The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 89

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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 89

The rumor that Lee Se-chan had become simple-minded at the party spread quietly.
It didn’t have quite the impact I’d expected.
Still, it was the son of the top-ranked business magnate—had Lee Young-moon gotten involved?
If he’d exerted direct pressure, it was possible.
Just to be sure, I tracked down where Lee Se-chan was. The brainwashing had been done in such a short time that I wondered if it was even taking proper effect.
Brainwashing is less effective the stronger a person’s mental barrier is. That’s why even the fake cult leader who possessed this Gift had to break down his targets’ minds over multiple stages before turning them into zealots.
Still, I’d thought that as the scion of a chaebol family, his mind wouldn’t have crumbled in such a short span—

“······.”

It had worked perfectly.
What a pathetically fragile creature.
Lee Se-chan had become genuinely simple-minded.
His mind had broken in that brief window of time.
I looked into Lee Se-chan’s vacant, unfocused eyes and nodded.
The journey had been pointless, but at least I’d gained certainty. That was enough.

“One less problem to worry about.”

When I returned home.
I had to endure a barrage of complaints from my formidable younger sister.

“You’re insane. You’re absolutely insane.”

Yun-hee grabbed me in shock and shook me down.
But calling me insane was a bit harsh. If this had been during the Bloodline State, I’d have twisted his neck the moment I saw Lee Se-chan’s face without a word of question.

“Why did you even do that?”
“There was a reason.”
“A reason you can’t tell me?”
“Yes.”

No point in explaining. Lee Se-chan had brought Yun-hee into it. Not that it mattered—he was always going to be a problem that needed handling. He was nothing but an obstacle to Lee Se-hee.
Lee Young-moon probably thought the same way.
Looking at it that way, maybe he owed me thanks instead.
Sensing my refusal to budge, Yun-hee let out a heavy sigh.

“Really, no matter what the reason, how could you do that to the vice president?”
“Isn’t it better that the person causing trouble disappeared? You said the Guild’s atmosphere improved, didn’t you?”
“Well, that’s true, but—”
“Didn’t the Guild have nothing to do with him? How was he interfering anyway?”
“Still, he’s the chairman’s son. Some people followed him.”

According to Yun-hee, there were quite a few people within Shinseong Guild who supported Lee Se-chan.
They saw Lee Se-hee as an obstacle, and the internal politics would often become muddied because of it. But now, with this incident, they’d fallen silent, which was a welcome outcome.

“Everything’s falling into place, then.”
“Now only Lee Se-hee is left. But seriously, won’t you tell me what drove you to do this?”
“There’s nothing good in knowing.”
“···Damn it, you’re clearly hiding something important.”

Yun-hee kept searching my face, hoping I’d relent, but I offered nothing.
In this way, the person most directly involved—Yun-hee herself—was successfully left without answers.
I deliberately ignored the rumor that I’d intentionally reduced Lee Se-chan to a simpleton. There was no reason to confirm the truth when it was better left unsaid.
But the blow came from an unexpected direction—from Jung Da-hyun.

“You did it, didn’t you?”

When had she gotten so sharp?
Jung Da-hyun’s eyes narrowed as she studied me. Not probing—certain. I turned away, trying to brush past it, but she stayed fixed on me to the end.
She’s grown a lot, Da-hyun. Time was, I could’ve sighed and let it go.

“Leaving him as is would only drag Lee Se-hee down anyway. How’d you figure it out?”
“You forgot? I’m from the Shinseong Guild too. I know Lee Se-chan better than anyone.”
“Ah.”
“He was always pushing his luck. Even when Se-hee stopped him in the middle, he’d keep going. Back then I thought enduring it was the best I could do. No matter how wild he acted, he was still her brother. I thought once I got stronger, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly toward me.”
“You held out pretty well.”
“Now? I’d throw a punch first without thinking twice.”
“Fair enough.”

The Jung Da-hyun standing before me now bore no resemblance to the one I’d known in her Bloodline State. A new Da-hyun, really—drop her into any villain organization and she’d sweep through it clean.
I’d made a proper person out of her, hadn’t I.
Satisfying, that.
Better than her spouting empty justice like she used to. I’d take this version any day.

“What worries me is his family, to be honest.”
“Why?”
“No matter how distant things are, he’s still their son and brother. I can’t have them holding a grudge…”
“Can’t be helped.”

If I’d been afraid of that, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger in the first place. This is mine to bear.

“I think that’s the difference between you and me. Can I become like that too?”
“You can.”
“I’ll work on it.”
“The broadcast content—you’re comfortable with it?”
“Yes! I think it’ll feel fresh, and watching you, I’ve realized how much the broadcast can help depending on how it’s used.”

Jung Da-hyun was scheduled to appear on my personal broadcast in a few weeks.
Lately, there’d been talk that she was too ruthless, so this was image management.
From an external standpoint, Da-hyun’s known for her beauty and brilliance.
Jin Se-jeong thought it’d be good to show how much effort goes into reaching her current position.
Far as I’m concerned, I can’t picture her putting on effort for the cameras.
When I’d proposed building a better public image, Da-hyun had accepted it without hesitation.

“Don’t think of it as a broadcast.”
“That’s what I want. Thank you for this.”
“Sure.”

I’d give her what she asked for.

* * *

Handling Lee Se-chan had apparently become the talk of the town.
When I went to the Office of the President to report to Cheon Myeong-guk, the President himself showed up and asked me with a startled expression.

“You really don’t hold back. How’s the chairman putting up with this?”
“I’ve been quite patient, sir.”

I hadn’t killed him right there on the spot, after all.

“Heh.”

The President shook his head with amusement. He knew I didn’t speak falsehoods.
I find myself being understood like this.
It’s true—when people act consistently, their sincerity comes through.
The President looked at Cheon Myeong-guk and spoke.

“Did I mention that a distinguished guest is coming from Germany soon?”
“I was just about to bring that up.”
“A distinguished guest?”

There was only one name that came to mind.

“Grand Master Franz is coming. You know that, I presume?”
“Yes, I’m aware.”

It’s a name that can’t be unknown.
Franz was the most renowned superhuman in Europe, and until recently, he held a position among the top ten superhumans—the strongest of them all.
He was also a figure respected by superhumans and known as the godfather of European superhumans.
He was one of those who visited each fragmented European nation, each fending for itself, and unified them to respond collectively to monster threats.
And he was the original owner of the Mine that I possess, known for wielding it with complete freedom as if it were his own body.
He died by my hand in the end, but I had quite a struggle back then. And when I saw how Franz operated the Mine, acquiring it caused the power of my Blood Lineage State to skyrocket.

“Why is he coming to Korea?”
“On the surface, he says he wants to see Korea’s system as an awakened superpower, but in reality…” The President broke into a hearty laugh.

Cheon Myeong-guk’s expression became uncomfortable, and he spoke.

“He’s coming to lodge a protest about his disciple being beaten.”
“Who beat his disciple?”

The President’s and Cheon Myeong-guk’s gazes turned toward me.
Me? I mostly kill people rather than beat them senseless.

“Laura Anne. Don’t you remember?”
“Ah, now I recall.”

So they were talking about the German superhuman I pounded on.
I thought she wasn’t his formal disciple. Was she actually his formal disciple?
I had no idea because I wasn’t paying attention.

“That’s why I was thinking it might be best for Superhuman Choi Jun-ho to avoid meeting him if possible.”
“Someone coming to lodge a protest won’t just let it slide.”
“That’s true, but…”
“It’s fine. I’ll meet him.”
……

Isn’t this what he wanted?
Why does he look worried?
Anyone watching would think I just go around causing trouble.
If the old master doesn’t start anything, I’ll stay out of it too. Though he does have quite the temper.
Isn’t that just how superhumans are—fighting among themselves, growing closer?
It’s a good age where broken limbs can be quickly mended with Recovery Medicine.

“Despite appearances, I have genuine respect for the elderly.”
“That’s absurd…”
“I’m sincere.”

When I regained my wits, the one thing I can be most confident about is respect for the elderly.
After all, didn’t I let the Red Snake Kim Young-hwan live?
Well, I actually tried to kill him but backed out, so he lived—but still, I spared him.

……

If you don’t want to believe, then don’t.

“Actually, I’ve known the name Franz for quite some time. There are aspects that align with my Gift, as well. I’ll approach this with patience and have a good conversation with him.”
“Fair enough. Then I’ll trust you with it.”

Once the President stepped in to smooth things over, the matter settled down reasonably well.
This old man used to drone on about German music being the world’s finest, and now I should show him the dominance of K-Pop while the United States scrambles to react, China struggles to catch up, and Japan loses its will to compete.

* * *

Just as the rumors about me humbling Lee Se-chan were beginning to fade.
A Plus-Tier monster named Soye emerged.
Soye meant “delicate and beautiful,” but the Soye that appeared in Jirisan took the form of an Asian black bear standing fifteen meters tall.
It suited the name in a way, yet didn’t suit it at all. It looked formidable.
The government immediately convened a response meeting. From the Shinseong Guild, which had won the bidding rights to hunt Soye, Lee Se-hee stepped to the forefront.

“The Shinseong Guild plans to mobilize most of our forces.”

Lee Se-hee declared that she would deploy eighty out of the Shinseong Guild’s entire roster of one hundred Hunters.
Twenty of them were either newly recruited or Hunters whose Levels hadn’t yet met the standard. Yun-hee fell into that category. She’d been so cocky about her abilities, but clearly there was still a long way to go.
One saving grace for both the government and the Shinseong Guild was that Soye wasn’t a flying monster. Quadrupedal monsters were far easier to hunt than their airborne counterparts.
However, in terms of raw power, stamina, and defensive capability, four-legged monsters possessed a significant advantage.
I was curious to see how they’d handle it.
The President, listening to Lee Se-hee’s briefing, smiled and offered encouragement.

“I look forward to the Shinseong Guild’s success.”
“I’ll prove it with results.”

Her confident tone inspired belief. Then again, Lee Se-hee always gave the impression she could accomplish anything she set her mind to.
Once the President concluded his business with the Shinseong Guild, his gaze shifted to me.

“By the way, I hear Superhuman Choi Jun-ho is accompanying you this time?”
“Yes.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“I’ll be observing from the sidelines. I’ll remain inactive until the situation becomes critical.”
“If anyone finds themselves in mortal danger, then please step in.”

Lee Se-hee interjected suddenly. I wondered if she was serious, but the smiled woman winked at me.

“I’m joking. Not a single person will die, and we’ll hunt Soye successfully!”
“I’ll observe carefully without causing any trouble either.”

My goal was simply to watch how a major guild conducted a hunt.
I wanted to see what kind of technique Baek Gun-seo objected to so strongly.
That’s what I said, but in the end, I didn’t go along with the Shinseong Guild.
The day after Soye appeared, a new Toxic Tier-8 monster named Han-byul emerged.
Even with Toxic Tier-8 monsters appearing simultaneously, the President’s expression remained composed. Unlike Soye, which had been determined to be Plus-Tier, this Han-byul was merely Tier-8.

“When did we start treating Toxic Tier-8 so casually?”

The President murmured that even he could recognize such tremendous progress. Across from him, Cheon Myeong-guk’s expression was equally serene.
Now that I’d become part of the government, I could see that those who governed the nation didn’t necessarily hold all the cards. Especially when situations arose that required asking favors from major guilds—then you had to offer something in return.
It was an endless cycle of negotiations.
Though truthfully, I wasn’t particularly fond of negotiating.

“Normally, when monsters appear simultaneously, the government is supposed to handle it. If the government doesn’t have a Superhuman on hand, we’d be dragged around helplessly—but that’s not our situation.”
“We have Superhuman Choi Jun-ho.”

And with that, he turned his gaze toward me.
There had to be a reason for eyes to suddenly sparkle like that.
Over just a single Toxic Tier-8 monster.

“Can you handle it?”
“I’ll take care of it and return.”

I should test whether Brainwashing works this time too.
Was there another one like that brat Garam from last time? Using it as bait wouldn’t be bad either.
If I want to watch the Shinseong Guild hunt, I’ll need to make my move first.

* * *

A terrible shriek tore through the air.

Soye’s piercing cry sent the hunters reeling backward with groans, scattering in all directions.

‘This isn’t good.’

Lee Se-hee, commanding the battle, clicked her tongue as she surveyed the situation.
Her mouth had gone completely dry.
Coming to Jirisan to hunt Soye had seemed like a good plan. Baek Gun-seo had completely regained his condition, and the guild hunters were at peak performance.
All that remained was to successfully hunt Soye. In the form of a moon bear, they’d analyzed the creature’s habits and devised tactics for how to search for and overcome its Gift.
Shinseong Guild hunters weren’t merely exceptional in raw skill—their tactical intelligence was world-class. She took pride in their ability to absorb instructions, their organic teamwork reaching the highest standards globally.
Even if individuals were weak, united they could hunt any monster alive.
But Soye was simply too strong.
Now she understood why multiple Superhumans had lost their lives when Plus-Tier emerged, why entire cities had been laid to waste.

Boom!

The moment Soye lifted her foreleg and brought it crashing down, a terrible wave of force rippled outward.
Along with the shock of earth shaking, each speck of dust that scattered in all directions carried force stronger than grenade shrapnel.

Crack!

It wasn’t a Gift. This was the result of raw strength and Force control alone.
Yet the aftermath was staggering.
Two shields that had been tanking just took the hit and shattered. The hunters hastily drew replacements, but their exhaustion was plainly visible.
Choi Jun-ho had faced this monster alone?
While Nuri and Soye were monsters of different tiers, eighty hunters facing her still felt impossibly distant.
Most of all, Soye’s Gift—that Force Shield—inspired utter despair.
Just moments ago, when Baek Gun-seo’s blade nearly reached her neck, the Force Shield rendered it utterly powerless.
Even if they pierced that barrier, Soye’s tough hide left not a scratch.
Instead, the moment his blade clashed with her claws head-on, the weapon itself chipped.
Baek Gun-seo discarded the broken sword and drew his spare—the Black Dragon, the blade they’d named for him, rose with Force Blade rippling along its length.
It raked across Soye’s belly, but the wound sealed itself at terrifying speed.

“Hm.”

Though he feigned composure, Lee Se-hee saw thick sweat trickling down his neck.
A Superhuman’s blade strike couldn’t even break through easily—was this the might of Plus-Tier?
Hunting Soye would likely drag on far longer than anyone had anticipated.

“Uncle, don’t push yourself—let’s go for a long fight!”
“That seems wise.”

Though the initial miscalculation had wounded several hunters, they recovered their condition with Recovery Medicine and began grinding down Soye’s strength.
It was a tedious war of attrition.
Keeping the creature’s aggression fixed so it couldn’t flee, they slowly drained her reserves.
Baek Gun-seo held the front line, constantly hunting for an opening at Soye’s neck, but the thick Force Shield and hide remained impenetrable.

“Huh?”

At some point, Lee Se-hee noticed Soye’s movements beginning to slow.
At first, she thought it was exhaustion, but when she followed Soye’s gaze, she saw Choi Jun-ho sitting on the ground.
He’d just finished hunting Han-byul.
It was astonishing. Even a Toxic Tier-8 monster was no trivial prey.

Screeeee!

Then Soye suddenly charged forward, ignoring the barrage of Force attacks.

“Defensive formation, all of you!”

At Lee Se-hee’s shout, the tankers with shields rushed forward, while the hunters with weaker defenses retreated and scattered.

Crash!

“Ugh!”

Breaking through the encirclement, Soye’s eyes blazed—and she abruptly changed direction, heading straight for Choi Jun-ho.

Choi Jun-ho’s face showed no trace of panic.
Instead of rising and retreating, he stepped into empty air—then launched himself skyward and drove his heel into Soye’s head as she charged past.

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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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