The Main Character Killed The Villain

#041

A gaunt face, disheveled hair, looser clothing than usual. Bloodshot eyes fixed intently on me.

“What brings you here?”

My voice came out a bit sharp, not expecting to see him like this. I thought I’d only see him in official settings or on the news from now on.

“Jaeha…”

Hyun Dowoon looked at me with trembling eyes. I never expected to see this usually well-groomed person look at me like this.

‘Surprisingly, I feel nothing.’

Is it because I’ve started giving my heart to Shin Haejun? I felt nothing towards Hyun Dowoon, to the point where my previous wavering seemed vague.

“Auntie, could you step out for a moment?”

Seeing Hyun Dowoon here like this, I had a feeling the conversation wouldn’t end quickly. The auntie, sensing the unusual atmosphere, put down the luggage she was packing and hurriedly left the room.

After the auntie left, silence fell in the hospital room for a moment. Hyun Dowoon broke the silence.

“Why… are you in the hospital?”

At Hyun Dowoon’s words, I fidgeted a bit with the hem of my clothes. I was still wearing the hospital gown with the hospital logo, not having changed yet.

“I was a bit sick. But what brings you here?”

Hyun Dowoon looked visibly unwell at a glance. To the point where I wondered if he had gone to work like this. Anyone who saw Hyun Dowoon in his current state would think he was seriously ill.

“When I heard you were sick… that you were in the hospital… I thought I was going crazy!”

“Could you lower your voice? My head is ringing.”

I answered Hyun Dowoon indifferently.

It seems that terminating the mercenary contract had a big impact on Hyun Dowoon, but there was nothing I could do. All I could think was that he’d probably be fine after about a week.

“My hospitalization has nothing to do with you, Director.”

“Why…!”

“We terminated our contract, remember? Have you announced the termination of our pair contract? What if reporters swarm you for coming here like this?”

While breaking up pairs isn’t uncommon, it would be natural to announce it to those around when it’s the Center Director’s pair.

“Our contract is still in effect. We haven’t written up a termination agreement.”

“Why not? Then I’ll come to write the termination agreement after I’m discharged.”

“I won’t approve it.”

Hyun Dowoon said with a stern face.

Come to think of it, Hyun Dowoon, as the Center Director, was the one who gave final approval for documents at the Awakened Center. If he doesn’t approve the termination agreement, our pair relationship won’t end.

“Why are you so obsessed with our pair relationship?”

“It doesn’t have to be a pair relationship.”

“Then why…!”

What on earth is he trying to do? I was about to snap at him in anger.

At that moment, Hyun Dowoon stepped closer to me and reached out his hand.

“I… seriously like you. If you’d date me instead of being in a guide relationship, I’d prefer that.”

Why is he saying this now? Where was this when he was making my heart waver back and forth…

“Why are you saying this now? Weren’t you the one who taught me that pairs aren’t forever? Is this some kind of ‘a bird in hand’ situation?”

I shouted, pushing Hyun Dowoon away in anger. Hyun Dowoon then spoke to me earnestly with a face full of regret.

“I… I wasn’t lying when I said it would be good to marry you.”

“Then why did you act like that until now? You kept confusing me, making me wonder if you wanted to treat me as a pair bound by contract, or if you were giving room for something personal. It’s worst to confuse people!”

“That… I had my reasons.”

“What reasons? You never say anything to begin with. You never properly talk to me!”

As I poured out my words, Hyun Dowoon’s expression darkened further.

He swallowed hard as if holding something back. As if someone was blocking his words, Hyun Dowoon looked at me with a pained expression. His pleading blue eyes flickered turbulently.

“I… I can’t tell you those reasons right now…”

“See! What exactly can you tell me?”

I don’t know what could be so important that he still can’t tell me even in this situation. Feeling increasingly angry, I turned my back on him coldly.

“Go back. I have nothing more to say.”

“Please, Jaeha…”

“I want to tell you somehow. But the words won’t come out of my mouth!”

“That may be so. But should I understand that?”

I turned back to Hyun Dowoon and asked coldly. He seemed unable to say anything, his lips quivering.

“And it’s already too late.”

“Too… late?”

“I already have someone I like.”

At my words, Hyun Dowoon staggered for a moment and grabbed the edge of the bed.

“Who… is it someone I know?”

“Does that matter? I already have someone I connect with, and that won’t change no matter what you say, Director.”

I said with an expressionless face.

The decision to choose Shin Haejun wasn’t easy for me either. He’s entangled with Kim Sehyun, and meeting another S-class… If it becomes known to the public, it might generate more rumors.

But I felt it would be better than being by Hyun Dowoon’s side.

At least Shin Haejun doesn’t lie to me. He doesn’t omit explanations either. He was objectively a person with a bad personality, but I was certain that he was different with me.

I was a bit curious about how Hyun Dowoon would react if he found out about this… but at the same time, I felt it didn’t matter.

‘Eventually, Hyun Dowoon will sort out his feelings too.’

Being cruel was actually better for both of us.

“Go back. I’m going to be discharged anyway.”

Seeing Hyun Dowoon getting hurt in real-time made me feel… a bit satisfied.

“From now on, I hope to see you only as the Center Director and a mere guide.”

“Jaeha, Jaeha.”

Hyun Dowoon called my name, stumbling over his words. As if he couldn’t breathe.

I deliberately didn’t look back at him and zipped up the bag after putting the last mug cup on top of the luggage that the auntie had almost finished packing.

***

Comments (45)

Li**** : Ah, this sweet potato is too dry..

└Maybe we should let it ferment before watching

Gr**** : Shin Haejun keeps accumulating regrets, the Center Director shows nothing, why is the plot like this? I was excited to see the pair breaking up, but what is this? No matter what, how can the villain be the true love interest while the main character is just a supporting role?

└Why is Lee Jaeha taking up all the space where the main character should be realizing love? Is Lee Jaeha actually the main character?

└ Here I am, paying 100 won to see this..

Er**** : Lee Jaeha deliberately pretends to be weak while knowing, stimulates Shin Haejun’s guilt to confess, it’s so irritating how cunning he is, but I don’t understand why Sehyun lied using the tuna allergy in the first place, it’s so fucking stupid, is this plot development for the sake of plot development? Are you in your right mind?

└Saying ‘are you in your right mind’ is a bit harsh, no matter what, leaving hate comments to the author is not right..

└Are you context-blind? They’re asking if the current plot development is in its right mind

When I got home, the comment section was in an uproar over what Shin Haejun had done to Kim Sehyun again. I shook my head and skimmed through the comments while organizing the things I brought from the hospital.

Even without opening Tweedy, it was obvious that the author must be in a panic. They seemed to be the type with weak mental fortitude, and now that the comment section of the series was exploding, I wonder how crazy they must be feeling.

But it’s not like a plot can appear right away just because they want it to. If they had that ability, they would have already responded somehow to fit the plausibility every time I messed up the situation.

‘This is great.’

I felt extremely smug. Looking at the initial plot the author had prepared for me, it was beyond smug, it was downright hilarious.

I smiled contentedly.

Then suddenly, a thought struck me and I stopped in my tracks.

‘What will happen to me after… this story is completed?’

I had always wanted to return to my original reality. I had vaguely imagined that I might be able to return after the story concluded.

But… what about Shin Haejun?

I finally found someone I liked, someone who loves me… am I going to disappear?

“Nine.”

: You called, Yeonsoo?

“When the author finishes the story… what happens to me then? Is there a chance for me to return?”

: I’m not sure yet either! But ??? said that everything will be for your benefit!

I don’t know who this ??? is, but Nine still didn’t seem willing to tell me. I don’t know if she doesn’t want to or if she can’t.

After hesitating for a moment about whether I should ask this question, I cautiously asked.

“By the way… about the real Lee Jaeha. Where is he?”

Nine didn’t display any text in response to my question. Was this something I shouldn’t ask? Is it some kind of classified information or something?

“…Nine?”

: . . . . . .

“What’s wrong?”

This was a reaction I had never seen from Nine before.

Suddenly, I started to feel very worried about Nine. It seems I had asked something I really shouldn’t have.

: I’m sad, Yeonsoo . . . I think I need to rest for a while . . .

With those words, Nine disappeared with a poof, without any further reaction.

I’m not sure, but it seems like something bad might have happened to the real Lee Jaeha.

‘I thought he would return someday.’

I had thought that when I returned to reality, the real Lee Jaeha would return to his body, but now I’m not sure what the future holds.

As I was looking down at the black screen of my phone, worried about Nine, the doorbell rang.

‘Who could it be?’