The Pink-Haired Possessor
Lol... This kind of thing can't really hurt me... right? Why am I such a fucking moron?
Kim Yujin sat blankly in the corner of the classroom, lost in thought.
He'd just wanted to make a friend. But the one kid he'd thought could be his friend had nearly gotten hauled off by the cops because of him.
...Actually, he did get hauled off. I just snatched him back midway.
Cheolsu must have been pretty shocked, because he'd submitted a leave of absence form. Of course, according to their homeroom teacher, he'd be back in a few days. It had clearly hit him hard.
Was there another lunatic like him in the world? His conscience wouldn't even let him talk to the guy again.
Waaah! I just wanted to make a friend! Why does shit like this always happen to me?!
Was it because his luck stat was zero? Everything he did seemed to backfire on what he actually wanted.
If it really was the luck stat's fault, he might need to reallocate his points.
-Before that, you didn't forget to raise your mana, right?
'Oh, right. You're here too.'
-Forgetting about me! Where else are you gonna find a partner this unique?!
'Okay, okay, I get it.'
Actually, Yujin had figured he'd handle the slime's request in no time. After all, he knew stats could be raised or lowered anytime.
[The relevant stat has been invested in for too long and cannot be restored.]
Who knew there were restrictions on stats? They should've put that in the description upfront! Innocent users like me could get the wrong idea!
'Hmm, from experience, raising stats means hunting monsters... but I'm not really motivated.'
-I can't understand you moping over some random dude. Life's kill or be killed in the end. Better to let gone connections stay gone.
'Hey, don't talk about someone else's life so lightly.'
Of course, Yujin knew his connection with Cheolsu was pretty much done for. Relationships aren't one-way streets. Thinking someone will like you back just because you like them? He'd been burned by that delusion plenty in his past life. And it never ended well.
'Still, he was the only one in this school who ever talked to me first.'
The other students apparently found the Heukcheon heir position pretty intimidating. He got it, though. If there'd been a chaebol heir in his class back in the day, he wouldn't have treated them normally either.
Cheolsu had been the one exception—no fear, always straightforward. Now even that was up in the air.
-Well, you're not totally alone. You've got that girl from the hotel before.
'Not "that girl," it's Younghee.'
-Whatever. One chick like that's plenty. Why obsess over friends?
Yujin let out a deep sigh. All he wanted was something simple—not super deep, just normal. Eating together, playing dumb games, trading silly jabs over KakaoTalk. Was even that off-limits for a total loser?
But since it was his own fault, he couldn't even vent to anyone. Fucking hell!
He was slumping more than usual when—
"Hi~"
Someone spoke to him. He looked up. It was Lee Younghee. But she looked different from usual.
"Your hair..."
"Yeah, I cut it. Does it look weird?"
Younghee blushed shyly as she spoke. She'd always had long black hair down to her waist. Now it was cut short, almost a bob. It didn't ruin her beauty, though. If anything, it gave her a fresh, intriguing vibe. Sure, it felt a bit of a waste, but...
"S-Suits you."
"Really? Phew, glad to hear it!"
Younghee smiled shyly and sat next to Yujin, pressing her body right up against his naturally. He felt himself tense up without meaning to.
"I realized something. You're so strong and amazing, Yujin. No other guy can compare."
"Huh?"
"So from now on, I'll only have eyes for you."
She flashed a feminine, alluring smile. Something the old Younghee never would have done. If the original her was purely pretty, this version felt... a bit more seductive, maybe?
"Anyway, I'll get going. If you've got worries, come talk to me!"
Younghee waved with a bright smile and hurried off somewhere. Yujin blinked, a little dazed. Was this really Younghee? No, she'd been super quiet and timid before.
-Hmmm, pathetic how she's trying to impress you.
'Impress me? Why?'
-She gets her situation now, duh. Sometimes you gotta discard yourself to protect what's precious.
The slime chuckled at Younghee's retreating back.
-In that sense, she's pretty wise, huhu. Would've been fun sticking around in her body instead.
Yujin couldn't fully grasp that. Younghee had no reason to suck up to him. He was willing to do pretty much anything for a friend anyway. Sure, it kinda stung that it wasn't his own money... but who could blame a rich kid for opening his wallet for friends?
'And Younghee likes Cheolsu... right?'
Last time, her begging him to save Cheolsu had felt so desperate, it was heartbreaking. She didn't even need to ask—Yujin had planned to anyway. If she went that far, Cheolsu clearly meant a lot to her.
...Wait, thinking about it, doesn't that make me the clueless third wheel?
Right now, Cheolsu hated him, and Younghee seemed to like him okay. But that was because she knew it was all his screw-up. Cheolsu, with no clue, had every right to be pissed. If Younghee liked Cheolsu, maybe he should back off gracefully.
'Damn it, no matter how I spin it, I end up with zero friends!'
Born handsome and rich, yet making one friend was this hard? He was starting to feel legit wronged. And yeah, hours into the school year, and his only convos were with Cheolsu and Younghee? Pretty pathetic.
Maybe that's why.
"Um, got a sec?"
He jumped when a girl suddenly talked to him. She was plain if you were harsh, average if kind—relative to Younghee, anyway. This world's high baseline meant she still had personality. For starters, her hair was pink.
Ponytail pink hair, tough expression. A determined-looking girl.
"Uh, who?"
"I'm Jo Suhyeon. Ah, you wouldn't know me. We've never talked."
Her words made Yujin even more puzzled. Everyone else avoided him. They'd tremble and apologize just from eye contact. But this girl was different.
"You're probably wondering why a nobody like me is talking to you."
Yujin flinched inwardly. He hadn't thought it that harshly, but yeah, he had wondered.
'Ugh, shows on my face? No wonder I'm a loser.'
A rare first-mover! And he'd been chatting more lately. Yujin mustered a smile.
"What do you want with me?"
Gah! For some reason, she flinched back like he'd scared her. Hey, that reaction's rude! It was just a smile! Even a pro loser would cry!
"Ahem! Ahem! More friendly than expected. Is this divergence from the original plot?"
She muttered something weird, cleared her throat, and continued.
"What I'm about to say might be hard to believe. But with your brain, you'll realize it's all true."
The pink-haired girl's face was dead serious. How big was this bombshell? Yujin felt himself tense.
"This world's actually the adult game 'Trouble to Fight.' And I'm a possessor who entered it. You're the villain here."
Yujin went silent. He blinked at the pink-haired girl. Surely some mind-blowing punchline was coming.
Right?
But time passed, no punchline. She just stared back, tense as hell.
"As a possessor, I request your cooperation. I'll repay you properly, of course."
Her eyes seemed to plead, You'll believe this truth, right?
Yujin paused, then gave a sad smile.
"...I see."
Ah, she's one of those chuunibyou types. First friendly chat in ages, and it's a chuuni. Should I tell her a black flame dragon's sealed in my left hand?