Chapter 5 – Rule 4: The Leader monitors potential villains (1).

 

This is Academy City, ‘Neo Seoul.’

 

The villains that dominate Neo Seoul are called ‘Great Villains’.

 

The villains I must capture are destined to become the Great Villains. To be more specific, there are six of them, known as the ‘Six Sinners.’ Among these six is my childhood friend, Kim Dalbi.

 

In the game, there was an event separate from the main storyline where players could hunt down the Six Sinners. Being an open-world game, it was up to the player whether or not to participate in this event.

 

This implies that the main protagonist, Lee Taesung, is unlikely to be involved. Unless he suddenly decides, ‘I will capture the Six Sinners!’ with dramatic resolve.

 

‘Hunting down the Six Sinners… It was the endgame content. It was really difficult at first.’

 

The Six Sinners event was one of the most challenging parts of the game.

 

Fortunately, I remember the timing of each Six Sinners event clearly. As it was the endgame content, it was memorable and easier to recall after the main story.

 

‘I must capture them somehow.’

 

If the Six Sinners aren’t defeated by the end of the game, each of them becomes a ‘Great Villain’ and takes over Neo Seoul, becoming a ruler of the city.

 

Whichever one it is, the city’s order collapses, leading to a dystopia.

 

Leaving the academy city would mean facing an apocalyptic world swarming with monsters. To protect my home, I must stop the Six Sinners.

 

And what about Lee Se-Ah?

 

‘Lee Se-Ah isn’t one of the Six Sinners, but she is destined to become a Great Villain.’

 

Lee Se-Ah.

 

First-year student at Ahsung High School.

 

Age, 17.

 

Affiliation, Volunteer Club.

 

She is a girl who is set to become the next boss of the Do-hwa Group, one of the syndicate-type organizations in the academy city. She becomes a villain and a Great Villain of the black market, but dies shortly after.

 

Because of this, Lee Se-Ah never turns the academy city into a dystopia, despite being an event villain.

 

Nevertheless, that’s no reason to ignore her.

 

‘She’s probably planning something illegal by now. Even if she’s not, it’s necessary to monitor her. There’s no guarantee the world will unfold exactly as in the game.’

 

In this world, there is the Disciplinary Committee Leader, Ahn Woo-jin—me.

 

So, if the butterfly effect causes any variables that allow Lee Se-Ah to escape death, and she ends up becoming a major threat to the academy city?

 

That must not happen.

 

I cannot allow it.

 

Therefore, it was only right to monitor Lee Se-Ah.

 

“So, you’re saying I should monitor my classmate, Lee Se-Ah?”

 

In the Disciplinary Committee office.

 

A first-year female student asked me.

 

I nodded.

 

She was a junior I called to the office.

 

She was a new member who joined the Disciplinary Committee this semester.

 

I took notice of her during the final interview, where I served as one of the interviewers.

 

I immediately recognized her skill in maintaining a poker face.

 

‘Even now, her expressionless face is impressive.’

 

I couldn’t read any emotions from her.

 

It was an art form, almost as if she had undergone assassin training.

 

Being adept at maintaining a poker face and having a cautious personality, she would handle the task of monitoring Lee Se-Ah better than most members.

 

“Once again, Lee Se-Ah is a student belonging to a large secret organization, and she has recently been targeted by Anomia. I deemed it necessary to keep a close watch on her.”

 

“Then, may I ask why you assigned this task to me?”

 

Your poker face is excellent.

 

But.

 

‘I shouldn’t answer honestly.’

 

I didn’t want her to become self-conscious about her expression.

 

“You’re in the same first-year C class in the Mae-hwa Hall as Lee Se-Ah. You simply stood out the most among your peers.”

 

“I understand. Thank you for entrusting me with this task, Captain. I will bring back the best possible results.”

 

“Hmm, okay. I’m counting on you.”

 

The expressionless junior saluted smartly.

 

Her confidence made me feel proud.

 

I should brag to the Vice-Leader about picking her.

 

……

 

A week later.

 

It was the day to receive the first report on Lee Se-Ah’s surveillance.

 

‘Today, her expressionless face is fantastic as well.’

 

The expressionless junior came to see me, her face revealing no emotions.

 

Her excellent poker face made me feel content.

 

She saluted smartly.

 

“Leader, I am here to report.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“This is a report based on my direct observations and information I discreetly gathered, cross-verified for accuracy.”

 

The expressionless junior handed me the report she had prepared herself.

 

The design was clean and the readability was excellent.

 

‘I didn’t ask for this?’

 

She produced such a report despite the tight deadline?

 

Indeed, she is a promising talent I picked.

 

“Tell me.”

 

I spoke, hiding my proud feelings.

 

“Yes. Firstly, Lee Se-Ah leads a group. She excels at bringing others to her side and is being pointed out as a strong candidate for class president.”

 

That was expected.

 

Lee Se-Ah would later become a villain who dominates the black market. She must be good at managing affairs and building networks.

 

“And?”

 

I asked as I began reading the report from the expressionless junior.

 

“Secondly, she frequently performs good deeds.”

 

‘What?’

 

My head lifted involuntarily.

 

“Good deeds?”

 

A girl destined to become the worst villain, a Great Villain, doing good deeds?

 

It was like a snake wearing wool and pretending to be innocent.

 

“Yes, that’s correct.”

 

The expressionless junior answered without a hint of hesitation.

 

“Isn’t it just because of club activities?”

 

“No, it wasn’t.”

 

I quickly skimmed through the report. The bulk of the content was about Lee Se-Ah’s good deeds.

 

I read through these accounts.

 

—

 

**First Case:**

 

This concerns Min Hana, a first-year student from Class C of Mae-hwa Hall.

 

One day, Min Hana overslept and had to run to school to avoid being late. In her rush, she forgot to bring money and had no lunch. Being shy and having no friends yet, she ended up skipping lunch.

 

Min Hana was silently enduring her hunger when four girls approached her all at once. It was Lee Se-Ah’s group.

 

“Kikik…”

 

“Keekeeke…”

 

The group laughed with witch-like cackles. Lee Se-Ah wore a sinister and cunning smile.

 

It was widely known within Ahsung High School that Lee Se-Ah was associated with a mafia-like organization. Her group was suspected of being the bullies of Class C.

 

Frightened, Min Hana had always avoided them. But now they approached her.

 

‘Why me…?’

 

Min Hana’s heart raced. She feared they were targeting her to bully her. She felt her high school life might take a turn for the worse from the very start.

 

“Hey, can I talk to you? I noticed you didn’t have lunch earlier.”

 

Lee Se-Ah leaned in with a sly tone.

 

“Hiccup!”

 

Min Hana was so startled that she hiccuped.

 

“Yes, I didn’t… But why…?”

 

Min Hana’s reply had a hint of tears despite her efforts. Lee Se-Ah smiled.

 

“Then, take this money and go buy some bread.”

 

Thud.

 

Lee Se-Ah placed some money gently on Min Hana’s desk with a sneer.

 

“Ah…!”

 

It was a disaster.

 

Her words were clearly a declaration that she was making Min Hana her errand girl.

 

Was she destined to be a toy for the mafia gang? Would she have to endure suffering surrounded by bullies?

 

Her chest tightened. The hunger made her more emotional.

 

She regretted coming to Ahsung High School. If she had known, she wouldn’t have worked so hard to pass the entrance exam.

 

As Min Hana harbored these regrets and envisioned her worst future, she began to cry.

 

But then.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Min Hana looked at the money Lee Se-Ah had placed on her desk, puzzled.

 

It was a green bill with King Sejong’s face on it—a ten thousand won note. Considering bread at the school store cost around one to two thousand won, it was a generous amount.

 

Min Hana looked at Lee Se-Ah with suspicion.

 

“Get something nice and tasty. Hunger is painful, you know. Keke…”

 

“Kikik…”

 

“Keekeeke…”

 

Lee Se-Ah’s group laughed ominously as they walked away. Min Hana remained confused for a while, unsure how to interpret the situation.

 

When Min Hana returned with bread from the school store, Lee Se-Ah’s group joined her in sharing the snacks and chatting cheerfully.

 

Min Hana then realized that these girls were actually kind. It was a moment when her heart softened.

 

This account was recorded in the report after the expressionless junior secretly observed the situation and heard about Min Hana’s feelings directly from her.

 

—

 

**Second Case:**

 

This concerns Kim Deok-Soo, a second-year student from Class B of Yeonhwa Hall and a member of the Disciplinary Committee.

 

Kim Deok-Soo was leading two junior Disciplinary Committee members on an off-campus patrol.

 

Vroom!

 

The loud sound of an engine drew the patrol’s attention.

 

“What is that? A motorcycle?”

 

“Senior, over there!”

 

Several bikes were roaring down the road.

 

It was a group of female students from Ahsung High School, riding motorcycles like a gang.

 

“Kekeke!”

 

“Kekeke!”

 

They laughed wickedly as they rode, staying within the speed limit.

 

Each bike had a cargo box mounted on it, filled with heavy, bulky items. At the center of the group was a girl wearing sunglasses, riding an ATV designed for carrying goods. The ATV had even more cargo in its storage compartment.

 

“Don’t they look suspicious…?”

 

As my junior said, it indeed looked suspicious.

 

Were they transporting prohibited items? Recalling the disciplinary committee’s incident logs, this wasn’t uncommon. Ahsung High School was closest to the black market among all the academies. Every year, several students from Ahsung High were caught as illegal couriers.

 

It was unusual for any group to ride bikes like that.

 

When suspicious circumstances are detected, it’s the patrol’s duty to intervene. We needed to verify whether they were engaging in illicit activities.

 

Kim Deok-Soo urgently shouted.

 

“Stop them!”
“Yes!”

 

The patrol team blocked the group of bikers, who were adhering to the speed limit.

 

Screech. The bike group came to a sudden halt.

 

“Who are you?”

 

The girl at the center, riding the ATV, leisurely removed her sunglasses and asked.

 

Her narrow eyes, reminiscent of a fox’s smile, scanned the patrol members.

 

It was Lee Se-Ah, a first-year student at Ahsung High School.

 

“We’re the disciplinary committee!”

 

“Ah, I see. Now, please step aside.”

 

“Hah, such arrogance!”

 

Snap!