I Don’t Want to be a Villainess

The atmosphere of the school completely changed starting the next day.

Of course, the most noticeable change was with the students.

In fact, the students weren’t really acting out for money, but rather they had learned to keep their heads down. It’s clear they could change their attitudes whenever they wanted.

Considering that Choi Na-kyung went all out and hurt someone, I thought it might be a bit risky, but… I decided to trust Nam Da-un’s words for once.

Honestly, there were zero pieces of evidence to believe the rumors swirling around. People might say they handled things well, but… how exactly?

“So you’re saying you think all of that is a lie?”

“That’s right.”

While chatting confidently with Sohee and Ha Neul during class, I shared my thoughts.

No matter how much this world wasn’t South Korea but felt like a fantasy world, the social dynamics here weren’t so different from where I used to live.

The richer and more famous someone was, the more attention they received from the media, and the public demanded a higher level of morality. Of course, the fact that the public only cared a tiny bit was no different from my old world, but still, even that ‘tiny bit’ meant there were things that absolutely could not happen.

Sexual assault or harassment could happen. If buried with money from the inside, it could easily disappear.

But usually, those who suffered such injustices weren’t people in high social positions. They were likely ordinary and unfortunate individuals whom one could easily dismiss or cover up.

But destroying a mid-sized company and taking care of the family too? Especially if it caused significant damage to the Yujin Group?

Morality aside, the shareholders wouldn’t sit idly by.

In a capitalist society, the scariest thing is capital, and the people who move that capital. The reason a company’s stock price is high is that many people want to buy that company’s stocks, and because the shares are limited.

If there were decisive evidence—no, even a simple rumor—that the chairwoman destroyed an entire family, the stock price could easily fluctuate.

A 3,600 trillion company might not go under, but a chairwoman’s head could certainly roll.

Well, since Choi Na-kyung was the surface-level largest shareholder of Yujin Electronics, it wouldn’t be that easy for her to just disappear. But it’d still be enough for her to retreat to a back room. Even if an individual has around 9 percent of the stocks, the other 91 percent holders wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

Plus, there are alternatives to Choi Na-kyung.

“So, I think the rumors might be exaggerated. Honestly, there haven’t been any other victims since then, right?”

“That’s true.”

Sohee nodded.

“Since we’re safe and sound.”

Ha Neul also nodded in agreement with me.

That’s right.

People keep doubting the possibilities even when they know something is ‘impossible.’ Even while knowing it’s a baseless rumor, they can’t help but imagine that it might happen and think it’s better to be careful.

The classroom was still quiet.

No one in our class dared to talk to me openly. However, the atmosphere had undeniably changed.

They didn’t completely ignore me, but it seemed like they didn’t know how to handle me.

They would step aside when I walked by, and when I asked something, they would still respond. Yet they remained too scared to keep the conversation going.

So, intentionally, I spoke of such matters.

In the middle of class.

What I was saying was just speculation.

However, the ‘speculation’ from the ‘person involved’ carries weight. Kind of like when a news outlet asks experts about future events after an accident.

In reality, it hadn’t even been half a year since I’d entered this body, so I couldn’t really call myself an expert.

“Hey there.”

As we spoke openly during class, the teacher reacted—unlike before, when the Disciplinary Committee was intervening; now, they looked right at us and responded.

Of course, when I glanced at the teacher, they flinched and shrugged.

Yeah, teachers couldn’t ignore us now.

The money they took was too clear for that. And if they continued to ignore me, who knew what I might do?

Watching me, who’d filled my backpack with money while asking not to be ignored and throwing around millions of won, it’s no wonder they couldn’t say anything.

Well, I didn’t plan to fight Choi Na-kyung tit for tat, but I didn’t need to show those teachers that I was thinking that way. It was beneficial for me to keep them scared.

But I couldn’t just leave things as they were. At least, I couldn’t let Choi Na-kyung hear about the current situation.

“Don’t chat during class.”

That’s why they told me that with a face glistening with sweat.

Now they wanted to assert their authority? If they’d said that before I splashed water on my own head, it might have had some effect.

No, anyone, be they students or parents, would disregard their authority the moment they accepted bribes.

Should I push back?

I thought about it, but just decided to maintain my posture.

Well, at least half of my plan was already in place.

Now I just had to pull off the other half.

*

Because of various circumstances, time flew by quickly.

In fact, other than the Disciplinary Committee incident, nothing too dramatic happened.

Hmm, thinking it over, rather than saying that time passed because of various events, it might be more accurate to say life grew pleasant, making time seem to fly.

The number of kids ignoring me started to decrease rapidly at school. While there were still some who shunned me, it probably wouldn’t be long before they started talking to me, too.

Especially the outside transfer students, who had been singled out the previous time, always greeted me when they saw me. If there were students with bright faces when they saw me, it would surely be those kids.

Apparently, the stacks of cash they received really helped.

Money was truly great.

The teachers couldn’t ignore me anymore either. They might not be able to treat me kindly, and some were still showing passive resistance for some reason, but I was sure that wouldn’t last long.

Unless they wanted to end up being the ones who flew away.

Though receiving money meant they wouldn’t have to work too hard for their lives.

In any case, these reactions weren’t bad. I wasn’t one to say I was a soda-fizz level threat, but I was the type to hope that those who tormented my favorite character would suffer as a result.

By the way, Ye Sara was a character I had strongly empathized with since coming this way… but what of it?

And so, several days flew by in an instant.

Then came the weekend.

On Saturday, I was fully prepared and waiting for Choi Na-kyung.

She had visited last time on a Saturday too. If she truly wanted to see Ye Sara, I figured she’d come as early as possible.

Well, preparation wasn’t really much of a hassle.

“Should I wear that outfit again?”

When I asked, Yang Hye-in shook her head.

“No, I think that won’t be necessary.”

I guessed so?

I intended to break all of Choi Na-kyung’s set rules. I didn’t have to move according to her plan.

So, I just washed up like usual and waited for Choi Na-kyung in my most frequently worn school uniform.

…But Choi Na-kyung didn’t come.

No contact either.

“…Looks like she doesn’t want to come today.”

As I murmured this, the kids waiting with me nodded in agreement.

Not just Sua and Sohee, but Ha Neul was also with us. She seemed ready to stay even until the next day if that was the case, bringing her luggage just like last time.

“Should we try contacting her?”

“No.”

I shook my head at Yang Hye-in, who asked me.

Certainly, in my conversation with Choi Na-kyung, the only scheduled detail was ‘the weekend.’ It didn’t matter if she came on Saturday morning or Sunday night; it wasn’t like she broke any promises.

I couldn’t guess if she was trying some kind of psychological game, but honestly, I didn’t feel too keen on forcing a meeting with someone I didn’t particularly want to see.

If she were expecting that, I’d just look foolish for yielding.

“Either she’ll come today or tomorrow.”

When I responded like that, Yang Hye-in held my gaze for a brief moment. Of course, it wasn’t an especially long glance.

Come to think of it, didn’t Yang Hye-in find my suicide note and show it to them?

I should carve out some time later to have a chat about it. At the very least, I needed to know why she rummaged through my room.

Yang Hye-in hadn’t shown any signs of being bright about the situation yet.

Observing her actions, it seemed she indeed had solid feelings for Ye Sara. But the fact that she still lacked brightness… that surely meant the standards for brightness weren’t just simple fondness. Reflecting on how Son Ah-reum had shone, there had to be some trigger that I still wasn’t sure about.

…Really, to understand something properly, I needed to access Ye Sara’s memories.

Maybe by tomorrow, I could learn something.

*

Choi Na-kyung was indeed playing a tug-of-war game, making me wait all day Sunday as well. It was only after dinner, at 8 PM, that she finally arrived at the mansion.

Descending the stairs, still wearing my school uniform like last time, I was followed by three friends I had made here.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared.

That suffocating feeling from the last time was something I had never experienced in my whole life.

If I just let my guard down a bit, it felt like I would be buried right there, or dragged right in—like a swamp of emotions.

But this time, I had to confront that feeling directly.

To find Ye Sara, who might be hiding inside.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I took a moment to breathe in front of the reception room.

“…I’ll open the door.”

After a moment of waiting as if to indicate my hesitation, Yang Hye-in spoke.

I nodded.

Yang Hye-in grabbed the door and pushed it open, revealing the back of a woman inside.

Choi Na-kyung, who turned around at the sound of the door opening, looked a shade more haggard than when I last saw her—perhaps it was just my imagination.

“…Chairwoman.”

“Yeah, daughter.”

The moment I heard her voice, Ye Sara’s overwhelming emotions began to flow from my heart.

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