Chapter 2

I Became A Childhood Friend Of The Middle Boss 1

Chapter 1

Rabbit

Affected by the genes of gates and monsters, Ein was born as a being with distorted genes.

As a result, their genes did not match those of their parents.

“That’s why Ein is rejected.”

How many parents in the world can truly love a child who doesn’t even look like them, whose genes are different?

Ein’s eyes even resembled those of a monster.

Therefore, Ein was often called the monster’s child and silently avoided.

Being abandoned right after birth was common.

It wasn’t any different for Ein.

The fact that she lived in an orphanage was common knowledge among students of the same grade.

“In a way…. it’s not hard to understand why Yeonha becomes the witch of calamity in the game. She must have lived being rejected from a young age.”

I recalled a scene from the game.

Yeonha, feeling pessimistic about her situation and desperate about the world, transforming into the witch of calamity.

“Yeonha”

―In this kind of world, I’ll make it disappear.

With skin burnt by the sun, tears streaming down her face, Yeonha’s hair dyed pitch black.

The game’s story branches depending on the outcome of the battle with her, the mid-boss.

If the protagonist, Kang Hanbyeol, kills her, the story continues with the Academy City in ruins.

On the contrary, if Kang Hanbyeol dies, it leads to a bad ending.

That bad ending vividly remained in memory even after reincarnation.

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“─Bad Ending─”

One of the 44 endings.

The endlessly splitting sky eventually engulfs the world, erasing all existence, including itself, in a bad ending.

‘The owner of that ending was Dogyeonwoo, or rather, me, from elementary school….’

It was an event not mentioned in the game.

Looking at her after introducing herself, I couldn’t help but fall into deep contemplation.

Right there was a potential disaster with the capability to bring about the world’s destruction.

Fortunately, she was unaware of her power and hadn’t awakened as the witch of calamity.

So, if I killed her now, I could eliminate the future danger.

“….”

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You must kill her before the sky becomes the mid-boss.

It’s an extremely calculated, mechanical, cold, and efficient solution.

But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I didn’t want to kill her for the sake of an uncertain future that had yet to unfold.

I know it’s foolish.

But I also had beliefs.

‘Let’s change our way of thinking.’

If the future hasn’t happened yet, there’s plenty of room to change it.

Killing her outright is not the only solution.

On the contrary, the yet undecided Yeonha can be either a protagonist or an antagonist according to my will.

Her talent must be remarkable, without a doubt.

If only I could transform her into a protagonist….

‘I can enhance my power.’

The strategy difficulty of this game is absolutely not to be underestimated.

So, if I put all my efforts into her, I could lower the difficulty.

To achieve that, I had to find a way to get close to Yeon Haneul.

And then, the opportunity presented itself.

“Since we’ve finished introductions, I’ll now assign seats! Girls will sit where they want, and then boys will sit next to them.”

It was a chance to sit next to Yeon Haneul.

* * *

Once the girls had all chosen their seats,

The homeroom teacher explained,

“Boys, you can sit wherever you want in the order you draw. At this time, the girls next to you can reject up to three times.”

“….”

“Boys can keep selecting seats until the girls allow it. However, if after circling the classroom a seat is still not decided, you will be pushed to the back of the line.”

“Teacher! Does this mean boys always have to wait for the girls’ choice!?”

“Don’t worry. Since the girls sat first this month, next month boys will sit first.”

The possibility of becoming partners with someone you like.

Some might find the homeroom teacher’s seating arrangement romantic, but contrary to appearances, it was far from romantic.

“Alright, boys, draw your lots!”

How likely was it that you would end up with the one you liked?

Just as the sound is heard when you clap your hands together, there is no guarantee that the one you like will reciprocate your feelings.

“I’m number 9. There’s no one else but me to sit next to Yeon Haneul, so I’ll just wait patiently.”

One must consider the possibility of rejection and not being chosen.

Those who inflate their expectations and mistakenly believe they have the right to choose their partner will be sorely disappointed.

“Number 1, go choose your seat!”

And now.

The eager boy, filled with anticipation, moved.

“Hmm… where would be good?”

“….”

Acting like he was carefully considering, number 1’s steps were resolute as he headed towards a particular spot.

He might think he’s fooling everyone with his nonchalance, but it was evident in his voice and movements.

Even I could tell from behind, the girls in their seats must have noticed his act.

“Window seat must be nice, right?”

“….”

Perhaps number 1 was oblivious.

Just as he was judging the girls, they were also judging him.

“Oh, this spot looks good.”

After circling towards the window, number 1 placed his hand on a girl’s seat.

“That girl is… Kim Suji.”

Not to be compared with our prestigious family, but a female student from a reputable household.

She excelled in both academics and sports, making her quite popular.

Number 1 had his eyes set on her.

But as mentioned earlier, having a target doesn’t mean you’ll hit it.

“May I sit here?”

“Sorry.”

“Huh?”

“Teacher, I decline.”

“Why, though….”

Number 1 was greatly perplexed.

Being rejected in front of others made him blush with embarrassment.

‘…Poor guy. Wait, is it even allowed for a teacher to be this wicked?’

Number 1 would come to a profound realization.

That things don’t always go as planned, and forming a relationship with someone you like is not easy.

Thus, he would awaken from his dream, learning the bitterness of reality.

“Suzi only has two chances left. Number 1, choose another spot.”

That’s why romance isn’t always romantic.

‘Or maybe it is, considering you only have three chances to reject.’

If it were truly realistic, there would be no limit on rejections.

Meanwhile, Number 1’s reaction to being rejected was far from smooth.

“May I sit here?”

“Sorry.”

“Can I sit here?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Can I sit here… please?”

“Why? Am I easier than Suzi?”

Everyone wants to be the first choice of the person they like.

No one wishes to be the second.

Let alone be seen as a substitute for someone else, or be compared.

Number 1, eagerly eyeing the female students as if trying to catch any one of them in a rush, did not appear charming.

“Number 1, walk around the classroom and stand at the back.”

“Ugh….”

“….”

In the end, Number 1 couldn’t find a seat.

Even though he was supposed to be the one making the choice.

Number 1, unchosen by anyone, had to return with a tear-streaked face.

“Next, Number 2! Choose a seat.”

In such a situation, Number 2 took the stage.

By learning from Number 1’s failure, Number 2 seemed to have already awakened to reality.

Merely attempting to sit next to Kim Suzi could result in rejection, just like Number 1, leaving one out of the female students’ good graces.

I could see him sneakily glancing at Kim Suji, able to catch him looking away.

“Can I sit here?”

That’s how Number 2 chose his seat.

The girl next to him carefully scanned Number 2 from top to bottom.

Then, she abruptly turned her head.

“Hmph! Sit if you want, don’t if you don’t.”

Judging solely by appearances is not advisable, but still, first impressions are crucial.

New school year, new semester.

Students who know nothing about each other aside from their self-introductions can only judge each other based on first impressions.

Number 2 met the criteria.

“Next, Number 3!”

“Can I sit here?”

“…Sorry, I’ll look elsewhere.”

On the other hand, there were cases like Number 3, where rejection followed the first impression.

Yet, people’s ideal types vary.

Number 3 got permission from another girl to sit next to her.

“Number 4! Choose a seat!”

Meanwhile, Number 4 passed other seats and headed towards where Kim Suji was.

“May I sit next to you?”

“…Sorry. Teacher, I’ll decline.”

“Suji, you only have one turn left now.”

Despite witnessing Number 1’s failure, Number 4, as if oblivious to fear, challenged bravely.

And bravely fell.

“Next, Number 5!”

Kim Suji’s rejection count was now one.

If she rejects one more time, the next person in line can sit next to her, whoever it may be.

The question is, who will face rejection?

“Next, Number 6!”

“Next! Lucky Number 7!”

No one was willing to sacrifice themselves when there was no gain.

“Next, Number 8!”

“Ugh, I don’t know!”

But someone had to.

Like a tree must be chopped to fall, or a door must be knocked to open.

Number 8, with a face that bet big money at a gambling table, strode confidently towards Kim Suji.

And then.

“Sorry, I’ll decline.”

“Ugh! What’s wrong with me!”

“Suji can’t decline anymore.”

“Number 8! Quickly come behind me!”

“Hey! It’s so much fun watching from the back!”

Number 8 ended up losing in gambling.

With a face that had lost all his money, he had to go to Numbers 1 and 4 who gestured like ghosts.

And so, as Number 8 passed.

“Number 9, please choose your seat!”

Now it was my turn.

I walked towards the window side.

“Is he trying to sit next to Suji?”

“Oh, I’m so jealous.”

“Lucky guy. He’s going to sit next to Suji.”

“Isn’t he Geongu? The cowardly one from Shingyeong?”

“That scaredy-cat?”

Voices of male students whispering behind could be heard.

‘They are all paying attention to me.’

Meanwhile, the girls in front were all staring at me.

Kim Suji, who was sitting by the window, was also discreetly glancing at me.

It seemed like everyone expected me to sit next to her.

‘Yeah, not happening.’

By the window side of the classroom, at the back.

I caught sight of a pair of rabbit ears that were not obscured by people.

There was Yeonha there.

With her impressive pale blue hair, she was bowing her head.

A face that seemed to think she was never chosen by anyone and had no right to choose someone.

‘She seems to be eagerly waiting for this time to end.’

She looked so melancholic that one could involuntarily think such thoughts about her.

“….”

Towards her.

I took a step forward.

“…Geongu, right? I know your name. I can’t refuse, so sit here. Let’s get along well for a month as members of Myeongga… Huh?”

“What? Where is he going now?”

“Why is he going over there?”

Passing by a bewildered Kim Suji.

Ignoring the astonishment of the people.

Only Yeonha came into my view.

Finally.

“…Huh?”

I arrived at Yeonha’s seat.

She was taken aback as I stopped without passing by, her face showing surprise.

Confusion was evident on her suddenly raised face.

I spoke to her.

“Can I sit next to you?”

“Next to me?”

“Yes, next to you. If you dislike it, feel free to refuse. I’d prefer it if you didn’t though.”

“Why…”

“What?”

To survive in this world.

To reach the desired ending.

I…

“…No. You can sit.”

Becoming the middle boss’s childhood friend.