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Chapter 76: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 76



No one lives to become unhappy.


Everyone hopes for happiness as they live, and happiness is not something that is given for free.


Therefore, life is a continuous effort to become happy.


One day, my father told me:


"Meeting someone in this world who sincerely wishes for your happiness is a blessing in itself."


There was a time when I felt lonely because I had lost those people from my original world, having been brought here against my will.


But Yoon Si-woo told me he wished for my happiness.


Recently, I had been feeling something similar.


Although the relationships were brief, I realized there were many people in this world who wished for my happiness.


Mei, Jessie, Sylvia, and Yoon Si-woo.


They were not merely characters in a novel.


Each of their existences was a blessing.


Just like how a desert, no matter how barren it appears, can have an oasis.


I don't know how harsh the trials ahead will be.


But to protect the relationships I have built so far, the happiness I have gained from words like today,


I answered that I would strive to be happy.


*


Upon returning to my room in the mansion, Sylvia greeted me with a curious smile.


“You’re back. Have you had dinner?”


“No, not yet…”


“Then I’ll have a meal prepared. Let’s eat first, and you can wash up afterward.”


I took out the prepared response to her words.


“I... I’m okay with not washing. I had some things to do, so I washed outside…”


Sylvia quietly murmured in response.


“...I see. You went out and washed up afterward... I don't know what happened, but I guess you had your reasons.”


Relieved that my excuse seemed to work, Sylvia suddenly questioned me with suspicion.


“By the way, you’re wearing different clothes from when you went out, aren’t you?”


“Oh, these? Well, my clothes got a bit dirty, so I changed and bought new ones…”


“...Clothes too... I see.”


Sylvia’s eyes twitched slightly as she smiled.


Her unnatural smile made me ask,


“Did something bad happen?”


I didn't know what had happened while I was out, but she seemed much more upset than before.


“...It’s nothing. I just thought it would’ve been nice to go shopping with you, and I was waiting to wash up together, but you washed up outside instead.”


Hearing that made me feel like a terrible person.


While someone was working hard at home, thinking that someone else went out to play and broke a promise would make anyone angry.


A sudden wave of guilt washed over me.


I’m... I’m trash...


Desperately wanting to improve Sylvia’s mood, I thought hard and then remembered what she had hinted at.


“...Do you want to go shopping with me sometime?”


Sylvia’s ears perked up slightly at my words.


It seemed like I had found the right answer.


“...Just the two of us?”


“Yes, just the two of us.”


“...Alright, you promised, so don’t break it, okay? You’ll spend hours with me then, right?”


Hours...


Shivering in fear, I prepared myself to be her dress-up doll and nodded.


Today, I had sought help from Yoon Si-woo, who was known in the original story for his excellent fashion sense, as I had no idea about buying clothes…


Judging by the feeling, I might become an expert after shopping with Sylvia.


As Sylvia’s mood seemed to lift, a man named Sebastian, who served her, set up dinner in my room.


He looked at me rather awkwardly before leaving. Was it just my imagination?


Anyway, that wasn’t important right now.


The most important thing was that I could have meat for dinner, just like for lunch.


Tasting the meat with gratitude, I noticed Sylvia looking at me with a hesitant expression before she spoke.


“...Scarlet, I believe students should act according to their student status.”


It was a sudden statement, but since it was true, I nodded while swallowing my food.


Seeing this, Sylvia continued in a cautious tone as if unsure whether she should say it.


“You might not like hearing this, but I feel I have to say it. I think it’s best for students to refrain from behaving like you did today.”


Sylvia’s serious gaze was directed at me.


I felt her genuine concern for me, so I started reflecting on what I had done today.


I ate breakfast, moved in, had lunch, went out to pass the time, and now I was having dinner.


Realizing that I had indeed done nothing noteworthy, I understood what Sylvia was trying to convey.


Sylvia was a diligent person.


Even on weekends like today, she had little time to rest due to training and tasks.


A student's duty is to study, and for a student of the Academy aspiring to be a hero, it’s self-discipline.


Sylvia, who diligently performed these duties, was essentially telling me to start training.


Her words, piercing like daggers, struck me deeply as I had neglected essential training while claiming I wanted to protect people.


It was a sharp rebuke, but I felt moved by her words.


As the saying goes, a true friend tells you things you don't want to hear. Even though I had coldly rejected her offer to be friends, how could I not be moved by Sylvia's considerate heart?


“So, such things should be done as an adult, not as a student...”


When I couldn't find words to express my feelings, Sylvia seemed to notice my reaction and her face turned pale.


“S-sorry! It was a mistake! I didn't mean it that way...”


Thinking that I was offended by her words, Sylvia almost started to cry as she apologized.


“It's okay. You said it for my sake, didn't you?”


“But...”


“It's really okay.”


Since it really was okay, I tried to console Sylvia, who was on the verge of tears.


However, Sylvia still seemed uneasy even after my reassurance. She looked up at me and asked softly,


“...Scarlet, may I ask you one thing? Did you have a good time today?”


I thought back on what had happened today.


Despite the hectic move, I got to eat some meat and realized that there were people who genuinely cared about me.


It was a day with more good things than bad.


So I nodded, and Sylvia smiled in response.


“...As long as you had a good time, that's all that matters. I'm sorry for saying what I did.”


It seemed she felt really bad about telling me to train more.


Actually, her words had motivated me to work harder.


I wanted to do something to repay her, but I couldn't think of anything suitable.


I couldn't just suggest we bathe together...


Then, while Sylvia went to take a bath after dinner, I thought of a way to repay her when I saw Sebastian coming to clear the table.


I subtly made a request to him, even though he still looked at me strangely.


After a moment, he softened his expression and nodded.


*


After bathing alone, Sylvia returned to her room to finish the remaining tasks from the day.


As she was focusing on her work, there was a knock on the door and a voice came from outside.


“Miss, I've brought some tea and snacks.”


Since she usually asked Sebastian to bring tea when working at night, he seemed to have done it on his own today.


“Come in.”


At her words, Sebastian entered the room.


As she continued her work, she took a sip of the tea he placed on her desk.


“Hmm, today's tea tastes a bit different.”


When Sylvia commented on the tea, Sebastian smiled awkwardly.


“Well, Miss, your friend prepared it herself.”


Sylvia's eyes widened in surprise.


“Scarlet did?”


“She wanted to show her gratitude and asked me to teach her how to brew tea. She also made the snacks. Knowing your favorite treats shows how close you two are.”


Sylvia looked at the plate beside the teacup.


It was filled with macarons that looked just like the ones she always received.


“I was concerned whether such a promiscuous person could be your friend, but it seems she has a kind heart,” Sebastian said, scratching his head.


After lunch, Sylvia had instructed Sebastian to follow Scarlet for her protection and report any unusual activities.


She had been shocked when Sebastian reported that Scarlet had gone to a motel with a man with white hair.


The realization that Scarlet had developed such a deep relationship with Yoon Si-woo so quickly was surprising.


Sylvia understood why, remembering the day she had been kidnapped and the gratitude she felt toward Yoon Si-woo for rescuing her.


She recalled her own feelings of falling for Yoon Si-woo at first sight when he helped her on her first day at school.


What truly saddened Sylvia was not that Scarlet went to such a place with Yoon Si-woo, but that she had broken her promise to her because of it.


It meant that Yoon Si-woo was a higher priority than Sylvia.


But that wasn't the important thing.


Sylvia took a bite of the familiar macaron.


Without realizing it, she had hurt Scarlet by suggesting she should wait until adulthood for such things.


Three years.


Scarlet would never become an adult.


But despite being hurt, Scarlet had shown her this kindness.


Feeling tears well up, Sylvia quickly drank her tea, pretending to have choked.


Yes, that wasn't the important thing.


Even if she wasn't Scarlet's top priority, Sylvia wanted Scarlet to experience everything possible.


Delicious food, nice clothes, warm baths, and soft beds.


A joyful school life, like-minded friends, and perhaps even love, a bit early.


So that when she closed her eyes for the last time, she could say she had been happy.


That alone would be enough, Sylvia thought.



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Comments

  1. I know this is supposed to be I sadge but...
    What a misunderstanding lmao

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This novel runs on misunderstandings

      Delete
  2. It's not like i can't understand why people misunderstands MC but... maybe people should learn to be more blunt.
    That way, it would be clarified instantly in place of happening like this.
    It's true that MC's attitude wasn't the best though, so it's good that it was fixed somewhat later by the tea and snacks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The MC's lack of awareness and public decency hasn't been fixed at all.

      Delete
  3. My heart is crying right now... I hope by some miracle that there is a happy ending for them all...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thx for the chapter

    ReplyDelete
  5. Misunderstanding FC

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hate stalker misunderstandings so much

    ReplyDelete
  7. first the dude, now her, b ut i will blame it all on the motel instead, then on scarlet.

    ReplyDelete

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