Conquering the Broken Heroine?

The terrorist attack on Hunter Academy.
The series of events left as big an impact as its importance.

It’s true no matter who says what, that they abandoned human ethics due to survival instinct.
The two who were at the forefront inciting other students were naturally expelled.

No, it wasn’t just expulsion.
They disappeared somewhere.

As if they never existed in the first place.
Then what about the rest?

Some engaged in mental gymnastics, saying it couldn’t be helped.
Some spent their days nonchalantly, claiming they were also victims.

From the start, the students weren’t adults.
Even if they volunteered to be in a military facility, victims couldn’t be perpetrators.

The students were ignorant of the crime of desertion.

As long as they maintain silence, there will be no harm.
This would be the same for the biggest victim.

Isn’t it better for the person involved if the fact that an S-class Awakener nearly died at the hands of a mere terrorist doesn’t become known?

So even the girl who could be called the biggest victim of the incident must have been keeping quiet.

Among them, there were a few who shamelessly tried to talk to the girl as if they knew her.

“Da-eun─.”
“Excuse me.”

The girl, Baek Da-eun, was arrogant in tone but kind.
Thinking they could approach her casually and act as followers without any problem.

“If you have business, could you call me later? I have some things to think about.”
“…Oh. Okay!”

It’s half correct.
Baek Da-eun was the biggest victim of the incident.

But for her, memories directly related to the terrorist weren’t that important.
Who stabbed her in the back was also something she didn’t care about.

What was truly important to her was far from such things.

There was that child.
She found that child who had saved her long ago.
She was saved by that child again.

‘Han Seo-yeon…’

Han Seo-yeon.
That was the child’s name.

Looking back, Han Seoyeon had always been indifferent to Baek Da-eun.

They spent middle school together.
After spending 3 years together, one would think the memory of that day would come up at least once.

However, every time, Han Seoyeon would just shrug as if she didn’t know anything.

She thought it was just insensitivity.
That wasn’t it.
The insensitive one was Baek Da-eun.

‘…What have I been doing to that child all this time.’

She looked down on her.
She despised her.

Because she thought the weak should be protected.
Because she thought it wasn’t right for the weak to live alongside her as a hunter.

Because she thought that even the weak being able to become hunters was arrogance and overconfidence.

It was a misunderstanding.
Baek Da-eun wasn’t unaware of her own arrogance.
She thought that very arrogance was the quality of the strong.

She was wrong.
Baek Da-eun’s values were mistaken.

The weak could become sufficiently strong.
They could protect the strong.

Baek Da-eun herself was living proof of this.
What on earth had she been doing to her benefactor?

She was terribly ashamed.
The more she thought about it, the more her face turned pale with shame.

It was disgusting.
Every single word she had uttered. All of it.

‘…I must apologize.’

She must apologize.
No.

‘I want to apologize. I…!’

She wanted to apologize.
It was truly a beast in human clothing.

It was incredibly shameless.
To ask for forgiveness now after such blatant hatred.

If Baek Da-eun were the one receiving the apology, her reaction would undoubtedly have been close to contempt.

Nevertheless, not apologizing wasn’t an option.
If she didn’t even apologize, Baek Da-eun would be no different from an animal.

‘But, how.’

That kind child.
If Baek Da-eun offered an apology, regardless of how she might react, there was a good chance she would accept it.

She had even forcibly put them in the same group.
Even for that group project, didn’t she go along with it in the end, despite showing her dislike?

But a simple apology wasn’t enough.
Such a thing didn’t satisfy Baek Da-eun’s temperament.
An apology only in words had no meaning.

That was something dirty adults did.
She wanted to give something, even if it might seem materialistic.

“…You all.”
“Da-eun! Did you call?”
“Do you know anything about Han Seo-yeon?”

The problem lay in Baek Da-eun’s ignorance.
Despite her internal monologue about benefactors, Baek Da-eun knew nothing about Han Seo-yeon.
Baek Da-eun didn’t know a single thing.

“Of course!”

So, she asked for help.
From her followers who fawned over her.
She didn’t hold any grudges.

It was, in a way, natural for Baek Da-eun that these followers who smiled shamelessly had abandoned her and fled when faced with a life-threatening situation.

Regardless of the process, in the end, she, as the strong one, had failed to protect the weak.
If they had foolishly volunteered to stay, she would have told them to run away first.

“…Is this all?”
“Do you need more? We can investigate as much as you want!”

But honestly, she didn’t expect them to be this unhelpful.

Baek Da-eun has no friends.
Only followers trailing behind her.
Instead, the followers had their own network of connections.

It was just that Han Seo-yeon wasn’t included in the followers’ network.

What they brought was just fragmentary information scraped from the internet.
Just things like how she made bone-crushing efforts.

There was no personal information.
For example, what she likes.

“No. That’s enough.”

She didn’t have the courage to directly ask Han Seo-yeon about her preferences now.
Nor did she want to unnecessarily trouble her by sending her followers.

Han Seo-yeon would surely want to spend time with the person she loves.
So Baek Da-eun decided to quietly gather information.

So as not to cause her trouble.
The act of secretly obtaining information by following her.
An act societally named stalking.

It was an act that crushed Baek Da-eun’s pride.
But it was something she had to do even if it crushed her pride.

[I was thinking of having a meal together.]
[…My appetite has completely gone due to some unnecessary obstacle. Let’s meet next time.]

She was angry.
She felt foolish for not being able to proudly protect her benefactor despite being angry.

[Um…. There’s no need to worry too much. She’s just that kind of personality. You didn’t do anything wrong…]

She was envious.
Of the foreign woman who could proudly comfort her benefactor.

[Wow. That coat is really cool.]

She was lovely.
The one who could smile calmly even when insulted.

“…A coat, is it.”

Baek Da-eun muttered to herself.

A coat.
It was far too cheap compared to the value of saving her life twice.

If so, she should prepare at least the highest quality coat.

She made contact immediately.
What she needed was one coat.
And─.

“Han Seo-yeon.”
“What?”
“Could I have a moment of your time?”

Mental preparation.
A posture to apologize.
To her benefactor.

Praying that her benefactor would accept it.

The situation of a female student being called to a deserted back alley.
What usually happens in such cases?

There are two possibilities.
Either bullying by malicious delinquents, or a love confession.

And according to Han Seo-yeon’s big data.
This situation was closer to the former.

Because she didn’t have any.
Anything that could have earned Baek Da-eun’s favor.
Therefore, the latter possibility didn’t exist.

The only thing that might have earned her favor was perhaps the recent terrorist incident.
Even that would have been a rare opportunity to gain favor.

Baek Da-eun has an arrogant nature.
Ignoring Baek Da-eun’s concerns, Han Seo-yeon had hurriedly left to beat up the terrorist.

The only reason Baek Da-eun felt favorably towards the protagonist in the original work was one:
She realized he was her life’s benefactor.

However, since Han Seo-yeon had twisted the original work, there was no way Baek Da-eun would feel favorably towards the protagonist.

She did save her.
But she didn’t tell her name.
So there was no way Baek Da-eun could realize Han Seo-yeon’s identity.

Moreover, for reasons unknown, isn’t Baek Da-eun one-sidedly in love with Han Seoyeon?
Therefore, the situation Han Seo-yeon found herself in must be the former.

Han Seo-yeon was impressed.
Indeed, along with Lee Ha-yul, she’s one of the top two heroines thirsting for male attention (※not actually) selected by Forbes.

“Why did you call me again?”

Well, let’s hear what she’s angry about.
Han Seo-yeon asked as if annoyed.

“Tell me quickly. The lunch break is almost over.”
“…”

Surprisingly, Baek Da-eun remained silent for a while.
Even as time was gradually passing.
Could this be some new form of bullying?

“…”
“…Nothing to say?”

The silence lengthens.
It was strange if anything.
This bullying wasn’t like Baek Da-eun.

“I’m going…?”
“Th-!”

At the end of lunch break.
Only then did Baek Da-eun open her mouth.

She was prepared for a cold reaction.
But when actually faced with it, words didn’t come out easily.

Still, she had to do it.

“Th-!”

Before even the last chance was taken away.

“─I’m sorry.”

The words that came out of her mouth were unexpected.

“I’ve wanted to apologize to you all along. Han Seo-yeon.”

Baek Da-eun….
Apologizing?!

“I’m really sorry. Truly.”

What was happening?
That Baek Da-eun apologizing.

“You saved my life. Me, who repeatedly said harsh things to you.”

Something, something was happening.

“I know it’s shameless. To come apologizing meekly after receiving one favor, after tormenting you like that. It’s laughable if anything.”

When did I get a hypnosis app?
Han Seo-yeon blinked her eyes.

“Nevertheless, I wanted to apologize. To you.”

Baek Da-eun bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. For everything until now.”

She was bowing her head in apology.

‘…Surely this isn’t a butterfly effect too?’

What kind of wing flap could have caused such a storm?
Han Seo-yeon was starting to get scared.

“And I want to express my gratitude.”

With shy movements.
With a reddened face.
She fumblingly handed over a box that anyone could see was luxuriously wrapped.

“It’s not much of a gift. Please accept it.”
“No, it’s okay! You don’t have to give me anything…”
“Please.”

Was it just her imagination?
Baek Da-eun seemed to be sobbing somewhere.

“Please accept it.”
“…”

…No, isn’t crying a bit of a cheat key?
How could one possibly not accept it?

“Alright. I’ll accept it.”

Han Seo-yeon obediently accepted the box.

“Both the box. And your apology.”
“…!”

And then she decided to accept her apology too.

“Then─!”
“It wasn’t your fault to begin with. Being attacked by a terrorist.”

Baek Da-eun is a character without any consideration.
But what needed to be distinguished had to be clearly distinguished.

“…Is that so.”
“Yeah. So don’t take it to heart too much.”

Baek Da-eun didn’t do anything wrong.
At least regarding this incident.
So she hoped she wouldn’t be depressed for no reason.

“Ah! The bell’s about to ring! I’ll go ahead!”

Baek Da-eun, who hadn’t been through a depressing story, was polite.
To think she would apologize to repay a favor!

Is this what they call a butterfly effect?
Reality seemed different from novels after all.

It felt good.
Well, who wouldn’t like receiving thanks from a beautiful girl?

Han Seo-yeon left.
Leaving Baek Da-eun behind.

“It wasn’t your fault to begin with. Being attacked by a terrorist.”

─No.
That’s wrong.
That wasn’t what Baek Da-eun wanted to say.

Han Seo-yeon seemed not to remember.
If so, she should have taken the lead to speak the truth.
About insulting her benefactor without knowing she was one.

Why?
Her mouth wouldn’t open.
The reason was extremely simple.

If she revealed the truth here.
If Han Seo-yeon recalled the past because of that.

Would she still talk to Baek Da-eun with a smile then?

She was anxious.
She was afraid of that possibility.

“…Is that so.”
“Yeah. So don’t take it to heart too much.”

So Baek Da-eun couldn’t say it.

“Ah! The bell’s about to ring! I’ll go ahead!”

Even until the moment she walked away.