Why did I have to transmigrate as the Villain’s younger brother? chapter 180

“…I’m sorry.”

Those were the only words that came out.

-Hoho, my dear boy, you’re always saying sorry. Even when it’s not your fault.

He let out a dry laugh.

He knew he shouldn’t react this way, but it never went the way he hoped.

It was a habit too deeply ingrained.

Whenever an adult spoke, his mind would freeze, his vision would narrow.

Only two responses ever came to mind: “Yes” or “I’m sorry.”

Maybe it was just a coping mechanism for the kind of life he had lived. But still…

‘Even after meeting such good people, real family… why am I still stuck in place?’

The frustration turned to irritation.

How much longer was he going to let the past, the wounds of that time, ruin his present?

-Sei.

“Yes, Grandpa.”

-Your father once said something… He wondered if your soul was wandering somewhere else entirely.

At those words, tension gripped his body.

It was about the time when his soul, born in Korea, had made Sean Kreveta’s body no more than a living puppet.

Was this before or after they’d written that letter he’d found at the academy?

Either way, he couldn’t have told his grandfather the whole truth.

‘There must have been a filter in place.’

Maybe they had thought it was fate—something unchangeable, like their own deaths.

-I suppose I sensed something like that even before, without realizing it. But I never said anything. Especially since Allen—your father—wasn’t one to put much stock in gods or souls. He was always skeptical of such things. But that day… something was different. I could feel he meant it.

Ah… it was after he knew.

That’s why… he gave a subtle hint to the grandfather who would one day take him in.

-When I asked what the hell he was talking about, Allen—just laughed. Then he said, ‘If Sei’s soul really is somewhere else, maybe even in another world, I just hope he’s truly happy there. And even if he’s not, even if he comes back to us changed, different from what we hoped… it doesn’t matter.’

“……”

-’I’ll still love him just the same. Daisy will too, obviously. But I wonder… what about you?’ That’s what he asked me. As if questioning what kind of father I was.

Before he realized it, he was crying.

He stepped back from the communicator, swallowing his sobs.

“So I told him not to say such obvious things.”

His grandfather gave a soft laugh.

Somehow, that laugh carried a flood of emotions.

-It was such a strange thing to say, I forgot about it for a while. Though, I suppose, a lot happened afterward. Even after I met you again, for some reason, it didn’t come back to me right away. But then, a few days ago, it just… came rushing back.

A short silence passed.

His grandfather let out a gentle sigh and continued.

-And then… it all started to make sense. I finally understood. ‘So that’s what it was.’ I realized what I had been missing all this time. I’d had similar thoughts before, but for some reason, I’d never reached this conclusion.

“……”

-So don’t be in such a rush, my dear. You don’t need to give anything back to me. Just living—being healthy and happy—that’s my greatest joy.

That was what his grandfather wanted to say: don’t worry, just keep moving forward.

And when you’re tired or struggling, I’ll always be here for you.

“…Okay.”

He answered softly, barely able to hold back the tears that slipped through.

He had thought he was alone.

That the parents who should’ve been on his side, who should’ve protected him, were always indifferent to his pain.

That they condemned him instead, hurt him more than anyone else.

No one had ever understood his heart.

‘Ah… if I hurt, it’s just my pain to bear, alone.’

No one would help me.

Not even family.

It was foolish to expect others to understand or care about a pain even my own family turned away from.

In the end, being hurt only made me lose out, alone.

So I became more of a coward.

I built walls around my heart and made up endless excuses.

But not anymore.

Now, when I was hurting or in pain, there was someone who would stay by my side, pacing anxiously, unable to do anything but watch.

Someone who would do everything I needed, just to help me forget that pain.

I had already experienced it, hadn’t I?

My grandfather, more than anyone, noticed how I felt and asked me directly.

He said he’d do anything, that I only needed to ask if I needed help.

And he truly did help me live on Crete Island under the name Daniel.

And yet I was only realizing it now.

I felt the urge to apologize again, the words rising in my throat, but I swallowed them back.

Instead, I said something else.

“I’ll… keep that in mind.”

—……

“Thank you. Really, Grandpa. And…”

Trying to say something I’d never said before made my throat itch.

I wondered if it was too much, but if I didn’t say it now, I probably never would.

“I love you.”

—Hahaha…

Behind his low laughter, I heard the faint sound of him sniffing.

—I love you too. More than anyone in this world.

It was the warmest, softest whisper I had ever heard in my life.

∗   ∗   ∗

The next day, I contacted Raizen through a temporary communication channel.

I told him I wanted to discuss the contract and that I’d come to ‘Red Potion.’

But his response was unexpected.

“Even a verbal agreement is fine for now.”

Maybe it was because I spoke informally, but Raizen replied not as the guild master of Ruin, but with the casual tone I remembered.

Saying a verbal agreement was fine—wasn’t that basically asking what information I wanted?

It was a generous offer for someone he’d only dealt with once.

But I had already decided to stop holding back, so I didn’t dwell on it.

“I want you to keep tracking Tommy, and I need more detailed information about Priest Isol—what he likes, what he’s interested in…”

And I shared some information too.

“I just tried scanning Crete Island again using divine power, but I didn’t detect any traces of magic. Either they haven’t started making a magic core, or they haven’t entered the island yet.”

Raizen went silent for a moment.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but he seemed a bit taken aback.

In the meantime, I visited Jack and Derrick again.

Tommy hadn’t shown up on the promised day, and the kids were visibly anxious.

I told them I’d look into it, urging them not to do anything dangerous, and then left.

Unless I tied them down where I could see them, there wasn’t much else I could do.

Then, I met with Raizen again.

“Welcome.”

This time, he didn’t use any perception-distorting magic—he looked just like himself.

It would’ve been strange to hide his face at this point, but I still didn’t expect him to be so open about it.

Not that I had any right to say anything, considering I was the one who crossed the line first.

“Sit.”

I gave a small nod and took a seat.

An iced Americano was already waiting for me—again.

‘How the hell does he know I like iced Americanos?’

I racked my brain, but I was sure I never told him.

Raizen didn’t have any of my Korean memories, so how could he possibly know?

I couldn’t think of a single way.

‘He even had a custom cup made for it…’

It felt like he was trying to say something.

Or maybe… there was some other intention I couldn’t grasp.

Suddenly, I felt Raizen’s gaze.

When I looked up from the drink, our eyes met.

His vivid red irises were unfamiliar in this space.

‘I can’t tell what he’s thinking.’

Grumbling to myself internally, I took a sip.

The cool bitterness of the coffee slid smoothly down my throat.

‘Yeah, this is it.’

I only meant to take one sip, but before I knew it, half the cup was gone.