When she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar desk.
It seemed like he had been asleep for quite some time while playing a game. Judging from how much numbness there was in his left arm due to lying down.
'How long did you sleep? I had a really vivid dream, but... I don't remember.'
Han Su-Wan vaguely dreamed of becoming a character in a game, but when she tried to recall the memory, her mind went blank.
At that moment, a hair tie that had fallen to the floor came into her sight.
'It seems like it came loose while I was sleeping.'
As she carefully tied her brown hair back up, a rattling sound came from her neck.
'A rocket necklace...? Did I have something like this?'
Oh, did my little sister leave it behind without me knowing?
I'm sorry for destroying my biological mother's belongings yesterday.
'Yes, that's right. It's sad enough that my real mother's belongings were destroyed, but my mother scolded me? I'm crying over something as trivial as that.'
Because of that, she was hurt and turned on the game again.
On days when she's hurt by her family, she finds herself turning to this game out of habit. She especially obsessively searches for the parts where Odette's story appears.
'I wonder if there will be a scene later where the family regrets abandoning Odette?'
'Maybe the male leads will feel sorry for Odette. Please. Even if it's just a little bit.'
Su-Wan once played the game with that glimmer of hope, but now that she's played it hundreds of times, she knows for sure that it's not true.
She couldn't understand why she was so obsessed with the villainess, but she couldn't help it because she cared so much about Odette.
On the screen of her turned-on cell phone, Odette's story was playing.
A scene in <Karl Route> where Karl confesses his hatred for Odette to the female protagonist.
< Odette, that woman killed all the remaining children. >
Karl, who had just awakened as a Transcendent, said that with a bleak expression.
< Since I was the only one left alive, I have lived in hell. Charlotte. I know why God chose me to be a transcendent being. It was to have the power to kill that woman. >
Red eyes that seemed to have turned towards revenge on Odette.
< I will kill that woman with my own hands and come back. Order me to kill that woman. >
Even though she's seen this scene dozens of times while trying to conquer it, why does she feel upset every time she sees it?
Having read the setting book several times while conquering <Carl Route>, she knows that from Karl's perspective, his anger is natural.
Ten years ago, hundreds of disasters struck the tundra where the Kingdom of Fenrir was located, swallowing up the entire clan.
The only survivors were Karl, who was seven years old at the time, and three younger children.
Young Karl, who suddenly became the head of the clan, crossed over to the empire and barely managed to survive by begging and working as a mercenary to support his three remaining newborn children.
However, they were taken to the concentration camp because Odette threatened the Emperor of Barceha, saying, "I cannot breathe the same air as filthy foreigners with my precious body as a purifier, so throw me into the concentration camp."
Even after three years in the camp, Karl never held any grudges against Odette. But then another great tragedy struck.
On the last day of the founding of the country, a disaster struck the prison.
On the day that Karl was first taken out of the asylum to be sentenced to slavery, due to Odette's request.
During the brief period, he was in the capital, all three children were swallowed up by the disaster.
<Penril Prison Incident>
Karl finds out about the incident the next day when the camp commander comes running.
The fact that his master, Odette, deliberately chose the location of the prison cell as 'the place in the empire where disasters occur the most'.
From that day on, Karl believed that Odette had killed the children, and later beheaded her with an axe.
'Yes, I know. It's understandable to hate Odette. I know that from Karl's perspective, he would have wanted to kill her, but...'
“...But that was Karl’s mistake. The Count lied. There’s no way Odette would have known about that.”
She was startled by the monologue that came out of her mouth without her knowing.
'Why did I just think that?'
Are you so addicted to games these days that you're now talking nonsense out of delusion?
'I really need to stop playing this game now. I'm getting dangerously attached to Odette.'
After reaching a conclusion, she turned off her phone and got up from her desk. She was thirsty and wanted to drink some water.
'It's dawn, so I have to be careful with noise. My mother is very sensitive these days.'
A voice came from the kitchen where she had arrived, carefully, with slow steps.
“Mom, then are you going to throw her away?”
“Yes. The proceedings will be completed by the end of this month.”
“What if she doesn’t agree?”
“How can you not agree to something like me? Don’t worry, our Princess, Song-i.”
“The kids I hang out with ask me if my sister really graduated from high school. It’s so embarrassing. Everyone thinks she’s my real sister.”
‘...What does this mean?’
Even though the content wasn't difficult, she was so dazed that she refused to understand it.
'So... So.'
Are you abandoning me?
It seemed like he had been asleep for quite some time while playing a game. Judging from how much numbness there was in his left arm due to lying down.
'How long did you sleep? I had a really vivid dream, but... I don't remember.'
Han Su-Wan vaguely dreamed of becoming a character in a game, but when she tried to recall the memory, her mind went blank.
At that moment, a hair tie that had fallen to the floor came into her sight.
'It seems like it came loose while I was sleeping.'
As she carefully tied her brown hair back up, a rattling sound came from her neck.
'A rocket necklace...? Did I have something like this?'
Oh, did my little sister leave it behind without me knowing?
I'm sorry for destroying my biological mother's belongings yesterday.
'Yes, that's right. It's sad enough that my real mother's belongings were destroyed, but my mother scolded me? I'm crying over something as trivial as that.'
Because of that, she was hurt and turned on the game again.
On days when she's hurt by her family, she finds herself turning to this game out of habit. She especially obsessively searches for the parts where Odette's story appears.
'I wonder if there will be a scene later where the family regrets abandoning Odette?'
'Maybe the male leads will feel sorry for Odette. Please. Even if it's just a little bit.'
Su-Wan once played the game with that glimmer of hope, but now that she's played it hundreds of times, she knows for sure that it's not true.
She couldn't understand why she was so obsessed with the villainess, but she couldn't help it because she cared so much about Odette.
On the screen of her turned-on cell phone, Odette's story was playing.
A scene in <Karl Route> where Karl confesses his hatred for Odette to the female protagonist.
< Odette, that woman killed all the remaining children. >
Karl, who had just awakened as a Transcendent, said that with a bleak expression.
< Since I was the only one left alive, I have lived in hell. Charlotte. I know why God chose me to be a transcendent being. It was to have the power to kill that woman. >
Red eyes that seemed to have turned towards revenge on Odette.
< I will kill that woman with my own hands and come back. Order me to kill that woman. >
Even though she's seen this scene dozens of times while trying to conquer it, why does she feel upset every time she sees it?
Having read the setting book several times while conquering <Carl Route>, she knows that from Karl's perspective, his anger is natural.
Ten years ago, hundreds of disasters struck the tundra where the Kingdom of Fenrir was located, swallowing up the entire clan.
The only survivors were Karl, who was seven years old at the time, and three younger children.
Young Karl, who suddenly became the head of the clan, crossed over to the empire and barely managed to survive by begging and working as a mercenary to support his three remaining newborn children.
However, they were taken to the concentration camp because Odette threatened the Emperor of Barceha, saying, "I cannot breathe the same air as filthy foreigners with my precious body as a purifier, so throw me into the concentration camp."
Even after three years in the camp, Karl never held any grudges against Odette. But then another great tragedy struck.
On the last day of the founding of the country, a disaster struck the prison.
On the day that Karl was first taken out of the asylum to be sentenced to slavery, due to Odette's request.
During the brief period, he was in the capital, all three children were swallowed up by the disaster.
<Penril Prison Incident>
Karl finds out about the incident the next day when the camp commander comes running.
The fact that his master, Odette, deliberately chose the location of the prison cell as 'the place in the empire where disasters occur the most'.
From that day on, Karl believed that Odette had killed the children, and later beheaded her with an axe.
'Yes, I know. It's understandable to hate Odette. I know that from Karl's perspective, he would have wanted to kill her, but...'
“...But that was Karl’s mistake. The Count lied. There’s no way Odette would have known about that.”
She was startled by the monologue that came out of her mouth without her knowing.
'Why did I just think that?'
Are you so addicted to games these days that you're now talking nonsense out of delusion?
'I really need to stop playing this game now. I'm getting dangerously attached to Odette.'
After reaching a conclusion, she turned off her phone and got up from her desk. She was thirsty and wanted to drink some water.
'It's dawn, so I have to be careful with noise. My mother is very sensitive these days.'
A voice came from the kitchen where she had arrived, carefully, with slow steps.
“Mom, then are you going to throw her away?”
“Yes. The proceedings will be completed by the end of this month.”
“What if she doesn’t agree?”
“How can you not agree to something like me? Don’t worry, our Princess, Song-i.”
“The kids I hang out with ask me if my sister really graduated from high school. It’s so embarrassing. Everyone thinks she’s my real sister.”
‘...What does this mean?’
Even though the content wasn't difficult, she was so dazed that she refused to understand it.
'So... So.'
Are you abandoning me?
As soon as Su-Wan realized the situation, her heart started pounding like it was going to burst. She froze in place.
Her legs were shaking and her head was spinning.
“You’ve worked hard, haven’t you? Don’t worry, there’s not much time left. The business is completely settled now, isn’t it? Once that blemish is gone, our Princess will be an only daughter again.”
It feels like the floor is collapsing.
Is that person really the mother who cried in front of me, asking if I really had to go to college?
Her legs were shaking and her head was spinning.
“You’ve worked hard, haven’t you? Don’t worry, there’s not much time left. The business is completely settled now, isn’t it? Once that blemish is gone, our Princess will be an only daughter again.”
It feels like the floor is collapsing.
Is that person really the mother who cried in front of me, asking if I really had to go to college?
The mother cried pitifully and pitifully, saying that Song-i's spirit would die if she went to such a good college.
She thought it was her role to endure. She thought that since they were family, she had to think of her younger siblings before herself. She was ready to do anything for her family who needed her.
'I have to run. Please, legs, move.'
I need to get out of here quickly. If they find out I'm listening to this, we're in big trouble!
She was desperate. It was as if she knew what was going to happen next. As if she had experienced this moment before.
“Ah, okay. So now I really don’t have to see Han Soo-wan anymore?”
“Song-i. Why would Mom have adopted her? I told you that Dad had no choice but to get investments. That chairman was all about family values, Christian ethics, and all that - he would go crazy if it was an adoptive family. Now that Dad’s business is doing well enough for us to be proud, there’s no reason to keep her around any longer.”
“Really? Mom, you used to leave me out and go play with her sometimes.”
“Oh, you idiot. Who likes a fake when there’s a real one? Song-i liked her, so your mom endured it and tried to please her. That’s why she gave up on the college entrance exam and focused only on helping Song-i get into college.”
'Please, let me run away. Soon-'
She was practically begging against her stiff body.
It was then that she heard her father's thunderous voice behind her.
“What are you eavesdropping on like a burglar cat?”
At the same time, her father's hand, like a pot lid, hit the back of her head hard.
She thought it was her role to endure. She thought that since they were family, she had to think of her younger siblings before herself. She was ready to do anything for her family who needed her.
'I have to run. Please, legs, move.'
I need to get out of here quickly. If they find out I'm listening to this, we're in big trouble!
She was desperate. It was as if she knew what was going to happen next. As if she had experienced this moment before.
“Ah, okay. So now I really don’t have to see Han Soo-wan anymore?”
“Song-i. Why would Mom have adopted her? I told you that Dad had no choice but to get investments. That chairman was all about family values, Christian ethics, and all that - he would go crazy if it was an adoptive family. Now that Dad’s business is doing well enough for us to be proud, there’s no reason to keep her around any longer.”
“Really? Mom, you used to leave me out and go play with her sometimes.”
“Oh, you idiot. Who likes a fake when there’s a real one? Song-i liked her, so your mom endured it and tried to please her. That’s why she gave up on the college entrance exam and focused only on helping Song-i get into college.”
'Please, let me run away. Soon-'
She was practically begging against her stiff body.
It was then that she heard her father's thunderous voice behind her.
“What are you eavesdropping on like a burglar cat?”
At the same time, her father's hand, like a pot lid, hit the back of her head hard.
Her eyes were spinning in pain.
“Honey! What’s going on?”
“What the... Han Soo-wan?! Dad, did she hear everything?”
“Yeah. She was eavesdropping. I’m not fond of this gloomy girl anyway.”
Her mother and younger sibling ran out and glared at her coldly.
“This is a big deal. What if she reports me?!”
Han Su-Wan scrambled to her feet and quickly ran up the stairs to get out of the house.
At that moment.
"This-!"
Her father's hand shoved her back hard.
"Uh?"
When Su-Wan turned her head in surprise, her body was already floating. She could see her father's mean expression through his fluttering hair.
Kuung!
She felt a dull pain all over her body as she fell down the stairs all at once. She felt hot blood leaking out of her head and the strength drained from her limbs.
“Whoa! Dad, are you crazy? What are you going to do if you get caught?!”
“It’s better. We just have to agree that she slipped down the stairs and died. We’re the only ones here anyway. If we don’t report it, it’s a complete crime-”
As Su-Wan consciousness slowly faded away, she could faintly hear the voices of her family.
None of them looked after her. They were only worried about their own future.
'I see. I have never been loved by these people for even a single moment.'
Even though she tried so hard for so long, and even though she desperately wanted it.
She thought that if she tried hard, she might become a real family. She thought that someday she would be loved. It was all a vain delusion.
All the while her eyes were going black,
“Who likes a fake when there is a real one?”
Her adoptive mother's laughter lingered endlessly in her ears.
Su-Wan was soon swallowed up in complete darkness.
Odette opened her eyes, gasping.
“Honey! What’s going on?”
“What the... Han Soo-wan?! Dad, did she hear everything?”
“Yeah. She was eavesdropping. I’m not fond of this gloomy girl anyway.”
Her mother and younger sibling ran out and glared at her coldly.
“This is a big deal. What if she reports me?!”
Han Su-Wan scrambled to her feet and quickly ran up the stairs to get out of the house.
At that moment.
"This-!"
Her father's hand shoved her back hard.
"Uh?"
When Su-Wan turned her head in surprise, her body was already floating. She could see her father's mean expression through his fluttering hair.
Kuung!
She felt a dull pain all over her body as she fell down the stairs all at once. She felt hot blood leaking out of her head and the strength drained from her limbs.
“Whoa! Dad, are you crazy? What are you going to do if you get caught?!”
“It’s better. We just have to agree that she slipped down the stairs and died. We’re the only ones here anyway. If we don’t report it, it’s a complete crime-”
As Su-Wan consciousness slowly faded away, she could faintly hear the voices of her family.
None of them looked after her. They were only worried about their own future.
'I see. I have never been loved by these people for even a single moment.'
Even though she tried so hard for so long, and even though she desperately wanted it.
She thought that if she tried hard, she might become a real family. She thought that someday she would be loved. It was all a vain delusion.
All the while her eyes were going black,
“Who likes a fake when there is a real one?”
Her adoptive mother's laughter lingered endlessly in her ears.
Su-Wan was soon swallowed up in complete darkness.
***
Odette opened her eyes, gasping.
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