Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

To go to Las Vegas, first, we need some advance preparations.

“It’s a midnight escape.”

—Wait, don’t ‘midnight escape’ and ‘advance preparations’ not go well together?

‘Even for a midnight escape, preparations are necessary. We can’t just carelessly leave, right?’

Hearing my words, Han Seo-hyeon said:

“Is that okay?”

“It’s fine since Taika said he’d pay all the hospital bills.”

I believe in the world’s strongest!

Despite my words, Han Seo-hyeon’s expression was still serious.

“He doesn’t know that Jae-ho hyung stabbed him in the side, right?”

Ah, is this what he’s worried about? I patted Han Seo-hyeon’s shoulder.

“No need to worry. They know all about it.”

“Ah, they know? And they still said they’d pay our hospital bills?”

When I nodded, Han Seo-hyeon opened his mouth and said:

“Are they filthy rich, or just a hopeless pushover?”

“Probably both?”

More like a friend? Isn’t it the heart of a weekend drama chaebol second son sub-male lead thinking ‘I’ll buy friendship with money’? Hmm, and usually the sub-male lead’s goal doesn’t come true.

—You really spit out curses as easily as breathing.

We could just leave by ourselves, but Cha Song-jin in the ICU is a problem. There’s a caregiver constantly watching the situation there.

At times like this, we have no choice but…

“I’ll distract the caregiver’s attention, so bring Cha Song-jin.”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon’s eyes sharpened. But this time, there’s really a reason I have to go.

“Who here can speak English?”

“…Tsk.”

Han Seo-hyeon clicked his tongue shortly.

Good, it was a good strategy to inspire desire for learning. Now he’ll probably study English extremely hard.

—It just seems like there’s one more heated up kid.

‘It’s fine since Seo-hyeon is usually always heated up.’

Hmm, and isn’t it better to have more heat than being cold? I calmly explained the plan to Han Seo-hyeon.

Actually, there wasn’t much to grandly call a plan.

While I buy time, bring Cha Song-jin to our hospital room, then make a sand dummy in the place where Cha Song-jin was. If we put on the mask Cha Song-jin was wearing too, we won’t be discovered until the blanket is lifted.

—Can’t you just bring him normally?

‘I want to say it like he suddenly disappeared.’

I plan to make our exit itself mysterious. Hmm, then we might be able to bury Edward’s incident a bit that we’re suffering from now.

If we can use the bubble surrounding us to wipe off some of the filth that splashed onto Edward, shouldn’t we use it somehow?

Hmm, of course, wiping off that filth won’t be my job.

—Your metaphor is too dirty.

‘Isn’t it that clear?’

I took out a drink from a nearby vending machine and headed to Cha Song-jin’s hospital room.

Seeing the caregiver in Cha Song-jin’s room, I smiled slightly and said:

[Hello, you must be working hard.]

But despite my greeting, the caregiver’s reaction was quite lukewarm.

Why? Oh no, the face I’m wearing now is quite rough. I almost used just a male concept instead of a handsome male concept. That could have been a big problem.

—What happens if you use a male concept?

‘Usually you get reported.’

Ahem, ahem. I cleared my throat inwardly and carefully spoke to the caregiver.

[That friend seems to be sleeping.]

[Yes, he just fell asleep. It seems his stamina has dropped a lot.]

[After going through such a thing…]

I clicked my tongue as if regretful. And as if I just noticed, I belatedly handed the drink bottle to the caregiver.

[If it’s alright, I’d like to hear more details about the patient’s condition, could we talk outside? I don’t want to disturb that friend’s sleep.]

[Ah, yes.]

It’s the concept of a caring mercenary group leader worried about the member’s condition! How is it! You can’t help but fall for it!

—Is there a need to speak so meanly just to request a guardian’s visit?

‘But speaking like this makes it feel more thrilling and like we’re doing something amazing, doesn’t it? I’m getting excited.’

I calmly conversed with the caregiver and dragged out time. The caregiver who was initially unfamiliar and wary of me soon relaxed.

The caregiver’s name is Sarah. She’s a veteran who’s been doing caregiver work for 7 years. Hmm, I see. Sarah, who said she recommended this job to her younger sister who got married recently and seemed worried about her future after marriage, seemed to have tremendous pride in this job. Hmm, I see! For dinner tonight, ragu lasagna, she wants to follow her vegan husband and go vegetarian but doesn’t want to give up ragu lasagna. The special recipe passed down for three generations…

Just as I was becoming dazed, Ray’s words cut in:

—For dragging out time, you’re continuing the conversation extremely well! At this rate you’ll hear how many spoons that house has! Why don’t you just openly hit on her!

I flared up at Ray’s words.

‘What misunderstanding are you having? I’m just having a conversation.’

—That’s exactly what playboys say!

‘Geez, I wouldn’t feel so wronged if I had properly dated before.’

At my words, Ray said:

—Wait, didn’t you say you were thirty-one when you died? That you couldn’t properly date even once until then?

This is unforgivable.

‘…You’re an artifact without even a body.’

—…

It was a conversation that only left wounds for each other.

Anyway, I think I’ve dragged out time enough, so shall we end the conversation here? Sarah who I was saying goodbye to smiled brightly and said:

[Let’s talk again next time.]

Watching Sarah heading into the hospital room with a bright smile, I shuddered at the chill felt from somewhere. Ugh! The grudge of a narrow-minded artifact!

No, my fingertips are really freezing!

‘I told you not to move magic power on your own!’

—You annoying guy!

I had to appease Ray. I really don’t know who he takes after to be so narrow-minded. While appeasing Ray like that, I returned to the hospital room and was shocked at the scene inside.

“Why does he look like that?”

Cha Song-jin with his hospital gown half off was looking at me with a tearful face. His hair which was originally slightly fluffy with natural curls was a mess as if someone had pulled at it.

“Uu, uung, uuuh.”

Cha Song-jin approached me staggering like a zombie. I shouted looking at Cha Song-jin:

“What did you do to make him like this?”

I could quickly find the culprit. Only one person was avoiding my eyes and looking far away.

“Seo, Seo-hyeon?”

At my call, Han Seo-hyeon closed his eyes tightly and said:

“Well, I thought it was urgent!”

“Su-suddenly barging in! The sand, wrapping around my body!”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“You didn’t give me time to say. Besides, that person was sleeping. So I thought I could just move him while sleeping, but he woke up in the middle and started thrashing.”

“I opened my eyes feeling something strange and I was in midair with nothing!”

“I told you the sand was supporting you!”

“I couldn’t see because it was black!”

Hmm. It’s understandable to be shocked. Waking up and being floating in midair. Especially for Cha Song-jin who is very timid, it’s understandable to be shocked.

“So that’s how he ended up like this…”

“I barely brought him here. Do you think it’s easy to support someone thrashing in midair?”

“Do-do you think it was easy for me? I really thought I was dy-dying!”

Just when I thought they were getting along better… It seems they’re getting worse again. I quickly intervened between them.

“Anyway, it’s good you came safely.”

At the word ‘safely’ I said, Cha Song-jin seemed to have a lot he wanted to say, but he soon closed his mouth at my gesture.

“Jae-ho, want to come out too for now?”

At my words, Jae-ho popped out of the shadow. Cha Song-jin was startled at that sight. Why? Because Edward wearing Jae-ho’s mask was next to Han Seo-hyeon.

“Sh-shadow clone technique?”

Even so, I didn’t expect this reaction.

Shadow clone technique! Hasn’t he watched too much anime?

[Take off the mask for a moment, our mercenary company member wants to see your face.]

At my words, Edward grumbled but took off the mask.

“It’s Edward Sihelis.”

At my introduction, Edward waved his hand.

[Hello!]

“Are-are you crazy! Wh-who is that?”

“Jae-ho picked him up.”

“No! He followed on his own. I didn’t pick him up.”

At Jae-ho’s words, I just shrugged my shoulders. Cha Song-jin said with a panicked face:

“Oh my god. So-so what is that person? A hostage?”

Why does he think like this? The word that came out without a moment’s hesitation was hostage.

“No, this friend is a temporary English teacher.”

“You kidnapped someone to teach English?”

At Cha Song-jin’s words, I was dumbfounded.

“I said we didn’t kidnap him! He came on his own two feet.”

“Ah! Threats then.”

I don’t know how to interpret Cha Song-jin’s unwavering belief. He really believes I only did bad things!

Anyway, now that I’ve introduced the new member, it was time to ask the most important question.

“Before we move to the next area, there’s something I want to ask…”

“Yes?”

“It feels a bit off to keep you as a ‘temporary’ member any longer. No, I do intend to keep you as ‘temporary’ until you want…”

I looked at Han Seo-hyeon and Kim Jae-ho and spoke. I roughly got their opinions before Cha Song-jin came. The answer was one.

They said they’d leave it to Cha Song-jin himself.

“Do you want to join Weltschmerz? If not, the answer is the same as before. I’ll do my best to find a place for you to stay.”

It’s the same proposal as before, but if there’s anything different…

“But personally, I’d like it if you joined. Um, uh, I’m grateful this time. Um, thanks to you we all survived. Yeah, thank you.”

At my words of gratitude, Cha Song-jin’s cheeks turned red. With a flustered face, Cha Song-jin busily rolled his eyes.

So does that mean yes or no?

—It seems unreasonable to demand an answer in this situation too.

That’s right, anyone would be flustered if they suddenly woke up walking in midair and heard this question. I patted Cha Song-jin’s shoulder and said:

“Think about it thoroughly and tell me.”

“Uh, yes!”

“Before that, if there’s anything you want to ask or anything like that, say it. Um, like requirements too.”

I did treat Cha Song-jin too badly until now. Still, if we’re going to accept him as an official member, shouldn’t something be different from before?

At my words, Cha Song-jin who had been pondering for a moment cautiously opened his mouth.

“If, if I join that organization! No, there’s something I want to make clear from now…”

“Yes?”

To bring this up right away. It seems there was something on his mind all this time. I immediately lent my ear to Cha Song-jin’s words.

“I know I’m older, so why, wh-why do you keep speaking informally…”

At Cha Song-jin’s words, I was at a loss for words. That’s all you wanted to say? Reading my expression, Cha Song-jin said:

“No! I’m clearly older, and, and you’re twenty-two! I’m twen- twenty-five ye-years old.”

His pronunciation became strange, perhaps from how he interpreted my gaze.

Right, certainly my physical body’s age is still twenty-two! But though my body got younger, my mind is the same! My mental age is over thirty! I don’t want to speak formally to a barely mid-twenties young kid!

…If I said that, they’d probably try to put me in a mental hospital. Isn’t there some appropriate excuse? Some cool excuse that would make it okay for someone young to match someone older than them.

“My mental age is a bit high.”

But I couldn’t find an appropriate excuse, and in the end, only such a terrible line came out of my mouth.

And at my terrible excuse, Han Seo-hyeon burst out in pure amazement.

“Wow, I’ve heard of transgender but this is my first time seeing transolder.”

I glared at Han Seo-hyeon. He’s not on the boss’s side!

“We agreed to speak informally to each other, so that’s fair, right?”

“Th-then what about titles…”

Damn! This is left too. I desperately racked my brain.

“Still, I’m kind of the boss! Yeah, there’s a boss position so it feels a bit off for me to call you hyung…”

I desperately thought of a suitable title. What should I say! What! Help me, fountain of knowledge!

—Well, I can’t think of any particular words either.

Damn, the fountain of knowledge dried up long ago!

After desperate thinking, I finally opened my mouth.

“Mr. Cha?”

—Oh my god.

My statement that came out after much consideration drew everyone’s criticism.

“Wow, that’s…”

Han Seo-hyeon looked at me as if he had nothing to say, Cha Song-jin asked me in shock ‘Is that the best you can do?’, and Kim Jae-ho…

No, even if he’s uninterested, how can he have the same expression as Edward who doesn’t understand this whole situation?

Seeing that nonchalant expression, I suddenly felt drained.

“Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now! We need to get out of here quickly!”

Ultimate subject change!

For now, we decided to think about Cha Song-jin’s title again later.