I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Aftermath

[Pangea’s largest cruise ship, Titanic, sinks.]

The news quickly spread across Pangea, causing a social uproar.

One of the largest facilities in Pangea had been destroyed.

With the ship carrying businessmen, tycoons, and politicians, the social impact was immense.

[This incident shows the government’s negligence!]

[How could they let villain forces infiltrate the ship to such an extent? What crime did the crew of the Titanic commit to deserve this!?]

Shouts from debaters on the TV filled the dark room.

Next to it, a PC displayed related SNS updates and articles.

The sinking of the heavily invested cruise ship caused stock fluctuations, and the resulting economic turmoil unsettled citizens.

Protests by the bereaved further fueled public outrage, leading politicians to dig up past incidents to heavily criticize the current government.

[Hundreds died at Hero Land. Many heroes turned villains at the Heroine Contest! Yet the Association insisted on downplaying the reports.]

[Why do you think that is? They lack the ability to manage, so they’re trying to blind the public!]

[It’s time to admit it. Pangea’s unified government is corrupt, and the Association under it is incompetent!]

But could one call these passionate debaters righteous?

To them, those in power were merely competitors.

Accidents and disasters they weren’t involved in served only to highlight the incompetence of the administrators.

The incited public rampaged, shaking society, while someone in the shadows pursued their own gains.

It was a recurring event on this continent.

Even after this, the process would unfold unchanged, and the uproar that seemed to threaten the continent would eventually quiet down.

‘Calling this a revolution is absurd.’

Yes, this was merely a process to create opportunities.

Causing chaos to achieve one’s own goals amidst the destruction…

“Boss.”

As these thoughts swirled, a voice called from outside the room.

Seolhwa turned off the TV and PC and called out his name.

“…Yes, speak, Gigantes.”

S-class villain, Gigantes.

A loyal subordinate who had co-founded Pandemonia and still served closely by his side.

“I’ve come to report on the recent attack incident, if it’s alright.”

“…I’m tired, so keep it brief.”

“Yes, then.”

From outside the door, Gigantes continued his calm report.

The report focused on the loot obtained from the cruise ship attack and the dark information not covered by the media.

As the largest cruise ship, they had acquired substantial resources.

The gains would certainly aid future operations, and the infamy from this incident would attract more villains, strengthening their ranks.

“…How many did not return from this operation?”

But he spoke when he realized a crucial part of the report was missing.

Gigantes reluctantly answered after hearing the question.

“Two-tenths of the total.”

“…That’s a lot of deaths.”

“Do not worry. Most were new recruits to fill the numbers. We can replace them easily.”

Unlike the uneasy Seolhwa, Gigantes seemed unfazed.

As if unaware that the one he served was a former grunt.

“…Boss.”

Well, perhaps his attitude was correct for a villain.

Dwelling on past losses and letting it affect actions was a weakness.

For villains who couldn’t rely on society, such weaknesses were unacceptable.

“Steel your heart. In future operations, more comrades will die.”

Especially for a leader of a faction.

Taking his loyal subordinate’s advice to heart, Seolhwa nodded quietly.

“I understand.”

“…Then I will take my leave.”

-Thunk, thunk.

Heavy footsteps echoed from outside the door before fading away.

Once the presence completely disappeared, Seolhwa stood up and slowly walked to her bed.

On the bed in the dark room lay a collection of dolls.

Cute for her age, perhaps, but her face showed deep sadness as she handled them.

Using the dolls as catalysts to recall her memories.

‘It’s okay, don’t be scared.’

An era where children commonly lost their parents, she had made a friend at an orphanage.

The child always held a rabbit doll given by the caretakers.

At first, the child cried loudly like her, but after clutching the doll, the crying stopped.

‘The caretakers said they’d give us candy if we behaved. Good things will happen if we follow their instructions!’

Did she feel encouraged by the child?

Clutching the doll, the child often comforted her and the other children.

Saying it would only be tough for a while.

Though they had no choices, they had at least met there.

‘When this is over, we’ll play again. Okay?’

Yes, the friendship born from their young hearts.

It must have centered around that child.

Just feeling the child’s presence brought comfort.

‘A-03, failure.’

The man’s monotone voice echoed in her ears when she regained consciousness.

In her wide-open field of vision was a room, all white.

A man with a stern face looked down at her from the bed, writing on a chart.

‘A-04, success.’

The term ‘A-04’ from his mouth was the number on her white clothes.

And before that.

The term ‘A-03’ was on the white cloth covering a melted mass of flesh on the adjacent experiment table…

‘If the experiment succeeded, prepare to move to the next location.’

In the all-white room, the spreading red was distinct.

The metallic smell at her nose triggered nausea.

The horror made her turn away, but she saw a small rabbit doll leaning by the entrance.

Just seeing it made her realize.

What the mass of flesh she had been looking at meant.

‘A-04. Don’t stand there idly.’

‘Lee Yunseol.’

Her real name escaped her mouth as soon as she realized it.

And the child must have had a proper name, not ‘A-03.’

‘I’m Lee Yunseol, my name is… And that child’s… That child’s name was…’

‘A-04, don’t make me repeat myself.’

Yet he didn’t call her by name.

He didn’t say the name of the girl cruelly killed by their hands.

Just met her eyes and spoke in a flat tone.

‘Prepare for the next experiment. Hurry.’

She couldn’t say anything.

Not a scream, not a sob, just following their instructions.

No one called the child’s name during the process.

No, they focused on their work as if forgetting her existence.

To them, the one who had given her hope was a failed experiment, just a piece of meat discarded in the trash.

‘Waaah, waah!’

She saw the same scene many times afterward.

Failure meant the end.

Even successful test subjects were brutally killed if they resisted under the pretext of disposal.

Ignoring such deaths and following orders, she still saw children trembling in fear like her.

-Boom!

With drugs flowing through their bodies dozens, hundreds of times.

Seeing a child cry tears of blood and die when their head burst, she once thought her head might contain the same thick fluid and fragments.

So broken that even the utmost terror turned into mere curiosity.

Wishing for the end of that hellish time.

Hoping it might be easier to die midway.

‘This isn’t justice.’

The one who ended that time.

Ironically, it was the researcher who had coldly demanded she move to the next place during the first experiment.

‘This… This can’t be justified. This can’t be right!’

It didn’t take long to understand.

Even the one she feared was ultimately just a cog in the machine.

The sight of boys and girls being slaughtered in the name of gaining power, even from a bystander’s perspective, triggered guilt.

Yes, he defined himself as evil.

Even bystanding could be a sin to someone.

‘Run away. I’ll stop them somehow, so hurry…!’

The guinea pig who escaped through his sacrifice found herself stepping into a distorted world, a common tale of this era.

Someone might call it a prevalent tragedy of this time.

“Revenge…”

What, then, would the conclusion be?

If things that don’t change over time are common, is adapting to that commonality justice? Is resisting it evil?

If society collapses from that resistance and what was once common sense changes.

Would she be called just in the world that follows, or remain known as evil?

“Will the echoes in my head disappear after I take my revenge?”

That, too, was something only time would tell.

Repeating the usual conclusion, the worst villain hugged a teddy bear and went to sleep.

***

…And then.

“…Mr. Bread.”

Around three months after the Titanic sank.

Feeling the chilly autumn breeze through the half-open front door, a man adjusted his coat collar and looked at me quietly.

James Hart.

The hero I had been closely connected with for the past six months.

Unaware of my true identity, he still showed kindness, though his steps toward the door were hesitant.

Yes, this time, he might not return.

“You’re really going, then.”

“Yes, so please take care of my daughter… Nella.”

But he had to move forward for the greater good.

Leaving behind his most precious being was perhaps a hero’s true nature.

“Uncle Bread.”

After seeing off the hero I had formed a bond with, I turned in the doorway to find a small girl clutching a rabbit doll.

Undoubtedly loved and feeling love.

Yet, unable to bid farewell to her father, heading into danger.

“Daddy will be okay, right?”

“Don’t worry. He’ll definitely come back.”

Empty words.

Because I knew exactly what kind of enemy he was about to face.

“He always returned to your side, didn’t he? So, everything will be fine.”

But isn’t that what comfort is?

Being swayed by vague fears of the future is meaningless, so even empty reassurances are necessary to prepare for what’s ahead.

Especially for children who collapse without something to lean on.

“…My father.”

How long had I spent calming the girl’s anxiety?

As I laid the exhausted girl, who had cried herself out, on my lap, another girl’s voice came from behind.

“Feel free to speak. Nella is asleep.”

Despite the previous melancholy, the girl slept soundly.

Feeling pity for her innocent slumber, the Boss quietly sat beside me and turned on the TV.

In silence.

Watching the TV in silence.

“Bread.”

After a while, her hand stopped changing channels, and her expression grew tense at the news on the screen.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

I answered the brief question immediately.

Almost reflexively.

“I’m fine.”

Yes, I had already made up my mind.

I had to.

Barely managing my affairs, I couldn’t let anything else distract me if I were to protect my liege.

So no matter what news came, I wouldn’t move.

[Yes, breaking news. Pandemonia has declared all-out war against District B…]

I couldn’t change anything by getting involved now.

Watching her on the news, all I felt was resignation.

Arc 3 END

End of Chapter