I Don’t Want to be a Villainess

As I regained my senses and stepped out of the room, the atmosphere was incredibly strange.

Outside was surprisingly quiet, despite it having been somewhat noisy before. It didn’t seem like my sudden disappearance caused it, as the crowd’s gaze was directed at the door, not me.

Did someone arrive?

Or perhaps they were watching someone important leaving. I wasn’t quite sure who that might be.

During the initial phase of the party, Sara had been in charge, so I really didn’t know most of the people attending.

While trying to grasp the situation, I made eye contact with Ha Neul from afar.

I flinched for a moment, but thankfully, her expression was different from when she confessed.

Well, it might not be good that it wasn’t the same. Unlike the time when she looked like she could fly, Ha Neul had a seriously grave look on her face.

It wasn’t just her; Sua next to her looked the same.

And so did Nam Da-un.

……

Ah, right.

Even though Nam Da-un had personally invited me with an invitation, we hadn’t exchanged greetings yet. It wasn’t intentional; I’d just been too distracted by the current situation to remember.

……Did Sara greet him instead? I hoped so.

Ha Neul’s gaze turned this way. Soon, Sua’s gaze followed, and so did Nam Da-un’s. Sohee had seemingly vanished, and the same went for Yang Hye-in.

Following the gaze of those three, the eyes around the room also shifted in this direction.

These weren’t merely glances trying to catch a chance to speak to me; they felt heavy, serious. Most were adults who appeared to be related to the Yujin Group rather than the students in red attire.

“Alright, alright.”

Someone clapped a few times, creating a clap clap sound, drawing everyone’s attention toward them.

It was Ye In-hyuk… so that would mean, Sara’s “uncle.”

“It’s been a few hours since the party began; don’t you think we should wrap things up?”

There was no direct answer, but a consensus-like atmosphere seemed to flow through the room. Honestly, I didn’t think the awkwardness would fully dissipate even if the party continued in this state.

“Sara.”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, his gaze turned towards me, and I was startled into responding.

“The conclusion of the party should be handled by the main character.”

He reached out his hand, and I looked toward Ha Neul and Sua.

Both gave me a small nod, so I took a deep breath and walked toward Sara’s uncle.

All eyes turned toward me. To be honest, it was quite overwhelming.

Honestly, how many of these people actually knew my face? And even if they did, as Sara had lived here her entire life, she too would know few people among them.

They hadn’t cared much until the chairwoman was about to fall, but now they rushed here.

Of course, they probably had their own reasons. There were things to uphold as family members, and perhaps they were just following what was written in the former chairman of Yujin Group’s will or something along those lines.

But that didn’t mean I had to understand each and every one of them. It was the same for Sara as well.

Well, it might be a problem to completely ruin relationships here.

As I approached Sara’s uncle, at least the majority of people could at least look at me directly. There were quite a few attendees, but the lobby was spacious enough, enabling me to glance around despite Sara’s small stature.

“Thank you all for gathering to celebrate my birthday today.”

I carefully chose my words while looking around the crowd. I wouldn’t shatter relationships right away, but I had to include a warning in my statement.

And there was a suitable topic to do just that.

“In fact, there are many here I’m seeing for the first time; I didn’t expect such a number of ‘my side’—”

I took a brief pause, glancing towards the cluster of people dressed in red gathered to one side. The people in the lobby followed my gaze.

My side.

Among them would be the ones who would firmly support me.

The direction I was looking at was this way. Naturally, I couldn’t trust the people I was seeing for the first time.

I wasn’t sure if my thoughts reached the audience, but even if they didn’t reach everyone, I didn’t care much. I just needed to sort out those who would surely stand by me and Sara.

“—I didn’t think there would be so many.”

Some people met my gaze, while others subtly avoided it. They likely understood what I meant.

“I hope we can maintain such a good relationship moving forward. Once again, thank you everyone for gathering to celebrate my birthday. I hope you can enjoy yourselves until you return home.”

As I said that and bowed my head slightly, a clap clap clap of small applause erupted. It wasn’t so much that few people clapped, but rather, they were gently clapping to make a soft noise.

Having finished my words, I glanced at my ‘uncle’, who nodded and spoke.

“Everyone, as Sara said, I hope you enjoy the remaining time.”

Of course, the remaining time was pretty much time without a gain to prolong. I wasn’t thinking of acting formally anymore.

As I looked away, I caught sight of Yang Hye-in entering from the corner of my vision.

……I didn’t see her at all until I came out of the room? Where exactly had she been hiding?

I nodded at Yang Hye-in, our eyes met, and she bowed slightly before walking over.

I didn’t wait for Yang Hye-in. Whatever, she would definitely follow me closely behind.

I sent a glance toward Yoo Ha-neul and Sua from far away, and they also nodded.

Looking next to them at Nam Da-un, he simply shrugged and waved his hand slightly.

He was probably planning to head straight home.

I wished he’d change back into his original clothes before leaving, though.

To that Nam Da-un, I waved my hand slightly.

And without reluctance, I turned to head toward the second floor where my room was.
Thus, the chaotic birthday party finally came to an end.

*

“Could you gather anyone left among the students I handed invitations to?”

“Yes, understood.”

As I returned to the room and said that, Yang Hye-in, who had closely followed me from behind, politely bowed her waist in response.

I assumed those who weren’t overly bold like Nam Da-un hadn’t just gone home immediately. They were probably just waiting around, glancing at each other in the party venue.

I thought it best to at least thank them for their efforts. It likely wasn’t a party they could relax and enjoy.

And—

I looked at Ha Neul and Sua, who followed me in.

Both turned red when their eyes met mine.

However, their reactions were slightly different. Ha Neul smiled brightly at me, while Sua shyly averted her gaze.

……And if Sohee, who’s not here right now, shows up, things are going to get way more complicated.

In just a single day—not even a full day, not half a day, but in just an hour—I was confessed to by three girls.

Not just any confessions, either; they all gave me kisses.

And I was just standing there!

Furthermore, just because the party ended, my troubles weren’t over.

……We had arranged to properly hold a friend’s birthday party after this.

……How on earth am I supposed to properly overcome this situation?

I have no idea.

This is my first time living a life loved by so many girls, so I’m genuinely clueless.

I’ve always lived while scolding the main characters of harem love comedies, yet here I am, stuck in this situation, not knowing what to do.

It’s not just these three, either. If Sara, who is currently fainted, wakes up and finds out about this, she won’t just sit still.

Whether awake or asleep, I’m caught in a situation I can’t escape.

So, I—

“Wait. The work isn’t finished yet… let’s talk once it’s all done.”

For now, I decided to postpone the resolution of this situation.

Right, I had some justification still. The school kids hadn’t gone home yet. I also told Yang Hye-in to gather everyone in one place.

So…… I still had a bit of time. Not a lot, but just a bit.

In the meantime, I need to come up with a solid idea.

……I doubt I’ll be able to come up with anything, though.

“Okay!”

Ha Neul eagerly replied to my words.

“Alright.”

Sua was just as earnest.

I wondered if Sohee would answer as adorably, too.

She should respond.

Sohee is still a ‘minor’, right? Isn’t that so?

……Thinking that made a chill run down my back.

What was it? A feeling like I’d become some sort of prey.

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