Breaking Up with the Heroine of the Female-Oriented Game - Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Preparation for the Final Battle (2)

***

The evening of the upcoming weekend.

I invited a certain young girl to Yoo Seolhyun’s residence.

I thought it was necessary to have a conversation with her at least once.

And now, the short girl is glancing up at me with a side-eye.

She looked no older than a middle school student.

Her face still had traces of baby fat. With eyebrows arrogantly raised and a slightly sulky expression. At first glance, she definitely seemed younger than her actual age.

It’s been a few months, but nothing about her has changed, has it?

You should probably drink more milk, kid.

“Huh.”

While I was lost in such thoughts, the girl let out a short sigh, shaking her long, twin braids.

“What… is this?”

Let’s just say she looked a little surprised.

With her brow furrowed, she silently stared at me for a while, before pressing her temples as though her head hurt.

Sunari then let out a long, deep sigh.

“Phew… What the hell is going on?”

“Hey, long time no see.”

“Long time no see, my foot. Hah. I heard about it from Seolhyun beforehand, but seeing it in person, this is just ridiculous.”

It must be quite shocking to see a classmate who died long ago standing alive and well, waving at her.

“Seolhyun, is this for real? Did he really come back from the dead?”

“Of course. That’s why he’s standing here calmly in front of you, isn’t it?”

Yoo Seolhyun, who had been quietly sipping her tea, chuckled as she answered.

“I understand if you’re suspicious. But this really is Lee Jinhyuk. I guarantee it.”

“…Ugh.”

Sunari groaned as if still confused.

Even when the great Yoo Seolhyun herself vouches for it, it’s not easy to believe.

But, that uncertainty didn’t last long.

After a brief pause, Sunari took a deep breath, shaking her head slowly with a resigned look.

“Well… if Seolhyun says so…”

She still seemed a bit doubtful, but since Yoo Seolhyun vouched for me, she decided to let it go—for now.

“Anyway…”

Sunari’s gaze subtly shifted.

She took a quick glance at the profile of the black-haired girl who had been silently sitting next to her this whole time.

It was Jin Soyeon. She sat quietly at the corner of the sofa, her expression blank as she watched our conversation.

“Jin Soyeon, you’re here too?”

“…Yeah.”

“It’s the first time seeing you since summer break, right? I heard you went missing.”

“…Yeah.”

“Well, anyway, it looks like nothing major happened. Good to see you’re safe.”

“…”

Sunari couldn’t help but let out an awkward smile, seemingly perturbed by Soyeon’s curt replies.

Well, it was understandable.

Soyeon seemed very different from what Sunari remembered.

If this were the old Soyeon, she would’ve greeted her with a bright smile, shouting ‘Nari, Nari!’ and bouncing around. But now, she was a completely different person.

Her calm demeanor, expressionless face, and cold voice contrasted with how she used to be just a few months ago.

“Hey, Lee Jinhyuk.”

“What is it?”

Sunari leaned in, whispering to me in a low voice.

“What’s up with her? Why is she like that?”

“Soyeon? Well, she’s become more… composed.”

“That’s composed? Her entire vibe is off. What’s with that look in her eyes? Are you sure that’s Jin Soyeon?”

“She’s been through a lot lately. Cut her some slack.”

“No, even so, this is…”

At that moment—

“What are you two whispering about?”

“Huh?”

Soyeon suddenly interjected.

“Talking about something I shouldn’t be hearing?”

“Oh, no. It’s really not like that.”

“Then there’s no need to be huddled so close, whispering, right? Isn’t that right, Nari?”

“Uh, well, yeah, that’s true.”

At Soyeon’s remark, Sunari awkwardly stepped away from me.

Soyeon brushed her hair back and scanned us both before speaking up again.

“If you look closely, the two of you seem to get along well.”

“Me, with him? Ha. Jin Soyeon, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“Really?”

“Of course! I’m only hanging out with him because of Seolhyun!”

“I see. Got it.”

Soyeon mumbled in a low voice, barely audible.

“You better keep things that way.”

“Hey, Jin Soyeon. The way you’ve been talking since earlier…”

“Kuk-kuk.”

As the tension in the air gradually started to build, Yoo Seolhyun let out a quiet, muffled laugh, covering her lips with a hand.

“Soyeon, aren’t you being a bit too obvious with your jealousy?”

“…”

“You know women who get too clingy aren’t exactly popular, right?”

“…”

Soyeon stared at Yoo Seolhyun for a moment, then turned her gaze back to Sunari. After a brief pause, she spoke quietly.

“I’m sorry, Nari. I’ve been a bit on edge lately.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Sunari, clearly not wanting to escalate things any further, nodded gently and sank back into the plush sofa with a sigh.

“Phew. So, what exactly do you need from me on this weekend of all times, Lee Jinhyuk?”

“Ah, it’s nothing major, really. I just thought it’d be nice to catch up. And there’s also a small favor I wanted to ask.”

“We’re not that close for you to want to see my face. Isn’t it enough to just know I’m alive?”

Sunari let out a brief laugh.

“So, what’s this favor?”

“Actually, for the upcoming Hero’s Day event at Gwanghwamun, a few members from Gaon Nuri Clan have been assigned as part of external security.”

“Oh, I heard about that. They hired a lot of external personnel because of the whole mess with the villains. But why are you bringing that up?”

“You’re planning to attend Hero’s Day at Gwanghwamun too, right?”

“…Well, I suppose?”

As soon as Sunari said this, Yoo Seolhyun smiled softly and chimed in.

“In that case, Nari.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s a chance something might happen that day, so if the necessity arises, could we count on you to help us out on the spot?”

Yoo Seolhyun gently placed her teacup down on the table.

“As you mentioned, with all the villain activity lately, things have been quite chaotic. That’s why they’re hiring outside help.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“So, if villains were to cause problems during the event, we might need you to work with the security personnel to manage the crowd or defuse the situation.”

“If it’s just that… sure.”

Sunari herself wouldn’t be much help.

But the guards accompanying her, on the other hand, would prove invaluable.

After all, she was the daughter of the president of a subsidiary under the Gaon Nuri Clan.

“That’s good to hear. Thanks, Nari.”

“No problem. I’m a hero-in-training as well. If villains or monsters show up causing chaos, it’s only natural that I’d lend a hand.”

From Sunari’s perspective, it would’ve been hard to refuse Yoo Seolhyun’s request.

Sunari was the daughter of a subsidiary’s president, and Yoo Seolhyun was the daughter of the head of the main group.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have any issues complying without much complaint.

“Hmm. You agreed so easily? If you had refused, I was just about to use my special favor card.”

“Huh? What are you talking about, Lee Jinhyuk? A favor card?”

“What? You don’t remember? We made a bet a while ago. The loser had to grant the winner one request.”

“Oh.”

During the ranking battle, we had placed a bet on the match between Jin Soyeon and Joo Jiyeon, and I ended up winning.

I hadn’t used that favor until now, keeping it for a moment like this.

A proud person like Sunari wouldn’t go back on her word.

“What should I ask for, hmm?”

“Ah, come on. When was that again? Why bring it up now?”

“Wow. Is Sunari, of all people, trying to take back her word now?”

“Ah, no! I’m not saying that!”

“Then I’ll save it for something important later. Just be prepared, alright, Sunari?”

“…If it’s something ridiculous, I’m not agreeing to it. Don’t think about asking for any nonsense. Got it?”

“Alright, alright.”

Suddenly, Sunari sighed heavily.

“By the way, Jinhyuk, Jin Soyeon.”

She looked between the two of us before speaking again.

“When are you two planning to return to the Academy?”

“Ah, well…”

Return to the Academy?

Now that I think about it, I hadn’t given it much thought.

Right now, catching Yoo Dahee is far more urgent than the Academy.

…Come to think of it, I haven’t even officially notified the authorities about my survival yet.

“Will they even let us return? I mean, no one’s ever returned from the dead before. Who knows how the Academy will handle it. Ah, and by the way, keep my resurrection a secret, alright?”

“And what about you, Jin Soyeon?”

“…Not sure. I was probably expelled or held back by now.”

“No, Soyeon. You’ve been put on leave.”

“Huh?”

Soyeon tilted her head at Yoo Seolhyun’s words.

“I have? Why?”

“Instructor Hong Daye understood your situation. She was also there at the time. Besides, I made a special request for you.”

“Ah.”

“Hehe. Well, no need to thank me.”

“You didn’t have to bother doing that.”

“What?”

Soyeon responded rather indifferently.

“I can get a hero license without graduating from the Academy anyway, given my current skills.”

“Well, that’s true. With both of your abilities, there’s no real need to continue attending the Academy.”

At this point, Jin Soyeon’s skills were already beyond what most would expect of a high-ranker.

Ordinarily, one would graduate from the Academy and then receive an automatic hero license, using the connections made during their time there to join a clan. But Soyeon didn’t need any of that.

Connections? Networking?

For the current Jin Soyeon, such things were entirely unnecessary.

With her present abilities, any clan would be begging for her to join.

“Well, still… if I get a chance, I might as well return.”

I laughed lightly.

“Once everything is over.”

Once I capture Yoo Dahee.

The source of all these problems, the root cause.

Once she’s in my grasp, everything will be resolved.

Then, maybe—just maybe—I could go back.

Back to the peaceful Academy life.

To my normal daily life.

‘Good. My talk with Sunari went well. Now, the only one left is Joo Jiyeon. But Kang Daehan should handle her. I’ve gathered most of the useful allies.’

It’s almost time now, Yoo Dahee.

The time for the final battle is fast approaching.

***

“…So, it’s come to this.”

A woman muttered softly, gazing up into the empty sky.

Her sharp eyes and vacant expression gave off a sense of desolation, combining with her striking black hair to create an image of melancholic beauty.

“I hope it ends well, but I doubt it’ll be that easy.”

Suddenly, the woman clutched a relic tightly in her hands.

“…In that case, I must make my choice as well.”

End of Chapter