The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 36

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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 36

“I’m Noh Guk-cheol, special operations chief of the National Protection Agency.”
“Choi Jun-ho.”

Noh Guk-cheol is the man I promoted to team leader after eliminating Wang Ju-yeol.
Where Wang Ju-yeol had loved to grandstand in front and meddle in his subordinates’ affairs, Noh Guk-cheol despised interference and preferred to handle his work quietly. In exchange, he was meticulous and determined to follow protocol to the letter.
My former superior as well, but he’d left me alone without so much as a few words of conversation—a tactical show of flexibility. That alone made him an excellent team leader.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
“Have you reviewed the operation outline?”
“I’ll deploy squads at each key point. We’ll apprehend as many villains as possible, but we’ll focus on minimizing casualties according to your orders.”
“Good.”

The operation to eliminate this villain organization was straightforward in design. Minor outfits were gathering at a single location for negotiations, and I would strike. Arrests were an option, but survival wasn’t a concern.
These thugs had made the already-ravaged security situation in and around Incheon even worse due to the League, so they were summarily executed on sight—and if they were fortunate enough to survive, arrested.
The National Protection Agency would seal off the key points, while the Villain Response Teams across each district of Incheon would handle the rest of the perimeter.
With this operation, I intended to wipe out all five hundred-plus villains swarming the surrounding region.

“Then I’ll begin.”

* * *

My method of entry was simple. From the mountain behind the abandoned building where the meeting was taking place, I formed a staircase of Force and landed on the roof. It was an extravagant expenditure of power, but it didn’t matter.
After sweeping aside the villains standing watch on the roof, I opened the door, descended, and struck directly at the gathered bosses.
Without bothering to see who they were, I twisted the necks of eight organization leaders and their escorting villains.

“It’s the Head Breaker!”
“Run! Get out of here!”
“Don’t fight him! Run!”

Gunfire erupted from the abandoned building. I spread my Force thin and deflected every bullet while systematically killing every villain within reach.
I had no intention of sparing anyone—I tore apart every one I touched.
More villains escaped than I killed, but the surrounding escape routes were occupied by National Protection Agency hunters.
As I dispatched the remaining villains, I stepped out of the building. The area was chaos—they were scrambling into the vehicles they’d arrived in, grabbing whatever belongings they could.

“Die!”

A villain who hadn’t managed to escape in time fired a gun at me, while another, his expression one of desperation, swung a blade.
I killed them all. When the screams finally ceased, I looked around and counted nearly a hundred dead—inside the building and out. As I watched the blood from their torn limbs pool on the ground, I sat down on a wooden crate.
By the time the blood had begun to dry, National Protection Agency hunters appeared around the building one by one.
I asked the one leading them forward.

“How many did you capture?”
“Over a hundred killed on site, roughly a hundred arrested. The rest escaped.”
“Good work.”

Though I hadn’t eliminated everyone, the Villain Response Team—whose hands itched from years of dealing with villain-induced chaos—would be satisfied with their catch.

“There is, however, a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Among the dead villains, there are foreigners.”

Was there a reason to distinguish between nationals and foreigners when killing villains? They were all villains anyway.

“What is the problem with that?”
“Sometimes they take issue, claiming we’ve killed their own Awakeners.”
“Even when they died because of Villain activity?”
“Yes.”

I couldn’t fathom why this posed a problem, but if it did, then the solution was simple: prevent the problem from arising in the first place.
I laid out the situation with blunt clarity.

“Then here’s what we’ll do. Everyone who died here today was Korean.”
“I beg your pardon?”

Noh Guk-cheol and the Hunters around him stared at me in disbelief.

“You said it becomes a problem if foreigners die. So if all the dead are Korean, there’s no problem, is there?”
“It’s not that simple to arrange. The foreign prisoners could testify.”
“I heard Korean during the fight, so they’re Korean. If that doesn’t satisfy you, we can simply kill all the arrested Villains. Then there’s nothing left to claim. Have them brought here. I’ll handle it.”
……

I held Noh Guk-cheol’s gaze without wavering. He was the first to look away.

“…I’ll follow your instructions, Awakener.”
“Good. All the Villains we killed and arrested today were Korean. I’ll leave the cleanup to you, Team Leader, and be on my way.”
“Yes.”

I left the scene with the special unit taking over, and departed.

* * *

That night, after the Villain suppression operation ended, I texted Berserker—who’d sent me pictures of roasted wild boar, wild boar kimchi stew, and sliced wild boar—asking if he could take a call. He rang me back in less than three seconds.
I got straight to business the moment the line connected.

“I have a job for you.”
-What is it? Someone to kill? I’m hoping for an opponent worthy of getting me excited. Even some irritating Villain organization would do. I’ll make sure the result satisfies you.
“It’s not that. First—can you control your strength properly?”
-Why’re you asking?
“Can you control your strength or not?”
-If you waste strength carelessly, an investigation follows. A seasoned Villain knows to control their power. That’s how you move without leaving traces. If you can’t even manage that, you’re nothing but a greenhorn below standard, aren’t you?

My apologies for being a greenhorn below standard.
I filed away Berserker’s karma while stating my actual purpose.

“Train someone. A sparring match.”
-Me, give instruction? That’s a first.
“You seem the right fit.”
-I agreed to do whatever you ask, so I’ll take it. If you’re telling me to teach, they must be someone special. Besides, I’ve been bored anyway. Could be interesting.

For someone claiming boredom, he seemed to be living quite the natural lifestyle. The pictures he’d send me occasionally showed a complete premium camping setup.
Oh Jong-yeop had said the end of camping addiction was a camper van, and that Berserker would likely reach that stage soon—though knowing him, he’d surpass even that.

“I’ll send you the time and place by text.”

After ending the call, I texted Berserker the details.

* * *

The day of the sparring session arrived.

“I’m so curious who it is.”

Jeong Da-hyun followed close behind me with bright eyes.
Dressed in comfortable training clothes, she made no effort to hide her curiosity about who would be instructing her.

“…….”

That Berserker is genuinely insane. What if he disappoints me?
I found myself thinking that if the only person willing to guide me was out of his mind, that was certainly possible.

“Get in.”

I climbed into the sedan with Jeong Da-hyun and drove out toward the Seoul Outskirts.

“We’re going quite far, aren’t we? I thought we were heading to a training ground.”
“This place suits me better. There he is.”

When we arrived at the meeting spot, I saw Berserker sitting in a Relaxation Chair. Behind him was a Camper Van parked nearby. He’d already set up.
Jeong Da-hyun and I got out of the car and approached him.

“…….”

As we drew closer, Jeong Da-hyun’s expression hardened. She’d recognized his face.
By contrast, Berserker’s face was alight with fascination when he saw Jeong Da-hyun.

“So you’re the one I’ll be training? Such a little lamb—I didn’t expect that. This could be quite fun.”
“Oppa, this situation is…….”
“Ho? Did you just call him oppa?”

Berserker looked at me, his gaze so repugnant I could’ve clawed his eyes out.

“In your prime, aren’t you? So fresh and innocent-looking. Delightful.”
“…….”

Instead of answering, Jeong Da-hyun turned to me with a questioning look in her eyes.

“Berserker has decided to set his mind straight and help me. The Director knows about this too.”
“I’ve sworn my loyalty to Choi Jun-ho. I’ve declared that I will dedicate my body and soul in service to him, begging for my very life from his hands.”
“…….”

The lunatic was just adding unnecessary embellishments.

“Berserker is insane, but he’s a skilled fighter with plenty of real combat experience. He’ll be helpful to you.”

It had been the same during the Level 8 evaluation match—it was incredibly difficult for me to spar without injuring someone.
It was possible with someone as low-level as Yun Hee, but Jeong Da-hyun was Level 6, which made moderation nearly impossible.
Back when I was with the Blood Cult, I could just kill everyone. But this time, that wasn’t an option, and that made things far harder.
Perhaps it was this very effort that kept me anchored to my sanity.
I spoke to the conflicted Jeong Da-hyun.

“If you don’t want to learn from a Villain, you don’t have to.”
“No, sir.”

By then, Jeong Da-hyun had composed herself, her expression now resolute.

“I understand that Berserker is a different kind of Villain from one who commits atrocities. It’s hard to accept still, but I can’t pass up an opportunity to spar with a Level 8 Awakener. I’ll do it.”
“Good.”

I walked over to Berserker, who was grinning widely.

“So I’m just supposed to spar with her?”
“That’s right.”
“No payment? You’re just going to use me for free?”
“What do you want?”
“Doesn’t matter what.”
“…….”
“By the way, I came up from Ttangggeut Village after accepting your proposal.”

What was he doing all the way out there?
Thinking I ought to give him something, I paused for a moment, then remembered that his Complete Recovery had vanished.

“I just thought of what to give you.”
“How promising.”
“I’ll tell you what Gift you can obtain.”
“……!”

Surprise flickered across his face. The man certainly had an expressive range.

“You know my ability, don’t you?”
“Suddenly so motivated. I thought I’d have to dig through the depths one by one. How hard should we spar?”
“Hard enough to remind you what death feels like.”
“You could end up with psychological trauma.”
“If trauma swallows you whole, that’s where it ends. Press on without mercy. Just don’t kill her.”
“That’s exactly the level I prefer. Understood.”

I nodded at the feverish grin spreading across Berserker’s face.
Whether Jeong Da-hyun would use this chance as a stepping stone for growth was up to her.

* * *

The sparring unfolded with an intensity that mimicked real combat. Berserker showed Jeong Da-hyun no mercy whatsoever, bearing down on her as though she were an actual enemy.
Each time his Greatsword cleaved the air, the shockwave caught her hair, sending strands scattering like dust through the void.
The hair tie binding her ponytail was severed, leaving her disheveled, yet she had no moment to register her condition—only to keep her senses razor-sharp against his blade.

“Useful.”

Berserker executed my command faithfully. His attacks on Jeong Da-hyun carried a thick bloodlust. Facing it, she had to respond with everything she possessed.
Otherwise, death awaited.
The moment when one wrings out everything is the stepping stone to the next level.

“Not bad at all—so the woman he devotes everything to is the one who concerns my master!”
“Should I tear that mouth of yours apart…….”

While I was considering what to do with Berserker’s unbridled tongue, Jeong Da-hyun’s movements began to grow increasingly frantic.
She looked completely at her limit. If she couldn’t squeeze out reserves beyond that threshold now, serious injury would follow.
She needed to use her Intuition, and beyond—to glimpse what lay on the other side.
Only then could her talent bloom atop the foundation of effort she’d built all this time.

“That’s it.”

With all distraction purged from her mind, Jeong Da-hyun activated her Gift and began moving on pure instinct.
Her Intuition was blossoming into deeper Insight—the second stage of her Gift, precisely speaking. Watching only Berserker’s momentum and subtle shifts, she sketched out a future close to prescience, barely evading his strikes.

“Oh! Ohhh! Excellent!”

Berserker let out a delighted cry.
But Jeong Da-hyun’s desperate efforts lasted only that long. When Berserker mixed in feints and false strikes through controlled tempo, her disoriented senses couldn’t hold—she buckled and was thrown back within five exchanges.

“This seems about right—should we go longer?”
“That’s perfect. Good work.”
“I merely followed my master’s instruction.”

I pretended not to hear that and approached Jeong Da-hyun, offering her a Recovery Potion.
Moments later, the color returned to her face.

“Remember that sensation. You’ll need to wield it freely if you’re going to reach Level 7.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Rest now. I need to talk with Berserker.”

I left Jeong Da-hyun to recover and approached Berserker.

“Shall we settle accounts?”
“Fine.”
“You know from last time — I can obtain Gifts inscribed in blood.”
“Which is how you stole my Complete Recovery.”
“I can apply that to read the Gift information inscribed in blood too. Last time I was too busy copying your Gift, so I need to check your blood again.”
“Go ahead. Start.”

Berserker spread his chest wide. He was completely defenseless.
What is this madman thinking, trusting me like this? The question nagged at me, but I wasn’t twisted enough to betray someone’s faith in me.
My fingers bored into the space beside his heart. Having punctured him twice before, I knew the spot precisely.
As the hole opened in his chest, blood spilled. I sprayed Recovery Potion and consumed his blood.
As I read the information inscribed in the blood, my expression darkened.

“You absolute lunatic.”
“What is it?”
“Just how much monster blood and flesh have you consumed?”
“Does it show up? Congealed blood made from fresh monster blood is excellent cuisine.”
“Why would you eat that?”
“I heard it’s good for vitality.”

This insane bastard has ideas about what to use his body for. Interesting.
It seemed he ate monsters without bothering to extract the toxins.
He’d ingested so much poison that his blood was densely inscribed with Gifts about monster characteristics and toxicity.
And the apex Gift among them was Immunity to All Poisons. The ultimate passive Gift—capable of withstanding all toxins and status abnormalities.
And Immunity to All Poisons was inscribed in Berserker’s blood.
I never thought I’d lay eyes on this legendary Gift.

……

I wanted it. I coveted it.
My eyes burned with greed as I stared at Berserker. When our gazes met, his eyes trembled violently and his shoulders hunched.
What’s wrong with him?

“…Spare me.”
“What?”
“What would it take for you to spare me?”
“Who’s eating you? I’m not killing you. I’m not stealing from you.”

Still, it was a shame.
As I licked my lips, Berserker flinched and quietly positioned himself behind Jeong Da-hyun.
Startled by Berserker’s sudden movement, Jeong Da-hyun jerked and stepped sideways.
Then Berserker moved as well, again taking his place behind her.

“What are you doing?”

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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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