Chapter 20
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: 19. Provocation
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Who the hell are you, anyway?
"Yoo Eun-ha, but?"
"No, that's not what I'm asking."
"Sunbae. If you're weaker than Yoo Eun-ha, you might not be able to see her status properly."
"M-Me? Weaker than this kid?"
No, to begin with, it was obvious that Lee Yoo-jeong, a supporter unlike a dealer like me, would be weaker.
Of course, skill could make a huge difference. But I didn't think I'd be weaker than someone who looked like they just lounged around eating all day.
"It could happen. Isn't it embarrassing for a sunbae to be weaker than a freshman?"
Choi Si-woo was still salty about getting scolded by Lee Yoo-jeong earlier and started chattering like some nagging auntie.
Was he always like this? He was the type who'd fix himself right away after a lecture to win people over, the ultimate pushover.
"Even so, this is ridiculous. It's beyond emotional—it's infuriating. Just watch me. I'll figure it out for sure."
Fine by me. I was curious if she had more hidden abilities too.
But first, I needed to hear why these three had been hanging out together. Were they trying to exclude me?
"So, where'd you leave me out to go? Grab something tasty?"
"Oh, actually, Choi Si-woo helped train us a bit."
"Train? Fuck, you left me out and only trained them?"
"Common sense—you don't need training."
What bullshit. I'm the most essential if you don't want to die.
Putting me, who's a corpse without Acceleration, behind Reina and Han Su-ji?
This was pure heroine affection grinding, wasn't it?
If that's the case, include me too. Even if I'm sidelined, I'm canonically "a heroine for now."
"No, I'm the weakest."
"Her status appraisal doesn't work on you—what are you talking about?"
"Exactly. We're training with Choi Si-woo for one reason."
If it's because of Choi Si-woo, I was ready to castrate him right there.
"What?"
"We want to get stronger so we can stand proudly as your teammates!"
"Hmph. No choice then. Truth is, they begged me to train them behind your back. We'll all get stronger together."
Finally, some sense.
"So, wanna do some real combat practice?"
"Yeah. Right now."
"You idiot. It's still morning class time."
We had to go now or we'd get in trouble.
"You're skipping too, sunbae."
"Oh, right?"
"See you all after class."
Shouldn't we have gotten permission from Blazing Bat first?
Back in the classroom, we ran into the wild Blazing Bat for a while.
"You know this morning is my time, right? Get ready."
We're screwed.
"Fuck. This sucks. Gotta give her a real lesson someday."
Without her bat, she'd be a nobody with zero presence daring to yell at me—a girl who only has heroine status.
Choi Si-woo, Reina, and Han Su-ji, who plotted to make me skip school, were still getting chewed out by Blazing Bat during lunch.
From Blazing Bat's perspective, it'd be better if I showed up to the academy.
She was my handler, after all. Probably got an earful from Yoo Jin-seok.
"Huh? Murderer."
That's aimed at me, right? Provocation?
I glanced back, and a sun-tanned blonde delinquent bitch was smirking at me from the corner with her gang.
Annoying bitch. Kill her?
Patience—falling for provocation is a loss. She's just jealous of my exploits.
"Lurking alone all gloomy in middle school, now killing people at hunter academy."
"Heh, she might end up dead too."
"Common sense—Reina or Han Su-ji carried it, not her."
I expected this. The more I shine, the more those middle school bitches tied to old Yoo Eun-ha would pick fights or gossip out of jealousy.
Old Yoo Eun-ha would've trembled.
Choi Si-woo would've coolly brushed it off like a protagonist.
But I'm not that easygoing pushover protag. And I hate being trash-talked by delinquents.
"Jealous? Stop exploding with inferiority from the shadows and come at me."
So I hit back directly.
It's been a while since someone picked a fight. Time to vent some stress.
Those damn memories kept giving me headaches—I needed an outlet.
"You've grown cocky, huh?"
Not the sweet guy Geum Tae-yang—the delinquent version snorted and approached.
"Grown? Still hanging with losers like you after hunter academy? Sounds like you haven't."
"What?"
Look at her crew. Total budget extras, faces I've never seen.
"You losers always do this. Can't do shit alone, so you gang up or you're uncomfortable."
"Middle school loser gets hyped by people and thinks she's hot shit?"
"And you're stuck on middle school. Who are you again?"
I really didn't know. Even digging through old Yoo Eun-ha's memories, nothing.
No reason to remember every bully girl.
"You bitch!"
"Some idiots lead with actions over words. Too bad you'll get wrecked physically too—real embarrassing."
I moved first, snatching the cig from the Geum Tae-yang female version's mouth and pressing it to her copper-tanned cheek.
"Kyaaak!"
"Can't even bark at this level? If you're touching Yoo Jin-seok's sister, expect this much."
I tripped her flat.
Her extras charged after seeing their boss get owned.
I'm no protagonist—I'd skip this event.
Subduing them was easy.
Even without strength, Acceleration let me slam their guts a few times—they crumpled holding their stomachs.
"Hey, can't win with words or fists? And you brought numbers too—humiliating."
I giggled, and she thrust a fist in rage—I gently caught and twisted it.
"Ow! It hurts! It's broken! Broken!"
"Oh right, there's this villain group for gathering worthless losers. Perfect fit—you as a hunter? Hilarious."
Her pride stung—eyebrows twitching—so I poked.
"What the hell is this?"
Then a black-haired hunk appeared behind.
Oh, I know him. Yoon Se-ha, Hansung Academy Student Council President.
Opposite of Choi Si-woo here.
Top male cadet at Hansung—probably top nationally.
Many guilds scouting, recruiters visiting.
Looks? Sleek black hair, handsome.
Ability: Magic swordsman enchanting weapons with elements. Annoyingly competent.
"Cadet Yoo Eun-ha. Did you...?"
Oh, knows my name.
Hinting if I started it.
"I did it."
"...Follow me."
Straight to the student council room.
I'm infamous, so they glanced at me.
"Why the fight?"
"Yoo Eun-ha insulted us first."
"If true, you got beat and abused with these numbers?"
Vice President Yoon Mi-young mocked the female Geum Tae-gang and her crew.
"Cadet Yoo Eun-ha. Anything to say?"
"I hit them, but they provoked first calling me murderer, and swung first too."
"Liar!"
The bitch with raccoon eyes was hellbent on framing me.
Knew it.
"Evidence?"
"Second-year sunbae Lee Yoo-jeong knows."
Lee Yoo-jeong. Beyond Electronic Warfare, she manages school-wide CCTV magitech from Cheonsan Group sponsorship.
Cafeteria incident recorded—she'd be watching me anyway, with her favor.
She voyeured Choi Si-woo like that.
Soon, Lee Yoo-jeong was summoned too.
"Cadet Lee Yoo-jeong. Proof they attacked first?"
She scratched her neck, yawned, handed a USB.
"Here. Footage USB."
"Impressive. Hidden cams in the cafeteria?"
Vice President Yoon Mi-young asked.
"What? Hansung Academy's Cheonsan-sponsored—recent CCTVs I manage all."
Delinquents paled at her answer.
"Still useful?"
"Of course. Magitech-upgraded CCTV—easy to handle."
Council checked footage of their actions.
Title: something to post on community later, probably.
Exposed, female Geum Tae-yang scowled—thick makeup cracking.
"Explanation?"
"She's a murderer though?!"
Pathetic, just whining now.
"Black God Cult spotted? Killing on sight's fine—hesitating would've caused more harm. Idiots. First-years this trashy? Think hunters just play hero?"
Vice President Yoon Mi-young delivered justice.
They clenched fists in resentment, but that was it. Demerits and 20 hours community service.
Then a nurse in gown entered.
Infirmary staff.
"Teacher, how are they?"
Yoon Mi-young handed off the injured delinquents.
"Uh, fine-ish. Yoo Eun-ha, right? Girl gut-punching like that—might not have kids later."
Better than chest, I thought. Mistake?
Should've face instead.
Wait, infirmary's only one person.
Villain bitch.
"With that temper and face, doubt she'll get a guy—helps Korea's low birthrate anyway. Not like she'll have kids."
"Eun-ha-yang. You're still Yoo Jin-seok's sister, standing tall as a hero."
Not your line.
Nurse Jeon Ji-hyun. Leaks Hansung info to villain group Jos.
Scouts promising ones secretly—why academies called villain schools.
Anyway, villain.
Event to handle her later, so ignoring—but annoying.
"Don't pull 'think of your bro's face' cheap crap. These are low-tier villain group material. Oh, perfect for Jos—group that just gets beat by hunters."
Jeon Ji-hyun's face twisted.
Uncomfortably proud of being Jos villain.
Subtle change—only I noticed.
"What if they go really crooked?"
Hinting she'd recruit to Jos?
If female Geum Tae-yang turns villain...
"Then I can legally kill her."
I answered without hesitation.
With that, the middle school bully crew couldn't look up—silently took punishment.
Daring to jump me? Ballsy stupidity.
I'm guild-interested, Yoo Jin-seok's sister—influences association with a word.
They mistook me for old Yoo Eun-ha—got reverse-touristed.
"What if I hadn't watched? You'd be screwed."
Leaving council room, half-lidded Lee Yoo-jeong asked.
"C'mon, be honest. I know you, sunbae."
"Huh?"
"You were watching."
"Uh, yeah. To check your status window."
We'll call it that.
I smiled meaningfully, offered hand—she hesitated, then took it.
Nothing to hide.
This was Choi Si-woo's original event.
Precisely, female Geum Tae-yang should've targeted him, not me.
No violence though—she'd frame him as pervert harassing her, Lee Yoo-jeong provides evidence voyeuring him, misunderstanding cleared.
He gains favor with her.
Classic harem protag fucker.
But damn Choi Si-woo dragged with other two to Blazing Bat.
I vented stress and boosted intimacy with Lee Yoo-jeong.
First meet for me, but she'd watched via CCTV long—definitely.
Unlike loose-ass fake-elf and fire-spear slut opening eyes to new world, she's "love's what matters—hole or stick"—fine as harem member.
Here, same-sex lover? Works that way.
Face says world's a hassle, but that mindset.
"Haha, be honest—you can touch me freely."
This body's too alluring even for girls.
Hansung female cadets rumored lesbians? Maybe me.
I eyed her smiling— she flinched.
"......"
Her half-closed eyes widened slightly at my words—flame of desire ignited.