The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 37

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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 37

The moment a possibility opened up to obtain Eternal Poison Resistance, Berserker grew excited.

“Eternal Poison Resistance—with that alone, I could have a far more heated confrontation with you······.”

He stared at me with that crazed grin on his face, his eyes now burning with competitive fervor.
Was he asking to fight right now?
I’d planned to say I’d oblige him as much as he wanted. Eternal Poison Resistance—I coveted it.
But he came to his senses faster than I could answer.

“···Right, no point in killing myself now.”

···Uncanny bastard.
In any case, once the settlement was complete, Berserker gathered his things and bid farewell.

“If you need me again, just reach out. This young lamb has considerable talent—I’d gladly cooperate so you can witness that star’s moment. And unlike others, I seem to have quite the knack for teaching. Krkrkr!”

I found myself wondering if I was strange for thinking Berserker was the one who profited most from today’s meeting.
I shook off my thoughts and spoke to Jung Da-hyun, who stood staring blankly at Berserker’s camper van as it receded into the distance.

“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”

The two of us headed toward Seoul.

“······.”

During the drive, there was little conversation. Jung Da-hyun seemed to have much on his mind.
As for me, I spent the time thinking about Eternal Poison Resistance.
The comment about wanting to steal it was really just a joke—what amazed me was that the eccentricities he’d committed up to now had been etched into his blood, creating the very possibility of unlocking such a Gift.
I wished I’d carved such a possibility into my own blood.
The Gifts engraved in my blood, though—I couldn’t read them. Why was that?
A dry laugh escaped me.
Here I was, coveting more when I already possessed ten Gifts.
As we entered Seoul, Jung Da-hyun emerged from his reverie and spoke.

“Berserker turned out to be more interesting than I expected.”
“That so?”

From where I stood, he was just a madman.

“It gave me a chance to reconsider what a Villain really is. If I set aside my preconceptions, he’s just… a pleasant person.”
“Being a Villain doesn’t automatically make someone evil.”

The circumstances that led someone to become a Villain were varied—the environment around them, being swept up by others, family background, a single mistake. The list went on.
But once you became a Villain, even if you weren’t evil at first, you inevitably grew tainted by evil. As long as the world didn’t accept you, I, the Bloodborn, and Berserker were all evil.
I had returned to the time before I became evil, but once you stepped into darkness, it was hard to pull your foot back out.

“At some point, my sense of justice became blurred. It’s hard to tell what’s justice and what’s evil anymore, and that makes me doubt whether I’m doing the right thing.”
“Trust what you see and feel. Your principles aren’t wavering.”
“Yes. And······.”

Jung Da-hyun looked like he had something more he wanted to say.

“What is it?”
“How is a Dual Gift even possible?”

A Dual Gift, strictly speaking, referred to an Awakener who possessed two Gifts. This occurred with extraordinarily rare probability.

“Basically, it’s difficult. Awakeners are fundamentally specialized in their Gifts, so if you awaken a different one, your efficiency drops.”

That’s why there were hardly any Awakeners with Dual Gifts who had reached a high level.

“So you… no, never mind. Sorry for asking something silly.”
“My situation is different.”

I possessed ten Gifts, but every single one had been brought to me already specialized by “someone.”
Put kindly, it was copying; put harshly, it was plunder.

“For now, focus on making the Level 7 perception your own. The moment you grasp the feel, you can jump right up.”
“Yes, thank you.”

Jung Da-hyun nodded, his eyes gleaming with resolve.

* * *

Watching Yoon Hee, I noticed she had a very definite on-off switch.
When she came to work at the Sacred Guild, she gave her all to everything; at home, she melted into the sofa and never left it.
I was quite different from her, it seemed. I always seemed to keep that switch flipped on, and once I was recognized as Level 8, the way people treated me shifted, amplifying that tendency even more.
My current situation was satisfactory enough. But this moment was still a honeymoon period—the stage where I was enjoying my position as a superhuman. Soon, my obligations would begin to close in.
The state had invested in me proportionally to what they expected from my power, and I’d agreed to that.
Even in any negotiation I might face, I had no intention of forcing one-sided losses onto the other party.
Still, how was I going to handle this?
Just as I was wondering how to peel that creature off the sofa, she sensed it like a ghost and cried out.

“Stop right there! You were about to lecture me, weren’t you?”
“You’re uncanny.”

Had she unlocked Mind Reading as her Gift instead of Unbreakable Will?

“In the first place, who works harder at training than me? That stupid Unbreakable Will, Unbreakable Will! Why don’t they just rename the whole Gift ‘Absolute Unbreakable Will’ already?”

She’d clearly picked up some three-principles-five-relationships nonsense somewhere and wanted to show off that she knew it.
But Yoon Hee’s resistance was surprisingly formidable.
If I pushed now, something would snap—I was curious what that breaking would look like, but when I saw the killing intent flowing freely from her eyes, I reconsidered.

“Have you looked into any decent places?”
“Yeah, I mentioned a few conditions to the administration, and they recommended some right away. I just need to get the money together.”
“That’ll come together soon enough.”
“Some people prep meticulously and barely manage to hunt one down, but others just stroll out like they’re taking a walk and bring one back. The world’s really unfair.”
“If you want to be like me, just work hard.”

Though you’d have to live a pretty dynamic life to manage it.
But then Yoon Hee, her teasing set aside, asked me carefully.

“By the way, did you catch that monster alone?”
“Yeah, why?”
“No, just… I was wondering if anyone around here was saying anything about it.”
“Nobody mentioned anything.”
“Oh, good then.”

Even as she said that, Yoon Hee’s body fidgeted as though she had something to tell me, but she never opened her mouth.
What was she trying to say?
The fact that Yoon Hee was reacting that way meant she had something she really wanted to tell me, but she found it difficult to put into words.
It seemed related to the monster—I’d have to find the right moment to ask her about it later.

“I’m heading out.”
“Sure.”

Shelving my questions, I checked the time and left the house. I had plans with Lee Se-hee today.
Since there was a Sacred Group event today, Lee Se-hee had dressed up more elaborately than usual.
Having met for business, we dove straight into shop talk.

“The Monster Hearts that Jun-ho gave you are far superior in efficiency at the same level. Last time it was three times the value, but with a premium we could push it to five times.”
“That’s a good sign.”
“Yes. In that regard, how would you feel about going into business with us? If we could monopolize this Craftsmanship method even for a short while, we could make a fortune.”

Lee Se-hee explained that while the Craftsmanship technique I’d learned was ahead of the curve, we couldn’t hold the monopoly forever. So the goal was to use that head start to solidify our brand and become the number-one player in the Monster Heart Craftsmanship field.

“Not just anyone can do this.”
“No, but all the Artisans in our group are first-rate.”

She said that, but it required an innate sense. I lacked that sense, so I’d compensated by flooding it with an absurd amount of Aura to activate it.
You really do need the original innovator.

“For now, let me introduce you to someone who can handle this technique better than I can.”
“Someone like that exists? Why didn’t I know about it until now?”
“They operate in the shadows.”
“Ah, the shadows, the black market…”

I told Lee Se-hee I’d bring Heart Walker from my past life soon.
Since he’d taught me the technique back then, I should settle the debt in this life. He was greedy for money, but judging from the scale Lee Se-hee was describing, I could more than satisfy that appetite.
When she said we’d continue the business discussion later, she nodded reluctantly, disappointment flickering across her face.

“And when you hunt Monsters, how are you managing?”
“Managing?”
“I wondered if there were any difficulties.”
“None at all.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Is something wrong?”

It was a field I’d never thought about, so her question struck me as odd.

“No, nothing. I’m just relieved there are no problems. Shall we go?”

Lee Se-hee hurried me along, avoiding my gaze. First Yoon Hee, now Lee Se-hee—something felt off about both their behavior.
Today the Sacred Group was opening a Premium Gallery at the Sacred Department Store for Awakeners.
I’d been invited to the event and had agreed to escort Lee Se-hee.

“But…”
“What’s the problem?”
“You want me to drive? Well, I don’t mind, but…”

Taking a car worth hundreds of millions on a single piece of jewelry seemed odd.
The hem of her flowing dress might catch, too.
Lee Se-hee gave me an exasperated look.

“Of course we should take my car.”

* * *

The Sacred Department Store’s Awakener Gallery was created under Lee Se-hee’s direction and stocked with every item an Awakener could need.
From Defense Gear for fighting Monsters to various weapons, recovery items infused with Aura, antidotes and status-ailment remedies, as well as all manner of disposable and survival supplies were on display.
Added to this was a separate counter for purchasing Monster Hearts and byproducts, allowing Awakeners to buy everything they needed in one place.
The crown jewel among these offerings was the Defense Gear created through collaboration with luxury brand designers from around the world. By combining practicality with beauty, it had captured the eyes of every female Awakener in sight.
Fashion shows had become an event where everyone wore armor.
Lee Se-hee appeared in place of Lee Young-moon, who had recently stepped back from public duties due to health concerns, and she was the centerpiece of the event.
I stood beside her, watching as she savored the spotlights pouring down from all directions as if they were meant for her alone.

“What do you think?”
“Anyone with an Awakener girlfriend would come here, wouldn’t they?”
“Exactly. That’s what I was counting on. Performance standards have leveled out across the board now. So competitiveness comes down to how beautiful the design is.”

It was certainly effective with female Awakeners, at least.
And just as fine-looking food tends to taste better, male Awakeners also preferred something impressive, even if it cost a bit more.
It was an era of ten million aspiring Hunters. The government wanted the public to idolize Awakeners with transcendent power more than enemies. The nation’s strength depended on as many people as possible becoming Hunters.
Skilled and attractive Hunters enjoyed more popularity than most celebrities, and as a result, equipment design became increasingly important with each passing day.
If it were up to me, standing out would be… no, wait. That was a villain’s mindset. As a Level 8 Superhuman drawing attention, I should prefer something flashy too.
Looking at it again, it actually seemed rather beautiful.
Lee Se-hee handled interviews with ease, articulating the Sacred Guild’s direction and the Sacred Group’s vision with clever wit.

“Hmm?”

A murmur rippled through one section, and a neatly dressed young man with striking features approached. The man, draped entirely in luxury brands, appeared to be in his late twenties, his smile friendly enough, yet something sinister lingered beneath it.

“It’s been a while, Se-hee. How have you been?”
“…What brings you here?”

The man offering the casual greeting was Lee Se-chan, Lee Se-hee’s older brother and the eldest son of the Sacred Group—and someone we were currently competing against for control of the conglomerate.

“My sister’s accomplished something so impressive—I had to come.”
“Thank you for coming.”

The exchange between siblings felt strained. Lee Se-chan glanced at Lee Se-hee, then turned to introduce me.

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Lee Se-chan, Se-hee’s older brother.”
“Choi Jun-ho.”
“Of course I know. The youngest Superhuman causing such a stir in the city.”

There was a hint of mockery in his voice.
I took the hand he extended. I could see the veins on his wrist bulging as he applied pressure—a gentle scratch from a back scratcher at most. His expression was grotesque.

“Our Se-hee has no experience with men, so her judgment of character is poor. There are hordes of men trying to look good to her. They’re all hollow shells, really. Se-hee lacks the ability to tell them apart. If she’d just listen to her older brother more, she might improve.”

So this is how he wanted to play it.
I’ve always been quick to pick up on these things.

“This manager is the most capable person I’ve ever met. People see only as far as their vision allows, and those with narrow perspective often fail to understand those with grand ambitions. That’s a clear difference in ability.”

Lee Se-chan’s expression twisted.

“Are you talking to me right now?”
“The listener can judge for themselves.”
“You half-baked bastard—”

Half-baked? What did he mean by that?
A new epithet? I already wasn’t fond of Head Breaker or Word Killer anyway. What could half-baked mean? Was it because I’d folded him in half?
I decided not to dwell on it.

“And one more thing.”

I’d applied excessive pressure, and now I lightened my grip on his trembling hand slightly.

“Ugh!”
“The powerful tend to forget one thing: they believe they’ll never be harmed. I have a chronic condition, so whenever I see such foolishness, I have an urge to stamp self-awareness into them.”

If I applied any more pressure, Lee Se-chan’s hand would shatter entirely. Watching his fingers barely maintain their shape, I felt a small satisfaction at how much better I’d become at controlling my strength.

“Would you like to see what happens if I don’t hold back?”
Gasping and wheezing, he shook his head desperately.

When I released my grip, Lee Se-chan staggered forward, his legs nearly giving out beneath him.

“Director!”
“Let’s… go back.”

His people rushed over, forming a protective circle around him to hide his shaken state, and whisked him away from the scene.
Half measures. That was all he was.
Lee Se-hee noticed the shift in atmosphere and approached me.

“Choi Jun-ho, is something wrong?”
“Nothing serious.”

I’ve never understood why people need to be beaten senseless before they wake up. At least monsters leave behind hearts and materials when they die. People leave nothing.
I gestured to Lee Se-hee, tilting my chin toward the cameras.

“Look, the press is shooting. The star of today’s show needs to shine brighter.”
“Yes.”

The moment Lee Se-hee heard my words, she naturally struck a pose.

* * *

After the event concluded, I met with Cheon Myeong-guk to report on the villain extermination operation.
He’d looked haggard on the first day, and I’d wondered if something was wrong with his health, but he’d recovered quickly and was now operating at full capacity.

“From the villain extermination operation to the various events—you’ve done remarkable work.”
“It was merely my duty.”
“However, regarding the foreign villains…”

I felt puzzled as he trailed off.

“Haven’t they been dealt with?”
“There’s a high likelihood of complications.”
“If we missed the window to eliminate them, what about issuing them citizenship and registering them as residents?”
“Citizenship and resident registration?”
“Then they’d be our nationals.”
“…That’s a remarkably appealing solution.”

Cheon Myeong-guk murmured with a tone of genuine admiration. I couldn’t fathom why he was so troubled by what seemed like a simple matter.

“How have you found these past days as a Superhuman?”
“Satisfactory.”
“We’re also arranging helicopter transport to move quickly out of congested areas.”
“That will make deployment to operational zones much more efficient.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to support what you need. And you, as a Superhuman belonging to the Republic of Korea, must fulfill your role accordingly.”

Cheon Myeong-guk fell silent, studying my face. He was waiting for my response.

“Of course I’ll fulfill the role given to me.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s a mutual arrangement, after all.”
“However…”

I spoke to Cheon Myeong-guk, who hesitated as if struggling with what to say next.

“You’re welcome to speak freely.”
“The truth is, there have been certain concerns about Choi Jun-ho recently among some quarters.”

Concerns about me? Could my identity as a villain have been exposed?
Only Lee Se-hee and Berserker would know my true nature.
Did Berserker go around spreading rumors that I’ve developed a taste for something questionable?

“State-affiliated Awakeners are responsible for protecting national authority from external and internal threats, and shielding citizens from villain activity.”
“I understand.”
“And finally, state-affiliated Awakeners must protect citizens from Monster threats.”
“……”

Cheon Myeong-guk spoke while looking at me, but I couldn’t figure out what the problem was.
Hunting Monsters is simply part of the job.

“Dismantling villain organizations is fine, protecting national authority is fine. But state-affiliated Awakeners truly shine when they hunt Monsters.”

He explained that major guilds had grown large enough to even challenge national authority because of Monster hunting.
In the end, it all comes down to money. Monster byproducts become currency.
With that money they invest, and using the byproducts they craft equipment, their power grows.
But why is he telling me all this?

“There’s been talk circulating about Choi Jun-ho’s Monster-hunting abilities.”
“What kind of talk?”
“That you’re a half-baked Awakener who can’t hunt Monsters properly……”

So that’s why Lee Se-chan called me a half-baked Awakener earlier.
Good thing. I thought I’d end up with some strange moniker like Head Breaker or villain.
So that’s why Yoon Hee was treating me that way.
Now I understand.

“Tell me more about this, would you?”
“It’s just idle rumor circulating in the background. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”
“Yes.”

What followed was nothing short of absurd fabrication.
Though I’d reached Level 8 as an Awakener, my only experience was catching low-level villains, and my greatest achievement was eliminating the Puppeteer—though the Puppeteer was famous for being immortal, their actual combat ability was merely mediocre.
Particularly, my refusal to engage in Monster hunting stems from experiencing “Monster phobia,” and the government signed me to a fool’s contract precisely because I’m an Awakener who can’t hunt Monsters—or so the rumor claimed.
The “evidence” was that I never participated in Monster hunts.
Officially, I’d never participated in a single Monster hunt.
Cheon Myeong-guk studied my expression carefully.

“If there’s a secret reason preventing you from hunting Monsters, I’d be grateful if you’d share it. We’ll do everything in our power to help.”

This man also believed I was hiding something.
All I felt was bewilderment.
When I was a bloodline, they exaggerated that I’d destroy the world—now they treat me like a half-baked failure who can’t even hunt a single Monster properly.
I could only laugh at the absurdity.

“I’ll prove it soon enough.”

I remember from my previous life.
In a month, the Eighth-Grade Calamity—a creature named Nuri—will appear in Seoul. Everything will be revealed then.
At my words, Cheon Myeong-guk’s expression brightened slightly.

“And Director.”
“Yes.”
“Could you compile a list of everyone spreading these rumors starting now, and give it to me once I hunt the Monster?”
“……”
“I’m just curious. That’s all. I’ll just watch.”
“…….”

He didn’t look convinced in the slightest.
Now it felt like I had to make good on my word, didn’t it?

“Please…….”

Cheon Myeong-guk’s face drained of color as he clutched his stomach.

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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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