Breaking Up With the Heroine in an Otome Game

61 – Villain Appearance (5)

061.

“~♪”

A girl is wearing a bright smile.

Her hair seemed to have been bleached, with all colors faded, creating a faint and ethereal look.

Thin bandage-like wraps were tightly wound around her worn-out arms and legs, and her clothes were torn in various places.

Though there was quite a bit of bloodstain, overall, she resembled a slender high school girl.

She wasn’t wearing a uniform, but considering her age, there was a possibility she was a Union Academy student.

However.

Everyone knows.

That girl is not just any hero trainee.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Over twenty academy students had faces as stiff as rocks, swallowing dry saliva with rigid expressions.

Overwhelmed.

Yes, they were overwhelmed.

By the quietly smiling girl with white hair.

Just staring at her calmly made their hearts thump, and their breath became increasingly ragged.

Like encountering a monster in a dark alley at night, the feeling was comparable.

Hero trainees bit down on their lower lips forcefully.

Call it instinct.

A physiological fear enveloped their entire bodies.

She must be stronger than anyone here.

Overwhelmingly.

Everyone could see that she was a different kind of force compared to the third-rate bullies they had encountered so far.

Unable to calm the two arms and legs that swayed sweetly with each exposure of the thick life force, some students who had never felt such intensity shivered uncontrollably.

Terrified kids stumbled backward.

For those who had not experienced a proper real-life situation, a villain of this level was nothing short of pure terror.

‘That girl…?’

Of course.

Not all trainees were thrown into fear and confusion.

“Bringing to mind the Black-Handed Long-Armed Monkey.”

Jin So-yeon stared at Yoo Da-hee with a firm grip on the black handle, examining the girl with a calm gaze, trying to understand even a little of that pale-haired girl.

“No, maybe even more than that.”

Including Jin So-yeon, Yi Si-un, Yuriya Troianova, Lee Jin-hyuk, and others, they were notably composed compared to the other children.

This difference stemmed from practical experience.

The encounter with the Black-Handed Long-Armed Monkey at the academy and the life-and-death battles had fertilized the soil for reconciliation.

Moreover, the first-year, class one trainees had already tasted the aura of Hong Da-ye, who was already a High-Ranker.

There was no better medicine than experience.

“Evil… Is she evil…? She looks like my peer, but how can she exude such an aura…”

Just contemplating her aura alone, it could be said that she was almost close to Hong Da-ye.

At a level close to a High-Ranker at the same age as Jin So-yeon…

It was truly not a ridiculous nonsense.

If she were such a figure, it meant she would leave a mark in the history of South Korea—a powerful being standing shoulder to shoulder with the legends of the previous generations, admired as a legend. That girl couldn’t be at that level. No, she shouldn’t be.

If she were truly at that level, there was nothing we could do against her.

“Huh? Sung-yu… No, she also has subordinates.”

“…Yes.”

Yoo Da-hee glanced briefly at the four villains who had fought against Jin So-yeon’s group.

As a mercenary sent by Sung Yu, their skills were relatively decent.

“It seems like you’ve been quite injured. How about I take care of the rest, and you retreat first?”

“…”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll handle her, so you can tell her everything.”

“…”

Watching Yoo Da-hee’s face, who was waving her hands with a smile as if telling them to retreat, she hesitated. However, it was burdensome to ignore Yoo Da-hee’s words.

Even Sung Yu couldn’t dare to do anything to Yoo Da-hee.

After a brief moment of contemplation, the mercenaries began to subtly move away, nodding with lowered heads.

Yoo Da-hee watched the backs of the retreating mercenaries and then turned her head towards the children.

Alright, now that everyone who needs to leave has left, shall we slowly start watching?

How the next generation heroes behave.

“Well, Union Academy students?”

Yudahee flashed a disdainful smile.

“We don’t have time, so let’s do this quickly. You two over there. Yes, both of you.”

She pointed her fingers at the two trainees.

The chosen ones twitched their shoulders.

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What’s, what’s going on? Why are we being singled out?

Eventually, Yudahee began uttering incomprehensible words.

“I’ll give you one minute. The two of you, fight.”

“…What, what?”

“The winner gets to live. Now, start.”

“…What nonsense!”

The kids stared at Yudahee in disbelief, but she shrugged her shoulders with an indifferent expression.

Although it was only natural to resist such an absurd demand, the kids only exchanged glances with tense expressions.

Just now, they witnessed those villains obeying the girl’s command and stepping back.

We can’t precisely gauge the girl’s skill, but it was clear she was superior to the villains from a moment ago.

Those four villains were beyond ordinary pro-heroes.

For villains who followed the law of the jungle, power was synonymous with order. If she could command those villains, then how skilled was the girl?

Even just the aura she exuded was beyond what they could handle.

Of course, judging her skill solely based on her presence wasn’t accurate, but given her confident actions among so many hero trainees, it was reasonable to assume she had considerable ability.

Therefore, hero trainees couldn’t act recklessly.

Moving without thinking could make them the girl’s prey first. They were afraid of drawing unnecessary attention.

“Thirty-five seconds have passed.”

“Guys…”

The one who was pointed at subtly gestured to the other trainees, but some avoided eye contact as if lacking composure.

The sticky, viscous aura she had dispersed earlier was unforgettable.

Fear had already taken deep roots in the trainees’ hearts, swelling gradually.

If the girl possessed a skill equivalent to her tremendous aura, rashly confronting her could lead to significant consequences.

And if they stepped forward but the other kids turned away without helping?

It could end up being a solo mission.

So, they decided to endure a little longer.

Maybe the safety agents or exam instructors might come to rescue.

Some thought that, although a bit cowardly, it might be a good idea to try to delay the time without attracting too much attention from the girl.

Really cowardly.

“…I guess this is exactly what Yoo Da-hee is aiming for.”

Jin-hyuk carefully observed the current situation while silently holding his breath.

Perhaps Yoo Da-hee is recording everything with a mini body camera or something similar.

The next generation of heroes who will be responsible for the future, glancing timidly, obeying the orders of villains out of fear, and helplessly submitting.

If the recorded videos are to be revealed to the whole world, people’s reactions will undoubtedly be intense when they see how the seeds of hope behaved like fools in front of a villain.

“Even if the kids don’t listen to Yoo Da-hee and resist, it might be okay.”

No, from Yoo Da-hee’s perspective, it might even be better.

Because he can use it as a precedent that if they thoroughly trample and don’t follow orders, they will face a truly dreadful situation.

So Yoo Da-hee is waiting right now.

For the aspirant who will step forward without understanding the situation, thinking they are heroes.

“It’s been a minute, right? In that case…”

“There are only two people who can step forward in this situation.”

Jin-hyuk turned his head hastily with a worried expression.

Roxanne was hesitating with cold sweat, and Jin So-yeon, with a firm determination, was slowly taking steps, as if preparing herself…

No, wait!

Jin-hyuk reached out with a surprised expression.

He knew it would be like this. Considering Jin So-yeon’s personality, she can’t just stay still. He quickly grabbed Jin So-yeon’s wrist.

In a situation where people like Lee Si-woon, Yulia, and Lee Jeong-hoon are discreetly watching, why would Jin So-yeon try to step forward!

I know you’re Pacific Islander, but please, at times like this, please don’t step forward, really.

“So-yeon, what are you trying to do? Stop unnecessary thoughts and just stay still.”

“….”

“In a little while, Instructor Hong Da-ye will come, so just stay still until then…”

“Sorry.”

With a faint smile, Jin So-yeon forcefully pulled her hand away from Jin-hyuk’s grip.

Sorry, Jin-hyuk.

I know what you’re worried about.

But still, I can’t just stand still.

You know.

That’s not how heroes should be.

“Due to the relationship where time can no longer be given, you two… huh?”

“Hey, you.”

Jin So-yeon, gripping her sword tightly, speaks with a confident voice.

“If you want to mess with these two, you’ll have to deal with me first.”

“…Hm.”

There’s no definite way to stop that girl.

Even if the other kids don’t help, it doesn’t matter.

From the start, meekly surrendering to the words of a villain was not the path Jin So-yeon walked. Even if she had to break, she had to stand against evil.

Because that was the path Jin So-yeon walked.

No matter how powerful the opponent, if she were to submit, she could no longer call herself a aspiring hero.

Therefore, Jin So-yeon hesitated no more.

“So stop the unnecessary talk and come at me.”

“Well, okay.”

Determined to sacrifice herself for the other kids.

Just heard that Instructor Hong Da-ye is on her way.

If she can buy even a little time until the instructor arrives, Jin So-yeon’s sacrifice will not be in vain.

The time she bought could save the lives of other kids.

“He looks pretty handsome. You should take a good look first…”

“Stop.”

At that moment.

Lee Si-woon stepped forward.

“You’ve been quiet like a coward, and now you decide to step up?”

“I don’t know who you are, but I won’t tolerate any more mischief.”

Lee Si-woon slowly drew his sword and stood in front of Jin So-yeon.

“Oh, during the performance evaluation, when Team 1 went out, it would be a bit awkward if you stayed quiet, wouldn’t it?”

The orthodox magician Yulia, who had been watching, also raised her staff slowly with a bitter smile.

“Oh my, back in the day, we almost died because of the Black-Handed Long-Armed Monkey, and now we find ourselves in such a situation again.”

When the movement of Lee Siwoon, ranked first among the freshmen, and Yulya, ranked 14th, became apparent, the children began to murmur.

“Ah, I don’t know. Soyeon, I’ll step forward too.”

“Damn, seriously annoying. Getting intimidated by a girl.”

Soon, Kim Yuseong and Lee Junghoon also assumed combat postures.

Kim Yuseong had a subtle setting of liking Jin Soyeon, and Lee Junghoon, due to his high self-esteem, seemed to despise himself for being scared of Yudahee.

As one by one they stepped forward, most of the kids were now ready to fight and stared at Yudahee.

Yudahee glanced at the faces of the children.

It seemed like Jin Soyeon’s actions had become a turning point.

‘I didn’t know everyone would move like this.’

What to say.

Could it be said that the atmosphere reversed when that girl stepped forward?

Straightforward gaze, a somewhat dignified expression, a voice that exuded courage, and more. There was something that moved people.

Something that woke up and compelled people in fear. It could be called a kind of charm or charisma.

‘Does she have her own qualifications?’

A quality essential for a hero. A strange power that inherently leads, awakens, and compels people.

Hmm.

I thought she was just a pretty girl, but she seems to have her own qualifications.

If, for example, another trainee had stepped forward like Jin Soyeon, what would have happened?

Would the kids who were sneakily watching with fear have dared to step forward, or would they have pretended not to notice?

‘…Good, good.’

Anyway, Yudahee nodded alone.

‘As an example, there’s a taste in breaking things.’

Since she made the frightened children move, she should take responsibility for it. Right?

Snap!

In an instant, Yudahee’s figure flashed.

“Ah…!”

“Where did that guy go?!”

“The law? What is it? I didn’t see…”

“Ishiwoon! Look in front! Look in front!”

In the blink of an eye, when Yudahee appeared in front of Ishiwoon, Ishiwoon forcefully swung his sword.

A profound enchantment infused the battlefield.

Though the keen blade sliced through Yudahee’s body, her illusion-like form smoothly evaporated, eluding the sharp edge.

Phantom God’s Stride.

As one of the top-tier spells, it created phantoms to bewilder the opponent’s gaze.

“…I wonder in what voice I should cry.”

Deceiving the eyes of all the children, Yudahee had stealthily occupied the space behind Jin Soyeon.

Just as Yudahee extended her hand like a gleam of light, intending to attack Jin Soyeon from behind,

Swish!

With a sound of cutting through the air, Yudahee instinctively took a step back.

Utilizing the spell, she distanced herself from the children.

Yudahee briefly glanced down at her hand.

A tingling sensation transmitted through her peripheral nerves.

“…?”

Drip, drip. Drops of blood were flowing.

The back of her hand had been slightly cut.

‘…Did I get cut?’

By me?

Yudahee was slightly puzzled.

With a substantial level of body protection from her magical defenses, it should have been difficult for a student-level opponent to inflict wounds on her. Therefore, she ignored the abruptly incoming blade, intending to attack Jin Soyeon, but the blade pierced through Yudahee’s magical defenses.

‘…No, more importantly, did he predict the path of Phantom God’s Stride?’

Phantom God’s Stride was a top-tier spell.

It should have been baffling for someone seeing it for the first time.

It even deceived Lee Siwoon.

But that guy…

“…”

Yudahee subtly shifted her gaze.

A small sword stained with droplets of blood. And silently standing, gazing at Yudahee, was a man holding that sword.

It was none other than Lee Jinhyuk.