episode_0011

Lately, Heo Yoonsoo’s gang has been keeping quiet. Thanks to that, the torment directed at me has also disappeared.

I didn’t personally spread any rumors, but it seems like word has gotten out somehow. Word that I educated Heo Yoonsoo’s gang.

Thanks to that, even the male students who hadn’t tormented me started keeping their distance, afraid of me.

Especially the timid ones would get nervous just by me getting close or making eye contact with them.

“I guess making friends with guys is out of the question now.”

It’s not particularly regrettable. The men in this world feel like uncomfortable valleys compared to the men from my previous life that I knew.

From this point on, I decided to focus more on my studies and academic research. After all, even back in middle school, I didn’t have any close friends because I was always studying.

One day, Heo Yoonsoo’s gang and I ended up passing each other in the hallway. The scaredy-cats couldn’t even make eye contact with me, but Heo Yoonsoo stared straight at me, smirking.

To be so humiliated by me and still hold your head up high, in a way, it’s impressive. So, is this what it takes to lead a gang?

“What’s that jerk up to now?”

Since he wasn’t directly causing harm to me, I decided to stay quiet for now. However, the situation took an unexpected turn.

“Hey, Kim Maru. Come out for a moment.”

It was Ahn Hyojin, who usually never leaves the classroom, pointing at me. Perhaps because she’s not known for good behavior, some people looked at me with worried expressions.

“What’s going on?”

When I asked her, Ahn Hyojin made a look of annoyance.

“No, just come out. To the flower bed.”

At that moment, another female student intervened between me and Ahn Hyojin. It was the blonde girl who used to be close with Kim Noeul.

“Why are you taking a guy with you?”

“…You know him? Outsiders, step aside.”

If it were a guy bothering another guy, it might be different, but now that a girl was starting to bother me, it seemed like the girls found a reason to help me.

However, I had no intention of accepting her help. I saw this as an opportunity.

“It’s okay, I’ll be right back.”

It’s probably related to the flower bed event. In the web novel, Ahn Hyojin gets slapped by Kim Noeul behind the school.

“Then I might as well take advantage of that event.”

“No, Kim Maru, you don’t really know this person…”

“Toward the back garden.”

Without waiting for my response, Ahn Hyojin turned and left. Despite a concerned female student trying to stop me, I followed after Ahn Hyojin.

The girl who had been blocked chewed on her lips and asked Kim Noeul, “Shouldn’t we tell the teacher?”

Kim Noeul, expressionless, stood up and said, “I’ll go talk to them.”

“Just in case, someone should follow them…”

“I’ve got it covered.”

As Kim Noeul smiled and spoke, the girl wore an uneasy expression and watched Kim Noeul’s retreating figure. She thought to herself while absentmindedly rubbing the goosebumps on her arm, “That was a seriously scary expression for a moment. I’ve never seen such a look before.”

“What do you want to say?”

Spring was slowly beginning to settle in the back garden of the school. Small butterflies fluttered above the garden. Despite the warm atmosphere, there was a cold tension between the two young people.

Apart from Kim Maru and Ahn Hyojin, there was no one else around. Ahn Hyojin, despite being pulled out by the girl, stared at Kim Maru’s face, which was held high with confidence.

“His face is really something… Making a sharp expression amidst the blooming flowers,” thought Ahn Hyojin. Even though he drove girls crazy with his appearance, he was different from typical popular male students who cared about their looks. His natural beauty, which didn’t seem adorned at all, suited the student life well.

Even if the situation hadn’t been like this, I almost blurted out that I liked him without realizing it. “Poor guy. What did he do to get involved with Heo Yoonsoo?”

There was not even overwhelming evidence, but it still stirred up jealousy. Ahn Hyojin tried to hide his embarrassed feelings and immediately got to the point.

“Your reputation isn’t good, be careful. You might get hurt.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“What? Well…”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. Did that guy Heo Yoonsoo put you up to this?”

Hitting the nail on the head precisely, Ahn Hyojin looked flustered. I didn’t miss that opportunity and continued to press her.

“Boaha seems to be completely clueless about the situation and yet is being tormented by her pathetic jealousy. Does she really hope that I’ll take a hit or something?”

“……”

“Well then, how about a slap? If that can put an end to this situation, it’s a good deal.”

As I pushed my cheek forward, An Hyojin stepped back in confusion. Her face turned red.

“No, what’s with this guy…?”

“I said, are you going to hit me?”

In truth, I had a reason for provoking her like this.

“Don’t you need an excuse for whatever you did to Heo Yoonsoo?”

“Um…”

“Alright, raise your arm.”

As I grabbed her arm and lifted it, she was taken aback.

At that moment, a cold voice came from behind.

“What are you doing?”

An Hyojin and I turned to look in the direction of the voice. There, Kim Noeul stood with her arms crossed, glaring at both of us.

“What’s going on?”

To an outside observer, it would appear as if An Hyojin was raising her arm to strike me, and I was blocking that arm.

“This is…!”

Before An Hyojin could make an excuse, I shouted, “If you want to hit, then hit! Is that what Heo Yoonsoo wants!?”

“No, you’re insane!”

I unintentionally made a statement that could easily be misunderstood, leaving An Hyojin wide-eyed. In her gradually narrowing field of vision, Kim Noeul came into view.

“Get your hands off Maru.”

However, as I held onto her arm tightly, An Hyojin couldn’t pull me away. She was shocked that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free from my grip.

“What kind of strength does this guy have…!”

In the midst of her thoughts, Kim Noeul’s fist struck An Hyojin’s face. Without even a chance to scream, An Hyojin was lifted slightly into the air before crashing to the ground.

Her nose and mouth were covered in blood. After writhing for a moment, she stopped moving.

Witnessing this scene up close, I swallowed hard.

“Even if I can handle most women, I might not be able to beat Kim Noeul.”

Kim Noeul’s overwhelming punching power remained unchanged even with a change in gender.

Shouldn’t the protagonist who will confront Alice later be able to handle extras like An Hyojin with just one punch?

Of course, I didn’t anticipate Kim Noeul’s intervention and didn’t plan to stage this situation.

It seems like I’ve used the webtoon event well for the first time. If I were a reincarnate, I should make good use of these benefits.

As I gleefully contemplated, Kim Noeul approached me briskly. Then she roughly grabbed my arm.

“Huh?”

Overwhelmed by a force beyond imagination, I was pulled towards her without resistance. She scrutinized my face and then began to inspect every corner of my body.

“This is sexual harassment.”

“…Is this a joke?”

Kim Noeul’s eyes, hidden behind her long hair, became sharp.

“What kind of fool follows a girl so recklessly into any alley?”

Her grip on my arm also hurt. I tried to shake it off, but it was impossible. It seemed she had something to hear from me and she wouldn’t let go of my arm.

“It hurts.”

“Do people who know it hurts still engage in such risky behavior?”

“Anyway, it worked out fine. You came to help.”

And when all else fails, if I knock down An Hyojin, everything will be resolved. An Hyojin was just a girl who couldn’t release the arm I held onto and barely whimpered.

But the problem was that Kim Noeul didn’t see her that way at all. Still, feeling sorry for causing concern, I tried to lighten the mood.

“Surprising.”

“What is?”

“I thought you were a model student, but you suddenly punch someone in the face and grab a guy’s arm so roughly.”

Having heard my words, Kim Noeul gently released the arm she had been holding. There was a faint mark where she had gripped.

“Oh, come to think of it, Kim Noeul’s character setting… ”

Recalling Kim Noeul’s past, I broke out in a cold sweat. While I neatly resolved my bullying issue, it seemed I had touched upon Kim Noeul’s trauma in the process.

“Um… I got carried away too. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

As I raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, Kim Noeul’s expression softened considerably. Soon, she returned to her exemplary class president mode and smiled.

“Then let’s split up. That guy will wake up on his own. No one will bother with him anyway since he never pays attention in class.”

“But can you not put on that act in front of me? Frankly, I don’t like how quickly you change. It’s not good for my heart.”

“Then I’ll do it more. After all, you made my heart race.”

Admiring Kim Noeul’s relaxed and carefree demeanor, I felt a sense of relief. Somehow, I managed to soothe her anger.

Kim Noeul, like Alice, harbored deep wounds, and I feared what might happen if I touched them the wrong way.

“In secondary creations, especially in the yuri genre, it seems like there’s a lot of obsession and possessiveness…,” she muttered quietly.

I discreetly stole a glance at Kim Noeul’s profile. Though she still wore a smile, the area around her mouth remained tense.

…It’s just a secondary creation. I decided not to take it too seriously.