The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 78

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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 78

I’d managed to clear up the misunderstanding, but it felt forced—like I’d bulldozed my way to agreement.
As if they were humoring me.
I couldn’t fathom how someone could judge a person so carelessly, but my mood had soured. Here I was, an Awakened One with a decent grasp of civilization, and they were treating me like a villain they suspected at every turn.
And Berserker—that thing was far more savage than anything I’d shown.
Come to think of it, did she gain Complete Poison Immunity and endure a Mental Attack too?
I’d have to ask her about that later.

“The President awaits you.”

Lee Chan-taek excused himself to discuss further details with the operational staff, and I followed Cheon Myeong-guk to meet with the President.

“Come in.”

The President’s expression as he greeted me was heavier than usual.
Cheon Myeong-guk’s face, too, had lost its earlier composure.
Something was up.
As I puzzled over what it could be, a memory flickered through my mind.
Now that I thought about it, the air had felt similar when the Chinese delegation had visited.

“Who do you need me to kill?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“No, it’s not.”

The President and Cheon Myeong-guk rushed to deny it.
A denial? Maybe the President found it difficult to broach the subject directly.
I glanced at Cheon Myeong-guk, and he shook his head.

“There’s been a misunderstanding. This isn’t like the Zhang Zidong situation. There are too many people at this event—I can’t exactly accept a public contract on someone’s life.”
“If you just say the word, it’s possible.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I suppose because I look approachable, people tend to pick fights with me.”
“Well, to be fair, your face could pass for a college senior. One of these days you’ll provoke the wrong person and end up dead.”
“You needn’t hold back on my account.”

This was me testing the President a little.
I’d eliminated Zhang Zidong because he directly threatened national interests, but the others didn’t fall into that category.
I wanted to know how the President would behave if I placed such a tool in his hands.
I sought a partner I could negotiate with—not someone who’d try to manipulate me for their own gain.

“There are temptations that arise, but this isn’t about that.”
“Your expression was so dark, I misread the situation.”
“Running a country is no trivial burden. If a president leaves office with a smooth complexion, it means he coasted. You’re supposed to be haggard and worn when you finish your term—that’s how you prove you worked hard. Ha!”

This President was clearly cut from different cloth. Or perhaps it was the man Jeon Han-chul himself who was remarkable. The mayors of Busan and Seoul had been disappointingly mediocre.
After laughing for a while, the President turned to the main matter.

“I called you here to ask how the hearing went. Did the National Assembly members rub you the wrong way? Jin Se-jeong in particular, I heard.”

Was he worried I’d take offense? That suggested he was giving my feelings considerable thought.
Yet somehow, it felt less like managing a person and more like managing an explosive device.

“It doesn’t matter. I simply remember what each person said and leave it at that.”
“That’s rather the problem, isn’t it?”
“I’ll be careful to ensure this incident doesn’t become a larger issue.”
“Your story’s details are all twisted around.”

The President shook his head with a slight laugh, and the atmosphere that had threatened to turn serious eased at once.
The conversation shifted to the event being held in Tokyo.

“This event will be quite eventful. Japan’s deliberately preparing to showcase their strength. And nations across the world are putting their heads together to figure out how to handle these newly classified Tier 8 Plus Hazards.”

The controversy over Tier 8 Plus Hazards seems to be running hotter than I expected.
Until then, Tier 8 Hazards could be hunted without major risk if Awakened Ones were involved, but Plus-tier requires either an additional Awakened One or supporting forces deployed at more than double strength.
So debate’s erupting over the Nuri Hunting case as the first example, and apparently some of the places that faced these newly emerged Plus-tier monsters are blaming me after suffering heavy casualties.
Why are they coming after me because they’re weak?
Well, cursing me is their freedom.
But if they do it in front of me, I won’t hold back.
Clearly the President is trying to tell me to exercise restraint.

“If you get there and they start something, don’t hold back—hit them hard.”
“…That’s different from what I was expecting to hear.”
“Those fools will only ever suspect us anyway—what use will they be? If we share hunting information and they suspect it anyway, they should pay the price for it. If you offer goodwill, at the very least they shouldn’t criticize you. That’s why I prepared this.”

At the President’s glance, Cheon Myeong-guk handed me the documents he’d been holding. Looking through them, I found a summary of every Awakened One participating in the event—their affiliated country, country of origin, age, gender, stance, and what comments they’d made about me.
Is this telling me to wipe the floor with them outright?
But looking through it, not a single person had said anything truly vicious.
It’s clear they were just pinning the blame on me to cover up their own weakness.
Among them, someone named Guillermo threw the worst tantrum. The Mexican Awakened One apparently lost his closest friend to this Tier 8 Plus Hazard.
He should be blaming the monster that killed his friend, so why’s he making such a fuss over me?
True enough, most people tend to blame others when they fail.
Based on what he said, I could let it slide, but if he pulls the same stunt in Japan, I won’t forgive him.
It feels strange seeing all the insults organized like this in summary form. The power of an executive summary, I suppose.
People all over the world really did enjoy picking apart and dissecting me from every angle.

“Just don’t kill all of them.”
“If people see it, they’ll think you kill anyone who rubs you the wrong way.”
……

Is he actually starting to think that’s how I operate?
No, surely not.

* * *

Before monsters emerged, it took just over two hours from Incheon to Tokyo. But after monsters appeared and blocked flight paths, causing hundreds of planes to crash, we had to detour to avoid the monsters.
We left Incheon and took four hours to reach Tokyo.
I traveled with Lee Chan-taek.

“Speaking my personal thoughts, Japan is an excellent partner.”

His first impression seemed reserved, but being closer to him revealed he’s quite the talker.
He particularly enjoyed laying out information he knew.
He mentioned he normally doesn’t enjoy participating in these events, but given that the guild is currently in turmoil, he decided to make the Tokyo trip to secure government support.
So government support is that sweet?
Right after the Nuri Hunting, he thanked me immediately, and despite his weighty appearance, he’s skilled at reading the currents and quick to pivot his stance.
Still, he’s almost excessively frank with me.

“Japan and we have much to gain from each other. Becoming stronger than necessary isn’t good, but weakening ourselves wouldn’t be beneficial either. Ah, this is just my personal view—do you have any other thoughts about Japan?”
“Nothing in particular. Not a bad partner, I’d say?”
“That’s fortunate. If you’d thought poorly of Japan, we would’ve had to reassess our relationship.”

My thoughts carry enough weight to influence the Avangarde Guild?
According to Lee Chan-taek, many people around him share similar thoughts, and they were worried whether Japan’s Awakened Ones and I would end up at odds, the way I did with Zhang Zidong.
Such needless concerns abound.
Seeing my reaction, Lee Chan-taek tossed out a remark.

“There’s no getting around it. I need to understand exactly what kind of influence you wield. The moment people know your true power, your intentions become the fulcrum that tips the balance of fate itself.”

It was similar to what everyone else had been saying.
I couldn’t tell if this was just my nature, or something else. If my word carried the same weight as my strength, then the entire nation of South Korea should move in lockstep with whatever I said.
Maybe it was like how conversations sometimes went awkward whenever I asked certain questions.
I liked a good joke myself.
It was a genuinely difficult problem to puzzle out.
Meanwhile, our plane touched down in Tokyo.
The first item on the agenda was straightforward.
We’d head straight to the hotel and conduct interviews with the press. After two days of rest, the main event would commence—I’d just need to show my face a few times.
The delegation sent by the government would handle the actual work, and all I had to do was offer my thoughts during the Nuri Hunting briefing.
Supposedly, this period was an opportunity to befriend other nations’ Awakened Ones. But why bother? I was thinking more along the lines of buying that anime Blu-ray Box Yun-hee mentioned.
As the plane touched down, an unfamiliar yet vaguely familiar landscape came into view. Japan, an island nation surrounded by sea, had made preserving the Tokyo metropolitan area its top priority when Monsters first appeared—and succeeded. That’s why it still retained what many considered the world’s most spectacular cityscape.
We were nearing the airport exit after breezing through immigration when a thunderous roar suddenly erupted from outside.

Kyaaaaaaah!

“What’s that? A Monster?”
“I don’t sense any Monster presence.”
“Then?”
“Perhaps they’ve seen a ghost.”

What the delegation and I saw as we passed through the exit was hundreds of people cheering at the top of their lungs.
They seem to be welcoming us, but looking at the picket signs they’re holding… the words written on them are… Choi Jun-ho? Head Breaker?
…It was me?
Why are these people waiting for me?
And why do they have hearts next to my name?
Before I could process the situation, the cheers erupted once more.

Juno-sama!
Head Breaker-sama!

“…….”
“Remarkable. I knew fan clubs had formed in Korea, but does the name Choi Jun-ho have enough influence to reach Japan on this scale? Your name is becoming a brand unto itself.”

That was when I heard the words that made my skin crawl: K-Awakened One.
So this was what Lee Chan-taek meant. He was speaking so casually about someone else’s problem, wasn’t he?
Only then did the situation before our departure start to make sense.
Why Jin Se-jeong had insisted I get a full makeup done before leaving.
I’d thought it odd at first when she said it was for national prestige, but seeing the scene unfold before my eyes now, I finally understood that enigmatic smile she’d worn at the end.
You played me, Se-jeong!
Since this was my first time in a situation like this, I had no idea how to respond.
Even now, the crowd kept chanting “Juno-sama” and “Head Breaker-sama.”

“Why don’t you wave at them?”

Acting on Lee Chan-taek’s words, I reflexively raised my hand, and the cheers erupted anew. Lee Chan-taek wore an amused smile beside me, and I could only stare in disbelief.
He was fueling the flames when I needed actual advice.

“Let’s go.”

I had to endure an inexplicable embarrassment all the way until we left the airport.
Me—once the worst and most terrifying villain who’d brought the entire world to its knees—being treated like a celebrity idol.
Was this absurd worldview spreading to Japan as well?
No way.
Anyway.
We’ll see about this, Se-jeong.
We’ll see about this, Chan-taek.

* * *

There was no rest even after returning to the hotel. I barely had time to change clothes before heading down to the Convention Center with a small contingent of officials, where I was cornered by Japanese journalists for interviews.
The Japanese journalists were much like those back home—curious about my assessment of Japan itself, and eager to hear commentary on Japan’s Awakened Ones and promising Hunters.
I mentioned my previous meeting with the Minister of Awakening and expressed hope that Japan and Korea’s alliance would deepen, offering brief remarks on Japan’s Awakened Ones and rising talents.
Jin Se-jeong had warned me she’d ask about this, so I’d skimmed through a few talking points.
The Japanese journalists ate it up.
More than I expected, even.
For instance, here’s what I’d said about one Japanese Awakened One:

“Tsuyoshi’s serenity—his Unwavering Mind—is so remarkable that Awakened Ones from South Korea study it, and Awakened Ones from China research ways to counter it. I, too, find him remarkable for maintaining an unshaken spirit regardless of circumstance. I believe Tsuyoshi is a skilled fighter capable of making substantial contributions to the East Asian Monster front, extending far beyond Japan.”

I’d basically just applied some nationalist flattery seasoning to his profile.
Underneath, of course, was the fact that I coveted Tsuyoshi’s Gift—Unwavering Mind.
I’d thought that if I’d had this Gift alone, I might never have lost myself the way I did.
Now that I’d built up my own mental barriers and had Complete Poison Immunity, it wasn’t a Gift I needed anymore—though it did bother me a little that Complete Poison Immunity was malfunctioning.
But the Japanese journalists’ enthusiasm caught me off guard.
I’d taken Jin Se-jeong’s advice to heart and laid on the charm.
Now it felt like I’d dug my own grave.
I ended up talking with the Japanese journalists for over two hours.
The Korean officials were giving me looks of resentment.
Is this how these things usually go?

“No, sir.”

The weary voice of an official pulled me back to reality.
So it wasn’t normal, then.

* * *

After being hounded by journalists all through the first day, I headed down to the restaurant for breakfast.
The dining hall was crowded with officials from various countries who’d arrived early. It really drove home that this was an international event—a bustling mix of people from all walks of life and ethnicity.
Since I was in Japan, I ought to have miso soup. Was there one without tomato? I remembered roasting mochi and putting it in the soup.
I was glancing around, looking for a quiet spot to savor some miso soup, when I sensed a familiar Ki Aura.
It was James Reed from the United States.
I recalled that muscle-bound guy who spoke Korean with surprising fluency and had wanted to fight me before I smoothly evaded him.
Following the Ki Aura, I caught sight of James Reed’s broad back—the massive frame unmistakable. He was engaged in an animated conversation with a handsome middle-aged Latin man. By the sound of it, they were speaking Spanish, not English.
Then I heard a name I recognized.

“Guillermo!”

It was the same name as that Mexican Awakened One who’d been spreading rumors that I was a fraud.
Could it be him?
I never expected to run into him here.
As I stepped closer, both of them stopped talking and turned their heads toward me.
James Reed flinched as if caught gossiping, while the man I assumed to be Guillermo furrowed his brow, his eyes hardening as he looked at me.

“Jun-ho! It’s been forever!”
“Yeah, it has. Your Korean’s still sharp. So who’s this? A friend?”
“A friend, yeah, haha!”

He tried to laugh awkwardly and move past it, so I asked directly.

“You’re Guillermo?”

“You know what all those guys who were talking trash about me have in common? They never had the guts to do it to my face.”

“Try it. Right here.”

I’d directed my words at Guillermo, but his expression made it clear he didn’t understand Korean. Right—he wouldn’t speak Korean since we weren’t in Korea, and I couldn’t very well force him to.

“Jun-ho! Seriously, calm down!”

Now that I thought about it, this bastard had been speaking the whole time, hadn’t he? I’d just found my personal translator.

“You speak Spanish, don’t you? Translate.”
“I don’t know Spanish!”
“You were just rattling off Spanish a second ago.”
“Ah! Busted! I’m so pissed!”

James Reed’s face contorted as his cover was blown.

—————
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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