I’m Not That Villain

98 – Lee Seo-yeon (1)

Things had gone south.

And not just a little, but spectacularly so.

Choi Ye-seo, fixer for the Shark Tooth Office, slumped in her chair.

“…This is a complete washout…”

“Sister. What are your intentions?”

“Intentions, intentions… gotta finish the job…”

She’d grabbed a Black Mirror flunky. Snagged him good and proper.

Except, wouldn’t you know it?

The man’s mouth was impossibly heavy. Hard to believe he was just a contract killer.

No, he endured all that extreme torture? Impossible.

And yet, he did.

He looked like a blabbermouth, but in the end, he hadn’t uttered a single word.

And to top it off, things went sideways and she lost him along the way.

“…Hundred Eyes…”

But still.

The outline emerged in an unexpected form.

Black Mirror.

It was practically common knowledge now that their resource was with Hundred Eyes.

She’d come this far, chased this hard, thought she was close to the truth…

But the moment it loomed before her, wasn’t it far larger than expected?

What a big shot this guy is.

How long had he been in Seoul, and already he’d secured a position in a massive organization?

“…Can’t exactly cancel the commission now…”

“Sister. If we inform the office director separately…”

“No good. The moment we accepted, we were doomed. Think about the client. We’re in checkmate. Checkmate. If a fixer’s office with our reputation fails like this… we’ll be blacklisted from the industry in a heartbeat. Who are our main clients? VIPs. The kind who don’t tolerate mistakes.”

“Too dangerous.”

“When wasn’t it? Luckily, it’s not *that* bad a situation.”

Choi Yeseo rolled a lemon drop around in her mouth.

“War. It’ll break out soon. Hundred Eyes will definitely get screwed this time, right? The Enforcement Agency reinforced their forces. And the Backhand are participating too. Unless those guys suddenly increased their power fivefold, this war’s as good as won. Urban combat? Terrain advantageous to them? Doesn’t matter. The last time was just a skirmish, and now we can project serious power.”

“…….”

“We just hop on top of that. In the chaos of Hundred Eyes getting swept away, we just quietly snatch that man with the skills we originally targeted.”

“…Sister. We might not be the only ones after him.”

“I know. But we’re not the kind of people who let someone steal our prey, are we? Yejun-ah.”

“It’s Han Dojun, Sister.”

“Yeah. Right. Dojun-ah. Anywaaay…”

Choi Yeseo drew out the end of her sentence and stood up.

“Let’s finish things properly this time. There seem to be quite a few competitors…so let’s assess the situation carefully before going in and securing identification. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“But you know. I was really surprised. When I saw the leaked photo… ha. I should have grabbed him when we ran into each other before.”

Her junior, Han Dojun, gave a wry smile.

“Repaying kindness with malice, it seems.”

“That’s our job. There are no good resolvers in this world, you know…”

Choi Yeseo popped another candy into her mouth.

“Everyone just does it for money. The Enforcement Agency is the same, isn’t it? The genuinely good guys already croaked a long time ago. That’s the world. A world where power *is* logic.”

. . .

Noise.

A type of religious group made up of followers of the Bad Sector.

Teresa was, more or less, its assistant manager. Of course, there was no reward for it. She just wanted to, she took on the difficult key post voluntarily.

She would do anything if she could just stay by her side. She would die for her.

But why was it?

Today felt very strange.

Even though she saw her again, she wasn’t as happy as before.

“Teresa.”

Teresa raised her head. The Bad Sector, changing from a straight jacket into new clothes and looking in the mirror, was in front of her.

Her goddess. The savior who had saved her.

She finds herself asked a question by her.

“Where’s Viper?”

“…….”

Suspicion lingers.

All his senses scream that he is the cause.

But…

Does it really need to be said aloud?

It’s a question he wouldn’t have usually asked. He would have told her everything he knew right away.

It’s not that he doesn’t like her. Nor does he lack respect.

He still loves her, still cherishes her. He’s even prepared to throw his life away for her sake.

…But…

“…….”

He came to mind.

That face he didn’t want to shatter, needlessly.

“Lost in thought?”

“…….”

“Hmm…Why has my loyal puppy fallen into such a state…”

Bad Sector spun around.

Eyes that seemed dangerous. Completely twisted and cracked eyes that shone like a cross.

Teresa knew that it was a trace of long torment and abuse. And the result of it was in her hands as well.

A different caliber altogether.

If her hand moved, his neck would be severed from his body in an instant.

“Teresa. Teresa. Loyal pup.”

“……”

“Have you grown to dislike me?”

“…N-No, not at all! I, really…!”

He denies it with all his might. Shakes his head.

She smiles. A bizarrely fractured smile.

“Is that so? That’s good, then.”

“……?”

Teresa flinched at the reply, far simpler than she’d anticipated. She raised her head, expecting a reprimand, but the punishment never came.

She was there. Yet her gaze wasn’t fixed on Teresa.

Light taps, taps.

Caressing her phone like a cherished toy.

“The subject’s location is already pinpointed. Seems like delightful things are unfolding in Seoul, hm?”

“……”

“But whatever shift in your feelings…really, now. Mongmong-ah. How could I ever discard you? Hmm? Someone as useful as you is quite rare…”

A slender hand touches her chin, lightly.

“How long have we been together?”

“…11 years…”

“Has it really been that long? Strange. Not aging is truly a peculiar sensation. I didn’t ask for this body, yet I’m completely acclimated to it…truly bizarre. Humans are creatures of adaptation, after all. Hmmm. Or rather, can I even call the current me human? Ambiguous…utterly ambiguous.”

“……. “

“But my objective remains crystal clear. Forward! I need only look forward. I will likely meet my doom. Yes. I’ll inevitably perish. The wicked are destined to die, aren’t they? But before that, I’ll show everyone everything I’m capable of. Ultimately, it’s for my own sake. Ah. The monster born in Seoul. A victim of human experimentation. The most powerful result yielded by the government, yet they’re desperately trying to conceal my existence. It’s their own shame, after all.”

“……. “

“Tell me, Teresa. Do I seem like something you need to hide?”

“N-No…”

“Isn’t that right?”

She lifted her gaze from the phone. Stroking Teresa like one would pet a dog.

“As long as that feeling remains unchanged, will you continue to work for me?”

“…Yes…!”

Teresa gasped. Ah. My God.

My God, who forgave me even after my hesitation, the lies nearly spilling from my lips.

Thank you. Truly thankful…

“Then, shall we consider how to handle him in detail?”

“…….?”

“Viper. My love. That piece must be crafted solely for my sake…mmm…if we capture him, we should start by severing his legs. To keep him from running away. That would be best, wouldn’t it? “

Bad Sector grinned radiantly.

“A craftsman can create endlessly with just his hands, right? Isn’t that so? Yes! Wonderful! Ah. I look forward to that day. So then…shall we launch a proper invasion? To secure his identity, we must ultimately dismantle Hundred Eyes. And while we’re at it, let’s stir up some considerable trouble. Demolishing just one feels…lacking, don’t you think? The war that’s said to erupt in the center of Seoul soon…”

Bad Sector twirled, her meticulously crafted appearance dazzling. Like a giddy girl, she pressed her flushed cheeks with her hands…

Whispering in a husky voice.

“Let’s join the fray. As a third force. Kill everything in sight, show them who the enforcement agencies missed. A perfect comeback stage! We’ll blend into the chaotic war, unleash a carnage. A catharsis of death and destruction… Ah! The memories of Seoul are creeping back! The government’s masterpiece! We’ll show them the result! To everyone alive!”

Teresa stared blankly.

Beautiful and perfect…

Yet a twisted god, thirsting for blood.

“What escaped into the world on the nights of Seoul! Once isn’t enough! I must keep running until my doom arrives! If only to appease the ceaseless torment within me!”

. . .

Seo Jisoo summoned me.

“Workshop Master.”

Her sparkling gaze was almost unsettling. This woman didn’t seem to mind that our previous roles had been completely reversed.

It was as if that high pride she once displayed had vanished entirely…

I felt a sudden urge to distance myself, as if she expected something extraordinary from me. Once this is over, I should naturally create distance in our relation.

“You have a guest.”

“…A guest?”

“Yes. They said they are an acquaintance of the Workshop Master’s.”

“…….?”

My acquaintance?

Confused, I checked the person entering the building. Figures, called acquaintance, were visible on the screen, but…

Frankly, I couldn’t recognize them.

Yet, there was a faint sense of having seen them somewhere before…

“Oh?”

Suddenly, the events at Spa Land flashed through my mind.

The duo who were harvesting something from the incapacitated ability users back then. People I had only glimpsed in passing.

“Long time no see.”

One of the two raised a hand in greeting. The impassive expression confirmed my suspicions.

“It’s hard to call us acquaintances, wasn’t it just a brief encounter?”

“I lied. I’m sorry. But I saw no other way.”

She inclined her head slightly. The trademark impassivity was filled with politeness.

“Lee Seojun. Black Mirror. Viper. You have many names, but I only want to know one thing. Are you truly skilled enough to endorse my work and form a partner workshop with Hundred Eyes?”

“……?”

“My skills are extraordinary.”

The woman straightened her chest.

“I was one of the founding members of Yeongwon Workshop. That’s why I can’t understand it. Just what…what work ousted mine?”