51) Chapter 9. Do You Want Me to Be a Villain? (3)

Given my background, I knew not every student would be friendly toward me.

Still, wasn’t it a bit much to look at someone you’ve never even spoken to with such an odd expression?

I had hoped that once I entered the academy this year, I’d try talking to different kids and make some friends.

But when everyone is already gathered in their own little groups, how exactly am I supposed to approach them?

…Ah. Right. I used to be like that too.

Even though I went to the orientation before the semester started, even though I remembered talking to someone there—

Once classes began, everyone had already formed their own circles, and if I wanted to join, I’d have to walk up to a group of three or four and start talking first.

I’d experienced that in my previous life too.

“Shall we go?”

“G‑go? Go where?”

“The dorms, obviously.”

“Oh.”

Right.

We’d moved our luggage in a few days before the entrance ceremony. The academy provided almost everything we needed anyway, so we only had to bring what wasn’t supplied.

The academy was located at the southern edge of Seoul—actually, not just the edge. The campus was carved out of a mountain straddling the Seoul–Gyeonggi border, so some buildings technically had Gyeonggi addresses.

Students came from Seoul, and even parts of Gangwon and Chungbuk.

Strictly speaking, Soi, Chae-yi, and I didn’t live far enough away to need dorms, but for fairness, everyone stayed in them.

The dorms were four‑person rooms.

They said the assignments were random, but somehow, Soi, Chae-yi, and I ended up in the same room.

There was no way that was random… wasn’t the principal a friend of Auntie Yujin?

We made eye contact during the entrance ceremony too. I had a feeling something was arranged behind the scenes.

Definitely something I shouldn’t mention in front of the other kids.

Better not say anything. They probably already know anyway.

“There aren’t any classes on the first day, so let’s just get some sleep.”

“Um, actually…”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I, uh… friends…”

I wanted to make friends.

But even as I said it, I felt conflicted.

I also thought it was hard to approach people first. What was I supposed to say to a group already deep in conversation? “Hey, I saw that too”?

Earlier, I overheard their conversations—almost all about idols or dramas. The trendy Korean dramas everyone was watching lately.

As someone who spent all her free time at home on anime, manga, and games, I couldn’t possibly join in. I didn’t even know the content.

“So…”

“So?”

Soi tilted her head.

I glanced away and looked at Nam Jinwoo, still awkwardly sitting in the corner.

Maybe he’d be easier to approach?

In the original, he had no friends at the start of the semester and was often ignored because of his ability.

Funny thing is, in the original story, Soi, Chae-yi, and Seo Rua weren’t lonely outcasts. They were the ones who ruled the class—practically delinquents.

If the witch existed in that world too, rumors about being the daughter of a villain would’ve spread like wildfire. How did she manage that?

Was infamy still a kind of fame? Did Seo Rua use it to her advantage?

…Well, maybe that’s too much of a stretch. But considering most of the kids who “supported” the three were boys… maybe there were “other methods” involved.

Anyway, all three supposedly had plenty of experience.

“…”

Thinking about that after so long left me mentally bruised, and I must’ve looked dazed, because Soi whispered while holding my arm.

“Why? You want to be friends with him?”

“H‑huh?!”

Her question startled me.

Why was her voice so low? Was she whispering on purpose?

But when Soi whispered, she usually giggled and her voice went higher, not lower.

“Is that your type?”

“N‑no!!”

I yelped without meaning to.

Everyone turned to look. My face burned. Even Nam Jinwoo looked over.

I wasn’t sure if it was normal or not, but even after coming to this world, I still didn’t feel much sexual attraction toward men. When watching TV, I found female celebrities more attractive than male ones.

So being asked if I liked a boy felt the same as being asked, “Do you like guys?”

…But then, does that make me the weird one now?

If I said I liked girls, would Soi and Chae-yi distance themselves?

I didn’t want that.

“You don’t?”

Soi asked. Her eyes narrowed. She was smiling, but the emotion behind it wasn’t pleasant.

“What, what?”

Chae-yi leaned in too.

Her eyes narrowed as well. It was a little scary.

Why were they acting like this?

Were they being overprotective? Because of how my school life had been… well, yeah.

“N‑no, I don’t…”

While I fumbled for words—

“Hey.”

Someone spoke to us.

No—spoke to me.

Soi and Chae-yi turned their heads at the same time.

But the boy who received their gaze didn’t flinch.

He looked like the type who “played around.” In other words, he had the vibe of a delinquent—carefree, slightly rough around the edges.

His outfit was the biggest giveaway.

He had his uniform jacket completely unbuttoned, like he was wearing it only because he had to, and wanted everyone to know he didn’t care.

“You’re Seo Rua, right?”

“…And?”

Soi answered before I could.

“No, I just wanted to check something.”

Behind him, a few boys snickered.

“Are you really the witch’s daughter?”

“…”

I closed my mouth.

What was I supposed to say?

I couldn’t even say it during introductions earlier.

If I said no—

“She’s not.”

Once again, Soi answered before I could.

“She’s my sister.”

“That’s right. Rua is Soi’s sister.”

The boy looked surprised by that response.

“So what? What exactly do you want to say?”

“Uh, well, nothing.”

He regained his composure quickly. After all, whatever he wanted to say was directed at me, not Soi or Chae-yi.

“Just be careful. I don’t know how things were at your old school, but everyone here is a super, got it? Bringing a few birds with you won’t help.”

“…So you think Rua is going to cause trouble here?”

This time it was Chae-yi.

At this rate, I wasn’t going to get a chance to speak at all.

Every time I tried to gather my thoughts, the girls on either side cut in.

“So you’re saying if she messes up, you’ll stop her? That she’s some kind of villain?”

“Why? Isn’t she? I heard someone got hurt.”

“And you think that was Rua’s fault?”

“Well—”

“Enough.”

Before he could finish, someone cut him off.

A girl with a bag slung over her shoulder, as if she’d been about to leave the classroom. She had a strict, serious look.

She looked like the model‑student type. Unlike the boy, she wore her uniform properly, without altering it, and her hair was neatly tied back with no stray strands.

I remembered that blue ponytail. It was mentioned several times in the story.

She was one of the heroines too.

Ah, and seeing her here reminded me—this was how she first met the protagonist.

…She stepped in when he was being picked on like this.

“You know she didn’t do it.”

“…Hey, you too—”

The boy stopped mid‑sentence.

He scratched his head awkwardly and turned away.

The boys behind him also turned away, looking deflated.

“Um.”

The girl was about to leave too, so I quickly called out.

“…Thank you.”

She turned back.

But her eyes weren’t friendly.

Not toward me.

Not toward Soi or Chae-yi either.

“…It’s fine.”

She seemed like she had more to say, but instead she turned sharply and walked out of the classroom.

…Do I really look that unapproachable?

I did shorten my uniform again, like in middle school. Because Soi and Chae-yi seemed to want that.

Maybe that gave me a bad image. In the novel, she was a model student.

The “No indecent behavior!” disciplinary‑committee type.

Though today she looked so serious that it didn’t quite match that image.

“…”

Only then did I realize everyone in the room was staring at us.

No one said a word. Ever since that girl stepped in.

Why?

Did she have some overwhelming power? Was her disciplinary‑committee role actually backed by brute force?

That wasn’t her character, though.

“Let’s head to the dorms.”

Soi suggested.

I nodded quickly.

A/N:

Thank you for reading today!

Sorry for the late update ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

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To SSUU1 — thank you so much for your support!

Thank you always for reading my work! Thanks to all of you, I’m able to enjoy writing this novel as well. As a writer, I constantly feel how important readers are. Of course, every writer has different goals, but since I chose the format of a novel, everything I write is something I want to show you. Without readers, I probably wouldn’t even think about finishing a story. So truly, thank you. I’ll do my best to write this one all the way to the end! Thank you so much! I look forward to your continued support!

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To ZeroPay — thank you for your support!

I’m already grateful that you read my work, but to support me on top of that… thank you so much ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a “small” amount when it comes to support. Since Novelpia is subscription‑based, once you’ve paid for the month, you’re already reading my work completely legitimately. And yet you still chose to support me separately—that means you wanted to do something more for me. I can only be grateful. Thank you for consistently reading my writing, and for reading this novel as well!

The joy I feel while writing is something I can only feel because you readers exist. I hope that the enjoyment I feel while writing can reach you, even just a little. Thank you so much! I look forward to your continued support!

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To CharlesJung — thank you for your support!

Thank you so much for reading this novel as well! The only reason I can keep writing like this is because of all of you who read my work! Ever since I was young, I wanted to show someone the worlds I imagined, and I’m so happy I can meet you all like this. I believe the title “writer” only has meaning when someone reads your work and calls you that. So the reason I can be a writer is entirely thanks to you. I’ll continue writing for all of you who helped me achieve this dream! Thank you, and I look forward to your continued support!

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To LilaS2 — thank you for your support!

I felt it would be a shame to rush through the childhood arc, so I wrote it a bit longer, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for liking Rua’s character ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Creating a character and developing them feels like watching them grow, so it means a lot when readers enjoy them. Of course, I’ll also do my best to ensure the original protagonist gets a proper happy ending! Thank you so much! I’ll continue doing my best to write stories that are fun to read and memorable even later on! Thank you, and I look forward to your continued support!

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Pub: 01 Apr 2026 03:01 UTC

Edit: 01 Apr 2026 06:20 UTC

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