Villain wants to live as a commoner chapter 24

Sunday finally arrived. I steeled myself as if going to a battlefield and prepared to leave.

Today’s horoscope said a benefactor would come, but I hoped to find a good clue instead.

Baek Gunho, who showed up even on weekends, stopped me as I was about to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“To meet a friend.”

“As if you have friends besides me.”

I scoffed at Baek Gunho’s definitive statement.

“There’s Choi Dokyum.”

At my response, Baek Gunho’s face twisted instantly. He grabbed me, turning me around, and spoke seriously.

“I’m against him.”

“Why?”

“Meet Lee Jooyun instead.”

“Hey, he’s just a friend.”

I argued, exasperated. Does this guy see every man I meet as a potential romantic interest?

I don’t understand why he’s so focused on relationships, especially since we’re both single.

Maybe it’s because he’s never dated before.

“Stop talking nonsense. I’m leaving.”

I shook off Baek Gunho’s hand and headed towards the door.

He trailed behind me, putting on his shoes as well.

“What are you doing?”

“If you’re going, I’m coming too.”

This guy… He needs to say things that make sense.

But Baek Gunho wasn’t one to joke around.

His insistence on joining my plans was serious.

Annoyed, I looked him up and down.

“It’s a private meeting. Why are you tagging along?”

“I’ll wait nearby.”

“If you want to waste your precious weekend, be my guest.”

“How is it wasting? I’m spending it for you.”

I was momentarily speechless. I wish Baek Gunho would fix his way of speaking.

“Is that okay?”

Taking my silence as a yes, Baek Gunho smiled and stepped out. I ended up falling for his flirty comment.

“Do whatever you want.”

I grumbled, trying to keep my face from showing any weird expressions.

While pretending to be indifferent, I took the elevator. Just then, a message arrived.

The restaurant we had a reservation at was unexpectedly closed, so they wanted to change the meeting place.

Since we hadn’t left yet, it wasn’t a big deal.

I got into Baek Gunho’s car and entered the new address into the GPS.

There was no parking near the restaurant, so we parked a bit farther away and walked through a quiet alley.

“Why meet in such a secluded place?”

“Hidden gems are usually out of the way.”

I tried to reassure Baek Gunho, but I felt the same way.

Given that I was meeting people potentially related to the Baekmyeon Church, I had to be cautious.

“Why are you following me inside?”

“Do you want me to wait in the parking lot?”

“Even so…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll wait outside.”

I had no intention of taking him inside, but leaving him outside wasn’t an option either.

Should I take him in after all? But then they might be too wary to talk…

What should I do?

“There it is?”

“Yes.”

My dilemma was quickly resolved.

Thankfully, there was a café next to the restaurant.

I parted ways with Baek Gunho and entered the restaurant alone.

“Huiwon!”

Choi Dokyum, who had been sitting in one corner of the restaurant, stood up and called me.

The other two people who were seated there turned their heads toward me simultaneously.

‘Familiar faces.’

Both were members of Baekmyeon Sect that Kwon Sahyeok had shown me.

They couldn’t have come to meet me without a reason, could they?

As I went over and sat down, greetings came pouring out all at once.

“Hi, Heewon. Do you remember me? I’m Woo Hyungsik.”

“I’m Narae. Kim Narae.”

“Oh, hello. I’m Seo Heewon.”

“Let’s speak casually. No need for formalities among us, especially since we’re not that far apart in age.”

“Oh, uh, okay.”

“Have a seat, let’s order first.”

I ordered something that seemed easy to digest. I felt like I would definitely get indigestion today.

We engaged in some simple small talk, updating each other on our recent lives.

Both Woo Hyungsik and Kim Narae said they were working at ordinary companies.

Of course, neither of them gave any hint of their affiliation with Baekmyeon Sect.

The atmosphere was quite pleasant when Woo Hyungsik spoke up.

“I never thought we’d meet like this since you were adopted right away and we lost all contact.”

Kim Narae nodded with a smile at his words.

“Right. The other kids went to the orphanage. You were lucky, Heewon.”

“The orphanage we went to was really bad.”

The mood stiffened momentarily at Woo Hyungsik’s murmured words.

Or maybe it was just me. Kim Narae took a sip of her drink and asked.

“Is Hunter Seo Hoon treating you well?”

“Yes, he’s treating me well.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“You must be having a tough time these days. The administration’s condition isn’t great, right?”

At Woo Hyungsik’s words, Choi Dokyum flinched more than I did. Choi Dokyum glanced at Woo Hyungsik.

“Hyung. You shouldn’t say things like that……”

“Why? It’s not something that can’t be said. It’s the truth. Isn’t that right, Heewon?”

Kim Narae laughed along with Woo Hyungsik’s words.

Was it too much to think they were trying to approach me in some way?

For now, it just felt like they were trying to irritate me.

“Yes, you’re right.”

I could tolerate being needled once. But I probably couldn’t stand it a second time. I swallowed a sigh and stood up.

“I need to go to the restroom for a bit.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Woo Hyungsik smiled like he knew nothing. I really wanted to twist his nose. I headed to the restroom outside the building.

As I was coming out after doing my business, Baek Gunho grabbed my wrist abruptly.

He looked quite upset.

“What’s with that group?”

“What do you mean?”

“Those two from Baekmyeon Sect.”

“Two from Baekmyeon Sect?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Did Kwon Sahyeok tell you?”

“Why would Kwon Sahyeok come up now?”

“Did that bastard tell you to approach them?”

How much does this guy know? Does he have someone planted in the Sam-oh Guild?

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve been kidnapped and almost kidnapped again. Even if you’ve lost your sense of fear……”

Baek Gunho mumbled fiercely, not even listening to my explanation.

Given how angry he was, it was a wonder he hadn’t dragged me out of there forcibly.

“Stop doing dangerous things if you don’t want to drive people crazy.”

“What’s dangerous about meeting ordinary people?”

At my words, Baek Gunho’s eyes turned sharp as if I had pushed a button.

If anyone else saw him, they might be scared, but it didn’t bother me at all.

“Seo Heewon, do you need to be locked up somewhere to come to your senses?”

“Yeah, go ahead if you can.”

“Maybe I should really break one of your legs to stop you from wandering around.”

“I’d just wander around on one leg.”

“I can’t believe I can’t even lay a hand on you……”

Baek Gunho looked like he was itching for a fight.

If it weren’t for me, he’d probably have broken a leg and locked the person up long ago.

I felt sorry for him holding back his temper, so I patted him on the back, which made his glare even fiercer.

“Why are you so worried about who I meet? You’d rescue me right away anyway.”

I said this, trying to keep him from blowing his top. What I said was true, after all. With an S-rank secretly guarding me, who would dare lay a finger on me?

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll finish up soon and leave.”

“Ha……”

Baek Gunho sighed deeply and kept silent. It seemed like his anger was subsiding, and he was regaining some sense.

“Finish up quickly and come out.”

“I’ll try.”

“Don’t just try. Do it quickly.”

“Don’t worry.”

After calming down Baek Gunho, who looked like he wanted to drag me out immediately, I returned to the restaurant.

“Shall we move to a different place?”

As soon as I sat down, Woo Hyungsik asked. Since we had pretty much finished eating, it was time to change locations.

“Yeah, sure. I know a good café around here.”

Kim Narae replied while grabbing her bag. I hesitated for a moment and then sent a short message to Baek Gunho.

[Me: We’re going to a café now]

He clearly told me to finish up quickly, right? Well, I’m leaving quickly, so he should be satisfied. He didn’t say anything about going home together.

Knowing a loud reply was coming, I put my phone on silent and slipped it into my pocket.

I knew Baek Gunho was worried, but what could happen just from a brief chat?

Actually, even if something did happen, as an S-rank, I’d be fine.

“This way.”

Kim Narae, who had her navigation app on, took the lead. The alley was already quiet, but we headed into an even quieter area.

I started to feel more and more uneasy. It didn’t seem like there would be any proper cafes on this street, where all the shops were closed down.

“There it is.”

As I was debating whether to bolt, Kim Narae pointed to a café in the distance. The exterior looked decent, but that made it stand out even more in this deserted area.

That’s when it happened.

A crack appeared in the empty air.

The crack quickly engulfed us.

Our bodies were sucked into the dungeon in an instant.

My consciousness flickered as if blinking, then faded away completely.