Conquering the Broken Heroine?

Finally, the discharge date approached.
Han Seo-yeon stretched her stiff body, having had to lie in bed all day for stability.

Time quickly dulled memories.
Only sensations remained vivid.

It was her first day back at school in a week.
Han Seo-yeon squared her shoulders confidently as usual.

The Academy was the same as ever.
After all, the place attacked by terrorists was the hunting ground, not the main Academy building.

However, there was a slight change in the atmosphere.

Gazes.
The eyes of students glancing at Han Seo-yeon had changed somewhat.
The contempt, disdain, and malice had disappeared.

Some were curious.
They wondered how a non-ability user could defeat Carol, an S-class monster.
The desire to get close to a celebrity and gain attention was not insignificant.

Some felt ashamed.
These were the ones who had acted all high and mighty in the name of meritocracy.
If they didn’t feel even a shred of embarrassment, they wouldn’t be human.

Of course, despite all this, nothing had really changed in the end.

The majority of students’ reaction was indifference.
While they no longer mocked her, they didn’t pay her any attention either.
As if to avoid recalling the nightmare of that day.

For the Academy students, the memory of the incident was treated as non-existent.
The broadcast of the incident video had long since been edited to remove all the ugly parts of the Academy students.

As long as they kept their mouths shut, few knew the truth of that day.

Truly remarkable personalities.
It was enough to make one’s heart shrink.

Han Seo-yeon didn’t care.
In the end, they were just extras.

She decided to take a break for a while.
There wouldn’t be any big stories for a while anyway─.

“Is Han Seo-yeon here!”

But tada.
There are no absolutes in this world.

“The principal is looking for you!”

My once favorite character is looking for me.
…Pardon? For me?

South Korea has a hero.

Red hair burning like a lion’s mane.
Eyes shining as if molten gold.

A hunter hailed as the best even today, active since the first gate.
The great leader of 80 million Korean people that foreign countries dare not touch.

─This is, of course, just on the surface.

At the same time, a villain that readers who have followed [The Falling Star Swordsman of the Academy] can’t ignore.

A character with a dual nature, a dictator who suppresses opposition and conceals all circumstances under the banner of peace.

She doesn’t compromise.
Because she has seen countless sacrifices with her own eyes.
To create a righteous country.

She doesn’t corrupt.
Because she wants to create a righteous country.
So that the world no longer fears anything.

That’s why she was a likeable character.
At the same time, a character one can’t help but be tense when facing.

“Have you come?”

Director of the Hunter Management Bureau.
Principal of the Hunter Academy.
Hero.

Lee Yeon.
She was right in front of her.

“Yes…”

Honestly, she’s intimidating.
Han Seo-yeon spoke in a voice that was almost squeaking.

Despite her favorite character being right in front of her.
It can’t be helped if it can’t be helped.

──────────
[Lee Yeon]
Lv. : 100
Exp : 125000/125000
HP : 250
MP : 250

[Status]
Strength : 150(Rank : A++)
Agility : 150(Rank : A++)
Intelligence : 100(Rank : A+)

[Original Skill]
Unique Ability/Summoning – Modeling(Rank : S)

[Normal Skill]
Body Modification(Rank : S)
Charisma(Rank : A)
──────────

An amazing status.
It was only natural.

Because Lee Yeon was the strongest in the world, as acknowledged by the author.

Han Seo-yeon is relatively stronger than the original protagonist at this point in time.
However, if asked whether she’s stronger than the protagonist at the very end of the original work, that’s not necessarily the case.

When faced with the strongest in the world, even an overpowered protagonist can’t help but be tense.

Even if she was a favorite character as a reader, as a narrator living in reality, she was someone who would become an enemy in the future.

Using knowledge of the original work to draw her to the same side is impossible.
If she were such an easy character, she wouldn’t have been a favorite.

Lee Yeon is a belief-driven criminal.
She carries out her own beliefs in any situation.

Even if she knows it’s not morally right.

It was because of such beliefs that she liked her.
It was because she couldn’t compromise on those beliefs that she died.

“If you’re nervous, I’ll tell you in advance that there’s no need to be. I didn’t call you here to reprimand you. Rather, it’s the opposite. I’m here to praise you.”

If she had come here as an ordinary reader and not as the overpowered protagonist Han Seo-yeon, there would be no reason to be nervous.

As a reader of the novel, it’s truly a dream-like situation to be face to face with a favorite character.

But the one here is Han Seo-yeon, the protagonist.
She has a duty to end the novel with a happy ending.

After all, if she hadn’t intervened, it would have ended with a happy ending regardless of the process, but she intervened for purely personal reasons.

She will reach the happy ending of the original work.
Just through a slightly more amicable process than the original.

And in that process, Han Seo-yeon and Lee Yeon could oppose each other.
Even if she was a favorite character.

That’s why Han Seo-yeon was confused by this situation.
Lee Yeon directly contacting the novel’s protagonist was something that should happen a bit later.

But why were they facing each other right now?

“You saved the students in danger and defeated the terrorist. As the principal of the Academy, I’m simply grateful. You should be proud. You’ve saved the future of this country.”
“…Thank you for the praise.”

It’s an obvious lie.
She had even considered expelling everyone with a monologue long ago.
“Moreover, you achieved this as a non-ability user.”
To not be able to accept praise from a favorite character.
It hurt.

“Those who do good deeds deserve proper rewards. Is there anything you want? It can be related to grades. Weapons are fine too. Even money is fine. Tell me anything. I’ll listen.”

For a principal to make such an offer to a mere student.
It was truly grateful.

“It’s alright.”

It was just grateful.

“I don’t particularly want anything.”

Every favor has a reason and a price.

Han Seo-yeon couldn’t know what Lee Yeon was thinking, but hastily biting into a seemingly good offer didn’t seem like a good picture.

“I’m not making empty words.”

Lee Yeon asked again.

“There’s no need to hold back just because you’re in front of me. I know your circumstances. Born in the slums. Living in a dormitory that’s falling apart, crashing with a senior a year above you.”

Every word is true.
Come to think of it, a certain part of that responsibility lay with Lee Yeon too.

No matter how busy she was, if she, who was nominally the principal, had paid a little more attention to the students’ circumstances, such things wouldn’t have happened.

“It’s really alright.”

At this point, she thought it might be okay to accept.
Nevertheless, Han Seo-yeon declined.

“I have enough clothes, and my ability is enough for a weapon. I can earn money. As for grades… it seems a bit unfair to receive special treatment.”

It wasn’t just out of caution towards Lee Yeon.
This was Han Seo-yeon’s pure way of life.

Desire is good.
Isn’t an overpowered protagonist supposed to monopolize everything?

Excessive greed is not okay.
Being careless and full of greed was the behavior of a cliché villainous extra.

If Han Seo-yeon had been the type to be excessively greedy, she wouldn’t have crawled into the slums of her own accord to play the protagonist in a depressing story in the first place.

She does what she can do on her own without relying on others’ help.

She can earn money in the hunting grounds.
As for grades, knowing the original story, she should be at least in the upper-middle ranks.
One Falling Star Sword is enough for a weapon.

“It’s not just your problem. The student living in the same dormitory room as you must also be experiencing inconveniences living with you.”
“That’s…”

Her words trailed off.
That part was a blind spot, if anything.

“…She’s the first friend I made. She’s precious.”
“Friend.”
“Yes. So I want to be with her… Continuously. Even when we’re sleeping.”

Han Seo-yeon doesn’t have excessive greed.
She clearly has desires.

She wanted to spend as much time as possible with the person she loves.

“…Is that selfish?”
“Not to that extent.”
“Then can I ask for the dormitory to remain as it is, as your reward?”

No more, no less.
This much was enough.

“…I don’t mind. If that’s all you want.”

Lee Yeon murmured softly.

“…”

Afterwards, silence dominated the place.
There wasn’t much more to say anyway.
It was just awkward.

“This is the last. I swear on my name as a hero. Han Seo-yeon. Are you really sure you don’t need any other compensation?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”

She could assert it.

“I didn’t do it expecting any reward anyway.”

She didn’t need any material compensation.
She protected her precious person.

That alone was enough reward.
Lee Yeon’s gaze fixed on Han Seo-yeon.

“…I want to ask one thing.”

Lee Yeon asked.
For some reason, her upright eyes showed a flicker of uncertainty.

“For what purpose do you want to become a hunter?”
“To protect.”

A single phrase without hesitation or pretense.
The goal came out of her mouth without needing to think.

“My precious people.”

It’s a very embarrassing thing to say.
At the same time, it was the one and only truth.

The most important reason.
To protect her younger sister.
That was all.

If Seoyeon is happy, that’s enough.
She aimed for that one thing, that’s why she wanted to act as an overpowered protagonist.

For that, she wouldn’t hesitate even if her once favorite character was her opponent.

“…”

Han Seo-yeon leaves.
Lee Yeon remained silent for a while, watching her disappearing back.

Lee Yeon had gone through countless real-life experiences.
It wasn’t just experience as a hunter.

The way she looks at people.
Years of experience had accumulated in that itself.

The trembling of the eyes.
The degree of breathing.
The pulse of the heart.

It’s not black.
She didn’t seem to want any reward.

It’s not white either.
Because she did want something, albeit small.

It’s gray.
In some sense, it was a gray more trustworthy than white.

All circumstances were telling her.
That Han Seo-yeon was only answering truthfully.
Even if there was something she was hiding.

“…Ha.”

Lee Yeon snorted involuntarily.

Why was that?
She couldn’t understand the reason.

She left the principal’s office.
As soon as she stepped out, a familiar face appeared.

“Senior…!”

A silver-haired beauty.
Michaela Wittelsbach.

“What are you doing in a place like this? …Don’t tell me, were you waiting for me?”
“No.”

Michaela’s answer was cold.

“I had some business around here.”
“…Business?”

The Academy building is divided into several areas.
If there’s somewhere else to conduct business in this building where the principal’s office is located─.

“Student council?”
“Something like that.”
“Don’t tell me, senior, were you in the student council?”
“That’s not it. I just helped with some work.”

Creak.
While they were chatting.
The student council room door opens.

Blue ponytail.
Movements without any waste.

A coat draped over the gray-white uniform shoulder.
The symbol of the student council flutters.

“Good work. Wittelsbach.”

Student Council President, Lee Ha-yul.
The second heroine of [The Falling Star Swordsman of the Academy].

“I was thinking of having a meal together.”

She greeted Michaela.
Without even glancing at Han Seo-yeon, whom she was meeting for the first time.

“…My appetite has completely gone due to some unnecessary obstacle. Let’s meet next time.”

But with a blatantly hostile atmosphere.
With a gaze as if looking at something not even worth being called a bug.

It was behavior unbecoming of someone called the representative of all students currently attending the Academy.

Lee Ha-yul disappeared immediately.
As if it was disgusting to stay there any longer.

She could indeed be called the greatest heroine thirsting for male attention, surpassing even Baek Da-eun.

“Um…”

Michaela was uncharacteristically flustered.

“There’s no need to worry too much. She’s just that kind of personality. You didn’t do anything wrong…”
“Wow…”

Michaela’s worry was in vain.
This level of discrimination was nothing to Han Seo-yeon.

She was simply in pure admiration.

“That coat is really cool.”

“…”

A coat that looks like it’s straight out of a novel.
It flutters coolly with every movement.
It’s the very embodiment of a dream.
If there was one thing she personally wanted to have, it would be that.

“…Ah, senior. What were you saying just now?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Michaela shook her head.
After shaking her head, she smiled.

“That’s just like you.”
“Ahem. That’s just how I am!”

“…A coat, is it.”

Baek Da-eun muttered to herself.