Chapter 12 : Chapter 12

Even though I left school later than usual, there was a large black car waiting in front of the school gate.

And, as expected, Yang Hye-in was standing there.

Ah, right.

She waited like this yesterday too.

And she'll probably keep doing that from now on.

"…Did you wait long?"

"No, I didn't."

At my question, Yang Hye-in politely bowed and answered.

Yoo Ha-neul and Lee Soo-ah, who were leaving with me, stared at me with their mouths open.

Well, who would have thought they'd see an actual maid in traditional maid attire in modern-day Korea?

Especially one who's older and speaks so formally.

Of course, I wasn't someone who originally had people serving me.

The only time I was in a position similar to a leader was when I served as a squad leader in the military.

To be honest, I haven't been in society for long, so I haven't had much time to boss anyone around, but if you think about it, I've always been more of a subordinate than a boss.

I'm the kind of person who feels guilty about giving orders to others.

It's a bit funny to say this after I just threatened an employee under me not long ago, but I didn't actually intend to fire them.

I turned to Yoo Ha-neul and Lee Soo-ah and said,

"We should part ways here today."

"Uh, okay."

Yoo Ha-neul, who had probably never seen a maid that looked like something out of a picture, responded dazedly.

"See you tomorrow."

Lee Soo-ah, who had probably seen such scenes a few times, was less surprised and answered more calmly.

After nodding once at both of them, I climbed into the back seat of the large black sedan.

The luxury car started smoothly. Being an expensive car, it was very quiet.

You could probably whisper inside, and the person next to you would still hear you.

To be honest, it felt like a waste to use such a car just for commuting. The school was so close that it felt like it only took five minutes by car.

Considering traffic, it might actually be more efficient to walk.

Of course, it was probably the chairwoman's idea to make sure I took the car without wandering off.

"Are you planning to participate in club activities?"

As I gazed out the window, Yang Hye-in, who was sitting next to me, cautiously asked.

It was natural for her to be concerned, since Ye Sara, who had been behaving like a doll up until now, suddenly started doing something unexpected.

Whether that concern was truly for Ye Sara or not, I couldn't tell.

"If I said yes, would you report it to the chairwoman?"

"…"

Yang Hye-in couldn't give a clear answer.

Well, she couldn't exactly say, "I'm reporting everything you do to the chairwoman" to my face.

I let out a small laugh.

Not because it was funny, but because I felt empty.

Usually, in novels or games, people fall into another world for at least some reason.

Of course, it's not like those reasons are scientific or anything.

But there's always something, right? Like cursing at the novel, thinking they could do better as a character, or staying logged into a game until the service ended.

But I honestly don't remember doing anything.

To be honest, if someone was going to fall into this game world, wouldn't it have made more sense for someone who was really invested in the game to fall in?

I was just dozing off after work and suddenly found myself in the body of a villainess.

It's already been three months since I arrived in this world, but I still can't accept it.

"…"

Until we almost reached the mansion, Yang Hye-in remained silent.

"I haven't really started any club activities."

I spoke as I felt the car slowing down.

It's true, I didn't really join that club.

Nam Da-un was just helping me with my exercise, that's all.

I don't know what kind of wind blew to make him do that, though.

"But if I end up hanging out with other kids at school, there might be some days I come home a little late."

"I see."

Yang Hye-in answered softly.

"This will go to the chairwoman too, right?"

This time, I turned to her and asked.

Yang Hye-in pressed her lips together for a few seconds, hesitating, then gave a small nod.

Was it because she was the only person in this mansion who actually talked to Ye Sara?

At least, Yang Hye-in didn't seem hostile toward me.

She wasn't emotionless either, like the other employees who moved around as if they were part of the mansion's furniture and didn't even react to me.

The car came to a complete stop.

"…"

Without saying a word, the driver got out and came around to open the door for me.

He bowed politely, waiting for me to step out.

I exited the car without a word.

Yang Hye-in did the same.

The two of us silently returned to the mansion.

*

Hwayoung High School is quite an impressive school.

It has all the facilities a student could need to learn.

There's a soccer field with real grass, a swimming pool, science labs with equipment rivaling those of a university, a music room that could hold a concert, and an audiovisual room that could double as a theater.

As expected of a school that charges high tuition fees, the building was also constructed at a high cost.

And the teachers, whom the school takes great pride in.

The school is filled with teachers that make you wonder just how much money they're paid to teach at a high school.

As for the lessons—

Honestly, they didn't feel that different from what I experienced during my own high school days.

No matter how engaging a teacher's lecture is, it doesn't matter if the students don't pay attention.

There are students sleeping, students on their phones, and students giggling and chatting with the person next to them.

All that talk about a "good academic atmosphere" was just packaging.

It's not that surprising though.

Most of the students here have already had their lessons with tutors far more expensive than the school's teachers.

Some students probably feel it's a waste of time to follow the regular curriculum.

Some are even blatantly solving workbooks during class.

Honestly, I was also joining in with the poor academic atmosphere.

It wasn't because I was good at studying back in my own high school days that I was dozing off at my desk.

Most of what the teacher said felt new to me.

I'd probably need to take notes on everything the teacher said just to keep up.

But so what?

Who cares if I come in last place here or don't get into a college?

My inheritance alone is worth more than the entire market value of Korea's second-largest conglomerate.

Of course, the current chairwoman seems to be scheming something with that fortune, but I wasn't about to let her have it so easily.

I'll take that money for myself, no matter what.

Then I'll live my life spending it however I want.

That's my goal in life now since it seems like I won't be returning to my original world anytime soon.

…To be honest, I couldn't really focus on studying today.

Just yesterday, I did something I had never done in my life, something even the original owner of this body, Ye Sara, had never done: intense exercise.

My thighs and calves were incredibly sore. My chest felt tight, and my shoulders ached, probably from all the arm movements while running.

In short, my body was in no condition to study.

Just as I was about to lay my tired body down on my desk and give up on studying—

"Euhik?"

I felt a poke at my side. I let out a strange noise without meaning to.

Luckily, it wasn't too loud.

…Or maybe no one paid attention because it was a sound I made.

Yeah, if someone poked my side, there was only one possible culprit in this class.

I turned my head to the right, and there was Yoo Ha-neul, holding a ballpoint pen.

It seemed like she had poked my side with the blunt end of the pen.

'Why?'

I mouthed the question, and Yoo Ha-neul frowned slightly and mouthed back,

'In class.'

I think that's what she said. Since there was no sound, I couldn't be sure.

"…"

I glared at her for a moment, then laid my head back down on the desk.

"Euhik?"

But then came another poke, so I sat up again.

I openly glared at Yoo Ha-neul.

It wasn't the kind of squinting you do when something's too bright.

Ye Sara already had fierce eyes.

If you gave a proper glare, it looked absolutely terrifying.

I could hear people around us gulping.

…It seemed they had heard my strange noise and thought we were doing something odd.

But strangely, Yoo Ha-neul, who received the full brunt of my glare, was still staring at me with a stern expression.

'Study.'

I think that's what she said.

Again, I couldn't be certain since it was just lip-reading.

"…"

I stared at her for a while longer, then finally sighed heavily and opened my textbook.

When I exaggeratedly flipped through the pages of the textbook, Yoo Ha-neul finally nodded in satisfaction and focused back on the lesson.

"Kuhup."

Huh?

What was that, did someone just stifle a laugh?

I looked around, but there wasn't anyone laughing.

As usual, the students who wanted to listen were listening, and the others were doing their own thing.

Well, no one would laugh at me.

After all, no one laughs at an invisible person.

I just chalked it up to my imagination and let it go.