Breaking Up With the Heroine in an Otome Game

4 – Welcome to Union Hero Academy (2)

005

“Uh…?”

Did she feel the subtle gaze?

Jin Soyeon blinked her eyes several times.

As she turned her head, her eyes met with those of Ishiwoo, who was staring at her intently. Despite suddenly encountering the gaze, Ishiwoo did not avoid her eyes. Jin Soyeon tilted her head slightly.

“……?”

As if she didn’t know why he was looking at her, a small question mark floated above Jin Soyeon’s head.

But soon after, she raised her hand and greeted him like a close friend.

“Oh, Shiwooni, you were in the same class, right? Hi.”

“……Hi, Soyeon.”

The two exchanged a cool greeting.

Unlike me, Jin Soyeon had some acquaintances with Ishiwoo.

“But Soyeon…”

Ishiwoo suddenly stood up from his seat.

The sound of the chair being pushed back echoed in my ears.

The students around them cautiously made way.

The students looked suspiciously at Ishiwoo’s sudden action of getting up from his seat.

He slowly stepped forward and began walking towards Jin Soyeon.

Oh, what’s this?

You must be curious about my breakup with Jin So-yeon, then?

Trying to dive in like this right away.

“Did you guys really break up? I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“Huh? Oh, well.”

Jin So-yeon swirled her hair for a moment, glanced at me, and then slowly replied.

At that, a strange intrigue emerged in the cold, chilly eyes of Lee Si-un.

“I was just surprised because you two were famous as a childhood friend couple from a long time ago.”

We were quite popular as a peculiar couple during our middle school days.

It was because we didn’t fit well as a romantic relationship.

Many students wondered why a beauty like Jin So-yeon would be dating me.

Especially the boys who secretly had crushes on Jin So-yeon. They spread strange rumors that we were dating solely because we were childhood friends.

“We were a good match, though.”

Lee Si-un gave me a quick glance.

Did he really think we were a good match, as he said?

I doubt it. He likes Jin So-yeon, after all.

“Jin Hyuk and I?”

Smirking with an arrogant expression, Jin So-yeon glanced at me and then playfully laughed as she proudly straightened her back.

“No, I deserve way better.”

Well, she’s right.

You and I really don’t fit well.

But looking at her proud nose, I really want to put her in her place.

“Anyway, you confessing.”

“What?”

As I added a word, Jin So-yeon glared at me with menacing eyes.

“Do you know how many people confessed to me?”

“Ah, sure, sure. Must be nice to be so popular.”

“Wow… I’m so annoyed by your tone.”

As Jin So-yeon and I had a momentary playful squabble.

With slightly downcast eyes, Lee Si-woon sighed.

“Even after breaking up, you two seem to get along well.”

Ah, I shouldn’t act too friendly in front of him.

Honestly, it’s somewhat strange for ex-lovers to remain close friends, isn’t it?

“We didn’t end on bad terms. Plus, we’ve known each other since kindergarten.”

“So, childhood friends, huh?”

I quickly added the last part.

Lee Si-woon quietly mulled over the term “childhood friends.”

Our relationship seemed to make him a little envious.

However, Si-woon had his own childhood friend.

Not as close as me and Jin So-yeon, though.

There was a pretty girl.

A girl who had the status of a ‘fiancée’ arranged by their families.

“What’s with that girl?”

“Unbelievable, really.”

That’s when it happened—

“What’s with her? Why is she acting all friendly with Si-woon?”

“Look at her flirting. Ugh. Shameless, isn’t she?”

From a distance, I could hear a group of female students gossiping loudly.

They were a group of girls near the back window.

They blatantly criticized Jin So-yeon.

Loud enough for everyone to hear on purpose.

“Isn’t that right, Seol-hyun?”

“…”

In the middle of the female students,

“Seol-hyun?”

“Was her name Jin So-yeon?”

Should I call it a standout in an army?

Among them, there was a beautiful girl who could be easily recognized at a glance.

The girl exuded an air of elegance through her stylish clothes, reminiscent of a lady from a drama.

Wow, they’ve been causing trouble since day one, huh?

“It’s kind of the first time Lee Si-won has shown interest in a girl.”

Golden hair that stretches down to the scapula in waves.

Distinct pale, porcelain-like Slavic skin.

A rather glamorous figure.

“She’s quite pretty.”

“But compared to you, Seolhyun, she’s nothing. Right, girls?”

The girls nodded their heads in agreement, saying ‘Right, right.’

Though it might sound strange to say, it’s like they’re waiting on her like ladies-in-waiting.

Honestly, it’s a bit funny.

‘Yu Seol-hyun, Yu Seol-hyun.’

Yu Seol-hyun.

An honor student that entered as the 7th best student.

She is one of the main villains in the Romance Hero Academy.

The daughter of one of the clan leaders representing South Korea’s teenage clans, Gaon Nuri.

The granddaughter of high-ranking Spear Spirit Yu Gap-ryeong, and one of the aspiring heroes who grew up as close friends with Lee Si-won.

‘Yu Seol-hyun has quite a tough personality too.’

As a Yangban’s daughter, she has a high sense of pride.

She doesn’t show much interest in things she’s not interested in, but she becomes more than passionate about things she finds interesting.

She has a strong desire for possession and hates others coveting what is hers.

…Well, anyway.

If you had to describe Yu Seol-hyun in one word, it would be this:

The villainess that always appears in female-oriented games.

However, you can’t just see her as a villain.

It’s not like she torments people just for fun.

She’s relatively harmless if she doesn’t rub you the wrong way.

That’s right. As long as she doesn’t annoy you, that is.

‘She’s already showing interest in So-yeon.’

Although I had somewhat anticipated this, it must be because of Lee Si-won.

It’s because Lee Si-won and Yu Seol-hyun are both childhood friends and engaged to one another.

Ah, of course, it was only a half-joking arrangement made within the family, so neither of them would be taking it seriously.

But nonetheless, a betrothal in name is still a betrothal.

Even if they had no romantic feelings for one another, it would be very unpleasant for the prideful Yoo Seolhyun to know that her childhood friend and fiancé was showing interest in another girl.

‘The closer Soyeon gets to be with Siwoo, the worse the relationship with Seolhyun will get.’

Perhaps it’s a matter of pride as a woman.

She wouldn’t accept the fact that a man, who didn’t show the slightest interest in her, was showing interest in a commoner girl.

Especially because she had a strong sense of self-worth.

‘Eventually, she’ll become a completely hostile NPC.’

It’s a truly typical development.

The fiancée of a rich young master becoming a villainous lady and developing a jealous and hostile relationship with the female protagonist.

However, Romance Hero Academy is a role-playing game with a fair amount of freedom.

That means there’s a route to welcome Yoo Seolhyun as a friendly character rather than becoming enemies.

In fact, in the game, Seolhyun and Siwoo have been often turned into positive relationships and reliable allies.

Of course, that’s never an easy task.

It’s virtually impossible in the first loop.

But who am I?

A veteran player of Romance Hero Academy, no less.

I have successfully captured dozens of routes before.

I have even created a 100% full walkthrough and distributed it online.

‘In order to face the various villains and monsters in the future, it’s better to secure as much power as possible.’

That includes Yoo Seolhyun, of course.

As the daughter of a large clan and being an amazingly talented character set as a villainous lady.

Not to mention securing the support of her powerful family is also necessary.

‘If I can only prevent “that incident” that causes her to turn completely dark, things will become much easier.’

One of the decisive triggers for turning from a nasty lady to a full-fledged villain.

By first resolving that event and gradually building up familiarity and relationships, there should be a way to establish a positive relationship with Yoo Seolhyun.

Let’s try to do it as well as we did in the game, just once.

Although the game and reality will undoubtedly be different.

“Hey, you guys. Are you talking to me right now?”

Frustration flared in Jin Soyeon’s eyes as she furrowed her brow angrily at the mocking words of the female students belonging to Yoo Seolhyun’s faction.

“Am I wagging my tail? Wow, you guys are funny.”

“…”

Lee Shi-Woon also glanced at them.

As their eyes met, the girls flinched.

Some of the children even subtly avoided their gaze.

Yes, Jin So-Yeon might be easy-going, but Lee Shi-Woon is definitely not, right?

“Stop whispering behind my back and speak your mind.”

Jin So-Yeon, who never seemed to be bothered by the many rumors due to her outstanding beauty, spoke firmly.

“Did you get what I said?”

“I’m sorry.”

Ah, finally someone is stepping up.

“Our kids are very interested in Lee Shi-Woon.”

Yoo Seol-Hyun walked leisurely through the crowd of girls, her steps confident and graceful, coming all the way to Jin So-Yeon’s side.

“I’ll apologize on their behalf.”

Yoo Seol-Hyun grinned and came right up to Jin So-Yeon’s face.

Although she said she was sorry, her attitude didn’t seem apologetic at all. Perhaps it was her unique confidence, or the smile on her face.

In any case, it wasn’t pleasant for Jin So-Yeon.

“You’re Jin So-Yeon, right? I’m Yoo Seol-Hyun.”

“…Yoo Seol-Hyun?”

“Ah, you might have heard of me?”

“You’re famous. The third daughter of the Gaeon-nuri Clan.”

“Don’t worry too much. It’s only burdensome if you pay too much attention to it.”

“…”

While covering her mouth with a light smile, Yoo Seol-Hyun looked at Jin So-Yeon’s flustered face, and Jin So-Yeon sighed and nodded her head.

It seemed that she couldn’t bring herself to spit in the face of someone who was smiling.

“Lee Shi-Woon, hello to you too.”

“Yeah.”

Yoo Seol-Hyun naturally turned her gaze and greeted Lee Shi-Woon as well.

It seemed that Lee Shi-Woon was bothered by Yoo Seol-Hyun’s sudden interruption.

After all, she was his fiancée in name.

“It seems odd that Lee Siwoon would show interest in someone else’s love life. Do you think he might be into you?”

“Huh? What?”

As a villainess would, she spat out the words with a hint of mischief, and Jin Soyeon blinked her large eyes, seeming to not understand.

Like most protagonists, Jin Soyeon was also completely clueless regarding romantic cues.

“Yoo Seolhyeon, you.”

“What? Oh, was I being oblivious?”

Lee Siwoon frowned, and Yoo Seolhyeon laughed and brushed back her hair.

Soon, the awkward atmosphere built up between them.

I looked at them with a slightly intrigued expression.

It might sound weird saying this, but the situation is quite interesting.

Isn’t this a fascinating scene where the heroine, hero, and villain from the game are all gathered in one place?

As a die-hard fan of Romance Hero Academy, it was more than exciting.

“What’s with you guys from day one? What are you doing?”

A woman’s voice cut through the strange atmosphere that had been building for a moment.

“Come on, settle down. Find your seats quickly, I don’t have all day.”

With the appearance of the teacher, the trainees hurried to take their seats.

“Well, then. I’ll see you around. And…”

Only now did Yoo Seolhyeon glance at me for the first time, turning her attention, which had not been on me until now.

“Was it Lee Jinhyuk? Soyeon’s ex-boyfriend.”

“Uh-huh.”

“hehehe, an ex-boyfriend. How interesting. Anyway, see you next time.”

With that, she walked towards her group.

“What’s with her, seriously?”

Jin Soyeon could only respond with irritation.

The relationship between the protagonist and the villainess would require much effort on my part for it to improve.