Change 11

If you don’t study, you’ll end up in the slums later.

That’s what parents of this era say to discipline their children.

The slums are a gathering of victims.

It was the last bastion for people who lost their way due to the first Gates and monsters.

At the same time, the slums are a gathering of losers.

It was a garbage dump where those who couldn’t even function as minimum human beings were sorted out.

Society has changed.

Acting like a sage is only for when your belly is full.

Survival of the fittest.

Those without power are weeded out.

Whether killed by monsters or falling behind in competition with other Awakeners.

The weak have no value living in the city.

The weak have no reason to receive welfare.

The weak,

The weak,

The weak─.

That’s why few people sympathize with the slums.

If they had power, they would have already escaped from the slums.

They wouldn’t have fallen into the slums in the first place.

Above all, the existence of the slums tarnishes the reputation of a perfect and great country.

It’s an object of neglect not only to the hero’s eyes but also to those intoxicated with nationalism.

“This is…”

There’s no need to care.

Lee Ha-yul thought so too.

“Welcome, big sis!”

“Yeah!”

That was until she saw these children.

“…Is it okay?”

“What?”

“To come here so often.”

Children who look around ten years old.

But they’re somehow different from city children.

“…Honestly, we’re happy if you come often. Because it’s fun being with you, big sis.”

Their baby fat has long since disappeared, leaving them thin.

Their white skin was stained with dirt in places.

Above all.

“But isn’t your Academy life important too? Like studying, assignments, and various other things.”

What was most different was.

The words they uttered in those fragile voices.

“It’s okay if you don’t spend too much time for our sake.”

They were mature.

The children were speaking like adults.

“Gal!”

To such children, Han Seoyeon delivers a light flick to the forehead.

“Ouch, what are you doing!”

“Don’t worry about such things. Da-in, you always worry too much, you know?”

So that the children can speak like children.

“The Academy is important, but you’re just as important.”

Smiling.

“Besides, don’t worry, my grades are top-tier, you know? I’m even a scholarship student!”

“…Big sis.”

Hiding the hard and painful parts.

“Even so, I think it’s bad to comfort us by lying.”

“I’m not! I even got full marks on the last written test!”

“Okay. If big sis says so, it must be true.”

“It’s really true!”

So that the children can laugh too.

“It’s true.”

“Who are you?”

“It’s true. That.”

Lee Ha-yul opened her mouth, pretending to be indifferent.

“Among all the students enrolled in the Academy, the student named ‘Han Seoyeon’ is undoubtedly ranked first in written test scores.”

That was an undeniable fact.

Han Seoyeon’s written test scores are first.

She’s even receiving a scholarship because of it.

“No way…”

The children who were looking at Han Seoyeon with doubtful eyes now turn their shining eyes to Lee Ha-yul.

“Are you big sis’s friend?”

“…?”

Lee Ha-yul, not quite understanding, tilted her head.

“What do you mean…”

Glancing sideways for a moment, Han Seoyeon was sweating profusely.

When their eyes were about to meet, she quickly turned her gaze away.

‘…I see.’

She understands the situation.

Lee Ha-yul easily played along.

“That’s right.”

“…?”

“We’re friends. For now, at least.”

She didn’t lie.

At least, they were school friends.

“Uh, that─.”

Pretending to be friends.

Was it rude, if it was rude?

“Oh, big sis has two friends…!”

She might need to apologize later.

“Thank you for always playing with big sis!”

“Please take care of our lacking big sis in the future too!”

The attitude of siblings entrusting their sister.

At this rate, it’s hard to tell which side is older.

“…Yeah.”

You can see at a glance.

The bond between Han Seoyeon and these children.

“Of course.”

It was quite different from the childhood Lee Ha-yul had experienced.

‘….’

She thinks.

About her childhood.

The young children who stayed by her side when she was young.

They weren’t good people.

They were young but had malice.

Because of a single family issue.

Saying harsh words behind her back.

Bullying her by various means.

It was strange.

The powerless are evil.

Those with outstanding abilities are good.

That was Lee Ha-yul’s common sense.

And according to that common sense, the children in the slums should be the most powerless among the powerless.

But why?

Why do these children seem more righteous?

More than the children in the city who bullied her.

‘Why do I keep having these thoughts?’

Lee Ha-yul couldn’t understand.

Something, something was strange.

Han Seoyeon’s head was filled with question marks.

Lee Ha-yul?

That Lee Ha-yul pretending to be a friend!

It was incomprehensible.

‘Could it be because of the Yuri Aura?’

That was the only reasonable guess.

Yuri Aura.

A hypnotic ability that mindlessly attracts the same sex.

There’s no way Lee Ha-yul would act like this otherwise.

In the original story, she glanced at the slum children and immediately left, saying she felt uncomfortable!

Unless she had worked on likability, Lee Ha-yul’s likability towards Han Seoyeon should be more negative than in the original story in some ways.

‘No way.’

It was a perfect three-strike “no way.”

Even if the opponent was a heroine who makes you want to hit her, a hypnosis app?

“Big sis.”

It seemed she needed to think about this skill once more later.

“Big sis?”

That aside.

Right now was the present.

“…Oh, did you call me?”

“Don’t just stand there blankly, come inside.”

The children gestured to Han Seoyeon.

“We’ll serve you something. It might not compare to the Academy, but still.”

They’re good children.

Even in the slum environment.

“Thank you.”

This big sister feels like she’s going to cry…!

“But, it’s okay.”

Tears welled up, but Han Seoyeon couldn’t easily accept the children’s kindness.

“The reason I came here today isn’t just a simple visit home.”

“Then what is it?”

“Volunteer work.”

The reason was simple.

She was in the position of coming to do volunteer work today.

“I need to fill my volunteer hours, you see.”

“Volunteer hours?”

“Yeah. The friend who came with me… she came to supervise whether I’m doing the volunteer work diligently.”

“…That’s about right.”

It’s disciplinary volunteer work.

The subject is for the children of the slums.

She needed to volunteer properly.

A munchkin protagonist doesn’t commit corruption in such trivial matters.

“If it’s volunteer work, does that mean you’ll do various things for us, big sis?”

“Probably?”

“…You’re already doing more than enough.”

“Still, financial help and emotional support are different things.”

She had certainly donated quite a bit of money.

But isn’t the warmth of human relationships clearly different from money?

“We can’t accept it. Any more than this…”

“No. It’ll be more troublesome for me if you don’t accept!”

Being in a position of only receiving.

They might feel burdened if it’s burdensome.

“Let me tell you, I came here to volunteer for my own sake. It’s not just with the thought of helping you guys, okay?”

“…”

It was half a lie.

She did think that if she was going to volunteer in the slums, it would be better to be with her little siblings.

“So you don’t need to worry about such things. Just accept the volunteer work obediently, got it?”

“…Okay.”

“Good, first I’ll treat you to a meal!”

“Here, stir-fried bean sprouts!”

Han Seoyeon served the meal.

“Big sis,”

“What?”

“I’m sorry, but please leave the kitchen.”

She was kicked out.

“Next, I’ll clean the room!”

Han Seoyeon cleaned the room.

“Big sis.”

“What…?”

“I’m really sorry, but please stay still.”

The room became a mess.

“Then, what should I do next…”

“Big sis.”

“W-What…?”

“Do you know the saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions?”

“…”

“Just rest before you go. That would make us feel more comfortable too.”

“…”

“Don’t look so glum. Okay?”

“Yes…”

Dejected.

Han Seoyeon hung her head.

The day quickly turned dark.

“…Sigh.”

With drooping shoulders.

Han Seoyeon let out a long sigh.

“I’ve failed.”

Far from helping, she just caused a lot of trouble and left.

There was no way she could say she had volunteered at this rate.

“I’ve failed, I’ve failed…!”

And the synonym for not being able to say she volunteered.

At least for Han Seoyeon, what it meant was.

“I’m going to be expelled… I’m ruined…”

Expulsion.

Those two heavy words were clearly engraved in her heart.

‘It wasn’t like this in the original story…!’

The original protagonist was skilled in housework.

Of course, Han Seoyeon thought she would have talent in housework too.

“Certainly.”

It’s completely different from the protagonist of the original depressing story.

Han Seoyeon is utterly hopeless at housework.

“In terms of overall housework, you weren’t able to help at all.”

“…Sniff.”

“But.”

Lee Ha-yul declared.

“You made the children smile.”

“…What? Me?”

Han Seoyeon was surprised and couldn’t help but ask back.

“They were smiling. Those children.”

Clumsy cooking.

Awkward cleaning.

It wasn’t reliable skill.

But because of that, the children could smile.

Beyond the seemingly cold tone of voice.

The children smiled because they could do something for someone precious to them.

“…Even if it’s just playing the clown.”

“Is there anything wrong with being a clown? It’s a clear fact that you made others laugh.”

A clown for the children of the slums.

It was something no clown in the world would do.

“I’ll notify you of the results later. Good work today. Go back to the dormitory and rest now.”

“Okay…”

“Ah, and.”

Just as she was about to trudge away.

Lee Ha-yul’s voice stopped her.

“I’m sorry. And thank you. For saving me back then.”

“…What?”

“I had forgotten the timing to say it. I was finally able to say it now.”

And she heard words she never imagined.

Lee Ha-yul, apologizing…?

“As a bonus, I’d like to ask one more thing.”

“…What is it?”

“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

“─!”

One cliché pickup line.

At that pickup line, Han Seoyeon’s eyes spun.

“Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingaboutthefirsttimeIsawyousenioriswhenIcametotheAcademy!”

“…I see. Understood.”

Lee Ha-yul didn’t probe further,

“I’ll leave it at that.”

And turned away.

“Rest well.”

Without looking back.

Left-handed.

Swordsman.

Above all, the values of wanting to save others.

A personality that endlessly strives to make others smile.

‘Indeed, it was like that…’

A bit bitterly.

Then indifferently again.

Lee Ha-yul muttered to herself.

‘Why didn’t I notice until now? I.’

Even as she asked herself, the answer was already set.

It was because of Lee Ha-yul’s values.

A distorted mindset that doesn’t acknowledge the powerless.

That blinded Lee Ha-yul’s eyes.

‘How foolish. Really.’

Why does the girl hide her identity?

There was no need to harbor doubts or resentment about that.

‘How pathetic. Trying to get depressed for no reason. It’s all just self-inflicted.’

Everything was simply because Lee Ha-yul’s eyes were blind.

‘I can’t shamelessly approach her now.’

She had repeatedly despised and mocked her.

Many times.

Such a relationship isn’t called friendship.

She already has many friends by her side.

There’s no way there could be a gap for Lee Ha-yul to squeeze into now.

‘But still─.’

She just thinks.

“Maybe it’s a bit regrettable.”

Selfishly.