I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

Morning arrived.

During the night, Harang and I watched the movie from beginning to end, analyzing the plot across both parts.

“How was it?”

“It totally fell apart in the end. Can you even call this a happy ending?”

The movie’s plot was simple.

A man repeatedly used a treasure that allowed time travel to save the woman he fell in love with. However, to truly save her, he had to give up something precious to himself.

In the end, he managed to save her, and there was a scene hinting they would meet again in the afterlife. But ultimately, the protagonist became an entirely different being, burying his love within and setting off for the greater cause.

“Would you want to be a man like that?”

“He’s cool and all, but I’d rather be beside the woman I love.”

If…

If I had a chance to save this world and return to my original one.

If I could abandon Do Ji-hwan and return to being just a reader.

Could I truly leave everything and everyone behind here?

Could I sever all ties with Chief, Baek Seol-hee, and the countless women I’ve built connections with, and simply disappear?

‘Probably not.’

If I vanished, the person to take over this body would be Do Chang-nam.

I had built ties with these people, and someone even had my child in her womb. Leaving everything to Do Chang-nam and walking away was impossible.

“I’m too greedy. If a trial like that comes my way, I’d try to hold onto both—my love and my purpose.”

“That’s quite the greed. So, is that why your love isn’t limited to just one person?”

“If I’m going to be greedy, isn’t it okay to desire more if one isn’t enough?”

“Hmmm. How much more do you plan on wanting?”

“Who knows. You know, they say ‘a flower in each hand.’ Maybe I should try filling every finger. That would make ten.”

“Why don’t you go all the way and fill your toes too?”

Harang poked my cheek and sat up.

She dismissed the clothes made from magic power, now wearing only the hotel gown.

“Anyway, since we’re in Jeju, do as you like. I won’t stop you.”

“What if the real one gets angry about it?”

“The real one will realize soon enough that there’s no stopping you. No matter what you do, women are bound to gather around you. It’s inevitable.”

“That’s why they sent you to me in the first place.”

“You can’t fight natural law. It’s better to go along with it, right?”

Harang shrugged her shoulders and headed to the refrigerator.

Inside were two bottles of expensive mineral water. She handed me one.

“I don’t care who you meet. I might care a bit, but we’re all in the same position, those girls and I. Just promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Guess.”

She sat back down beside me, placing my hand over her heart.

“What do you think I want from you?”

“That, even though you don’t mind the order, you want to be loved as much as the others.”

“You got it right. Are you reading my mind?”

“I can tell just by looking in your eyes.”

“Can you now… Well, if you understand, do well from now on. And I hope things go according to the original plan. So…”

Squeeze.

“Let your love for me never fade.”

Harang tightened her grip on our interlaced fingers.

“A woman turns into a demon when she’s not loved.”

“Isn’t that the same for men?”

I pulled Harang’s hand as we both lay down on the bed.

“If I can’t get the love of the woman I love, I might turn into a demon too.”

When those who longed for love were denied it.

When the strongest, purest emotions remained unfulfilled, ability users became demons.

“Don’t make me into a demon. I don’t mind if I’m not first. You understand?”

“That’s my line. Even in this kind of relationship, I won’t have you giving love to anyone else.”

“Such a greedy person.”

“Greed in love isn’t a bad thing if the other person accepts it. Will you accept me?”

“Isn’t it already settled? I said I don’t mind if I’m not first.”

We shared a slight chuckle, meeting each other’s gaze.

“If your love for me cools, I’ll kill you.”

“If you love another man, I won’t let it slide.”

Once more, Harang and I reaffirmed our feelings for each other.

“…Feels like I should be saying this to Baek Seol-hee instead.”

“So what? Baek Seol-hee probably isn’t even awake yet.”

I was talking this way with someone who was Baek Seol-hee but wasn’t. It almost felt like Baek Seol-hee was being NTR’ed by Baek Harang.

‘Clones… Dangerous ability.’

Imagine the real self getting NTR’ed by their own clone.

This made me think I shouldn’t mess with clone abilities.

Especially if someone like Do Chang-nam were to blend into a clone I created—then things would really get out of hand.

Although I spent a long night with Harang, I still have companions and need to move with them.

-Then, I’ll head separately to Seogwipo on my own. We shouldn’t go together.

-How are you planning to get there?

*- Just lend me taxi fare. I’ll pay you back later with interest.

Harang planned to head to Seogwipo on her own.

-A woman taking a taxi alone in Jeju? No way. I’ll arrange a reliable taxi for you, so take that.

-What, are you going to call in some of your subordinates?

-No. I have a more reliable and faster taxi in mind. The Yumir Taxi.

-Ah.

Before she could move on her own, I contacted Yumir.

-So, this is Seol-hee’s duplicate, right?

-Yes, Mir. Be cautious. This duplicate is strong-willed enough to call herself Baek Seol-hee’s younger sister.

-Got it. I’ll see you in Seogwipo then.

Yumir took Harang to Seogwipo, and I headed back to the hotel where the staff was having breakfast and preparing to move to Seogwipo.

“Mr. Do, where were you last night? Enjoying yourself somewhere alone?”

One of the staff members asked me in a sly tone.

Judging by everyone’s expressions, it looked like they each enjoyed Jeju City’s nightlife in their own ways.

Whether it was a cool breeze or a hot one, it differed from person to person.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I had a good time.”

“Oh, with whom?”

“Can’t say, as she threatened me with a magic bullet, saying she’d kill me if I told.”

“Oh, an ability user… I see. Nicely done.”

As long as I kept her identity hidden, there was nothing to worry about.

“You say you have a wife, but I see you’re quite the gentleman who pretends to be a scholar up front while enjoying things behind the scenes.”

“It’s all fine because I had my wife’s permission.”

“…Does your wife…have similar tastes?”

“Yes. I even sent her a video.”

“Huh. Not sure if I should say you have a great wife… Anyway, you had your fun. But there’s one thing you should be careful about.”

The staff lowered his voice and nodded toward a particular woman gathering in the hotel lobby with the others.

“Be cautious around Professor Lisa La. While everyone else went out to enjoy the night, she stayed in her room alone, sipping wine on the balcony and eventually fell asleep.”

“…”

Outwardly, she was the perfect career woman. But imagining her alone last night, gazing at Jeju’s night view while drinking wine, she seemed a bit pitiable.

Of course, that didn’t mean I had any obligation to console her.

She was only an associate and not part of the Secret Society.

‘I could introduce her to someone if she were a Society member.’

Even though she received the Society’s backing, she’s not a member, so there’s nothing I, as Goblin, could do for her.

There’s also no personal connection with her as librarian Do Ji-hwan.

So—

“Oh, Mr. Do. Did you sleep well?”

“…What’s going on?”

“Thanks for this.”

Professor Lisa La approached me, handing me a handkerchief.

She naturally handed back the handkerchief I had given her to wipe the orange juice on the plane, subtly drawing closer. The people around us discreetly started moving away.

“Once we arrive in Seogwipo, the summer session will officially start, so I wanted to tell you now, just in case.”

“What is it you wanted to say?”

“The students are full of youthful energy, and they might cause a lot of incidents. They’re rated A-level, but some of them are adults, and others are still minors. So…”

Professor Lisa La lowered her voice to a whisper, mindful of those around us.

“As a member of the staff and someone teaching these kids, I just want you to consider disciplining them rather than punishing them if they make mistakes that aren’t too serious.”

“…”

Was this some sort of warning?

Maybe it’s the best precaution she could give.

In case the students get into trouble, she seemed to be saying, ‘Don’t just swing your Goblin Bat at them and label it as villain behavior.’

“If they do wrong, they should be punished accordingly.”

“Well, yes, but…”

“However, wouldn’t someone else handle the punishment before I even get a chance?”

I pointed to a woman walking in from the hotel entrance.

“If they cause trouble in Jeju, the Queen of Jeju will be there, throwing tangerine peels in their faces.”

“…Ji Cheonhyang?”

“Hello, staff of Sejong Academy. We’ll be moving to Seogwipo now, so please follow me outside.”

Following Ji Cheonhyang, who personally came to the hotel in Jeju City, we stepped outside.

“We’ll ensure a safe journey.”

“…A tangerine bus?”

A chartered bus adorned with tangerines all over awaited us.

“Uh, Hero Ji Cheonhyang? Are those tangerines just for decoration?”

“Nope. It’s external armor. Bulletproof tangerines.”

“…”

“We’ll get you to Seogwipo safely.”