Villain wants to live as a commoner chapter 37

* * *

Left alone, I half-heartedly watched TV while fiddling with my phone.

It was while I was mindlessly refreshing the news.

[Breaking News] Hunter Seo Hoon Injured… Rushed to Hunter Hospital

A short article caught my eye. It was just a headline without any accompanying photo, but it snapped my relaxed mind back to attention.

The brief news didn’t say how or how severely he was injured, which only fueled my ominous imagination.

With trembling hands, I quickly called him.

─ Heewon.

The person who answered the phone was Mr. Kim Jinhyung, his subordinate.

“Is he hurt?”

─ It’s not too serious. You don’t need to worry too much…

“Where is he?”

I heard Kim Jinhyung sigh on the other end of the line.

─ At SR Awakener Hospital.

“I’m on my way.”

I hung up before he could respond and rushed out the door. Someone standing next to the door grabbed me.

“Heewon.”

It was Lee Jooyun.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to go to the hospital. He’s been hurt…”

“Hunter Seo Hoon?”

I nodded. Lee Jooyun, who looked bewildered for a moment, quickly pulled himself together and stood me up straight.

“I’ll take you there. Let’s go.”

I wasn’t in a position to refuse. I followed Lee Jooyun and got into the car.

Lee Jooyun said something to me, but I didn’t really hear it. As I half-listened to his words of comfort, my mind was filled with thoughts of him.

Given what Kim Jinhyung said, it probably wasn’t serious… But despite my rational thoughts, my heart was growing increasingly anxious.

The hospital wasn’t far. Unlike his usual calm demeanor, Lee Jooyun drove aggressively, speeding.

Thanks to that, we arrived at the hospital before my patience completely ran out.

There were quite a few reporters in front of the hospital. Seeing the reporters loitering around only made my anxiety surge.

“Is it true Shin Chaeyoung did it?”

I caught someone’s voice. My head whipped around in that direction.

The reporters were gossiping amongst themselves.

“It’s confirmed he got injured while interrogating Shin Chaeyoung.”

Shin Chaeyoung. That was a name I didn’t expect to hear here. Did that person hurt him?

A fiery anger flared up inside me. He shouldn’t be getting hurt because of someone like that.

The face that had smirked maliciously at me flashed in my mind, triggering a violent impulse.

“Heewon, this way.”

At the sound of someone calling my name, the rage that had risen to the top of my head cooled down in an instant.

One of his team members, whom I had seen often, came to meet me.

‘Right, what’s important right now isn’t Shin Chaeyoung.’

Him. I needed to check on him first. Avoiding the reporters, I entered the hospital.

The team member, who was leading the way, looked back at me with a worried expression.

“He’s not hurt that badly. Don’t worry too much.”

“…Okay.”

“Oh, you must’ve been really shocked.”

I couldn’t even muster a response, just followed the team member down the hall. My insides were a mess of burning worry and simmering anger.

“Here we are.”

We finally arrived at his hospital room. The team member knocked and led the way inside.

He was sitting on the bed. Yes, sitting up. Seeing that he was conscious was a relief. But I wasn’t completely reassured. His head, left eye, left arm, and left leg were all heavily bandaged.

When he saw me walking in, his eyes widened.

“Heewon, how did you…”

“Looks like you saw the news.”

Kim Jinhyung, who was standing next to him, responded somewhat sullenly. He glared at Kim Jinhyung.

“Why did you call her? You scared her.”

“I didn’t call her, she said she was coming. And why did you get hurt?”

“Uncle.”

I approached him with a trembling voice. The parts of him that weren’t covered in bandages looked clean, but I didn’t know what was underneath.

Seeing the darkness in my eyes, he waved his right arm weakly.

“It’s just a rash, nothing serious. I got treated by a healer, so I’ll be fine soon.”

“A rash?”

“Got a bit of poison on me… It’s okay now. See, I’m fine.”

Most of it must have been treated with potions, so his injuries were probably severe enough to warrant coming to the hospital. Though he tried to downplay it…

“Heewon, I’m really okay. Alright?”

“I’m glad you’re okay…”

He was trying to reassure me, so I didn’t want to show him how shaken I was. As he spoke confidently, I forced a smile.

✧✧✧

Shortly after I awakened, my uncle was severely injured in a dungeon.

At that time, I prepared myself to be abandoned by him… No, I resolved to leave him and honestly told him about my ability.

He was someone constantly facing danger, and if my ability really brought misfortune to those around me, it would be fatal.

But after hearing everything, he didn’t hesitate to hug me. He stroked my head as I stood there, shocked, and said,

‘If that’s the case, I need to protect you even more.’

‘But…’

‘I’m fine. I’m pretty strong, you know.’

‘I don’t want you to get hurt.’

‘I’ll be fine. I promise.’

Even though we both knew it was a promise that couldn’t be kept 100%, he still tried his best for me.

He used to be more proactive. But after promising me, he became much more cautious. Even so, he still got hurt occasionally. More often than before he adopted me

HE might say it’s not my fault, but I couldn’t shake off the thought that every time he got hurt, it was somehow because of me.

My uncle had something to discuss with Kim Jinhyeong, so he stepped out of the hospital room and went to the garden on the middle floor to get some fresh air.

Of course, I wasn’t alone; Lee Jooyun, who was in charge of your security, followed me.

“Heewon.”

Lee Jooyun, who had been walking behind me, called out. I went over to a nearby bench and sat down.

“What is it?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I said I was fine, but Lee Jooyun didn’t seem to believe me. He looked at me with an even more worried expression.

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I’m not. I was really shaken earlier, but now that I’ve seen that you’re okay…”

“Heewon.”

I’m really fine… Sure, I’m still a bit unsettled, but it’s nothing like before.

Even so, Lee Jooyun’s expression only grew more serious.

Just when I was wondering if I should be the one comforting him, Lee Jooyun spoke with difficulty.

“You’re very anxious because of the Black Sea Guild, aren’t you?”

I looked at Lee Jooyun. I couldn’t deny it. But it wasn’t just anxiety.

I was angry.

Everything that had happened was connected to the Black Sea Guild. That damn Black Sea Guild. I could tolerate it if their actions only affected me, but I couldn’t forgive them for hurting you.

But my anger was powerless. There was so little I could do. The fact that I was helpless only fueled my anxiety.

I couldn’t go on like this. This wasn’t just bad luck brushing past me like before. There were people out there clearly targeting me, so I couldn’t maintain the same attitude as before.

I’ll have to do something like Kwon Sahyeok did, even if it means using myself as bait to draw them out.

“Heewon, are you really okay?”

I flinched. For a moment, I had forgotten about the person in front of me.

Lee Jooyun was looking at me gently, then he reached out and took my hand.

His hand, warm and firm, wrapped around mine. His gaze, intense and unwavering, fixed on me.

“You can lean on me a little if you want.”

Lee Jooyun lightly pulled me closer. I stumbled slightly, then stopped. As I looked at him, he spoke.

“You probably already know…”

“……”

“I like you, Heewon.”

Lee Jooyun’s ears turned bright red with tension. My face probably wasn’t much different.

“I want to be there for you… I hope you’ll lean on me.”

“……”

“Is that not possible?”

I couldn’t answer immediately.

Did I know?

Yes, I did. He’d been approaching me with obvious affection from the start, often making it clear.

Even though I knew, I didn’t push him away because I wanted to get to know him too.

I like Baek Gunho, but… It’s not like that, right?

He’s someone I can’t even imagine being with. Instead of clinging to someone I need to forget, I thought I should meet someone new and move on cleanly.

If I were to be with someone, it would be someone like Lee Jooyun, who has been thoroughly vetted and whom I’ve developed a genuine affection for…

“…I’m sorry.”

I don’t know why I’m saying these words of rejection.

“I know you’re a really good person, Jooyun, but… I just…”

“You like the Guild Leader, don’t you?”

Before I could finish, Lee Jooyun asked. I jumped back, startled as if I had been slapped, and let go of his hand, backing away.

“H-how did you…”

I mumbled, realizing too late that I should have denied it. But it was already too late to deny it.

“…Is it that obvious?”

“I’m pretty perceptive about these things.”

“I… I’m sorry.”

My voice was completely dazed. Even so, Lee Jooyun looked at me kindly.