I Became a Villain’s Hero
Chapter 36: Luna's Date (2)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri

Illustrations: Here

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Time passed.

Now accustomed to the labor, I rotated my arms a couple of times, shaking off the fatigue that had accumulated in my body.

Today's exhausting loading and unloading work was over.

Unlike before, a smile was on my face.

"....Heh, are you okay?"

I asked Song Soo-yeon, who had followed me, half in jest, half in laughter.

Despite my repeated requests not to follow, she stubbornly persisted to the end.

She had stubbornly insisted on joining me, even though there were more comfortable sorting jobs available at the logistics center.

She had chosen to do the tough loading and unloading work just to be with me.

I chuckled, recalling her expressions changing throughout the work.

Wearing comfortable sportswear, she sat crouched on the ground, waiting for the shuttle bus, too exhausted even to look up at me.

"........"

She didn't respond.

It was a job that was bound to be exhausting, especially for a young woman who had just become an adult.

But it was all over now.

Instead of scolding her for following me, I should praise her for her hard work.

"....You did a great job. Really."

I leaned against a nearby stone wall and spoke.

At my words, Song Soo-yeon took a deep breath and then let it out.

She got up slowly and came to my side, leaning against the wall like me.

She wore a mask to hide her appearance, but it couldn't completely conceal her beauty.

".....Did you do this every time?"

".....Yes."

".....For me?"

I didn't explicitly answer.

It felt awkward to say it out loud.

The sun had already set, and it was dark.

I inhaled the cold night air and quietly looked around.

I checked to see what kind of people had come to this place.

Not villains, but members of a society I had become part of.

I saw various people.

Tall men.

Short men.

Big men.

Slim men.

Young men, and so on...

.....Song Soo-yeon was the only woman.

My lower lip slightly jutted out.

Even though she insisted on following me, it was a scene that made me feel unnecessarily guilty.

There was no need for her to do such rough work.

Especially at an age when she should be enjoying her youth.

Of course, it wasn’t my responsibility to ensure that, but I couldn't help but think it.

Perhaps it's because she considers me a friend.

I wanted to take care of her more than before.

Maybe it's also because of how she addresses me.

Calling me 'mister' makes her seem even younger, and because she seems younger, it feels more like my responsibility.

While I was caught up in these thoughts, Song Soo-yeon spoke.

".....But still, take me with you next time."

".....Huh?"

"....It's a must."

"Aren't you tired?"

"I am. But... it pays well, doesn't it?"

I quietly looked at Song Soo-yeon.

Her prickly nature might make it easy to forget, but there's no one as earnest as her.

Abandoned by her parents and bullied at school, she managed not to stray into delinquency, saved money, and even graduated.

When you think about it, her counting the days was also a part of her defense mechanism.

Despite her struggles, the way she keeps getting back up is nothing short of remarkable.

I wanted to do something for her.

Someone should praise her and tell her she did well.

.....Just like Solace did for me.

"Soo-yeon."

"Yes?"

"How about going to the amusement park tomorrow?"

Song Soo-yeon's head turns towards me in surprise.

I was certain her heart was already captivated by the idea.

But then, her excited expression slowly faded.

".....Ah.....that..."

I was puzzled.

"....You don't want to?"

Song Soo-yeon hesitated for a moment, looking down and fidgeting with her fingers.

"........Isn't it too much for you, mister? After earning all this money today, it’ll all be gone."

I felt a pang of sympathy.

She had always dreamed of visiting an amusement park she'd never been to, but here she was, putting off her dream again due to money worries.

I've always thought, even though I had plenty of money, that there aren't many moments when you can buy true happiness with it.

As someone who had money to spare, I knew this best.

"You should accept a graduation gift."

"....But...still."

I scratched my head.

I was proud of her, but this wasn't the time for it.

To provoke her, I said,

"Why have you become so admirable?"

"......What?"

"Where did the usual foul-mouthed Soo-yeon go?"

“..No..it’s not that-”

"-Have you realized how precious I am?"

My joke made Song Soo-yeon blush.

Even though she covered her face with a mask and a hat, the redness around her eyes and ears was evident.

It was an unusually intense reaction.

“I...I worry about you and you give me crap...!”

Seeing her familiar self brought a smile to my face.

After laughing for a while, I said to her,

"We're going tomorrow. Got it?"

"........"

"Let's pack a lunch, ride the rides, and watch the parade."

As I continued, her sharp, cold eyes slowly filled with childlike wonder.

I waited for her response.

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye and then nodded.

---

---

In the morning, Song Soo-yeon came to the restaurant.

Even though we slept in the same room after drinking, there was still a barrier between us.

I wasn't sure if she was completely comfortable with me, or if she felt safe sleeping next to me.

It's a completely different story from just being friendly.

People are vulnerable when asleep.

.....And honestly, I had no more complaints about sleeping in the restaurant.

Realizing that she cared for me, any slight resentment I might have had faded away.

I could keep this up.

Moreover, she must be close to saving enough for her security deposit.

Just a little longer to endure.

Recently, Song Soo-yeon had been insistent that I stay at the apartment, but I managed to suppress her complaints with words for the past few days.

Especially yesterday, since it was the day before going to the amusement park, I told her not to argue and just go to sleep early.

She couldn't retort to my suggestion.

".....Mister, I'm here."

"Welcome."

Seeing her arrive early in the morning, earlier than the agreed time, I could tell she was looking forward to this, perhaps more than she let on.

She was quite cute.

Combined with her appearance, it's almost destructive.

As I was thinking this, Song Soo-yeon suddenly became restless.

She kept covering her face with her hands and fidgeting with her hair, her face growing redder.

".......What's wrong?"

".............Nothing."

After her inexplicable behavior, she came closer to me.

I closed the last lunchbox I was preparing.

Song Soo-yeon, unable to see the contents, asks,

"....What is it?"

"Yubu sushi, kimbap, and fruit."

Song Soo-yeon's eyes sparkled for a moment.

The experience of going to an amusement park with a packed lunch was probably a first for her.

Of course, it was my first time too...but seeing her so happy made it all the more worthwhile.

"Let's have fun today, okay?"

I said to her. She nodded and then took out her phone.

"....Mister, let's take a picture before we leave."

"...Heh."

She raised her phone high.

I made a 'V' sign with my fingers.

-Click!

---

---

We boarded the subway heading to the amusement park.

Song Soo-yeon was heavily disguised again.

A hat and mask concealed her appearance.

If not, the number of men confessing to her would be more than one or two.

Yet, despite this, Song Soo-yeon still captured the attention of others.

Her eyes, visible and beautiful, along with her overwhelming proportions evident even through her clothes, shone brightly.

But this level of attention seemed light to Song Soo-yeon.

She didn't seem to care at all.

Instead, she was only looking at me.

".....Will it be scary?"

She asked.

".....? What will?"

"....The rides."

Every time I heard her questions, I could only laugh.

They were the kind of questions a primary school student might ask seriously.

Of course, I understand that it can be nerve-wracking the first time.

But to me, it was just funny.

Is this really the future villain Luna?

I couldn't imagine it with that image.

Of course, the fact that she wasn't in a wheelchair but standing was a big change.

"If something seems scary, we'll just ride it and if not, we'll try something else."

I answered lightly.

Song Soo-yeon suddenly erased her expression and looked at me.

It seemed she had something to say.

".....What is it?"

"....Mister.... I just thought of something..."

"...Yeah?"

"....Let's drop formalities today."

I blinked in surprise at her sudden suggestion.

"......Drop formalities?"

".............Yes."

"Really out of the blue, huh?"

".........."

I continued to look at her, trying to discern whether she was serious or joking.

But still, I couldn't tell.

She was so heavily masked that it was impossible to read her expression.

All that was visible were her eyes and eyebrows.

Her proposal, popping up without any warning, only left me bewildered.

No, it's not that I can't do it... but what could be her intention?

Is she trying to tease me again?

".....Um....it's a bit difficult all of a sudden."

I took a step back for now.

"......Why?"

As she asked in surprise, I snorted and frowned.

"No, what’s your angle? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"There’s no angle. It's just...."

I kept laughing.

"Just because, what?"

".............Damn it..."

“Having fun, are you?”

".....It's not like that."

Believing it to be her prank, I continued to play defensively as part of the joke.

"I don’t know. I don’t get it, so I won’t do it."

However, Song Soo-yeon didn't laugh at my response.

She turned her head away with a nonchalant reaction.

".....Suit yourself."

"......."

Her response made my laughter fade.

......Why is she acting like this?