Breaking Up with the Heroine of the Female-Oriented Game

Monsters. Enemies of humanity. Creatures from the rift revealed themselves, showering endless hostility upon mankind.

To current humanity, monsters represent an indescribable nightmare.

And now, that nightmare had flung wide its grotesque maw within the Academy’s training grounds.

“Kekeek! Keeeeek!”

“Growwwwl, growl.”

In the fourth training ground, two formidable monsters had emerged: a Minotaur and a Dark Hand Long-Armed Ape—mighty creatures well-known in tales of terror.

The Minotaur, boasting a 2.5-meter frame, had the appearance of a fusion between a bull and a human. With a grip strong enough to crush iron and durability to deflect bullets, it was virtually impossible to take down with personal firearms.

Not even Hong Daye, now retired due to injury, could easily defeat such a formidable monster. And there wasn’t just one creature to contend with.

“Kekeek, eek, eeeek.”

Next to it, a sizable ape with long, dangling arms licked its lips as it watched the children. The Dark Hand Long-Armed Ape, though not as threatening as the Minotaur, could not be underestimated.

If attacked in tandem with the Minotaur, even Hong Daye alone would find it difficult to manage. Moreover, Hong Daye was responsible for protecting the students behind her. The situation was disadvantageous in several ways.

“Uh… hmm.”

And those monsters… they looked even more terrifyingly brutal than they did in games and videos. I had done quite a bit of online research to prepare my mind, but how could they be so ferociously menacing?

‘I trained hard for major monster combat back in middle school… but reality is definitely different.’ The feeling of oppression from these real-life monsters was on a completely different level.

Had I not been prepared, I might have been seriously scared. Of course, I’m still quite frightened now.

I steadied my heart and surveyed outside the training area.

Several monsters had appeared near the spectator stands, causing chaos. There were about a dozen creatures, but none as intimidating as the Minotaur or the Dark Hand Long-Armed Ape.

That’s why the security personnel, who had been on standby for emergencies, were now handling the monsters and hurriedly evacuating the students.

Hong Daye, after assessing the situation, said softly,

“I’ll disable the barrier, so hurry to the security personnel. I’ll draw the monsters’ attention.”

If it had been the Hong Daye from her prime, perhaps it would be different. As she was now, she couldn’t handle all the monsters. Even fully armed with specialized equipment, it would be suicidal to fight without proper gear, yet Hong Daye had made her decision. Before she was an instructor, she was a hero.

“I’ll now release the barrier… wait, what?”

But.

“Why does it have to malfunction now?”

Despite numerous attempts to operate the remote control, the protective barrier encircling the training ground did not vanish.

…Of course, it wasn’t a malfunction at this critical moment—it was the doing of that ‘villain’ who had joined the Academy.

I knew who it was and why they were doing this, but I hadn’t stopped them in advance.

For now, it wasn’t something I could rashly interfere with, and the future I knew might change because of it.

I also wanted to give Jin Soyeon a taste of this experience beforehand.

The despair of facing a powerful monster… But I seem to be the more frightened one right now. This is not just a test for Soyeon but also mental training for me.

“Damn it.”

Hong Daye cursed quietly under her breath. If the barrier isn’t disabled, we’re as good as trapped inside with the two monsters.

“You all stay put behind me.”

Hong Daye stepped forward, intending to protect the students of Teams 1 and 16, and activated her supernatural ability.

Her power was psychokinesis.

With the capability to manipulate objects, be they inanimate or living, her power had been strong enough to bring down buildings during her peak days. But now…

“Growwwl? Mmmm!”

Just stopping the movements of the Minotaur seemed a struggle for her. If the Dark Hand Long-Armed Ape began its attack, Hong Daye wouldn’t last long.

‘…Maybe Hong Daye can’t do this alone.’

It couldn’t be helped. The event was designed with defeat in mind.

The Unwinnable Battle Event. A narrative device commonly used in many games.

It mainly serves as a cliché to show the protagonist’s despair and powerlessness and to display the enemy’s strength and dignity. This event was designed to instill fear in the protagonists and to retire Hong Daye for the first encounter with a monster.

The clear objective of this event is survival.

If we can last 10 minutes until the security team arrives, the event will end, but Hong Daye will be severely injured and hospitalized for some time.

This would mean we can’t rely on Hong Daye’s help in the upcoming joint training episodes.

‘I can’t let Hong Daye retire here.’

I need her help in the episodes to come. Therefore, we can’t afford to lose Hong Daye here.

Of course, acting rashly in this situation is extremely dangerous.

Lee Siwoon and Yoo Seolhyun’s teams wouldn’t stand a chance on their own; they could lose their lives. The level difference between the monsters and the protagonists’ party was significant.

‘But that doesn’t mean there’s no good way to handle this.’

An event predetermined for defeat. But not necessarily an event that must end in defeat.

It would be more accurate to call it an ‘event that usually ends in defeat’. Of course, fighting them head-on wouldn’t work, but with a little trick, they could easily be defeated.

It’s unbelievably simple. After all, would I have boldly stood before such monsters if there weren’t a way to handle them? Remember, I was an ordinary person in my former life. Just an ordinary person.

Okay, then maybe it’s time to talk to the kids about what to do next.

“Guys, I have something to tell you…?”

Suddenly, I turned to the students, and what do I see?

“Pant, pant, pant.”

“Gulp, ugh.”

“Whoo, whoo.”

Everyone was sweating profusely and staggering as if burdened by heavy shoulders.

Lee Siwoon, Yoo Seolhyun, Sunari, and Yuliya Troyanova looked like they were struggling to breathe, their chests heaving intermittently.

Especially Jin Soyeon, who was in the worst state.

Her face had turned ashen, and she was shivering uncontrollably.

Oh, no. Why is she like this?

Hey, you’re the female protagonist. What are you doing?

Even I, who was just an ordinary person in my previous life, am holding on.

Sure, those monsters look scary, but isn’t this reaction a bit much?

‘…Ah. Could it be this?’

A sudden realization came to me.

‘The murder intent?’

A murderous intent that only I cannot feel.

This world has such a messed-up setting as “murderous intent” that crossed my mind. No, wait a minute. Surely not to this extent?

‘But, damn. It wasn’t like this in the game?’

In the game, she was quite composed.

Despite the differences between reality and games, this level of disparity is too extreme, isn’t it?

‘I believed in you, Soyeon!’

It seems like we’re doomed. No, no.

To put it more bluntly…

…I am screwed.

***

Monsters! Monsters had appeared in the examination grounds.

The sight of them lunging their tongues, exuding sticky murderous intent, was the embodiment of fear.

Thump, thump.

My body was shaking uncontrollably. I can’t calm down. Is it because of the murderous intent? Like a trembling aspen, I can’t steady myself. I need to calm down…

‘Ugh, it’s hard to breathe…’

It feels like hyperventilation. Breathe slowly, breathe slowly.

Exposed to the invisible murderous intent from the monsters, I could only bite down hard on my lower lip as I swallowed my dry saliva, doing the best I could under the circumstances.

Such a sinister and overt murderous intent…

It felt similar to the murderous intent Hong Daye had displayed on the first day, but now, in a real situation, the thought that a wrong move could actually kill me sent my mind reeling, and I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper into dark, murky emotions.

‘Hong Daye…’

Even though Hong Daye was fighting hard, I instinctively knew she was being overpowered. The Minotaur was a notoriously powerful monster, capable of overpowering dozens of heroes alone.

Could Hong Daye handle the Minotaur by herself, not to mention that ape-like monster?

‘I should help. I need to help…’

But my body won’t respond.

I’m rooted to the spot, or rather, stiff as old tree bark.

I don’t believe I can survive entering that stormy battle. I am weak. Just a mere student. If even the high-ranked Hong Daye is struggling, I could die if I act rashly.

So what do I do?

I kept asking questions in my mind. I can’t just stand here. I need to help the instructor. But is it okay? Am I not just foolishly hindering her? Maybe staying still is the real help? But it seems like the instructor won’t last much longer…

In a whirlwind of internal questioning, I bit my lower lip so hard, it might have bled.

They’re all excuses. Just excuses.

I’m just too scared to muster courage.

Don’t lie to yourself to find comfort. I kept looking for reasons not to move, like a coward. I was disappointed in myself. Aspiring to be a hero, is this how I react when the real challenge comes?

Move, start moving.

If you’re going to be a hero, stop deceiving yourself.

It’s easy to rationalize and find excuses, but a hero shouldn’t compromise with their current situation. No.

“Pant, pant, pant…”

I took a deep breath.

I tried to brace myself, but my body, trembling with fear, refused to obey as if it wasn’t my own.

To take that final step, I needed a tiny bit of courage.

A small, yet significant courage.

The courage that assures me that moving now is the right thing to do.

But at the last moment, I could not find that courage, that assurance.

Unable to go any further, like a pitiful girl…

“Soyeon, are you okay?”

That moment.

“Snap out of it, and take a breath.”

A clear voice brought me back from the brink, as if pulling me from a deep, dark sea into a ray of light.

My chaotic thoughts cleared suddenly.

“…Huh?”

Right before me, Lee Jinhyuk was looking at me with concern, gently gripping my shoulder.

The soft touch and warmth from his hand gradually dissolved the clammy darkness, and I felt a sense of relief.

“Are you back with us?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Eyes.

His eyes were right in front of me.

Through his gaze, I could see a reflection of myself.

The image of the girl glimpsed in his eyes reminded me of myself from the past.

That day, that moment would never be forgotten.

Trembling with fear, I had pleaded for someone to help me, and a boy had come to my aid.

“Are you okay?”
“Are you really alright?”

That day, I had thought that the boy who saved me was my very own hero. At the same time, I had dreamed of becoming a hero like him.

“I’m fine, really fine.”

Lee Jinhyuk took a deep sigh of relief and then looked around. The other students, somewhat composed now, were looking at us. It was a bit overwhelming to be the center of attention.

“Okay, then. Listen to me, everyone. We can’t just stand here. We need to help the instructor.”

“How?”

Yoo Seolhyun asked.

“These monsters are not something students can handle. And we might just get in the instructor’s way, right?”

“Don’t worry.”

Lee Jinhyuk nodded seriously.

“I have a good plan.”

It wasn’t that he was certain it would work, but he couldn’t show any hesitation in the current situation. After all… if anything goes wrong, ‘that’ can be used.

Having that surefire backup gave him a slight confidence and a sense of security.

“So, can you help me out? Soyeon?”

“Ah.”

Confidence was evident in his eyes.

In this chaotic mess, his unwavering gaze and voice kindled a flame in my stalled heart.

A small, yet significant, flame of courage.

“Yes… of course.”

A hero is one who spreads hope amidst despair.

“Just tell me what to do.”

From the past until now, he had always been there to help when I needed it.

“I trust you.”

So this time, it’s my turn to help.

“If it’s your plan.”

Finally, I was able to take a step forward.

I could have the assurance I couldn’t find on my own because he was the light that illuminated my path.

***

‘Eh, what’s this? Soyeon seems to be holding up better than I thought?’

Her face was deathly pale, and she was shivering, making me think she was completely mentally broken.

But a few words from me, and she comes back to her senses.

Well, anyway. That’s a relief, a real relief.