Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

I desperately hoped it was just curiosity about a C-grade mercenary group that conquered an S-grade Gate, but to think he recognized us and approached… Now that it’s come to this, the puzzle pieces from all this time fit together neatly.

Even a C-grade mercenary group that conquered an S-grade Gate wasn’t enough to receive Taika Cooper’s full attention. I would have understood if it was just showing interest. But the interest Taika showed wasn’t to that extent.

[Haah, how did you know?]

I decided to admit it honestly. It seemed meaningless to make excuses in this situation, and I decided to trust the goodwill Taika was showing us.

At my question, Taika’s eyes sparkled as he said:

[While watching the Gate, sand that I’d seen somewhere before started spreading.]

Sand? To my question, Ray answered instead:

—The sand was thick when we came out of the Gate. Han Seo-hyeon’s condition wasn’t good at that time either. His magic power was leaking.

[I can’t not recognize you after fighting together then.]

Well, since we worked together conquering Yebrica, it wasn’t strange for him to recognize us.

[But you were certain right away.]

[There might be other people who use black magic power and sand, but I thought you were the only ones who would hide your identities and conquer an S-grade Gate.]

Well, ordinary hunters would want their names to be known, not think of hiding like us. It means our identity was too obvious to someone who knew the circumstances.

[By the way, your friend in the ICU has gotten much thinner.]

“What?”

I unconsciously spoke in Korean. Did he just mistake Kim Jae-ho for Cha Song-jin?

‘Even so, there’s at least a 10cm height difference…’

Isn’t he too unbiased? Is that height difference something that can be glossed over as just getting thinner! My mouth fell open unconsciously at that naive way of thinking.

He really makes me speechless. I sighed and rubbed my face at the same time.

Anyway, how do I deal with this. As I was racking my brain, Taika said with an innocent face:

[I thought you knew I had noticed.]

[You thought I knew everything?]

[No matter how much money I have, I’d go bankrupt if I went around paying hospital bills for people I don’t know.]

I see. Somehow he has an image that seems like he’d be easily fooled anywhere. By the way, wait, he paid the hospital bills?

[Are you saying Mr. Cooper paid our hospital bills?]

[Yes, whatever amount comes out will be handled under my name. And are you still going to call me Mr. Cooper? I told you to call me Taika.]

For a moment, I saw a halo behind Taika’s head. Hospital bills! He’s paying all the hospital bills. I was already getting stressed as the days of hospitalization lengthened.

—Wait, get a hold of yourself! Are you going to fall for that guy just because he paid some hospital bills!

‘Huuk! Th-that’s right?’

I barely regained my senses at Ray’s words.

No, wait. I almost fell for it! How can I fall for him just because he paid the hospital bills. Isn’t Taika himself a more frightening existence than hospital bills?

[It’s fine, we can handle it ourselves.]

I drew a line with Taika.

[Really? It’s quite expensive here.]

[How expensive can it be…]

Taika told me the approximate amount as I spoke confidently. What I thought was confidence was soon revealed to be baseless bluster.

[It, it’s that expensive?]

I unconsciously let out such words. Taika nodded and said:

[Yes, there’s also a patient in the ICU after all. The cost of staying there each day is enormous.]

[No way! They seem to be treating roughly! Just connecting a person to machines!]

With my eyes rolling at the amount, I even blurted out words I shouldn’t have said, treating the efforts and dedication of medical staff like old shoes.

—Get a hold of yourself, you fool!

‘Huuk, my reason briefly left home.’

I barely regained my senses at Ray’s shout.

But it was that ridiculous of a medical bill.

‘3 billion won…’

My hospital bill was enormous too, but Cha Song-jin’s hospital bill for entering intensive care was really no joke.

I’ll have to empty out all the money in my Korean accounts.

—Is that even possible?

‘No.’

First of all, as a criminal, I obviously couldn’t use accounts in my name. I had been using accounts under borrowed names prepared by Professor Geum until now, but it was difficult to withdraw money overseas with those borrowed name accounts.

To begin with, I didn’t have an account with 3 billion won in it. To withdraw all my money scattered across dozens of accounts, it would take a long time just for that.

‘Damn it!’

I should have done some money laundering earlier! This problem occurred because I only relied on asking Professor Geum whenever I needed money. Kuk, I need to break this bad habit of just relying on Golden Doraemon from now on.

‘But it’s so convenient to just ask Professor Geum!’

—Are you saying this is all because Professor Geum spoiled you?

‘No, how can hospital bills be 3 billion won…’

Korean hunter hospitals were expensive too, but America was really America after all. 3 billion won. And it’s even updating in real-time!

It doesn’t seem like it would be enough even if we put all the S-grade Gate conquest reward money towards it.

—Why are you pretending to worry? Can’t you just run away without paying like you usually do?

‘I might be able to do that with bad guys’ money, but how can I run away without paying the money of people working diligently here?’

And if we run away like this, all the responsibility will fall on Norman, so we have no choice.

—Play along, wholeheartedly.

‘Yes.’

I looked at Taika and said:

[Thank you. We’ll gratefully accept your kindness!]

Despite the situation where affection should be lost, Taika just smiled brightly at my words. It’s really fortunate Taika is a pushover.

Han Seo-hyeon, who heard the conversation passing between us, asked me:

“What are you talking about? Somehow the atmosphere seems strange.”

As expected of Han Seo-hyeon. He may not be good at English, but he’s quick-witted! I calmly said to Han Seo-hyeon:

“Well, it seems he’s noticed our identities.”

At those words, Han Seo-hyeon immediately drew up magic power.

“Wait! What are you doing!”

“You said our identities were exposed!”

Taika, who raised his hands, quickly said:

[Whoa, whoa! Please convey my words well to your friend. I have no intention of fighting you at all.]

Watching Taika waving his hands and appealing that he has no intention of harming us, I’m at a loss for words due to the absurdity.

Is this the world’s strongest hunter?

“As you can see, he says he has no intention of fighting us at all.”

“He does look that way.”

Han Seo-hyeon obediently calmed his magic power, but his eyes were still full of suspicion.

“Then what on earth is he doing here?”

“Yeah, I’m curious about that too.”

Now I’m about to ask that too.

[What do you want from us?]

Seeing how he deliberately showed himself when Oh Seung-woo wasn’t around, it doesn’t seem like he intends to report us… No, then is there any reason for him to pretend to know us?

[Ah! That. Honestly, I came hoping you would accept Mr. Oh’s proposal. But no matter how I thought about it, that seemed unreasonable.]

Taika winked.

[After all, you’re in a situation where you’re hiding your identities right now. You’re not really Lee San-ho of Golden Day. The things you told me before were lies too, right? Ah, should we introduce ourselves first?]

[I’m Shen of Weltschmerz…]

The day has finally come when I have to say this nickname directly with my mouth.

—You used it just fine with Xie Haozhu though.

‘Somehow I felt embarrassed all of a sudden.’

Hearing my words, Han Seo-hyeon cut in from the side with his arms folded:

[Tod of Weltschmerz.]

—Look at Han Seo-hyeon! He has no shame at all.

‘He’s at that age.’

My face heated up as I suddenly found myself reciting self-introductions. By the way, this isn’t the important thing.

[So what you want from us is…]

[Isn’t it too soon to jump straight to the main point? I’d like to have time to talk about how we’ve been doing. First, I’ve been doing very well. Actually, I got beaten to death by Mr. Oh after returning here, but it was worth it. Did you hear that Australia’s condition improved a lot after conquering Yebrica? The Australian side sent me a plaque of appreciation, but I wanted to say your contribution was greater. Mr. Oh stopped me though, so I failed.]

Taika rattled off words like he was firing a machine gun. Even I, who thought I was quite good at English listening, had to concentrate my mind to the maximum to grasp word after word.

[I checked on your news from time to time too! Mr. Oh told me not to associate with Weltschmerz at all, but well, not all criminal organizations are bad. Of course they’re bad, but you were receiving quite good evaluations. Actually, because of that, a professional villain magazine selected Weltschmerz as this year’s worst rookie, did you see that?]

What’s a professional villain magazine? Was there such a thing? Worst rookie? What’s that?

[No. Why on earth are we the worst…]

[Oh! The reason Weltschmerz became this year’s selected worst rookie is simple. Because you acted too ‘nicely’! I didn’t know being nice could be an insult on the villain side! The magazine said this. Ah, the evaluation criteria was this. ‘These bastards can’t become true villains. Judging by their damned standard of only punishing evil people, these bastards seem to be suffering from vain hero delusions!’]

While Taika was pouring out words, all I could do was breathe evenly. No, really. How did he hold in all these words until now? Seeing my fed up expression, Taika said laughing:

[I’m sorry. But I really had so many things I wanted to say all this time but couldn’t say a single word! I had so many things I was curious about. Ah, I’m sorry if what the magazine said was too harsh. In my desire to convey it accurately, I ended up… I don’t think badly of you! Don’t worry at all!]

No, I’d like you to think badly of me. No, and you need to speak after giving me time to say something! I couldn’t say anything to Taika’s crazy ‘pouring out’ of words – no matter how I think about it, this can’t be called a conversation, the expression ‘pouring out words is accurate – that made me breathless just looking at him.

‘He said he had a lot to talk about with me, and he really did.’

It’s to the point of being fed up. Even as my face was discoloring in real-time, Taika’s words continued:

[And ah, yes! About that sand. How did you become able to handle it? Originally you used the sand Yebrica summoned, right? Oh! That’s right, is it perhaps the effect of Yebrica’s Mana Stone?]

As expected of someone who has seen and experienced a lot, the correct answer comes out right away.

By the way, it’s too, too…

‘Isn’t he getting too close!’

Taika’s face, which had been slowly approaching while pouring out words, was now right in front of my nose.

[Um, I’d like it if you could widen the distance a little…]

This is strange. I heard Americans value something called personal space very much. It doesn’t seem to apply to Taika.

[Oops, sorry. My feelings got ahead of me without realizing.]

[Hmm…]

He’s really burdensome in many ways.

I slowly answered Taika’s questions.

[The sand Tod handled is, as you thought.]

This would be a secret too, but he’s already seen it all. Besides, he’s not an opponent we can handle by hiding our abilities.

[Oh, as expected, amazing! To steal the enemy’s power and use it as is. It’s certainly fitting for a necromancer. He’s the best among the necromancers I’ve seen!]

[Hmm, that’s certainly true.]

The corners of my mouth rose unconsciously at the praise for Han Seo-hyeon. Hmm, that’s right.

—Get a hold of yourself!

Oops! If it weren’t for Ray’s warning, I would have helplessly fallen for that guy.

‘Th-that was dangerous. To distract my mind with incessant talking. As expected of the world’s strongest hunter.’

—Isn’t the problem that you’re an incorrigible softie?

No, it’s not my fault. It’s an undeniable fact that Han Seo-hyeon is an outstanding necromancer.

[…Tell us clearly what you want from us.]

I needed to pull myself together to escape from that hell of a mouth.