Mad Dog Protecting the Fox

by Outsider · 2026-09-06

Lunchtime. The cafeteria was as noisy as a battlefield.

I piled my tray high with rice and a mountain of Jeyuk-bokkeum and was eating.

Lee Min-ji: Seol-ah, you really eat well.

Female Student 2: But why don't you gain weight? It's unfair.

Min-ji and her friends looked at me enviously.

I mumbled in response.

Seol-ah: It's because my basal metabolic rate is high. If you guys run at 5 AM, you'll be like this too.

Lee Min-ji: Ugh, no way.

In the friendly atmosphere, my gaze kept drifting to the corner table.

Baek Yu-ri. She was picking at her food.

She's already thin, but her face looks half-gone these days.

And in front of her were... the 'wannabe bullies' from the next class. Park Hye-jin and Kim So-young's group were sitting there.

Park Hye-jin: Hey, Yu-ri. Did you buy the new items this season?

Female student 1: Let's go to a pool villa this weekend. You'll make the reservation, right?

Park Hye-jin picked sausages from Yu-ri's tray and cackled.

Yu-ri forced a smile and nodded.

Yu-ri: Uh... yeah. Okay.

Her expression is rotten. She acts so haughty at home, but at school, she's a complete pushover.

She should clean up her own mess (being a pushover), but she doesn't even seem to have the strength to clean it up now.

'That idiot.'

I put down my chopsticks with a clatter.

I've watched for the past two months.

Yu-ri didn't bother me.

Instead, when I came back from exercising, she'd casually leave a water bottle on the table, or subtly change the subject when my stepmother started nagging.

We shared ramen on Christmas, she brought me ginger tea, and bought me a dress, telling me to just hang it in the closet.

Conclusion: Baek Yu-ri isn't a bad person; she's just a scaredy-cat pretending to be tough.

Seol-ah: Min-ji.

Lee Min-ji: Huh?

Seol-ah: I'm leaving first.

I stood up abruptly, holding my tray.

Lee Min-ji: Huh? Hey! You still have meat left! Seol-ah, where are you going!

Min-ji called out in shock, but I didn't look back.

Leaving leftovers was a great sin in Kim Cheol-su's life, but right now, I saw trash that needed to be dealt with more than leftovers.

I returned my tray and headed to the convenience store.

Clunk. I pulled out a cold can of coffee from the vending machine.

I wasn't just going to drink it. This was an excellent [throwing weapon].

I put my hands in my pockets and followed Park Hye-jin's group as they left the cafeteria, and Yu-ri, who was trailing behind them weakly.

The direction was behind the gym. A blind spot for CCTV. The standard location for school violence.

Behind the gym, behind the wall of an old storage shed.

I held my breath and watched the situation.

Park Hye-jin: Hey, Baek Yu-ri. You've been a bit stiff lately, haven't you?

Park Hye-jin, who was the leader, poked Yu-ri's shoulder.

Kim So-young, who was next to her, was rummaging through Yu-ri's bag.

Kim So-young: Why didn't you bring the bag I asked to borrow? Did you forget?

Yu-ri: No... Mom said I couldn't because she cherishes it. I brought something else.

Kim So-young: Ha, your mom's excuse. Hey, isn't your dad not your biological dad?

Flustered.

Yu-ri's face turned pale.

They're crossing the line, those guys.

Yu-ri: ...Don't talk about that.

Kim So-young: Why? Does it sting? Hey, honestly, everyone knows you're treated like a cold meal at your house. Your sister said it's true, didn't she?

Park Hye-jin snickered.

Finally, my story comes out.

Park Hye-jin: That idiot... Oh, no. That sick sister? I heard she's on her last legs. Hey, if she dies, won't all that inheritance be yours? Then you can spend some of it on us. Think of it as an advance.

Crunch.

The can of coffee in my hand crumpled.

Yu-ri was trembling, her fists clenched tightly.

She looked like she was biting her lip so hard it might bleed, but she couldn't talk back.

If she talked back here, she would be kicked out of the 'group' she barely maintained and become completely alone again.

She was enduring it because she was afraid of that loneliness. Foolishly.

Afraid of the Christmas she spent sitting alone with the tree lit.

Park Hye-jin: Say something. Are you mute? Did your heart stop like your sister's?

The moment Park Hye-jin raised her hand to flick Yu-ri's forehead.

Clang!!!

Something stuck into the cement floor right next to Park Hye-jin's feet.

It was a crushed can of coffee.

The brown liquid inside splattered, soaking Hye-jin's white socks.

Park Hye-jin: Ugh! What the fuck!

Park Hye-jin and her group looked back in shock.

I slowly walked out from behind the wall.

Pushing up my horn-rimmed glasses with my index finger.

Seol-ah: Oh, sorry. My hand was sweaty and it slipped.

Yu-ri: ……?!

Yu-ri's eyes widened like saucers.

Yu-ri: ……Baek Seol-ah?

Park Hye-jin frowned and scanned me from head to toe.

My baggy uniform, my unfashionable glasses. Perhaps I looked like an easy target, as her expression immediately turned hostile.

Park Hye-jin: What is this loser? Hey, why are you here? Are you crazy? Get lost.

The bullies must still think I'm the 'sickly invisible girl' from first grade.

Well, I have been cosplaying as a study-only nerd at school for the past month.

I chuckled and walked closer.

Stomp, stomp.

Seol-ah: A loser? That's hurtful. I'm perfectly fine, actually?

I stood in front of Yu-ri, shielding her behind me.

And met Park Hye-jin's eyes directly.

Thanks to my winter break special training, I was a bit taller. My gaze was angled downwards.

Seol-ah: Hey, I heard you guys talking about me. I don't care if you talk trash about me.

I took another step closer.

Park Hye-jin instinctively flinched and backed away.

My gaze. Through my horn-rimmed glasses, I slightly unleashed the 'killing intent' that used to stare down opponents in the ring as if to devour them.

Seol-ah: But dissing my parents is a bit much, isn't it? It's not like you're trying to show off that you're self-taught in manners.

Park Hye-jin: W-what? You crazy bitch!

Park Hye-jin, in a fit of anger, raised her hand.

It looked like she was about to slap my cheek.

Behind me, Yu-ri screamed.

Yuri: Unnie! Are you crazy? They're bullies!

Oh, so it's "unnie" when you're in a hurry. Excellent.

Of course, I didn't dodge. Instead, I pushed my face forward.

Seol-ah: Hit me.

Park Hye-jin: ...Huh?

Park Hye-jin's hand stopped in mid-air.

She hesitated because even though I was offering my face to be slapped, my eyes weren't smiling.

I rolled my eyes (this was 100% an act of madness) and whispered lowly.

Seol-ah: You know I have a heart condition, right? You just said it yourselves. That I'm on my last legs.

I tapped my chest.

Seol-ah: You know it stopped three times last year, right? One little tap and I could just drop dead. Then you'd be a murderer. It would be plastered all over the front page of the news, wouldn't it? 'High school delinquent beats sickly classmate to death'... Wow, what a killer headline. Right?

Park Hye-jin: ...!!

Park Hye-jin's face turned pale.

She wanted to hit me, but she couldn't.

If I really collapsed and was taken away by an ambulance, her life would be over.

This is the ultimate defense using [frailty].

Seol-ah: Why? Can't hit me? Scared?

I leaned into Park Hye-jin's ear and whispered in the cheapest, most chilling tone I used to use on the thugs who came to cause trouble at the gym back in my Kim Cheol-su days.

Seol-ah: So, back off, kid. If you ever touch my sister again—

I just smirked, a grin playing on my lips.

Seol-ah: Even if I die of a heart attack, I'll come back as a ghost, grab your hair, and drag you to hell with me. Got it?

Park Hye-jin froze.

Her legs were visibly trembling.

The minions around her also backed away in fear.

This wasn't the 'meek pushover Seol-ah' they knew.

This was a 'mad dog with bloodshot eyes.'

Seol-ah: Let's go, Yu-ri.

I snatched Yu-ri's wrist, who was standing there blankly.

And walked away without looking back.

Behind me, Park Hye-jin tried to save face,

Park Hye-jin: Hey! Stop right there! Damn it!

she yelled, but her voice was trembling like a goat.

I didn't look back and coolly responded by raising my left hand.

With my middle finger. (Of course, not above my head, but slightly below my shoulder. Because I'm a dignified daughter of a chaebol family.)

It wasn't until we reached the bench behind the building that I let go of Yu-ri's hand.

Yu-ri was staring at me with a dazed expression.

Yuri.: ...You.

Seol-ah: Oh.

Yu-ri: Are you crazy?

Is that your first word?

Seol-ah: Yes, I'm crazy. Anyone would go crazy if someone bothered them when they were minding their own business.

Yu-ri: No, do you know who they are... Their dad is on the school board... What if they tell Mom!

Yu-ri was on the verge of tears.

Not out of fear, but because things might escalate because of me, and out of injustice and anger.

I pulled another sports drink from the vending machine and pressed it against Yu-ri's cheek.

Yu-ri: Ow, cold!

Yu-ri flinched as the cold can touched her.

Seol-ah: School board or whatever. You're Baek Do-hoon's daughter. What do you have to be ashamed of?

Yu-ri: ...Still.

Seol-ah: And, they're not your friends.

At my words, Yu-ri bit her lip tightly.

A tear fell.

Yu-ri: ...I know. I know, but... I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be an outcast like you...

Ah, this fool.

She was afraid of loneliness, didn't want to be alone, so she endured that humiliation and volunteered to be a pushover.

I sighed and plopped down on the bench.

I crossed my legs and looked up at the sky once.

Seol-ah: Hey, Baek Yu-ri.

Yu-ri: ...

Seol-ah: What's wrong with being an outcast? And you're not an outcast anymore.

Yu-ri wiped her tears and looked at me.

Seol-ah: You have me.

I popped open the can and handed it to her.

Seol-ah: If you're bored from now on, play with me. Don't spend money on those cheapskates, go to good restaurants with me. I'll even make you ramen.

Yu-ri stared at me for a long time, then took the drink.

She sniffled and mumbled in a very small voice.

Yu-ri: ...You're annoying.

But the corners of her mouth were turned up.

She finally smiled, my foxy little sister.

Seol-ah: Yes, I'm annoying. But I'm a little reliable, right?

Yu-ri: ……Nyah nyah.

That afternoon. Fifth period break time.

Park Hye-jin's gang came to our class again, but Yu-ri no longer paid attention to Park Hye-jin.

Instead, when Park Hye-jin glared at her, she turned her head away.

And during the break, she quietly came to my seat and dropped a bag of jelly on my desk before leaving.

No note, no words.

I picked up the bag of jelly and chuckled.

[System: Your younger sister 'Baek Yu-ri' has joined the party.]

[Title acquired: Mad Dog Protecting the Fox]

School life, it's about to get interesting, isn't it?

Exactly one week after I thought that.

Our class's loudspeaker appeared in front of me.

Kim Se-rin: Ah, seriously! Baek Seol-ah, aren't you going to take that off?