52) Chapter 9. Do You Want Me to Be a Villain? (4)
No, wait. Hold on.
In the original story, Seo Rua wasn’t someone who got picked on like this.
Of course, the witch must have existed in the original too. Otherwise, Seo Rua wouldn’t have had a reason to go astray.
In the original, Uncle Dohyun didn’t survive, and Auntie Yujin tried—really tried—to accept Seo Rua as her daughter, but ultimately couldn’t.
That alone might have been enough to twist someone, but it didn’t feel like the decisive factor.
Because Auntie Yujin is the greatest hero I’ve ever known.
Even if she couldn’t fully accept her as a daughter, she would’ve done everything she could in that situation.
So in the end, the witch must have appeared, sought out Seo Rua, shattered her childhood, and warped her personality. That explanation made sense.
If the premise is the same, then why am I being picked on in this world?
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Ah, no, just…”
“Is it because of what that guy said earlier?”
Soi’s voice was sharp.
“No…”
And I’m terrible at lying to Soi. Actually, I’m not great at lying in general.
Saying I’m not bothered wouldn’t fool anyone.
“Don’t mind it. Just some idiot talking without knowing anything.”
“…Maybe.”
An idiot who knows nothing.
But he wasn’t the only one in the classroom. Even the girl who helped me didn’t exactly look at me kindly.
I should sort out my thoughts a bit.
If Seo Rua went astray because of all that, then how did Soi and Chae-yi get dragged into it?
I could guess about Chae-yi. If Soi and I hadn’t been there, she would’ve been assaulted by that guy.
Chae-yi’s ability erases other people’s powers. His ability was blending into the environment.
He didn’t even need a power to hurt her.
Then what about Soi?
…Maybe she loved Rua too much in that world.
When I first came home, didn’t Soi look so happy? Even if she couldn’t instantly love Rua because her father had died, maybe the emptiness left behind made her cling to Rua even more.
So Seo Rua could have manipulated her. At least, that’s what makes sense with what I know.
And well…
In the story, Seo Rua didn’t pick fights herself—her followers did.
If three pretty girls walked around together, convincing the delinquent boys wouldn’t be hard…
“H‑huh…”
My brain filled with disgust and shut down.
I shivered.
I hated that idea.
I know it’s weird to think like this, but I don’t want Soi or Chae-yi to get boyfriends—or worse, do those things with guys.
And I hated it even more because I knew I couldn’t stop it forever. They’re both pretty and capable; they could get boyfriends anytime.
And even if they didn’t go astray like in the original, eventually they’d end up with Nam Jinwoo—
“Rua?”
Soi called my name urgently.
“Huh?”
Her voice snapped me back.
“…Ha.”
Chae-yi sighed irritably beside me.
“Uh, I…”
Was I spacing out too much? Maybe they got annoyed because I didn’t answer.
“It’s not because of you. I just didn’t like those guys.”
“Right? Ugh, what should we do about them.”
“H‑hey, guys.”
I quickly tried to stop them.
This wasn’t good.
Delinquents hanging out in the corner are harmless enough, but sometimes those delinquents are actually good students—or friends with the good students.
If they messed with the wrong people, their whole three years at the academy could be ruined.
I’d be fine, but Soi and Chae-yi had lots of friends in middle school and went out often. They shouldn’t ruin their school life because of me.
“…”
Seeing my reaction, Soi and Chae-yi exchanged looks. Then both sighed deeply and grabbed me by both arms like they were escorting a criminal.
“H‑hey, I can walk on my own.”
“Yeah, yeah~ Our Rua can walk~”
Soi answered half‑heartedly.
“So let’s go sleep now~”
Chae-yi chimed in.
They were being way too overprotective.
…Though without them, I probably would’ve just stood there helplessly while those guys picked on me.
Anyway, those boys—
In the original, their names weren’t mentioned, but weren’t they the ones who picked on Nam Jinwoo on the first day?
Nam Jinwoo was still frozen in place, trembling, staring in my direction.
“…”
Sigh.
Well, what can I do? We’ve only just entered the main story.
And I have my own problems.
At this rate, I’m not better than the original Seo Rua—I’m already getting treated like she was in the late story.
…It’s a bit of a gamble, but—
Maybe tomorrow I should talk to that heroine.
Her gaze was harsh, but she did help me. If I thank her and start a conversation…
I even know a few things she likes.
O‑okay.
If I think about it that way, I’m starting off in a better position than I expected, right?
Maybe I can be… a little optimistic.
Even if it’s full of question marks, I decided to think that way for now.
*
And the moment I talked to that girl came much sooner than expected.
“Huh? Huh?”
“…”
Because when we opened our dorm room door, she was there.
Ah, right. This was a four‑person room.
Even before we brought our luggage in, one bed area had already been neatly organized.
I figured she must be a tidy person, but I didn’t expect it to be her.
“Uh, hi.”
I froze for a moment, then awkwardly greeted her. She stared at me quietly, then—
“…Hi.”
She answered curtly.
Her eyes moved between me and my sides.
More precisely, between my arms.
Because Soi and Chae-yi were still clinging to them.
I thought linking arms between girls was normal, but… maybe being this close looked strange.
Especially since the parts touching weren’t just arms.
“Y‑you’re Hyeonji, right?”
Baek Hyeonji. That was her name.
There were a few students besides us who didn’t mention their parents during introductions, and she was one of them.
Given her personality, she probably didn’t want to look like she was relying on her parents’ names.
“Yeah.”
Hyeonji answered plainly and continued organizing her desk.
She picked up the neatly arranged books and tapped them into alignment before putting them away.
“Um, let’s get along this semester…?”
Her hands froze.
She turned her head and stared at me.
Her face was expressionless.
But expressionless faces often look angry.
“…Sure.”
After thinking for a long moment, she answered.
Then she turned away again.
She didn’t look like she wanted to be friends…
Was she like this in the original?
No, she was stiff, but not like this. Disciplinary‑committee types are usually more like “No indecent behavior!” while secretly being the most sensitive to that stuff.
“…Hey.”
“Ah, wait, wait!”
Soi stepped forward, and I quickly grabbed her arm. She stumbled and leaned against me.
Her face reddened.
Of course—Hyeonji was watching.
“Uh, no, that’s…”
But Hyeonji didn’t say anything. She just went back to her own tasks.
“L‑let’s go to our beds…”
Feeling deflated, I pulled Soi and Chae-yi toward my bunk.
Soi looked oddly satisfied, while Chae-yi looked extremely displeased.
Well, that wasn’t unusual.
“Um, guys?”
I froze as I climbed onto the bed.
There were two bunk beds, and we’d already been assigned our spots.
I was on the bottom bunk.
The problem was that both Soi and Chae-yi were climbing onto my bed.
“Huh? I always sleep like this.”
“N‑no…”
I kept glancing nervously at Hyeonji.
I mean, yes, we do sleep together at home…
“But that’s unfair. Am I supposed to sleep alone?”
“W‑well, Chae-yi, you sleep alone at home, don’t you…?”
The bed was cramped with two people. With three, someone had to lie sideways.
Right now, both Soi and Chae-yi were lying sideways.
Facing me.
“…I sleep with my mom.”
“…”
Soi and I both looked at her, and Chae-yi’s face turned red.
Was she embarrassed about sleeping with her mom? Or was it a lie?
“…Liar.”
“…Ahem.”
It was a lie.
Chae-yi coughed awkwardly and snuggled closer to me.
Wait. Then—
“…”
Hyeonji was staring at us like she was witnessing something she absolutely should not be seeing.
…So much for making a good first impression.