The Villainess

It has been a week since my transmigration.

Some people say that human beings are very adaptable, and I cannot refuse such claims as I learned, experienced, and adapted to my current situation.

That doesn't mean that everything is fine, but at least I will not have a sudden mental breakdown now.

It was quite early in the morning, and the sunlight illuminated my face, bringing comfortable warmth.

Nico and Emily, somehow unusually, weren't with me as we are always together.

They had literacy lessons in the morning. Meanwhile, I was exempt from them.

The reason for that is: if you manage to score the test perfectly at the start of the semester. You are free to abstain from the lessons.

These lessons are specifically designed for girls from common backgrounds who have no prior knowledge of reading or writing. There is no need to attend if someone already has all this knowledge.

Unfortunately, as the test must be scored perfectly, a lot of noble girls, despite their better understanding, didn't manage to get full marks. Nico and Emily are one of them.

How did I score it so high?

Actually, it took me quite a while to realize because of how natural it feels that the language or even writing system of this world is completely different from my previous life.

I was quite surprised to discover that I could speak it fluently with a strong understanding of the reading and writing system.

Despite my astonishment, the fact that I died and appeared inside the game didn't make sense either, so I didn't brood over it too deeply.

Having an extra hour of sleep still made me pretty happy.

Sitting down on one of the free benches, I started to ponder seriously.

The reason for my confusion was….

'System.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Status screen

[Name: Rose Ling]

[Race: h?/4?af (error)]

[Points:0]

[Cultivation: none]

[Physique: Extreme Yin Body (unawakened)]

[Bloodline: The Enchanting Nine-Tailed Fox (sealed)]

[Shop]

[Tower]

[Missions]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rose Ling… That is indeed true. When I was naming my character, I named her "Rose" because of how pretty she was, but I surely didn't give her any surname.

Looking at these letters, I used my full brain power to come up with any explanation, but nothing seemed to make a reason.

Bumping my legs in frustration, I could only put that mystery for later.

[Missions]

[Daily Mission: cultivate for 5 hours, train martial arts for 3 hours, meditate for 2 hours.]

[Reward: 1 point]

The other fact for my frustration was that even though I possess an inheritance, I was still unable to use it.

I tried multiple times, but I was still unable to enter the mysterious state where you could absorb Qi.

Martial arts and meditation? I am not familiar with them; I hope they will teach us it soon.

Being unable to complete the mission and losing the possible points. It made me a bit depressed even though I knew it couldn't be helped.

I am so poor that I didn't even dare to look at the shop for fear it would make me even more bitter.

"Sigh…"

Anyway, the lectures should start soon so I better keep moving.

As I still had a bit of time, I took a longer path, rarely used by the other disciples.

Holding my hands behind my back, I strolled leisurely. Taking in the fresh air, free of the widespread pollution, I was so used to not long ago.

Being surrounded by nature with no one in sight made me quite relaxed.

Until someone blocked my path.

I tried to go around them, but it seemed the three girls didn't intend to let me go.

"Do you have some problem with me?"

I asked, a bit annoyed.

"And what if we have?"

The tallest girl said, snickering.

I don't know what was so funny, but her two sidekicks laughed, too.

"What do you think you are doing, acting like a smartass?"

The tall girl in the middle of the three said.

"A f*cking teacher pet, you should know your place!"

A plump-looking girl added.

The last girl, who looked like a ghost from the amount of white powder she put on her face, joined.

"Hey, do you listen to us at all?"

Suddenly, I was pushed to the ground; my weak body could not respond nor resist the unexpected force.

"You know how long we waited? It's finally time to teach you a lesson. Your face would get damaged a bit, but well, hehe."

The girl in the middle said, letting her pent-up emotions out.

With her last words, I finally understood.

Isn't she a villainess and her gang from the first chapter?

From their NPC-like look, I didn't realize that at first. Yet their words are really vicious.

Not only did my strategy not work, but it also seemed that they had planned it for a long time.

Why?

Feeling unrestrained jealousy from them. I can get the idea.

'Well, that is a villain for you.'

I thought about it humorously, even though the actual situation was quite grim.

"Teacher pet? Well, if you think so, don't you think I wouldn't report you later?"

I said, trying to stand up.

"You dare bitch!"

The plump girl shouted, spraying saliva. Pushing me down again when I just stood up.

I was hit hard, hitting the nearby rock, bruising my knee.

'Let's run.'

I thought. Yet, my knee injury seems to be more serious than I realized.

Before I could take a few steps further, my hairs were yanked. Dazzled by the pain, two pairs of arms suddenly picked me up and carried me away from the road.

I screamed and my nails dug deeper into the flesh of my assailants, who kept cursing me.

However, my body was just too weak. Unable to resist.

After a couple of minutes, I was thrown to the ground, having only a second to protect my head.

I landed on the rough terrain; the impact sending a jolt through my body, making me instinctively inhale a sharp breath.

Finding myself in an unfamiliar place, I wasn't surprised their intentions were easy to read.

Nonetheless, knowing that it didn't make the current situation any easier.

I am currently weak, but I have tremendous growth potential considering my players' knowledge or system.

Yet now, I am powerless, my mind is completely blank.

'It's hopeless.'

I thought with resignation.

"Do you, have it?"

Their leader, the tall girl, asked the pale girl.

"Here."

She said, taking out a thick bamboo stick.

"Tsk, tsk, no shouting any longer? So boring~"

The leader said, swinging her stick around before approaching me.

"Keep her in place. I want to have a clear aim at her face."

*THUD!!*

The tall girl said, and the two others caught my hands, forcing me to kneel.

"Your expression looks like you want to murder me. That's surprising. I thought you would be crying already, heh-heh."

"Well, anyway, take this bitch."

She swung the bamboo stick with so much force that if it landed on my head, I might end up dead.

'Dammit, life is so unpredictable.'

I thought, closing my eyes somehow unwillingly.

As I waited, one second turned into two, then ten. But the anticipated impact never came.

Opening my eyes somehow tentatively, I saw a tall figure blocking my sight. Her long hair flowing down her back.

"YOU M*THERFUCKER, let go! Guys, help me!"

Their leader shouted; some panic in her voice.

The two girls let me off intending to ambush my 'savior'?

"You know that your behavior is severely punished in the sect?"

Said the new girl. Her voice was calm and collected.

"HA! YOU FUCKING IDIOT, you are dead!"

The leader appeared enraged, suddenly taking out the knife.

It seems long, but all this happened in seconds. Before I was able to react, the knife was already thrust forward.

*SWOOSH!*

The new girl was still holding onto the bully's hand on the bamboo stick. Suddenly, she pulled with much force, wrestling control of the bamboo stick.

With a loud, satisfying sound just as the knife was about to reach her, she slammed the enlarged leader's checks with a stick.

Not only was the leader flung away, but she also split blood and some white stuff.

Wait.. are these teeth?

"You f*cking dare!"

Seeing their leader thrown away, the plump girl was furious, charging like an angry bull.

The ghost girl followed closely behind.

Yet, the bull was only met with a strong kick in the face, making her stagger and fall.

Crushing her friend's body beneath her.

*URGH!*

The three bullies lay spread on the ground, letting out pained noises.

Yet, my savior doesn't seem to be satisfied with just that. She walked to the bully's leader, who was crawling on the ground trying to reach for the knife and stomped on her hand.

"Aagh!"

She cried; her face covered in tears and snot, looking ugly.

"Are you afraid of pain?"

The new girl asked; there was no trace of emotions in this voice.

"No?"

She asked again, stomping on her other hand.

"Aagh!"

"I see, but if that is the case, you shouldn't try to cause harm to others."

She said, swinging the bamboo stick, making her split blood again.

Yet, that wasn't the end, not for her, nor for the other bullies.

'I want to change my statement. She is not my savior. She is a probable serial killer just passing by.'

I thought, seeing the bloody scene unfolding in front of my eyes.

However, I can't just keep looking. She is going to kill them if that's continued.

"Wait!"

I said, tugging at her clothes.

She was so immersed in her self-judgment that she didn't see me approaching.

The bamboo stick stopped its descent, allowing fresh blood to dribble down its surface.

The cold, seemingly merciless eyes glanced in my direction, and the voice that sent chills down my spine asked.

"Didn't they hurt you? Why are you protecting them?"

There was some ridicule in her tone, yet I ignored it.

"That's enough."

I expressed, lowering her hand as if making the decision for her.

She snorted but didn't resist.

I sighed in relief, unintentionally letting out a small whimper.

The adrenaline rush from before seems to be finally gone. With this, the pain flooded my mind.

There is no helping it. My body is just too fragile.

"I will take you to the medicine hall."

The voice suddenly distracted me from the pain.

She was tall, forcing me to look up.

Long black hair cascading down her back. Dark eyes resembling an abyss. A beautiful face that exudes a sense of maturity as if she has lived through a lifetime of struggles. Lastly, enigmatic and hard to decipher expression.

That was my first impression of her.

'Is she some important character?'

I thought. Yet, maybe because of her common hair color, nothing seems to come to mind.

'Well, she is probably just some quest-giver NPC.'

I had come to a realization. After all, I wouldn't be bothered to remember someone not from the main cast.

"Mhm... thanks."

I murmured. Only now realizing that I still didn't thank her for saving me.

"I will carry you."

She said, looking at my bloodied self.

"Wait..no-no. I can still walk. Noooo put me down..."

I wasn't aware of that, but my current appearance looked extremely pitiful. The blood from my injured knee was all over my body, giving the impression of long torture.

The big shining eyes seem to be moist as if trying hard not to cry. The tattered robe and initial fragile body seem to cause the observing person an enormous sense of distress. Awakening their protective instincts and sympathy no matter the gender.

These were the reasons her savior acted so extreme.

Nonetheless, Rose wasn't aware of that and already labeled her as a sociopath.