The Main Character Killed The Villain

#044

“Well… I did something wrong.”

“To me?”

I blinked and asked. Kang Sodam’s face turned even redder as she bowed her head deeply.

“You see… I heard my friend badmouthing Guide Lee Jaeha.”

“And?”

“I couldn’t say anything.”

After saying that, Kang Sodam whispered, “I’m sorry.” This could have happened even if she was twenty-five, not fifteen. It’s difficult to directly contradict what a friend says.

“It’s okay. That can happen.”

I gave Kang Sodam a gentle smile. I couldn’t just leave her looking at me with anxious eyes when she was so much younger than me.

I didn’t know why people were suddenly coming to apologize today, but it didn’t feel bad. Maybe Shin Haejun had urged them to apologize. But it could also be that they came to apologize purely out of goodwill.

I decided to believe in people’s good intentions.

“Phew, that’s a relief. As long as you’re not angry, it’s okay!”

Kang Sodam’s worried expression melted into a bright smile. I rummaged through my inventory and took out ‘[Yeonsoo] Fantasy Cotton Candy’. It was to reciprocate for the chocolate bar.

“Wow!”

Kang Sodam’s eyes widened at the sight of the colorful pastel-colored cotton candy.

“Is this for me?”

Kang Sodam looked cute with her eyes sparkling like a puppy’s. I nodded and handed it to her, and she took a big bite of the cotton candy.

“…Wow!”

Kang Sodam blinked furiously and shouted as if screaming. It was understandable because it was a perfect 5-star cotton candy that melted smoothly without clumping and was just the right level of sweetness. She was clearly surprised by the taste of this perfect cotton candy she had never experienced before.

‘Since it’s a game item, there are no calories either. Hmm, this is the perfect example of ‘delicious and zero calories’.’

I watched with satisfaction as Kang Sodam hurriedly stuffed the cotton candy into her mouth.

After Kang Sodam finished eating and looked up at me with Puss in Boots eyes, I gave her one more and sent her off. Then, as I sat back on the bench, I noticed a change in the map.

‘The Esper team is coming back.’

I remembered Shin Haejun’s face as he had boasted that he would take care of it quickly before leaving.

My heart started pounding as the green dot got closer. Just Shin Haejun getting closer made me feel like this. I wasn’t sure if it was because I had never dated before or if this was how dating always felt.

When he wasn’t there, I was curious, and when he was there, I was curious in a different way. I also felt a bit annoyed seeing Kim Sehyun standing next to Shin Haejun as if it was natural.

‘Of course it’s natural, they’re pairs.’

I didn’t want to burden Shin Haejun. To do that, I had to suppress my feelings on my own. I didn’t think I, an F-class, could replace S-class Kim Sehyun anyway.

As I saw Shin Haejun approaching, my leisurely mood became busy again. I paced a little on the terrace, sat back on the bench, paced again, and finally left the tent.

‘Kim Sehyun….’

I could see Kim Sehyun standing at the entrance, opposite the terrace.

Kim Sehyun turned his head towards me, probably hearing me come out.

This was the first time I had met Kim Sehyun since seeing him at the hospital last time. It seemed we were both equally awkward, as he hadn’t acknowledged me at all from the assembly point to here. When our eyes met, Kim Sehyun’s eyes trembled slightly.

‘I don’t want to see him either.’

I sent a sharp gaze, and Kim Sehyun turned his head away first.

Today, Kim Sehyun didn’t come in Shin Haejun’s car. Because Shin Haejun only gave me a ride and dropped me off near the assembly point, Kim Sehyun had to take a separate taxi. People were less interested in others’ affairs than expected. Because no one asked why they came separately, Kim Sehyun was able to maintain some dignity.

‘My cheek feels hot.’

The cheek on the side where Kim Sehyun was felt hot. I didn’t know how much he was glaring at me, but I didn’t care because I knew he would quickly change his expression when people appeared. I just wanted to confirm Shin Haejun’s appearance.

After waiting a bit, I could see Shin Haejun and other Espers from a distance. Shin Haejun didn’t look very happy. Something must have gone wrong with the Esper team.

“Haejun!”

Kim Sehyun ran towards Shin Haejun. Seeing him run like that made me feel… a bit unpleasant.

“What happened?”

“Oh my!”

Other guides also came out of their tents and hurriedly checked on the Espers.

It seemed this monster had blue blood. Seeing the Espers return covered in blue blood made me feel nauseous.

Shin Haejun, who had come close and sighed heavily, immediately approached me. Even though it wasn’t the time, seeing Shin Haejun approach me without hesitation made my chest feel warm.

“Here, it’s broken. I’m sorry.”

He held out what he had been clutching tightly in his hand. It was the Orb of Protection I had given him at the dungeon entrance. Originally, it was supposed to create a barrier above the user’s head, emitting a mysterious purple light for defense, but what lay in Shin Haejun’s palm was shattered and had lost its light.

“You’ll get cut by the fragments!”

I shouted, using formal speech while considering others’ gazes. Shin Haejun sighed again with a dejected face.

“Did Guide Lee Jaeha give you some kind of item?”

Shin Serim, standing next to me, tilted her head and asked.

“It’s supposed to create a defensive barrier… why did it end up like this?”

It should have blocked most attacks. Moreover, considering Shin Haejun was a powerful S-class Esper, this shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

“There have been reports that dungeons have been a bit strange lately… It seems unidentified entities are increasing.”

“Did an unidentified entity cause this?”

Shin Serim asked with a surprised face. Kim Sehyun, who had approached Shin Haejun’s side, examined Shin Haejun’s body with a hardened expression.

“Haejun, how much energy did you use? Your insides are completely twisted!”

Kim Sehyun grabbed Shin Haejun’s arm with a sharp voice.

“We need to guide you right away.”

“I know.”

Shin Haejun responded to Kim Sehyun in a cold voice. Indeed, he seemed to be in a lot of pain. I could see beads of cold sweat on his forehead.

‘There’s no way I can help at times like this….’

I looked up at Shin Haejun with sympathetic eyes. Then my gaze met Kim Sehyun’s.

‘I really… hate this to death.’

For some reason, Kim Sehyun needed me to guide.

If I guided Shin Haejun directly, it would only be as efficient as an F-class, but if Kim Sehyun guided properly, it would be as efficient as an S-class. Honestly, I didn’t want to help Kim Sehyun at all, but seeing Shin Haejun’s condition, I felt I had no choice but to be there.

‘Why am I… F-class?’

I had thought it didn’t matter whether I was F-class or not, but when faced with this situation, I regretted not having a higher rank, even if just a little.

“Jaeha, can I borrow your tent? Haejun’s condition seems pretty bad. You can stay with us.”

Kim Sehyun wanted to keep me by his side while he guided, just as I had thought. It seemed petty of him to do this after nearly killing me, but with my lover’s life at stake, I had no choice but to go along with it.

“No need for that. Just do it in your tent.”

As I was about to invite them in, Shin Haejun suddenly stopped me and spoke to Kim Sehyun. When I looked up at him worriedly, Shin Haejun shook his head.

“But still…”

Kim Sehyun tried to say something. It was natural because he wouldn’t be able to guide properly like this.

“It’s fine. My tent is much bigger, better, and more comfortable, so please come in.”

I said, gently pulling on Shin Haejun’s sleeve. When I insisted, Shin Haejun slowly approached the tent as if he had no choice.

‘This is really awkward.’

My tent was not just big, it could be called enormous, but with Kim Sehyun here, it felt awkward and stifling. From the moment he entered the tent, Kim Sehyun had such a sorrowful expression that I didn’t even know how to react.

My lover was in bad condition, and I was the one who should feel sad for not being able to help properly, but I didn’t understand why he was acting like this. It was clear he was doing this as if to demonstrate something to Shin Haejun.

‘I don’t want to feel this petty.’

I sighed and guided them to the sofa. Then I sat on the opposite side, crossing my arms, and decided to watch the guiding process.

“Your hand… please.”

Kim Sehyun carefully spoke to Shin Haejun. Shin Haejun muttered with a displeased face.

“When are you going to learn how to guide without touching?”

As he said this, he glanced at me, seeming uncomfortable with the situation.

‘Even so, guiding without touching? That’s impossible.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly. But even so, I didn’t feel sorry for Kim Sehyun.

“I’ll… do it.”

Kim Sehyun also seemed uncomfortable with the situation. But since he couldn’t guide alone, he seemed to just endure it. Shin Haejun reluctantly held out his hand to Kim Sehyun. Kim Sehyun grasped his hand, closed his eyes, and began guiding.

At first, Shin Haejun’s face was stiff, but gradually relaxed. The guiding seemed to be having an effect. I felt relieved as his grumpy face softened.

And at the same time, I felt jealous.

‘If the protagonist hadn’t changed… would I have been S-class too?’

I know it’s foolish to compare like this. It ends up eating away at me and making me fall into excessive jealousy. But even knowing this, my feelings weren’t easily sorted out. It felt like a tangled skein of thread was floating around inside me.

‘…Huh?’

Suddenly, Kim Sehyun opened his eyes. And looked at me.

Just like when Shin Haejun had approached me earlier. Kim Sehyun stared at me with a gaze full of superiority.

‘You can’t manage Shin Haejun’s energy anyway.’

That’s what he seemed to be saying.

“…Don’t glare at me so arrogantly.”

As my mood was about to plummet, Shin Haejun coldly said to Kim Sehyun, his eyes still closed.