Breaking Up with the Heroine of the Female-Oriented Game

The final day of the practical assessment had dawned, and the morning of the finals arrived. All the students from Class 1-1 made their way to the training ground. Their footsteps seemed heavier than usual. It wasn’t just a feeling—their steps were truly leaden with the weight of the impending ‘real battle’ they had to face today.

“Wow, I never thought we’d make it to the finals.”

Jin Soyeon’s familiar voice brushed softly against my ears, and soon she approached with her hair reminiscent of the night sky fluttering behind her.

I slowly turned my head to look at her.

Jin Soyeon smiled confidently.

“But!”

With a flick of her finger, she pointed—

“Your luck ends here!”

“…”

“The final match will be against me!”

“…”

Standing tall with an air of triumph, I glanced at Jin Soyeon dismissively.

“Oh, is that so?”

“…What’s with that lackluster response?”

Her energy deflated at my tepid reply, and she twirled the ends of her hair in frustration. What’s she doing, making a scene in front of everyone? Isn’t she embarrassed?

“…Lately, you’re just not playing along. It’s no fun.”

Jin Soyeon grumbled with her lips puckered. Normally reserved around others, she acted like a petulant seven-year-old with me.

We must be pretty close for her to be like this with me.

“Jinhyuk, Jinhyuk. Anyway, do you feel confident about today’s game?”

“I guess.”

“Again with the vague answer.”

“Honestly, I’m not confident about this match. It’s not just Lee Siwoon, but Yuliya Troyanova too.”

Yuliya Troyanova.

A traditional mage from Russia.

Her ranking among the newcomers is 14th. Excluding single-digit ranks like Lee Siwoon, Kang Daehan, and Yoo Seolhyun, she has the highest rank in our class.

Not yet comfortable with the Korean language, she uses formal speech with everyone. A so-called honorifics character.

“What about you? You don’t seem to be wary of me?”

“Wary of you…? Why would I need to be on guard against rank 257?”

“Ha. Ridiculous. The bottom-ranker has confidence? I’ll have to show you what a spicy punch feels like, it’s been a while since you’ve experienced it.”

Jin Soyeon, posturing like a boxer with her fists, made me look at her for a moment before I let out a laugh.

“It seems you’re in good condition. That’s fortunate. Today will be quite a struggle.”

“Oh, feeling confident?”

“Not because of me, it’s just… uh, never mind.”

“What? Why stop mid-sentence?”

What will happen when that event occurs soon? I certainly hope Jin Soyeon doesn’t get hurt, but who knows how it’ll turn out?

Honestly, I don’t have a clear conviction right now.

All I can do is my best.

“By the way, Jinhyuk, after this assessment is over, how about we—”

“Lee Jinhyuk. May I have a moment?”

Yoo Seolhyun’s voice sharply cut off Jin Soyeon’s hesitant words. I turned slightly to identify the source. Yoo Seolhyun was there.

“Oh, sorry. Were you two in the middle of a conversation?”

With a light apology and a smile, Yoo Seolhyun approached, though it was clear her politeness was just for show; she didn’t look sorry at all.

She then approached us with a confident stride, as if she were a noble’s daughter.

Jin Soyeon’s face turned sour with the unwanted interruption, but Yoo Seolhyun, indifferent to her reaction, continued speaking.

“If it’s not urgent, may I borrow Lee Jinhyuk for a moment? There’s something I need to discuss before the match.”

As if to show familiarity, she placed her hand on my shoulder, seeking permission to take me away. Jin Soyeon’s brows furrowed slightly, evidently displeased with Yoo Seolhyun’s friendly gesture toward me.

“You two have gotten quite close, I see?”

“Uh, well…”

At Jin Soyeon’s brusque question, Yoo Seolhyun feigned ignorance before flashing a broad smile.

“We’ve been working together for a few weeks, so… perhaps?”

“Is that so?”

She kept needling Jin Soyeon, first by intentionally interrupting her and now by touching my shoulder to show closeness.

‘I should probably step in before the mood gets any worse… huh?’

“That’s good to hear. It looks like Jinhyuk has taken an interest in you.”

“Oh, really?”

Jin Soyeon’s out-of-the-blue comment made me blink in confusion. What is she talking about now?

With a proud laugh, Yoo Seolhyun glanced at me.

“Sorry, you’re not my type.”

Me, Lee Jinhyuk.

Zero confessions today.

Somehow, it’s a bit sad.

“Chuckle. Perhaps your face is just not quite right?”

“Sure, it’s not bad. But it’s just… on the borderline.”

Despite my character setting as the heroine’s childhood friend, my appearance was decent, but compared to the other male leads, I inevitably fall short.

But why are you two suddenly evaluating my appearance?

“I think I’m fairly good-looking.”

“Sure, sure~ Let’s say that. Wow~ Our Jinhyuk is so handsome~.”

“No, really, isn’t it decent enough…?”

Compared to my previous life, I’m much… not exactly more handsome, but I certainly look better.

I was quite satisfied with my current self.

“Enough of that. Anyway, Yoo Seolhyun.”

“Hmm?”

“You said you had something to tell me before the match, right? What is it?”

“Oh, it’s kind of inappropriate to talk about it here.”

She glanced at Jin Soyeon. It wouldn’t do to discuss it with the opposing team present. We needed to move somewhere else.

“Soyeon.”

At that moment.

A crisp male voice rang out.

“What are you doing here?”

Lee Siwoon approached, scanning us all.

“Oh, just… well…”

“The match is soon. Let’s go discuss things and get ready.”

After a brief look at me, Lee Siwoon gestured to Jin Soyeon, who nodded in agreement.

“Okay, I’ll go ahead then, Jinhyuk. See you at the match.”

“Alright.”

Jin Soyeon and Lee Siwoon walked away together.

I watched their retreating figures for a moment, pondering.

Wariness.

I could feel a slight sense of caution from Lee Siwoon. It wasn’t jealousy or envy yet, but perhaps I should be more careful. I wouldn’t want to inadvertently intensify his possessiveness.

“Lee Siwoon really seems to care about Soyeon.”

Yoo Seolhyun dropped a casual comment.

“He does seem quite concerned.”

I nodded slightly.

“I wonder if Soyeon realizes it, or is she pretending not to know?”

Yoo Seolhyun looked at me suddenly.

“What do you think, as her ex-boyfriend?”

Faced with a question that could be sensitive for some, I just shrugged.

“She seems clueless about romance. She wouldn’t notice.”

“Really?”

Yoo Seolhyun asked back, probing.

“Is Soyeon really unaware?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I heard a rumor.”

Yoo Seolhyun spoke with a sly smile.

“That she broke up with you on purpose to date Lee Siwoon.”

It’s not like she believes that absurd rumor. Yoo Seolhyun was trying to rattle me. To sow seeds of doubt in my own heart. Classic gaslighting. She’s probably planning to slowly, gradually lead me astray. To deteriorate our relationship even slightly.

“Do you believe such nonsense?”

“Well, who knows? People say you can’t know someone’s heart, right? Only the people involved would really know.”

But you just said the people involved don’t know.

“You say you broke up amicably… but who knows? Maybe Soyeon had other thoughts?”

Oh, really?

Her voice was like a whisper from a devious serpent, and inside, I sighed deeply.

I just can’t with this, really.

“If you’ve been dumped for a transfer breakup, that would be quite pitiful…”

“Are you bothered by Soyeon?”

“What?”

“Is it because Lee Siwoon only has eyes for Soyeon, and that’s frustrating for you?”

“You.”

Yoo Seolhyun’s eyebrows quivered ever so slightly at my pointed words. What, did I hit a nerve?

“Let’s stop here. The match will start soon.”

“Alright, I get it.”

Yoo Seolhyun seemed to have more to say, but she closed her mouth. Thankfully, she ended the conversation before I could make her any more uncomfortable.

‘So much to worry about besides the match… Sigh.’

I have to be concerned about not just the heroine Jin Soyeon, but also the relationships of the male lead and the villainess.

‘After this practical assessment episode, I’ll have to pay more attention.’

With that thought, I simply shifted my gaze toward the training facilities that we would soon reach.

***

“Both teams, take your positions.”

Entering the training arena, we moved to the far ends.

Both teams gripped their weapons tightly, facing each other from a distance.

Alright, is it time to start?

“If everyone is ready…”

Beep.

The sound of the remote was followed by the arena being enclosed in a circular barrier.

Now, this place became a sealed chamber.

Without using that remote or external interference, we couldn’t escape.

“If all preparations are complete, let’s start the finals. 3, 2, 1… Begin!”

– Whirring!
Just then—

– Emergency alert issued.

“What?”

“Huh?”

The barrier was supposed to protect the audience and prevent facility destruction, but not today.

Today, it merely turned us into mice trapped in a box.

– Spatial vibrations detected nearby! All students and instructors, stop what you’re doing and evacuate to safety areas…

Because.

“Damn it. The match is on hold. Everyone, stop and follow the security staff to…”

Right now, the expected arrival was imminent.

“Huh?”

Crack. Crick-Crick.

The sound of the universe splitting.

Space split like a web, shattering into pieces.

“Wait, isn’t that…?”

A breach between spaces.

Beyond it lay something indescribable.

“A rift phenomenon…?”

“You all! Quickly, this way!”

Hong Daye yelled at Teams 1 and 16, still in a daze, but it was too late.

“Kekeek? Keeeeek!”

Arms, long like a monkey’s and thick like a bear’s, tore through the rift like a curtain, revealing an indescribable entity.

“Keeeeeek, eeeek. Keeek.”

Monstrous creatures, spreading unknown hatred from beyond the rift, licked their tongues as they stared at the students.

“Monster, it’s a monster!”

Yes.

A monster.

Monsters had appeared in the testing ground.

“Keeeeeek, eeeek, eek.”

“Growwwwl, growl.”

“Chirp, chirp.”

And not just one, but several monsters.