19. Provocation

* * *

Who am I?

“I’m Yoo Eun-ha?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Sunbae, if you’re weaker than Eun-ha, you might not read her status properly.”

“Y-you think I’m weaker than her?”

Obviously a support like Yu-jeong would be weaker than a DPS like me. Though skill levels vary wildly. Still, hard to believe she’d be weaker than someone who lounges around all day.

“It happens. No shame in upperclassmen being weaker than freshmen.”

Si-woo, still smarting from Yu-jeong’s earlier scolding, started nagging like an auntie. Was he always this type? The kind of idiot who tries to gain favor by pretending to improve when criticized.

“Still, this goes beyond unreadable. Just watch – I’ll figure you out.”

Fine by me. I’m curious about my hidden abilities too. But first – why were those three together? Trying to exclude me?

“Where’d you go without me? Get some good food?”

“Ah, Si-woo was training us a bit.”

“Training? Without me? What the fuck?”

“You don’t need training, logically.”

What nonsense – I need it most to survive! They’re putting me behind Reina and Suji? Pure harem favoritism. If they’re doing this, they should include me too. I’m still technically a heroine.

“But I’m the weakest.”

“Your status blocked Yu-jeong sunbae’s scan. What are you on about?”

“We’re training under Si-woo for one reason only.”

If they say it’s for Si-woo, I’ll castrate him right here.

“Which is?”

“We want to stand by your side as worthy comrades!”

“Hmm. Well then, guess we have no choice. These two wanted to get stronger secretly. Might as well all improve together.”

Finally some sensible talk.

“So, sparring then?”

“Yeah. Right now.”

“Dumbass, it’s still morning class time.”

We’d get in trouble now.

“Sunbae’s skipping too.”

“Oh right.”

“Let’s meet after class.”

Wait, shouldn’t we get Bulbbadda’s permission? Returning to class, we encountered the wild Bulbbadda.

“You’re mine all morning. Prepare yourselves.”

We’re screwed.

* * *

“Fuck this. Need to teach her a lesson someday.”

Some nobody woman dares scold me – she’d be invisible without her baton and heroine status. Si-woo, Reina and Suji who tried to keep me home were still getting lectured by Bulbbadda during lunch. From her perspective, me attending is better – she’s my homeroom teacher. Probably got an earful from Jin-seok.

“Oh? The murderer’s here.”

That’s for me. Provocation. Glancing over, I saw a tanned blonde delinquent with her gang mocking me from a corner. An irritating bitch. Kill her?

No, rising to bait means losing. Just jealous nobodies.

“Lurked alone creepily in middle school, comes here killing people now.”

“Keke, you might die too.”

“Obviously Reina or Suji carried her.”

Expected this. The more I achieve, the more my middle school “friends” would provoke me. Original Eun-ha would tremble. Si-woo would coolly ignore it. But I’m no pushover protagonist. I hate being gossip fodder for delinquents.

“If you’re jealous, fight me instead of whining.”

I fired back. First conflict in a while – perfect stress relief. These damn memories keep giving me headaches.

“You’ve grown bold?”

The delinquent version of Geum Tae-yang (not the sweet boy) snorted and approached.

“Bold? You’re still running with a gang in hunter academy – seems immature to me.”

“What?”

Just look at them. All ugly nobodies I’ve never seen.

“You types are all the same. Can’t do shit alone so you gang up.”

“Getting carried by others makes you think you’re special now?”

“You keep mentioning middle school. Who even are you?”

Genuinely don’t remember. Original Eun-ha wouldn’t recall every bully.

“You bitch!”

“Some idiots act first when words fail. But what if you lose the fight too? That’d be truly embarrassing.”

Using , I snatched the cigarette from blonde Tae-yang’s mouth and burned her copper cheek.
“KYAAAAH!”
“Screaming already? Should’ve expected this messing with Jin-seok’s sister.”
I tripped her. Her extras rushed me when their boss got owned. As a non-protagonist, I’d skip these events. But subduing them was easy – a few accelerated gut punches dropped them.
“Can’t win with words or fists? Pathetic, even with numbers.”
They looked ready to cry. When one threw a punch, I caught and twisted it.
“OW! It’s broken! Broken!”
“Know what? There’s this trash villain group for losers like you. Why pretend to be hunters?”
That bruised her pride – her eyebrows twitched violently so I poked them.
“What is the meaning of this?”
A black-haired pretty boy appeared – Yoon Se-ha, student council president and Si-woo’s rival. Currently top male student, likely nationally. Many guilds are scouting him. A needlessly wise magic swordsman.
“Cadet Yoo Eun-ha. Did you…”
Oh, he knows my name. Asking if I hit them?
“I did.”
“…Come with me.”
Dragged straight to the council room. My fame preceded me – members eyed me curiously.
“Why did you fight?”
“Eun-ha insulted us first!”
“So you’re saying you got insulted and beaten despite outnumbering her?”
Vice president Yoon Mi-young mocked them.
“Cadet Eun-ha. Anything to say?”
“I hit them, but they provoked me first and threw the first punch.”
“Lies!”
The bruised bitch was determined to paint me as a criminal. Expected.
“Any evidence?”
“Second-year Lee Yu-jeong sunbae knows.”
Yu-jeong manages the academy’s CCTV system sponsored by Cheonsan Group. She’d have footage and was likely watching me, like she voyeuristically watched Si-woo originally. She got summoned too.
“Cadet Yu-jeong. Evidence they attacked first?”
Scratching her neck, Yu-jeong yawned and handed over a USB.
“Here. Footage.”
“Impressive. Hidden cameras in the cafeteria?” Mi-young asked.
“Nonsense. These are Cheonsan-sponsored CCTV systems I manage.”
The delinquents paled.
” helps with that?”
“Obviously. Magitech CCTV is easy to handle.”
The council reviewed footage titled ‘s Gang a Lesson lol – meant for online posting apparently. With everything exposed, blonde Tae-yang frowned, ruining her thick makeup.
“Any excuses?”
“She IS a murderer!”
Now just squealing pathetically.
“Black Cult members are kill-on-sight. Eun-ha prevented greater casualties. Fools. Are all first-years this dumb? Think this world’s just hero playtime?”
Mi-young delivered justice – the delinquents got demerits and 20 hours community service. Then a woman in a white coat entered – likely from the infirmary.
“How are they, teacher?”
Mi-young handed over the injured.
“Hmm. They’ll live. But Eun-ha – hitting girls’ lower abdomens like that could make them infertile.”
Thought stomachs were better than breasts. My bad. Should’ve aimed for faces. Wait – only one nurse here?
Bitch.
“With that attitude and face, they’ll never get laid anyway. Might help Korea’s birth rate.”
“Eun-ha, you’re Jin-seok’s sister now. A hero.”
Not your place to say. Nurse Jeon Ji-hyun – leaks academy info to villain group Jaws. They recruit troubled students. No wonder people call this Villain Academy. Anyway, she’s a villain. There’s an event dealing with her later, but she’s annoying.
“Using ‘Jin-seok’s sister’ as cheap guilt-tripping? These trash belong in low-tier villain groups. Like Jaws who just get beaten by hunters.”
Ji-hyun’s face twisted. She takes pride in being a Jaws villain. Think only I noticed her microexpression.
“What if they turn villain for real?”
Meaning she might recruit them. If blonde Tae-yang turns villain…
“Then I can kill them legally.”
No hesitation. The delinquents kept their heads down, accepting punishment. Challenging me was suicidal – guilds are interested in me, I’m Jin-seok’s sister, and I influence the association. They mistook me for the old Eun-ha and got wrecked.
“What if I wasn’t watching?” Yu-jeong asked as we left.
“Be honest sunbae. I know you.”
“Huh?”
“You were watching, right?”
“Uh, researching your status window.”
Let’s pretend that’s it. When I meaningfully smiled and extended my hand, Yu-jeong reluctantly took it after hesitation.
No point hiding it – this was originally Si-woo’s event. Blonde Tae-yang should’ve provoked him, leading to Yu-jeong exposing her sexual harassment with CCTV footage, earning his affection. Typical harem protagonist bullshit.
But damn Si-woo got dragged off by Bulbbadda with the others. I relieved stress while bonding with Yu-jeong instead. Though we just met, she’s likely watched me via CCTV for a while. Unlike Reina and Suji who discovered new preferences, Yu-jeong doesn’t care about gender in relationships – love is love. Maybe she’s into me now.
That lazy face hides unconventional values.
“Ahaha, just be honest and you can touch me however you want.”
My body’s irresistible even to girls. Maybe I’m why lesbian rumors spread at Hanseong Academy. When I winked at Yu-jeong, she flinched.
“……”
Her half-lidded eyes widened slightly, desire flickering within.