Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Storm of the Golden Sun (3)
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The rumor that "Yang Woo-bin from the first-year Jincheon Class is a total womanizer!" carried a different weight entirely from the one claiming "Yang Woo-bin, the total womanizer from the first-year Jincheon Class, slept with Ryu Jia!"
The academy was buzzing with talk about me in a way that made the earlier rumor look tame by comparison.
Sleeping with Ryu Jia, the strongest cadet at Dabcheon Academy and wielder of the Storm Dragon— it was as good as saying I could bed any female cadet if I set my mind to it.
That was why the noble daughters from prestigious families, who prized their chastity above all, now regarded me like some nightmare bogeyman, trembling in fear.
The rumor had spread this far in just one day, causing utter chaos. It would only grow louder from here, and that kind of uproar could plunge Dabcheon into dangerous turmoil.
"That's why I brought you here."
"I see."
With that explanation, the little one glared at me while seating me in a chair in her private office inside the guidance department room.
"I'm the head of the guidance department. It's my duty to stop you from corrupting the academy's morals and stirring up chaos."
"Hm."
I hadn't actually done anything to corrupt morals, but the chaos I was causing at Dabcheon didn't feel so bad to me.
The more my notoriety spread, the more damage it would do to the Yang family's image.
So I curled my lips into a grin, pleased that my revenge was proceeding according to plan.
"...How much of the rumor is true?"
Seeing my smile, the little one ground her teeth and asked.
It was a question so transparently driven by her wish not to believe the rumors.
In response, I leaned back in the chair, striking a haughty pose as I casually shot back.
"What do you mean, how much?"
"Hmph. That you turned Senior Ryu Jia into a... a d-de, deflowered her! And that you became her s-sex... argh, her partner!"
"Oh?"
I'd heard the bedding rumor directly, but apparently it had evolved into us being sex partners now. Not bad at all. Ryu Jia's fuck buddy? Just imagining it made my shoulders lift with smug satisfaction.
I was intrigued by how much more intensely the rumors were spreading than I'd expected when the little one slammed her desk and shot up from her chair.
"Oh what?! What's so intriguing about it! This rumor has me so pissed off my head hurts! Anyway, tell me the truth. How much is real...?"
"All of it."
"What?"
It was all bullshit, of course, but it was my duty to make these rumors real.
"It's true I taught the still-virginal department head about sex just yesterday, and sex partners... well, sure, why not. I even promised to teach her more today—that's why I skipped all my classes preparing for it. Yeah, I'm sex partners with the department head now."
So I spat out the lies in the most serene tone imaginable.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, without a hint of guilt, I confirmed the rumors. For some reason, the little one stared at me with hollow, empty eyes.
They were the same lifeless eyes she'd had back then, when she learned we had to part ways and she had to return to the Jin family. Meeting that gaze now suddenly made my chest feel heavy.
What was this? Why did my heart feel so tight?
I was confused by the heaviness settling in my chest when the little one, who'd been silent, slowly parted her lips to ask.
"...Why? Why did it come to this?"
"...What do you mean?"
"The Woo-bin I wanted to see again wasn't like this. I... I wanted to reunite with you—the man I admired and respected—in a cool, impressive way!"
Her sudden outburst left me utterly flustered.
I couldn't immediately grasp why she was getting this worked up now.
"Why are you like this again? I already told you last time that I've been sleeping around with women. Didn't you just let that slide? Why make it a big deal now?"
I asked without hiding my bewilderment.
Even to me, the one saying it, the words sounded utterly obnoxious, but they were sure to leave her speechless.
Right now, my top priority was bringing down the Yang family, getting revenge on Yang Ga-jeong, and reclaiming the reproductive ability she'd stolen from me.
To do that, I needed to spread bad rumors about myself across the entire academy using Ryu Jia—and the little one standing before me was a hindrance to that plan.
So I decided to act like the thug she thought I was.
"Pulling this out of nowhere is a problem."
"This isn't out of nowhere."
"Huh?"
But even my snide, obnoxious remark didn't shut her down.
Instead, she stared straight at me with teary eyes and pressed on.
"You kept doing it even after we met again."
"..."
Her words clamped my own mouth shut instead.
Only after hearing her did I understand why my chest felt so heavy and suffocated, like something was weighing it down.
"I hated hearing about all the stuff you did before, but I could force myself to accept it somehow. You didn't have me by your side back then. But this time is different. I was right there next to you now— you could've seen me anytime— and you still did things you knew I'd hate..."
Tears streamed from her eyes as her sharp words stabbed into my heart like daggers.
I felt guilty for disappointing her.
Far more than I'd imagined—so much that I could barely meet her eyes.
...Ah, I get it. The little one means more to me than I realized.
To me, she was the first friend I'd made after reincarnating into this Reverse Hero Tale world.
Growing up in the Yang family—a family worse than trash or vermin—she was the precious connection that left me with my one good memory.
She was the benefactor who'd helped me endure my childhood, and we'd been equals, saving each other.
Yet in my blind pursuit of revenge, I'd neglected that equal partner, my benefactor, my friend, my precious bond.
"..."
"..."
Watching her hang her head, shoulders trembling as she swallowed her tears, I desperately wanted to confess right then: "I'm sorry! It was all lies—I'm actually a virgin! I haven't even kissed anyone!" But I couldn't.
Realizing how precious she was didn't change the fact that revenge was my destiny.
It was the means to reclaim the rights as a living being that Yang Ga-jeong had stolen from me—rights that were rightfully mine.
That was revenge, and to achieve it, I couldn't reveal I was still a virgin.
Besides, she owed a debt to the Yang family, so I couldn't even ask her to join my revenge.
Drawing a blade against a family that had shown her grace was worse than beastly—it would tarnish Jin Se-jeong's reputation irreparably.
"...Haa."
A precious friend I wanted to tell the truth to—but precisely because she was precious, I couldn't. That dilemma had me sighing when her lips parted again.
"...I'm really done with you this time."
"Huh?"
She snapped her head up, locking eyes with me. Her eyes were red and puffy from tears, but her gaze was steady and unyielding.
"We met again, so you know what I hate. I just let you drop by occasionally and gave you as much freedom as possible. But you crossed the line. Right? You overstepped, Yang Woo-bin."
"Uh, uh-huh?"
The resolute will now shining in her once-hollow eyes was a good change, but the words coming from them didn't sound good for me at all.
"Yang Woo-bin, you're a person of interest disrupting the academy's morals. You've admitted you'll keep living like a blond-tanned thug, and you'll continue your inappropriate relationship with Senior Ryu Jia."
"Eek..."
"So as Dabcheon's guidance department head, it's my duty to stop you. I'll monitor your every move and correct your problematic behavior personally."
Her voice was utterly serious, without a trace of humor, and the mana rising faintly from her body confirmed every word was sincere.
If she declared outright that she'd restrain me like this, I had no way to resist in my current state.
"Hey, little one? You don't mean..."
Hoping I was misunderstanding, I voiced my suspicion, but her response was a bright smile and an unwavering affirmation.
"Yeah, that's right. Dabcheon's worst womanizing scum, Yang Woo-bin, has been marked by Guidance Department Head Jin Se-jeong. From now on, as a special management target, you'll stick with me. Got it?"
I'd hoped otherwise, but no such luck.
Surprisingly, though, I didn't feel all that troubled.
If anything, the heaviness and tightness in my chest lifted, leaving a refreshing lightness.
"...Hm."
"What? Why hesitate? It doesn't matter if you do—my decision's final. I'll stick to you no matter how much you hate it..."
I was pondering why I felt so good when the little one, looking slightly anxious, suddenly spoke up, insisting her decision stood regardless of my thoughts.
Her words said one thing, but her transparency revealed her fear of rejection.
"No, it's fine. Actually, I think it's good. Sticking with you."
"Uh, y-yeah?"
I answered honestly, and in doing so, realized why this refreshing coolness felt so good.
"Wh-what does that mean...? Good? I'll be interfering and nagging constantly—shouldn't you hate that?"
"Why would I hate it? You're staying by my side. Sure, sleeping around is fun, but obviously you're better than those women— you're my friend."
As she'd said, with her stuck to me, there'd be no more days like today where she'd cry. That realization brought the pleasant relief.
"...E-eh."
My words were utterly sincere, with no lies, plain and straightforward. The little one flushed red all the way to the crown of her head, letting out an incomprehensible noise.
I chuckled at the sight and said,
"So while we're stuck together, you'll handle all the buildup as our guidance head? Wow, guess I can't call you 'little one' anymore."
"...Wh-what? What did you think I just said, you idiot! I'm sticking with you to straighten out your twisted self—doing that would defeat the purpose!"
"Kuhuhu..."
"D-don't laugh... You wanna get punished for real? Teasing people..."
The title of problem child under the guidance head's personal supervision would have some serious ripple effects.
My academy life from here on out looked like it'd be pretty exciting and fun.
"Alright, we're done talking. Yang Woo-bin, get up. We're heading to the Storm Dragon clubroom now."
"Why there?"
"Why do you think? To tell them hands off. You're a special management target now."
...Scratch exciting and fun.
This was gonna be a huge problem.