I’m Not That Villain - Chapter 56



55 – Shopping (2)

Worked in the morning.

Shopped in the afternoon.

Seriously made the most of my time, you know?

So I deserve a little time for myself, don’t I? With her in front of me, it was clear I wouldn’t be able to eat in peace.

And I don’t want that. Nope. Not at all.

Pretty woman? Good.

Woman with a great body? Damn good!

But that wasn’t really important to me right now.

Right now, that is.

Of course a proper meal is more important.

“Uh…is there anything else you wanted to say?”

The woman in front of me smiled awkwardly.

“No. It’s just…this is my first time with something like this.”

“It happens. Well, then.”

I nodded a quick greeting. She grinned slightly and turned away without hesitation.

As she walked out of the store, a wave of sighs washed over the place. Some people even glared at me.

So what?

What are you gonna do about it?

“Your food is here.”

Still, that gaze vanished quickly. I tugged my mask down a bit and busily shoveled food into my mouth.

The taste of the food was… well, kind of subtle overall… if that makes sense.

Yeah, figures.

I’ve never seen a place live up to its hype. The real good spots are always hidden away, I’m telling you.

Halfway through my meal, I stood up. I wasn’t about to let food like this ruin the good mood I had after shopping.

“Thanks for the meal.”

I paid and stepped outside. Maybe I could find a decent snack somewhere…

“Excuse me.”

“…….?”

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

…probably not, it seems.

What the hell is this.

I turned my head. A woman waiting in front of the store peeled herself off the wall.

Just that one movement drew all eyes, and I already started to feel exhausted.

“What is it now…?”

“That’s a little hurtful to say. I haven’t done anything, have I?”

“Could you just get to the point? I’m a bit busy.”

“Is it because you left some food?”

“…You were watching *that* too?”

A chill ran down my spine, and I took a subtle step back.

The woman smiled brightly.

“I got curious. And it just so happens I need help with something.”

“Help?”

“My clothes. What do you think of them?”

“Clothes…?”

The question itself is abrupt. I quickly scanned her outfit.

A somewhat provocative look. Her face is something, but her figure is, how should I put it…

Yeah.

s*xy.

That’s exactly the feeling.

A style that emphasizes an already striking figure. In a good way, it’s free-spirited, and in a bad way…

It’s like, isn’t this a succubus kind of vibe?

But in the end, it’s all personal taste. Not my place to judge.

“I don’t think it’s bad… Is there a problem?”

“I draw too much attention. And it’s not a reaction I particularly want.”

“That’s because you’re…”

“Is it because I’m pretty?”

The woman rested her hand on her cheek. She narrowed her eyes and sighed.

“I know. But it’s especially bad here. Maybe I underestimated college students’ s*x drive.”

“……..”

“But isn’t this the most common way to dress around here?”

She’s right, actually. I can spot a few people wearing similar outfits even now.

But, you know, the impact is different. Is the reaction going to be the same between a regular person wearing it and a rare, breathtaking beauty?

“So, what do you want?”

“Judging by your luggage, you seem to be interested in clothes…would you help me pick out some outfits? Of course, I’ll pay you.”

“I don’t know anything about women’s clothing.”

“Then, just check if the clothes I choose suit me. I think you’d give me an objective opinion.”

She smiled with her eyes.

“Wouldn’t… you?”

That slightly drawn-out tone. A bewitching voice. Her arms crossed, emphasizing her chest…

And to deliver the final blow, a little head tilt.

Wow. This is definitely deliberate. She knows exactly how to charm people. She has every reason to be confident. Is there any man who wouldn’t fall for a woman like her?

Well, there’s one right here.

“I’m busy.”

“…Huh?”

“I had a mediocre meal, so I’m going to fill my stomach first. And then…I should go home, right? Don’t you know the night streets in Seoul are dangerous? I need to be inside before 9 pm. If you think about it…that’s only 3 hours left. Considering the travel time, I need to start moving diligently right now.”

“…Uh…?”

“So, well…I guess that’s my answer, right? Good luck.”

I offered a clean farewell and walked through the crowd.

I could hear a hurried voice from behind, but I didn’t look back.

“Wait, hold on a second?! I, I’m making you an offer here…is that seriously your answer?!”

“Your confidence is a little much. I get you’re pretty, but right now my hunger comes first.”

“I, I’m being…pushed aside by mere hunger?!”

“It’s not like you’re the one feeding me, is it?”

I quickly slipped out of the crowd. I made sure to pick up the pace before her voice could catch up.

I finally stopped when I felt like I’d completely lost her. I spotted a decent looking food truck and scanned the menu.

“The steak lunch box, is that available?”

“Yes! Sir! Of course!”

After ordering, I sat quietly at one of the makeshift tables. The smell had lured me in, but man, I hoped this place was actually good…

“I’m not finished talking to you yet!”

“…….?”

She actually followed me all the way here.

I glanced over at her, panting for breath.

The crowd was slowly starting to swarm again. My head was starting to ache, so instead I just asked her.

“Seriously, why are you doing this to me? Ask someone else. You seem popular enough.”

“I don’t understand! I, I’m making you an offer, me!”

“Having high self-esteem is good and all…but isn’t it a bit much? You have to accept that it won’t work on everyone.”

“Are you gay?”

“You’re grabbing at straws here. Seriously.”

“Your steak lunch box is ready…!”

The food truck owner, who had been bellowing loudly, flinched when he saw her. His eyes trembled. His body stiffened as if it were the most natural thing.

I quickly grabbed my steak lunchbox.

“Hey, hey?! Miss?! You, you don’t like steak…!”

While the food truck owner called to her desperately, I hurried away. I had originally planned to sit and eat, but even that felt uncomfortable with all the attention.

What the hell is going on?

“Wait, just a minute! Wai—!”

He’s following me again.

“Hey.”

I took off the hat I had been wearing. I forcibly pushed it onto her head.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Just wear it. Pull it down so you can’t even see. I mean, isn’t it annoying? I’d be so annoyed.”

“How dare you just—?!”

“How dare me what? What you’re doing is the ‘how dare you’ part. Are you going to keep interrupting my food enjoyment?”

I poked a piece of steak with the disposable fork that came with the lunchbox. With the shopping bag of clothes hanging on my arm, I held it up to her mouth.

“Eat this and leave me alone. I really don’t want anything to do with this. You didn’t look like you’d eaten properly earlier…well, if you’re okay with it, I’ll give you about half. I need the other half.”

“…Mmph…?!”

She chewed the meat that was half-forced into her mouth. Perhaps because I had put the hat on her,

the crowd started to thin out a little. Or, more accurately, the number of people following had decreased significantly. Well, maybe it’s also because it’s getting dark. Seoul nights are dangerous for everyone.

“Ask someone else to help you pick out clothes later. I’m generally a bit busy, you know? And I’m not interested in exchanging numbers.”

“Wait…Mmph…!”

“Ah. You should have some salad too. This place’s looks pretty good. Much better than that last place. Guess those famous SNS spots are usually a bit…meh, like they say. Wonder if other places are the same?”

“Still… chewing…”

“Sorry. Thought you were done. Anyway, it’s good you’ve got high self-esteem, but think maybe the other person was a bit picky. It’s not like I’m that desperate for a relationship. Actually, I’m so busy right now I don’t have time to think about that sort of thing.”

I looked down at the half-eaten lunchbox, perfectly, cleanly halved.

Hmm. Good. Just right. That’s just the right amount to feel full.

But maybe I should feed her one more of these.

“Anyway, you’re pretty. Really. So try looking for someone else. If you ask for an objective opinion, there’d be plenty of people who’d help you.”

She swallowed the last piece of meat. The mouth that had been munching slowly became still, then stared intently at me.

“…You’re a unique person.”

“I get that a lot. Here. Give me back my hat.”

I took back the hat I’d put on her head. After quickly polishing off the other half of the lunchbox, I neatly tossed the trash into the bin.

“Well, I’m really going. Have a good day.”

“Wai-wait a minute. You really don’t need to exchange numbers…? This is your last chance. If you don’t take it, you won’t be able to contact me…”

“I said I don’t need to. Oh, and.”

I glanced back at her as I headed down towards the subway station.

“Go home early. Seems like it’s your first time here, and it’s not exactly the safest neighborhood, so you should keep that in mind and be careful.”

Thankfully, she didn’t follow me to the subway.

Phew. What a commotion.

. . .

“……..”

Teresa savored the taste of steak lingering in her mouth.

Frankly, it wasn’t good at all. That restaurant earlier was the same. You could say the flavor was all pretentious.

People live wearing shells.

Social masks. Pretexts they put on to survive.

But peel those shells back even a little, and the pulp inside bursts out. A pulp of awful, ugly desire.

“…Hmm.”

And revealing that, well. For a beauty like her, it was a very easy thing.

Looks that make pretenses fade. Teresa knew objectively what kind of face she had.

Just by speaking, men’s voices would tremble.

Even if it was a woman, it was no different.

But this time, something was different. The other person parted ways cleanly, didn’t cling pathetically. They didn’t even show a hint of regret for not exchanging numbers, it almost felt like she was the one who had pushed more.

If there was even a single link, she would have thought it was a push-and-pull game, but.

The other person disappeared without creating a single connection point.

It was a first.

This kind of thing.

“……”

A complete stranger.

Someone she met for the first time today, a stranger she would never encounter again.

And yet that kind of person rejected her…

“…It’s fascinating.”

She didn’t follow him for any other reason.

Just wanted to peel it off, that mask of disinterest.

But not being able to do it, that’s what wrecked my pace.

Teresa covered her face, for no reason. A strange, indescribable feeling.

Well, might as well remember the face, for now. Might meet again later.

For now…

Let’s get back to finding what I was looking for.

The craftsman who’s been causing the most trouble lately.

The traces of someone named ‘Black Mirror’.