I transmigrated into an S-rank scumbag villain chapter 19

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What the hell is he doing…

Maybe it was just my imagination, but my neck had been feeling oddly chilly for a while now.

I instinctively raised my hand to shield my throat.

I didn’t even know why I did it.

Even in that moment, Chirpy continued chirping at full volume.

“What are you doing?”

As I took a step back to create some distance, I finally heard the faint shuffle of feet.

Woo Jaehyun had made his first move.

“I’ve confirmed everything. Let’s go now.”

His voice finally came, low and subdued.

But at least it wasn’t completely emotionless like before, which made me relax a little.

Still, my doubts weren’t entirely gone.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.”

His hand carefully reached for my arm as if to support me.

Almost like telling me there was no longer any need to run.

I was a bit confused, but I didn’t push his hand away.

No—that’s not quite right.

I couldn’t push it away.

Without his support, I wouldn’t have been able to get out of here on my own.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

“…Okay.”

Thankfully, my heartbeat had settled, but my body still felt stiff.

Why do I feel so anxious?

Technically speaking, Woo Jaehyun hadn’t done anything.

He just didn’t say anything.

Am I overreacting?

Woo Jaehyun wrapped his arm around my shoulders and helped me out of the dungeon.

Then he gently placed me in the passenger seat, even fastening the seatbelt himself.

And throughout the entire drive, Woo Jaehyun didn’t say a single word.

If I could at least sense his mood, I might be able to read the atmosphere, but right now, I couldn’t feel anything at all.

Maybe his mood was affected by the skill?

If not that, I had no explanation for his sudden change.

Anyone affected by ‘Seo Inho’s’ skill would inevitably feel euphoria.

Whether they wanted to or not, it was a forced effect.

Depending on their rank, the degree varied—A-ranks would often become deranged, laughing like lunatics while wreaking havoc.

Since they temporarily gained near S-rank power, it wasn’t too surprising.

If that’s how it was for A-ranks, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how it felt for an S-rank.

Having your mood forcibly manipulated might be deeply unpleasant for someone of that level.

Even Do Soohyuk had tried to avoid receiving my skill as much as possible.

Yet somehow, despite him being the one who basically threatened me into using it, I was the one walking on eggshells.

I bit my lip in frustration before finally speaking up.

“Jaehyun, how did my skill feel?”

His reply came almost instantly, making my prior hesitation feel silly.

“It was good.”

“……”

“Too good.”

And then silence.

…So it was very good, apparently.

Which meant his mood wasn’t down because of the skill.

Still, the odd feeling wouldn’t go away as we quietly arrived in front of my house.

Woo Jaehyun carefully unbuckled my seatbelt and practically carried me out of the car.

This was excessive, but I shut my mouth, feeling awkward.

“Watch your step, hyung.”

When the elevator arrived, I naturally dodged his supporting hand.

“I can go up on my own from here.”

For some reason, bringing Woo Jaehyun all the way up to my place didn’t feel right.

He seemed about to back off but then suddenly stopped the elevator doors from closing with a loud bang.

“Hyung, can I tell you something that’s been bothering me?”

“Something bothering you? Now?”

“There’s no one else I can talk to.”

After being quiet the whole way here, it was an unexpected confession.

Ah… maybe this was why he seemed off.

I nodded slightly, thinking it could make sense.

“There’s this one item I’ve wanted for a really long time.”

“……”

“When I want something, I have to get it no matter what. But I don’t want to take it by force. The thing is…”

As Woo Jaehyun paused briefly, the elevator doors let out a squeaky, slightly crumpling sound.

It was because he had tightened his grip.

“I’ve been feeling this impulse more and more lately.”

“Hmm.”

Impulse, huh…

If he was calling it that, it meant his patience was already at its limit.

It was surprising that Woo Jaehyun even had something he hadn’t managed to get for so long.

He had the ability, and honestly, if he set his mind to it, it seemed like there was nothing he couldn’t have.

“If it’s gotten to that point, it must be a pretty great item.”

“Yeah, too much so.”

I crossed my arms and swallowed a small sigh.

If it was that great, surely others were after it too.

Then it’d be better to make a move before someone else snatched it up.

Of course, without breaking the law.

“Then if you can get it, you should. What if someone else grabs it first?”

“…You’re right.”

“But don’t forcefully take it if the other side says no. Just…”

“Just?”

“Just try to coax them.”

Even I felt my advice wasn’t very helpful, so I coughed awkwardly out of embarrassment.

But it’s not like I could tell him to snatch it by force.

He had to consider the other party too.

And yet, after all this, Woo Jaehyun stayed silent.

“Are you listening?”

“Yeah.”

Look at this guy.

There was a hint of amusement in his voice.

I raised an eyebrow in displeasure.

Was he teasing me because I couldn’t see?

“Are you laughing right now?”

Then, as if he could no longer hold it in, Woo Jaehyun burst out laughing.

The narrow elevator filled with his hearty laughter.

I was glad his mood seemed better, but now I was annoyed.

“Anyway, I’m leaving.”

I pushed away the hand that had been fumbling to hold the elevator door, and as it fell away, it brushed lightly against my cheek.

“Hyung, get home safe.”

The elevator doors soon closed, and I felt my body rise.

Honestly, who’s the older one here?

I brushed my tingling cheek with the back of my hand for no real reason.

“Seriously, what a weirdo.”

I figured I should charge him several times over for the repair costs on the elevator door.

---

“Coax him well?”

Even thinking about it again made him chuckle.

Yeah, coax him well so he can’t run away.

Feeling the gradually fading warmth in his hand, Woo Jaehyun quietly stared at his palm.

He had almost ruined everything today.

He had nearly wrapped his hand around that pale neck instead of gently calming him.

Seo Inho’s skill effect had far exceeded expectations.

Even though his rationality had evaporated and only fragments of memory remained, the sensation still lingered vividly.

The overwhelming pleasure, the feeling of having the world in his grasp.

And that only fueled his greed.

A desire to possess Seo Inho entirely, to not share him with anyone else.

But there was no benefit in rushing.

Even today, overcome by desire, he had unintentionally made Inho anxious.

There was no meaning in forcing someone trembling with unease to stay by his side.

He had to make him willingly, voluntarily come closer.

“I’ve waited years for this—I can’t let it slip away now.”

Whatever had brought it on, it was fortunate that Seo Inho had finally started coming out into the world.

Unless entering a dungeon, he had spent most of his time holed up at home.

Maybe because he was surrounded by enemies, he was extremely cautious, even inviting women to his house rather than meeting them outside.

He was so hard to meet that Woo Jaehyun had even considered bribing him like others did.

Inho barely spared a glance at anyone besides Do Soohyuk, after all.

That made it all the more puzzling.

This was the same guy who had raised hell not only with the people around him but even with the father who raised him.

Yet, overnight, it was like he had turned into a completely different person.

For a while, Woo Jaehyun wondered if he was suddenly trying to fix his image, but seeing him in person, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Just seeing how quickly he let someone get close after a little kindness…

Woo Jaehyun tilted his head slightly and walked forward with a languid, indifferent gaze, as if none of this concerned him.

“Well, not really my business.”

Whatever was going on behind the scenes didn’t matter.

All that mattered was that Seo Inho ended up safely, completely, in his hands.

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Cold.

That was the only thought that crossed the mind of the man lying face down.

His brain was clearly shutting down, yet it was strange that he could still think at all.

The man was lying in the exact position he had first fallen onto the asphalt.

The blood that had flowed from his head had long since dried and turned a dark, crusted red.

Why am I still alive?

His half-closed eyes were completely lifeless, pitch black, but they twitched ever so faintly—so slight that no one would even notice.

He had no idea how many days had passed.

The sun had risen and set countless times, yet no one had come to this place.

Only the occasional sounds of cats and insects could be heard.

Even those sounds were growing fainter by the day.

---

Beeep—beeep—

“…”

At the piercing noise drilling into his eardrums, he slowly lifted his eyelids.

Tears that had been pooling at the corners of his eyes streamed down.

Another dream?

What kind of dream makes me cry like this?

It was as if his memories had been carved out—he couldn’t recall anything.

He stared blankly up at the pitch-black ceiling, fumbling to grab his phone.

He silenced the continuous emergency alert and let out a huge yawn as sleepiness washed over him again.

“Sori, read the emergency alert.”

With a cheerful ding, the AI voice began to read in its usual stiff tone.

And the moment he heard the message, he shot upright in bed.

⚠️ [Seoul City Hall]

At 8:24 AM today, an A-rank dungeon break occurred near Cheongdam Neighborhood Park in Gangnam-gu.

Please avoid the area and follow the guidelines on the National Disaster Safety Portal.

“Dungeon break?”

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