57) Chapter 10. Hey, You—Come Out. (3)

On what basis did she say I’d win?

In the original story, Seo Rua never had a conversation with that instructor. Her ability wasn’t portrayed as impressive either—mostly just dropping things over Jinwoo’s head.

Come to think of it, what was that instructor’s ability? She barely had any fight scenes. Since she worked with other instructors rather than students, her battles were never shown in detail.

She must be a superhuman if she’s an instructor here.

Was it her trained eye from years of watching students? Or did she really have some ability related to judging people?

“S‑Soi, what do you think?”

“Think about what?”

“What the instructor said earlier…”

“Oh, that.”

Soi narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Don’t take it too seriously. She probably said it without thinking.”

Hmm.

My dad in my past life used to say similar things. Don’t shrink back, and if someone picks a fight, punch them in the nose first.

Not that I ever lived a life where I actually fought anyone.

Even if someone taught me how to fight, how was I supposed to suddenly punch someone threatening me? And how was I supposed to tell someone to “come outside” like in a movie?

“It might’ve been her way of comforting you. She is an instructor.”

Chae‑yi added.

So I decided to let it go.

I didn’t want to go straight back to the dorm, so I wandered around the school with the two of them before returning. Hyeonji wasn’t in the room yet.

Maybe she was studying somewhere?

It might sound bad, but honestly… I felt relieved.

*

The next morning.

I moved slowly.

Soi and Chae‑yi had climbed into my bed again, one on each side, clinging to my arms so tightly I couldn’t move. Maybe they were worried I’d get scared if someone hugged me unexpectedly.

I waited until they woke up one by one. When Soi woke first, she stared at the still‑sleeping Chae‑yi with narrowed eyes for some reason. I didn’t have time to think about it—we were already running late.

It reminded me of university. The closer someone lived to campus, the more often they were late. Commuters arrived first, then people living alone, then dorm students.

…But since this school was fully dorm‑based, that excuse didn’t work. We were simply the last ones to arrive.

As we entered the classroom, everyone’s eyes turned toward us.

We quietly slipped into our seats.

We weren’t late—there were still ten minutes before class.

I felt a stare from across the room. The boy who picked a fight with me yesterday—and his snickering friends—were glaring at me. His eyes burned with resentment.

But since he’d been scolded, maybe he wouldn’t approach me.

The principal said some Association executives had children here, so he might ignore teachers… but thankfully, he didn’t come near me before class started.

*

Thinking back on it, following Hyeonji around yesterday was a bit much, so I didn’t do it today.

I just ate quietly with Soi and Chae‑yi, then walked around the school.

Unfortunately, I seemed to be famous—not just in my class, but across the school. Not everyone stared, but in crowded places, at least a few people always looked at me.

So I preferred quieter places. The cathedral area was nice, but too far for lunch break.

We wandered near the school buildings, sticking close together—

“W‑Why… why are you doing this…”

A small, trembling voice reached us.

Huh.

The voice wasn’t familiar. Just an ordinary boy’s voice—nothing distinctive.

But the words made it painfully clear he was being bullied.

And in my mind, the original story immediately supplied the identity of the victim.

“……”

Should I go?

Or pretend I didn’t hear?

I looked at Soi and Chae‑yi.

They must’ve heard it too.

Both looked at me.

But neither seemed to think we should intervene.

…In the original story, Soi and Chae‑yi would’ve stood with the bullies.

So what were they like originally?

Judging Chae‑yi might be unfair. We were close as kids, but we only truly reconnected in elementary school. We stayed friends, but we didn’t live together.

But Soi?

Soi… was a righteous kid. Regardless of the original story, the Soi I knew wanted to be a hero like Auntie Yujin. Not just any hero—a true successor to Meteor.

“Rua?”

They looked back when I stopped walking.

Maybe walking away was smarter. The protagonist getting bullied was part of the story’s logic.

A trial before awakening his true power.

A stepping stone to becoming a real hero.

Originally, I, Soi, and Chae‑yi were supposed to be part of that stepping stone. But not anymore. If we walked away, we wouldn’t get involved at all.

Even if I didn’t help, other heroines would eventually appear. Jinwoo would live his harem life just fine.

But—

I looked at Soi and Chae‑yi.

Their expressions were firm.

Soi wasn’t the type to ignore a voice like that. At least, not before middle school.

Maybe I was projecting. Maybe I just wanted her to be righteous.

But what if she really was righteous—and changed because of me? What if she cut off her concern for others just to protect me?

That would be too sad.

“Y‑You heard it too, right?”

I asked.

Soi and Chae‑yi exchanged glances.

Then looked at me.

“Do you want to help?”

Soi asked.

A simple question. No hidden meaning.

Do I want to help?

Do I want to help Jinwoo—the protagonist who’ll be fine with or without me—by confronting someone else?

“…Yeah.”

I nodded.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure. Maybe I wanted to help. Maybe I just wanted to see Soi and Chae‑yi act like the righteous girls they used to be.

“Alright.”

Soi smiled brightly.

“Let’s go.”

*

Behind the school building, in a secluded corner. Of course, it was him—the boy who picked a fight with me on the first day. And his friends.

And the one cornered against the wall was Jinwoo.

Seeing them side by side, the height difference was striking. Jinwoo’s build was so delicate he looked like he’d break if someone hit him.

“Hey.”

Soi stepped forward first.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Huh?”

The boy turned toward us, annoyed.

When he saw the three of us, his expression soured.

“What do you want?”

“I asked you first.”

“This has nothing to do with you. Right, Jinwoo?”

“H‑Huh?”

“We’re becoming friends, you know? So don’t butt in.”

His tone wasn’t exactly gentle, but it was less openly hostile.

The principal wasn’t a powerful figure, but annoying her would still be troublesome. He was still a student.

“Hey.”

Chae‑yi called Jinwoo.

“Did they bully you?”

“H‑Huh?”

Jinwoo trembled, face pale, eyes shaking violently. Clearly, they weren’t trying to “be friends.”

“Hey.”

The boy who bullied me finally snapped and turned toward us.

“I tried to let it go, but I can’t.”

He walked toward us.

“Let what go?”

“Hey. Did you tattle to your mom or something?”

“…What?”

Soi’s face twisted in disbelief.

I blinked too.

“What, everyone knows she’s been close with the principal since her active days. You said something, right? That’s why I got chewed out. Isn’t that it?”

“……”

Soi’s jaw dropped.

Of course she was shocked. Who would expect him to bring up “mom” here?

And someone else was even more offended.

“HEY!”

My throat hurt.

Because I had screamed at the top of my lungs.

Ah.

Everyone nearby turned to look at me, startled.

I opened and closed my mouth.

What was I supposed to do now?

I didn’t think things would escalate this much. That boy wasn’t completely oblivious to his surroundings. If he were, he wouldn’t have stopped at just talking to me.

He panicked when Chae‑yi poked his chest earlier—meaning her ability countered his. And Soi’s ability was top‑tier in the original. So I thought we wouldn’t lose.

And in the original, whenever Jinwoo was bullied, heroines would appear one by one.

Not me, of course. I had no intention of being a heroine.

But—

“Y‑You!”

I shouted again, then froze.

I didn’t know I could yell like this.

…I couldn’t call her “mom,” but I knew how amazing and kind Auntie Yujin was.

I relied on her warmth so much.

So of course I’d get angry hearing something like that.

I’d never shouted like this in front of anyone before.

What should I do—

Ah.

Right.

“You! Come out!”

“…Huh?”

“Come out!”

Only after yelling did I realize we were already outside.

But that wasn’t the point.

…He understood what I meant, right?

If I added anything else, it’d be too embarrassing…

So I turned around dramatically.

And—

“Oh.”

“…Mm.”

I ran straight into Hyeonji.

Did she come because she heard me shouting?

Hyeonji looked away awkwardly.

I also looked away awkwardly.

No one ever told me what to do in this kind of situation.

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Pub: 05 Apr 2026 06:48 UTC

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