Villain wants to live as a commoner chapter 32

Meeting with Kwon Sahyeok had drained me, and I was planning to go straight home to rest when I received a message from Baek Gunho.

[Baek Gunho: I sent someone.]

[Me: Why?]

[Baek Gunho: It’s dangerous to go alone.]

[Me: Screw off.]

Without waiting for my reply, Baek Gunho didn’t even check my message.

Just as I was about to snap back, another message came in.

[Lee Jooyun: Heewon, I’m here on the guild master’s orders to escort you home.
Please come down.^^]

And with Lee Jooyun’s friendly message, I lost the will to argue.

I could bet my monthly salary that Baek Gunho’s “help Seo Heewon’s love life” campaign was the reason Lee Jooyun was here for this job.

After sending Baek Gunho a [Wanna die?] message, I went down to the parking lot.

There, Lee Jooyun was waiting and waved at me.

“Hello.”

“It’s been a while, Heewon.”

It hasn’t really been that long. Instead of saying that, I just smiled.

“Please get in. I’ll drive you home.”

“Thank you.”

Feeling a bit awkward, I got into the car. Lee Jooyun, who seemed in a good mood, observed my expression.

“Work must be exhausting, right?”

“It’s nothing compared to what hunters go through.”

“But hunters have better stamina. Ah, even though you’re awakened too…”

“Yes, I’m quite sturdy.”

“That’s a relief.”

Lee Jooyun replied lightly to my words. Looking at the traffic, I awkwardly started a conversation.

“It must be a hassle for you because of me.”

“No, this is part of my job.”

“Even so. Isn’t this something Baek Gunho forced on you?”

“No way. Why would I be forced to escort you, Heewon? I wanted to do it.”

His words made me a little embarrassed.

Unable to respond properly, Lee Jooyun diverted the conversation with a smile.

“Also, you’re being threatened by a terrorist group, right? You obviously need protection, so don’t feel burdened.”

“But do you really have to come every day?”

“Yes. I’m planning to escort you to and from work when the guild master can’t. Is it too much for you?”

Yes. Very much so.

I almost blurted out my inner thoughts but stopped myself.

“It’s not you, Jooyun. It’s just… this whole situation is overwhelming for me.”

To be honest, Lee Jooyun is a bit overwhelming too, especially since he shows such clear interest in me…

Of course, the biggest burden is having someone accompany me to and from work under the guise of protection.

“But Heewon, you need protection. It’s not about whether you like it or not.”

However, Lee Jooyun was firm. Like an older brother insisting on principles, his strict demeanor left me with no argument.

“Haha, right…”

“Don’t worry too much. The guild master will find a way to resolve this soon.”

“I hope so…”

Though Lee Jooyun spoke optimistically, I had my doubts.

The Baekmyeon Sect is slippery, and the Black Sea Guild has been on the run for over ten years.

They even have a seer on their side, so I doubt it will be resolved easily.

Shouldn’t I step in and resolve this quickly somehow? Whenever I get involved, the other side always reacts quickly like sensational news and jumps out in excitement.

“I need this resolved quickly to make up for leaving early last time. I feel bad for leaving in such a hurry…”

It seemed like Lee Jooyun was still bothered about the day I was kidnapped. It would bother most people, I guess. I’m not really affected, though.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“I just want to see more of you, Heewon.”

Speaking in an embarrassed voice, he says everything he wants to say.

Thanks to Lee Jooyun, I felt embarrassed too.

It wasn’t a hot day, but I felt hot.

“Let’s hope Baek Gunho manages to handle things well. That way, it’ll be safe… and nothing like that will happen again. No need to worry.”

I was so flustered I blurted nonsense, making Lee Jooyun chuckle.

“You seem really close to the guild master.”

“We’re not that close. We’ve just known each other since we were kids.”

“That sounds pretty close. Where else can you find a friend like the guild master?”

“It’s better not to have two of those kinds of friends…”

Perhaps my honest words sounded like a joke, but Lee Jooyun burst into laughter.

“The guild master really cares about you, Heewon.”

“He nags at me all the time, so I know. Does he think he’s my older brother or something?”

I was born a few months earlier than him, after all. What a funny guy.

“When new guild members see the guild master contacting you, they think he’s contacting his girlfriend.”

“…”

If I were drinking something, I would’ve spat it out.

Despite my surprise, Lee Jooyun continued speaking nonchalantly.

“Because he contacts you so frequently and is so devoted. I bet a lot of those baseless dating rumors come from the new guild members.”

“Well, that’s… quite a terrible misunderstanding. Baek Gunho needs to start dating for real.”

I ended on a joke, but my voice came out scratchy. It was impossible to say it sincerely. My words might have trembled a bit, too.

By now, I should have genuinely wished for Baek Gunho’s romance, but I still couldn’t be that indifferent.

Foolishly, I just have too many lingering feelings.

Lee Jooyun glanced at me.

“Right. Maybe I should introduce you to someone nice.”

“What are you talking about? A nice person would be wasted on Baek Gunho.”

Lee Jooyun burst into laughter. I felt awkward about the topic, so I changed the subject.

As we chatted, we eventually arrived home.

“See you tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to come….”

“If I don’t come, I’ll get kicked out of the guild.”

It’s unlikely that an A-rank Hunter would get kicked out.

Even if he did, there would be plenty of job offers.

But Lee Jooyun, who spoke without missing a beat, got into his car and left.

There was no one at home. Since I didn’t sense any presence, dust crept out from the shadows.

“Hey, get in.”

Dust ignored me, crawled into the room, and burrowed into the blanket. This little thing seems to think this is its real home.

Ignoring Dust, I turned on a drama on Netyflix, ate, and cleaned. I don’t understand why housework never ends.

As I put on slippers to take out the trash, Dust hurriedly dashed into the shadows. I put Dust back into the shadows and held the bag.

The elevator doors opened, revealing an overly familiar face.

It was Baek Gunho.

As soon as he saw me, Baek Gunho frowned.

“Where are you going?”

“To throw out the trash.”

“Don’t go out alone.”

“I’m just stepping out for a moment to throw the trash.”

“Don’t let your guard down.”

I ignored Baek Gunho’s words, knowing they would continue, and got into the elevator.

He sighed and went down with me to the ground floor.

“Hey. I don’t need a bodyguard, you know?”

“Just endure it for a bit. At least until you spill everything to Shin Chaeyoung.”

Baek Gunho added a condition. It didn’t seem like it would be a long one.

“Can’t you change the person?”

“Is Lee Jooyun not good?”

It’s not that he’s bad. It’s more troubling because he’s a good person. I sighed and shook my head.

“I told you not to keep pushing it.”

“But right now, among the available B-rank or higher guards, only Lee Jooyun is free.”

He was basically telling me to endure it.

Well, if there’s truly no other way, I guess I have no choice but to endure it…

But no matter how I think about it, there should be other personnel. I looked at Baek Gunho suspiciously.

“You’re lying.”

“It’s true.”

“You’re just trying to set me up with Lee Jooyun again.”

“I’m not setting you up; I just think it would be nice if you got closer.”

It’s the same thing. How is this even a proper explanation?

Baek Gunho dodged my hand as I reached for his collar.

“But it’s true that Lee Jooyun is the only one available. If you’re doubtful, ask our vice guild leader.”

Since I wasn’t listening, Baek Gunho even mentioned Jung Eunji. Usually, he’s the type to brazenly push his own claims rather than make excuses.

So, it must be true that Lee Jooyun is the only available guard.

“Is this really all the talent Somang Guild has to offer?”

“Yeah, this is all we’ve got. Just bear with it for a bit.”

“Ugh…”

I had many complaints about the lineup, but if there was no other option, there was nothing I could do. I reluctantly nodded.

“How’s the interrogation going?”

“It’s not. He won’t open his mouth. We shouldn’t have handed him over to the Bureau so quickly.”

“…What if we hadn’t?”

Instead of answering, Baek Gunho just smirked. With that unsettling expression, I decided not to press further.

“Can’t you use some kind of confession skill?”

“He’s cursed, so we can’t. If we use a skill recklessly, it might kill him, not us.”

“Those bastards…”

The ones who cursed him and Shin Chaeyoung, who accepted it knowing, were both ruthless.

Baek Gunho suddenly reached out and patted my head like praising a dog.

“You’re admirable.”

“Wanna die!?”

Just then, the elevator opened, and I kicked Baek Gunho’s shin and rushed out.

Now that I no longer needed to hide my rank, I kicked him sincerely, but he was unharmed.

I should have used a skill to hit him instead.

But what on earth was admirable? I really can’t understand him.

Baek Gunho, who approached me as I grumbled, was genuinely wary and checked the surroundings.

His vigilance continued until we got back into the elevator and returned home. He was extraordinarily cautious.

My home was specially modified for me.

It was reinforced with dungeon materials, and various skills and curses were installed to make external intrusion impossible.

Yet even in this fortress-like house, Baek Gunho stuck some sort of talisman on the door.

“Take it easy.”

“You be careful.”

After scolding me, Baek Gunho, seemingly planning to sleep over, took off his clothes and headed to the bathroom.

I averted my gaze as it drifted toward Baek Gunho’s bare back.

I’ve seen it countless times, so why do I always find myself staring?

I should just die rather than live like this.

As I pitied myself, I grumbled at Baek Gunho to take his pajamas into the bathroom.

It’s been such a long day.