How to Survive as a Villain in a Novel

12 – Chaos

On the top floor of the Orbis Student Union building.

Student Council office.

A pink-haired girl half-laid on the long table.

And a bulky schoolboy leaning on the expensive chair.

Both had a slightly rebellious and arrogant posture, but all their attention was focused on the person sitting in the high seat.

Student council president Seo Ha-yoon.

Only the sound of her tapping on the table with her fingers echoed dryly.

– Tap. Tap. Tap.

The pink-haired girl who had been twisting and turning in an attempt to sleep couldn’t hold back anymore and lifted her head.

“President, is there something wrong?”

A sting.

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Seo Ha-yoon glared at her.

The pink-haired girl quickly rolled her eyes.

“You, as the vice president… Professor E-Man-Eok got fired!”

“I know that… but if that old man is gone, can’t we just bring in another professor… right?”

“No!…”

Seo Ha-yoon who almost flared up managed to calm down.

On reflection, the vice president was right.

There are numerous professors running on the money of Mr. Seon-Yang. They just need to exploit one of their weaknesses and give a bit of power.

…However. She soon realized why she had been anxious.

It was because Lee-Han was involved in this matter.

Then the burly man spoke.

“Why can’t we just push through?”

Kwon Ho-rang. This guy is no help when it comes to thinking. Seo Ha-yoon, lowering her head, opened her mouth.

“Secretary.”

From a corner shadow, a face popped out: Han In-young.

“Did you call me?”

Seo Ha-yoon sighed.

“Can you stop hiding in the shadow?”

“I can’t. That’s how I look like a villain.”

“Sigh.”

Why are none of the student council officers sane?

Seo Ha-yoon managed to hold her anger again.

He was, after all, one of the few who used their brains.

“What would be the impact of this disciplinary committee on Lee-Han’s image?”

“It’s not a big problem.”

“Why so?”

“You can just continue developing public opinion as you have been doing… but it would be good to increase the intensity a little bit more.”

“How?”

“Professor E-Man-Eok who couldn’t stand the audacity of the hidden camera peeper Lee-Han and threw a punch. Spreading rumors about him in the academy like this shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

It was preventing Lee-Han to be seen as a victim in the public eye. Secretary’s ideas always bring a sharp taste.

“Lee Han is like a hunting dog that has already lost its teeth. There’s no need to worry too much.”

“But still…”

“Any other issues?”

An uneasy feeling still lingered somewhere.

Seo Ha Yun leaned back in her chair.

Suddenly, she remembered the tired face of Lee Han.

This was the second time.

People who survive crises become stronger.

Perhaps that was the source of the unease, Seo Ha Yun thought.

“After all, wouldn’t the important thing be the chairman’s growth?”

– Scurrr

At the secretary’s words, Seo Ha Yun felt chills run down her spine.

… It was because the jerk of a secretary had whispered it in her ear.

“Ah! Stop coming up and whispering all of a sudden!”

“That’s what makes it exciting.”

“Do you want to die?”

“I apologize. But please look at this. It’s this month’s report.”

[ Seo Ha Yun’s Growth Trend ]

It was a report containing various data related to Seo Ha Yun’s growth, contradictory to its simple title. Her records were neatly represented in graphs and charts, detailed on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

A graph that had been on an upward trajectory since her first year.

This was the graph that Seo Ha Yun had been most dedicated to during her life in the orbis.

“If the chairman’s growth remains steady, there’s no reason for the student council to lose its strength.”

The reason was simple.

At least as long as this growth continued – because Seo Ha Yun’s father had promised his full support.

It’s also the graph that has enabled her to expand her influence within the school council while maintaining her position as chair, and to start making her mark in the succession of the Sunyang Group, a giant corporation. In other words, this growth of hers is the most needed thing for Seo Ha Yun.

And as long as this momentum continues, there’s nothing to worry about.

The secretary had been saying so.

“That’s a true word.”

There was an excessive part of worrying though.

No matter how much Lee Han writhes and struggles, he is helpless against her, who bears the giant corporation, Sunyang Group, on her back.

She concluded and called the executives waiting outside.

“Executive committee.”

“Yes, chairman!”

Unlike the student council officers, a worthless commoner, who she can fully exploit and dump, cautiously opened the door and entered.

Unlike when dealing with council officers, her eyes were filled with contempt and derision when looking at the executive committee members.

Seo Ha Yun gave the executive committee a note she had prepared.

“Carry it out as is.”

“Yes. Yes!”

However, despite reading the note, he hesitated.

Seo Hayoon frowned deeply.

“What?”

“I think the student council… from the student’s perspective, it might not be a good idea to denounce the professor’s assault…”

Has the kid lost his mind?

Seo Hayoon shouted.

“Did I ask for your opinion?!”

“I… I’m sorry!”

“Get out! Get the public opinion going right now!”

“Yes, yes… But, Miss President, about the executive committee’s budget…”

“Just use the donation funds!”

“Principally, the student council shouldn’t casually use the school’s donation funds…”

“Oh for goodness sake! What’s the difference! It all came from our company anyway!”

– Bang!

Seo Hayoon, who was already at her limit, exploded.

The desk she struck left a hole in the shape of her fist.

The committee member seeing all this was trembling in fear.

“Ah… I understand. I’m sorry, Miss President.”

“Get out.”

As she watched the back of the departing committee member, Seo Hayoon sighed.

What a useless bunch.

‘When Lee Han was in the student council…’

He handled tasks more reliably.

He surely did the work of four, five people.

He took care of all sorts of errands.

‘I should have somehow retained him back then.’

Seo Hayoon, who momentarily reminisced about him, shook her head.

The ‘dark task’ was too embedded to rebel against.

That’s why she had framed him for the ‘dungeon explosion.’

‘The overstepping hound.’

As long as he did what she asked and ate what she provided, there wouldn’t have been any issues.

Then he could have been under her command for a lifetime.

‘It’s a bit of a shame.’

Thinking about it now, his capability had been real.

‘That’s the problem now.’

Knowing the extent of his skills

She must suppress him even more firmly.

Seo Hayoon gritted her teeth.

* * *

The news of Lee Han being beaten by a professor and carried out of the disciplinary committee spread rapidly throughout Orbis.

The same was true for the disciple of Class 2-B, Kim Sangshik.

His grades average, personality typical, connections unremarkable.

At that moment, a classmate he was somewhat acquainted with approached him.

“Hey, did you hear about it?”

“What?”

“A professor hit Lee Han at the disciplinary committee. He got carried away.”

“Are you serious?”

“Do you think I’m lying? That’s why an ambulance came last time.”

“Crap. No matter what, a professor hitting a student is far-fetched.”

Upon hearing Kim Sang Shik’s words, a passing crowd overheard them, brushing their shoulders.

“Well, kind of, but they said Lee Han provoked him first?”

“He threatened to spread hidden camera footage if punished.”

“So the enraged professor Lee Man Ok slapped him.”

Then, the crowd vanished.

His classmates were angry at Lee Han after hearing that,

But Kim Sang Shik thought differently.

‘What are these people, campaign workers?’

He felt as if he were witnessing the swarm of comments by internet trolls in real life.

A strange hunch, not just that.

‘Why is he acting so placid?’

What caught Kim Sang Shik’s eye was Yoon Hyun Jin, wearing a [Disciplinary] badge.

If there really was hidden camera footage somewhere,

He would have been the one to scan every bathroom, regardless of gender, in search of it.

But now, Yoon Hyun Jin was just walking around, looking slightly worried.

“I don’t know.”

Well, you don’t need to think too deeply about it.

Lee Han had a poor reputation to begin with.

At the moment when he was about to move to find somewhere to relax…

He got called by Yoon Hyun Jin, who was standing on tiptoes in front of a vending machine.

“Hey, you over there!”

Shoot… I should’ve just left.

My luck is terrible today.

Did I break a school rule, or something?

I wore a tie today, too.

As Yoon Hyun Jin becomes more annoying the more you ignore her,

Kim Sang Shik reluctantly approached her.

“Why.”

“Oh! Could you press that for me? I can’t reach it.”

What? I thought she was going to scold me?

It was only then that he noticed that Yoon Hyun Jin’s feet are up on tiptoes and she’s whining.

And the button her trembling fingertips were pointing at was…

…Spicy ox bone soup?

“Move aside.”

Grunt. Clunk.

Yoon Hyunjin quickly picks up the spicy ox bone soup and mumbles.

“It has to be this for hospital visits, right…?”

“…?”

Spicy ox bone soup?

Are you going to visit a sick grandfather?

And do you just take one bottle of that for hospital visits?

Can anything besides disciplinary words come from this guy’s mouth?

Kim Sangsik, who was momentarily panicked, came to his senses,

Yoon Hyunjin was already long gone.

‘Who is he visiting in such a rush…’

What’s more…

He seemed kind of cute after seeing him in a normal state like this…

“Damn it!”

– a slap!

Kim Sangsik slapped his own cheek.

Come on, Sangsik. He’s a lunatic. Stay sane.

There are several students who got disciplined because of that crazy kid.

He’s the number one person you have to stay away from.

Muttering like that, Kim Sangsik turned back.

He still had a slight curiosity towards Lee Han.

Like this.

Although rumours about Lee Han continued to spread rapidly in Orbis.

One by one, people started to feel an indescribable discomfort.

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* * *

Meanwhile.

A villain laying in some hospital room, pricked his ears.

“Did someone badmouth me somewhere?”

[ Malice has been collected. ]

[ Malice has been collected. ]

[ Malice has been collected. ]

The gathered malice soon reached 99%.