I’m a Villain, but I Ended Up Having the Hero’s Child

“So blaming Hyde for this is… a bit complicated. Anyway, this is just between the two of us. It’s not because of you or Podo, so please don’t worry too much.”
Who could dislike someone who treated them kindly? When Uichan learned that La Épée was Hyde, he had been shocked—but also relieved.
Because Hyde was someone who could truly understand him. And someone who would never abandon him, no matter what.
Uichan liked strong people. People he wouldn’t have to worry about losing. People who wouldn’t leave him alone in the end. If the child was Hyde’s, then surely that child would be strong too. Someone who would grow up capable of standing on their own.
Family. What a sweet word that was. The shelter he had longed for all this time—Hyde had given him that. That’s why Uichan needed him. The child needed a father too.
—Yeah… if you say so, then I suppose that’s how it is. It’s not my place to meddle in whatever’s between the two of you, but… thinking about that bastard Hyde still makes my blood boil. You know he’s not your average lunatic, right? So listen, little one.
“Yes, Mother.”
—If anything happens, don’t keep it all to yourself. Tell us too. That’s how we learn and fix things together. You know… I treasure all my brothers and sisters. I understand that Hyde values rules because he wants to protect that.
“……”
—But look. How are things now? The rules aren’t doing their job anymore. There’s already an exception. Do you think this order will last? I don’t. If Hyde starts twisting the rules to suit himself, eventually the others will grow resentful. That’s what worries me.
They feared Hyde’s punishments, sure—but the real reason the brothers had obeyed the rules until now was because they loved “In the Hell.” Each of them, haunted by their own nightmares, had found belonging inside that family-like shelter.
This time, it had been Podo’s fault. Mother Ship knew that very well. And that was why her guilt ran deeper—because she felt she and Podo were the reason “In the Hell” might fall apart.
—I should’ve been the one punished instead. It’s ridiculous to say it now, but… it feels like I ruined everything. What if it happens again? We have nowhere else to go but here.
Uichan lowered his gaze in silence. He understood her worry all too well. Mother Ship loved “In the Hell” more than anyone. Though born from a Dongti, she was tender-hearted and full of affection.
She had wandered the world for over a thousand years after being born from a curse-spawned spirit, until she met a man—and became pregnant.
She hadn’t known how she’d conceived, but by the time she realized, her belly had already swelled like a mountain. So she decided to give birth. On the night of the new moon, she gave birth to a fox spirit that looked just like her.
She had been overjoyed. She cherished the child dearly. To find food, she would often hide the child in a cave and go to the market. One day, after selling some beautiful dried persimmons, she returned home with her arms full—only to find her child pale and dead.

She had wailed loud enough to shake the mountains. Unable to accept the child’s death, she wandered the world holding the body, searching for a way to bring it back to life. One year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years passed—and eventually she reached the modern age.
Her meeting with Uichan had been pure coincidence. By then, her child had become a wooden doll, kept alive by her sorcery. Wounded in a territorial fight, Mother Ship had collapsed in an alley, bleeding.
Uichan had happened to pass by and seen her crouched there, cradling her doll-like child and suffering. He couldn’t just walk past. So he had asked:
—Do you… want me to bring your child back?
—C-Can you really save him? My child! Can you save him?!
Mother Ship had crawled toward him, clutching his pants, weeping, begging him with all her might. Uichan had looked down for a long time at the limp wooden child before setting down his shabby bag and taking it into his arms.
—…But I don’t know what might happen.
—It’s fine! Anything’s fine as long as you save him…! He ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) died before he even finished nursing, before he could walk. I don’t care what happens. Just let him live!
Her grief had clawed at Uichan’s heart. That day, he used “Regression” and brought the child back to life. After a thousand years, the child drew its first breath again—and was given the name “Podo.”
Since then, Uichan had often wondered. He’d tried using Regression again on dead cats and dogs he found, but none had ever come back like Podo.
—That’s because their souls had already left their bodies. I was holding Podo’s soul tightly—that’s why it lingered inside the doll. You know how souls drift away into the nine heavens once they die.
When he’d confessed this to Mother Ship, she had stroked Podo’s cheek and said those words. She possessed an Ability that allowed her to extract souls and place them into her dolls—so unconsciously, she had kept her own child’s soul bound.
Having once lost a child, Mother Ship clung desperately to the idea of family. That was why she loved “In the Hell” so much.
“Don’t worry, Mother. There won’t be a next time. Hyde won’t do that again. I like you and my brothers too much for that.”
—Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have said all that. My mouth’s always the problem. They say the older you get, the less sense you have.
When Uichan smiled, Mother Ship began bustling around again.
—No time to sit around! You need to get ready and leave. Looking at you, I can’t tell when Hyde’s going to let you out, so you should go while he’s away. Hurry!
Pressed by her insistence, Uichan awkwardly stood up. He wasn’t sure it was wise to leave while Hyde was gone—not because of himself, but because Mother Ship might be punished for sneaking him out.
—If anyone asks, I’ll say I found you sick while searching for Podo. Hyde can’t really blame me for that. Better yet, come stay in my Ark for a while. He won’t touch you there. You should move while he’s distracted, while his mind’s in chaos.
As Uichan rummaged through the closet, his hands suddenly froze. Hyde was “distracted”? He blankly tried to recall why—and remembered something he’d half-heard in his sleep.
—…Wake up for a bit. You need to eat something. There, good boy. Eat well, so the babies will grow strong. But I have to… mm, go take care of something for a while. Don’t cry when you wake up and I’m not here, okay? Just wait for me a little.
He vaguely remembered eating the porridge and water Hyde had fed him in that half-asleep state. Come to think of it, he used to wake up hungry—but now, he wasn’t. No pain either. The little ones in his belly were probably full and fast asleep.
“Mother, what exactly is Hyde doing right now? You said he’s being restless?”
—Ugh, don’t even ask. Out of nowhere, he demanded to borrow the sight of all my dolls scattered throughout the city—and now he’s tearing the place apart. I didn’t dare argue since I’ve already sinned, but from dawn till now, he’s been dragging sturdy men into the torture chamber.
“The torture chamber…?”
Uichan had never once been there. It was Hyde’s private prison, where he locked up villains or criminals to extract confessions—or to torture them until he got the answers he wanted.
But now, the ones he’d captured were strong men?
“…Mother, those men… they’re not Heroes, are they?”
Unease crept into his voice. The bird on the floor fluttered closer, looking up at him.
—How would I know that? He glared at me like he’d kill me if I interfered, so I just left. Still… it did seem like a good time to come find you.
Uichan’s heart began to pound uneasily. He retraced the events of the past two days. Meeting La Épée on the bench. Following him home. Sleeping with him. Discovering that La Épée was actually Hyde. Passing out after a long night.
When he woke up, he’d been in the hospital. Hyde must have already known that there was a child of his growing inside Uichan. That was why he’d approached so boldly. The pregnant man he’d bumped into at the hospital—
That could have been Hyde himself.
‘And… he was trying to keep only his own child alive.’
The memory of yesterday made Uichan’s stomach tighten. If he hadn’t stubbornly insisted on saving all the babies, Hyde would have saved only his own. He’d eventually saved them all, yes—but that didn’t mean he’d spared the other fathers.
If Hyde was now scouring the city to find the remaining two…
He couldn’t let that happen.
Uichan hurriedly searched for clothes. But no matter how much he looked, there wasn’t anything he could wear.
“Mother, sorry—do you have anything I can wear right now? Anything’s fine. Shoes too. The others aren’t with Hyde, right? Jekyll Jack better not get caught up in this mess.”
As he spoke, rummaging through the drawers, there was no response. When he turned around, the small bird standing on the floor had its beak tightly shut.
“Mother Ship…?”
—…Uichan, I can’t leave right now. Hyde’s already threatened me over this. Yes… you could call it a kind of suspension.