episode_0030

“Can you handle this? I don’t know what content Lee Ji-hye wrote, but if you come out like this…”

Han Do-ah drew her sword from her waist. As the threatening length of the blade pointed towards them, the two female students turned pale.

They were also well aware of Han Do-ah’s reputation.

“Hey, let’s just go…”

“Y-yeah. Don’t regret it later.”

The two girls exited, delivering lines reminiscent of third-rate villains. Han Do-ah stared at their retreating figures for a while before she sheathed her sword.

She gave me a somewhat frightened look.

“Aren’t you going to ask?”

“About what?”

“…About the letter written by Lee Ji-hye.”

Although Han Do-ah said that, asking about it here would only sour the atmosphere.

“I guess the situation right now indicates that their relationship isn’t good. Other than that, I don’t know. I don’t really want to pry any further.”

As I didn’t show an attitude of trying to force information out, Han Do-ah’s expression softened.

“As I’ve felt for a while, Maru’s junior is thoughtful. Not acting like a typical student these days.”

“…Acting not like a typical student applies to seniors as well.”

Honestly, based on her actions alone, Han Do-ah seemed like a mature middle-aged person.

“What do you mean?”

“You promised to buy me fruit juice. I’m thirsty.”

“Hmm…”

With a meaningful gaze, Han Do-ah silently got juice from the vending machine.

Sipping the juice, she became lost in thought.

‘It won’t be long before those Do-won High School kids start trouble. Lee Ji-hye won’t stay quiet.’

And my prediction surprisingly came true.

A few days after Han Do-ah received the letter, when Na Yuna and I finished studying in the study room and came out, the male students from Do-won High School around us sighed.

“Hey, look at him. He’s with another girl again.”

“Ugh… Does he really want to do that at the academy? Disgusting.”

Because I often used the study room alone with them to help with Han Do-ah and Na Yuna’s studies, they targeted me, probably thinking I was engaging in an inappropriate relationship with them in the study room.

‘How low can they get.’

When I first came to Haneul High, it felt similar to being ostracized. Just like back then, if I ignore their provocation this time, the harassment will only get worse.

“They’re really harsh…”

Nayuna muttered timidly. In the past, she wouldn’t have been able to stand up to those tough male students, but now she was resisting in her own way.

“Just leave me alone. If we stay quiet, they’ll get tired of it and stop on their own.”

I tried to brush Nayuna off with these words, but I had no intention of staying quiet. This is our school, and since those male students received a free pass from the bridge gang, I have to step up.

“In the original, the person who bullied at school was nearby… I need to find that guy.”

His name is Ju Wonyoung.

He was a girl who had been assigned to the DT Academy area and was rampaging around. In the original, she was a girl who studied a bit, but here, I still don’t know what gender she is.

“I should ask those two guys during break time.”

Of course, there might be a little (?) conflict, but if you look at it that way, those guys who started gossiping first are the bad ones.

“Yuna, don’t you have the next class?”

“Oh, right. I should go…”

She slung her bag over one shoulder. Before leaving, she cautiously spoke up.

“Maru, um… don’t pay attention to those kinds of words.”

“Are you worried about me?”

As I asked, Nayuna’s cheeks turned red. She became a strawberry while still looking at me.

“It’s everyday for me to hear gossip, but you don’t seem like the type.”

“Now I’m used to it too.”

After confirming that I was okay, Nayuna waved her hand and headed to the classroom. After Nayuna left, I observed the two male students.

They also seemed to be skipping time in the self-study room, then came out a little later. I followed them.

The two men came out of the school building and went into a narrow alley, where they took out cigarettes.

“Ugh, it’s stuffy. Why is the air in the self-study room so stale?”

“My skin is cracking. It’s a sin to be a test-taker.”

“Right, what happened to your crush?”

They chatted away while lighting their cigarettes. I didn’t like the smell of smoke, so before they could start smoking in earnest, I approached them.

“Blood hasn’t even dried on their heads, and they’re already smoking.”

My dry remark made the two male students jump in surprise and look at me. They must have mistaken me for a teacher from the academy.

“Put out the cigarette.”

They narrowed their brows as they looked at me, dressed in the school uniform.

“Aren’t you the one from earlier? The guy with the girl in the study room.”

“How many girls are there, really? You scumbag.”

He spat out insults as if there was some kind of grudge against me. It seemed like there was genuine bitterness in his words, even though it would be someone else’s business.

It was a familiar gaze I’d experienced since puberty—the jealous looks from male students.

“Poor males consumed by hatred…”

I sighed and walked confidently towards them. Then I flicked the cigarette out of one of their mouths with my finger.

“I told you not to smoke.”

“This crazy bastard.”

Perhaps due to their numerical advantage, one of the male students aimed for my cheek and swung his arm at me without fear. I deflected his arm and struck his cheek in return.

Thwack!

The male student, staggering from the tremendous force, looked at me with a bewildered expression.

You can tell from just one hit. They probably hadn’t experienced this level of strength themselves. Unexperienced pain brings about fear.

“Why, why did you come over here and start a fight with us…”

One of the wronged male students stuttered as he put out the cigarette himself, seemingly at a loss for words. It seems they don’t remember that they were the ones who started the altercation.

“Don’t you guys not want me to hit you either? So honestly answer me. Who gave you the order?”

“O-Order?”

“Who ordered you guys around? Someone from Dowon High, right?”

“Uh, well….”

As I pretended to raise my hand toward the hesitant male student, he blurted out in a frightened voice.

“Ju-Ju Wonyoung! We were told to target any Dowon High students we see in the sky-high uniform!”

“As expected, it’s him.”

“What class is he in?”

“He’s in the same class as us. Same as you.”

The academic level remained faithful to the original. I didn’t stop there and continued to extract information from them.

“Does he have a timetable?”

“He’s secretive about his relationships with classmates.”

“Check the places that guy frequents.”

I relentlessly pressed for more information.

The boys sobbed, startled by my sudden command to raise their arms and scratching their heads. They blurted out the information I needed, and once I had what I wanted, I let them go.

“Thanks for the info. You’ve all worked hard. Don’t cross paths with me at the academy from now on.”

“……”

“…Just go.”

As I raised my hand, they fled towards the school building as if their lives depended on it. I recorded the information I’d just obtained on my phone and formulated a plan in my head.

“The main plot will unfold as it’s supposed to anyway, so I just need to intervene slightly.”

With that thought in mind, I returned to the academy. Soon, I would have a class with Kim Noeul. She usually arrived early and would likely be in the classroom by now.

“This class is physics…”

As I entered the physics lecture hall, I spotted Kim Noeul sitting at the back. There was only one seat left beside her.

Just as I was about to take that seat, someone brushed past me like a flash.

“Surprise.”

A male student who had just passed me sat down next to Kim Noeul and greeted her warmly.

“Hey, are you Kim Noeul?”

“Huh?”

Kim Noeul looked at the boy speaking to her. She seemed taken aback, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

“I’m Ju Wonyoung.”

“Oh… hi.”

Despite her surprise, Kim Noeul responded with a natural smile, as if she were used to such interactions. Ju Wonyoung seemed touched by her response and continued.

“You’re really famous, you know. You’re good at studying, right? This is my first year of physics, so if there’s anything I don’t understand during class, can I ask you?”

By the way, Ju Wonyoung scored full marks in physics on the midterm at Dowon High School.

“It’s okay to ask. It doesn’t matter.”

Kim Noeul responded to him as she would to anyone else in a formal friendly relationship.

The problem was that Kim Noeul’s appearance was so overwhelming that the other person misunderstood even her casual attitude as flirtatious.

As expected, Ju Wonyoung began to get excited, mistakenly thinking that Kim Noeul was interested in him.

“She’s an alpha girl… She’s really something.”

She could captivate men with just a breath.

– The class is about to begin.

A voice came through the ceiling speakers.

Upon hearing the announcement, Kim Noeul looked around as if searching for someone. Then, she met my gaze, her pupils trembling as if she were about to confess a crime. Her once fair skin seemed even paler.

“Ma, Maru?”

In a quivering voice, she asked, “Why are you so late…?”

I awkwardly replied, “Just chatting with some guys.”

It was a conversation of bodies.

“Oh, I see….”

Kim Noeul seemed to hesitate in speaking her mind, pursing her lips, subtly signaling to Ju Wonyoung.

It was a signal to vacate the seat. Of course, given Kim Noeul’s nature, she wouldn’t ask the student already seated to move elsewhere.

“After all, the one who sits first is the master.”

I turned without hesitation.

“…Where are you going?”

Without waiting for an answer from Kim Noeul, I raised the end of my sentence, asking, “Where else? I’m going to that empty seat.”

While I enjoyed watching Kim Noeul’s little drama, there was only one seat left. I went and took it.

Kim Noeul stood blankly for a moment, then weakly sat down.

Ju Wonyoung, oblivious, started chattering with Kim Noeul. However, Kim Noeul’s response was far from enthusiastic.

“Understanding physics is important, right?”

“Hmm.”

“Well, these days, both classical and quantum physics are crucial, so it’s good to study them evenly. I’ll have a lot to ask you.”

“Hmm.”

“So, I’m counting on you.”

“Hmm.”

She had just been the princess who listened well to his words, but now she was frowning like a bad-tempered villain.

Even her scowling face was beautiful, but Ju Wonyoung focused on Kim Noeul’s change in attitude.

Ju Wonyoung wasn’t a fool. While subtly ignoring Ju Wonyoung’s words, Kim Noeul was staring fixedly at someone’s back.

Following her gaze, I saw the male student she had been talking to earlier. His name was Maru, I think. After Lee Ji-hye ordered him to pressure Haneul, Ju Wonyoung had designated him as the first target.

He had been chosen as the first sacrificial lamb because he was recently gaining popularity at the academy.

Surrounding Kim Maru, the female students kept stealing glances at him. Unaware of these looks, Kim Maru diligently solved the physics N problems.

“…What’s up with that? Could it be that she likes him?”

As Kim Noeul continued to stare only at Kim Maru, a dark flame ignited in Ju Wonyeong’s heart.

“Damn, what’s so good about that guy? He’s obviously an empty-headed fool.”

Even within the same S class, there are different levels. He was someone who secured an S-class status through unremarkable academic achievements without a level test. A guy who seduces girls without anything in his head.

“Kim Maru, you put your heart into your work.”

Meanwhile, Kim Maru was also observing Ju Wonyeong’s reactions. It was even more difficult not knowing when Ju Wonyeong kept glaring at him.

“Ju Wonyeong, you’re like Huh Yoonsoo Mk.2.”

Huh Yoonsoo was a male student who led the ostracization of me by making Kim Noeul jealous of our relationship. What happened to that male student in the end?

“You’ll end up just like Huh Yoonsoo.”

I took out a business card from my pocket.

The name “Gumiho” was written on the Veritas Club business card.