Villain wants to live as a commoner chapter 92

* * *

Woo Hoyeon was caught, and investigations quickly began into the people connected to him.

Among those being questioned were members of the Pasa Guild.

Not long after, Moon Haeyoon contacted me.

Since exchanging phone numbers, we’d kept in touch occasionally, but our interactions had become infrequent over time.

I couldn’t fathom why he suddenly called.

─ Heewon, are you okay?

“Huh?”

─ I heard that bastard Woo Hoyeon… drugged you.

“Oh…”

It was a bit of a hassle.

Even though I was fine, I had to visit the Hunter Management Bureau to get detoxified with a purification skill.

“I’m fine.”

─ Thank goodness. You don’t know how relieved I am…

Moon Haeyoon’s voice carried genuine relief, and it made me smile lightly.

“Did you call me because you were worried?”

─ Yes. Also… this was something someone from my guild did.

“It’s not like it’s your fault, Moon Haeyoon Hunter.”

─ Haha, but I just couldn’t ignore it like that…

“Don’t worry too much. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

─ Thank you for saying that.

After chatting a little longer, Moon Haeyoon ended the call with a slightly weary tone.

He must’ve been really concerned about me… If he went so far as to call, it must’ve weighed heavily on his mind.

At any rate, judging by his reaction, it seemed like Moon Haeyoon would take action soon.

Moon Haeyoon, a former colleague of Baek Gunho, had once been part of the Pasa Guild.

After uncovering their corruption, he exposed them and subsequently joined Baek Gunho’s team.

Sometimes he didn’t survive the process, but in later timelines, his survival rate increased thanks to Baek Gunho’s help.

This timeline would likely follow the same path.

“…There’s no need for me to intervene.”

My involvement would only complicate things unnecessarily.

As expected, it didn’t take long before an article exposing the Pasa Guild’s corruption surfaced.

The investigation was too thorough to have been conducted by Moon Haeyoon alone.

It was clear that Baek Gunho, who had been biding his time, was involved.

Moon Haeyoon revealed himself as the whistleblower.

He spoke openly about the dark side of the Pasa Guild and expressed shame over having once been a part of it.

Moon Haeyoon’s actions were undoubtedly righteous.

However, from the perspective of those hiring him, he would be seen as a dangerous figure—someone who could stab them in the back at any time.

Opinions emerged that the industry might no longer accept Moon Haeyoon.

Yet, shortly after, an article announced Moon Haeyoon’s recruitment by the Somang Guild.

The public showed keen interest in his move to Somang.

Some called it a bold choice by the guild, while others speculated it was a strategic alliance.

There were various interpretations of the situation.

Surprisingly, one rumor gaining traction was that Baek Gunho and Moon Haeyoon were dating.

“Don’t you think Moon Haeyoon and Baek Gunho make a good couple?”

Honestly… even if I didn’t want to think about Baek Gunho, he was too famous to avoid.

I didn’t think they were actually dating, but… it wouldn’t matter if they were.

“Yeah, they look good together.”

At my response, Assistant Lee nodded enthusiastically.

“Right? Moon Haeyoon’s pretty too.”

“I don’t think he’s that pretty.”

Assistant Choi pouted as he spoke.

“Well, he’s pretty enough. Maybe not as much as Baek Gunho’s exes, but still.”

“True.”

“And they’re both Hunters, right? They must have a deeper connection.”

“Isn’t dating within the same field usually a bad idea?”

“Well, Hunters are kind of an exception…”

I used to find these conversations more bothersome, but now they didn’t bother me as much.

Maybe I was slowly learning to let go. It wasn’t a bad sign.

Ignoring the constant calls and messages, I told myself that staying quiet would eventually make Baek Gunho stop suspecting me.

Someday, I’d reach a point where none of this affected me anymore.

This year’s winter holidays felt unusually lonely.

Probably because the person who used to stick to me like glue wasn’t around anymore.

I’d have to get used to it eventually.

But when I was home alone, my mind kept wandering to pointless thoughts.

Thoughts about the horrific past of “Seo Heewon,” which was far worse than my own life.

I couldn’t escape those memories.

So, I chose to escape into sleep instead, spending most of my time at home dozing off.

In the middle of one of those naps, I received a call.

The caller was none other than Jung Eunji.

─ “Heewon, what have you been up to?”

“Just… the usual.”

─ Did you have a fight with Baek Gunho?

She sounded like she already knew the answer.

I couldn’t respond immediately, and she clicked her tongue in disapproval.

─ He must’ve been the one in the wrong.

“…Not necessarily.”

─ “Come visit sometime. You need to practice your shooting too.”

“Alright, I will.”

Even though I had no intention of going to Baek Gunho’s guild, I replied obediently.

In truth, I felt ashamed to face Jung Eunji.

She had always been antagonistic toward me, and I had responded in kind.

“Ah…”

Another haunting thought from the past.

I clutched my head in frustration.

Maybe I should go out and get some fresh air.

Throwing on a long padded coat over my loungewear, I stepped outside and wandered aimlessly through the alleyways.

─ Heewon.

Just as I was considering heading back, a familiar voice called out to me.

In front of me stood a small fox.

No, it wasn’t an ordinary fox—it was a nine-tailed fox, a gumiho.

“…Susu?”

I had sent five of them into the dungeon.

Dust, Yeon, Noeul, Susu, and Naru.

The one before me was undoubtedly Susu, one of those I had cast into the dungeon.

Guilt clawed at my chest, but at the same time, I felt a sense of relief.

“Susu.”

─ Heewon, what are you doing?

I hesitated as I approached Susu. H

er voice was cold.

She sounded… angry.

She stood still, staring at me.

─ Heewon, this isn’t what you wanted.

“I…”

─ Heewon, snap out of it.

“…I’m perfectly fine.”

─ Heewon, snap out of it.

“Susu, I…”

─ Heewon, you’re a liar.

“…”

─ You said you’d destroy them all.

Susu’s voice was filled with resentment.

Both Susu and Naru had harbored strong hostility toward humans, except for me.

At the time, I hadn’t given it much thought…

Even now, Susu’s animosity seemed unchanged.

Naru’s hatred was likely even stronger.

─ Heewon, you must destroy this world.

Her voice, heavy with a curse, sent chills down my spine.

I was about to deny her words when something happened.

A crack formed between us.

It was a dungeon.

The dungeon yawned open and pulled me in.

The sensation of falling gripped my entire body, and my mind began to blur.

─ Bearer of fate.

As if in a trance, I heard a whisper.

It was a voice I had heard before—a voice I had forgotten.

I must’ve heard it during one of those falls into the cracks…

─ If you cannot guide fate, it will guide you.

The words jolted me awake.

Something seemed to pull me out of the haze.

Unlike last time, I remembered the voice clearly.

What was it?

As the question lingered, a system window appeared before me.

I silently read its contents.

[The trait ‘Villain’s Qualities’ is not active.]

[Reassessing compatibility for the trait ‘Villain’s Qualities’.]

[Control rate of the trait ‘Villain’s Qualities’ is decreasing.]

[If the control rate reaches 0%, the trait will go berserk.]

[Current Control Rate: 98%]

At 98%, isn’t it still pretty high?

As I blankly thought that—

“Urgh…”

Something foul rose from deep within me.

Unable to hold it back, I vomited.

It was… blood.

Bright red blood poured out onto the ground.

The suddenness of it made my head spin.

No—this dizziness wasn’t solely from the blood loss.

[If the trait ‘Villain’s Qualities’ goes berserk, the owner will die.]

[Villain’s Qualities (EX): A destiny to become the villain who will destroy this world. Easier access to malicious forces. All abilities double in power when committing evil deeds.]

[However, resistance against one’s destined path triggers a corrective force to steer events back on track. If the control rate reaches 0%, the trait will go berserk. When it does, the trait’s owner will die.]

[Current Control Rate: 98%]

As if offering me kind guidance, an explanatory system window popped up one after another.

“Ugh…”

I twisted my body, overwhelmed by a suffocating pain. Black vines were wrapping around me.

Struggling, I managed to tear them off and curl up on the floor.

It felt as though someone had driven a knife into my guts and was digging around.

“Urgh…!”

Blood kept gushing out of me in violent bursts.

I writhed on the ground for what felt like ages.

The pain was unbearable. It hurt so much that tears spilled from my eyes.

Yet I wasn’t even sure if it was truly from the pain.

Eventually, my insides settled, and the agony subsided.