I’m Not That Villain

99 – Lee Seo-yeon (2)

Yeongwon Workshop.

I’d heard of it.

The most successful of the illegal workshops, a massive operation in Seoul. And it originally functioned with two founding members…

Until very recently.

One of them had resigned from Yeongwon Workshop.

“I’ll have a cold brew.”

The woman, now inside my office, glanced around.

“Where’s your dedicated barista?”

“…? I don’t keep one.”

She blinked. I gestured towards the sofa.

“Sit there and wait.”

“…Yes.”

Baristas, cold brew coffee…

All of that was condensed into a single paper cup. Instant coffee.

Taking the cup, she stared intently at the contents.

Then, eyes squeezed shut, she drank it down.

Her voice trembled.

“It’s…delicious…”

“You don’t have to drink it if it’s not.”

“…Yes.”

The woman standing quietly behind her, like a bodyguard, burst out laughing.

“It might be unfamiliar to you, but it can’t be helped. She’s been raised with such care.”

“…And who are you?”

“I’m the personal bodyguard of the young miss here. Call me Joo Yeon-hwa.”

“That’s a similar surname to someone I know.”

“Is that so? What does she look like?”

I scrutinized her.

They didn’t resemble each other at all.

“Not even a little.”

“Well, that’s unavoidable. I’m not one for family.”

“…cough, cough.”

“Seo-yeon. You don’t have to force yourself, you know?”

“…It’s not polite to leave it.”

I sighed, snatched the coffee from her, and downed it in one gulp.

Sweet and bitter. The woman’s eyes widened.

“…That was mine.”

“Don’t act like a child. If you’re going to bring up indirect kisses, you’ve come to the wrong person. I’m a little too busy to film a romance movie. Let’s get straight to the point. You said you created the work that was pushed aside by mine… Shall we begin with introductions?”

She nodded, placing a hand on her chest and speaking demurely.

“Lee Seo-yeon.”

Seo Ji-soo, who was watching me like an assistant tending to my every need, was startled.

“Could you be… the workshop owner’s sister?!”

“Hardly. It’s just a coincidence we share a name. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I double-checked on the way here. In case she was a relative or a close acquaintance. But she wasn’t. We simply share a similar name. Lee Seo-joon and I are strangers.”

“So? Did you come all this way just to hear that reason?”

“Yes.”

Lee Seo-yeon nodded, politely and quietly looking up at me.

“All I want is to understand. I want to see with my own eyes if there really is that much of a difference, enough to justify my work being sidelined.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Does that mean compensation is required?”

“No. It simply means I’m busy.”

“…Even if I offer anything?”

“I can’t say there is anything i would want right now.”

Lee Seo-yeon glanced back at Joo Yeon-hwa.

They exchanged a silent look, and then Lee Seo-yeon subtly unbuttoned one of the buttons on her blouse.

Seo Ji-soo gasped, horrified.

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

“…Isn’t this what you meant? A body untouched. Its value, I assure you, is quite high. Men usually like these things…”

“Workshop Master?! No, right?! It can’t be, can it?!”

“There’s no way that’s possible. Get dressed.”

This headache of a situation had me pressing hard at my temples.

Well. It’s not like I had anything I couldn’t show. Just a quick peek, and it’s over.

Except, looking into those eyes, it didn’t feel like she’d leave just from seeing the object once. I could almost sense a strange obsession brewing.

“I can show you the object. I *can* show it to you…but if you still can’t accept it and refuse to leave, I’ll forcibly remove you. Understand?”

“Yes.”

Her surprisingly quick reply made me stand.

I used the landline to call Baek Soyeon’s office.

[…Wha-what. Calling because you missed me? I’m busy. Though, I could spare a little time…]

“Are you really busy?”

[Huh? Oh, no? Not *that* busy… So, what is it? What’s wrong?]

“Can I borrow your personal equipment for a bit?”

[Why? What for?]

“Just doing some light maintenance, and I thought I’d give someone a look.”

[I guess there’s no reason to say no…Is that all?]

“You said you were busy.”

[I *am* busy, but…ugh… Fine. I’ll have a subordinate send it down.]

Baek Soyeon’s personal equipment arrived before long.

Lee Seoyeon flinched the moment she saw it.

“…This is?”

“It’s my prize-winning piece. Didn’t get a proper evaluation, but…well, it’s a labor of love. Doubt there’s much that can compare.”

Lee Seoyeon blinked. She carefully took the cube-shaped device in her hands, holding it up to the light.

“…Ah.”

A single, involuntary exclamation. That was all. From then on, she didn’t respond, even when spoken to.

She simply turned the object over and over, completely focused on deciphering its internal structure. Seo Jisu tentatively reached out a hand.

“C-can I see too…? The Workshop Master’s personal work…!”

-Slap.

The outstretched hand was lightly brushed away. Seo Jisu flinched, having been hit by Lee Seoyeon.

The outburst came next.

“Artisan Chief?! That crazy woman’s manhandling him?! Shouldn’t I be the priority?! Aren’t I?!”

“Must you act like this, Ms. Seo Ji-soo…”

“I, I want to watch too! I want to watch! Why can’t I?! Huh?!”

“I never said you couldn’t. I’m already having a headache, just stop…”

“Why aren’t you on my side! You’re closer to me! Hey!”

I firmly pushed back Seo Ji-soo as she rushed at me. Her fiery temper hadn’t changed a bit.

Maybe we’ve gotten closer recently. We spend a lot of time working together, so naturally, the distance shrinks. Still, shouldn’t I be her superior, at least for the moment…

Oh well.

This is better than putting up a complete wall between us.

“Good girl.”

“Hnn?!”

I gently pressed down on her head until she calmed down. Seo Ji-soo shuddered for a moment, then fell silent.

I figured out her weakness a while ago. A woman unusually sensitive to touch on the crown of her head. Stay quiet until work is done.

Joo Yeon-hwa gave a knowing smile.

“You’re good with women.”

“I’m good at handling subordinates.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s so.”

I continued to stare at Lee Seo-yeon, still lost in her concentration.

A beautiful woman, so focused on something, she looks like a painting in and of herself. But just because the painting is pretty doesn’t mean I’ll leave it as is.

“There’s an empty room, take your employer there. Ms. Joo Yeon-hwa.”

“Wouldn’t it be possible for that… *thing* to escape?”

Escape.

*Escape*, you say.

A faint smile flickered across my face. I called the artificial intelligence that oversees the entire underground facility.

“They’re saying it might escape, Scarlet. What do you think?”

“A foolish assumption.”

The mechanical voice poured from all directions. As if light particles were coalescing in mid-air, the AI, Scarlet, materialized and lightly snapped her fingers.

The chaotic workshop. And, in that space, countless heavy weapons suddenly sprung to life.

The ammunition for all those weapons was made entirely of energy crystals formed from my own energy. Special weapons, said to work even on Ability users, sprang from the walls with metallic clanks, aiming directly at them.

“Not even an ant can slip past here without the Master’s permission. This is both my and the Master’s sanctuary, you see.”

“…Do you truly believe you can stop an ability user with mere heavy weaponry?”

“It is far from ‘mere’, which is what makes it a sanctuary. Inferior human. Shall we test it? Though if you end up riddled with holes, I won’t take responsibility, understand.”

Juyeonhwa silently regarded Scarlet’s hologram.

Then, with a slight gesture, he raised both hands.

“Well, I jest. It would be peculiar to even contemplate stealing anything from Hundred Eyes, to begin with.”

“There are surveillance cameras inside, too. I advise you to refrain from suspicious behavior.”

“Of course. Mr. Lee Seojun. I couldn’t engage in strange behavior even if I wanted to. Not with Seo Yeon in that state. I can only wait until it’s all over. Though, might I trouble you for a snack? I’m famished.”

“Get a list of what he wants and have it delivered. Scarlet.”

“…Really?”

“He’s a guest, after all.”

“Hmph…”

Scarlet nodded, seemingly displeased.

“Be grateful to the Master for understanding and overlooking your insolent words, human.”

“Your artificial intelligence is remarkably human-like.”

“More than that. Your intellectual capabilities couldn’t possibly keep up with me.”

“Did you create it yourself?”

“Enough with the intelligence gathering. Kindly take your leave. I have work to do.”

“Such a pity.”

He ushered the two guests into separate rooms. He didn’t forget to rouse the quietly weeping Seo Jisu and lead her out of the room as well.

Thus, I finished the remainder of my quota for the day. Because I had far more tasks than the other artisans, I had to concentrate every hour… the fatigue was indescribably profound.

Well, even so, after completely finishing my work, I have about an hour before going to bed, so it’s not completely hellish, I suppose. That time is perfect freedom. I pressed hard on my tired eyes and lightly cleaned my office.

Normally, Baek Soyeon should have come down around this time, but today she seemed busy as well. As the head of an organization and with the situation unfolding so urgently, it felt like she was preparing for everything she could.

I moved locations for the time being. I looked into each of the wards within Hundred Eyes headquarters.

Seol Yewon and Ju Hwarin.

Both of them remained unconscious.

Fortunately, their bodies had fully recovered. But having undergone such a horrific experience, it was as if they were refusing to wake up, lost in a deep slumber.

The doctor said they would surely wake up someday…

But he couldn’t say for sure when that would be.

I returned to my office after visiting the two patients. After a quick wash, I stared at the two people still lingering in my personal quarters.

“Not finished yet?”

Lee Seo-yeon, who had been gazing intently at the objects, finally lifted her eyes.

Quietly, she posed a question.

“Did you make these yourself?”

“I wouldn’t call them my works if I didn’t.”

“……..”

“If you understand, I’d appreciate it if you would leave now.”

I stepped aside.

However, she remained seated on the sofa, asking me again.

“Why did you bother to show me these things? You didn’t have to.”

She was right.

But the reason I showed them, even so…

“I, too, possess it. Curiosity. Since I know that feeling, I showed them to you. For a craftsman, curiosity is inseparable, wouldn’t you agree?”

“……”

“Besides, I was also curious. The opinion of Seoul’s top workshop’s craftsman upon seeing my work.”

I casually inquired.

“Before you leave, would you give me a word of impression? How do you, by your standards, find my work?”

“…I have a request.”

“Again?”

“Yes.”

Quite bold. Quite bold, indeed.

I clicked my tongue. Might as well ask.

“What is it?”

Lee Seo-yeon.

The woman, a top-class craftsman from Yeongwon, looked directly into my eyes.

And uttered words I didn’t expect.

“I want to work here.”

“…Excuse me?”