Not long ago, students running boisterous election campaigns could be found everywhere on campus.
But by now, a quiet atmosphere hung in the air like a lie, as if none of that had ever happened.
That was because the first and second-years were busy preparing for finals, while the third-years were occupied with graduation.
‘Wow, has it already come to this? I’ll be a second-year next year….’
As the autumn sky grew higher, the second semester was already drawing to a close.
Nam Yuri, returning to the dormitory after finishing class, felt the passage of time and was swept up in strange sentiments.
“I guess I must have enjoyed myself quite a lot.”
The flow of time is relative.
Fun, exciting, and pleasant experiences promote dopamine secretion in the brain, making you feel as though time is passing by quickly.
In other words, it meant she had been enjoying herself without even realizing how much time had passed.
Looking back on the year, Nam Yuri wore a satisfied smile.
She thought it was a good thing she had met Do Gyeonu, Yeon Haneul, Go Eunbi, and her other friends.
It was precisely as she was thinking this.
“Yuri.”
“Ah! Seorang unni!”
Hearing the now-familiar voice, Nam Yuri quickly turned around.
A woman was approaching her with a cheerful wave.
A Hunter from the Weasel Clan who had joined as a visiting instructor this semester.
Gil Seorang.
Nam Yuri waved her arms widely in response, as if answering back to the woman she had bonded with in alchemy-related classes.
“Are you done with classes?”
“Yeah! So I was on my way back to the dorm. What about you, unni?”
“I still have one more later. Then you must be free right now? Perfect. I was thinking of killing time at a cafe by myself. Want to go together and chat? It’s on me. Let’s eat cake too.”
“Oh, really? I don’t have any plans until evening, so I was bored. Sounds great! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
How to kill an opponent painfully, how slowly to kill them, and so on….
Nam Yuri and Gil Seorang, who shared common interests in specific areas, had quickly grown close and often spent time together.
Today was no different.
Nam Yuri readily accepted Gil Seorang’s suggestion and followed after her.
Soon, as they turned onto a secluded path with no one around….
“Yuri.”
“Mhm!”
Gil Seorang suddenly called out to Nam Yuri in a lowered voice.
And then she spoke to Nam Yuri, who was smiling brightly, in a serious tone.
“Are you satisfied with your current life?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You know it too. You and I… we’re different from ordinary people.”
“….”
Gil Seorang took Nam Yuri’s hands in hers with a pitying expression.
Nam Yuri quietly let her hands be held and looked up at her.
For a moment, a chilling light flashed through her purple eyes, now devoid of laughter.
Not noticing this, Gil Seorang spoke the words she had been waiting for the chance to say.
“This world doesn’t suit you. So come with us.”
“Us…? Unni, what on earth are you talking about right now?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You’ve already figured out my true identity, haven’t you?”
“….”
“And yet, the fact that you haven’t reported me to the Academy means you’re interested in our world, doesn’t it? Let me make this clear. You’re the same kind as us. Wearing a human mask, but a kind that can’t blend in with people. You must be going crazy suppressing your true nature, right? You want to kill and destroy something like mad, don’t you? I know that feeling. I understand. Because I was the same.”
Bending down to meet her eye level, Gil Seorang tidied Nam Yuri’s gray hair as if feeling sorry for her.
She confessed her true identity and proposed that Nam Yuri switch sides to become a Villain.
Nam Yuri entrusted herself to the touch and gradually burrowed into her embrace.
Eventually.
“If I go with you… can you break the family curse that binds me too?”
Completely enveloped in Gil Seorang’s arms, Nam Yuri asked in a dependent tone.
Gil Seorang looked down at her head and stretched her mouth into a long grin.
“Of course.”
* * *
Nam Yuri was precisely the figure who had become notorious among the students as a dangerous person at some point.
Moreover, she openly and indiscriminately voiced complaints about her family.
The Villains who had infiltrated the Academy disguised as visiting instructors couldn’t help but take notice of her.
They likely saw her as a promising Villain seedling who would be easy to recruit.
If so, there was a high probability they would suggest she switch sides, just like in the game.
‘What should I do….’
Trust Nam Yuri’s choice and leave it be?
Or get involved somehow?
The conclusion I reached after agonizing was the latter.
‘I can’t just leave her be, knowing what I know.’
This was on a completely different scale from the problems that would be resolved one way or another by Gang Hanbyeol even if I didn’t bother getting involved myself.
On the other hand, the idea of using this opportunity to lower the difficulty of capturing the story had occurred to me as well.
Feeling the need to intervene, I sought out Nam Yuri not long after the second semester began.
“Gyeonu! Gyeonu! What do you have to say that you suddenly wanted to meet just the two of us!? It’s something fun, right!?”
“A fun story…. You might find it interesting. Haven’t any visiting instructors approached you since the semester started?”
“Hm… A few did try to talk to me, knowing I’m from the Yeonseong Nam family. Why?”
“Maybe there’s a Villain hiding among them who’s trying to recruit you.”
“…So? What are you trying to say? Gyeonu, Gyeonu, I don’t really like beating around the bush.”
“Then I’ll get straight to the point. Want to stab them in the back with me?”
“…Sounds tempting? Tell me more.”
Nam Yuri’s behavioral principle was simple.
Regardless of good and evil, she sought stimulation in order to feel truly alive.
Stimulation was ecstasy, and pleasure.
The development in which she turned into a Villain in the game might have been a reflection of that behavioral principle.
Therefore, I decided to take this chance to provide her with even greater stimulation, to ensure she wouldn’t take an interest in switching sides even if the opportunity arose.
“If the Villains approach you, subtly let on that you’re willing to switch sides.”
“And then?”
“Then they’ll think they’ve got you and slowly try to entice you. Eventually, when the time comes, they’ll reveal their identities to you and introduce you to their associates. We’ll track them from behind and round them all up at once.”
“So you want me to be a spy? Is that what you meant by stabbing them in the back?”
“How about it? Doesn’t it sound thrilling? Seems like just the thing for a change of pace. You were saying how stressed you’ve been lately anyway, Yuri.”
Wouldn’t the stimulation of toying with them be far more intense than the stimulation of becoming a Villain?
If it was the Nam Yuri I knew, she would definitely be intrigued.
Fortunately, as expected.
“This could be fun.”
A peculiar light flashed through Nam Yuri’s purple eyes.
A smile curved her lips as she leaned halfway across the table, revealing her interest.
Yet she wasn’t simply excited; she maintained her composure.
She abruptly opened her lips.
“But why me?”
“Why you? What do you mean?”
“It’s not just me. Other kids could get recruitment offers too, right? But you weirdly called only me out, Gyeonu. As if you’re certain I’ll definitely catch the Villains’ eyes.”
“….”
I had overlooked the fact that Nam Yuri was quick-witted.
Caught off guard by a question I hadn’t anticipated, I ended up flustered.
From her perspective, she had every right to feel offended.
“So Gyeonu, you were thinking of me as a psychopath too, just like everyone else?”
“Yuri, it’s a misunderstanding. That’s not—”
Nam Yuri narrowed her eyes.
From her perspective, she had every right to feel offended.
It was practically the same as admitting that I recognized she had a high chance of becoming a Villain.
It would have been better to call all our friends together and make a statement so she wouldn’t feel slighted.
Realizing my lack of consideration, I couldn’t help but feel sorry toward her.
But contrary to my worries, she spoke as if she didn’t mind at all.
“Do you really need to watch what you say around me? I think I’m off somehow from most people too. I’m a psychopath, that’s right. It’s the truth, so what? Even I think I’d be drawn to someone like me if I were a Villain. But Gyeonu, do you happen to dislike me like this?”
“…Of course not. Would I be friends with you if I disliked you?”
“Right? Then that’s that!”
Nam Yuri ended the topic with childlike innocence.
I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh at her easygoing personality.
At the same time, I vowed not to let her make the wrong choice and go down a bad path.
“So? What’s the specific plan?”
“I’ve only got the skeleton so far, but what I’ve planned so far is….”
After that, I discussed it with Nam Yuri and steadily reinforced the plan.
Furthermore, I roped in So Hyeyul, Hong Yena, Su Hoguk, and other instructors to expand the operation.
And so….
“Gyeonu! Gyeonu! I decided to switch sides! Unni Seorang said she’d make me a Mine too after seeing what I can do!”
Acting according to my instructions, Nam Yuri had hooked a big fish.
“I did good, right!? Right!? Praise me! Pat my head lots too!”
“Yes, yes. You did great, you did great….”
* * *
At last, the fish had taken the bait.
Nam Yuri reported that she had been approached by the Villains disguised as visiting instructors with a proposal to switch sides.
They said they would disappear without a trace at the end of the second semester, together with the students who had turned into Villains.
It seemed they would inform her of the exact rendezvous date and place once decided.
‘Yuri really did a great job.’
After hearing the story from Nam Yuri, I praised her to my heart’s content, as much as she had asked for.
Not even minding that her hair was getting disheveled, she reveled in my touch like a shaggy Sapsaree.
During that process.
“I’m jealous….”
“I know, right. …No, I’m not jealous!?”
Yeon Haneul looked somewhat dissatisfied but couldn’t intervene since she couldn’t deny Nam Yuri’s contribution.
Instead, she was pouting.
Meanwhile, Min Arin muttered under her breath and kept stealing glances at me and Nam Yuri.
‘Do they want it too?’
It wasn’t like I couldn’t do it for them.
Nam Yuri wore a satisfied expression with her gray hair disheveled.
Turning away from her, I playfully placed my hands on Yeon Haneul’s and Min Arin’s heads.
Then, both of their faces relaxed.
“Mhm, this is it…. It’s a hand that touched another girl, but I’ll let it slide just for today….”
“Hmph, what is this even… Hm? Huh, what, what is this….”
Yeon Haneul closed her eyes comfortably, as if feeling a sense of security.
Meanwhile, Min Arin trembled intermittently with her mouth agape.
Anyway….
“I feel like I’ve been seeing Student Gyeonu quite often this semester. Welcome.”
Having obtained information from Nam Yuri, I visited the chairman’s office the next day during lunch break.
Gang Hanbyeol, who likewise had business with So Hyeyul, followed.
She welcomed us warmly.
“So, Student Gyeonu, what brings you here?”
“It’s nothing much, but I was wondering if you’d join us in catching some Villains. The ones hiding in the Academy.”
“If you mean Villains hiding in the Academy… you’re talking about the fake visiting instructors.”
“Exactly. This time, Yuri tricked them and brought back important information.”
“Important information…. How intriguing. What sort of content?”
Seated at the reception table, we conversed over lunch.
After hearing the gist of the story, So Hyeyul’s yellow eyes gleamed.
“I was actually wondering how to deal with the fakes I’d weeded out individually, so this is perfect. It may be reckless, but I think Student Nam Yuri should be fine infiltrating their ranks.”
When our intentions aligned, she was a reliable ally.
Seeing So Hyeyul’s positive reaction, the corners of my mouth lifted.
And then I carefully broached the subject.
“That reminds me, Chairman.”
“What is it? You sound like you have a request.”
So Hyeyul was perceptive.
She covered her mouth with a teacup and gestured with her chin as if to say, go on.
I continued.
“If this operation succeeds, we’ll receive Geumgang coins or the Villains’ artifacts, right?”
“Most likely, yes? Depending on public opinion, you might even gain entry permissions to the Grade 2 and 3 vaults. Using my authority, I’ll make sure Student Nam Yuri can borrow artifacts from the Grade 2 vault unconditionally.”
“I’d like to add just one more thing to that.”
“I’ll hear you out first.”
“When we advance to second year next year, please put my friends and me in the same class.”
“Hmm….”
With the second-semester finals approaching, it was time to think about next year.
That was why I wanted to use this opportunity to interfere with the second-year class assignments.
It would be easier to build memories with friends, and convenient to be able to act together when planning for the future.
In particular, it would become easier to intervene in Gang Hanbyeol’s narrative.
At that moment, So Hyeyul, who had been quietly organizing her thoughts, opened her mouth.
“There’s nothing I can’t do with my authority. However, if I assign all of you promising prospects to a single class, we might draw the public eye. That would increase the risk burden for both me and you. So instead of one class, how about splitting you up across three or four classes?”
“Three to four classes. Hmm….”
Truthfully, if things had gone exactly as I wished, the risk burden would indeed have grown.
Being too greedy could have caused problems.
I nodded at So Hyeyul’s opinion and replied.
“Yes, I’ll do as you say, Chairman.”
With that.
At least next year, I would be in the same class as Yeon Haneul and Gang Hanbyeol.
* * *
Gang Hanbyeol, who had enrolled in the Academy through special admission, was still completing requests to earn the board members’ recognition.
This was the reason he had come to the chairman’s office today.
So Hyeyul, having finished speaking with me, turned her gaze toward him.
“Student Gang Hanbyeol.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“This request will be your last.”
The final request.
I, who had been quietly about to enjoy the refreshments, couldn’t help but react to those words.
It was then that So Hyeyul extended a long box.
“….”
Inside the box was a green Gate Key.
So Hyeyul spoke to Gang Hanbyeol and me as we examined the Gate Key.
“This is a key connected to the Temple of Time.”
A green Gate, the Temple of Time.
In the game, it was the stage that marked the end of the first playthrough.
I had become the childhood friend of the mid-boss.