The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 88

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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 88

Lee Young-mun’s left eyebrow arched upward.

“What are you saying?”
“Your son, sir. No ability, yet boundless ambition, and he can’t help but make a spectacle of himself.”

I chose my words carefully. My meaning seemed to land—Lee Young-mun offered no further reaction.

“You know who your son is, I assume.”
…….

Lee Young-mun, chairman of the Shinseong Group.
A capable man who’d elevated a conglomerate into the hands of the nation’s greatest guild.
Despite a naturally frail constitution and the risk of being the second son, he’d won the previous chairman’s favor, and he’d repaid that faith by raising the Shinseong Group to become both the nation’s premier conglomerate and its premier guild.
The way an overwhelming presence radiated from his slight frame—the kind that only Superhumans could project—spoke to what he’d accomplished.
They called him the little giant of Korean business.
He had sharp instincts and quick judgment. His only real flaw was his indifference toward his own family.
You could see it in how Lee Se-hee was favored over her older brother, Lee Se-chan.
He ought to pay more attention to family, like I do.
All those fancy titles didn’t make him any different to me.

“So all I need to do is manage Se-chan?”
“Keep him from acting out. Maybe I’ll break his arms and legs. No, wait—I don’t literally mean break his arms and legs.”

So many people were misunderstanding me lately, so I’d learned to clarify.
Though if we’re being honest, preventing him from doing anything else might not be a bad solution at all.

“And if you can’t manage him?”
“I’ll kill him.”
“Not a shred of hesitation.”
“Why would I need to think about killing someone who deserves it?”

I’d come this far with that very intention, after all. If I couldn’t achieve it, I’d have to act myself.
And perhaps it would be better if this man—unable to even handle his own son properly—disappeared too. Wouldn’t it be preferable for Lee Se-hee to seize control of the Shinseong Group sooner?
As I turned the thought over in my mind, killing intent naturally rose to the surface.
An ordinary person would’ve wet themselves. But he held steady. Maybe a giant stays a giant, even without being an Awakened One.

…….

Lee Young-mun said nothing, simply observing me in silence. To all appearances unmoved, but I caught the brief flutter of his eyelid.

“I accept.”
“A wise decision.”
“A decision forced upon me, you mean.”

Anyone watching would think I was operating through coercion rather than persuasion.
Still, he’d decided quickly.
Under Lee Young-mun’s stewardship, the Shinseong Group had grown steadily year after year. When you considered that Lee Se-chan’s sidelining and Lee Se-hee’s flourishing were both fruits of his arrangements, his talent for managing personnel was clearly exceptional.
Was this situation part of his design too?
He was the sort who believed mild discord could be stimulating—perhaps this conflict was intentional as well.
But that was where it ended.
It irritated me to watch, and I had no patience for it anymore.

“For my son’s sake, I’ll have to step in. But as you can see, my health isn’t what it used to be.”
“Shall I find you an Elixir or two?”
“Can you get it for me?”
“It’s quite expensive, I’m afraid.”

Well-refined Demon Organs are an excellent tonic.
Especially after word spread that a monster’s reproductive organs were good for virility, there was even a shortage for a while.
I naturally don’t eat those, but the other organs are fine.
They’re a bit revolting going down, but if you close your eyes and enjoy them, there’s no delicacy quite like it.
It’s almost like becoming a monster myself.
There’s something subtly tangy about it—reminds me a little of miso stew.
Thinking about it after all this time made my mouth water.

“It does appeal to me, but I can’t eat it. My condition isn’t good enough to properly absorb the medicinal effects.”
“Just say the word if you need anything.”
“Se-hee’s made a good friend. It must not have been easy getting this far.”

It was easy enough.
In any case, I’m glad we understand each other.
I should have come sooner.
The real complications within Shinseong Group started after I became a Blood Species, so I don’t know much about what’s been happening.
From what this man does, he seems favorable toward Se-hee. Maybe it’s just because his temperament is unusually cold. Judging by how little emotion he showed when handling Se-chan, it might be.
But that’s not my concern.
I just need to make sure he doesn’t die in some ridiculous way.

“I’ll keep Se-chan in line. Will that do?”
“Since you hold a position of social standing, I trust you’ll keep your word.”

I was about to leave, having accomplished what I came for.

“Despite appearances, you’re South Korea’s richest man. You can’t do business without credibility.”

So what?
If you’ve got that much money, why not give some to me and brag about it.
Young-mun gave a light cough, as if my feelings had shown on my face.

“I thought someone who’d come this far would want something more. For instance.”
“For instance?”
“Se-hee.”

Se-hee? If I’m being honest, I’d like to take her with me. Her skills are the real deal.
But watching her during training made me a bit uneasy.
The more cornered she gets, the more her smile turns eerie and unhinged—it’s not normal.

“She’s certainly talented enough to covet, but Se-hee’s talents can only truly flourish within Shinseong Group.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean?”

Young-mun stared at me for a long moment, then shook his head.

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Deflating as always.
I had nothing more to say either, so I turned and left quietly.

* * *

…….

Young-mun let out a soft sigh, tracking the lingering afterimage of Jun-ho as he vanished without a trace.
Though not an Awakened One, Young-mun had climbed to his current position through his eye for talent alone.
It was he who had scouted Gun-seo in his youth, and the presidents overseeing each subsidiary were all people he had personally selected and trained.
Without these eyes, neither he nor Shinseong Group would have reached their current position.
He’d heard of Choi Jun-ho’s reputation, but the man was far more unreserved and disrespectful than the rumors suggested.
His skill, though—that was undeniable.
And the danger he posed far exceeded any calculation Lee Young-mun had made. Enough to threaten Shinseong Group itself if the situation went sideways.
In another time, he would have cut ties immediately.
But.

“When ability backs it up, rudeness becomes charm.”

Lee Young-mun stared at the sweat pooling in his palm and let out a hollow laugh.
It had been years since he’d felt this tense in front of another person.
He had to admit Lee Se-hee had managed that savage beast remarkably well.
And yet Lee Se-chan was doing something to provoke its displeasure.

“So I’ve been an idiot, overlooking what’s right in front of me.”

He’d lived his entire life consumed by a single purpose: making the family business succeed.
He’d neglected the household itself, so he had no excuse when confronted with hard truths—even from someone like Choi Jun-ho.
Not that he had many people around him willing to speak them.
Lee Young-mun summoned his butler at once.
Bewildered at the sudden call, the butler’s expression shifted to alarm the moment he took in the disarray of the room.

“Ch-Chairman!”
“We had an intruder.”
“I’m so sorry! Please, take my life!”

The butler went deathly pale and trembled as he prostrated himself. An intruder in the home of South Korea’s premier tycoon.
If the intruder had harbored different intentions—his own neck could have been forfeit without a second thought.

“I’m not looking to assign blame. Have the entry routes inspected and rebuild the security protocols.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Lee Young-mun clicked his tongue softly as he watched the butler bow and leave.
His only real frustration was the lack of progress between himself and Lee Se-hee.

“He’s not infertile, is he?”

No, surely not. That couldn’t be it.
The following day, Lee Young-mun arrived at Shinseong Group Headquarters.

* * *

His emergence from seclusion sent Shinseong Group into high alert.
Lee Young-mun’s very presence was the company’s presence—his aura permeated everything.
All eyes across the headquarters and every subsidiary turned toward him.
When Baek Gun-seo was summoned shortly after, the executives realized the collision between Baek Gun-seo and Lee Se-hee was the direct catalyst.

“I’m disappointed.”
“…….”
“If there were problems, you should have spoken up.”
“…….”

Baek Gun-seo hung his head in silence. Lee Young-mun studied him without speaking, then gave a shallow cough. Startled, Baek Gun-seo looked up as Lee Young-mun began to speak.

“Gun-seo.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“From now on, I’m speaking to you as your brother.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you truly think of me as your brother?”
“I apologize.”
“You don’t need to apologize. This happened because of my own negligence.”
“No, sir.”

Lee Young-mun watched Baek Gun-seo bow again, then drew in a sharp breath. He raised a hand to stop him, explaining that the sudden quickening was just a momentary reaction to his surprise.
The collision between Baek Gun-seo and Lee Se-hee had stemmed from a matter involving his son. Baek Jin-yong, who had been attached to Lee Se-chan, was a reckless fool who had committed several crimes. Lee Se-chan had covered for him, and Baek Gun-seo had been asked to reveal this in order to provoke a clash with Lee Se-hee.
Lee Se-chan’s aim was surely the position of successor.
But Lee Young-mun’s assessment of Lee Se-chan did not mark him as successor material.

“Your son is my nephew. I’ll send Jin-yong to study abroad in the United States, where he won’t encounter any Koreans. Studying in an unfamiliar place might help him gain some sense. I won’t entertain any objections.”
“…Thank you, sir.”
“For now, just think of me as your senior. You need to clear your head too. You must maintain your condition.”
“Yes, sir.”

Once Baek Gun-seo had left, Lee Young-mun clicked his tongue softly.
This was the empire he had built. He had focused on establishing it on solid ground in his own lifetime but had been careless about what would come after.
Perhaps it was the memory of competing with his elder brother in his youth that made him so. Back then, the internal strife of the family had been more grueling than building Shinseong Group to its present scale.
Lee Young-mun boldly recalled the face of Choi Jun-ho, who had invaded his Residence and radiated lethal intent toward him.
No matter how formidable the fortress one builds, a single betrayal by one person can bring it all crashing down.
He knew the times were like that, and he refused to leave a source of instability.
This empire was not built to fall to a single person.

“Call Lee Se-hee, the General Manager of the Shinseong Guild.”

* * *

At her father’s summons, Lee Se-hee felt her heart pounding fiercely.
Her father had always been distant since her childhood. To her, Lee Young-mun was a father, an entrepreneur she admired, and an objective she desperately wanted to surpass.
Since taking on the position of General Manager of the Shinseong Guild, she had achieved dazzling results, but compared to her father, she still fell far short.
Yet in some corner of her heart, she harbored a desire to earn his recognition.
Her father, who had been resting at home to recover, had come into headquarters.
She instinctively understood it was because of the collision that had occurred.

“Se-hee.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Speak to me casually.”
“Yes, Dad.”
“I’ve spoken with Gun-seo. He’ll come to apologize to you soon.”

Lee Se-hee shook her head.

“I’ve already made peace with Uncle.”
“But it wasn’t an official resolution. This situation could have been handled quietly, but Gun-seo is largely to blame for escalating it. So Gun-seo needs to humble himself once more for this to end cleanly.”

In that process, a crack would appear in Baek Gun-seo’s pride.
But now that Lee Young-mun had stepped in, there was no need to worry.
What she had found difficult, Lee Young-mun had resolved neatly.

“…….”
“And your achievements have brought luster to the group.”
“Really, Dad?”

A faint smile played at Lee Young-mun’s lips.
Lee Se-hee knew it well. Countless executives and employees had staked their lives on their work to catch a glimpse of that small smile. It was a mark of trust from Lee Young-mun.

“From now on, I’ll trust you and assign you more work. Can you help me?”
“Yes! Of course!”
“Then there’s something I need you to do first.”
“Just give me the word!”

Lee Se-hee spoke confidently, but her expression shifted to surprise at what followed.

“Bring Choi Jun-ho to me.”
“I’m sorry?”

Lee Se-hee’s eyes widened at the unexpected command.

* * *

After his long withdrawal, Lee Young-mun returned with sweeping action.
Within a day of his return, he resolved the conflict between Baek Gun-seo and Lee Se-hee cleanly, and dismissed the twelve executives who had been attached to Lee Se-chan.
Some saw this as Lee Se-hee being marked as his successor.
Not stopping there, he visited the Office of the President and announced a major investment, instantly washing away the ominous atmosphere surrounding Shinseong Group.
From the articles that came out and the atmosphere at the Office of the President, I could tell he was a man of considerable influence.
And articles kept flooding in about how he would strengthen cooperation with me.
Anyone watching would think Young-mun and I were incredibly close.
And right now, I was attending the Shinseong Guild’s VIP party.

“Thank you for coming.”

Lee Se-hee greeted me with her face slightly flushed.
I looked out at the crowd filling the party venue and muttered.

“I came because I was invited, but I didn’t expect it to be this kind of gathering.”
“There are so many people who want to meet the chairman. This is already a heavily filtered selection. But how do I look?”

She twirled gracefully, waiting for my verdict.
She wore a Black Long Evening Dress that emphasized her figure beautifully, adorned with a necklace, earrings, and bracelet, while a jeweled belt at her waist accentuated her slenderness.
The elegant curve of her calf where the dress slit opened and her pale, bare arms caught my eye.
Did she have a body type that didn’t build muscle easily? Should I have her train harder?
That aside, from an aesthetic standpoint, she was beautiful.

“It suits you.”
“Thank goodness.”

Why was she so relieved at my assessment?
Either way, it was clear she’d put considerable effort into getting ready.
Though I wondered if she could even breathe in that dress.

“Your stomach’s fine?”
“Yes, I can breathe.”
“Your stomach doesn’t stick out?”
“…That remark just cost you a million points in favorability.”

So my favorability had dropped by a million points just like that.
I had a similar expression on my face when I mentioned Anna Christine’s age.
Either way, I’d come to the party, but this kind of gathering still didn’t suit me.
The gazes pouring in from all around seemed to have expectations of me, but truthfully, I had nothing I wanted from these people.
Perhaps noticing that I didn’t blend well with others, Lee Se-hee stayed by my side throughout.
That was when Baek Gun-seo approached me.

“Choi Jun-ho.”
“Yes.”
“I caused trouble for you because of internal matters. I apologize.”

So the pride of a Superhuman was as sky-high as they say? It was resolved that easily?
Since he was offering to end things on good terms, I accepted gracefully.

“I’m fine. I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere with my hunting.”
“Interfere? If anything, we should learn from you.”
“Then I’ll learn the Shinseong Guild’s methods as well.”
“I’ll count on you that day.”

With Baek Gun-seo’s apology, our conversation wound down on a rather harmonious note.
In my old days, one of us would surely have ended up dead—but this outcome, I have to admit, satisfies me well enough.
I looked toward Lee Se-hee and asked,

“How are the hunting preparations coming along?”
“Smoothly. All that’s left is for So-ye to show up.”
“Good to hear.”

My part is simple enough—just watching quietly from the sidelines.
There’s an old saying about the “Shinseong” of preparation, after all.
Then the murmur of voices swelled, and commotion stirred in one direction; I turned my head to see Lee Young-mun approaching me.
He still looked in poor health—I really should find him an Elixir one of these days.

“Pass along my thanks for coming.”
“If you hadn’t invited me, I wouldn’t have come at all.”
“True enough—you’ve never cared for these sorts of gatherings. I wish you’d grow accustomed to them, but there’s no need for a Superhuman to force himself. Next time I’ll arrange something different.”

There was no real need to go to such lengths.
Unaware of my thoughts, Lee Young-mun gave a meaningful glance toward Lee Se-hee.

“Look after Se-hee for me. And Se-hee, you take good care of Choi Jun-ho here.”
“…Yes.”

For some reason, Lee Se-hee’s face had flushed red.
Lee Young-mun, his health taking its toll, left a brief word for everyone to enjoy the party, then excused himself from the gathering.
With just him gone, the atmosphere of the venue visibly lightened. Even without being an Awakened One, and despite his small frame, the Chairman’s presence carried remarkable authority.
I found a spot to settle and began eating. The food was good, but honestly, nothing beats Guillermo’s Mexican-style miso soup over rice to my palate.
When made with the broth base of Mediterranean mussels—James Reed’s recipe, the one he’d deceived me with—it becomes something transcendent. I should try adding ox bone marrow to it later.
As I ate, I exchanged pleasantries with a few distinguished guests who approached. Lee Se-hee at my side made it easy to respond without difficulty.

“Getting bored?”
“Think I should head out soon.”
“I’ll cover the rest for you.”
“All right.”

I was about to accept Lee Se-hee’s kindness and leave when—

“Choi Jun-ho!”

It was Lee Se-chan who’d burst into the party venue.
His face twisted with rage, he stormed toward me, fury radiating from every inch of him.

“You bastard—you think you’ll walk away from this unscathed?”

A vulgar outburst, nothing more.
The fool was venting his anger at me because Lee Young-mun had scolded him.
The sharp words drew every eye in the venue toward us.
And this is precisely why it never benefits him—a stupid man always makes stupid choices.

“More so than you, certainly.”
“You think I’ll let this slide? I know your sister belongs to the Shinseong Guild. You might be safe, but your sister…”

Crack!

“Gahhh!”

My foot swept across Lee Se-chan’s shin, and his leg bent in a direction it was never meant to go.
He screamed and crumpled to the floor. I’d held back because of Lee Young-mun’s request, but I had no intention of forgiving someone who’d crossed the line.
I kicked him repeatedly, shattering both knees and arms. Then I grabbed him by the hair, forcing our eyes to meet.
His face was twisted with terror.
Why did he keep provoking someone so much stronger? It made no sense.
Even with a grievance, he should have swallowed it if he lacked the power to act.
Or grown strong enough to match me.

“Say it again.”
“Ugh… you…”
“Did you really think I’d let you call me Se-hee’s brother? You’re not even close to her.”

It was time to end this.
My hand was about to swallow his face whole.

“Jun-ho!”

Lee Se-hee threw herself between us, trying to separate me from Lee Se-chan.
I shoved her aside. This needed to finish.
That’s when Lee Young-mun’s voice cut through the silence—a voice that hadn’t been there moments before.

“Choi Jun-ho, Superhuman.”

I turned. Lee Young-mun stood there, breathing hard, his chest heaving. Baek Gun-seo supported him, worry etched across his face.
Baek Gun-seo looked ready to charge at any second. His son had been used against him, yet his loyalty was unwavering. Still, if he rushed me now, I’d kill him too.
Lee Young-mun steadied his breathing and spoke.

“I apologize for my son’s rudeness.”
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Chairman.”

I knew he was a different man from this reckless fool.

“Could you let him live? I’ll make sure he never appears before you again.”
“Do you have feelings for your son?”
“None. But letting him die like this would serve neither me nor you, Choi Jun-ho.”
“Then I’ll trust your word.”

I released my grip on his hair and pulled a Recovery Elixir from my pocket, spraying it over him. With a sharp hissing sound, his limbs snapped back into place. But Lee Se-chan could only writhe in silence, unable even to scream.

“I’m grateful for your generosity. Take him away.”

At Lee Young-mun’s command, security rushed in to help Lee Se-chan to his feet.
I’d never intended to kill him from the start anyway.
No matter how reckless he was, he was Lee Young-mun’s son and Lee Se-hee’s brother.
But the moment he brought up Yun-hee, he crossed a line. He deserved worse than death.
Lee Se-hee approached me, her face streaked with tears.

“Thank you, Jun-ho. Thank you so much.”
“You don’t owe me thanks.”

I left no loose ends.
As they dragged Lee Se-chan away, his eyes had gone glassy and vacant.

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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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