Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

As I was preparing to leave work, Seol Rok-jin said there was somewhere we needed to go together.

At a time approaching 9 PM, somewhere to go together? I frowned at Seol Rok-jin’s words.

I was annoyed at having to work overtime when I was about to leave, but also because unpleasant things always followed when Seol Rok-jin dragged me out at night like this.

But did I have any right to refuse?

I forced a smile and went down to the underground parking lot with Seol Rok-jin where the car was parked. Seol Rok-jin said with a smiling face to the driver who was preparing to drive:

“Mr. Kim, you can leave early today.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Seeing him send the driver away, it didn’t seem to be a work entertainment event. Something he had to go to alone with me at this late hour. What on earth was he trying to do?

It was my job to take the wheel in place of the driver who had left.

Somehow he told me to get a driver’s license, and now he was using me efficiently.

I entered the address Seol Rok-jin gave me directly into the navigation.

Fortunately, I guess. The place Seol Rok-jin gave was the address of a building in the center of Seoul. I thought we were going to some mountain to bury someone again.

“I’ll turn on the radio.”

I said that and turned on the radio. This was my way of rebelling, saying I’ll drive listening to music now, so don’t talk to me as much as possible.

And Seol Rok-jin accepted my rebellion. I knew this was Seol Rok-jin’s not-so-funny way of being considerate.

Well, he didn’t even let Mr. Kim play classical albums, let alone radio with popular songs playing when he was driving.

I had deliberately made and played a girl group playlist that Seol Rok-jin would hate. I stopped because he forcibly gave me fan meeting tickets…

I thought I would die of embarrassment then. He wouldn’t listen even when I said I didn’t want to go. Giving me a new suit as a gift and telling me to go to the fan meeting, people all whispering while looking at me… Just thinking about it still made me kick off my blanket in my sleep from embarrassment.

With my tension eased, I tapped the steering wheel and hummed along to the popular song flowing from the radio.

As I listened to someone’s story and popular songs flowing from the radio, the car reached its destination before I knew it.

“We’ve arrived.”

At my words, Seol Rok-jin looked straight at my face and said:

“Yi-sin-ah, surely you’re not thinking of sending me alone at this late hour?”

Ha, at those words I let out a laugh without realizing.

Who could harm you? Though I failed at managing my expression, I managed to swallow the words that almost came out unconsciously.

“Of course not. I should go with you.”

After saying that, I quickly got out of the driver’s seat and opened the door for Seol Rok-jin. Only then did Seol Rok-jin step out of the car with graceful movements.

He’s quite the prince.

Seol Rok-jin moved his steps without hesitation into the building where all the lights seemed to be off as everyone had already left. I, who glanced at people passing by, also quickly moved my steps following Seol Rok-jin.

Because I knew there was no need to worry about witnesses when doing things with Seol Rok-jin anyway.

Click, click. Seol Rok-jin’s shoes echoed on the floor.

The inside of the building where everyone had left work was eerily desolate.

‘Come to think of it, I feel like I’ve seen this place somewhere before…’

This building was particularly familiar to me who had started watching the news I used to have no interest in every day while under Seol Rok-jin. If I had known this would happen, I should have watched more carefully. Since I only watched roughly, I couldn’t remember the details accurately.

As I was thinking I should have checked the sign attached before entering the building, the elevator arrived.

Seol Rok-jin graciously pressed the elevator button himself.

13th floor, I narrowed my eyes at the floor number Seol Rok-jin pressed and asked:

“So why did you come here today?”

“Why are you ruining the fun in front of a surprise?”

“Well, I don’t really like surprises.”

Especially ones you give.

“You know, I prefer being told in advance what I’ll be given. No, I prefer being asked in advance what I need.”

At my words, Seol Rok-jin’s smile deepened.

“But you’ll quite like this one.”

Chills ran down my spine at those words. When Seol Rok-jin said things like this, really shitty things happened.

What day was it today?

My birthday… was last month. When he suddenly told me to learn Chinese was three months ago…

Ding.

My complicated thoughts weren’t sorted out at all, but sadly, the elevator arrived at its destination. I moved my steps following Seol Rok-jin. All the lights were off here too.

Even if everyone had left work, is it normal for it to be so dark you can’t see an inch in front of you? Aren’t emergency exits usually lit at least?

Moreover, an inexplicable chill clung to my body as we moved further into the corridor.

I shivered momentarily at the instinctive fear.

How far had we moved?

My nose detected something strange faster than my eyes.

I stopped abruptly at the fishy smell of blood I had smelled countless times before.

“What are you doing, Yi-sin-ah? Hurry and come.”

Seol Rok-jin’s figure reflected in the moonlight flowing in from the window looked like a devil. His face was as plausible as one you’d see in a religious painting, but I know the essence steeped inside.

But I had no choice, and I moved my steps as Seol Rok-jin led.

Of all days, today was a full moon. At first I couldn’t see an inch in front of me, but soon the moonlight seeping in through the large window began to brighten my field of vision.

The smell of blood I had smelled wasn’t a mistake.

I frowned at the smell of blood that began to thicken with every step. And the moment I finally found the source of this blood smell, I bit my lip hard.

“Ugh.”

The scene revealed before my eyes was miserable enough to disgust even me who had become used to such things. At least over ten people had their bodies torn to shreds and were dead with their heads buried in their desks.

The scene was so unreal, it was like watching a scene from a movie or looking at a painting mocking reality.

It was a scene that could be titled something like ‘Death of Office Workers’.

People who died with their heads buried in the very place they worked, without being able to resist.

I covered my mouth at the bloodstains pooled under their desks.

What I fear is not the unknown someone who created this miserable scene. It was Seol Rok-jin smiling brightly beside me.

“What on earth…”

I closed my mouth as I was about to ask what was here. Seol Rok-jin’s pupils were glowing yellow. It means something is here. And it also means Seol Rok-jin is controlling that something right now.

Slowly, a shadow rose in front of Seol Rok-jin.

The appearance of the thing that emerged from the shadow was horrific.

Its whole body was soaked in blood, and it was so dirty you couldn’t tell when it had last been washed. The face hidden by long, thick grown hair was indistinguishable whether it was a woman or a man. The body revealed between the black clothes was all covered in scars, and the nails on the hands stained with blood and grime had all grown long like an animal’s.

“Where is your trainer?”

At Seol Rok-jin’s question, the man only made a sound like scratching his throat without any answer.

“Ah, right. I forgot you can’t speak. This is why it’s inconvenient.”

Seol Rok-jin who tapped his chin with his finger resting on it ordered the man again.

“Bring what was your trainer.”

At those words, the man melted into the shadows again. I gritted my teeth behind Seol Rok-jin. Trainer, what does that mean? I had no time to ask.

Splat. Pieces of a corpse fell from the ceiling.

Thanks to that, blood splattered on Seol Rok-jin’s face.

Seol Rok-jin frowned and wiped the bloodstains with his finger.

“I really don’t like you.”

I was terrified that Seol Rok-jin would kill that guy right away, but fortunately, Seol Rok-jin didn’t punish him.

“But you did well this time.”

He even praised the guy. The guy didn’t move at all even at that praise. As if not expecting an answer, Seol Rok-jin soon turned his gaze elsewhere. Seol Rok-jin clicked his tongue looking at the shattered corpse.

“What didn’t you like this time? I’m sure I ordered you not to harm the trainer…”

The man growled at Seol Rok-jin’s words. Seol Rok-jin who narrowed his eyes soon let out a light exclamation, ‘Ah,’ and said:

“I forgot, did I not say not to kill the trainer?”

As if answering that, the man nodded.

My brain would melt first if I tried to follow this incomprehensible conversation.

“What is all this?”

I tapped Seol Rok-jin’s shoulder and asked. Seol Rok-jin opened his mouth looking at me as if he just remembered I was there.

“Right, Yi-sin was here.”

It’s an obvious lie. There’s no way he forgot about me. He must have brought me to show me all this scenery in the first place.

I tried to deny the thoughts that came to mind.

“Say hello, Yi-sin. This is, well, let’s call him a dog.”

“…A dog?”

Technically, aren’t I Seol Rok-jin’s ‘dog’ too? But that side is a ‘dog’ too? As if reading my inner thoughts, Seol Rok-jin said:

“Technically, you’re my pet dog. That side is a hunting dog.”

“…I see.”

There’s even such a distinction? I almost sneered asking how many dogs he’s raising. I barely held onto my reason.

“So.”

“As you can see, an unfortunate accident happened here. See? The trainer who was taking care of my dog ended up like that?”

Is all the people who worked here being killed by that guy not even in the category of unfortunate accidents? I tried to answer Seol Rok-jin’s words:

“…Seeing how he ended up like that from the dog he was taking care of, he seems like a terrible trainer.”

Seol Rok-jin, who had a puzzled expression for a moment at my words, soon burst out laughing.

“Haha, that’s right. He was a terribly incompetent guy. I’m sure I told him not to lay hands on my dog, but it seems he did as he pleased. Of course, as you can see too, that dog is much stupider than you. I, um, messed with various things to make him obedient.”

Ah, so he means he became a complete idiot.

“So he must have been frustrated, but even so. To be bitten by the dog he was raising, doesn’t he deserve to die?”

“So.”

I wanted to answer nonchalantly, but my hands were already trembling finely. Because I roughly knew why Seol Rok-jin deliberately brought me here and showed me that dog.

And because I hated that so much…

I looked at Seol Rok-jin hoping desperately it wasn’t true, but Seol Rok-jin trampled on my desperate wish as expected.

“So, Yi-sin-ah, want to raise a dog?”