Han Sua had been feeling profoundly troubled of late.
To be the esteemed young lady of Hwaryeon Group, a corporate titan dominating South Korea, was nothing more than a gilded cage.
Even after successfully gaining admission to the academy and embarking on the hero’s life she had so deeply yearned for, nothing truly shifted within her.
As Hero Psyche, she had been bestowed with the lofty titles of ‘hope for the future’ and ‘one of the three strongest first-years’ in her grade, yet the relentless demands of her double life and her gnawing doubts about her true self only served to plunge her deeper into self-reproach.
Recently, the escalating pressure for internal Cradle information had further exacerbated her anxieties.
Her self-loathing only intensified after she reluctantly hacked the database and surrendered the sensitive data.
Her sole, private escape was the time she spent accessing the Hero Minor Gallery, meticulously crafting posts that depicted her idealized self.
Today, however, proved to be an exceptionally unfortunate day.
Not only had her clandestine double life been exposed, but she now found herself desperately clinging to the feet of some deranged individual who had arrived to blackmail her, practically groveling for mercy.
“Pl-please…I was wrong…So, so just stop now…”
Han Sua’s voice was hoarse and broken by ragged sobs as she pleaded.
She had just emerged from a protracted nightmare, one that felt as though it had stretched for dozens of days.
Upon realizing that less than ten minutes had actually passed in reality, she felt an inevitable collapse.
She vowed never to endure those horrifying dreams again.
“…”
The man, in contrast, remained utterly still, merely gazing down at her.
Han Sua had never, not even in her wildest imaginings, conceived that such a depth of madness could lurk behind his handsome, innocent facade.
She had dismissed him as nothing more than a pathetic individual, one who relied solely on his looks and foolishly overstepped his bounds.
Her initial intention had been simply to frighten him off, perhaps relieve some stress, and then forget about him.
Han Sua was now unequivocally certain.
A villain. This man was, unequivocally, an evil villain.
He existed on an entirely different plane from someone like her, who was merely a failed attempt at villainy; he was undoubtedly orchestrating a vast, malevolent conspiracy hidden beneath the surface.
He was no ordinary figure of importance; he was a true behemoth.
How had he possibly unearthed her secrets and those of Hwaryeon? Even with formidable intelligence, one shouldn’t have been able to grasp even the slightest hint.
Though she remained oblivious to his purpose or true identity, this very uncertainty rendered him an even more terrifying and formidable presence.
“Get up.”
“Hic, h-huh…Please, please stop…”
“Hey, I said get up.”
“Hic…”
At the menacing timbre of his voice, Han Sua clumsily and slowly began to push herself upright.
The man, still strikingly handsome, cast a derisive sneer her way.
“A villain, yet you put on such a pathetic act of weakness.”
“Hmph…”
‘Madman. Look who’s talking.’
Han Sua barely managed to choke back the torrent of curses that surged to her throat.
She dared not even imagine the consequences that would follow if she uttered those words aloud.
A peculiar wave of sorrow washed over her, intensifying her despair.
The man’s dismissive attitude, already treating her as an irredeemable and evil villain, was precisely what evoked this profound sadness.
It was all the more crushing because his accusation wasn’t entirely baseless.
In any event, Han Sua’s current predicament was akin to a small, trapped mouse before a predator.
Trembling uncontrollably, she forced herself to speak.
“Sn-sniff…So, what exactly…are you planning…to do with me?”
Villains, by their very nature, were creatures constantly engaging in betrayal and conflict.
It was utterly impossible for her to fathom the objective of this madman, who had infiltrated Cradle under the guise of a student.
Equally baffling was his reason for approaching her in the first place.
“Just act as you normally would.”
The man paused, contemplating for a moment, before offering his reply in a low tone.
“Live as you always have. By day, masquerade as a hero, and by night, indulge your true, ugly nature. If you’ve been plotting something, continue with that as well, just as planned. How does that sound? Simple, right?”
“Wh-what do you mean by that…”
“Instead, you will share your entire schedule with me. Where you go, who you meet, what orders you receive from Hwaryeon. We’ll need to establish regular meeting times. How often would be best? Perhaps once every few days? I can certainly accommodate your convenience for that.”
“Ugh…”
“Oh, and just in case, suicide is strictly forbidden. Revealing my existence to anyone else, in any manner, is also forbidden. And what else? Ah, yes, and…”
Snap, snap, snap.
The man’s fingers tapped out a light, almost cheerful rhythm. Each word he uttered felt as though another heavy shackle was being fastened around her.
Only then did Han Sua fully grasp the miserable reality of her situation: she had become a prisoner, unable to even choose her own death.
“Hmm, I believe that covers all the necessary safeguards for now.”
Nodding with an air of satisfaction, the man extended his hand toward her.
“Han Sua, let’s endeavor to get along splendidly from this point forward.”
“Sniff, h-huh…”
“Your answer?”
“Uh, y-yes…”
“Hey, I told you to act naturally, didn’t I?”
“Hmph, wh-what do you mean…”
The man chuckled softly as he spoke.
“Using honorifics between friends is a bit awkward, don’t you think?”
“Hmph…Yes, no…Uh, yeah…”
“Excellent.”
‘Madman.’
Han Sua was once again utterly convinced that her initial assessment of him had been correct.
Nevertheless, she found herself with no alternative but to clasp his outstretched hand.
****
Baek Yuha had been feeling exceptionally cheerful lately.
Conversely, this implied that the preceding months had been nothing short of a living hell.
Kim Woojin.
Her cherished childhood friend, the single most precious person in her entire world.
He was now her very reason for existence, and lately, every time she saw him, a delightful, fluttering sensation would bloom within her.
Yet, when that very person had so cruelly pushed her away, Baek Yuha had been, quite literally, merely enduring, unable to find solace even in death.
Had she committed some transgression, she would have groveled for forgiveness, but the sheer madness of their conflict lay in the fact that it was no one’s fault.
A cruel twist of fate.
There was simply no other explanation.
Both of them had dreamed of becoming heroes since childhood, envisioning a shared future, but only she had awakened as a superhuman, chosen by a mysterious power.
Baek Yuha believed her awakening was born from her fierce resolve to protect him, yet the heart of someone left behind could not be assuaged by such a simple rationalization.
He rejected all her offers of assistance, and ruthlessly ignored her calls, leaving Baek Yuha with nothing to do but anxiously pace from a distance.
Then, she received the devastating news: he had been severely injured during the hero department’s entrance exam and subsequently hospitalized.
Baek Yuha felt as if her entire world had come crashing down. At that moment, Kim Woojin was the only anchor she had left.
Weeping uncontrollably, she rushed to the hospital.
Fortunately, Woojin’s injuries were not as dire as she had feared. Only then did Baek Yuha remember the man’s distant demeanor, and she began to cautiously watch his every move.
But who could have foreseen that this very incident would prove to be a blessing in disguise?
‘I’m sorry.’
With those two words, Baek Yuha’s past pain dissolved without a trace.
Indeed, it had ushered in a significant turning point.
Not only had they grown even closer than before, but now they could resume their school life together, just as in the old days.
The distinction between the Hero Department and the General Department held absolutely no significance for her.
What truly mattered now was that Kim Woojin was within easy reach.
A while ago, when he unexpectedly requested the substantial sum of twenty million won.
Baek Yuha wasn’t so much flustered as she was simply ecstatic.
It signified that he trusted and relied on her to that profound extent.
Even for a hero, it was an exorbitant amount for a student.
Yet, if Kim Woojin desired it, couldn’t she somehow procure not merely twenty million, but even a hundred million?
Therefore, the drastic reduction of the amount to two million won left her feeling a pang of regret.
‘It would have been better if it were twenty million won.’
‘Then Woojin would value me even more.’
“Hmm, hmm~”
After the notoriously rigorous Hero Department classes finally concluded.
Though she ought to have been utterly exhausted, Baek Yuha hummed a cheerful tune as she skipped out of the classroom.
In truth, not everything had been favorable recently.
That villain she had encountered in the back alleys the other day.
His sheer malevolence, unhesitatingly killing his comrades and plunging a knife into a civilian’s body without a second thought, was etched in her memory.
While she had received commendations and rewards from the Administration and the Academy, Baek Yuha remained profoundly, undeniably indignant that such a heinous criminal had managed to escape her grasp.
Villains. A scourge of evil that absolutely must be expunged from this world.
To think she had allowed such creatures to slip away.
To quell the renewed surge of anger, Baek Yuha decided to seek out Kim Woojin.
As an added benefit, she could ensure no unnecessary people bothered him, subtly flaunt their closeness, and boost his ego even more.
As she passed down a certain corridor with buoyant steps.
-Creak!
Without warning, the tightly shut utility room door swung wide open.
Baek Yuha instinctively cast her gaze towards it. Her eyes widened at the familiar figure who appeared.
“Huh?”
Kim Woojin, appearing unexpectedly, uttered a surprised sound as he saw her. Neither of them had anticipated meeting here.
“Woojin! What brings you…here…?”
Just as Baek Yuha was about to reflexively flash him a bright smile.
Another silhouette emerged from behind Kim Woojin, halting her actions.
Baek Yuha immediately recognized the intruder.
Han Sua.
The young lady of Hwaryeon Group, the top conglomerate, and also Hero Psyche.
A promising talent, known as one of the ‘three strongest first-years’ alongside herself and Snow White.
However, their relationship was not particularly good.
While she prided herself on not falling behind anyone, she couldn’t help but instinctively compare their appearances and backgrounds.
Snow White, who was always holed up somewhere unknown, was one thing, but with Psyche, whom she frequently encountered, a sense of rivalry was inevitable.
…And the fact that Psyche possessed an immense background, unlike her own orphaned status, somehow displeased her.
Perhaps these subtle factors had also played a part in Kim Woojin’s reluctance to join the Hero Department.
Therefore, his words, saying he detested women like Han Sua, had brought her immense joy.
But then.
‘They’re coming out together? The two of them?’
Baek Yuha tried hard to smile, but her stiff lips wouldn’t budge.
Han Sua’s appearance, starkly different from her usual self, further irritated her.
Her somewhat disheveled hair, unfocused eyes, flushed cheeks, and panting breath.
Every single detail was annoying and unsatisfactory.
Especially given that the place they had just been was an empty utility room in a deserted corridor.
…And even more so because the interior was a complete mess.
As if they had just engaged in something intense…
“…”
A strange silence briefly settled over the corridor.
Finally, Baek Yuha greeted them with a radiant smile.
“…Hello?”
All the while carefully concealing the inner turmoil that felt like sharp jabs to her heart.
