I Became the Childhood Friend of the Middle Boss

Chapter 1

Gates and monsters cause genetic mutations, and beings born from these changes are called Ain.

As a result, they did not share the same genes as their parents.

‘That’s why Ain are rejected.’

How many parents in the world can truly love a child who doesn’t resemble them, either in appearance or in genetics?

Moreover, the eyes of an Ain were eerily similar to a monster’s.

Because of this, Ain were sometimes referred to as the children of monsters and were subconsciously avoided.

It was common for them to be abandoned right after birth.

Yeon Ha-neul’s situation was no different.

Everyone in her grade knew she lived in an orphanage.

‘In a way…it’s not hard to understand how Yeon Ha-neul became the Witch of Calamity in the game. She must have lived her life being rejected from a young age.’

I recalled a scene from the game.

Yeon Ha-neul, after despairing over her circumstances and losing all hope in the world, was reborn as the Witch of Calamity.

Yeon Ha-neul

― I will destroy this pathetic world.

With sunburned skin and her hair dyed pitch black, Yeon Ha-neul shed bloody tears as she wept.

The game’s story diverges depending on whether the protagonist, Kang Han-byul, defeats her in battle.

If Kang Han-byul kills her, the story continues with the academy city in ruins.

On the other hand, if Kang Han-byul dies, it transitions to a bad ending.

I clearly remembered that bad ending even after being reincarnated.

[Yeon Ha-neul exponentially multiplied and ultimately consumed the entire world.]

[The world was destroyed.]

[All living beings lost their lives to Yeon Ha-neul.]

[Now, there are no living creatures in the world. No people, no animals, no monsters.]

[Yeon Ha-neul obliterated all existence, and in the end, chose to self-destruct, erasing herself as well.]

[―Bad Ending―]

One of the 44 possible endings.

Yeon Ha-neul, endlessly multiplying, eventually devoured the world, erasing all existence, including herself, in a bad ending.

‘To think that the one who caused that ending is in the same elementary school as Do Gyeon-woo, no, me l…’

This wasn’t mentioned in the game.

I couldn’t help but fall into serious contemplation as I watched her finish introducing herself.

The potential disaster, one with the power to destroy the world, was right there.

Luckily, she hadn’t yet awakened as the Witch of Calamity and didn’t know the full extent of her powers.

So, now, I could kill her and eliminate the future threat.

“….”

If I wanted to survive in this world, I would have to kill Yeon Ha-neul before she became the mid-boss.

It was a cold, calculated, mechanical, and efficient solution.

But I couldn’t do it.

I didn’t want to kill her for a future that hadn’t happened yet.

I knew it was foolish but I had my own conviction.

‘Let’s think differently.’

Since it was a future that hadn’t come to pass yet, there was still room to change it.

Killing her without hesitation wasn’t the best course of action.

In fact, since Yeon Ha-neul’s role wasn’t set yet, she could become either a protagonist or an antagonist depending on my will.

Her abilities were certainly formidable.

If only I could turn her into an ally…

‘I could strengthen my forces.’

The difficulty of this game was far from easy.

So, if I could recruit her into my forces, I would be able to lower the difficulty.

For that to happen, I needed to find a way to get close to Yeon Ha-neul.

Fortunately, an opportunity presented itself.

“The self-introduction is now finished, so let’s arrange the seating! The girls will pick their seats first, and the boys will sit next to them.”

It was an opportunity to sit next to Yeon Ha-neul.

Once the girls had chosen their seats, the homeroom teacher explained.

“Boys, please choose your seats in the order of the lottery. At this time, the girls can refuse up to three times for the boy sitting next to them.”

“….”

“The boys can choose a seat as many times as they want, until the girl accepts. However, if no seat is chosen after going around the classroom, the boy will be moved to the last position in the order.”

“Teacher! So, does that mean the boys always have to wait for the girl to choose them?”

“Don’t worry. Since the girls chose first this month, next month, the boys will choose first.”

The idea that one could pair up with the opposite sex they desired.

Some might think the homeroom teacher’s seating arrangement was romantic.

However, contrary to appearances, it was far from romantic.

“Alright, boys, please pick your lottery numbers!”

What were the chances of pairing up with someone they liked?

It takes two to tango, but there was no guarantee that the person they liked would like them back.

‘I think I’m number 9. Since I’ll be the only one sitting next to Yeon Ha-neul, I’ll just wait my turn calmly.’

One also had to consider the possibility of being rejected and not being chosen.

Those who mistakenly thought they had the right to choose an ideal partner might end up embarrassed.

“Number 1, please come up and choose your seat!”

And just now,

A boy, filled with anticipation, stood up.

“Hmm…Where would be good?”

“….”

Though he pretended to think carefully, Number 1’s steps moved confidently to one particular spot.

He probably thought his acting nonchalance was working, but his voice and movements gave it all away.

Even I could tell from behind, so the girls sitting in the seats must have noticed the act as well.

“Of course, the window seat would be the best, right?”

“….”

Number 1 probably didn’t know.

That just as he was evaluating the girls, they were also evaluating him.

“Ah, this spot would be good.”

Number 1, after walking around the window side, put his hand on the seat next to a certain girl.

‘That girl is…Kim Su-ji.’

It wasn’t as prestigious as my family, but she came from a fairly noble family.

She was good at both studies and sports, and her pretty appearance made her quite popular.

Number 1 had been aiming for her but as I mentioned earlier, aiming wasn’t the same as succeeding.

“Is it alright if I sit here?”

“Sorry.”

“Huh?”

“Teacher, I’ll refuse.”

“W-Why…?”

Number 1 was greatly embarrassed.

He blushed, perhaps because being rejected in front of others was shameful.

‘…How pitiful. But, is it really okay for the teacher to be this cruel?’

Number 1 must have learned a great lesson.

The world does not always go as planned, and forming a bond with the person one likes is difficult.

In that way, one wakes up from a dream and learns the bitter taste of reality.

“Su-ji only has two chances left. Number 1, choose a different seat.”

And that’s why it’s not romantic.

‘Well, in a way, maybe it’s romantic. The number of rejections is limited to three.’

If it were truly realistic, there would be no limit on the number of rejections.

Meanwhile, Number 1, losing composure after being rejected, did not have a smooth experience.

“Can I sit here?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Can I sit here?”

“I don’t like it.”

“Can I sit here…?”

“Why? Do I look easier than Su-ji?”

Everyone wants to be the first choice when it comes to someone they like.

No one hopes to be the second choice.

Moreover, they wouldn’t want to be seen as a substitute for someone else or be compared.

Number 1, who had boldly approached the girls, hoping to get lucky, did not seem to have impressed anyone.

“Number 1, since you’ve walked around the classroom, please go to the back row.”

“Ugh…”

“…”

In the end, Number 1 couldn’t find a seat.

Even though he was supposed to be the one choosing, he had to return with a face full of regret, rejected by everyone.

“Next, Number 2! Please choose your seat.”

In this situation, Number 2 began his turn.

Having witnessed Number 1’s failure, Number 2 seemed to have realized the reality early on.

He understood that if he tried to sit next to Kim Su-ji and was rejected like Number 1, he would fall out of favor with the other girls.

I saw him glancing at Kim Su-ji before turning his eyes elsewhere.

“Can I sit here?”

Thus, Number 2 chose his seat.

The girl sitting next to him scanned him from top to bottom then she abruptly turned her head away.

“Hmph! If you want to sit, just sit. I don’t care.”

Although it’s wrong to judge by appearance, first impressions are important.

It’s a new school year and new semester so students who know nothing about each other, except for their introductions, have no choice but to decide based on their first impression.

Number 2met the standard.

“Next, Number 3!”

“Can I sit here?”

“…Sorry, look for another spot.”

On the other hand, Number 3 was rejected based purely on first impressions.

But people’s ideal types vary.

Number 3 was able to sit next to another girl after receiving her approval.

“Number 4! Choose your seat!”

Meanwhile, Number 4 passed by other seats and headed toward Kim Su-ji.

“Can I sit next to you?”

“…Sorry. Teacher, I’ll decline.”

Even though Number 1 had failed, Number 4, showing no fear, boldly challenged the situation.

And he courageously fell.

“Next, Number 5!”

Kim Su-ji’s rejection count was now down to one.

If she rejected one more person, whoever was next in line would be able to sit next to her.

The question was: who would be rejected?

“Next, Number 6!”

“Next! Lucky Number 7!”

There was no one who would sacrifice themselves without any benefit.

“Next, Number 8!”

“Forget it!”

But someone had to do it.

Just like you have to cut down a tree to make it fall or knock on a door to open it.

Number 8, with the face of someone who bet everything, strode over to Kim Su-ji.

And then…

“Sorry, I’ll decline.”

“Ugh! What’s wrong with me?”

“Su-ji can no longer decline.”

“Number 8! Come to the back quickly!”

“Hey! Watching from the back is so fun!”

Number 8 lost in his gamble.

With the face of someone who lost all their money, he had to join Number 1 and Number 4, gesturing like the fallen.

And so, after Number 8’s turn passed,

“Number 9, please choose your seat!”

Now it was my turn.

I moved toward the window side.

“Is he also trying to sit next to Su-ji?”

“Ah, I’m really jealous.”

“That lucky guy. He’s going to sit next to Su-ji.”

“Isn’t that Do Gyeon-woo? From the Do family of Shingeom?”

“The coward?”

I could hear the whispers of the boys behind me.

‘They’re all paying attention to me.’

Meanwhile, the girls in front of me were all staring at me.

Kim Su-ji, sitting by the window, was also quietly watching me.

It seemed like everyone expected me to sit next to her.

‘No, that’s not it.’

In the classroom, by the window, in the back row.

I took in the sight of the rabbit ears that couldn’t be hidden between the people.

There, in the seat, was Yeon Ha-neul.

Her pale yet blue hair stood out, and she had her head down.

She looked like someone who felt she wasn’t worthy of being chosen and didn’t believe she had the right to choose someone either.

‘She seems like she’s just hoping this time will end quickly.’

Her face looked so melancholic, it made me think that.

“…”

And so, I stepped forward toward her.

“…Gyeon-woo, I know your name. I won’t reject you, so sit down. Let’s get along well for the next month, as people from noble families…”

“Eh?”

“What? Where is he going?”

“Why is he going over there?”

Ignoring Kim Su-ji’s comments, I disregarded the astonishment of the people.

All that mattered was Yeon Ha-neul.

Finally…

“…Huh?”

I arrived at Yeon Ha-neul’s seat.

She, who had been lowering her head all this time, was startled when I stopped in front of her.

Her face was filled with surprise.

I said to her,

“Can I sit next to you?”

“Next to me?”

“Yes, next to you. If you don’t want me to, you can reject me. I hope you don’t, though.”

“Why…”

“What’s wrong?”

To survive in this world,

To reach the ending I want,

I…

“…No. It’s fine. You can sit.”