VILLAIN 5

“Do you want to wake up everyone in the house at this hour? And why did you come here, hyung?”

He glares at me with a frown, brushes my hand away, and roughly shoves the box he was holding into my arms.

“I had no intention of coming in, you brat. I’m just giving this back….”

“Why are you giving back something I told you to apply?”

“Why should I accept anything you give me? Who knows what kind of bullshit you’ll spout later.”

“Just take at least one and apply it. It doesn’t look like you’ve used any.”

“I’m asking why the hell I should do that. Don’t you remember last time? You did this and then threw a fit to your mom, saying I stole it from you.”

I don’t remember. That must have been before I possessed this body.

This character’s personality really was trash. I can fully understand why he’s acting like this toward me, but since I haven’t actually done anything yet, I felt a bit wronged.

‘It’s my fault for being possessed, I guess….’

Though it’s certainly not what I wanted.

“Ha…, alright, I get it.”

I was about to tell him to just leave, but Seo Kangsan hides the scissors behind his back and watches me warily.

This guy, it’s not like I’m some wild animal he encountered on the road….

[Now, make Seo Kangsan leave! It’s even better if you slap him and then kick him out ^0^*]

My lips twitched, but I eventually let out a deep sigh, sat on the bed, and patted the spot next to me. I mean, why does he have to look so pitiable and make me worry.

“I get it, so just sit here. I’ll apply the medicine for you.”

“Why are you applying it?”

“You said you didn’t want to take the medicine, right? If I apply it for you, you won’t have to worry about me tattling later.”

“I’m asking, why you?”

“To see if the medicine is effective. Happy?”

At my words, he remains wary but glances at the scissors before hesitantly coming over to sit at a distance.

He really is a good kid. If it were me, I would have told him to cut the crap, thrown the scissors, and left. No, I wouldn’t have even bothered to stop him by taking the scissors in the first place. Whether someone I hate dies or not, what’s it to me?

To start with the visible areas, I grabbed his arm, pulled up the sleeve, opened a new tube of ointment, and applied it slowly. While wondering what on earth I was doing at this hour, I focused and applied it meticulously.

‘I mean, why do this to a little kid and make me worry….’

Arms, legs. And the neck. After applying it to all the visible spots, I patted Seo Kangsan’s shoulder.

“Take off your shirt.”

“…Leave it, I’ll do it.”

“How are you going to reach your back?”

[What are you doing, Mister Seo Hosu?]

Why are you calling me, you bastard. It’s because of you that I’m getting stubborn and doing this even more. Who told you to try and force me?

[Seriously, why is his personality like that! ㅜ_ㅠꐦ]

Aren’t those my words? Seriously, what kind of person do you have to be to do this shit to a kid.

The system that keeps demanding strange things and the people in this house who abuse and neglect the child were all the same.

“I’m sleepy. Hurry up and take it off.”

Perhaps because the system window made my nerves sharp, my voice came out a bit annoyed.

Contrary to my expectation that he would get annoyed back, Seo Kangsan bites his lip hard and slowly takes off his top. A body so excessively thin I didn’t want to believe it belonged to a child, covered in so many bruises and wounds that his natural skin tone was barely visible.

A sigh escaped me involuntarily. This means the “me” before possession was complicit in these wounds. I’m one thing, but the person who beat a kid to this state is truly vicious.

“What’s this?”

While focusing on his particularly red and swollen shoulder and squeezing ointment onto my finger, Seo Kangsan let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re the one who poured hot water on it.”

Truly impressive, Seo Hosu.

Since he only sees his mother acting like that, I guess the kid had no choice but to learn the same.

“…It must have hurt.”

“You think…?”

“Sorry.”

It wasn’t my doing, but if it was something Seo Hosu did, I thought it was right to apologize.

Though I don’t think for a second that it will make the pain or the scarred heart any better.

“…Why are you being like this all of a sudden?”

He looks at me with eyes saying I’m really strange. As if I’m possessed by a ghost.

Well, I don’t know either. Seo Hosu might have tormented you because he truly hated you, but I don’t. I can’t even remember what my real name was right now, so how could I hate or torment anyone?

“I had a nightmare….”

“…What?”

“I’m doing this because I had a nightmare where everyone living here… the whole family died.”

Actually, I don’t even remember what I dreamed about, but it seemed like a suitable excuse. At my words, Seo Kangsan kept his mouth shut for a moment and stared straight ahead without a word.

‘Why is he so nice?’

I found the burn ointment and applied it slowly, but this looked serious enough that a doctor needed to see it. It didn’t seem like Lee Sera would call a doctor for Seo Kangsan, though….

‘Should I do some acting tomorrow?’

I wondered if she’d call one if her biological son collapsed on the floor saying his stomach ached.

After applying medicine to all the visible spots, I patted Seo Kangsan’s shoulder.

“Hyung.”

There was no answer. He just looked straight ahead with a lukewarm expression.

“Hit me once.”

“…Are you crazy?”

“Hit me somewhere it won’t show. I won’t tattle.”

“Why the hell should I do that shit?”

“Because I made you hurt, hyung.”

“Is this the first or second time?”

Does that mean I’ve hurt him severely more than just once or twice? Seo Hosu, what on earth have you been up to? And yet, why did you keep the medicine so preciously stored in that box? I really can’t figure you out.

I let out a small sigh and was about to offer my pinky finger or something, but Seo Kangsan grabbed my arm tightly, making me reflexively lift my head. For a skinny kid, his strength was quite significant, and it hurt a little.

“What’s wrong with you lately? Are you pretending to be nice so you can stab me in the back? Huh?”

[That’s right! Seo Hosu suddenly being nice is a character breakdown! >0ㅜ!!]

You, shut up.

What’s the big deal about applying a little medicine like this that you’re making such a fuss. From his perspective, I must look like a lunatic giving the disease and then the cure.

I kept my mouth shut and glared slightly at the system window before making eye contact with Seo Kangsan.

“I definitely gave you the chance to hit me.”

“Right. I guess you’re planning to stab me in the back after acting nice.”

“Well… I have no intention of doing that. Tell me later if you change your mind. I’ll let you hit me once.”

Seo Kangsan let out a hollow laugh. Yet, seeing him clench his fists, it seemed he was contemplating my offer because his usual resentment toward me was quite substantial. He stayed like that for a long time before finally letting out a long breath and snapping his head away.

Feeling strange at that sight, I reached out once more to mess up Seo Kangsan’s hair, stroking it.

Hey, kid. If it were me, I would have thrown a punch the moment I got the chance. You kind-hearted brat.

“Ah, what? Get off me!”

Slap!

His face turns bright red as he roughly brushes my hand away.

Ding!

[— ‘Seo Kangsan’s’ favorability increases.]

Ding!

[— Level Up! A specific person appears!]

[— Current Level: 3]

…Why is this going up?

I know that favorability isn’t that kind of romantic feeling, but it felt quite strange.

The system and everything else—the way they decide someone’s life or fate at will and boss them around—is disgusting, so I’m acting however I want, but….

‘Doesn’t this mean I’ll eventually die or have everything taken away anyway?’

Because in the end, I’m just the villain. Not that I care, though.

That’s why I don’t know what the meaning of all this is even more. I have no intention of performing the role of a villain right now, so the reason you’re keeping me alive like this instead of just killing me… ah, wait.

‘Do I have to be alive for the protagonist to appear?’

[That’s right! If you aren’t alive until you enter school, Seo Kangsan won’t be able to meet ———. ㅇㅅㅇ]

Aha…, so that’s why even if I don’t listen now, you only make it painful and don’t go beyond that.

[Of course! It would be very troublesome without you! Because story progression is impossible without you! ㅠ_ㅠ

Please listen to me.

Otherwise, Mister Seo Kangsan will end up — —ing — — and — — will — —.]

Because so much was processed as ‘—’, I couldn’t properly make out what it was saying.

[I will — — help you both — —.]

Beeeeeeep—

At that moment, a ringing sound erupted in my ears, making me flinch violently and cover them.

“Ugh.”

“Wh-what is it?”