The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 33

“Aaaaaagh!”

I watched O Changmun writhe like a worm, crawling across the floor.
Grabbing him was an impulsive decision.
Today was the day I became a Level 8 and made my first official public appearance. It brought back memories of when I became a Civil Service Hunter.
My intentions were pure then.
I wanted to be a son who didn’t worry my parents, an older brother my sister could be proud of. I thought I’d be satisfied with days spent faithfully serving as a Civil Service Hunter, occasionally catching villains I spotted around town.
But everything around me kept shaking my resolve. These corrupt journalists especially—they were the sort who could turn even a pacifist like me into a villain in the public eye.

“Ughhhh!”

While Jung Juho had been protecting me, keeping my existence hidden, a few articles about excessive force had surfaced.
Fundamentally, I don’t pay much attention to articles about my actions.
Rather, it was Yoon Hui who read them and flew into rages—one time over clickbait headlines, another over when a journalist’s personal opinion steered things in a sinister direction or simply fabricated facts.
I don’t much care about headline clickbait, but I think poorly of journalists who invent things that never happened.
When I was Dynasty, their schemes piled countless evil deeds I never committed onto my record. By their account, the number I’d killed would exceed ten thousand.
But that was absolutely untrue. It might’ve been thousands, but ten thousand was an exaggeration.
Why did I have to take the fall for atrocities I never committed?
Despite spreading false information at the time, I never heard of any journalist facing punishment. They bore no responsibility.
So I decided.
If they won’t take responsibility, I’ll make them. I have the power to do it. And now I have Immunity from Arrest to back me up.

“Grrrrgh!”

That said, I’m not planning to scrutinize everyone with a microscope and punish them all.
I only deal with those whose wrongs are severe.
Press freedom is important, after all.
I’m simply making them responsible for that freedom.

“…….”

As expected of educated people, no one raised objections to my words. It seemed they didn’t care for the sort of person O Changmun was either.
I called out a journalist’s name—unfamiliar face, but a name I’d come to know well.

“Go Yejin.”
“H-hic! Yes, yes!”

A journalist with a slight frame, barely over 150 centimeters tall, who looked at first glance like a middle schooler, answered me with a hiccup.

“I’ve read your articles with interest.”
“Please, please spare me! I’ll take down every article! Please forgive me….”
“Not at all. Your headlines were sensational, but the content wasn’t inaccurate. I look forward to your continued active work.”
“Yes, yes! Thank you so much, thank you so much for sparing me!”
“Aaaaaaaagh!”

I lightly kicked O Changmun, who was still screaming. At that, he frothed at the mouth and lost consciousness.
Since it clashed with the Press Conference Hall’s aesthetics, I pulled out a Recovery Potion and poured it over him.
As his grotesquely twisted limbs straightened back, shock flooded everyone’s eyes. A miracle of restoration.
I returned to my place and held up the Recovery Potion bottle so the label was clearly visible, then spoke.

“In case you’re wondering, the Recovery Potion I used is from Seongsong Pharmaceutical. Please direct any inquiries to them.”

I’d passed the baton to Seongsong Group to keep questions from being directed at me.

“Then I’ll continue with the press conference.”

* * *

Cheon Myungguk, watching the situation spiral, realized it had completely slipped from his grasp.
The word “collapsed” seemed fitting.
It felt like that day in childhood when a sandcastle he’d built over eight hours on the beach was swept away by the tide.
Choi Junho had obliterated a journalist completely. He wouldn’t have mangled a Villain so thoroughly.
The problem was that Choi Junho hadn’t hesitated for even a moment.
Who would bear the fallout from this? Choi Junho had started it, but not him—he had Immunity from Arrest.
The one responsible was Cheon Myungguk himself.
Because he was the one who’d pushed for granting Choi Junho Immunity from Arrest. All the meeting records existed, and there was even a statement at the end where he’d said he’d take responsibility.
Suddenly, an urge to resign welled up. He felt completely duped.

‘Couldn’t control his strength?’

Folding a man like origami and then calmly lying about it—even a stray dog would have laughed at the audacity.
Only then could Cheon Myungguk discern the true meaning behind Jung Juho’s ambiguous expression, the one he’d worn beside Choi Junho.
The crowning moment came when O Changmun’s shattered limbs snapped back into place the moment Recovery Potion was poured into him.
It was the masterstroke of the con.
As if excessive force could be reduced. He’d crippled the man and then poured that absurdly expensive Recovery Potion into him. What kind of lunacy would drive someone to use a thirty-million-won Recovery Potion on a Villain?
In thirty minutes of press conference, Cheon Myungguk’s entire common sense had been demolished.
What remained was damage control—damage control, and more damage control.
But could this even be controlled?
Cheon Myungguk watched Choi Junho fielding questions from reporters and let out a sigh.

“Ah…….”

To boast of acquiring a Level 8 Awakener, this entire spectacle was being broadcast live.

* * *

Youngest Level 8 Awakener, hero who slew the Marionette master. An Awakener whose arrival drew praise from the United States, astonishment from China, and fear from Japan.
Choi Junho’s debut drew enormous public attention.
As a result, the official press conference channel attracted far more viewers than usual.
Despite being a small peninsula nation in the Far East, it ranked among the world’s top ten Awakener powers.
This was a source of quiet pride for South Koreans.
And now the youngest title had been taken away.

-But isn’t he too young? The average age for reaching Level 8 is forty-two. The trend keeps getting younger, but…….
-Isn’t the whole Marionette master thing exaggerated? Even if he’s immortal, his combat power isn’t that impressive.
-With his young age, he’s naturally going to lack presence and operational experience. Still, the measurement test isn’t done carelessly, so he must have met the minimum requirements, right?
-Age is everything, first of all. Being young means that much greater potential for growth. And the younger the body, the more force one can exert at peak physical condition.
-This time the government deserves credit. He was a big catch that had to be captured no matter what.
-The new chief of the Awakener Security Office has a reputation for getting things done. Looks like he’s proved it.
-Here he comes now.

Moments later, as Choi Junho appeared, the chat speed accelerated tenfold.

-Wow! Fucking handsome. Why’s there an actor here?
-Is his face real? His looks are Level 8?
-That suit fit is insane. Forget the face—what about that body? He’s not even that tall, but those proportions are…….
-Oppa! Take me with youㅠㅠㅠㅠ You’re so handsome ㅠㅠㅠ
-Did they pick him for his face? Is this just propaganda?

While praise for his appearance continued, concerned messages also increased.

-But he doesn’t look that strong? Is he really Level 8?
-How’s he gonna catch Villains or monsters like that? If a Villain starts shooting, he’ll go pale and run.
-Is he about to collapse? ㅋㅋㅋ
-The monster’s howling, and Choi Junho’s about to collapse!
-But the atmosphere is insane. I can feel this intense aura!
-If the measurement test reveals deficiencies, the government just pulled off the worst deal in history.
-Heh, the Villains will tremble at the mere existence of Choi Junho…!

But those concerns evaporated the moment Choi Junho broke O Changmun’s limbs while answering a journalist’s question.

-…Did anyone see Choi Junho’s movement just now?
-I never took my eyes off the monitor — when did he move? How did he break his limbs?
-This is insane. Even at 120 frames per second, I couldn’t catch the motion. Is this what a Level 8 Awakener’s speed looks like?
-All my worries are cancelled. Wow! He barely flicks his hand and the guy’s ruined. So this is the power of a Level 8 Awakener…
-Awakener, sir, I said nothing. Not a word!
-Bow before Choi Junho no matter what. And if he’s in a bad mood, your head might fly off. Hah…!

With a single move, he’d completely dispelled any doubt about his abilities.
What took center stage instead was the matter of summary judgment.

-But isn’t he just wielding his power recklessly?
-Nah, look up O Changmun. A few years back, he took bribes from a Villain and wrote articles defending that organization. He deserved worse.
-Insane, a guy like that made it into the National Assembly? What if he had different intentions? An Awaker with such radical ideology? Is this even a country?
-Choi Junho’s pushing things to the absolute limit.
-There’s nothing we can do about worries. What Choi Junho got when he signed the contract was Immunity from Arrest.
-We can’t prosecute him even if we watch him do it right in front of us. Is this some grand plan? But aren’t Level 8 Awakeners impossible to arrest anyway?
-Look at the articles flooding in now. They’re all so polite, lol. The law is distant, the fist is near…?
-Since no one comes out clean, there won’t be many fools willing to openly oppose an Awakener with Immunity from Arrest. That was really sharp thinking.
-The government made the best judgment. They won’t regret giving Choi Junho Immunity from Arrest…!

The press conference ended amid the confused atmosphere, but the viewers’ chat continued endlessly.

* * *

Sizzle!

O Jongyeop, who’d been grilling meat over the hot plate, glanced at me across from him and asked.

“But you got the promotion, so why am I the one buying meat?”
“Should I be paying?”
“No, that’s not it. I was definitely planning to treat you, but you suddenly told me to make time, so I didn’t understand……”
“Now that I think about it, I must’ve forgotten I owed you a meal.”
“You don’t have to remember things like that.”
“I don’t forget. And besides, my rank’s higher now.”

I gave back the words he’d said on his first day of work, never having forgotten them. O Jongyeop’s eyes trembled fiercely. Moving his gaze to the hot plate to avoid meeting my eyes, he asked carefully.

“Um, should I speak formally to you then?”
“I was just messing with you. Just keep it up in official settings.”
“Right? That’s all it is? Phew! I thought you were serious.”
“How’s Jongsoo doing?”
“He’s recovered enough for outpatient treatment. Jongsoo wanted to surprise him after discharge, but he found out. I keep thinking how things would’ve gone if you hadn’t helped. I’m really grateful.”

How things would’ve gone? He’d have become a Villain. Because of O Jongyeop, Malsoja appeared, and that lunatic Berserker got attached. He’ll have to pay dearly for that.

“Does Jongsoo have plans going forward?”
“He says he’s fine, but he keeps insisting on working. Money isn’t a big problem for him, apparently.”
“Can he work?”
“He could, but his stamina’s not good. So physical labor’s out. I’m trying to convince him to wait until his stamina improves.”
“How about bringing him into the National Guard Office?”
“Huh?”
“I can hire a few Civil Service Hunters under me. If Jongsoo’s willing, bring him in. He’d just need to handle simple paperwork and errands.”
“Really? Would that be okay?”
“I’m only saying this because it’s fine.”

The reason I’m bringing O Jongsoo into this is the flood of calls that poured in the moment I became a Level 8 Awakener.
Among those reaching out, plenty were angling for spots on a team I could assemble under my own authority, but it was obvious that if I brought in someone strict, my movements would leak like a sieve—so I wanted to fill the positions with people I already knew, and O Jongsoo was one of the candidates.
From what I’d seen before, he was quick and sharp at reading the room, so he’d be effective at shutting down O Jongyeop’s needling.

“Give him a shot and he’ll be grateful. Jongsoo will be up for it too.”
“Since we’ll both be in the National Guard Office, it’ll be easy to keep an eye on things.”
“Thanks. Really, thank you.”
“Then order us more meat.”
“Yeah, should we? Order whatever you want!”

I couldn’t betray a friend’s goodwill.
I ordered the most expensive cut on the menu just as he’d hoped.

“We’ll have the strip loin for two and the boneless short rib for two, plus an extra brisket miso stew.”
…….

O Jongyeop’s face went absolutely dark.

* * *

“Team Lead! We have a crisis.”
“I’m watching.”

Lee Sehui spoke in an even tone to the employee who’d rushed in.
Her gaze remained fixed on the television.
The press conference held at the National Assembly had ended moments ago, but the live chat was blazing with activity.

“Um, what should we do?”
“This is an opportunity.”
“Sorry?”

A violent incident had erupted unexpectedly at the press conference, and in the process, Seongsong Pharmaceutical’s Recovery Potion had been laid bare for all to see.
It was a crisis, but Lee Sehui’s orders were different.

“Increase the processing volume of Recovery Potion materials. Raise the production orders with our subsidiaries.”
“Understood, ma’am.”
“Move fast. The Recovery Potion orders are about to explode.”

The employee who’d come to report left with a pile of tasks in hand.
Alone, Lee Sehui tilted her chair back and settled into it, letting out a soft, mirthless laugh as she replayed the scene in her mind. Even as a Level 8 Awakener, Choi Junho remained true to himself—and Seongsong Pharmaceutical had just seized a tremendous opportunity.

“He knew the whole time and helped us out.”

She hadn’t expected him to so openly target a corrupt journalist as a villain and beat them down, but she hadn’t anticipated him using the Recovery Potion there either.
And displaying the brand name so openly at that.
It was world-class product placement.
Seeing the corrupt journalist’s broken limbs heal in real time before everyone’s eyes had made the potion’s efficacy unmistakable.
This would spark demand for the Recovery Potion and lead to an explosion of orders.
If Choi Junho had become the topic of unprecedented conversation, the profit belonged to Seongsong Group.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”
“Team Lead. We have a visitor.”
“I don’t have any meetings scheduled today.”

Unscheduled, sudden visits were what Lee Sehui disliked most. But the moment she heard the visitor’s identity, her expression changed completely.

“That guest is Choi Junho, the Awakener.”
“Where is he now?”
“He’s at the front desk.”
“Buy us ten minutes. Delay him for ten minutes.”
“Understood.”

The employee left, and Lee Sehui, now alone, began touching up her makeup at lightning speed. The key was to look effortlessly perfect—as though she’d done nothing at all. She drew on every ounce of her Awakener’s physical abilities to complete the work in record time. She fastened the necklace, earrings, and bracelet she’d removed earlier, then spent the remaining minutes smoothing out her clothes.
Exactly ten minutes later, a knock preceded the opening of the door. Choi Junho wasn’t alone—Choi Yunhui had come with him, dragging her brother by the arm as she offered an apology.

“I’m so sorry for dropping in on you like this. This troublemaker caused quite a scene, and I came to apologize.”
“No, don’t worry about it. He actually gave Seongsong Pharmaceutical a great advertisement.”
“See?”
“What do you mean, ‘see’? You beat up a journalist in front of a room full of them, used our company’s product, and you’re acting like nothing happened?”
“That wasn’t a journalist—that was a villain.”
“Oh, come on. You assaulted someone in front of all those reporters and turned them all against us in the process?”

Though Choi Yunhui spoke in exasperation, Lee Sehui cut in to correct her. From all that she’d observed of Choi Junho, she believed there was a deeper calculation at work.

“I understand your concern, but the journalists won’t find it easy to turn against Junho. Not really.”
“Why not?”
“Because he isn’t an ordinary Awakener—he’s an Awakener of a higher tier.”

Awakeners of his level wielded considerable authority. Yet some journalists attacked them anyway, banking on the assumption that such power wouldn’t be turned against them. But Choi Junho had shattered that assumption from their very first encounter.
Few journalists could remain unmoved in the face of raw force.
Moreover, Choi Junho possessed immunity from arrest.

“More importantly, he didn’t attack an innocent journalist. He targeted one with actual criminal allegations against her. He separated the corrupt from the honest. He didn’t touch the ones who play games with headlines.”
“Go Yejin was the worst offender, though…”
“And here’s another thing—Junho deliberately came down hard to burn that image into their minds.”
“Really?”
“It’s true that there were many cases of excessive force during his time at the National Guard Office. If the journalists had looked down on him, they’d have picked at those incidents forever. But by demonstrating his violent side right from the start—by dealing with one corrupt journalist—he sent a message: ‘Cross the line and you’ll get the same treatment.’ An Awakener who won’t attack you can be ignored; you can publish sensational hit pieces freely. But an Awakener who *can* attack you? That makes you think twice. That makes you hesitate.”

In effect, he’d issued a warning. Any journalist who wrote about him now would have to self-censor first.
What else could you call that but a brilliant strategic move?
Lee Sehui, who believed she knew Choi Junho better than anyone, was now certain he had orchestrated the entire affair.
He possessed a mind as cunning as his strength was formidable. Choi Yunhui, being family, overlooked that side of him entirely.
Choi Yunhui’s expression grew troubled.

“I suppose that’s one way to look at it.”
“By taking an aggressive initial stance, he’s prevented his sphere of activity from shrinking. Right?”
“That’s right.”
“And one more thing. He injured that corrupt journalist but then healed him on the spot, showing that he could resolve the situation himself. That sends a message to the powers above—that if they try to interfere, things could spiral into unnecessary violence, but if they leave him alone, he’ll handle it himself.”
“Hmm.”

At the soft exclamation from Choi Junho’s lips, Choi Yunhui’s eyes lit up.

“It seems like you just acted on impulse, but she’s reading all this meaning into it.”
“No. You should think more carefully about what he’s calculating. Junho sees further ahead than you’d expect. He creates situations, builds favorable boards. Isn’t that right?”
“…All of your words ring true.”

Choi Junho paused for about three seconds before answering, then smiled.

“All of it was exactly as I intended.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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