HVG Ch 12

Episode 12

That was when it happened.

Ding—

<Rest is the best medicine! (´｡• ᵕ •｡`)>

—Chorangi is worried about you and feels very anxious. Shouldn’t you set an example by going to bed early for the child’s sake? Come on, let’s get some rest!

Reward: 100 points

Failure penalty: -50,000 points

Time remaining: 90 minutes (89:49)

“…Hey, cut it out already.”

A measly 100 points as a reward, and now it was threatening him with a 50,000-point penalty? That was the equivalent of having to kill over a hundred monsters. What kind of scam is this?

Muttering complaints under his breath, he splashed cold water on his face and looked into the mirror. As the heat slowly faded from his cheeks, a series of sentences rose to the surface of his mind.

“Ha… If it’s those incidents…”

Whenever the time neared for “Seo Haewon” to commit another atrocity in <The Strongest Villain in the World>, Haewon grew especially anxious.

He had already memorized the sequence of misdeeds committed by “Seo Haewon.” He had managed to avoid a few of them. But if asked whether he could avoid the major incidents… That, he didn’t know.

Of course, the text during that particular arc hadn’t been especially detailed. It had simply listed the “incidents,” excluding any kind of build-up or resolution.

20XX, February 8th. A great upheaval occurs.

Because of Seo Haewon’s misdeeds, the first victim emerges.

Because of Seo Haewon’s misdeeds, the second victim emerges.

Because of Seo Haewon’s misdeeds, the number of victims among the mages increased.

Because of Seo Haewon’s misdeeds, Operation Basilisk ended in failure and resulted in countless casualties.

Because of Seo Haewon’s misdeeds, □□ collapsed.

Because of Seo Haewon’s misdeeds, Korea was unable to perform well.

Because of Seo Haewon’s misdeeds, Korea ended up losing □□□ to another country.

The incidents were described just like that, so even Haewon didn’t know the specifics of what “Seo Haewon” had done. But whenever one of those events approached, an overwhelming sense of anxiety gripped him, leaving him unable to steady his mind or body. It felt like he had to do something, as if there was something he absolutely needed to witness.

“Damn it, this is such bullshit. What the hell is this?”

<You’ve only just begun to repent! Bad language like that is forbidden, because Chorangi might pick it up. (´｡• ᵕ •｡`)>

“You little…”

Haewon lifted his head quickly when he heard the sound of soft footsteps running toward him. He caught Chorangi in his arms just as the child flung himself at him. Looking at his thin arms clinging tightly to him, Haewon rubbed his head.

“Chorangi, did you come because you were worried about Hyung? Aw, you’re so sweet. Want to spend all day with Hyung tomorrow? Hyung’s probably going to need to rest, though.”

“Yes”

“You only answer properly at times like this, huh?”

“Answer properly, huh?”

He patted his small back as they left the bathroom.

Knock knock—

A knocking sound echoed from beyond the old wooden door. Haewon froze and turned his head slightly to glance up at the small window. It was the dead of night, pitch black outside. No, just a little more time and dawn would break. But at this hour, who could it be…?   

Knock knock—

“Who is it…? Hyung?”

After gently placing Chorangi on the bed and pulling the blanket up to his chin, Haewon walked over to the door. As he opened the old, hole-riddled door, a long shadow stretched into the room. Haewon’s expression shifted into one of confusion the moment he saw who it was.  

Because the person standing there, hunched over like a bear, was Eom Hyungwoo.

“Uh… what was it again, Hyungwoo?”

“Haha, Hyung… I know I don’t have much presence, but still, hearing it like that kinda hurts, you know.”

Eom Hyungwoo smiled, showing his neatly aligned teeth, and scratched the back of his head as he replied.

“You’re Eom Hyungwoo, aren’t you?”

“I am. But you asking it like a question still stings. I guess it happens.”

“Uh… Yeah, sorry…?”

When Haewon apologized with a vaguely confused look, Hyungwoo softened his sharp eyes a bit and looked at him.

“It’s nothing much. Hyung didn’t get to eat today, right? Sleeping on an empty stomach is rough, you know? So, here, just take this.”

He pushed out the tray he was holding. On top of the wooden tray was a neatly prepared meal. Only then did the sweet scent hit Haewon’s nose.

“The new recruits were kicking their blankets, saying they were hungry. They were about to start a protest or something, so I handed these out to calm them down. It’s all because they’re losing muscle mass! Protesting just wastes time. They’re too young to understand that. So I figured I’d give you one too while I was at it, Hyung.”

“…You’re still young too, though.”

It was a soft sandwich packed with fluffy eggs and ham, something he normally wouldn’t even dream of eating here. For a place like this, food that fancy could only mean one thing.

“This must’ve been expensive to buy from the shop with your own points… It costs over a thousand points for one, right?”

“Hyung, I’ve got plenty of points! No need to worry!”

“……”

Is he a pushover too…?

From what Seo Haewon remembered, there were at least ten new recruits. That meant Hyungwoo had used up his own points to buy food for all of them and handed it out.

What kind of person even does that?

Haewon stared at Eom Hyungwoo for a moment before hearing a rustling noise from behind. He decided to let him in for now.

“Uh… Come on in. I’ll just call you Hyungwoo, if that’s okay.”

“Then, can I eat my chicken breast in here too?”

“Uh… Sure?”

“Hehe, thank you! People always complain they lose their appetite when they see me eat chicken breast.”

Eom Hyungwoo glanced down the hallway with hawk-like eyes before quickly stepping inside and closing the door. It looked like he must’ve just washed up; his usually neatly slicked-back bangs were now loosely hanging over his forehead. As he casually ran a hand through his hair, he walked in a few steps, only to lock eyes with the child peeking out from under the blanket.

“Whoa… That’s a Jangsanbeom, isn’t it, Hyung?”

“Yeah. But he’s still just a cub. No aggression, so don’t worry.”

Chorangi blinked at him, and as the smell of food hit his nose, his nostrils twitched slightly. He began to slowly rise, inching toward the blanket’s edge. Haewon chuckled and called him over.

“Chorangi, come here.”

“Come here.”

“You’re supposed to say ‘yes.’”

“Yes.”

“Do you want a sandwich?”

“Yes!”

Chorangi threw off the blanket and scampered over, grabbing the hem of Haewon’s shirt and hiding behind him. His nose crinkled slightly as if wary of the unfamiliar person.

“A Jangsanbeom can mimic human form? Whoa… That’s amazing. My golem couldn’t do that.”

“It’s just a different trait. Golems can still morph their form, right? There’s only the floor to sit on, but do you want to have a seat anyway?”

Eom Hyungwoo, who had been watching Chorangi with shining eyes, plopped down on the floor without hesitation. Almost lying flat as he leaned forward, he watched the blinking child closely, then gently placed the tray on the floor and pushed it forward like he was trying to lure him.

“Chorangi, say thank you to the Hyung here. Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

“How does he mimic speech like that? I heard they can perfectly copy human voices too.  I’m actually super interested in classic yokai and stuff. I got my golem by desperately pouring stat points into it, hoping for a gym bro who could do 3-lift 500^[1] with me. Thank god it worked. If it hadn’t… Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it.”

“You must really like working out.”

“It’s the joy of my life, hehe. Honestly, I was short until the second year of middle school. I got teased a lot, even bullied. But then in the third year, I shot up like crazy! I thought it was a divine sign from my ancestors. So I started working out, just to crush the guys who used to bully me and show them up.”  

“So, did you win?”

“After a year and a half of training, I crushed them with a 3-lift 500! Ahh, just thinking about it makes me feel like an Olympic gold medalist.”

“Must’ve felt great. Not many people can do a 3-lift 500.”

Answering more out of courtesy than real interest, Haewon picked up the still-warm sandwich. He carefully handed it to Chorangi so the filling wouldn’t fall out and pretended to blow on it. But Chorangi immediately held it out toward Haewon instead.

“You want Hyung to take a bite first?”

“Yes.”

Aw, what a good kid. Haewon took a big bite of the sandwich and handed it back. Only then did Chorangi start nibbling along the edge where Haewon had bitten, and before long, he was munching away at it enthusiastically.

“Thanks for the food, Hyungwoo. You didn’t have to take care of me too.”

“If you’re thankful, how about we do a chicken breast day together sometime? Oh, and if the newbies start up that protest thing again, can you help talk them down? Seriously, I don’t get why they think that’s a good idea. It’s just exhausting. That’s actually why I left my last guild. We split like crack crack from nonstop protesting.”

“Still, with your skills, I’m sure plenty of guilds would’ve wanted you. Why’d you come here?”

“Oh, actually, there’s this Hyung I know who wanted me in his guild, but that place was just… too intense? Like, super hardcore. So I figured I’d go somewhere more laid-back and ended up here. I just got settled in, so I don’t want another round of everything cracking apart. Life’s the same wherever you go, right? Wouldn’t life be easier if we just tried to get along a bit?”  

Currently, this guild has designated members who go out to scavenge food. Seo Haewon, Eom Hyungwoo, and rotating combat types from the new recruits.

Haewon had crossed paths with Eom Hyungwoo now and then, but this was the first time they’d had such a long conversation.

People called him Bong^[2], and Seo Haewon called him a hogu^[3].

System… Because of you, I’ve ended up being called a pushover. What are you going to do about it?