How to Survive as a Villain in a Novel

28 – Soup and Rice (1)

The next day.

Friday, the day before the new student welcome party.

I left the dormitory to relieve tension ahead of the big day.

As Orbis is large, the shuttle route on campus is also quite complicated.

I was torn between taking the bus to the east or west gates of Orbis.

“In times like this, it’s hot soup.”

I boarded the bus heading west.

There are many high-end restaurants on the east side where the dormitories for high-class students are located.

On the other hand, on the west side, where the dormitories for low-class students are located, there are many restaurants that are good value for money, but bad restaurants are poor.

Well.

The reason is obvious.

Like any other world, here too there is a significant correlation between capital and ability.

Although this ability is awakened suddenly and somewhat randomly, developing and flowering this ability is the area of training.

In particular, the importance of training is great for ‘mana responders’, who make up the majority of people with special abilities, because they can only handle mana of a specific attribute around them.

Finding properties, determining whether it is suitable for long distances or close ranges, all of these processes are difficult without the help of experts.

“If we twist this logic a little.”

This also means that poor students in lower classes are unlikely to be able to use their full potential.

Well, it doesn’t really matter to me.

It is said that the guild’s personnel manager, who is smart enough to make this inference, keeps an eye on the students who come and go from the west side of Orbis.

– Nyaooooong.

Like that cat.

The sound of a cat crying from high above.

It’s a familiar crying sound.

‘I didn’t hear it. I didn’t hear it.’

I took my steps so quickly…

– Nyaaa!

Ah. Really.

What can I do?

It is the product of the evil deeds of a first-class villain who even denied the cat species.

Is this something called karma?

Sighing, I rode on the familiar tree-lined road.

– Nyah.

The cat rubbed its face against my palm as if it was happy to see me, and as always, it smelled of luxurious wood and ink.

“… I should take responsibility.”

“Nya!”

This too is a product of my evil deeds.

He grabbed the cat’s neck and came down.

When I put it down on the floor, I heard the cat’s footsteps moving away.

Soon, as if to replace it, the sound of a person’s footsteps came closer.

“This is such a coincidence, Mr. Lee Han.”

Perhaps because we are familiar with her role in the original work – a dark one, but it turns out to be a good character – each and every one of Han Chae-yoon’s conversations sounds meaningful.

Is that a joke, or a threat not to reveal his cat form to anyone else?

It is more difficult to guess because Han Chae-yoon has an ambiguous distinction between good and evil.

I chose to be somewhat vague.

“… I see.”

Anyway, looking at the fact that the black cat fasting relationship-building event of kidnapping, confinement, and intimidation did not occur, it seems that Han Chae-yoon does not completely trust me.

Then…

A relationship of trust where you can ask for help at a reasonable price.

The relationship is just that good.

Even though she is a good character, she never lets go of what she is obsessed with, and her fearsome obsession is so scary that even the same episode makes her stick out her tongue.

So I’m just going to say hello and pass by.

Han Chae-yoon caught the tail of her words.

“Are you going to eat?”

“Yes. Whatever.”

“That’s good. I was just hungry too.”

“…?”

“Let’s go together.”

… What is it?

Han Chae-yoon is not the type of person who moves without meaning.

She means that there must be a reason why she went out of her way to have lunch.

Did I do something wrong?

Or are you trying to threaten me?

Something like signing an exclusive butler contract?

No, and if you’re hungry, go eat, why are you up on the tree?

Many questions came to mind, but my answer was simple.

“Let’s go.”

One way or another, expanding your network is a great help in survival.

Moreover, even from the perspective of the penalty due to her fate, Han Chae-yoon is not that dangerous.

“But what are we going to eat?”

Hmm.

I didn’t feel the need to change her destination.

“I know a good restaurant for soup.”

“…Gukbap?’

I felt her body twitch.

She wanted to say no, but it seemed like she couldn’t because she was worried that if she did, she would say, ‘Then let’s eat separately.’

Han Chae-yoon is still the vice leader of the Black Cat Order.

Even if it is only a superficial position, a person is in a position that far exceeds the level of an ordinary person.

It’s an atmosphere and concept that makes you feel like you’ll always eat neat and luxurious food.

“Well… I’m just following Lee Han’s path. I guess I can’t help it.”

I burst into laughter at the sight of Han Chae-yoon immediately following me.

Unlike the luxurious atmosphere that appears cold, haughty, and neat, her tastes are truly easy-going. Of course, it wasn’t like that from the beginning, and I think it was set up that she changed her taste after going to a good soup restaurant.

Ah. It came to mind because I suddenly set it up.

Why does he always go up to the tall tree line and not be able to come down?

“Chae-yoon. Do you have a fear of heights?”

“There is nothing in particular… No, there is.”

“……”

Han Chae-yoon changes her words hastily.

But it was already too late.

As expected, pretending that you couldn’t come down from the street trees was an act.

I won’t have to take it down next time.

With that promise in mind, I opened the door to the soup restaurant I had already arrived at.

Han Chae-yoon seems a little hesitant.

“It’s not that neat.”

“Hygienically?”

“No, there’s something about the atmosphere.”

“This is how all restaurants that sell less than 10,000 won are like this.”

Drur.

As soon as I open the door and go in, the owner welcomes me.

“Oh my… It’s been a while since I’ve been here! Come on, sit down. I’ll get you a chair. Come this way. This way.”

“You don’t have to do that, boss.”

“This is because I feel at peace!”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve received a lot of help from students, but I’m really grateful. Oh my, my God. You have company today? Come this way.”

“……”

Han Chae-yoon, who hesitated for a moment, is reluctantly led by the hand of the president and sits down.

“Ah… A little too.”

Han Chae-yoon cautiously opens her mouth as if she is about to say something.

But her words were covered by the laughter of the owner, who brought her a bowl of side dishes with a jingle.

“Ahahahaha. She’s such a pretty girl. Is she a student’s girlfriend? Ah, they both have a good eye for people. They look good on each other. They look good on each other. Ohhoho!”

After setting up the side dishes in such a noisy manner.

“This is a really nice restaurant.”

I don’t know why, but Han Chae-yoon’s evaluation of her restaurant completely changed.

Yes.

After all, a side dish is a side dish at a soup restaurant.

* * *

The fate of the wicked. I’m making some assumptions about its penalty, which has now become a quality penalty.

There is a That determines penalties or an ‘eye’ that observes the world.

At first, I thought only I had those ‘eyes’.

As a result, even if I did a good deed, if I could deceive myself into thinking it was an ‘evil deed’, I could avoid the penalty.

At least, it was like that until the Orbis Great Rift.

But my assumption was wrong.

I really lost my eyes.

Nevertheless, I grew into a first-class villain who never gave up.

After organizing dozens of random pieces of information, the author came to a conclusion.

– Or the ‘eyes’ through which the Absolute observes the world, exist in some people, including me.

Although it was not specified in the original work, there were definitely parts that were depicted in a twisted manner.

And if my new hypothesis is correct, Han Chae-yoon does not have the ‘eyes’ of the system.

She says that it is unlikely that any action that builds intimacy with her will develop into an unexpected penalty.

‘Then there’s no need to get along badly.’

It’s not easy to become friends with someone like the vice-leader of the Black Cat Order.

Wouldn’t it be okay to just be careful about the contracts she puts in her hands from time to time?

The reason I suddenly have this thought is…

“Gukbap is here! The soup was very good today! Let’s both enjoy it!”

I don’t know.

Is the experience of sitting down and eating together like this with Han Chae-yoon, an important character in the original work, a new experience?

I just activated [Mind’s Eye].

Han Chae-yoon’s eyes widen as she looks at the soup.

After observing for a moment, he scooped up a spoonful of soup and ate it.

“Atte.”

… Is it a cat’s tongue?

“It will be okay if you eat it in a rice bowl.”

“Ugh. Yes.”

Is my long, straight hair a nuisance?

With one hand, she brushed the side of her hair behind her ear, tilting her head slightly in that direction.

“Huu-huu-“

Eat well with your breath.

What can I say?

My favorite… Or rather, let’s be precise.

A novel I liked.

I can’t believe I can see the characters in it eating so vividly and deliciously.

‘Not bad.’

Sometimes I think this isn’t such a bad thing.

“Hmm.”

It tastes delicious.

It is a bit healing.

“Ha.”

Is this how people who feed cats feel?

I feel like I understand even things that I shouldn’t understand.

Anyway.

Why did Han Chae-yoon follow me?

He could have just pretended not to notice me passing by in the distance on the tree.

If you look at her cold and cautious personality, which also includes a somewhat cruel obsession that never lets go of what she has set her sights on, there must be a good reason.

I just saw that you were giving it this much time. I feel a little anxious.

Or maybe I was really hungry at this point.

But. I had to admit it right away.

That was such a naive thought.

The fact that the woman sitting in front of me is Han Chae-yoon, the second leader of the Black Cat Order.

Dr. Come on.

Han Chae-yoon looked up from the earthen pot after scraping all the way to the bottom.

“Oh, that’s right.”

Her ferocious spirit, which she has not been able to control, flows out of her.

… Why is this so scary all of a sudden?

Was the amount of soup small?

No, I guess that’s not the case.

“Mr. Lee Han, I heard you are going to the new student welcome party with Hyunjin Yoon?”

Subtly wrinkled eyebrows.

Under the trembling eyes.

The power that goes into the word Yoon Hyun-jin.

He must be pretty angry.

“Are you close with Hyunjin Yoon?”

That. Did you follow me here to ask that?

– The reason I couldn’t say that was simple.

Han Chae-yoon’s eyes were sinister as she touched the ring on her finger.

That.

This is the ring I gave you.

I gave it to you to calm down your rampaging vagina.

Yes.

It’s good to carry it around.

That…

Why are you wearing it on your ring finger?