where rare items that were really hard to find were sold at ridiculously low prices.

That’s why I was always checking this place every week even when I had no money.

Because I had to borrow money to buy type C items with unique effects, or type A and B items that raised the ‘ability’ level.

But this week’s stuff was also bad.

I saw some bargain-priced items, but none of them are important enough to buy now when I need to save money for future bazaars.

Anyway, does Jo Ju-young know about the existence of this beanie girl?

She probably doesn’t know.

Because the Back Alley Merchant is a feature that unlocks after you progress through the story to a certain extent.

Later, when Joo Si-young has some spare time, she might suggest hinting at it.

“Ah, that’s right bro. Did you hear that rumor?”

She was about to get up from her seat when the beanie girl suddenly spoke to her.

“Rumors?”

“You already know that the Zetas family collapsed overnight, right? Hmm… is not it? He’s not a resident of the back alley, so he might not be familiar with this story. What is the Zetas family-“

“I know that much.”

It’s our special department that caused the collapse.

“Oh, yes? Then the story goes fast. The Zetas family are the guys who succeeded in advancing to the East from a back alley. The leader there is quite capable, and he also handled strange products from where he got them.”

“A mysterious product?”

It was obvious that he was referring to Bona Mana Booster, but I dared to ask. Because there is no need to buy useless doubts.

“Well, you just have to find out if there is something like that. Anyway, since the leader of that family disappeared overnight, those who were holding their breath in the back alley are smacking their lips.”

The beanie girl giggled as if she was having fun.

“In short, it’s like stealing from rich people without owners. In the Zetas family’s hideout, there must be a lot of money and things they gathered here and there, of course, but all that’s left is the Mabari who only followed orders from below.”

“… Everyone must be watching.”

“hahahaha. After all, if you were my older brother, I knew you would understand right away.”

“Can I ask why you are telling me that?”

When I asked that, the beanie girl pushed her face right in front of me.

… It’s a burden.

“Hyung, do you live in the Eastern District?”

“… However.”

“Then why don’t you try it? Even if you can’t find important items, scraping up crumbs will make you quite a bit of money. If it’s something that’s troublesome to deal with, you can sell it to me.”

“How come the back story seems to be true.”

“Kihihihi, of course.”

The beanie girl let out a bizarre laugh and patted my back with her hands, then she asked me again with a provocative look.

“How about it, would you like to try it?”