episode_0001

The most exciting time in college life is early April.

Isn’t it the time when most couples form?

Of course, I’m not there yet.

But soon.

Yesterday, after the freshman drinking party ended and I headed home, I talked to her all the way and eventually fell asleep while listening to her voice.

Thanks to that, I arrived at the classroom earlier than planned, feeling excited, and found a suitable place to sit.

Rustle-

Soon the door opened, and a pale-skinned woman arrived second.

“Oh, it’s Kim Se-jin. What a waste of a pretty face…”

Her hunched shoulders and the fact that she couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes made her look gloomy. But I thought she had a decent appearance. Of course, not as good as Yeong-hee!

“Hello, Se-jin. You arrived early?”

“Ah…yeah, hi…”

She also struggled to respond to greetings and found a suitable place to sit.

The problem was that this classroom had a sloping structure, and my seat was higher than Kim Se-jin’s, so I could unintentionally watch her.

I didn’t mean to, but I found myself looking at Kim Se-jin absentmindedly.

“Huh?”

Beyond the screen of Kim Se-jin’s smartphone, a familiar picture appeared.

“Huh? Becoming a loyal subject of the empire under false identity?”

!!!!

Whether my unintentional muttering was heard or not, Kim Se-jin was greatly shaken.

“Oh, sorry! It’s just a novel I know, I said it without thinking…”

Quickly apologizing, in the moment of trying to evade the situation—

“A…a false empire loyalist!! You know about it!???”

“Huh?”

“It’s so fun, isn’t it? It’s the GOAT web novel, GOAT!! I’m really into it even though I’m a girl, constantly simulating between the saint and Tricky. The recent plot twist is amazing!! It was fun just being supported and roasted at the academy, but now that we’re getting into the empire part, don’t you want to lock up the author and make them write only? … Right! Who’s the number one pick for the male lead!? No, who’s your 1st pick, huh? Surely it’s not Bbi- right? It could be due to different tastes, but still, Jung-sil is definitely…”

Ah…

I could not even blink as I listened to her rambling.

Really woke up… I didn’t know she was this type. She’s genuine. She gets excited when the topic she’s interested in comes up alone…

I just mentioned the title…

“Hahaha… I just heard it’s popular these days, so I skimmed through the beginning.”

Actually, I started reading the novel that Younghee finds interesting.

“Is that so? Hehe, then I shouldn’t spoil it, right? Okay, I’ll be quiet!”

Phew… I think I managed to smoothly get past it. I guess the novel talk ends here.

“Oh! But really look forward to the ball scene and the alley scene, and…”

“Stop it!! I don’t want to hear spoilers! Don’t spoil it!”

“Sorry sorry~ Just kidding! I envy you too much~”

Envy?

“I wanted to have a brain like yours. I wanted to exchange your brain with mine…”

“Ah… Hahaha…”

This woman casually says eerie things.

“So…?! How far did you read?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s… Where was it? The academy…”

Kim Se-jin leaned on my desk with her hand.

In the moment of surprise at her abrupt gesture, before I knew it, the classroom door opened, and a group of classmates came in.

“Ugh~ You must have drunk too much yesterday; you’re already tired~”

“That’s why I told you to drink slowly- huh?”

“Oh! It’s Jung Soo, right? You came early? And um…”

“Kim Se-jin? How do you know Jung Soo?”

With deer-like eyes, the short-haired girl alternately looked at me and Kim Se-jin. She’s Younghee, whom I talked to until dawn.

Speaking of our relationship…

Before we started dating, didn’t we say we had a good feeling about each other?

The ‘good feeling’ that we are doing well

Is that the kind of ‘good feeling’ that makes us realize it’s real…

Her pupils were shaking slightly.

Seeing Younghee flustered, it felt like something dark inside me was creeping up, pulling out my unpleasant taste.

“Huh? No, Sejin came early and greeted me…”

“Sejin..?”

“We talked about that novel yesterday, right? Sejin was looking at it…”

Every time the word “Sejin” came up, Yeonghee’s brow furrowed a little more.

“Mm… Is that so?”

Yeonghee gently brushed her furrowed brow and, for a moment, glanced at Kim Sejin.

Whether he felt her gaze or not, Kim Sejin immediately lost his previous enthusiasm and bowed his head, starting to look at his smartphone.

“Hey, Kim Sejin.”

A chilly voice, unlike anything heard before, spread out.

“Yeah? Oh… Hi, Yeonghee…”

Kim Sejin responded with a voice noticeably lower and weaker than when talking about the novel.

“Why didn’t you come to the after-party yesterday? It was so fun with everyone there.”

“Oh… I had to work on an assignment at the library, so the time got too late…”

It’s a lie. He would have spent the whole day at home reading web novels.

“Ahh~ It’s not even exam season yet~ Everyone really wanted to see you~ It’s such a shame.”

It’s a lie. They didn’t even know Kim Sejin wasn’t there.

Yeonghee’s mouth curled upward. Other colleagues also started to giggle.

“Don’t be too obsessed with your grades, make friends, take it easy~”

She was smiling, but her eyes were cold.

Even the smile was clearly not a genuine one, anyone could tell.

“Uh, yeah…”

The voice of Kim Sejin, who seemed to have sunk to the ground, pierced through to the depths below.

Why is she subtly scratching like that at someone who isn’t that kind of person…

For a moment, I almost chuckled at the thought passing through my mind.

Jealousy.

Just now, Yeonghee’s actions were a form of territorial marking.

The sight of Kim Sejin fumbling around had triggered Yeonghee’s instincts.

Jealousy… an unpleasant and irresistible impulse had seized her.

Her mouth was about to curl up at the fact that I was the target.

Yes… everyone has dark preferences hidden in their hearts.

In my case, it’s watching a woman consumed by jealousy.

You can say it’s twisted. But what can I do, being the guy I am.

“Yeonghee, are you feeling okay? You seemed quite drunk even before going to bed last night.”

Suppressing a laugh that was about to burst out, he deliberately made his point.

“Oh, come on. If you’re that worried, ask for a wake-up call in the morning… You almost overslept and were late, you know?”

Yeonghee responded with a bright smile, different from a little while ago.

And Kim Sejin had unconsciously raised her head and was looking at both of us.

“I didn’t wake you up on purpose because I thought you might have a hangover from the sound of your voice. When you’re drunk, isn’t it best to sleep in?”

“Alright then? Stop making excuses and let’s go for coffee after class to sober up.”

“Yeah, got it. I’ll treat you as an apology!”

It wasn’t an apology, but we made an excuse to walk together after class. At the same time, we appealed our relationship to everyone listening to the conversation.

However, there was one more thing I aimed for…

Thud!

I turned my eyes to the sound and saw Kim Sejin picking up her fallen smartphone.

“Oh, Sejin, are you okay? Is the screen cracked?”

“Uh… I’m fine, it’s intact…”

After checking the condition of the smartphone, Kim Sejin quickly tried to open the classroom door and leave.

“Hey, where is Kim Sejin? The lecture is about to start.”

“Just… just going to get some water…”

With a dragging voice, Kim Sejin disappeared outside the classroom. I was about to call her back, but I covered my mouth with my hand. It seemed like the corners of my mouth were about to rise again.

This was what I aimed for.

Kim Sejin. She’s so reserved that no one approaches her, and I haven’t talked to her much either. But at least in this school, there probably wasn’t anyone who talked to me as much as she did.

Moreover, she’s definitely a fan of web novels, and it would have been the first time she found someone to talk about web novels, even if her partner only dipped their toes into it…

All in all, Kim Sejin, the quiet girl, might be interested in me or starting to become interested in me.

But with Yeonghee, who looks almost perfect in appearance, it might be confusing to see her assert herself as if marking her territory, and I, too, getting along with Yeonghee without any hesitation.

Is it just my imagination?

Is the prince’s illness too severe?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Even if it’s a misunderstanding, watching the two of them just now was so enjoyable.

He was a loser… I’m no different.

*

When I got home, I started reading “False Imperialism.”

I had talked with Yeonghee at the cafe about novels.

I didn’t know, but Yeonghee seemed to be sincere about this novel as much as Kim Se-jin. I said I had been reading it intermittently because of Yeonghee and finished it today, but the response was on the level of “Go away, Kim Se-jin.”

I’m reading to keep up with the progress to continue our conversation next time.

And perhaps…

Will it become a topic of conversation with Kim Se-jin as well?

*

Before I knew it, it was late at night.

It was frustrating to see the protagonist wavering between heroines, but it had its own appeal.

Is this a harem?

However, I was disappointed that the tension and obsession between the heroines were weaker than I had expected.

Scrolling down, there were many comments appealing for their favorite heroine, which made me dizzy.

Yet the protagonist in the novel was as spineless as a leaf blown by the wind.

What was I thinking…

Unintentionally, I ended up leaving a comment.

[P1 – The heroines’ reactions are too docile… Shouldn’t they show a stance that seems like they would twist and turn when they see the protagonist with another woman?]

[P1 – Wouldn’t it be better to choose one heroine and have the others captivated by jealousy, showing a more aggressive side?]

[P1 – I have to sleep now, so I can’t read further, but the latter part should be okay, right? Surely the protagonist won’t make the wrong choice, and the heroines won’t be frustratingly patient again, will they? If anyone has read ahead, please refrain from spoilers and just let me know.]

After washing up to go to bed, I found that there was a reply to my comment.

[P2 – Oh my, why are you scolding the author? If you don’t like it, go read a more stimulating novel!]

Spokespersons are disappointed…

Human nature is weak, so even a little criticism can provoke an aggressive reaction.

I was no exception.

Tap-tap-

[P1 – Do you think we can just get along and understand each other in a harem? If I were the heroine, I definitely wouldn’t tolerate it haha. And seeing you all just shielding, it seems like the following content might be similar. Sigh..]

Ah, right… I didn’t mean to give a damn lecture.

If. I. Were. The. Heroine.

If. I. Were. The. Heroine.

If. I. Were. The. Heroine.

I shouldn’t have said that…

-Ding!

The author’s comment was posted on my comment.

[Author – Thank you for your good opinion. I will take it into consideration for the future development. So, could you help me a bit?]

What? What do they want me to help with?

I can’t write in their place, can I?

At the moment I questioned the author’s strange comment, I seemed to have fallen asleep.

When I woke up again, I regretted my careless actions.

*

Possession is a common theme in web novels.

Because Younghee explained it to me.

I know that when possessed, one gains abilities like cheat codes or becomes the protagonist, providing a satisfying sense of vicarious fulfillment.

Because Younghee told me.

Looking around, I immediately realized that I had entered a false imperial insect novel.

Because I entered directly, and my voice…

I saw it. My appearance…

The elegant room I had never seen before boasted high ceilings. In this spacious room, my voice echoed like a reverberation.

My voice was clear, confident, and mellifluous. But it was no longer a deep tone.

Beyond the mirror, a beautiful woman with neatly combed black hair was looking at me. Her blue eyes were so beautiful that I too stared in awe.

I was looking at myself.

Abundant black hair and a captivating appearance.

Her haughty and graceful figure tells you who she is…

No, it told me who I am.

Yes… I became the heroine Beatrice de Dalia in the novel.