I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Foul Friend (3)

“…Clean up the room and prepare the place. Now that your identity has been exposed, you need to know the full truth to prevent such incidents in the future.”

Boss walked past the frozen Anatomy.

Her steps were directed towards where I sat on the floor.

Was that guilt on her face?

Was it because she sent me away without proper explanation, even though something was bothering her?

“Bread, are you alright?”

But the one who should feel guilty was not her, but me.

Covered in blood, yet still… I could only extend my hand to her.

I realized that the height I thought I had grown into had seemed to shrink back down.

“…Bread?”

“I’m sorry.”

I could vaguely guess that she had used her abilities at the cost of her own existence.

What exactly did she use that power for?

No, come to think of it, it was a bit strange.

Someone who hid her identity so thoroughly, yet only closed the curtains before causing this commotion.

She didn’t lock the infirmary door…

Would someone playing the role of a societal person make such a mistake?

“I’m sorry, Boss…”

Even though I realized it, I couldn’t bring myself to mention it.

It was a choice made by my lord, after all.

How could a mere servant scold her and say her actions stemmed from my sins?

“You don’t need to apologize. It was my fault for being too late to notice…”

“The clothes you picked out for me… they’re ruined…”

So I confessed my guilt in that way.

“The clothes you personally chose for me… I ruined them like this…”

“…Bread.”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

While blaming myself for my weakness, I reminded myself again.

If.

If the one who caused this situation was a villain hostile to her, not an acquaintance from the past…

Just ending it like this wouldn’t have been possible. I repeated this fact to myself over and over.

***

After the commotion in the infirmary ended, Boss and I locked the infirmary door and took the time to explain the situation.

Fortunately, I was the last one scheduled for a consultation, so no one else was coming to the infirmary.

There was nothing to hinder the explanation, but still, I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

After all, the reason I was scheduled last was so he could dispose of me.

Even if he did it for the sake of his student, how could a deeply human-hating person like him have genuine affection for a human student?

“He really meant it.”

“…Bullshit.”

“Haha, why don’t you believe me? What’s wrong with a teacher loving their student?”

Anatomy, who had reset my broken arm, wrapped a bandage around it and splinted my leg.

He seemed to be true to his job as a school nurse, as his bandaging was quite adept.

Come to think of it, he was also in charge of medical treatments within the organization.

Although he treated people with suspicious drugs most of the time, resulting in physical recovery but mental instability, thankfully, there was no sign of that kind of treatment now.

Besides, I had a resistance to drugs.

And right now, the situation didn’t allow for such acts.

“So, Boss, please calm down. This all happened because we hid our identities… If you keep staring like that, I’ll be the only bad guy here.”

“…”

Boss, sitting on the bed, continued to glare at Anatomy.

Feeling her gaze, Anatomy sighed and continued to wrap the bandage around my arm.

“…Yes, I was a villain, but still.”

His face showed considerable fatigue.

Quite contrasting from the kind demeanor he initially displayed.

He must be just as flustered by the current situation.

“Well, it was strange.”

Continuing his treatment, he started to recall his memories with a self-deprecating smile.

“Beast Buster, that guy was a weirdo, but he was very loyal to Boss… Blowing up his own body to leave no trace of Boss’s remains, that doesn’t make sense.”

Yes, that’s what the public believes.

It was known that Beast Buster was the one who protected Boss until the end, and he self-destructed to take Justice down with him along with his lord.

Of course, in reality, Boss used her abilities to ensure it was perceived that way, but executives who didn’t know the situation had no choice but to believe it.

After that day, Boss disappeared without a trace.

Their misunderstanding deepened as they hid their identities from each other.

“But to think that the Boss, who was presumed dead, not only survived but enrolled as my student… and the one who defeated Justice was a grunt I had beaten up before. Our little grunt did an amazing job~”

“Who’s your grunt, you bastard?”

Even if there were extenuating circumstances, one must show some reflection.

He tried to maintain a friendly tone, but knowing his personality, he wouldn’t seriously reflect on this.

Especially since he had completely forgotten about being friends.

“You were a grunt in the organization, weren’t you?”

See?

The moment he got a chance, he tried to put me below him.

“The organization has long since collapsed. Why would I be your subordinate?”

“You’re still serving the Boss even after the organization fell, so isn’t it the same?”

“If Boss still considers you her subordinate, so be it.”

Yes, we are no longer part of Ouroboros.

With the organization collapsed, our relationships need to be rebuilt from scratch.

“…”

The problem is that the reunion between him and Boss happened in the worst way possible.

They didn’t recognize each other at first meeting, and that misunderstanding led to her using the power she had been suppressing.

“Boss? We got along well just now, right? As a student and teacher…”

“Indeed, you were at least playing the part of a good teacher at school. Even though you didn’t know the truth, I appreciate your concern for my student.”

“Yes, right!? Then…”

“But that’s only in public. There’s no need to continue that relationship in a place where our true identities are revealed.”

Boss frowned as she glared at Anatomy.

At her gaze, the face that had brightened suddenly darkened again.

“Keep your work and private life separated, Anatomy.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. I’m Moa’s teacher, not Boss’s mentor.”

He was no longer an executive of Ouroboros or Boss’s subordinate.

Instead, he’s probably seen as an irredeemable enemy who harmed me, her loyal servant, rather than a trusted friend.

As Anatomy, abandoned by Boss, continued to wrap my bandages, he glanced at me.

“What’s your name again? Was it Ginger Bread?”

“…Call me Bread.”

“Alright, Bread.”

“…”

“Why? Didn’t you say to call you that?”

Damn, giving a half-assed name was a mistake.

Also, didn’t he call me by my name properly during the consultation?

Even if it was an act, the personality change is too drastic.

“Is it true we were friends?”

However, his next question came from a place of genuine curiosity.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it. Me, making friends with a human.”

For someone as deeply misanthropic as him, it would be hard to believe he would invite a grunt to be his friend, especially within the organization.

It’s almost like going against his own life philosophy.

“That’s what I’m wondering.”

But I have my doubts about the current situation too.

“No matter how much you needed to disguise yourself after the organization collapsed, choosing to be an elementary school teacher…”

“Haha, does it bother you that much?”

“Of course it does. When you were in the organization, all you did was kidnap people and modify them.”

“That was only for volunteers. I didn’t modify just anyone, did I?”

“…”

“Am I wrong?”

“No, that’s true.”

Indeed, he was someone who either avoided or killed humans.

So unless it was a directive from the organization, he wouldn’t lay a hand on modifying humans.

He wasn’t lying about only working on volunteers.

“And even if I hate humans, kids are an exception.”

Ouroboros never had any contact with children.

The organization didn’t have children, and due to its nature, civilians typically evacuated before their operations.

So he hardly ever encountered the vulnerable, like the elderly, pregnant women, or children.

“I don’t consider children fully human. They aren’t yet aware of the distinction between good and evil, so they are barely within the acceptable range.”

I had assumed he would harm children on a whim.

But even considering that, it’s still hard to believe.

A deeply misanthropic person making an exception for children?

Anyone who knew his cruel nature would find it suspicious.

“So, what’s your answer?”

As I struggled with this internal conflict, Anatomy, nearing the end of the treatment, asked again.

The playful tone was gone.

Yes, making friends with humans must be a significant issue for him. It’s like he unknowingly broke his own beliefs and philosophy.

“Would you believe me if I just said it? How would I prove it to someone who lost their memory?”

“Friends share secrets, don’t they? If I truly considered you a friend, I’d probably share at least one secret.”

Oh, right. Secrets.

I do remember one thing.

“Your hobby is watching AV, right?”

Flinch.

During the final stages of treatment, Anatomy’s body tensed.

Then he adjusted his glasses and looked at me seriously.

“…Adult Videos (AV)?”

“Animal Videos (AV), you idiot.”

Wildlife videos are still shortened to AV.

His hatred for humanity was so intense that he took up the hobby of watching videos filled with animals instead of humans.

Of course, those videos were mostly about animal mating, and he actually found sexual arousal in…

“I accept it. You seem to be my friend.”

“No, on second thought, we’re not friends.”

Yes, this guy is not my friend.

All that I said before was a lie and a desperation to survive.

I’ve never been friends with someone who finds sexual arousal in animals.

“It’s okay~ Now that you know my secret, I understand. Honestly, you saw my Red-crowned Crane collection, didn’t you?”

“You forced me to watch that.”

“Come on, don’t be shy~ Sharing AVs among men means they trust each other, right? Since I’ve lost my memory, I guess we need to rebuild our relationship from scratch.”

“Get your arm off me, you disgusting bastard.”

“Wait a bit. I have a video of Adelie penguins prostituting themselves on my phone…”

“Get lost, you bastard.”

This furry weirdo must have gone even more insane after the organization collapsed.

Now he’s making a fuss over feeling sexual arousal towards birds, too.

“Bread.”

Just as I was pushing his head away with all my might using my broken arm, Boss, who had been observing quietly, called me.

Still crossing her arms, glaring sharply at Anatomy.

“If the treatment is over, come here.”

Boss spoke quietly to me.

Anatomy, sensing the atmosphere, slid his arm off my shoulder, and I quietly approached Boss, who was sitting on the bed.

And then…

“Um, Boss.”

“Stay still.”

Boss pulled my body into an embrace as I sat beside her on the bed.

I didn’t understand why she was doing this without saying anything.

The weight she put into the hug made my wounds ache, but I couldn’t push her away.

How could a servant defy the actions of their lord?

“Um.”

But usually, this wouldn’t be a problem; right now, there’s an audience watching us.

As I felt burdened by his gaze, Anatomy asked Boss.

“Boss, are you jealous of my relationship with him?”

-Flinch.

Boss’s small body trembled for a moment.

“…Oh.”

Anatomy’s eyes, having noticed her brief reaction, began to gleam with a strange light.

End of Chapter