Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

How much time had passed?

Han Seo-hyeon said:

“I couldn’t find that person, but there’s a suspicious space in the casino basement.”

“What do you mean by suspicious space?”

Usually, the basement of a hotel building had facilities necessary for the building’s operation. Things like restaurants, storage rooms. Many places also put employee break rooms in the basement. The strategy was to stuff all facilities that weren’t good for customers to see underground.

But he said the basement of the hotel we were staying at was different. Up to the first basement floor was like a normal hotel basement, but from the second basement floor down, there were lots of things you couldn’t see in a normal hotel basement.

“First, the security is incredibly tight, and the people walking around were strange for normal hotel employees. For starters, there were quite a few people not wearing uniforms…”

According to Han Seo-hyeon’s explanation, there were lots of suspicious people walking around that basement. He also saw quite a few things that looked like artifacts.

Unfortunately, Han Seo-hyeon had only examined part of that basement.

“There are sealed off areas and spaces protected by artifacts, so there’s a limit to how much I can examine from afar.”

“Maybe Nikki is in that basement.”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon smiled brightly and said:

“Well, with a basement like that, they wouldn’t have to worry about anything leaking out no matter what they do.”

Hmm, that doesn’t seem like something to say so cheerfully…

Well, anyway, I guess this means the casino basement is the most suspicious place for now. We don’t know if Nikki is there, but it wouldn’t be bad to thoroughly investigate suspicious places first.

“Then let’s go there for now.”

At my words, the eagle Han Seo-hyeon was controlling instantly turned towards the hotel. Cha Song-jin screamed as the eagle tilted sharply.

“Aaaah!”

“Stop making a fuss, you won’t fall.”

As payment for making a racket, Cha Song-jin immediately received a mouthful of curses from Han Seo-hyeon.

“S-sorry.”

He really has such little courage. After thinking for a moment, I said to Cha Song-jin:

“You and Edward stay in the hotel room.”

At my words, Cha Song-jin raised his head and looked at me. With a face full of dissatisfaction, Cha Song-jin swallowed and asked me:

“A-are you thinking of going without me?”

“Yes.”

“Wh-why?”

“Even if you come, you won’t have anything to do…”

“Why wouldn’t I have anything to do! You might need my help…”

“What do you think we’re going to do that you want to come along?”

“Well, that…”

Cha Song-jin couldn’t easily answer my question. It wasn’t that he couldn’t think of anything at all, but rather he closed his mouth because he was uncomfortable saying out loud the answer that came to mind. He must know the things we’d do underground would be that sort of thing.

“Right, we’ll do exactly that sort of thing you’re thinking of. And you don’t really fit with that kind of thing.”

How could he want to come along when he hasn’t even received proper combat training? Is that why? Is his pride hurt?

“It’s not something to be hurt about. You’re not properly prepared yet. In that situation, if you came to the scene…”

“You mean I’d be a nuisance?”

I immediately shook my head at Cha Song-jin’s dejected face.

“It’s because you could get hurt.”

“Isn’t that the same as being a nuisance?”

“It’s different. How is saying stay in a safe place because I’m worried the same as don’t come along because you’ll be a hindrance?”

I inwardly clicked my tongue as I looked at Cha Song-jin who still seemed to have a lot he wanted to say. His mindset of wanting to be with us somehow is admirable, but that’s as far as it goes.

“You don’t even know how to fight properly yet. What if a fight breaks out down there?”

“Well, that’s true, but still…”

“If you really want to come with us, you can actually just come along. Our kids aren’t so incompetent they can’t protect you.”

The problem was elsewhere.

Cha Song-jin was a coward. I knew he was always trembling with his hands behind his back even as he pretended to be composed. He would unknowingly flinch at loud noises, and he was the type to squeeze his eyes shut first when violent things happened.

Do we need to take such a person to a place where violent things could happen? What for?

“You don’t like fighting.”

“But it’s necessary work. Everyone’s going…”

“Yeah, it’s necessary work. But there’s no reason to take someone who hates that kind of thing along, because! We have someone here who doesn’t hate that kind of thing, and might even like it.”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon pouted his lips and said:

“When you say it like that, it makes me sound like an incredibly violent person.”

“I wasn’t talking about you, but well. If it bothers you that much, let’s say you’re the type who feels the thrill of battle rather than being violent.”

At those words, Han Seo-hyeon smiled grimly and said:

“It does feel good to do bad things to bad guys.”

Cha Song-jin’s shoulders trembled slightly at Han Seo-hyeon’s words. Han Seo-hyeon smiled mischievously at that reaction. He’s definitely aiming for that reaction on purpose.

“Just as everyone is born with different personalities and talents, the things we’re good at are different too. Look at me, have you ever seen me lift a finger to clean our room?”

At my proud words, Han Seo-hyeon said with an incredulous expression:

“…Wow, you’re bringing that up for this?”

“Pfft.”

Cha Song-jin burst out laughing without realizing after hearing Han Seo-hyeon’s grumbling. Good, it seems he’s at least swept away useless thoughts like being a nuisance to us.

I said to Cha Song-jin:

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but even if you join our team, you know. We won’t force you to do things you don’t want to do. We won’t think it’s a nuisance either. So I…”

Cha Song-jin who smiled mischievously slightly continued my words:

“Don’t do housework.”

“Yeah, that’s right. What, our organization assigns people to the most suitable places based on each member’s preferences and characteristics. How’s that for proper personnel placement?”

“Proper personnel placement?”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon who was in charge of housework in Weltschmerz looked at me with an expression like he couldn’t believe what he heard.

Ouch, my conscience was pricked. It was like I could hear Ray’s scolding in my head even though Ray hadn’t said anything.

“W-well. Jae-ho doesn’t cook either.”

I cried out in indignation like that, but the contempt towards me only deepened.

“Is Boss the same as Jae-ho?”

“What’s the difference!”

“Jae-ho is, well, Jae-ho!”

Han Seo-hyeon said while looking at Kim Jae-ho. Though the person in question seemed to have no thoughts, Han Seo-hyeon made great efforts to protect Kim Jae-ho’s human rights.

But I, Kang Yi-sin, leader of Weltschmerz, am a man who knows there’s sometimes a need to reveal harsh truths to the world.

“If you think about it, Jae-ho has never even cooked before.”

“I have cooked!”

“How is just putting out ingredients cooking?”

“That’s the fastest way to get full.”

“So putting ingredients on a plate isn’t cooking, right?”

Kim Jae-ho just pouted his lips at my words. He still had a face insisting that just picking up and eating ingredients was the fastest way to get full.

“See! At least I can process ingredients.”

“You just stir-fry everything!”

“What’s wrong with stir-frying!”

In the end, our conversation went off on a tangent again. I wanted to have a slightly serious talk but it went off track.

“Anyway, the conclusion is you don’t need to forcibly do things you’re not good at and don’t like. In the first place, when there are people who are better at it, well, leaving it all to them isn’t such a bad choice either.”

“You’re really shameless, so shameless.”

At Han Seo-hyeon’s words, I reluctantly threw out some words:

“Th-then should I start doing housework again from tomorrow?”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon snorted and said:

“No thanks.”

Phew, thank goodness. Actually, I didn’t have even the slightest intention of doing housework again.

—You really are trash…

At Ray’s admiration, I smiled inwardly and said:

‘Haha, I may be trash, but I’m trash liberated from housework!’

—Why are you saying that so proudly!

Somehow it feels like the conclusion ended up as Kang Yi-sin = trash, but the important message is this:

Even if Cha Song-jin joins Weltschmerz, we have no intention of making him do things he dislikes.

In the first place, Cha Song-jin is non-combat personnel. I have no intention of dragging someone whose talent doesn’t suit combat around as combat personnel. I was planning to teach him just enough self-defense to protect himself, and then exempt him from combat training he dislikes…

Perhaps my earnest feelings got through. Cha Song-jin nodded and obediently said to me:

“I understand, I’ll stay at the hotel comfortably.”

If Cha Song-jin understood my heart, that should be enough. Hmm, that’s right. Just as I was feeling relieved like that.

“By the way, you’re still calling me ‘you’?”

My shoulders trembled at Cha Song-jin’s words.

Hmm, right. I did call him that again this time.

“W-well, I don’t know what to call you.”

Should I really call him hyung? It has to be hyung, nothing but hyung…

—Why do you dislike it so much? Didn’t you say you like older people?

‘…Are you teasing me?’

Ray burst out laughing at my words. Where else is there an artifact that likes to tease its owner so much after seeing one weakness? Anyway, to think there’s an artifact that enjoys teasing its owner this much.

“Is it that you don’t want to call me hyung because I’m not hyung-like? I guess it would be a bit much to call someone like me hyung.”

You just stopped digging a hole and now you’re digging again! I fidgeted at Cha Song-jin’s words.

“No, it’s not exactly that, it’s, um…”

I looked at Han Seo-hyeon with desperate eyes, but Han Seo-hyeon just shrugged his shoulders.

“I call him hyung.”

“Th-that’s!”

You’re really eighteen! I’m, huh? I’m older and all that. But the situation was bad for pushing the trans-older theory.

“I guess it’s a bit much to keep calling you ‘you’?”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon opened his mouth on behalf of Cha Song-jin who had his head bowed low:

“Yes, it’s better than Mr. Cha… But that’s a bit much too.”

Urgh, I guess calling Cha Song-jin hyung would be best after all? Right, I should just close my eyes tight and call him hyung.

Just as I was squeezing my eyes shut like that:

“Haha! I’m joking. Just call me whatever’s comfortable. Later, uh, whatever happens, call me properly then.”

I turned my head up in disbelief. Cha Song-jin was looking at me with a playful face.

What was that just now?

Was he teasing me?

Only then did the tension leave my whole body.

“There’s really not a single trustworthy person around.”

While we were chattering like that, the black eagle had already arrived near the hotel. The eagle lightly landed on the ground.

“Go up and rest.”

At my words, Cha Song-jin who nodded grabbed Edward’s wrist.

[We’re going to the hotel to rest.]

[What? Why? Where is everyone else going?]

[None of your business.]

I gave a thumbs up as I watched Cha Song-jin conveying what needed to be said to Edward in broken English.

“Well done, awesome!”

Cha Song-jin who blushed at my praise dragged Edward up to the hotel.

Now then, it’s time for us to do our work.

“This way.”

At Han Seo-hyeon’s words, Kim Jae-ho and I moved our steps.

I don’t know what’s in that basement, but…

‘I hope they’re all gathered there in a way that’s easy to sweep up at once.’