No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 6

In the original work, the protagonist and Cassice Demillang were supposed to become enemies around this point. Their first meeting was supposed to be Cassice ruthlessly trampling someone in the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was being prepared, ready to send them to their grave. 

An appearance of oppressing the weak with a humiliation incomparable to chasing away that guy named Georges Montant or whatever earlier.

That was the first meeting between Cassice Demillang and Ryuseong.

‘But this time, dalgona became our first meeting.’

Moreover, he didn’t even do the pathetic act of singling out and suppressing someone.

Is that why? 

Is it all because of the damn dalgona that all these bullshit changes are happening…?

“That person is the guardian’s second name…”

“Why is Ryuseong…?”

A buzz swept the surroundings, incomparable to the earlier mockery.

That was understandable, since the Hanra faction, along with the Jeonju Lee clan, was the local Korean force most hostile to Demillang.

In short, they took the stance of “screw subservience to the US, why are you Demillangs constantly clinging to our country?” Honestly, due to the DNA engraved in my soul, I damn well understand the people hostile to Demillang.

And all of Ryuseong’s friends are hostile to Demillang. That’s also the reason I set my number of cronies to three.

‘If we’re going to pick a fight, at least the numbers should match.’

If I have Logan, Diedrich, and Capone on my side, then they have Ryuseong’s three goons on the other side… Like that.

I was planning on designing it that way, but…

…But why the hell are you acting up here?

‘Are you really upset you couldn’t eat dalgona?’

Wow, I’m so dumbfounded my head isn’t turning.

What’s the problem? 

For a moment, my head throbbed. I unconsciously swept down my furrowed brows with my fingertips and rubbed my distorted forehead.

“…”

God damn it, let me think while mustering every last bit of my rationality.

It seems to be because our first meeting changed.

That’s it. That’s definitely why Ryuseong caused this absurd character collapse of sitting next to Cassice Demillang. He must have mistaken me for a good person. He must have gotten the wrong idea about me over some whim of throwing him a few pieces of dalgona.

But that was just charity.

It was sympathy.

No different from picking up a wriggling, dying earthworm from the scorching hot asphalt and putting it in the bushes. 

Don’t equate that with soft concepts like “being kind.”

‘You look pathetic.’

I pulled the corners of my mouth a bit more to cool my head. There was the unfortunate event of Capone, who was standing next to me as if waiting for orders, flinching, but so what?

It must be because I’m too handsome, right?

As I repeated the nonsense, my head cooled down coldly. As a reader of the original who narrowly overcame the crisis of going crazy and jumping up and down upon seeing the protagonist going off track, I swept my bangs with my hand that had nail marks left. Soft, silver-like hair fluttered and tickled my straight forehead.

“How would I know?”

With a brazen attitude. Annoyingly rude.

Who are you to sit next to me?

And Ryuseong frowned and gave this kind of answer to shut me up.

“You don’t know me?”

…Are you stupid?

“Of course not?”

“Then do I look incompetent enough to not know your surname is Demillang?”

Wow, our minds connected? Seeing as we’re both treating each other like idiots?

I gazed at Ryuseong with a subtle and gentle gaze to convey my deep feelings. I even went through the trouble of looking him up and down and nodding my head.

‘Yeah, you look like an idiot.’

But ungratefully, Ryuseong was further distorting his already frowning expression.

And the next moment, pffft!

A burst of laughter erupted next to me. The culprit was none other than Diedrich. The red-haired, curly-headed young man was holding his stomach and laughing as if sobbing, but his mouth was forcibly shut by Capone.

However, I couldn’t stare at Diedrich for long. Even in the moment when people’s eyes were drawn to Diedrich, only the blue eyes shining brightly like will-o’-the-wisps never left me. The flashing blue eyes were glaring at me as if to pierce through me.

With a color that hinted at delusion and madness.

‘Why are his eyes like that? Did this bastard go and suffer some kind of deviation from the original plot development without me knowing?’

Otherwise, there’s no way madness would be visible in his eyes from the start.

The early-stage protagonist was supposed to be a nice kid trying to follow the teachings of the Hanra faction to some extent. Who the hell made that cute guy like this?

As a reader of the original work, I made up my mind to catch and stomp on the culprit who turned my favorite character into dead-fish eyes. Whoever it is, no matter how long it takes, I will destroy them.

―That’s what I was determined to do, but.

“It’s not even funny. You, I’m saying I want to get close to you.”

What?

“Got a problem with that?”

What kind of bullshit is this?

I was seized by the desire to curse him out while smiling.

I mean, not Ryuseong, but this damn world.

‘What the hell did you do to the protagonist, you damn world!’

What did you do to make the kid want to get close to the final boss―!

***

In the original work, the protagonist, that is, Ryuseong, has a total of three friends.

The first is Hae Yuna of the Haenam faction.

A round, short, and cute-looking girl. If you tease her by asking if her name is “Hae” Yuna because she’s from the “Hae”nam faction, she’ll headbutt you. She’s a high-level taekwondo practitioner, and her main weapons are her hands and feet.

―Right now, she had her mouth wide open and was recording a video. It was because of her sense of mission that she had to inform the leader of the Hanra faction that their youngest disciple had gone crazy.

…Of course, somewhere in her heart, there was also a little bit of selfish desire to save her friend’s embarrassing history. Just a little bit.

The second is Lee Hyang, the 45th-generation descendant of the prestigious Jeonju Lee clan of Korea.

The man who will inherit the national surname of Joseon and the Korean Empire in the story. He tried to look cool by smoking a long tobacco pipe he had at home, but he became addicted and can’t quit cigarettes. He’s a sorcerer contracted with the Vermilion Bird, and his main weapon is the long pipe.

―Lee Hyang was now trembling next to Hae Yuna, feeling like he was going to die from nicotine withdrawal. Are you really out of your mind, Ryuseong…? At this rate, it will become a crazy act that will be recorded in history…!

Of course, he didn’t stop Hae Yuna. Encouraging the recording of embarrassing history, that’s what friends are for.

Finally, the third, a woman who doesn’t have a proper family background but has risen this far with her innate divine talent alone, Shin Myohan.

She has a tall and imposing physique like a slender leopard. Usually, she walks around with her predatory eyes narrowed to the point of being almost closed, but the moment she borrows power, it’s different. She is a shaman who serves Chuk Jun-gyeong, the general god of Goryeo, and her main weapon is a sword.

―Shin Myohan was now opening her eyes wide. Since Ryuseong and Cassice Demillang were such famous figures, Myohan knew them unilaterally. That’s why the state of affairs was all the more amusing.

Isn’t that right, General?

Like this, the three of them, Hae Yuna, Lee Hyang, and Shin Myohan, were directly observing the “I want to get close to you” frenzy unfolding before their eyes.

The first-year students enrolling this year, the student council, and even the professors preparing for the entrance ceremony, everyone was.

They were witnessing Ryuseong, who looked not at all like he wanted to get close, insisting on getting close, and Cassice Demillang, who was uncharacteristically stammering while shuddering in disgust.

Of course, it was a situation no one had ever wanted.

***

“So, you’re saying, Ryuseong wants to… with me…”

“Become friends.”

“Why, that kind of thought…”

“Because I want to.”

“There’s no logic at all in what you just said…”

“I’m just acting as my heart leads me.”

“…”

Fuck, fuck, fuuuuck…!

He just imagined having a one-on-one meeting with the Demillang family head! Fucking damn it! But if this keeps up, it fucking looks like it will really happen! This fucking crazy protagonist bastard!

“…Just why are you doing this? We’re strangers though.”

“We’re getting to know each other for the first time, so I’m expressing that we should get close.”

“So you abruptly took the seat next to me…?”

“You’re a bit on the stupid side. You don’t know how to properly understand words.”

“…Are you sure you want to get close and not fight?”

“Sorry about that. I’m a bit clumsy with human relationships.”

Wow, I feel like my composure is going to explode. Where is this fucking bastard who’s not sorry at all spouting lies?!

‘You don’t even want to get close in the first place!’

I can tell that much just by looking at your eyes! What the hell are you scheming to do this…?!

While I couldn’t respond properly because I was going crazy, Logan stepped in to provide support fire.

“Young Master Cassice has no intention of getting close to you. So please kindly step away.”

The problem was that because Ryuseong had drastically lowered the level of conversation with talk of getting close or whatever, no matter what was said, it ended up sounding like kindergarteners declaring “I’m not going to be friends with you! Let’s end our friendship!”

Despite setting the stage for any conversation to come across as ridiculous, Ryuseong was actually growling at Logan with a voice like a beast.

“Are you Cassice’s nanny or something? Know your place before butting in.”

“…Are you prepared to take responsibility for that verbal abuse?”

Wow. Now that it became a shitty situation no matter what, my mind rather calmly settled down. Only then did I realize how to escape from the ridiculous farce led by Ryuseong.

Right, you fucker. Let’s go face the family head.

“Logan, stop. Come here.”

“Young Master Cassice…”

Logan obediently listened to me. It meant he held back from screaming with a red face in anger and stood at attention behind me. I tapped the back of his hand a couple of times, then rested my elbow on my crossed knees and placed my chin on my palm.

In that state, I looked up at Ryuseong and narrowed my eyes.

Coquettishly. Detestably. Mischievously.

“Then, are we dating starting from today?”

If you want to break down the bullshit game you’re leading, don’t you need even more bullshit?

“…?”

“…?!”

A scream of “Kyaaa!” burst out from somewhere.

But I paid no attention to the scream and only looked at Ryuseong, smiling brightly. How about it, bastard?

‘It pisses you off to be hit with bullshit too, right?’

But what can you do?

It’s not like I don’t mean what I’m saying, you know?

I’m going to milk this for all it’s worth until I fight with you, you know?