What’s up Nerds!
Out of all of the types of villains I’ve read in romance isekai webcomics, female lead becoming the true villain is my absolute favorite. Most webcomics and webtoons are adapted from Korean light novels. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can find a translated version of the story on a blog. So as I have been reading various stories the ones that have left lasting impressions are the ones where the apparent female lead actually turns out to be sneaky and conniving. Here are three characteristics of the real villain.
She is usually characterized as a Saint
I’m going to give this character a name just to keep from having to say female lead the whole time. So let’s call her Ava. Ava (the original female lead) is a Saint. She may have holy powers or she may just be a “saint-like” person. Someone who gives and aids the poor and the children. She is usually dressed in light colors to represent purity. She speaks softly and laughs at all the male leads jokes. She also tends to believe to be right about most topics or issues. If she’s not right about it, she will have other people that will defend her and her plight. Ava is just living in her perfect world with all attention on her.
She’ll try to befriend and then ignore the real Female Lead
When the FL comes onto the scene, Ava will react with either surprise or joy. She’ll try to befriend the FL as an attempt to teach her the ropes. She try to include her at her events or on her excursions. It will be during one of these encounters that Ava will slowly begin to reveal her true nature. She’ll make backhand compliments at an attempt to support the female lead. She’ll also explain to others who may have status that the female lead doesn’t know what she’s doing. The female lead will pick up on this change and may even confront Ava. Ava using her naivete to her advantage will feign ignorance or just cry. And we all know if Ava starts crying the male leads will come running. Ava knows how to work a situation to her favor, just like a villain would.
Her true colors are showing and she doesn’t care who sees
Now we’ve gotten to the good part. The Female Lead knows Ava is pretending to be a Saint. Ava isn’t trying to hide it in front of the female lead, because she knows the male leads will come to here even if the FL is with them. This is seen a lot when the female lead reincarnates as a villain. Ava will then begin to plan how to get rid of the female lead and will employ someone who is willing to do the dirty work. The female lead at this point is slowly but surely making her way into the male lead’s heart. This is also when he starts to change and not dote on Ava but spend more time with the female leads. I love when a story arrives at here. Ava is slowly going crazy with jealousy, rage, and deceit which is then compared to the soft, loyal nature of the female lead. There’ll be an attempt on the Fl’s life, and then the ML will swoop in to save her. Then naturally, Ava has a break down and then her true colors are revealed to the world!
I think the first time I read a romance like this I was genuinely surprised the “saint” character was acting so opposite of what she was described. I knew there had to be a villain but I just didn’t think it would be the orignal FL. But I love this trope because it gives such a great dissent into madness or villainy. As we see the FL gradually improve her reputation to avoid the book’s fate, we see the saint deviate further and further from her character. This is what creates great stories. Usurp my expectations and leave me craving for more!
What’s your favorite trope in webcomics or light novels? Let me know in the comments below! Keep Nerding Out!
