Is that so? First, I carve words on Meng Wange’s desk, then let her know she isn’t the only choice, and finally, make her repent bitterly before all the students…
‘Hmph, this suits me just fine!’
Despite it being another malicious Bullying Mission, Su Wanli would no longer show mercy as she had before, nor would she try to devise less harmful ways to accomplish it.
Su Wanli silently pursed her lips and turned her head slightly, looking at Meng Wange’s refined and indifferent side profile.
‘…Besides, as the gifted and near-omnipotent girl with the Aura of Main Heroine, Meng Wange doesn’t actually need my mercy, does she?’
‘As the rival Heroine, she should face my various acts of bullying head-on, actively navigate through them, and strive to win a slim chance of survival for herself. From these events, she should gain fame and Reputation, as well as the ability and capital to face the future.’
‘…Who exactly am I performing this self-indulgent act for?’
‘…R-Really! What’s there to be depressed about? Isn’t this the reason I came to this world? The System said from the beginning that my existence is meant to temper the Heroine—to be the stumbling block and touchstone on her path to growth.’
‘Now look at me… This stumbling block is starting to hope the person she trips will remember her fondly, and even hopes to continue being a stumbling block at her feet in the future…’
— “Host, this is because we are currently in the early stages of the Plot. The Heroine, Meng Wange, has not yet entered a larger Stage, so the System’s task arrangements for you appear more frequent. Later on, your acquisition efficiency will not be as high as it is now.” —
Recalling the System’s words, the implication was clear: she would gradually move further away from the main Stage where Meng Wange stood.
Even her qualification to be a stumbling block would be taken over by others until the final Plot arrived, and Meng Wange would once again stand before her to bring down the fires of reckoning…
‘By then, will Meng Wange, having experienced so much more, still remember me? Will her impression of me still be that of the arrogant and self-righteous Eldest Miss of the Su Family who occasionally made a bowl of White Porridge for her?’
‘…Or will only the label “Only Daughter of the Su Family,” which is hardly a compliment, remain in her heart?’
It was truly worrying…
Leaving the Stage wasn’t scary, nor was moving away from Meng Wange’s side. The most terrifying thing was being slowly washed away by time until Meng Wange forgot her existence.
‘At the very least, I hope that my efforts during this time will stay in Meng Wange’s heart a bit longer.’
Regardless of what kind of effort it was.
Actually, if she thought about it, in any literary work, the characters easiest for the protagonist to remember weren’t the worldly experts with deep backgrounds or the intimate friends who constantly offered support.
Instead, it was the Vicious Villains who acted maliciously and used any means necessary, bringing several major crises to the protagonist. Such people were more likely to leave a deep, vivid mark in the protagonist’s heart.
‘”Vicious Villain”—doesn’t that title point exactly to me right now?’
As she thought, the gradually depressing Su Wanli suddenly widened her eyes and snapped out of it.
‘Fight! Maybe my strategy all along has been wrong! If I am indecisive and show mercy to Meng Wange, it will only lead to her forgetting me! That’s right, Su Wanli, let go of those pointless fantasies and get ready—use every cruel method possible to sear your image firmly into Meng Wange’s mind!’
‘Hmph, the first task the System gave me was to carve words on Meng Wange’s desk, right? As soon as she leaves the Classroom again, I’ll immediately go to her seat and personally use a knife to carve some vicious curses and insults in the most conspicuous spot!’
‘So, specifically, what should I carve on her desk?’
Su Wanli couldn’t help but take a deep breath. She rested her forehead on the crook of her arm and turned to look at the brown-haired girl beside her.
The System had mentioned that it should be an insult—words to remind Meng Wange of what posture she should assume as a lowly Maid.
‘But what kind of words can truly insult this proud and righteous Heroine?’
‘”Despicable, shameless, heart and eyes full of schemes, unable to recognize your own position, unable to see through your own future?”‘
Common insults like these sounded more like a description of Su Wanli herself. Forcing them onto Meng Wange’s head would only be self-inflicted humiliation…
‘”A penniless orphan, merely a parasite living off the Su family?”‘
But Meng Wange was the diamond in the rough Su Heng had selected from countless people in a moment of desperation to assist her.
Rather than Meng Wange depending on the Su family, it felt more like the incompetent Su Wanli was depending on the gifted Meng Wange, didn’t it?
Of course, the System’s requirements had always been very loose. Even if she just randomly carved some childish insults like “Meng Wange is an eyesore of an ugly woman” or “An arrogant fool with no self-awareness,” the System would likely consider it a pass.
However, this time, Su Wanli didn’t want to just brush it off like that.
If possible, she wanted to write something that would truly pierce Meng Wange’s heart.
Even if it made Meng Wange loathe her even more, at the very least, she could reclaim the girl’s gaze or occupy a large portion of her heart.
‘…If I am already gradually moving away from Meng Wange’s side and becoming a character on the edge of the Plot, then at least before I leave, I should leave a deep mark in her heart so she can never forget me.’
‘That way, when Meng Wange finishes other story arcs and returns to the Su Residence, I can still say coolly—’
“Yo, that once-tiny Maid has actually grown to this extent. But this is as far as you go.”
‘Instead of screaming hysterically while facing Meng Wange’s lost and confused eyes.’
‘Yes, compared to Meng Wange’s confusion and bewilderment, that kind of hateful gaze is much more…’
‘No!! I really can’t do it!!’
‘I don’t want to be hated by Meng Wange for years or even decades! I’ll just complete the Villainess Task to the minimum requirement!! Meng Wange has such a good memory; even if I’m not by her side for many years, she’ll definitely remember me!!’
‘Even if there’s a slight possibility she might forget, then… then I can just write Meng Wange a few letters for no reason! The content can just be some baseless insults and provocations!’
‘On one hand, I can continue to maintain my Villainess Persona, and on the other, I can make sure Meng Wange always remembers my existence. It’s a win-win approach!’
‘But that’s not quite right either. I’m clearly the Final Boss—the System also said I would be the Final Boss—so I have to maintain my status as much as possible. I don’t want to become some insignificant minor lackey in Meng Wange’s eyes…’
‘Dammit, this isn’t right, that isn’t right either… What on earth am I supposed to do!!!’
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