I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Will of Fortune (1)

Though a pounding heart towards someone may be a sign of love, humans are greatly influenced by their physical state.

Even in moments of fear, the heart beats fiercely, and it’s entirely possible to confuse such fear with love.

If one has never experienced fear, they might mistake their emotions.

“Anatomy.”

So perhaps.

Perhaps what she feels for him isn’t love but fear.

Maybe, it’s actually the fear of being hated by the one she wants to watch over.

The fear of not being able to stay by his side, making her heart race just by thinking of him.

“I am not as extraordinary as you all think.”

She despised her own uncertainty.

It was an emotion she had never felt when she lived as pure evil.

That self-deprecation soon led to a confession towards her loyal subordinate, who still held onto his loyalty.

“You all worshipped me like a god, but the truth is, I can never be such a grand being. Despite your devoted service, I foresaw my limits and selfishly tried to abandon everything.”

A life that should have ended in resignation had now turned into irreversible regret.

Even if she had realized these feelings a little sooner… it still wouldn’t have changed the outcome.

“And yet, you still want to serve someone like me?”

But how could her weakened self change the past?

All she could do was ensure such things wouldn’t repeat.

Thus, she cautiously recommended that he leave her side and find his own path.

“You will start again anyway.”

Yet, he calmly responded as if it was no big deal.

“Start again…”

As if she hadn’t anticipated those words, the girl’s gaze shifted from her hands to him.

Towards the man who was smiling as if it wasn’t just empty words.

“Even if you live a normal life, it’s just a disguise. When the time comes, you plan to rebuild the organization.”

“That is not my will.”

“And if he wishes for it?”

The transcendent stayed silent.

That silence was enough for Anatomy to chuckle.

“…Yes, it is your will to stand by his side.”

No, it was more than enough to satisfy him.

Though she was weak now, and even carried a sense of guilt that might diminish her majesty as a ruler.

Yet there was ‘passion’ now that was not felt back then.

“When you were in the organization, you were practically without will. Even if your mission was to bring humanity to ruin, you didn’t know what to do and just followed others’ orders.”

Her mission was to be evil for humanity.

So, she stood by the side of villains, fulfilling their expectations and acting as the lord of evil.

Understanding evil was merely to meet others’ expectations.

At that time, even though she was the idol of many, she never attempted to do anything herself.

“But unlike back then, you now seek to do something on your own. Comparing the past to now… I think this is much better.”

More than a ruler who is just strong, a being who understands and holds firm beliefs is easier to respect.

“Didn’t you dislike Bread?”

But it seemed insufficient as the transcendent asked in disbelief.

“I do dislike him. That won’t change.”

Anatomy didn’t deny it.

Yet his expression was brighter than before.

“But now… I think I understand why I called him a friend.”

Shadow, Seolhwa, Maestro, and Bathory.

Even Beast Buster left to find their own paths.

No matter how long he stayed by her side, without a solid opportunity, it would end as just an insurance policy.

But he…

Even when other executives gave up, he alone tried to uphold the corpse of a god that had already died.

‘My hatred is trivial compared to the grand ambitions of the organization. Isn’t it the same for you?’

‘What does that matter?’

‘It’s called a sense of camaraderie. Yes, this guy, just like me, will never betray the Boss.’

Even if her status fell.

His loyalty wasn’t based on position or strength.

“Don’t worry, Boss. At least I won’t serve anyone else over you in this world.”

“Even though I betrayed you?”

“What does it matter if I’m petty and selfish? We’re villains after all.”

Outcasts who have no place to rely on, leaving society.

Though they are unscrupulous and vile, each has their own ambitions.

Only she could take them in and fulfill their wishes.

“And don’t worry about him either. That guy is the greediest among those I know. Even if weak, he’s not someone who could ever become a hero.”

Such camaraderie might lead to mutual loathing but can also forge strong bonds of trust.

His words stemmed from such conviction.

“So if.”

He wasn’t someone who would ever waver, even if he saw hope growing in this era.

Even though he looked forward to the moment he could crush that hope with his own hands and plunge the era into despair more than anyone else.

He could never think his resolve would falter now.

So if there truly was a possibility he didn’t know, and he used this chance to prove it…

“If by any chance that guy returns alive this time, then I’ll trust you and stake my life on him.”

Placing his future in such a person’s hands might not be a bad choice for him now.

***

…And then.

-Rip.

I picked up the book that had fallen to the floor and gripped it tightly.

The book referred to as my fate.

To tear it apart with my own hands.

“…What.”

Did he not expect such an action?

Laplace, who had been urging calmly until now, began to tremble in his voice.

“What are you doing? That is your fate…”

“Shut up.”

His words felt utterly ridiculous.

“What fate? What predetermined path?”

“Denial will only bring you more pain. You sought power, didn’t you…”

“What do you mean my life got twisted because of her!!”

-Rip!!

The more I pushed, the more my entire body felt like it was being torn apart.

It wasn’t just like my flesh was being ripped.

I felt something smaller, like nerves, detaching from my body.

Yes, it was the black lines.

That presence, solidified by a power beyond comprehension, was a record of myself unreadable to human eyes.

The materialization of what’s commonly called ‘fate.’

“…Is your weakness due to your unyielding loyalty to her?”

Seeing me, Laplace continued, seemingly sympathetic.

“But abandoning your own fate is something no one can afford to do.”

-Crack!

The accelerated disintegration of my body.

Everything in my senses screamed to let go of the book, warning of irreversible consequences if I didn’t.

“Abandoning fate is something no being in the universe can withstand. The aftermath is unknown. Your body might leave no trace, and your mind could be lost in the vast universe. Your existence might vanish, making everyone forget you ever existed.”

No one can predict what happens to someone who loses their fate.

It’s certainly a terrifying thought.

Even now, the pain tearing through me as I tried to destroy what was called my fate.

“Ah, I see now.”

But the more I felt the pain, the more I realized something.

That the one who came before me in this space, who twisted fate and performed miracles numerous times, endured this.

“She always bore this.”

Twisting fate comes with the price of existential erasure.

Though it manifested as age regression, it was merely a visible outcome.

The process of paying that price was far more agonizing than anything I’d ever felt.

Much more than anything I’d experienced.

“Boss.”

Had she borne such pain for her followers all along?

“The one I should serve is still her.”

Thinking of her, my hesitant hands regained strength.

The pain like my body was tearing apart gradually subsided.

To prove it wasn’t a misconception, the black threads disintegrating from my body returned to their original state.

Did Laplace realize something upon seeing my calm body?

“…I see, faith.”

He said quietly, resting his chin in his hand.

“Faith in a being beyond comprehension… As you worship her as a god, you adjusted your limits to hers instead of yourself.”

-Crack!

As I forced more strength, my body accelerated its disintegration.

No matter how much I tried to endure and push through, the agony remained.

“But maintaining yourself like this will only lead to a more painful path. Ginger Bread, even knowing she ruined your life, do you still wish to follow her?”

“…Shut up.”

Isn’t that story already over?

Telling me to abandon loyalty for power.

The premise was wrong.

I needed power to support her, what meaning was there in abandoning her for power?

“You know it too.”

Yet, Laplace continued to persuade me.

“She is just a small being compared to the vast universe… Far from being a god. Knowing that, you couldn’t even borrow her strength anymore.”

A god must be perfect and noble.

So seeing her weakness and imperfection, she might not be what people commonly call a god.

“…Indeed, she might not be a god as you said.”

“Then…”

“Still, I gained hope by serving her.”

I already gained much and could look forward to the future by serving her.

“I’ve seen countless people who also found hope in her.”

Just that is the greatest treasure in my life. What did it matter if she wasn’t a god?

“Spreading that belief to the whole world… If she’s not a god, making her a god is your goal?”

“Yes, I’ll make the world acknowledge her!”

-Crack!

More force in my hands.

The book began to split, its binding noticeably breaking apart.

As my body accelerated its disintegration, it would soon settle.

“…It will be a painful path.”

His words were more concern than relief.

“I’ve accepted that. I can’t achieve what I want unless I walk that path.”

“Is compromise not an option?”

“What’s the point of living well alone?”

“At least you could achieve what you want.”

“I want to change the world. And the only one who can change the world is her.”

As he said, it might be easy to change a wrong fate.

But to change a wrong era… I can’t do it alone.

What I can gain here might lead to personal success, but it wouldn’t help change the world.

“Supporting the one who sustains the world, I can’t fail in my own fate!”

-Rip!!

With a shout, the book tore completely.

I endured the disintegration with a yell, spreading my arms wide as the pages scattered and turned to ash.

Even as everything turned to ash and disappeared, the backlash was surprisingly absent.

“…What.”

No, there was certainly a backlash.

“…What drove you to such lengths.”

Not just me, but the entire space.

-Rumble!

As if proving it, the space shook violently, and the bookshelves filled the space trembled greatly.

“No, it stems from your heroic nature. Whether hero or villain, the root of your path is the same.”

The bookshelves began collapsing one by one.

In the realization of causing an irreversible event.

But Laplace stepped towards the collapsing library.

“Don’t worry. The universe’s order is delicate. One person’s twisted fate won’t collapse it. As changes occur, all fates gradually adjust.”

-Clap, clap.

A small applause echoed in the collapsing space.

“Congratulations, Ginger Bread. Your tenacity destroyed and recreated the order of the universe.”

Perhaps a being greater than the one I serve.

At this moment, he was expressing his respect towards me.

As if proving that what occurred was a unique achievement.

“So now, an endless unknown unfolds. Even your master cannot see the future. By tearing the journal of your life and future, your fate is beyond the order of this world.”

-Boom!

The accelerated collapse of space.

As my body began to sink, I felt no confusion.

It was merely the process of returning to my original place.

Proving it, everything born from my perception twisted and faded into the darkness.

“But that is your story. I will continue to watch from here as usual.”

As he vanished from my sight, he removed his fedora and bowed his head softly.

A formal gentlemanly farewell.

“Born with the fate of a hero. One who chose to abandon that fate! I, Laplace, acknowledge your existence. Now go and twist the stars according to your will!”

Transcendent Laplace.

He remained true to the image reflected in my eyes.

And…

***

-Boom!!!!

The moment the hammer in my hand struck the ground.

The force cracked the earth, spreading fissures throughout the space I occupied.

As the movement of the black threads writhing within my body subsided.

If all of that was the ‘fate’ that rampaged uncontrollably with my death, now it meant everything had stabilized.

With my own hands.

Even after destroying what was called my fate.

“…Sanity.”

I wasn’t the only one who realized it.

“Have you finally regained your sanity?”

As I regained consciousness, I saw a white-masked man, his body in shambles.

The look through the broken lens was one of clear bewilderment.

Perhaps it meant he struggled while I was in that space.

“Yes.”

But it won’t take long to realize.

Though the rampage had subsided, my consciousness brought forth a clear malice.

“I’ve returned from hell. You bastard.”

“Shut up!!!”

Noticing that, the hero charged at me.

But the hammer in my hand struck him first.

A hammer imbued with newfound strength.

-Bang!!

It shattered the gauntlet of the charging hero.

And finally, it sent his body flying in the opposite direction.

End of Chapter