Heroine 2

aying that’s all?”

“What else is there?”

This is truly a fight between the strongest in the world.

Is this really the Baek Da-eun who was thirsting for male attention?

My heart is pounding.

The real Baek Da-eun is truly legendary…

“Apologize. Right now.”

“I don’t understand what I should apologize for.”

But why are they really fighting?

Han Seo-yeon genuinely couldn’t understand.

“I only stated objective facts.”

It was true.

Damn right, it was.

“Or are you going to sue me for defamation based on stating facts?”

“How far are you going to play dumb!”

Actually, this was a familiar development.

The catfight she had seen countless times in the original work.

Baek Da-eun and Lee Ha-yul weren’t on good terms.

Both pretending to be heroines, they often fawned over the protagonist.

If there was anything strange, it was that the scene from the original work was unfolding before Han Seo-yeon’s eyes for some reason.

“Why? It’s not wrong. Even if it’s a fact, if it makes the listener feel bad, isn’t it defamation by stating facts? That’s how our country’s law works.”

“Han Seo-yeon is not incompetent.”

“No. She is incompetent. Just an E-class.”

Baek Da-eun is the first heroine to be conquered.

Lee Ha-yul is the second heroine to be conquered.

They both have similar pasts and personalities, but the key is the order.

Baek Da-eun, who was conquered first, protects Han Seoyeon.

On the contrary, Lee Ha-yul, who wasn’t, insults Han Seoyeon.

That was the flow of the original work.

But here’s the thing.

Han Seo-yeon hadn’t particularly made Baek Da-eun feel any romantic favor towards her.

“That incompetent person you’re talking about saved everyone.”

Why is Baek Da-eun trying so hard to protect Han Seo-yeon herself?

“It was just a coincidence. It won’t happen twice.”

In fact, if we’re talking about right and wrong, Lee Ha-yul was right, even if it felt bad.

“By the way, I’m honestly disappointed in you about that incident, Baek Da-eun.”

“What did you say!”

“For an S-class Awakener, you couldn’t even subdue one terrorist.”

A heavy factual missile hit its mark.

“It’s utterly pathetic. As expected, Seoyeon doesn’t suit you.”

“Are you saying she suits you then?”

What?

Why is she suddenly coming out there?

“Of course. She and I are friends.”

Han Seoyeon, is it you again?

Don’t tell me you conquered her too?

Without your older sister knowing?

“I’m surprised. I didn’t expect you to defend that incompetent to this extent.”

Lee Ha-yul’s gaze changed strangely.

She looked at Han Seo-yeon and Baek Da-eun alternately.

“…Don’t tell me.”

Finally, she opened her mouth.

“Ha. My disappointment is immense, Baek Da-eun. I didn’t know you were such a fickle woman.”

“…”

Good heavens.

Who’s calling who fickle?

Han Seo-yeon’s head was spinning.

“I…”

It was then.

Just before Baek Da-eun could rebut.

“─Seo-yeon.”

A blonde delinquent barged in.

“What are you doing here?”

Han Seoyeon.

Her cool twin sister, as always.

“Seoyeon…!”

“I asked what you were doing.”

Lee Ha-yul called that name smoothly, as if she were the protagonist of a romance drama.

“Seo-yeon.”

That call was cleanly ignored.

“I’m asking what you were doing.”

Was it just her imagination?

The voice seemed to have an edge to it.

“…Oh. Just, you know?”

“What do you mean ‘just’? Tell me. Now.”

It sounded like an interrogation.

…Well, did something unpleasant happen?

“I’ll explain that!”

A voice much more cheerful than before.

It was an amazing change of attitude.

“We were talking about school rules. The Academy’s principle is that you can’t wear anything other than the designated uniform, right? But as you can see, this incompetent junior here is wearing a coat…”

The explanation continued.

Han Seoyeon’s eyes were cold.

It was a strange atmosphere.

Something was off.

“…You’re right. It’s just my fault.”

Let’s end this quickly.

She didn’t intend to argue anyway.

“I’m sorry, senior.”

It’s just losing to a kid once.

It was a sweet potato she could swallow easily.

Let’s consider it a build-up for some future catharsis.

“I won’t do it again.”

So it wouldn’t sound sarcastic.

She bowed her head properly.

“Well, fine. Seems like you know your place a bit now.”

Easy.

The pubescent girl seemed to be in a better mood.

“By the way, Seoyeon, it’s been a while since we met like this, right? Let’s─”

Then Lee Ha-yul gestured to Han Seoyeon.

“Let’s go, Seo-yeon.”

Once again, she was cleanly ignored.

“Uh, okay…”

Han Seoyeon grabbed Han Seo-yeon’s hand.

It seemed particularly forceful today.

Did something really unpleasant happen?

Han Seo-yeon couldn’t tell.

It happened again.

Once again, her sister was suffering.

What on earth could be the problem?

What could be wrong that makes her sister always suffer?

She saved the Academy.

She saved so many students from the terrorist.

The media was praising her sister all day.

There’s no reason for her to be scolded by anyone.

But why, for what reason?

The answer to her self-questioning was simple.

Because she was incompetent.

Because she took on the burden in place of her younger sister long ago.

What could be blamed?

In the end, Han Seoyeon was the cause.

She often thinks about it.

What if it wasn’t Han Seo-yeon?

What if Han Seoyeon herself had been the one chosen?

Could she have endured it?

That life in the slums?

Could she have borne it?

The daily discrimination?

Could she have entered?

And proudly attended the Academy?

It was impossible.

For a weak coward like Han Seoyeon.

For her who, unlike her sister, couldn’t be proud.

If that had happened, her sister would be living a life incomparably more brilliant than her current self.

If that had happened, a useless younger sister like herself would truly become worthless.

She might not be able to meet her sister anymore.

Cowardly, Han Seoyeon would repeat the same choice even if she went back to the past.

She would turn a blind eye and leave her sister to face a miserable life, even knowing about it.

“Se, Seoyeon?”

So she acted hypocritically.

Han Seoyeon was a hypocrite.

“Will you let go of my hand now?”

“Ah…”

Her sister’s palm was red.

It was because she had gripped it tightly, not wanting to let go.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. These things happen.”

Because of her selfishness, she saw her sister’s painful palm.

“You’ve looked pale since earlier, did something bad happen?”

It must be her sister who experienced something bad.

Why does her sister always ask about her younger sister’s well-being first?

“…No.”

“Really? That’s good.”

How can she be so genuinely relieved?

“Sis.”

“What?”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

She hugged her sister.

Her sister’s embrace was wide and warm.

“Wh-why so suddenly…”

“You didn’t do anything wrong at all.”

She wanted to comfort her.

In the end, she was always the one being comforted.

“So have confidence. You’re allowed to, sis.”

“…Well, I did violate the school rules.”

She was being spoiled.

Han Seoyeon, the younger sister.

“Are you worried about me?”

“…Yeah.”

“You’re so kind. Our little sister.”

Her sister indulged her whims as always.

Forever and always.

“It’s okay. Your sister is nothing without confidence, you know?”

Her sister always smiled.

For her crybaby younger sister.

She was sorry.

And even more so, she was lovely.

This time, truly this time, she will protect her.

Because she didn’t want to see her sister shedding tears.

Baek Da-eun endlessly watched the two people walking away.

Friends.

A relationship she couldn’t achieve.

An enviable yet forbidden connection.

She was deceiving her benefactor who had saved her life twice.

Afraid of being avoided, she didn’t speak the truth.

Baek Da-eun had no right to follow them.

“This can’t be…”

A vulgar voice was heard.

“That, that incompetent with Seoyeon…!”

Lee Ha-yul’s face, losing composure and distorted, was visible.

It was like seeing the past Baek Da-eun.

It was an ugly self-portrait.

She must have been this ugly too.

Baek Da-eun left the place without looking back.

After all, she didn’t want to see something ugly.

Not being a friend, she couldn’t comfort Han Seo-yeon.

She couldn’t be with Han Seo-yeon.

Even this much distance was too much for her.

Wanting more would be the mindset of an evil person.

“Ah, um…”

But why.

Why is she approaching first?

It was troubling.

She might get unnecessarily excited.

At each of her actions, arbitrarily.

“Thank you.”

It’s Han Seo-yeon.

She was expressing her gratitude.

Even though she couldn’t be of any help in the end.

“You stood up for me, right?”

“That’s…”

It was nothing more than an act of self-satisfaction.

It wasn’t worth receiving thanks for.

“And you know that coat? I really liked it! You have good taste, huh?”

She was happy.

With her gift.

“…Well, it’s a bit disappointing that I can’t wear it at the Academy.”

For such an insignificant gift compared to the favor received and the sin committed, her benefactor smiled and said she was happy.

“I’ll treasure it!”

She could give as many such coats as needed.

It was nothing compared to that smile.

“Oh, and you know.”

Just seeing that smile up close was already too much happiness.

“Do you want to eat together from now on?”

Perhaps Han Seo-yeon was determined to make Baek Da-eun happy.

“With me, senior, and Seoyeon. It’s okay if you don’t want to! I’m not forcing you or anything.”

There was no way she could refuse.

This kind offer.

Baek Da-eun was a shameless human scum.

“Then let’s go, Baek Da-eun… no.”

Her heart was pounding.

It was throbbing violently.

“Da-eun?”

She called her name.

As if they were friends.

Familiarly.

“It’s a bit awkward… Is it okay to call you like this?”

She didn’t even have the strength to speak.

She nodded.

Tears fell drop by drop.

It felt like her heart was on fire.

In the early part of [The Falling Star Swordsman of the Academy], Baek Da-eun, who experiences the terrorist incident, has no friends.

To the extent that she even eats alone, distancing herself from her followers.

The current Baek Da-eun, who has gone through almost the same as the original work, would be the same.

Originally, she would end up eating with the innocent, depressing story protagonist Han Seoyeon, but at the point where that protagonist has become a blonde delinquent, the number of people she could eat with has been wiped out.

It was pitiful.

No matter what, eating alone is too much, isn’t it?

So, just in case, she tried inviting her once.

This is the prideful Baek Da-eun.

She thought she would naturally refuse, but surprisingly, she agreed easily.

Her face turned red and she couldn’t speak, even shedding tears.

Was eating alone that humiliating?

She should treat her a bit better from now on.

That’s what Han Seo-yeon thought.