The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 50

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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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Chapter 50

Go Ye-jin arrived at Baekban Restaurant with me and demonstrated remarkable talent for building rapport—she and the owner’s aunt became fast friends within moments—as she explained the reason for seeking me out.

“Choi Jun-ho, the Superhuman, is so elusive that I thought it would be nearly impossible to meet you. So I decided to follow your superior, Jung Da-hyun, the team leader. I heard the two of you often eat together.”

She’d managed to find me by shadowing Jung Da-hyun for nearly a month.
I’d taken her for a master of headline writing, but she turned out to be equally professional at obsessive pursuit.
When I asked if she was an Awakened One, Go Ye-jin nodded.

“That’s right! I’m an Awakened One by origin. But I gave up because I had no talent. Hehe, auntie! Could we get another bottle of water, please? This miso stew is delicious!”

Beside me, Jung Da-hyun’s expression wasn’t particularly bright. Did she dislike the taste? It tasted the same as always to me.
I continued my conversation with Go Ye-jin.

“What was that about an interview?”
“Ah! You’ve become incredibly popular lately while hunting monsters in Nuri—far more so than before. You’ve noticed that, right?”
“Not really.”

Being famous was useless when villains couldn’t even recognize me.
If anything, Jung Da-hyun was more famous.

“Hmm? Online, your popularity is actually remarkable. There used to be comments questioning you, but now it’s nothing but praise! You might not have felt it directly, but I’m sure once you’re in a public setting, you’d notice your popularity has multiplied. Naturally, an interview with you would bring in high viewership.”
“Your articles seem to get high viewership without an interview with me.”

The few articles of Go Ye-jin’s I’d glanced at were recording viewership numbers that far exceeded the average.
Go Ye-jin laughed sheepishly.

“I’m rather confident in that department…”
“You’ve written plenty of entertaining headlines about me.”
“I’m so sorry! I apologize! Please forgive me!”

She immediately grew flustered and began pleading earnestly.

“I’m not going to kill you.”
“Thank you, thank you so much.”
“As for the interview, I’ll think about it and give you an answer later. I want to hear what those around me advise first.”
“Yes! Whenever you’re comfortable, just call and I’ll come running!”

Go Ye-jin handed me her business card. As I accepted it, the conversation naturally lulled, and the three of us fell quiet, focusing on our meal for a moment.

“Have there been any organizations contacting you recently that have been annoying?”
“What kind of organizations?”
“Well, you’ve made a lot of money lately. So I’d expect charitable organizations and the like would be trying to reach out…”
“No one has.”
“Really? That’s strange. All the charities are going crazy trying to contact you.”
“Ah.”

Then I remembered—I’d had Oh Jong-su unplug the phone line. That’s why no calls came through to me. The contact attempts must have gone elsewhere.
As for donations—it was embarrassing to admit, but I hadn’t given it a moment’s thought.

“Donations are a good thing, though.”
“Really? Truly?”

Not only was Go Ye-jin surprised by my response, but even Jung Da-hyun looked taken aback.
I found myself wondering what I’d said wrong.

“Giving is a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes! Isn’t it?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, really. It’s nothing.”

I was puzzled by Go Ye-jin’s sparkling eyes when Jung Da-hyun interjected.

“Wait, Reporter. Please don’t write about this.”
“What? Oh, of course.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Go Ye-jin’s face.

“Is there a problem?”
“Not exactly…….”
“It could get troublesome.”
“That’s fine. I unplugged the phone line anyway.”
“Ah, so that’s why I couldn’t reach you.”
“That’s a relief. You did the right thing.”

I assumed calls from other places would come through soon enough.
After finishing our meal, we each had a drink at the café. Go Ye-jin explained the situation surrounding me from a journalist’s perspective in an entertaining way.
She spoke of economic effects reaching one hundred trillion won, of South Korea’s security ranking rising five tiers—remarks I’d been listening to with indifference—yet even Jung Da-hyun had grown absorbed in the story.
I found the section about foreign deployment particularly interesting.
Superhumans wielded far more influence than one might think, and most situations involved intricate political entanglements.
I’d had it easy by comparison.

“Please do contact me! I’ll work hard writing articles about you until we meet next time.”
“I’m counting on the headline.”
“Yes! I’ll make it even more sensational!”

How much more sensational could this get? That was the most intriguing part of today’s meeting.

“She’s quite a handful, isn’t she?”
“She is, that’s for sure.”

But what was Go Ye-jin’s Gift anyway?

* * *

The mention of charitable organizations made me realize I’d never actually thought much about donation before.
Helping someone with money I’d earned. In my past life, I’d lived miserably, awakened too late, pursued power obsessively until I went mad—no time for such thoughts. In this new life, trying not to lose my mind again, I’d been busy with work as a public servant Hunter, then adjusting to being a Superhuman, without room to think.
Maybe I should look into charitable giving.

“Thanks to you, the Awakened One Security Bureau has been besieged by charitable organizations.”

Summoned by Cheon Myeong-guk, I went to the Blue House and had to listen to thorny remarks.

“Ah, I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine. Though they’ve been pressing us, it’s actually been convenient since we can control the situation from our end.”
“Then I’ll continue to ask for your cooperation.”
“…….”

Was he saying it was fine, or that it wasn’t?
He was confusing me.

“…I’ll reconnect the phone line.”

Faced with silent pressure, I changed my stance.

“Diplomatic envoys from allied nations are expected to arrive soon, starting with the United States.”
“Do we really have to participate in it?”
“Of course we do.”

That’s strange. It doesn’t match what Lee Se-hee said earlier.

“From what I’ve heard around the office, there could be some annoying situations. There’s the Exchange Tournament and such.”
“Surely you’re not saying this because it’s a nuisance?”

A mind reader. Why is it that so many people around me have mind-reading abilities?

“That’s not it exactly. I just heard I might have to fight other Superhumans, and I’m not confident I won’t kill them.”
“Not killing them means…….”
“It means I’ll definitely end up killing them.”

How can you not kill someone in a duel?
My greatest difficulty has always been controlling my strength. I had no confidence I could avoid killing. If killing were permitted, I’d accept gladly. But that doesn’t seem like it will be allowed.
I almost preferred to just announce that if we fight, I’ll kill them.

“I can’t stop my hands.”
“Are you perhaps intentionally not stopping them?”
“No.”
…….

I feel a bit ashamed saying things like this. I went from being a civil servant Hunter to becoming a state-sanctioned Superhuman, a Hunter serving my nation—and here I am saying it’s difficult to keep people alive.
Since becoming a normal person, I’ve been facing things I never experienced as a Villain.
But how do people manage to keep their opponent alive during a fight?

“…I’ll do my best to minimize any lethal contact. Though it’s possible the President may have other instructions.”
“Thank you for being so thoughtful.”

If Cheon Myeong-guk is making an effort, this should be acceptable.

“And the Monster Hunt Settlement Payment will be deposited soon.”
“That’s quick.”
“…Is it appropriate for someone receiving money to be so indifferent about it? In any case, once the funds arrive, charity organizations and all sorts of others will start bothering you.”

Cheon Myeong-guk said that information about money inevitably leaks, no matter how hard you try to keep it hidden.

“Existing Superhumans have suffered quite a lot because of parasites drawn to their wealth. I know that you, Superhuman Choi Jun-ho, don’t have much greed in that regard, but it wouldn’t hurt to manage things proactively.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Not at all.”

Cheon Myeong-guk murmured something about worrying whether he’d end up killing all those parasites.
I didn’t quite catch what he said—it was muttered to himself, so I let it pass. He must be under stress.

“Oh! And I’m heading out soon to give a special lecture.”
“A special lecture?”
“Director Go Myeong-hak requested it. Since the Exchange Tournament is coming up, he asked me to give the students some pointers.”
“Superhuman Go Myeong-hak. He’s truly a fine man. I sometimes wonder if the word ‘noble’ wasn’t created specifically for him.”
“He’s a good person.”

Though for someone like that, he did seem to be carrying quite a bit of inner frustration.

“Please, I’m begging you—go easy on them.”
“They won’t die. They won’t die.”

Of course, that’s a lie. There are problem students at the Academy who might turn into Villains, and if I see the rot starting to show, I plan to stomp it out.
But what exactly can I teach these students? I wasn’t thinking about what really matters.
What I’m good at, in the end, is simply killing things.
That’s too much—I should teach him the ins and outs of Force Operation and Gift Awakening instead.

* * *

Two days after Cheon Myeong-guk’s words, over two trillion won hit my account.
To be honest, it didn’t feel real. The sum was simply too vast. With that much, I could eat everything I wanted and buy everything I desired.
But that was the extent of it.
Money held little meaning for me. As long as I had enough to eat what I wanted and buy what I wanted, that was enough. Even after becoming a civil servant Hunter, I’d never faced a shortage of funds.
The only times I’d needed money were when I had to cover Oh Jong-su’s medical bills and to buy a house in Seoul to bring my parents to.
Even those problems could be solved by going on a single day’s hunt.

“There’s nothing I particularly want to do with it.”

Maybe I should actually look into charity donations.
I’d never seriously considered it before, but it didn’t seem like a bad choice. If people struggling in life could find hope through money I’d earned, wouldn’t that be something worthwhile?
Thinking about it, ever since I’d returned to the past, my life had been one long succession of killing things. It would be nice if I could add my name to the list of major donors and even establish a scholarship in my name.
But how much should I give? To be honest, even after giving Yoon Hee some allowance and contributing research funds to the Seongsong Guild laboratory, I’d still have more than enough left to do considerable good.
When I shared these thoughts with Yoon Hee, what came back wasn’t praise—it was a shriek.

“Have you lost your mind? Why did you suddenly get this bug?”
“What, charity?”
“Yeah, you madman. Why are you suddenly trying to do something you’ve never done before?”
“It’s not a bad thing.”
“It absolutely is!”
“Why?”

I couldn’t understand Yoon Hee’s outcry.

“Do you know how freely those organizations spend donated money? Once you donate, they’ll be thrilled—buying new cars, throwing parties, going on retreats!”
“Yoon Hee.”
“What?”

My heart ached for her. She should have been able to see the world in a beautiful light, but she was too sharp-edged.

“Those are just isolated cases. There are plenty of people doing volunteer work with good intentions. So don’t look at everything through such a jaded lens…….”
“Ugh, seriously! Oh! It’s so frustrating!”

I left Yoon Hee behind as she beat her chest, went into my room, changed clothes, and came back out. Still fuming, she gulped down a glass of cold water, then fixed me with an intense stare and came rushing over.

“So are you really going to do it?”
“I’m still thinking about it.”
“I’m telling you not to.”
“Do you really not want me to?”
“Yes.”
“But I want to.”
……

Yoon Hee’s fierce momentum faltered. She dropped her intense expression and sighed deeply, taking a step back.

“Sigh… not that you’d stop just because I asked. And it’s not my money, so I can’t really say anything more. Just donate a reasonable amount, okay? Don’t be reckless and throw out a huge sum just because you don’t care about money. Got it?”

Did she really distrust me that much about money matters? Her concern was endearing enough that I gave in readily.

“Fine.”
“How much are you thinking?”
“About half?”
“One trillion? Have you gone insane?”

I’d made one joke and was now subjected to a torrent of nagging.

* * *

The next day, when I arrived at the National Guard Bureau, the entire building was filled with the clamor of ringing phones.
Everyone looked at me with less-than-friendly eyes, but Jung Ju-ho’s explanation as he practically kidnapped me into the director’s office made the situation clear.

“Word’s gotten out that you received money, and it’s absolute chaos. Why are all these inquiries about you pouring in here?”

I remembered something I’d forgotten.

“I forgot to plug in the phone line.”
“Don’t lie to me! You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Do you have any idea how much my people are suffering?”
“I’ll apologize later.”
“You think a few words of apology will satisfy my people? Hm?”
“We’ll see if it does.”

A genuine apology ought to be backed by genuine effort, after all.
I had no idea there were so many organizations in the world seeking donations.
Jung Ju-ho seemed curious about my willingness to donate as well.

“Are you really going to donate?”
“I have to.”
“How much?”
“A reasonable amount?”
“I have no idea what your idea of reasonable is. Anyway, let’s wrap this situation up quickly.”
“Of course.”

Jung Ju-ho sent me out of the director’s office to handle things myself.
I made the rounds through the National Guard Bureau apologizing. When I said I’d treat everyone to something nice to make up for the chaos I’d caused, cheers erupted throughout the halls.
Seeing how easily I could recover from such a mistake, I realized that money is truly a powerful tool.
I let everyone at the National Guard Bureau know what conditions I wanted to set.
Yoon Hee might nag about it, but I intended to set at least some minimum requirements whenever I donated. Once the conditions were met, I was willing to hand over even substantial sums.
After making the rounds, I ran into Jung Da-hyun coming back from patrol.

“Congratulations! That’s amazing.”
“Thanks.”
“I heard you’re planning to donate. That’s a wonderful choice.”
“But Yoon Hee kept nagging me about it.”
“There are organizations that could use help, after all. I’m sure you’ll choose wisely.”
“To be honest, I’m not sure which ones are worth supporting.”
“Still, it’s good to look into it first.”

The world was vast, and there were many people in need.
With so many different charitable organizations operating, I wasn’t sure where to start helping.
The fortunate part was that I now had substantial wealth and the ability to help everyone.

“Too many conditions on a donation isn’t good.”
“But still…….”
“I only set one condition.”
“What is it?”
“They have to grant me audit rights so I can see how the money I donate is being used.”

It was my money being donated—surely I had the right to see where and how much of it was being spent.
At my words, Jung Da-hyun’s worried expression shifted to one of relief.

“What if the donated funds were misused…….”
“Come on, a charitable organization wouldn’t do that. If they take the money saying they’ll use it for good, and then use it themselves, isn’t that deceiving people? That’s the kind of thing Villains do.”

And if they’re Villains, they deserve to die.

“I had no idea there were so many well-intentioned organizations in the world. Tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll get a lot of calls.”
“…….”

And the next day.
Not a single call came from the charitable organization after they learned of my intention.

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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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