VDN Ch 189 (Complete)

Marriage and family. He never thought he would hear words that felt so distant from him in this place. The idea of marrying Seo-oh? It sounded absurd, but for some reason, Nam-woon couldn’t laugh it off. Because Seo-oh’s face, as he looked at him, was more serious than ever. But suddenly, he remembered the forgotten things buried deep in his heart. 

A life without loneliness. A life with family.

A hope that even someone as insignificant as him might have someone who loved him somewhere.

All of it had been nothing more than a simple wish. To him, hope was like a sandcastle that crumbled even in shallow waves.

But that wish had become reality, thanks to none other than Seo-oh.

When Nam-woon blinked and remained silent, Seo-oh moved a little closer with an anxious expression. The fingers touching the back of Nam-woon’s hand trembled slightly. Nam-woon’s gaze suddenly shifted downward. There was a luxurious-looking ring on his rough, work-worn hand. Seo-oh had told him it suited him well, but to Nam-woon, it didn’t seem that way at all. Compared to the clean and shiny ring, his hand looked shabby and unsightly.

Embarrassed, Nam-woon tried to pull his hand back, but Seo-oh narrowed his brows and stopped him.

“Why?”

“It’s just… I don’t think this ring really suits me.”

“…You don’t like it?”

“No, that’s not it at all—!”

Nam-woon hurriedly shook his head, seeing Seo-oh’s dejected expression. How could I not like it?

“It’s pretty. It really is… just maybe not on my hands…”

Nam-woon’s voice trailed off as he fumbled for words. Seo-oh, watching quietly, gently adjusted the hand he was holding.

“To me, you’re the most beautiful and precious thing, more than anything like this.”

You’re the first thing in my life.

The last words sank deep into Nam-woon’s chest. At the same time, a quiet ache began to spread from the very bottom of his heart. It felt like a rush of warm water pouring over him. He bit down hard on his lip, trying to hold back the wave of emotion but in the end, he couldn’t stop himself from bowing his head.

Drip. Drip.

One by one, droplets fell onto the dry skin of his hand. Startled, Seo-oh slipped his face under Nam-woon’s, lifting his chin to look at him closely.

“Hyung?”

“……”

“Hyung, are you crying?”

“…Hngh.”

Nam-woon bit his lip hard to muffle the sound. Why am I suddenly like this? It’s so embarrassing.

Even he didn’t understand why the tears had come out of nowhere. He just remembered too many memories from long ago, from before he even came here, from when he was still a small child.

In the place he used to live, he always curled up and slept alone in a cold corner of the room. No matter how much he curled up, he couldn’t get warm. He just felt empty, which made him a little sad. He thought he would live his whole life in a cold room, never feeling warmth, without ever knowing what human warmth was.

But now…

“Nam-woon hyung… why are you crying? Look up, please?”

This kind and beautiful person was saying that he liked him and that he wanted him to be a part of his family. The reality before his eyes felt unbelievable, and he feared that if he opened his eyes, everything would vanish, leaving him alone in that cold room again. So, Nam-woon just kept his eyes tightly shut, letting tears fall silently.

Seo-oh, unsure of what to do, gently hugged Nam-woon’s shoulders. With affectionate hands, he stroked his nape and tousled hair, offering him comfort.

“Hyung. Are you crying because you’re happy, or are you crying because you’re sad? Just let me know that.”

“Haha…!”

At that, Nam-woon laughed through his tears. He sniffled, barely swallowed, and opened his mouth.

“You idiot. Obviously the first one…haha…”

Seo-oh had always been the one to approach him first. He was the one who protected him when he fell from the edge of a cliff, the one who confessed his love first, and the one who reached out to him to be in his family. So this time, it was his turn to muster up courage.

Nam-woon lifted his head and opened his closed eyes. Seo-oh was still in front of him, his face looking as beautiful as ever. His anxious expression was very lovely. He slowly held the large body in his embrace, and for the first time in his life, he confessed his feelings to someone.

“I like you.”

“……”

“I like you, Seo-oh.”

As soon as the words left his lips, the arms around his shoulders and waist tightened. Their hearts pounded against each other’s chests, their rhythms blending into one. It was a deep, warm sound.

This wasn’t a dream. He wasn’t alone anymore.

I have a family now.

Nam-woon hugged Seo-oh even tighter, his cheeks soaked with tears. An indescribable sense of fullness rose within him, spreading from his body to the tips of his toes.

How long had they been standing like this? Suddenly, glowing letters appeared before his eyes.

[Congratulations! You have gained experience points!]

[Am I a married man now? Proposal (received) +20]

[You have filled 100% of the experience points and leveled up! Kwon Seo-oh’s level will be automatically upgraded.]

[Your understanding level of Kwon Seo-oh is now 5.]

[Congratulations! You will receive a reward for reaching the max level!]]  

He quickly wiped his wet eyes on Seo-oh’s clothes and raised his head. Only then did he properly see the colorful letters floating in the air. Nam-woon’s moist eyes widened in surprise.

[Reward 1: Role fulfillment will permanently end. Live a free life unbound by roles!]

[Reward 2: The system will enter sleep mode indefinitely. If you need it, simply call out “Status window” a hundred times to stop sleep mode (note: only the chat function will be available).]

[Reward 3: The operation of the taiyaki pheromones (red bean/cream) will stabilize. Adaptability to the Omega world will increase.]

Finally, the things Nam-woon had been wishing for appeared in the reward details. How long he had yearned for these functions… although Reward 3 was an exception.

Hmm, the second reward might be a bit disappointing…?

Even as he unconsciously entertained wild thoughts, the system notifications continued.

[Furthermore, you have achieved your first confession, Seok Nam-woon. As a reward, you will receive fireworks, flower petals, and a ticket to return to your original world.]

Surprised by the last reward, Nam-woon suddenly lifted his head. Why was he being given a ticket to return in this situation? Was the system somehow reading his disbelief? It responded immediately.

[This was chosen as the final reward because it was something you wished for when you first arrived here, Seok Nam-woon.]

[Please answer carefully, as what you choose cannot be undone.]

[Do you wish to return to your original world?]

Nam-woon stared intently at the glowing letters. If it had been when he first arrived, he would have chosen his original world without a second thought. There, he had a store he had worked hard to build his entire life, and there were people who cared for him in their own ways. 

But it was different now. Everything he cherished deeply was here.

“I will stay here with Seo-oh.”

“Me too.”

But that last word wasn’t his. Just as the startled Nam-woon lowered his gaze, the system launched a dazzling burst of fireworks above them, scattering pink flower petals through the air. Amid the beautiful scene, Seo-oh looked at Nam-woon with a happy smile. Soon, their noses gently touched. Smiling as brightly as he could, Nam-woon laughed along with the one he loved.

It really was a special day, just like Seo-oh had said.

***

The following spring.

Nam-woon tossed and turned in discomfort. Something heavy was weighing down his body. When he opened his eyes slightly, a firm chest was right in front of his nose. Nam-woon turned his back, trying to escape the body that was squeezing him. Then, thick arms wrapped around his upper body.

“Where are you going…”

A sleepy voice whispered in his ear. Nam-woon furrowed his brow and twisted his body.

“We need to get up now. Today…”

Nam-woon, who had been answering unconsciously, opened his eyes wide in surprise at his own words. Then
He looked for his cell phone.

“What time is it?”

He spotted his phone rolling across the floor and hurriedly got up. However, a pain shot through his waist, causing him to collapse back onto the blanket with a groan of pain. Seo-oh straightened his upper body at his cry.

“Are you okay?”

Nam-woon rubbed his tailbone and crawled on the floor to pick up his phone, checking the time.

“Hey, it’s ten o’clock!”

“Ten o’clock?”

Seo-oh came to his senses only then and got up from the blanket. Naturally, his naked body was revealed. Seo-oh looked at Nam-woon’s expression as if embarrassed, picked up the blanket and covered his body, and started to clean up the condoms that had fallen around. Nam-woon grumbled as he watched him.

“That’s why I told you to hold back. I knew this would happen.”

“You came out of the shower naked! You just wandering around in front of me like that.”

“Ah, what was I supposed to do? I forgot to grab my underwear! And what did you say? You promised to only do it one time, but how many times did you… Ugh, never mind.”

Fighting like this wouldn’t get them anywhere. While Seo-oh tidied up the messed-up bedding, Nam-woon hurriedly rushed to the bathroom. 

“I’ll wash up first!”

He turned on the faucet and splashed water on his head. Time was of the essence.

The reason they were in such a rush was that there was a baseball game at Se-han’s school today. It was a friendly match against Mugwon Elementary, the school they had previously played against at the apartment playground, and it was Se-han’s first time pitching. Nam-woon had no doubt that today would be a very historic day.

As they hurried to the school, many people were already sitting in the stands of the playground. After greeting Min-chan’s father, who had arrived early, Nam-woon and Seo-oh took a seat next to him. Min-chan’s father was setting up a large camera for Mr. Kwon Sang-moon and the parents of Goham Elementary, who couldn’t attend today.

After helping him with the camera, Nam-woon anxiously looked toward the mound and asked, 

“Do you think he’ll do well?”

“Of course, whose younger brother is he?”

Seo-oh replied confidently without batting an eye, and Nam-woon couldn’t help but chuckle. Seo-oh glanced at him and started talking nonsense again.

“Hyung, did you know when people go to the baseball stadium, they show couples on the big screen?” 

“……”

“Should we go to the baseball stadium later? If we’re lucky, we might even get caught on the big screen.

“……”

Based on past experiences, he knew the best response to such questions was to pretend not to hear them. Answering each one would lead to an endless cycle of questions, and if he accidentally said something wrong, he would have to face Seo-oh’s cold glare all day. Nam-woon shook his legs nervously, hoping Se-han would come out soon. 

Kwon Se-han… my future brother-in-law. Hurry up and come out. That way, your brother can keep his mouth shut. 

“Then are you going to kiss me first?” 

“……”

“Or should I do it first?” 

“Hey… be quiet. There’s someone next to us…” 

Min-chan’s father is right there. 

Nam-woon gave a warning glance, poking Seo-oh’s thigh playfully. But Seo-oh seemed displeased, his eyes widening sharply. 

“Just answer me. Is it that you don’t want to go first, or do you just not want to be seen doing it in a place like that?”

“Haa…” 

“What is it? Why aren’t you answering?” 

“Fine, I’ll do it first!” 

“What will you do?” 

“Kiss! I’ll do it first!” 

The shout he let out in anger drew the attention of those around him. Oh no. Nam-woon clamped his mouth shut with a pale face. Seo-oh, unaware, twitched his lips in amusement. 

He listened with a reddened face as Min-chan’s uncle cleared his throat with a cough, but Seo-oh, whose mood quickly brightened, rubbed his forehead against the back of Nam-woon’s neck in a cute gesture.

Ugh. I’m getting older by the day, really. 

But at the same time, he’s cute. Nam-woon affectionately ruffled the fluffy hair of the golden retriever-like Seo-oh. 

At that moment, a group of children walked out from the corner of the playground. The children nearby started shouting. The two of them smiled brightly when they found Se-han with a serious face among the children. Then, they tried to cheer him on, but cheers poured out from here and there.

“Kwon Se-han, fighting!” 

“He’s so handsome!” 

Nam-woon, with eyes wide like a rabbit’s, turned to look at Seo-oh.

“Hey, why is Se-han so popular?” 

“Whose younger brother is he?”

Nam-woon chuckled at Seo-oh, who was saying the same words as before with a natural expression. It felt like just yesterday Se-han had been kidnapped into the office, crying, and now here he was, standing confidently in the middle of the baseball field, receiving cheers from his friends, filling Nam-woon with pride.

As Se-han spoke seriously to his teammates, Nam-woon couldn’t help but feel tense alongside him. Finally, Se-han’s first game as a starting pitcher had begun.

“Strike!”

Sweat dripped from his hands. Hoo… Se-han took a deep breath as he stared at the batter in front of him. That was already the second out. If he could just throw well this time, the opposing player would be out, and our team would win.

There were many pitches he threw haphazardly because he was nervous. But he was finally on the verge of victory. Se-han pressed his lips together tightly and threw the ball with all his might. Whoosh! The ball left his small hand and soared through the air at high speed. The ball flew like an arrow and soon landed perfectly into the glove of the catcher.

“Strike! Batter out! Goham wins!”

Se-han’s eyes grew wide as if they were going to pop out. Finally, all the players from Goham rushed toward Se-han, who was standing on the mound, shouting in victory.

“Wowww!”

“Ahhh!”

At that moment, Se-han truly felt the victory as he jumped up and down with his friends. They were hugging each other and celebrating their victory when suddenly a grown man joined their cheers. The man hugged all the children and jumped up and down.

“Victory!”

A boy who had carelessly turned his head was startled and shouted, “Ah, you scared me! I thought you were the coach! Who are you?”

“Me? I’m Se-han’s Hyung.”

The man grinned widely, revealing his white teeth like a fool. Se-han’s face lit up with joy upon recognizing him.

“Wooni Hyung!”

“Se-han!”

They then hugged each other, laughing and creating a commotion. Ah well, who cares? The boy next to them also joined in, hugging them and fully enjoying the victory.

A little while later, as the excitement began to settle, another man approached from behind.

“Se-han, you did great.”

“Hyung!”

Se-han dashed over to Seo-oh and fell into the man’s embrace. Just then, a voice called out to Se-han from behind.

“Se-han! The coach said to gather for a moment!”

“Okay! Hyungs, wait here.”

With a cheerful voice, Se-han immediately ran straight toward his team. Today, Dad couldn’t come because of a hospital appointment, but instead, his Hyungs came. He was so happy to be able to show off how cool he looked! His face was filled with joy.

As Se-han hurried to where his friends were gathered, the coach in charge of the game was praising them for their victory. After listening attentively, Se-han turned back toward his Hyungs, but someone stopped him. It was Ji-hyung, a new friend he had made in third grade.

Ji-hyung pointed to Se-han’s older brothers with his finger and asked.

“Se-han.”

“Yes?”

“Is that guy with the black hair your real brother?”

His friend’s finger was pointing at Seo-oh. Se-han nodded.

“Then what about that guy?”

Ji-hyung’s finger now pointed at Nam-woon.

“He was also there last time during the practice game. You guys don’t look much alike. What’s your relationship?”

At those words, Se-han glanced over at his Hyungs, who were talking in the distance. They were cool, charming older brothers that made him feel proud. They were so handsome that the adults around them kept stealing glances at them. Nam-woon was laughing as he tousled Seo-oh’s hair with a rough but affectionate hand. Se-han’s face flashed when he saw that.

Se-han turned back to his friend. The child’s large eyes sparkled and shined, and his pale cheeks puffed out, showing a cute smile.

“We’re family!”

Se-han ran excitedly and threw himself into the arms of his Hyungs. Warm sunlight settled down upon the heads of the three brightly smiling people.

<The end of “The Villain Doesn’t Want to be Noticed.”>