I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Foul Friend (2)

Gray Anatomy.

The third-ranked executive of Ouroboros and the chief research director responsible for all research within the organization.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever met someone as tenacious as you in my life.’

The reason I had a personal connection with such a big shot was simply because I had been in the organization for a long time.

‘…What are you talking about?’

‘Usually, grunts either die or run away on their first mission. But you, with no abilities to speak of and no promotion prospects, kept slogging at the bottom like a dog. I heard your peers have already climbed to executive positions?’

Haha, it’s quite an honor for a grunt to have an executive take an interest in their personal affairs.

‘Why are you talking to me?’

But back then, all I felt was vigilance.

An executive showing interest in the personal affairs of a grunt who could die or quit at any moment.

Isn’t it natural to be cautious?

‘Well, it’s hard not to remember a face you see hundreds of times, even if it’s just a grunt.’

But as I later found out, at least back then, his reason for talking to me wasn’t out of malice.

It was just curiosity.

The battlefield is a place where the brave die quickly, and cowards never even step foot.

His curiosity was about why someone with no power was still in the organization.

‘So, let’s introduce ourselves. What’s your name?’

Whatever the reason, I had no choice.

A grunt can’t refuse an executive’s command.

‘…I don’t have one.’

‘No name?’

‘I threw it away when I joined the organization. Just call me whatever you want, grunt or lackey.’

I didn’t even need an alias like ‘Ginger Bread’ back then.

So, when asked for my name, all I could do was remain silent.

A typical executive would’ve accepted that, but not him.

‘Then I’ll have to remember your face until you tell me your name.’

‘What? What do you mean…’

‘We’ll probably see each other a lot from now on, so let’s start as friends.’

Nonsense.

How can there be friendship between a grunt and an executive in an evil organization?

The concept of friendship he spoke of was likely far from what society considers beautiful.

The tentacles reaching out to me made that feeling even more real.

‘Nice to meet you, self-proclaimed lackey. My name is Gray Anatomy. Let’s get along without getting on each other’s nerves~’

Yes. At that moment, I instinctively thought.

The damned bad relationship with this cursed monster had begun.

***

“Wow. I didn’t expect this.”

The same person I had a bad connection with began to express admiration upon realizing my presence.

“To think the father of my student isn’t a hero but someone from the shadows, and even figured out my identity.”

Yes, it’s indeed surprising.

This was someone who used to cover his entire body in tentacles when he was in the organization.

To recognize his disguised self in society…

Even for someone who had been a villain longer than me, this must be a first.

“Before I kill you, let me ask your name.”

But that was just light curiosity.

His intention to kill me couldn’t be hidden by such shallow emotions.

“What’s your name?”

Given his current sensitivity about his identity being discovered, he wouldn’t show any mercy to his target.

“Disappointing, forgetting an old friend.”

Still, I mentioned our old relationship, just in case.

“…Friend?”

“Yeah, you bastard. Didn’t you tell me I could speak casually with you back then? Don’t you remember?”

It’s not a lie.

As a grunt, I couldn’t speak casually to an executive.

He was the one who first approached me and unilaterally led our relationship.

“Haha, friend?”

Despite being deeply involved in my personal affairs, when we met again after the organization collapsed, he responded with a laugh as if it was absurd.

“Friend? Us?”

Simultaneously, he pulled out a syringe from his pocket.

As he injected it into his neck, his blood vessels bulged, and his body began to transform.

“Sorry, but I don’t make friends with humans.”

The transformation caused by his Gift, ‘Mega Drain (Excessive Absorption)’.

-Swish!

His rapidly changing arm swung at me like a whip.

The numerous tentacles that emerged from his clothes slashed through the floor and walls of the infirmary like a whip.

The power was too much for something created from organic matter.

Boom, crash!

As the medicines, drawers, and desks collapsed under his attack, I dodged and rolled, only to be met by something thick flying towards me.

A tentacle with a sharpened bone tip.

-Slash!

When the blade tore into my side, I stumbled, and my body was thrown onto the infirmary floor.

But he didn’t even allow me to fall as he grabbed my neck with a tentacle and lifted me up.

“You tried to provoke me with those words, but you just stepped on Lego. How dare you talk about friendship in front of me?”

“You bastard, it’s stepping on a mine, not Lego…”

-Crack.

He broke my neck without hesitation.

The sensation drove into my mind, and my vision blurred into white.

Despite that, I could still hear his voice in my ears.

“A Gift doesn’t apply to medical death, so breaking a regeneration ability user’s neck won’t kill them.”

The sinister smile visible through my fading vision.

He seemed to be enjoying himself, but I could sense his underlying emotions.

“Still, your nerves must be intact. How much damage do I have to cause before you scream when your vocal cords recover?”

Yes, he genuinely despised me.

My words had hit his weak spot.

“Let’s see. Can you still talk nonsense when all your blood is drained?”

Gray Anatomy.

A man who hated humanity so much that he abandoned his species.

It wasn’t about hating society like me or seeking revenge like Seolhwa.

He simply despised humans and wanted to serve a being that wasn’t human.

Claiming friendship with someone like him.

Isn’t it natural for him to go berserk?

‘Didn’t you say you don’t make human friends? Then why did you want to be friends with me?’

Regardless of that, he was the one who first called me a friend.

Even if it was far from society’s concept of friendship.

He was the one who declared us friends.

‘My hatred is insignificant compared to the organization’s grand desires. Isn’t that the same for you?’

‘What does that matter?’

‘It’s called shared empathy. I thought, “This guy will never betray Boss, just like me.”’

‘That’s the reason?’

‘Well~ Unlike me, you have no power!’

-Snap, snap!

As the tentacles twisted every joint in my body.

Despite the pain, my body wouldn’t move due to spinal damage.

Getting tortured helplessly while paralyzed.

Feeling the full force of his power, I strengthened my resolve.

Ah, yes. He is strong too.

-Crack!

But I had my own survival skills from the battlefield.

“What…”

My consciousness revived as my broken neck healed.

With that, I forcibly moved my broken arm to grip his tentacle.

And tore it apart.

Using my teeth if necessary.

“This crazy bastard…”

-Wham!

As he stumbled in shock, I kicked his face with my twisted leg, sending him flying.

Anatomy, caught off guard, fell to the floor.

I collapsed as well, but I could still muster the will to stand.

My limbs were broken, and blood was still pouring from my torn side…

But I could still resist.

“…Impressive tenacity.”

Seeing me rise with bloodshot eyes, Anatomy adjusted his broken nose and smiled deeply.

“To think you’d tear off my tentacle with your teeth despite your broken limbs. You need that kind of guts to be a villain.”

His eyes, filled with hatred a moment ago, now showed admiration.

He recognized me not as a common villain, but a rare adversary.

“However, guts alone aren’t enough. What will your expression be if I triple the dosage?”

He pulled out three more syringes and aimed them at his neck.

Yes, an S-ranked villain’s power isn’t limited to transforming his left arm into tentacles.

He hadn’t even started using his full strength yet.

“Are you planning to go wild here?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll consume you without leaving a trace before the staff notices.”

-Crack!

As the drug took effect, his arm transformed again.

But this time, it wasn’t tentacles.

-Screech!

His hand transformed into a beast’s…

No, a grotesque monster’s mouth.

The sharply sculpted teeth could shred steel as easily as flesh.

The tendons arranged around the jaw showed its tremendous biting force.

That’s why he’s called the ‘Human Chimera’.

He’s a monster housing countless horrors within him.

“Yes, Mephisto. Are you hungry?”

Tenderly stroking the result, he smiled.

That smile was undoubtedly one of affection.

Love for a monster, not a human.

“Devour.”

And the open mouth revealed his hatred for humans and his command to his creature.

-Screech!

The monster rushed at me with its mouth wide open.

Just as I raised my broken arm to block the attack.

“Stop.”

A low voice resonated in the infirmary.

And the monster’s mouth stopped just before reaching me.

At the sound, Anatomy twisted his left arm to restrain the creature.

“…Huh?”

My head turned reflexively to the source of the voice.

A small girl’s silhouette stood at the entrance.

“Moa, why are you…?”

“Do not move any further, Anatomy.”

As soon as she recognized him, the girl spoke again.

Ignoring the ruined infirmary and the grotesque monster attached to his arm.

Focusing only on my battered self.

“How do you know that name…?”

Anatomy couldn’t hide his surprise at the girl.

A reaction unlike anything from the one who had been torturing me moments ago.

No, he was never one to show mercy to a mere child.

“Ah, I see how much you’ve manipulated that child.”

Contrary to my expectations, Anatomy’s initial shock turned into even greater hatred.

“…Moa, just pretend you didn’t see anything.”

He suppressed his growing anger, trying to gently coax his student.

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle your troublesome parent. You just stay quietly…”

“Anatomy.”

Yet, the girl paid no heed to his pretense.

After glancing at my bloodied form, she spoke again.

“Do you dare defy me?”

A long time ago.

She reminded him that she had once been his ruler.

-Screech…

The creature on Anatomy’s left arm responded first.

It retracted, whimpering.

Its instincts understood before its intellect.

That it must never defy this small girl.

“Oh, this isn’t good…”

Realizing this, Anatomy began to tremble with cold sweat.

Yes, he finally understood.

“It seems I’ve stepped on more than a Lego.”

Everything stemmed from his misunderstanding.

That misunderstanding had become a mistake he could never rectify, clouding his future.

End of Chapter