SOS! I’m Being Forced to Be a Villain - Chapter 13
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 13
“…You, why….”
Everything was echoing around me, making it hard to properly grasp those words piercing my eardrums. Everything felt heavy and muffled, as if it had all sunk underwater.
I can’t lose consciousness. I’m the only one who can protect myself. I, only I, must protect me….
Bang! I jerked my head up at the rough sound of a door opening. My startled heart pounded unpleasantly. Using that rough beating as a lifeline, I barely managed to steady my breathing when I belatedly noticed the hands supporting me and violently shook them off.
My vision blurred and then cleared, flickering back and forth so rapidly it was dizzying. I habitually covered my mouth even though no nausea came. I ground my teeth into the tender flesh inside my mouth and rolled my eyes.
Even though I was desperately looking up at Kwon Tae-min, I couldn’t see what expression he was making.
Would you like to check the profile information for ‘Main Character Kwon Tae-min’?
I dismissed the useless system window and turned my head to the other side.
A blurry silhouette appeared beyond the classroom door that had just opened. My vision was still wandering aimlessly, unable to confirm who it was.
Would you like to check the profile information for ‘Main Character Seo Jung-hoo’?
Thanks to the text that appeared before my eyes again, I could figure out their identity without having to look.
…Why is this damn world so cruel only to me?
“Damn it, I must be someone who deserves to die….”
I muttered absentmindedly while running my fingers through my hair. After letting out a sharp sigh, I forced strength into my aching muscles throughout my body and struggled to straighten my hunched posture.
And then, just like when I used to run around that cramped house with my small, still-young body. I forced my two feet that were dragging on the floor to move and took steps. Contrary to my worried expectations, whenever I swayed, Kwon Tae-min only twitched his fingertips but didn’t approach me first to touch me or block my path.
I found myself pathetic and resentful for feeling relieved by this. The feeling that things were gradually increasing their deep involvement in my will and thoughts was always disgustingly revolting, not touching in the slightest.
Soon reaching the door, I staggered and grasped the handle. The door opened easily with just a light push.
‘…Should I just drop out?’
Knowing it was impossible, I stepped out into the hallway, ignoring the gazes that persistently stabbed at my back.
* * *
I realized once again that there was no escape route for me.
“…Why, what. Why again.”
“….”
“I’m going home! I’m walking home perfectly fine on my own two feet!”
Even though I tried to act otherwise, my shoulders kept stiffening. So I spoke more fiercely, raising the corners of my eyes sharply. I had tried my best to sound nonchalant when I snapped at him, but the man in the black suit standing close behind me showed no words or reaction whatsoever.
Ever since leaving the school gate, I had been feeling like someone was following me, so I was warily looking around. Then I discovered the guy who had been trailing behind me, and this ridiculous scene of walking home together was unfolding without any consideration for my wishes.
Still, I was somewhat relieved that it wasn’t Kwon Tae-min, who I strongly suspected of being my stalker, following me, but it was equally infuriating beyond just unpleasant.
This morning they left me alone to go to school by myself, so I thought they wouldn’t follow me around anymore.
‘What kind of bullshit is this now?’
Did I try to run away, did I try to turn that so-called novel into chaos? If what happened at school earlier was the problem, they should blame Kwon Tae-min who approached me first, not me!
Even as I pressed my forehead with an audible smack, the man in the black suit didn’t show even a moment’s reaction. I roughly swallowed my breath, turned completely toward him, and crossed my arms.
“Shit, I’m crawling home just fine on my own, so why the surveillance? You need to mix in some carrots too—if you only use the whip, even people who wouldn’t rebel will struggle more, don’t you know?”
“….”
“Or how about having a conversation with me for once! Stop hiding and come forward!”
As expected, he didn’t particularly respond, nor did anything like a new message appearing before my eyes happen. I lightly bit my swollen lower lip, which had puffed up from frequently chewing on it lately, and whirled around.
‘Cowardly bastard….’
Making only me spit out everything I should and shouldn’t say to someone’s face, making me do everything I should and shouldn’t do!
As I was stomping the ground with rough steps, I suddenly stopped short, unable to take another step. A hand that appeared silently grabbed my right wrist roughly.
In an instant, my body was yanked backward. Fortunately, thanks to the technique I had acquired from being grabbed and dragged around frequently over the past few days, it wasn’t difficult to quickly regain my balance. But that didn’t make the unpleasant feeling disappear, so I turned my head with a frown.
“What… why? What is it?”
Even while stopping me, he had no answer. I was glaring at him with my hackles raised when I suddenly flinched and trembled slightly.
Was it just my imagination? It seemed like subtle irritation was seeping into the eyes of the guy who had looked like nothing more than an empty doll the whole time. An emotion infinitely weak to be called anger. But those two eyes that glittered as if they could dispose of the insignificant bug before them at any time sent a chilling fear down my spine.
I stood there dumbfounded with my mouth agape, then slowly scrunched up my face. Then I let out a faint groan.
“Hey, what… why….”
“….”
“Agh, ah! It really hurts!”
I had no choice but to raise my voice because of that damn grip that was applying force as if to crush my wrist.
Tears welled up and my nose stung. It was such vicious and merciless pain that even I, who could endure most pain silently, couldn’t handle it. The touch was rough, twisting as if it didn’t matter at all what happened to my arm.
People passing by on the street only glanced at this noisy scene but didn’t step forward to help directly or try to call the police. Whether this was due to the influence of that damn entity controlling this world, or because most of the people on the street were Seolam High School students who knew all too well about ‘Yu Baek-hwa’s infamy,’ was unclear.
‘At least tell me why you’re doing this so I can bow my head and apologize or something….’
What am I supposed to do when you just get angry out of nowhere like this?
The stinging headache that I had barely managed to calm down by lying on my desk all afternoon was asserting its presence again. Just as the bitten flavor was about to spread from my lips that had started bleeding.
“What the fuck.”
The familiar curse burst out right behind me instead of from my mouth.
Soon my wrist, which had been crushed under strong pressure, was freed in an instant, almost anticlimactically. I stared blankly at the broad back of the person who pushed me back behind them as I staggered backward.
“What is it, mister? What are you doing right now?”
‘…Seo Jung-hoo?’
Why is he here? There’s no way his route home would overlap with mine….
Was it because of the throbbing pain remaining in my wrist? Was it because of the headache that had receded due to surprise at the unexpected situation, leaving my head empty? Or was it because I had unknowingly felt relieved for a moment despite Seo Jung-hoo’s appearance, even though we were supposed to be mortal enemies?
Whatever the reason, apart from my anxiously racing heart calming down, a lukewarm bewilderment rose up.
“I’m asking you, right now. What were you doing to this kid?”
“You, why….”
“Are you deaf? Should I poke it out directly with a skewer?”
“Seo Jung….”
“Why were you dragging a kid who didn’t want to go?”
I couldn’t tell if he couldn’t hear me or was just ignoring me. I was just gaping in disbelief when the guy who had been staring at us quietly suddenly turned around without any lingering attachment.
‘…That dog-like bastard?’
Discriminating against people? When I was throwing all kinds of fits, he even used force to subdue me, but now that the main character came and said a few words, he’s running away like a rabbit without any shame?
“That thoroughly despicable bas…!”
“Yu Baek-hwa.”
A chillingly low voice pierced my ears. Trembling like prey’s instinct, I slowly turned my gaze that had been fixed on the back of that guy’s head as he disappeared in the distance.
“….”
Somehow an even greater sense of intimidation than Kwon Tae-min’s suddenly rose up. Unlike Kwon Tae-min, I had almost no experience seeing Seo Jung-hoo’s emotionless face, so maybe that’s why it felt even more so.
Seo Jung-hoo stared at me intently with brown eyes filled with a strange light, then extended his open hand toward me.
“Give it to me.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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