I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan

Episode 49

In fact, Seung-hyun couldn’t empathize much with people’s troubles since he hadn’t lived long as “Han Seung-hyun”, but he was happy just listening to their stories.

Moreover, while reading the novel, even Seung-hyun had thought, “What’s the big deal about being a recessive or an alpha.”

“It’s funny that they think recessives are lacking in the head, but do they think recessives have no pride too?”

“It would be better if it was a dominant saying that, thinking they’re just running their mouth. Even betas pity us. No, how are they any different from us?”

“Seung-hyun, has that never happened to you?”

While Seung-hyun drank a non-alcoholic beverage, the companions who left the table had drunk quite a bit. As if they were close even before, one man urged Seung-hyun to share his story.

“…My grandfather is an extreme trait discriminator.”

“Ugh. That’s terrible.”

“But doesn’t it get a bit better if the grandson is a recessive? My mother was originally like that too… but she stopped after I manifested as a recessive.”

“There are people who aren’t like that. There’s someone like that around me too.”

It wasn’t actually his story, but Seung-hyun continued the conversation, recalling the novel’s content.

“But my cousin was born a dominant, so my grandfather had all his expectations on that cousin.”

“Ah, I really hate that.”

“Even if we put in the same effort, it was true that my cousin produced better results… but it’s not like I didn’t try. However, even with similar ideas, if my cousin did it, it was a new challenge, and if I did it, he called it a stupid thing to do.”

Although it felt exhilarating for readers that Seung-hyun was being mistreated by Chairman Han because of his bad behavior, Chairman Han treated Seung-hyun roughly to the point where even readers who thought Seung-hyun was a jerk felt it was a bit much.

Unable to explain the family situation in detail, Seung-hyun shared one vaguely remembered episode.

“Once, there was a time like this. Due to an error, my project… no, homework got switched and sent up.”

It was a story that even Seung-hyun, who disliked “Han Seung-hyun”, felt was too much. He said that due to someone’s mistake, the cover pages of the project proposals got switched and sent to the chairman’s office.

As a result, Seung-hyun’s project was selected. Chairman Han had praised that proposal, and Han Seung-hyun was happy thinking he finally got recognition from Chairman Han without even knowing the proposals got switched.

However, it didn’t take long for the truth to come out, and Chairman Han changed his attitude as if it never happened. It wasn’t that the project didn’t proceed, but due to the clear difference in reaction, Seung-hyun felt more anger toward Tae-sung.

“But when he thought my dominant cousin did it, he praised it so much, and after knowing I did it, he didn’t mention a word about it as if it never happened.”

“What an old-fashioned old man.”

It was a somewhat rude remark, but well, it wasn’t like Chairman Han was really his grandfather, so there was no need to mind it.

“So after that, I came to completely hate my cousin whom I already disliked. I wanted to get revenge too. It was a foolish thing to do.”

Seung-hyun said, sipping a drink similar to the person’s next to him but without alcohol. The person “Han Seung-hyun” should have hated was Chairman Han, not Tae-sung.

“I wanted recognition from my grandfather until recently.”

But Seung-hyun only hated Tae-sung and always wanted recognition from Chairman Han. As if it was his life’s duty.

‘If it was me, rather than burning with an inferiority complex toward Han Tae-sung, I would have wanted to land a hit on Chairman Han.’

Sometimes, “Han Seung-hyun” seemed pitiful, but seeing him misdirecting his anger, the compassion that came to mind would disappear like melting snow. Although it was a meaningless imagination, he sometimes thought about what if “Han Seung-hyun” had gotten revenge on Chairman Han together with Tae-sung.

“Well. To say it’s foolish… I understand it.”

“Me too. It’s not rare to find someone like that… We can’t help but understand among ourselves.”

When Jung-hoon spoke, tilting his head, the people sitting next to him also agreed. It must be because the story was vague. Seung-hyun laughed, thinking it wasn’t a big deal, and said, “Is that so?”

“To begin with, the problem starts from being born a recessive, but saying that is like saying my existence itself is messed up.”

“I was like that before too. You know. Even while in school, the teacher is the one discriminating, but I hated the kid the teacher favored for no reason.”

“Seung-hyun must have really liked his grandfather when he was young.”

“Han Seung-hyun”? Seung-hyun put down the drink he was sipping and blinked stupidly. Perhaps because he used the expression homework, people seemed to think Seung-hyun’s story was from when he was very young.

‘It would be nice if it was only a childhood story.’

“Whether that was the case… I don’t know.”

“But it can’t be helped. A beta or dominant. No, even ordinary trait people probably wouldn’t understand. The emotions felt from being born a recessive.”

“Admitting I can’t help it because I’m a recessive is the same as admitting I was no good from birth. You have to blame someone. That helps in its own way too.”

A man said, lighting a cigarette. He briefly wondered if it was okay to smoke indoors, but looking around, it seemed to not matter.

“Seung-hyun, you don’t seem to talk about these things much, do you?”

“Ah… that’s right.”

Not only himself who hadn’t fallen into this world long ago, but also the original “Han Seung-hyun” wasn’t someone who shared his stories with others. Seung-hyun slowly nodded.

“Well, you might think it’s better not to talk about every little thing, or that it’s embarrassing to talk about it… but you should live talking about these things too.”

“Yeah. If you think alone without talking, you become even more twisted.”

“You’re twisted even though you talk.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Amidst the people continuing the conversation with giggles, Seung-hyun mulled over the words he heard. He had never thought from that perspective.

He had only thought of things like alphas, omegas, dominants, and recessives as one of the elements in the novel, and had never thought about it so deeply.

‘But I still think it shouldn’t have been like that… however.’

Is it because he wants to understand now that he has to live as “Han Seung-hyun”? Seung-hyun blankly thought and shook his head.

“It’s in the past, so I don’t worry about it now.”

“Right. Why keep thinking about complicated stories? Just drink and die.”

The path was taken to spend time with people without overthinking, and as he had hoped, he was having a nice evening talking with people.

So let’s just laugh it off and talk about something else. Seung-hyun thought so and picked up the glass that was almost empty.

“Looks like you’ve almost finished it, do you want to drink something else?”

Jung-hoon asked, glancing at the nearly empty glass. Alcohol is a no-go. With that thought, when he looked at the empty glasses lined up here and there on the table, Jung-hoon waved his hand as if not to worry.

“There are a lot of non-alcoholic drinks too. Ah, there’s something I drink sometimes when I’m not feeling well. Is it okay if I recommend it?”

“Yes. Then please…”

As he nodded, a man who got up from his seat bumped into Seung-hyun, spilling the alcohol he was holding. Fortunately, it wasn’t completely spilled, but one sleeve got soaked.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s okay.”

“At least for the dry cleaning…”

“It’s really okay. I’ll wipe it off roughly. I’ll go to the restroom for a bit.”

It was expensive clothing, but he could just buy a new one, so he didn’t want to embarrass the man. But since he couldn’t change right away, he’d have to at least wipe it. Seung-hyun left the people behind and headed to the restroom.

“He’s talking about dry cleaning. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Was it obvious?”

By the time the music drowned out people’s voices from reaching Seung-hyun, the man who spilled alcohol on Seung-hyun chuckled as if he had never apologized and leaned back on the sofa.

“I’m having a hard time putting on a hypocritical face that doesn’t suit me because of you, so cut me some slack. Jeez.”

At the man’s words, Jung-hoon grinned and gulped down the alcohol he was holding. That type was easy.

A man who is cautious but wants to get close to people. Unfamiliar with this kind of place. On top of that, a recessive alpha.

Even the bruise on his wrist and his aloof attitude as if talking about someone else’s story while sharing his own.

“Being a recessive is definitely annoying… but well, that was in middle and high school. Life is the same anyway, so why bother worrying about it that much.”

“But he’s obsessed with it, so he can’t escape from his old-fashioned life. Well… starting from today, it will be different.”

The man said, tapping the colorful cocktail brought by the bartender.

“This is that, right?”