I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The Aesthetics of a Villain (2)

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“You are quite rude, aren’t you?”

A low voice was heard right after the storm subsided.

As if drawn by it, the arms that had concealed my vision slowly lowered, revealing a white room isolated by ice walls.

Walls created through her Gift, Absolute Zero.

Within the thick, frozen walls, there was only silence, except for her voice.

It perfectly isolated from external impacts and sounds… Damn, her ability is still terrifying.

The power to steal heat from objects and create solids anywhere.

“It seems you provoked me to save her… Are you prepared?”

Using that power to create an isolated space, she quietly raised her sword towards me.

The sharp gaze beneath the white mask was enough to make me think, Damn, I’m dead now.

“…It seems you misunderstand. I didn’t come to save that girl.”

But the trembling that enveloped my body was not a reason to retreat.

“My business is with you, not her.”

Yes, Kana is important, but dealing with her takes priority now.

Though she appeared unrelated to heroes using drugs, her presence here is concerning.

I was a member of Ouroboros, and that fact hasn’t changed even after the organization fell.

“You have business with me…”

How about her?

“You seem to know me well… Have we met before?”

“Well, where could it have been?”

Not everyone in Ouroboros was loyal to the organization.

Some saw it merely as a means, while others fought to protect it because they had nowhere else to go.

She also respected the organization and its philosophy, but that was when it was still intact.

“One thing is certain, I know quite a bit about you. For instance, you always sleep hugging a rabbit doll…”

As I made a provoking statement to probe her thoughts.

-Crack!

Icicles began to rise from her feet, expanding around her.

Wow, this provocation still works as well as it did back then.

She may look cold, but she’s easily embarrassed.

Though we’re the same age, she can’t sleep without her rabbit doll.

-Whoosh!

But I’ve seen her power many times while in the organization.

Her Absolute Zero can steal heat from objects.

It rapidly freezes even gases, creating frost everywhere, which is excellent for immobilizing opponents.

However, the range of her power is limited to where she can approach or where the cold spreads.

Even within that range, targeting a moving enemy is not easy.

In other words, it’s not suitable for targeting constantly moving enemies.

-Creek!

Using the smooth ice on the floor to dodge the shooting icicles.

Even attacks from the ground can be anticipated by the noticeable signs before they appear.

She uses her sword and feet as mediums for her power. By observing her movements, it’s easy to determine where she’ll attack and apply her power.

-Crack.

Of course, the range of the cold is expanding.

The temperature in this space has already dropped to several degrees below zero.

Regeneration can only delay frostbite.

Frost is seeping into my body, trying to restrict my movement.

-Boom!

Meanwhile, ice spikes shot from all directions. White crystals created in the air targeted me fiercely.

I dodged and continued dodging, the attacks becoming increasingly aggressive.

She, seemingly annoyed by my evasions, swung her sword to the ground.

-Swish!

Countless snowflakes rose from the ground, surging up like an avalanche towards me.

Yes, this is the decisive moment.

-Whoosh!

I charged towards the wave, gripping the kukri in a reverse grip, and leapt at Seolhwa.

The cold would steal my body heat instantly.

But before that, at least one strike.

One strike should reach her.

-Clang!

But my desperation was in vain. The kukri in my hand clashed with her mask, producing a harsh metallic sound.

The ice-protected mask cracked, revealing her eyes, gradually showing confusion.

She was startled.

She hadn’t expected a reckless enemy who trusted only in regeneration to land a hit on her.

“Such a pity, if I were just a C-rank, I would have taken your head…”

-Crack!!

Ice spikes surged up, piercing my abdomen, rapidly freezing my body.

My lower body was completely immobilized.

She had deliberately left my chest and head unfrozen, allowing conversation.

-Slice!

With a swing, she cut the bag off my head, revealing my face.

Surrounded by frost, it didn’t matter if my face was exposed now.

“…Indeed.”

Adjusting her mask, she examined my face.

“An unfamiliar face.”

“……”

“It’s strange. You seem to know me well enough to provoke me…”

Yeah.

Of course, she wouldn’t remember.

I had hoped she might recall my face, but…

“Of course not. I was just a lowly grunt in Ouroboros.”

But I had already expected this, so it didn’t bother me.

Shaking off the bitterness was something I was used to.

“…A grunt?”

“Yes, a grunt who worked under you. Isn’t it too much? Even as an executive, you forgot the face of a loyal servant who always served you.”

“……”

Seolhwa stared at me in silence.

Her eyes still trembling with confusion, but gradually regaining composure.

“Why.”

Yes, at least.

Though she didn’t remember me, she acknowledged that I, too, was once part of Ouroboros.

“Why is someone who belonged to Ouroboros now siding with the heroes?”

I laughed at the inevitable question.

“I’m not siding with them. I’m infiltrating.”

“I understand that. I, too, have infiltrated society since the organization fell.”

Sometimes blending in with civilians and sometimes cooperating with heroes.

It was something we frequently did while in the organization.

“But it’s merely a disguise. There’s no need to actively save them.”

That’s what puzzled her.

Why I would interfere with her execution.

Why a self-proclaimed villain would stop her from killing a future threat.

“Just to be sure…”

But I didn’t want her to ask.

Even if we left the organization.

I hoped she still had remnants of its philosophy.

“Have you grown fond of the hero?”

It only took that one question to realize my hope was in vain.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

I immediately answered, clenching my teeth.

No attachment at all…

Saying that would be a lie.

If even hatred counts as attachment, then yes, it’s there. And as a villain, I did respect some heroes.

“Do you think I’m doing this out of some attachment?”

But not once, not ever.

I never let attachment make me forget my goals or betray my group.

I aim to protect the Boss and rebuild the organization.

For someone with my ambitions, attachment is something trivial that can be discarded.

“That girl is my prey.”

No, I’ll even use that attachment.

I’ll use it to induce her growth and achieve what I want.

“I’ve been saving her to strike her down when she becomes the best. Unlike you, who abandoned the organization’s ideals!!”

With the stage set, she was trying to ruin my plans.

Even though she had been higher in the hierarchy.

“Defeat her? You, who couldn’t withstand this exchange and got overpowered?”

“Even if I fail, I have to try. That’s how we’ve always been!!”

Ouroboros was never a gang of murderers or terrorists, but a coalition.

A group gathered to overthrow the corrupt government of this damned continent.

Hating society’s flawed systems, reckless idol worship, and the hidden darkness they ignored…

Those who despised, suffered, or felt disillusioned with humanity itself formed Ouroboros.

But acting on those feelings only perpetuates the cycle.

“Being common villains wouldn’t make anyone listen, so we aimed to crush hope.”

The stronger the enemy, the better.

More people would cling to that hope, and we could shatter it, spreading fear and despair.

We would declare to those who lost their way.

Look, what you believed in so strongly is so easily broken.

Following such flawed justice created people like us.

“If you followed that ideology, you shouldn’t have targeted her.”

The ‘aesthetics’ created by that mindset united Ouroboros.

They grew stronger and had the composure of the powerful.

“But seeing you do this now… It shows you’re just like the rest. Your composure was only possible with the organization’s backing.”

Was that resolve so light that it fell apart without the organization?

Even someone more powerful than me could easily discard that attitude?

“You’ve weakened, Seolhwa.”

No, it couldn’t be.

If she still pursued the reasons for embracing evil.

-Crack.

Yes.

The sound beneath her mask indicated she hadn’t forgotten that ideology.

If she still had that mindset, she wouldn’t kill me instantly.

Even a grunt like me remained loyal to the Boss. She, who served closer, surely hadn’t abandoned it.

“…You too.”

Calming her anger, she turned her back on me.

“You, too, were protected by him.”

Leaving words only those influenced by ‘him’ could understand.

-Swoosh.

With a swing of her sword, the surrounding ice walls began to crumble.

The fragments scattered with the frigid wind, creating a snowstorm.

As the blizzard filled my vision again, I felt the cold restricting my body lessen.

And then…

“Hey, hey!!!”

When I regained consciousness, it was Kana, not Seolhwa, in my sight.

She was shaking me violently.

“Wake up!! Hey!!”

So, she left without doing anything.

Realizing this, I felt the strength leave my body, and my consciousness began to fade.

Was the cold still sapping my strength?

But even as my body weakened and consciousness faded, her face wouldn’t leave my mind.

‘Lee Yunseol, what the hell are you doing?’

Unable to voice it out loud.

That question echoed inside me as I slipped away…

End of Chapter