VILLAIN 28

“Ah….”

Is this how both Seo Hosu and Seo Kangsan died?

Is that why I possessed a body in a world that has been reset….

I frowned as my entire body ached and slowly opened my eyes. This time, it wasn’t a gray landscape, but a world with proper color. Judging by the smell of a hospital, it seemed to be a patient room…. As I turned my head weakly to the side, I saw Seo Kangsan fast asleep, slumped over the bed while clutching my hand tightly.

‘Seeing as he’s here, I guess I didn’t die after all.’

You’re waking up after three months.

Because you had no will to live,

Because your body refused to live,

Your heart stopped about three times.

Three months? It felt like I’d just woken up from a short dream, but more time had passed than I thought. I tried to lift my body, but I lacked the strength, so I gave up and moved my fingers instead. Reacting even to my small movement, Seo Kangsan snapped his head up and stared at me blankly.

“…Seo Hosu…?”

‘So, what about my leg?’

A recovery should be possible. Although you won’t be able to move for the time being.

Well, I’m glad it’s not completely ruined. I was a bit worried because the state of my leg when I last saw it was more gruesome than expected. As I closed my eyes again because I didn’t even have the strength to keep them open, Seo Kangsan leaned down to check my heartbeat. Seeing him naturally bring his ear to my chest, it seemed he had checked every time I was asleep to see if my heart was still beating.

Ah, I wanted to at least stroke his hair, but my eyes drifted shut.

Please don’t die.

I stared blankly at the system window that appeared just before they closed, then I shut my eyes and let out a faint smile.

Beeeeeeep—

Using system authority to forcibly revive Seo Hosu.

Using system authority to forcibly revive Seo Hosu.

Using system authority to forcibly revive Seo Hosu.

Using the authority of the main system to forcibly revive Seo Hosu.

Ah, you can’t die yet. What have you even done to die? The protagonists haven’t even ended up together.

Die after you’ve done your job.

The character ‘Seo Hosu’ refuses.

Using the authority of the main system to forcibly revive Seo Hosu.

I think… I’m getting a little exhausted.

Actually, quite a lot.

This time, it was a different dream.

A dream where the world turned gray again and Seo Kangsan died after being hit by a car right before my eyes.

It was so brief that I didn’t even realize it was a dream as I wailed like a madman, cradling a cooling Seo Kangsan in my arms. It was raining, and all the blood was being washed away.

If I had pushed you onto the road back then, would you have died like this? Is that what you’re showing me….

I frowned while watching that scene, and as soon as I realized it was a dream, my eyes snapped open.

“Ah, f-fuck….”

It hurts… like hell….

Are you awake?

Yeah, yeah, I’m awake. But please, just knock me out again. It really feels like someone is pounding my body with a hammer… especially my leg.

This time, you woke up after ten days.

Sitting beside me wasn’t Seo Kangsan, but Lee Sera.

Because the quest to push Seo Kangsan was recognized as completed, you leveled up. The control over Grandfather has been released to some extent.

Grandfather and Seo Kangsan were here until just now, but they left because of work and school.

Ah, okay. Even at the news that Grandfather’s control was released, I felt nothing. Even if that were the case, not a shred of expectation remained for that man.

But why is Lee Sera here…?

I stared at Lee Sera silently. Lee Sera, who had been looking down at me with an expressionless face without much reaction even though I woke up, slowly lifted her head and looked into empty space.

‘Did Seo Kangsan go quietly?’

He was dragged away forcibly. Because he didn’t leave the entire time you were asleep.

Oh, but he’s heading back to you again right now.

Ah, well done on that.

It seemed Lee Sera’s eyes were gradually clearing, so I moved my lips, praying it was just my imagination.

Due to a critical error, Lee Sera is released from the system’s control.

“…My child….”

A tear suddenly trickled from Lee Sera’s eye.

Clutching my hand with a trembling grip, Lee Sera lowered her head and muttered.

“…I… was so afraid of losing you…. My child…, my lovely child….”

Seeing Lee Sera clutching my hand as if in desperation while tears streamed down her face, my breath hitched.

“If only I could have taken the pain for you….”

It felt like Lee Sera loved Seo Hosu so much that the original Lee Sera was bound to emerge… and so it felt stifling. I barely moved my fingers to squeeze Lee Sera’s hand. Even so, it was only a level of strength that could be considered a weak return of the grip.

Snap!

The main system restores Lee Sera’s settings.

Lee Sera, who shook off my hand, looked down at me expressionlessly before slowly getting up and leaving the patient room.

Tears were still welled in those eyes, making my mind a mess.

Ah, this is annoying. Why do they keep moving however they want?

I let out a hollow laugh while looking at the main system window and then closed my eyes.

How long had I been like that? The moment I let out a sigh because I couldn’t sleep, the hospital door—Bang!—swung open, making me flinch slightly.

Ah, jeez. You startled me.

Whether he’d heard the news that I was awake, Seo Kangsan ran toward me and reached out his arms. He couldn’t bring himself to hug my body, so his hands moved in the air before he slumped into a chair and grabbed my hand.

He doesn’t look like he’s in a good state. He seems anxious and unstable. Seeing his gripped hand trembling as well, I felt bitter knowing it was ultimately because of me.

“…Some water for me.”

Seo Kangsan jumped up and returned quickly with water. Seeing him act as if I might go somewhere if he didn’t return quickly, I let out a small sigh.

Seo Kangsan, who slowly fed me the water, stared blankly at the empty glass cup and then suddenly threw it into the trash can. And then even the vase with flowers standing next to it.

“I specifically told them to clear it all out….”

The voice muttering lowly was excessively chilling.

Why, are you afraid I’ll break that and commit suicide? I don’t even have the energy for that right now anyway.

Seo Kangsan, who had been muttering while looking at the trash can, lifted his head with eyes shining coldly and looked at me.

Ding!

Seo Kangsan’s stress and fear levels exceed the limit, causing a partial mental collapse.

Uh, even without that, the kid’s eyes do seem a bit gone.

I glanced at the trash can, let out a small sigh, and reached out to stroke Seo Kangsan’s hair. I’m already exhausted and weak enough to die, this is driving me crazy.

And for both him and me, I was worried because it felt like our attendance would be on thin ice if we didn’t go to school immediately, but feeling that bringing up the topic of school in this situation would make the atmosphere even stranger, I kept my mouth shut.

“Hey!”

Around the time I was contemplating whether to just sleep through the suffocating silence, the door burst open and a familiar voice was heard.

Even if the protagonists have to meet like this to make it easier to connect the story later, I frowned, wondering if it was right for him to show up here now, but being too tired to argue anymore, I just raised my hand and gave a half-hearted wave.

Then, Lee Rowoon approached me and frowned.

“You don’t mean you’re again….”

Lee Rowoon, who was about to say something, glanced at Seo Kangsan, came closer, and whispered softly.

“Are you possessed by a ghost?”

“Yeah…, something like that.”

Seeing him pointing at Seo Kangsan secretly, it seemed he was asking, “Does your hyung know?” so I shook my head. Seo Kangsan, who had been looking at Lee Rowoon with cold eyes, slowly tilted his head. I motioned for Lee Rowoon to stay far away, as it felt like Seo Kangsan might kick him out at any moment.

Why are you looking with those kinds of eyes at someone you might be linked with later?

“Ah, Jang Dohoon told me to give you this.”

Lee Rowoon, who took a bag of candy out of his backpack and handed it to me, then even pulled out some chocolate.

“And this is from me.”

“Tell him thanks. Thanks to you, too.”

“Yeah.”

Lee Rowoon, who answered dryly and nodded, checked the time and frowned.

“I should head out now. Get well soon and come to school.”

“Get home safe.”

Isn’t he going to walk him out? I looked at Seo Kangsan, but he showed no intention of moving. Rather, his eyes were staring only at me, so I gave up on speaking and lay back down comfortably in the bed.

After Lee Rowoon left, I felt an uncomfortable silence and Seo Kangsan’s intense gaze.

“Why? Do you have something to say to me?”