I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Assembly (3)

Gray Anatomy.

Those who know him describe him as “a man without a middle ground.”

If he decides to kill someone, he does it mercilessly. If he starts to prank someone, he harasses them relentlessly until they break.

As someone who once served as his friend when I was just a grunt, I know this better than anyone else.

“…Anatomy.”

“Whoa, whoa, Noona? Calm down. If you want information, you have to play along.”

As she was about to charge at him, forming ice shards at her fingertips, Anatomy raised both hands to restrain her.

“Noona, you know I joke around, but I never lie~ Just drink one glass, and the chip is yours. Just one glass~”

“Such a prank…”

“You’re being too rigid~ Surely a leader of a continent-wide organization isn’t going to run away just because of one drink?”

-Crack.

Veins popped on Seolhwa’s forehead.

It was an unusual reaction from someone who always maintained her composure.

No, this was more about Anatomy’s skill at getting under people’s skin.

“Keep your promise.”

Accepting the provocation, Seolhwa lifted the glass and prepared to drink.

Yes, she must be confident that the information in the chip is genuine.

Even if Anatomy’s real motive was just to mess with her, getting that information for just a drink would be worth it.

…If only she wasn’t drinking with him.

“Hey, wait, Lee Yunseol…”

“Bread, don’t call me by my real name.”

Seolhwa glared at me while holding the glass.

Her eyes were even more menacing than when she blocked Spiritas.

That showed how seriously she was taking this negotiation.

“I came here as a villain. Even if I have to play along with such a ridiculous prank, I need to achieve my goal…”

“But you’re terrible at drinking.”

She flinched violently.

Stiffening, she turned her gaze and spoke in a small voice.

“…I can do it.”

“Can do what? Ten years ago, you passed out after two shots of soju during training…”

-Glug!

Unable to back down, Seolhwa downed the drink and placed the glass on the table.

“Bread… Maybe I was inexperienced ten years ago.”

Her face was flushed, but her eyes were still sharp as she wiped her mouth.

“But now, after ten years of experience, I’m the leader of an organization. I won’t be defeated by a single drink!”

“That’s not me, that’s Shadow.”

“I know!”

If she knew, she should look at me, not take it out on Shadow.

See, even Shadow looks scared.

“Alright, I did as you asked, so hand over the chip.”

“Yes, yes, here you go.”

Anatomy handed over the chip.

Seolhwa steadied herself, took a deep breath as if to calm down, and thought she was finally free.

“Now, for the next glass.”

“…What?”

Plastic pieces poured out in front of her.

They were chips identical to the one she received.

“I prepared a lot for this gathering. I collected all the information I could, but it’s not organized, so there might be a lot of dummy data.”

Wow.

Is that even a human thought process?

“But our Noona, you’re already flushed… If you’re bad at drinking, you should back off.”

A bomb shot for each chip.

For someone with her drinking tolerance, it would be a harsh journey.

Look, she’s already staggering from just one drink.

“…If I were going to back down, I wouldn’t have come.”

But she had her pride as a villain.

“Fine, Anatomy. I’ll play along with your game tonight.”

“Khaha! That’s the spirit! You two, come over here! Tonight, we party!!”

With Seolhwa’s acceptance, Anatomy, realizing his plan had worked, cheerfully called Boss and me over.

Right. With that vile misanthrope, it doesn’t matter if you’re the worst villain.

Having suffered a lot from him, I started feeling a bit sorry for Seolhwa, who couldn’t handle her liquor.

-Um…

As the two of them looked at each other and sat down, someone began to approach Boss and me.

A tall, black figure… Though he looked different, it was clearly Shadow from the organization.

-Here, have some juice.

He approached us, holding a juice bottle in his blackened hands.

How should a grunt like me react to a higher-up offering juice?

-There are also snacks.

“Ah, thank you.”

-You’re welcome. Just let me know if you need anything else.

As I thanked him, Shadow smiled and stood by my side.

As I pondered how to react to his gaze, I poured juice for Boss.

Shadow alternated his gaze between me and Boss.

-That child is cute.

“Excuse me?”

-You’re this child’s father, right?

“…Yes.”

I was taken aback by his words.

Did he really not realize who the child next to me was?

Even though both Anatomy and Seolhwa had shown some respect?

“Shadow. You haven’t changed.”

Even Shadow’s obliviousness was taken lightly by Boss.

As kind and smiling as she was to me and Seolhwa.

-That tone… Could you be Boss?

Recognizing the familiar tone, Shadow responded immediately.

As if confirming, Boss silently looked at him, and Shadow started inspecting her closely.

-Boss, you’ve gotten really small.

“Yes, I’ve grown quite weak since that war. It must be disappointing for someone who has loyally served me.”

-Oh, no, not at all. This way, I can be just like you.

Saying that, Shadow shrank his body.

Seeing him change into a boy of the same age as Boss, she chuckled.

“Hehe, indeed. Though the exterior changes, the interior remains the same. Thank you for the reassurance, Shadow.”

-Hehe, Boss, you always say profound things.

Shadow smiled innocently at Boss’s gratitude.

Despite being over fifty years old, he had the innocence of a child Boss’s age.

The second-in-command of the organization, a cold and ruthless assassin, an urban legend…

His reputation and the reality were worlds apart.

-So, who is this person next to you?

As I adjusted my perception, Shadow turned his interest toward me.

Boss looked at me and introduced.

“This is my father.”

-Father?

“Yes, he’s been taking care of me for the past three years.”

-Ah, so he’s your adoptive father.

Well, that’s not wrong.

But considering he didn’t recognize Boss initially, he seemed to sincerely think I adopted her.

-What’s your name?

Despite the potential insult of misunderstanding, Shadow’s curiosity remained.

As I wondered how to respond, I looked at Boss, who smiled silently and sipped her juice.

Go along with it. That was what she seemed to be saying.

“Uh, just call me Bread.”

-Nice to meet you, Bread. I’m Shadow.

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you, Shadow.”

Somehow, I found myself greeting the second-in-command of the organization.

But Shadow’s interest didn’t end with just a polite greeting.

-Um, if it’s okay… Could you be my friend?

“Friend… you say?”

-Anatomy said I could make friends here. Though work made it awkward before, now we can get along…

“Oh, yes. I see.”

I couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded.

To come to a gathering of the worst villains just to make friends…

Even if there’s a gap between reputation and reality, his reason seemed too pitiful for someone once revered and feared.

-Does it trouble you?

But denying reality would be pointless with him right in front of me.

Seeing his slumped form made me feel sorry.

“Uh, well… I don’t mind.”

-Really!?

Immediately, Shadow’s timid demeanor vanished.

He extended his body toward Anatomy.

-Anatomy! I made a friend!

“Ah, congrats! But I’m busy now, can we talk later!?”

Despite Shadow’s joy, Anatomy was focused on his smartphone, almost bursting into laughter.

Specifically, he was looking at Seolhwa through the camera.

“…Hic.”

Seolhwa, barely standing on wobbly legs.

She must have been drinking heavily, as the table was littered with bottles.

There were also chips handed out by Anatomy… Should we just leave them? She won’t die from alcohol poisoning, right?

“Phew, I didn’t expect you’d drink that much! Alright, you win, Noona.”

“I-I’m… not done yet…”

“No, it’s over. No more chips to give…”

“I can still drink… Chips don’t matter anymore! Anatomy!”

Sigh, I knew she’d end up like this if she insisted on drinking.

I started wondering how her subordinates would react if they saw this.

“Ugh!”

But my pity quickly turned to alarm.

Anatomy realized the situation and rushed to her.

“Don’t puke here! No crew can enter, so it’ll stay like this for a while!”

“Ugh!”

-I’ll take her outside!

Shadow rushed to Seolhwa. His body enveloped her, and they disappeared, sinking into the ground.

I guess he’s taking her outside like he did with me.

Seeing him vanish without a trace made me understand why he’s called the elusive Shadow.

Though it’s ironic that this great ability was used to prevent a colleague’s vomiting…

“You’re mean, Anatomy.”

Boss spoke as I felt various emotions.

Her smiling mouth didn’t match her eyes.

No, even her smile seemed bitter. Her feelings were directed more at Anatomy than at Seolhwa.

“She came here desperately. Your prank went too far, even if she’s an old colleague.”

“I planned to give the chip with just a little fun.”

Anatomy, dropping his cheery demeanor, slumped back in his seat and reached for his drink.

“But seeing her drink so much… She must have been desperate.”

“That shows how desperate she is. Unlike you, she still lives as a villain.”

“Yes, bringing Boss here, but thinking of returning to her organization… She seems to have made up her mind.”

As the bottle emptied into his glass, Anatomy whispered softly as he downed it.

“Really… No going back to the old days.”

With something more bitter than the alcohol.

Watching him, I felt a sense of camaraderie.

“…Anatomy, you.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t expect much from this gathering.”

Right, he’s a man without a middle ground.

Playing the role of a civilian was because he saw no hope for a comeback.

To secure that chance, he tried to gather the remnants of the old days. But one person had already let go of their attachment to the old organization.

End of Chapter