I felt terribly wronged.

‘Yu Bin has never been bullied at school like you, you know?’

I swear to the heavens, I’ve never seen Seol Yu Bin being bullied at school.

As far as I know, Seol Yu Bin didn’t get along well with the other kids, but that was only because she wanted it that way, not because she was particularly disliked by anyone.

In fact, according to the original story, Seol Yu Bin deliberately chose to be ostracized in order to gain Ji Seung Hyun’s attention.

Of course, if you ask me what if she was bullied without my knowledge, I have nothing to say, but…… Anyway, I was truly innocent in this matter.

‘If the kid was really being bullied, do you think I would have just stood by and watched?’

However, judging by Seol Yu Hwa’s expression, my words seemed to have no effect. She had already labeled me as a bad kid……

‘Still, I have to say what I have to say.’

I can’t be misunderstood like this and get on the bad side of the world’s rank 0. Lee Ju Eun, let’s be strong. I took a deep breath and spoke calmly.

“Listen, I think there’s some misunderstanding here.”

“Misunderstanding?”

Seol Yu Hwa scoffed.

“Yeah, let’s hear what kind of misunderstanding it is.”

With that expression, she’s not going to listen to me at all.

I was a little discouraged.

“……Yu Bin was quiet at school, but she wasn’t on very bad terms with the kids. I mean, she didn’t fight like you……”

As I spoke, I glanced at Seol Yu Hwa’s reaction. Hmm, my point wasn’t getting across at all.

“It’s true that I was Yu Bin’s friend. If you want, I can show you proof.”

“Proof?”

“Yeah, Yu Bin had sent me a letter.”

At those words, Seol Yu Hwa frowned.

“Even if you have proof, how can I trust it? I can’t believe it. That Yu Bin had a flashy friend like you.”

Seol Yu Hwa glared at me.

“Isn’t that right, Four Heavenly Kings Lee Ju Eun?”

I wish being called one of the Four Heavenly Kings would be recognized as bullying too.

Because every time I hear that, I feel like I’m going to die from the torment.

Crying inwardly, I spoke resolutely.

“If you read the contents of the letter, you’ll be able to believe that I was friends with Yu Bin.”

In fact, the letter was full of heartfelt gratitude towards me, so it should be good as evidence.

“And that letter also mentions why Yu Bin left.”

At those words, Seol Yu Hwa’s eyes changed.

“……What?”

Good, I need to speak well from here on out. I clenched my fists tightly.

“Actually, I knew the fact that Yu Bin had left, and why she left.”

The atmosphere instantly turned hostile.

“You, can you take responsibility for what you just said?”

Seol Yu Hwa spoke as if growling. She looked ready to rip my head off if I didn’t take responsibility.

‘……Is this going to be okay?’

It feels like I stepped on a landmine…… I took a step back.

“The, the letter will explain it.”

Seol Yu Hwa approached me as if she was going to grab me by the collar.

“Then hand it over.”

“I don’t have it right now!”

Who would carry that around.

“Since, since we’re near my house, let me go inside. Then I’ll bring it out.”

Where did I put Seol Yu Bin’s letter…… I racked my brain. Damn, I can’t remember.

Seol Yu Hwa glared at me for a moment, then let out a sigh.

“……Fine. I’ll believe you for now.”

Thank goodness. I was genuinely relieved.

“I’ll look at the letter later, so bring it to school.”

I need to go find it quickly. I was thinking of places where the letter might be, when Seol Yu Hwa spoke.

“But you can tell me the contents, right? What was written in it?”

At Seol Yu Hwa’s words, I pondered for a moment.

‘Is it okay to tell the truth?’

It’s such a personal matter…… Even if she’s a close sister, it’s a bit much to tell her everything.

For now, I should give a rough explanation.

“Well…… Actually, before Yu Bin left, she went to an amusement park with me, Sam Dae, and Yoo Hee Na. But I don’t know the details, something seems to have happened there. So she said she was leaving to sort out her feelings.”

“What. Happened?”

Oops. I should have been more vague.

“That…… It’s better to ask Yu Bin directly for the details……? Ah, I got it! I’ll tell you!”

I got scared on my own and opened my mouth.

“Ji Seung Hyun! It’s because of Ji Seung Hyun!”

Only then did Seol Yu Hwa react.

“Ji Seung Hyun?”

I’m sorry, Seung Hyun. You’ll have to be the sacrifice. I sighed.

“Actually, you know Yu Bin liked Ji Seung Hyun…… You know that, right?”

Seol Yu Hwa shook her head.

“First time hearing that.”

What?

Is it really okay to say this? I feel a bit bad for talking about someone else’s business so casually.

But in the face of a threat to my life, I didn’t have the capacity to be concerned about such things. I opened my mouth without hesitation.

“You may not know, but anyway, Yu Bin liked Ji Seung Hyun. So she confessed to him at the amusement park, but I guess it didn’t go well between them. After that, Yu Bin left a letter and disappeared.”

Seol Yu Hwa spoke with an unbelievable expression.

“She ran away just because of that?”

I know, right? Why did she do that?

‘Come back, Seol Yu Bin……’

Today, I desperately called out to Seol Yu Bin once again.

Seol Yu Hwa was lost in thought for a moment, then opened her mouth.

“I see. I don’t believe it, but you don’t seem to be lying.”

My sincerity must have gotten through. Seol Yu Hwa held out her hand to me.

“Phone.”

Huh?

Is she asking for it? I fumbled in my pocket and handed my phone to Seol Yu Hwa.

Seol Yu Hwa made a call somewhere with my phone and then threw it back to me.

“That’s my number. I’ll call you at school, so come right away.”

Getting the number of the world’s rank 0. It’s an honor.

“Then get going. And don’t report it to the police.”

Seol Yu Hwa kicked the thug lying on the ground once with her foot. The thug let out a pained groan.

‘……Is it over?’

I blinked my eyes.

At that moment, the system appeared before my eyes.

[Eek! Lady Protagonist, you’re so cool! 〉ㅁ〈]

It managed to hold back until now. Seeing the system appear right after the conversation ended was absurd.

[Overwhelming aura! Charisma!]

I didn’t know it would like it this much. If that’s the case, why don’t you stick with Seol Yu Hwa instead of me?

[Aw, I can’t do that! I’m Ju Eun’s system, you know ㅇ_〈]

You’re good with words.

I shrugged my shoulders and looked ahead again.

Amidst the thugs sprawled like corpses, Seol Yu Hwa stood alone.

Staring blankly at her back, I suddenly thought.

‘Wait, there was something I wanted to say to Seol Yu Hwa.’

I didn’t originally intend to say it in this situation, but…… Anyway, it’s worth a shot. Let’s try it.

I hastily opened my mouth.

“Wait, hold on a second!”

At my call, Seol Yu Hwa turned around.

I gulped.

“Do you…… want to find Yu Bin?”

Seol Yu Hwa raised an eyebrow as if annoyed.

“I, I’ll help you!”

“You?”

I nodded my head. But Seol Yu Hwa spoke coldly.

“No need. I have other ways.”

That’s probably true…… I thought of the gangsters I saw in front of Seol Yu Hwa’s house last time. Those people would be more reliable than me.

But.

“I might be able to help! I’m Yu Bin’s friend!”

I shouted desperately.

“The letter! Yu Bin left me a letter! That letter could be a clue!”

‘Please fall for it.’

I said I would help find Seol Yu Bin earlier, but in fact, I had a different goal.

‘Let me benefit from Seol Yu Hwa too.’

That’s right. My real purpose was not to help, but to join Seol Yu Hwa in her search for Seol Yu Bin.

Here’s my detailed plan.

In order for me to create a happy ending, I need to stop Seol Yu Bin before she returns as the mastermind.

But I don’t know where Seol Yu Bin is right now. I don’t have the ability to find her either.

That’s when I thought of Seol Yu Hwa.

Seol Yu Hwa.

Someone who has the motivation and ability to find Seol Yu Bin.

My goal was to go one step ahead of Seol Yu Hwa when she finds Seol Yu Bin and prevent Seol Yu Bin’s descent into darkness.

Wouldn’t Seol Yu Hwa’s subordinates have a higher chance of finding Seol Yu Bin than me?

Seol Yu Hwa reacted to my words.

“……Do you want to find Yu Bin?”

I nodded strongly.

“Of course. Yu Bin is my friend.”

We may not have been that close, but……

Fortunately, Seol Yu Hwa, who didn’t know my true thoughts, pondered for a moment as if considering something.

“……Alright, I’ll trust you.”

Only then did I smile brightly.

“Thank you! I’ll work hard!”

Seol Yu Hwa chuckled.

“Yeah, I got it. From now on, you’re my subordinate.”

What?

I spoke while rolling my eyes.

“No…… I don’t think that’s it……”

Then Seol Yu Hwa’s expression turned cold again.

“You have a problem with that?”

Of course not……

I shook my head back and forth while shedding blood tears inwardly.

And so, I became a subordinate of the world’s rank 0.

Wow, I’m excited.

[This is the timeline separator]

A strange kid.

That was Seol Yu Hwa’s impression of Lee Ju Eun.

‘Quite different from the first impression.’

Despite her fierce-looking appearance, she unexpectedly had a sloppy side.

In fact, Seol Yu Hwa had no intention of doing anything to Lee Ju Eun. She just wanted to scare her a bit because it would be troublesome if she reported it to the police.

But Lee Ju Eun got scared on her own and gave away that she had checked up on Seol Yu Hwa first. If she had pretended not to know until the end, it would have passed.

‘So stupid.’

Seol Yu Hwa clicked her tongue. Normally, she would never keep a subordinate like that.

However……

‘She said she would help find Yu Bin.’

Is Lee Ju Eun really Yu Bin’s friend?

‘She might have other intentions.’

Seol Yu Hwa didn’t trust people. Therefore, she didn’t trust Lee Ju Eun either.

‘I’ll find out as time passes.’

Seol Yu Hwa kicked the man lying like a corpse one last time and left the alley.