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Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Schrödinger

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"...So?"

"Huh?"

"I'm just wondering why you're following me like this."

I stopped walking and turned around.

The blonde heroine was following from a distance, maintaining a set space. Her name was probably... Amelia?

Perhaps it was because she was a spear-wielder, but her long, shapely legs were striking.

For some reason, a sense of defeat washed over me.

She seemed taller than I was when I was a man.

...No, it's not that I was short, it's that *she's* tall!

"I want to be your friend."

"...Friend? You and me, Amelia?"

"Yes, yes. Is that... not okay?"

Friend, a friend, huh.

At this time, not long after enrollment.

If a classmate I'd never even spoken to came up and asked to be friends, what should I do?

"Okay!"

"R-really?"

What do you mean, 'what should I do'?

Of course I should accept!

[The reader has a friend...! And a heroine candidate, no less! Oh my god.]

I heard the author's voice, full of surprise and admiration.

Admire me more!

This is a monumental day for me – I'm making a friend!

Hah, of course, it's not like I was a friendless loner in my original world, but still.

Just when I was worried about having to live without a single friend at the academy, a heroine candidate, no less!

Personally! To me!

She came to ask to be friends. I'm happy.

"Yes, of course. I never refuse people who approach me."

"Then, can I... speak informally?"

"Of course. Oh, don't worry about me, this is comfortable for me."

"U-uh, okay."

Grinning broadly.

Beaming.

If I had to describe my face right now, I don't think there's any other way than those words.

"Arte, have you thought about any clubs you want to join?"

"Clubs, you mean?"

"Yeah. We're, uh, friends, so I was a little curious."

...Hmm. But Amelia's movements are a little stiff.

Is she nervous? Why?

Could it be...?

"Amelia, you don't have to be nervous."

"G-gah?!"

"The first conversation with a new friend is always a bit nerve-wracking."

Right, talking to a friend for the first time is always nerve-wracking.

But as time passes, it usually loosens up in an instant, as if it was never there.

So, let's help Amelia relax so she doesn't feel nervous.

Where was it?

I think I heard on the internet that taking a deep breath helps you relax.

"Alright, breathe in..."

"H-huff..."

"And exhale."

"Hoooo..."

...She's going to hyperventilate first, isn't she?

She's not relaxing at all!

The internet really is trash.

I thought it sounded plausible, but it's no help at all.

"No choice then. It seems you're too nervous, so let's save our conversation for another time."

Has Amelia never made a friend before?

She does have a bit of a refined, 'young lady' look about her...

I'll have to ask the author later.

"W-which club are you...?"

"Haha, you're more persistent than I thought."

Just as I was about to seat Amelia on a park bench and leave, her words stopped me.

Even in such a nervous state, she's asking about my club plans.

It seems Amelia really wants to be close to me!

But what should I do?

I don't have any club activities in mind, though?

No choice. I'll have to tell the truth here.

"It depends on which club Yoo Si-woo joins."

"Wha, what?! Wait! Let's talk more..."

"Alright, don't be late for class!"

She was nervous being with me, so she'll probably feel better soon.

After deciding I was far enough away from her, I asked the author what I was curious about.

"Author."

[Yes?]

"Amelia, did she... not have any friends?"

[I don't know. It hasn't been decided yet.]

"...Huh?"

What do you mean?

If *you* don't know, then who would...?

As I stood there dumbfounded by the absurd answer, the author asked me a question, as if realizing something.

[Ah, by any chance, do you think I created all the characters?]

"...You didn't?"

[Not at all?]

I started to get more and more confused.

Based on the author's behavior so far, I naturally assumed they created all the characters themselves.

...That's not it?

[Hmm, how should I explain this. ...Ah! Schrödinger's... what was it. Do you know about that?]

"You mean Schrödinger's Cat?"

[Yes, that.]

The example the author brought up was a story everyone had probably heard at least once.

Schrödinger's Cat.

It's a thought experiment where a cat in a box is in a superposition of both dead and alive states until someone opens the box and observes its condition.

But why is that coming up here?

[Hmm, since you probably know the general idea, I'll skip that part... The most important thing in that thought experiment is the observer.]

"The observer..."

[Without an observer, you can't determine the cat's state in the box. The cat must remain in a superposition forever.]

"How does that relate to you not knowing Amelia's past?"

[I'm not as perfect an existence as you think. If I were perfect, I wouldn't have sent you down; I'd just write the novel from Yoo Si-woo's perspective, wouldn't I?]

"...Ah."

Yes, that's right.

The author's novel proceeds from Yoo Si-woo's perspective.

But the author couldn't even read Yoo Si-woo's mind, let alone know what he was doing, so they ordered me to stalk him.

If they were an omniscient god, they would have known his mind without needing to do that.

[Amelia's past is still in an unobserved state.]

"In other words, her past is a blank state...?"

[Exactly. I merely overlay the empty box with whatever I want.]

That's completely broken.

I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak.

[However, I can't change something that has already been observed. So, it's not omnipotence.]

"Ah, could it be that the reason you won't change my ability is also...?"

[Hehe, you caught me... I already decided on that.]

Why didn't you just say you couldn't change it from the start?

It wasn't that you *wouldn't* change it, but that you *couldn't*?

[Amelia's past hasn't been observed yet. That's why I don't know.]

"...Once it's decided, it can't be changed forever?"

[That's right. I can change minor things somehow, but the main plot points are a bit...]

Right, I generally understand.

That the author isn't a creator god, but possesses an ability so overpowered it's comparable to one.

[It's easy to create something that doesn't exist, but hard to erase something that does. It might be easier to understand it that way.]

"But then, who is the observer?"

[Naturally, it's the reader, isn't it? I told you. It's hard if you don't view it from the reader's perspective.]

"I... didn't know that, though?"

[Of course you didn't, I never told you, did I?]

You crazy bitch, how can you assign such an important role without any warning?!

...I bit back the urge to shout.

[So, should we set Amelia's background as her being an outcast?]

"No, please make it so she had several friends, but none she truly connected with. A background where she yearns to make a true friend someday..."

[Alrighty, as you wish~]

Ah, wait a minute.

Without realizing it, I had just voiced my desire to become Amelia's close friend.

Sorry, Amelia...!

[Alright, Reader. Since you seem to generally understand, let's move on to clubs. ...Which club would be good?]

The author's question snapped me back to reality.

Right, the author said it's hard to change something once it's set anyway.

All I have to do is become her true friend.

To do that, I first need to decide on a club.

"How about something like... exploration?"

[Exploration?]

"Yes. Since the plot needs to progress with finding a secret room... something easily connected would be along those lines."

[Hmm, not bad. So, an exploration club?]

"It'll also be easier to get permission to go outside. Wouldn't that be good?"

[Alright!]

...But wait a moment, a sudden question arose.

I generally understood the author's ability.

But because of that, even more questions arose.

"Author."

[Yes?]

"What happens if a setting error occurs?"

Right, a setting error.

As long as there are people involved, it's impossible for setting errors not to occur.

Surely, if a setting error occurs, the world won't end or anything, right...?

[Well, I don't think anything good would happen. But don't worry.]

"You can finish the novel without any setting errors?"

[No? I said it's *hard* to twist existing settings, not impossible, did I?]

"Ah."

[It's just a *little* bit very difficult... but I can try to force it.]

I see.

For a moment, I imagined the terrifying scenario of the Earth ending, but thankfully, it seems that's not the case.

Still, I was hoping for a 'yes' to that last question.

We don't need setting errors, do we...?

[And that's why the reader is here. If an error occurs, you have to fix it instead of me, right?]

"...Yes, I know."

Three things I realized from my conversation with the author.

First, this ability of mine, which can turn me into a femme fatale at any moment, cannot be changed. It's already set that way. Damn it.

Second, because of me, Amelia now has a shallow but broad network of acquaintances, with no close friends she can truly open her heart to.

Third, if the author makes a mess, I have to clean it up.

The first and third points didn't sit well with me.

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