Ch.11. I Quit Being the Villain

The back seat of the limousine, which I was riding for the first time in my life, wasn’t as special as I had imagined.

The only differences from a regular car were that there was much more extra space, and a mini refrigerator was placed at my feet.

Feeling a bit awkward being alone in this spacious area, I reached for the mini refrigerator. Wondering if there was something to drink, I opened the door to check.

“…”

There was nothing inside, and I couldn’t even feel a hint of coldness. It seemed this refrigerator wasn’t being used. Embarrassed, I closed the refrigerator door again.

No one was watching, but I still felt foolish. So I deliberately turned my gaze outside.

The scenery outside the limousine window was constantly changing as we moved at a pace that was neither fast nor slow.

This was clearly an unfamiliar place I’d never visited before, yet somehow it felt strangely familiar. The sense of déjà vu was too strong to dismiss as just my imagination.

That was probably because this was a place Han Siwoo had passed through every day.

“Driver, where are we going right now?”

“Pardon? To Chungha Highschool, of course.”

The driver responded as if wondering why I would ask such an obvious question. Instead of answering, I quietly nodded, confirming my suspicion.

Volume 1 of the light novel, or rather, the starting point of the novel “I Have too Many Girlfriends” is the protagonist’s entrance ceremony. Chungha Highschool is the name of the school that the protagonist, the heroines, and I, Han Siwoo, will attend. Chungha Highschool and Chungha Middle School are adjacent to each other, separated by a large wall.

In other words, this is the road I would have taken to school during my three years in middle school, so it would be foolish not to remember it.

“How long until we arrive?”

“We’ll be there soon. Just around this corner.”

With the driver’s answer, the limousine smoothly moved forward and quickly turned the corner.

Just as the driver had said, the main gate of Chungha Highschool came into view through the windshield.

The size of the grounds and buildings looked more like a university than a high school. In the story, it was described in a single line as “the largest high school in South Korea.”

Seeing it in person, I realized what an absurd setting it truly was.

“We’ve arrived.”

The limousine stopped precisely in front of the school’s main gate.

“Yes, thank you.”

I responded politely and got out of the limousine. As if they had been waiting for this moment, the gazes of countless students around me instantly fixed on me.

Those were the kind of looks that said, “What on earth is this guy doing?” The reason was obvious. I was the only crazy person who had arrived at the main gate in a limousine while everyone else was walking.

I’m not the type of person who enjoys being the center of attention. So why did I come to school in a limousine? There was a truly unavoidable reason for this.

Although the path we took looked familiar, that was all. This might be an embarrassing confession, but I don’t know the geography of this area. Actually, wouldn’t it be stranger if I were familiar with it?

How could I know a place I’m visiting for the first time in my life?

My face feels hot with embarrassment. But regardless of my inner feelings of shame, I adjusted my bag and stepped forward confidently. At times like this, I need to be even more brazen.

That seemed to have some effect, as the attention on me appeared to scatter a bit. This is why people should always maintain their dignity. I rode that momentum and walked at a slightly faster pace.

Although there were several buildings in sight, which was a bit confusing, I knew exactly where I needed to go. The building used by first-year students, including myself, was the newly constructed education building. It was a location mentioned several times in the story, so I couldn’t forget it.

Following the round ceiling that would be more fitting for a research lab, I made my way toward the education building.

***

Finding my assigned classroom wasn’t difficult. The school had sent all the information via text message in advance, and Han Siwoo was scheduled to be in Class 1-A, the same class as the protagonist.

[Year 1 – Class A]

Since Class A is equivalent to Class 1, this must be the right place.

Without much thought, I quietly opened the sliding back door.

Usually, the atmosphere in a classroom after changing schools and grades is quiet, but Year 1 Class A was filled with the sound of various conversations.

Although I was a bit surprised by the unexpected atmosphere, it made sense. Students who graduated from Chungha Middle School typically advance to Chungha Highschool unless something unusual happens, so it’s not strange that they would already know each other’s faces, even on the first day of the new semester.

That’s not really my concern anyway. I looked around the classroom briefly to find a seat.

As expected of a school with many academically excellent students from good families, there were no seats left at the front of the classroom.

Since I had no intention of sitting at the front to catch the teacher’s eye or drawing attention from other students, I took a seat at the very back on the left side of the classroom.

After hanging my bag on the hook beside the desk and putting my textbooks in the drawer, it suddenly felt real.

So I really have become a high school student.

The thought of having to attend and leave school at set times and attend classes gave me mixed feelings. If this were a dream, now would be the perfect time to wake up. But terrifyingly, this wasn’t a dream but reality.

“…Reality, huh.”

Perhaps because I had become a character in a light novel, I found myself unconsciously muttering to myself with my chin resting on my hand. I think I need to fix this cursed habit before others start looking at me like I’m crazy.

I firmly shut my mouth and turned my gaze to examine the classroom interior once more. If fiction had become reality, then the protagonist should be in the same classroom as me.

And just as I thought, I could spot the protagonist in the center of the classroom. True to being the protagonist of a mindless harem light novel, he was already engaged in conversation with some female student.

After staring in that direction for a moment, I soon lost interest. While it was fascinating to see the protagonist I had only read about in text come to life and speak, there were more important matters at hand.

I took out my phone from my pocket to check the time.

The screen showed 15 minutes before first period.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was almost time for the first incident in the story to occur. The monumental event that marks the beginning of the conflict between the protagonist and Han Siwoo—in other words, between the protagonist and me.

Although I’ve grandly called it an “incident,” it’s actually nothing special. In fact, it’s such a minor happening that it’s almost embarrassing to call it an incident.

After all, it’s just a light mishap where a female classmate named “Jinhee” accidentally spills water on Han Siwoo while passing by his seat due to a misstep.

Given Han Siwoo’s character setting as arrogant and overbearing, he wouldn’t simply let this slide.

Naturally, Han Siwoo would furiously lash out at Jinhee, but Jinhee, not being the meek type, would retort that he’s being petty.

As Han Siwoo and Jinhee continue their verbal sparring in front of everyone, Han Siwoo, unable to contain his anger, eventually raises his right hand to strike Jinhee.

At that moment, the protagonist heroically intervenes and grabs Han Siwoo’s wrist.

From that point on, the relationship between the three becomes increasingly complicated. Meanwhile, Jinhee falls for the protagonist, drawn to his kindness…

This is the incident that will happen today, serving as the starting point for that episode.

In other words, for Jinhee, one of the heroines in the story, to fall for the protagonist, my villainous performance is essential.

Unfortunately, I had no intention of confronting the protagonist. More precisely, I had no intention of playing the villain in this light novel.

…No, why should I be the villain? It’s strange, isn’t it? Not only was I thrown into this weird place by someone’s whim, but I’m also expected to play the role of a natural-born trash who earns everyone’s hatred?

I absolutely decline. At this moment, I made a firm decision about my future course of action.

I decided to live my life my own way.

Just as I made that resolution, I noticed a female student walking toward me with a cup of water.

I instinctively realized. That female student must be Jinhee, who’s about to spill water on me.

It’s not difficult to avoid if I just wait. I suppressed my anxious feelings and waited for her.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps…

When Jinhee, walking with short strides, finally took her seventh step.

She stepped on a bag strap hanging from the desk in front of me, and her foot slipped…!

In that moment, having anticipated her mistake, I reflexively ducked down onto my desk.

-Splash!

But I felt an unexpected coolness on the back of my head, as if a water park had just opened. I had tried to avoid it, but I hadn’t completely succeeded.

“Ah, that’s cold!”

“Oh, oh? S-sorry! Are you okay?”

“No, where were you looking…!”

Even though I knew this would happen, I almost shouted in anger.

Let’s calm down a bit. The reason this mishap occurred was due to the contrived event placement in the light novel. It’s not like she deliberately splashed water on me.

“Sigh…”

I shook my wet hair and let out a deep sigh. At that moment, the bustling Class 1-A fell silent as if a mouse had died. Both female and male students were looking at Jinhee and me, who had been struck by this bolt from the blue, with curious eyes.

Of course they would. It looks like a famous third-generation chaebol and some female student are about to cause a scene on the first day of the new semester. Even I would be curious.

“Um, hey. I’m really sorry. I stepped wrong.”

At least she knew she was at fault, as Jinhee apologized first. She didn’t get angry after spilling water, and there was no point in me getting angry either—I’d just look petty.

Having reached that conclusion, I casually said:

“…People make mistakes. Just be more careful next time.”

“Huh, what…?”

“What, are you planning to spill more?”

“N-no! Yes, I’m really sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Good.”

After responding briefly, I waved my right hand at Jinhee, signaling her to go back to her seat.

Jinhee returned to her seat with a puzzled expression, and I, secretly satisfied, nodded slightly.

At least I think I’ve made a not-so-bad impression on the surrounding students.

“…Ah.”

As I touched the back of my head, I paused. That aside, I should probably dry my hair before class starts.

I wonder how much water she spilled; it doesn’t seem like it will dry quickly.

I stood up from my seat and headed to the bathroom.

*

Right after Han Siwoo left his seat, a strange atmosphere flowed through Class 1-A. The reason was, of course, due to the incident that had just occurred.

Needless to say, Han Siwoo was a well-known figure at Chungha Middle School. In a bad way, of course. There were rumors that extortion and assault were common occurrences for him, and that he had done everything a student could do wrong except drugs.

Of course, not all rumors are true. But since Han Siwoo himself didn’t actively deny them or show any intention to do so, those unfounded rumors somehow became accepted facts.

And those rumors, along with Han Siwoo’s misdeeds, were naturally expected to become established facts within Chungha Highschool as well.

Clearly, that’s how it should have been.

“Jinhee. What did you talk about with Han Siwoo earlier?”

“Huh? Why do you ask?”

“No reason. Just curious.”

True to his words, Im Hansol was genuinely curious. Why had Han Siwoo acted so docile? According to rumors, he was a thug who would curse and hit anyone, regardless of gender.

“Well, I didn’t say much? Just that I was sorry for spilling water on him. That it was a real accident.”

“And what did he say?”

“He said mistakes happen, and to be more careful next time.”

Though he wasn’t showing it, Hansol had been terrified when he saw Jinhee spill water on Han Siwoo.

Even though they hadn’t known each other long, Jinhee was a classmate. She was even the first person he had talked to since entering high school. The thought of such a girl getting hit by a thug?

Given his character, which couldn’t ignore injustice, if such a thing had happened, he would have intervened no matter what.

It’s fortunate that didn’t happen, but something seems off. If Han Siwoo had the kind of personality that could let such incidents pass so calmly, shouldn’t those rumors never have spread in the first place?

“…Really?”

He seems nicer than I thought, than the rumors suggested…

Hansol glanced at the seat where Han Siwoo had been sitting. The image of Han Siwoo, who had left his seat just before class was about to start, formed in Hansol’s mind.

A boy with fierce eyes that looked like they could devour someone, and silver hair that seemed too natural to be dyed.

Is he mixed-race? Does that mean one of his parents is a foreigner?

Various speculations arose, but in the end, nothing was certain. I should ask him sometime if I get the chance.

“Ah, class is about to start.”