Villain wants to live as a commoner chapter 118

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The long nightmare had finally passed, and for a while, I wandered in a realm of illusions.

When even those illusions faded, reality eventually found its way back to me.

A body weighed down as if it had endured severe illness, the biting chill of midwinter air, and a warmth that pierced through me.

And then…

“Seo Heewon.”

“…”

“Heewon-ah…”

Baek Gunho’s voice trembled, laden with moisture as if he were on the verge of tears.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw through my blurry vision was Baek Gunho’s face, twisted with anguish.

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him, but then I noticed the tears pooling at the corners of his eyes.

“Ugh…”

A low groan escaped Baek Gunho as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

The sight was so unfamiliar that I doubted whether this was reality or yet another dream.

But no—this was undeniably my reality.

“Baek… Gunho…”

My throat ached, and speaking felt like an insurmountable effort.

But there was something I absolutely had to say to him.

“I… I held on. I didn’t… kill anyone. I didn’t become… a monster…”

I had endured that horrific nightmare.

Even when the urge to destroy everything consumed me again and again, I had somehow held on through sheer willpower.

And for that, I felt proud of myself.

“I know.”

“…Yeah.”

“It doesn’t matter to me if you’re a monster. As long as…”

“…”

“As long as you’re okay, as long as you don’t have to walk through a terrible hell… that’s all I care about.”

Baek Gunho’s voice carried a desperate sincerity, as if every word came from the depths of his heart.

He held my hand tightly.

The warmth seeping into my skin was no illusion.

Everything I was seeing and feeling was real.

“That… thing I saw in the dream—it was you, wasn’t it?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you right away.”

“…”

“And in the end, I couldn’t do anything to help you…”

“…”

“I’m so sorry.”

Tears streamed down Baek Gunho’s face as he continued to apologize.

I let out a deep breath, my exhalation scattering into the frigid air.

Strangely, in those dreams that dragged me into despair, Baek Gunho had always been exactly as I remembered him.

Perhaps that’s why I could never see him as just another person.

That must be why I had felt such despair when the Baek Gunho I encountered briefly in those dreams had met his end.

I thought of the Baek Gunho who had once confessed his feelings for me, the one who—despite having no clear memories—had tried to escape with me.

Was it because you had no memories that you could do it?

Or was it simply because, even without remembering, you were still you?

I wasn’t sure.

Perhaps the day I fully understood Baek Gunho would never come.

There was a time when I wanted to run away from him rather than try to understand.

But now, I didn’t want to avoid him anymore.

Baek Gunho’s teary eyes, still glistening with moisture, locked onto mine.

I knew this wasn’t the time to be laughing, but a small chuckle slipped out.

It was the first time I had ever seen him cry like this, and I couldn’t help but find it a little amusing.

Honestly, was it really something to cry about when I had survived?

“Stop crying. What’s there to cry about?”

“It’s because of how reckless you are.”

“You’re the one who always called me a crybaby, but look at you now, bawling your eyes out.”

“It’s all your fault.”

Baek Gunho replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

When he teased me for crying, I used to feel so embarrassed, but he didn’t seem the least bit bothered when the tables were turned.

Typical Baek Gunho—he always acted like he was in the right.

I swallowed a laugh, the cold air stinging my throat.

Bickering like this felt like a return to the old days, back to the times when I could talk with Baek Gunho without hesitation.

After everything we had learned, I never thought we’d talk like this again.

Would it ever truly go back to the way it was?

I wasn’t sure yet.

Baek Gunho…

…I didn’t know how to define him.

I couldn’t simply say I liked him, nor could I say I feared or hated him.

The words to define him were something I would have to find in the future.

But for now, that wasn’t what mattered.

Recalling the situation before I collapsed, I propped myself up.

As I moved, the coat Baek Gunho had draped over me slid off.

That’s when I noticed my appearance properly for the first time.

I was wearing a patient gown.

So why was I outside?

The building right in front of me was a hospital, wasn’t it?

I didn’t understand.

“Heewon! Rest!”

“You need to rest…”

“Myaaa!”

The little creatures that had been fussing earlier grew even noisier.

I reassured them I was fine and reached up to touch my neck, but Baek Gunho swiftly grabbed my hand and pulled it away with a stern expression.

“Your neck—barely stayed attached. I thought you’d die.”

“Don’t say stuff like that.”

But it was true.

I had struck with full determination, and the weapon was sharp enough that I’d expected it to simply sever cleanly.

Still, it must have been a close call.

Baek Gunho must have been the one to save me. Instead of thanking him, I opened the system window to check my status.

[Villain’s Qualities (EX):
Destined to become the villain who will destroy this world.
Easily exposed to malevolence.
When performing acts of malice, all stats double.
However, resistance to this fate triggers a force that compels alignment with the original destiny.
Currently deactivated. Skill being deleted.]

Seeing it confirmed in writing, I finally felt at ease.

I wouldn’t feel completely secure until it disappeared from my trait list altogether, but for now, what mattered was that the accursed trait that had been obstructing me was inactive.

“Let’s go,” I said.

“Go where?” Baek Gunho asked, looking baffled.

“To capture Kim Kyungmin and Lee Jaehee.”

Baek Gunho rubbed at his tear-streaked face and shook his head.

“Not now. Wait. Get checked out first. You only just woke up after collapsing…”

“I seem fine, though?”

I touched my neck again, and though it felt a little different from smooth skin, there didn’t seem to be any major issues.

Baek Gunho, however, freaked out and pulled my hand away again.

“Stop touching it.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.”

“I’m fine enough to go. So let’s go.”

Baek Gunho gave me a look filled with exasperation.

“You’re just an ordinary person—”

“My identity’s already exposed, so what does it matter?”

Even if I wasn’t a hunter, being an S-rank wasn’t exactly ordinary.

And now that my identity was out, it would be better for everyone if I helped out.

This wasn’t just for others’ benefit—it was to save everyone, including myself.

“You can’t go.”

“I’m going.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Then don’t come. I’ll go alone.”

“Heewon!”

“It’s urgent.”

Baek Gunho bit his lip.

Since he didn’t voice any further objections, I took it as his reluctant agreement.

Satisfied, I turned to the dark-red beast that had been watching from a distance.

“Naru.”

• …

“Help me. I need your strength.”

Naru, like the monster he resembled, had a knack for tracking scents.

He couldn’t follow the scent of strangers, but the Baekmyeon Sect and the Black Sea Guild weren’t unfamiliar names.

Their timing had been far too convenient.

• Naru doesn’t want to help humans.

“But you helped me, didn’t you?”

Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.

I wasn’t sure exactly what you’d done, but I knew for certain that you had helped me.

“Please. Where are Kim Kyungmin and Lee Jaehee?”

• …

“Tell me, won’t you?”

I softened my tone as much as possible, hoping to sway Naru’s heart.

I stared into his eyes with all the earnestness I could muster.

After a long pause, Naru finally averted his gaze.

• …Just this once. After this, I won’t care what happens to Heewon anymore.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

Naru didn’t respond to my greeting.

Instead, it swelled in size.

In an instant, the now-enormous Naru loomed over me silently.

Three companions grumbled as they stepped into my shadow.

Just as I was about to climb onto Naru’s back, Baek Gunho grabbed my arm.

“At least put on some clothes. And shoes.”

He handed me the coat he’d been using earlier.

It did feel a bit indecent to go out like this, so I draped it over my shoulders.

The coat, being Baek Gunho’s, was far too big for me.

While I adjusted the coat, Baek Gunho pulled sneakers from his inventory.

Kneeling on one knee, he attempted to help me put them on.

“I can do it myself.”

“Just hurry up and put them on.”

Left with no choice due to his persistence, I slipped my feet into the sneakers.

For some reason, they fit perfectly.

After lacing both shoes, Baek Gunho stood up with a dissatisfied expression.

“Let’s go.”

I climbed onto Naru’s back and looked at Baek Gunho.

He frowned deeply, but with a resigned expression, he climbed on behind me.

Naru, clearly annoyed, shook its body slightly in protest, so I patted its back to calm it down.

Naru sniffed the air a few times and then took off running. It moved faster than most cars.

The streets, emptied due to the sudden gate crisis, provided an open path for us.

It seemed Naru had pinpointed the target’s location, as its pace quickened.

At this speed, we’d arrive soon.

The only problem was… the jarring motion.

With my body swaying non-stop, I couldn’t ignore how unwell I felt.

My whole body felt drained; if not for the circumstances, I would’ve collapsed.

Clenching my teeth, I forced myself not to show it.

“Seo Heewon.”

Baek Gunho whispered lowly behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

Startled, I stiffened.

“…….”

“Don’t overdo it.”

He pulled me back to lean against him.

I struggled to break free but ultimately rested against him.

His warm and solid embrace supported me.

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