The Tough Guy Hides the Villainess - Chapter 89



089 – But I Refuse

089 – But I Refuse

“Miss Ga-eul, we’ve been expecting you. I’m Gong Cheon-woo, Representative Yoo’s aide. Our representative will arrive shortly, so please take a seat.”

Gourmet Maison, a famous restaurant in D City, renowned for its Michelin 4-star chef.

Seo Ga-eul naturally took her seat without needing guidance from the aide.

“Miss Ga-eul, it’s been a long time.”

Soon, the manager, with a towel in hand, brought the menu, which Seo Ga-eul casually opened.

Among the various menu items, the one that caught her eye the most was this:

「Fairy Spring Water: 300,000 won」

“I’ll have the usual, please.”

After ordering with a familiar demeanor, Seo Ga-eul glanced around.

A glass of water costing 300,000 won.

In such a restaurant, the attire of the people around was anything but ordinary.

A combination of middle-aged men flaunting their wealth and young women.

Most of the men were similar-looking middle-aged men, but the women were blooming flamboyantly as if they were the protagonists of the place.

Adorned with luxury items like shoes, earrings, rings, bracelets, and bags, they subtly glanced at each other, as if keeping each other in check.

Their gazes now turned to Seo Ga-eul.

Though Seo Ga-eul wasn’t wearing any of the common luxury items, her natural demeanor in a place where a glass of water cost 300,000 won shone brighter than any precious item.

─Annoying girl.

─Why is such a young girl here?

─She looks familiar.

Jealousy and envy.

Receiving such a gaze, Seo Ga-eul also felt a subtle sense of pride and pleasure.

‘Yes, this is who I really am, isn’t it?’

Ten minutes later.

Another one was added to the ‘mostly similar middle-aged men’.

“Ga-eul, I’m sorry for being late.”

Yoo Do-gwan was an ordinary middle-aged man.

Perhaps his abundant hair was his only advantage.

Of course, this man was not just any ordinary man, but the leader of a giant opposition party.

“I thought you might not have had a chance to eat this kind of food while being confined, so I arbitrarily chose the place. Is it okay? Young women these days like this kind of thing, right?”

Yoo Do-gwan was that kind of man.

A man so arrogant that he believed his will and words were always right because he had been running on the road to success for too long.

Seo Ga-eul knew these kinds of men well because her father, Seo Do-cheol, was the same.

However, if there was a difference between her father and Yoo Do-gwan, it was that Yoo Do-gwan’s eyes somehow felt lecherous.

Soon, Seo Ga-eul could feel the gazes of the women who had been watching her change to slight ridicule.

─What, in the end, you’re just a girl who hangs out with rich old men?

─Acting all high and mighty.

Seo Ga-eul hated being seen as a woman who received money or power from a mere middle-aged man in exchange for her youth and laughter.

She didn’t want to blend in with the empty-headed women who couldn’t even recognize the face of the opposition party leader, but she held back her anger, hoping for the skills of a four-star chef.

Thus began the meal.

‘Why doesn’t it taste good?’

Seo Ga-eul felt a subtle feeling as she cut the meat.

She felt something was missing.

Her tongue had been trained with various delicacies since she was very young.

Seo Ga-eul knew exactly what was missing.

‘It’s ketchup. It lacks the taste of ketchup.’

Seo Ga-eul couldn’t understand why she felt that the highest quality Korean beef lacked the taste of ketchup.

She felt as if she was going crazy wanting to pour ketchup on this meat.

“So, do you know where Yeoreum is?”

Yoo Do-gwan’s question brought Seo Ga-eul back to her senses.

She realized that this meeting was to talk about Yoo Yeoreum.

From noble mtl dot com

“I’m worried about my daughter, Yeoreum. When I think about how much my wife and son are struggling to find her, I can’t even sleep. So, do you know where Yeoreum is?”

I don’t know-.

That’s what I wanted to say.

Because I really didn’t know.

But even if I did, I didn’t want to tell him honestly.

“I really don’t know where Yeoreum is. And even if I did, I wouldn’t want to tell you.”

“Even if you knew, you wouldn’t want to tell me?”

“If I knew where Yeoreum was, you’d bring her back and experiment on her. I know all about the illegal experiments you’re conducting on her. There’s no point in lying. I already know everything.”

“What? Experiments? What are you talking about?”

Yudogwan’s expression twisted instantly. He even had veins bulging on his forehead, like someone who had been punched in the gut.

Seo Ga-eul felt a surge of satisfaction at having landed a blow on the man who had been acting so smug.

‘Is this how Hanamjin feels when he goes wild? Was he having this much fun all by himself?’

Yeoreum’s father, Yudogwan, was a wicked man.

Suddenly, Seo Ga-eul thought that if it had been Yeoreum who returned home instead of herself, Yeoreum would not have escaped this man’s clutches and would have had to endure more experiments and suffering.

‘Did Hanamjin know this and send me out instead of Yeoreum?’

That must be it.

Seo Ga-eul trusted Hanamjin more than Yudogwan. Even though he was a kidnapper, being with him would make Yeoreum happier.

‘It’s strange that I’m defending a kidnapper.’

Was she falling into Stockholm Syndrome─, no, Scorpion Syndrome?

Denying such thoughts, Seo Ga-eul slammed the table and got up, leaving the restaurant.

Growl-.

She was still hungry, having barely eaten.

After some hesitation, Seo Ga-eul entered a nearby convenience store.

She frowned as she ate ramen and a triangular kimbap.

“…I’m Seo Ga-eul, a human masterpiece. This shouldn’t taste good.”

Beep beep-.

At that moment, Seo Ga-eul’s phone rang.

For a moment, her heart sank, thinking it might be Hanamjin.

“…Jang Boreum? Who’s this now?”

# # #

Ring-ring-ring-ring-ring-.

When I saw the number displayed on my phone, I couldn’t help but let my lips curl into a smile.

「Judo Hall」

“Hoho.”

The fact that the Judo Hall was calling me meant that Seo Ga-eul had likely been uncooperative when meeting with them.

They had tried to ask Seo Ga-eul about Yoo Yeoreum’s information, but it didn’t go well, so now it was my turn.

However, I don’t answer the call.

Some things need time to simmer.

“What’s up! Han Nam-jin! Who’s calling that you’re grinning so much?”

At that moment, Bbangdaengi poked me in the side.

His expression was as serious as if he were a seasoned detective apprehending a criminal.

“Is it Seo Ga-eul calling?”

“No, it’s a pot-bellied man.”

“A pot-bellied man? Why do you like his calls so much? And you don’t even answer them.”

Bbangdaengi Baek Yeoul looked at me as if he couldn’t understand.

We had met Chang-sik and parted ways, now heading back to our respective homes.

Bbangdaengi and I, who lived in the same neighborhood, walked in the same direction.

For reference, Bbangdaengi Baek Yeoul was the type who never stopped talking.

“Still, it’s good, right? Seo Ga-eul is back. Han Nam-jin, you like Seo Ga-eul, don’t you? And you even heroically rescued her from the kidnapper, so it wouldn’t be strange if you two started dating.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m sure of it! Because… because people never forget those who help them in difficult times. I know that well.”

That’s true.

I had a difficult time too, and Seo Ga-eul helped me.

Though it was the future Seo Ga-eul.

Someone who extends a hand of salvation in the most difficult and trying times.

If you don’t fall for such a person, then who should you fall in love with?

“Then… then our partner contract will soon be over.”

Bbangdaengi trailed off, sounding very regretful.

Partner contract.

There was such a thing.

I helped Bbangdaengi, who was being bullied, find his place.

Bbangdaengi connected Seo Ga-eul and me.

“Bbangdaengi, you’re doing well these days. You don’t need me anymore, do you?”

“Of course, I’m doing well! I’ve had frequent interviews with broadcasting stations! Thanks to that, my mom and dad’s business started to flourish again! We might even move to a nice house again!”

Is Bbangdaengi becoming a rich girl again?

From Poppy to Yellow, and from Yellow back to Poppy.

What a colorful life path.

“…But to be honest, I’m still not confident. I feel like I’ll mess everything up again. Because I’m unlucky. Everyone who gets involved with me becomes unhappy. Even Woo-joo oppa…”

Bbangdaengi lacked confidence.

It seems she thinks that she makes those around her unhappy.

“Bbangdaengi, do you know how a four-leaf clover is formed?”

“Four-leaf? I don’t know.”

“When a three-leaf clover, which symbolizes peace, gets hurt, it becomes a four-leaf clover. Only those who have been hurt in peace are qualified to enjoy luck. It’s all about how you think.”

“Oh! Ohhh! I don’t get it.”

“Actually, I just said something that sounded cool.”

“What are you talking about! Puhihi!”

Bbangdaengi burst out laughing.

Then, as her laughter began to subside, she rummaged through her pocket and handed me something.

They were small seeds.

“Recently, my mom has been into growing flowers, but it seems like the house we’re moving to won’t have a yard. Your house has a yard, right? You can plant and grow them there…”

“These are balsam seeds, these are lettuce seeds. This looks like poppy seeds, did your mother grow poppies? And these are even aconite and red spider lily seeds, which are poisonous.”

“I, I don’t know the exact types either! But how do you know about the seeds? Is it because of your ‘sense’?”

“No. My mom liked growing flowers. So do I. Do you know what my dream was before I became an awakener? A gardener.”

It was an incredibly old dream.

But Bbangdaengi laughed with a snort.

“A gardener? It doesn’t suit you.”

I nodded at Bbangdaengi’s honest assessment.

“I think so too. It doesn’t suit me. I tried to imitate it, but it was difficult.”

The soil of the ruined world was too dry for flowers to grow well.

So even when spring came, it was hard to see a single flower.

No, had spring ever really come in the first place?

Soon, Bbangdaengi seemed to hesitate and then awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“Ah… no! Actually, it doesn’t look that bad. Gardener. I think it would suit you well. Walking around with a muddy apron and big scissors.”

Step, step-.

As Bbangdaengi and I were about to part ways in different alleys, a woman in a military uniform approached us.

What was her name again? Lieutenant Jang Boreum, I think.

“There you are. Team ‘No Leftovers Day’. Orders have been issued to you from the higher-ups. It’s an important mission, so listen carefully. From this moment on, you are assigned to the ‘Main Nam Woo-joo Subjugation Squad’.”

Gasp-.

I heard Bbangdaengi swallow his breath.

It must not have been easy to hear that he had to subjugate his cousin, Nam Woo-joo.

“Han Nam-jin, you will be given a special mission. From now on, you will be….”

Jang Boreum seemed to choke on her words.

She pursed her lips a few times as if to gather her emotions, and finally clenched her fist.

“You are Korea’s new ‘Supernova’. It’s the last will of the Brigadier General. Retrieve and possess the concept of ‘Star’. This is a secret mission not known to the Subjugation Commander Nam Bada or anyone else.”

‘Supernova’.

How long had I dreamed of being called that by people?

Looking at the stars from the old shack, looking at the lights of the last city of humanity, how much had I wished to shine like a star?

But, there was something I liked more than shining like a star.

“I refuse.”

It was saying ‘NO’ to people who tried to move me at their will.

“…What!?”

Jang Boreum was greatly flustered.

It seemed an explanation was necessary to help her understand.

“We can’t win.”

As an expert on Main, I saw that the ‘Star’s Main’ was not something we could defeat at our current level.

“Or do you have some hidden ace up your sleeve?”

The Subjugation Commander was Nam Bada.

The man I knew was a schemer who never fought a losing battle.

If it was Nam Bada, who had repeatedly conducted human experiments on Main and concepts, he would know well how absurdly strong the ‘Star’s Main’ was.

Nevertheless, the fact that they organized a subjugation squad means there must be something reliable.

“If you don’t participate, I can’t tell you the secret. It’s the commander’s order.”

Jang Borum kept silent.

That alone was an answer for me.

When I returned home, I was surprised to find an unexpected guest waiting for me in front of the house.

“Why are you here? And what’s with that sword?”

It was Seo Ga-eul, with a long sword at her waist. She looked so much like the Seo Ga-eul I had fallen in love with at first sight in that shanty house that my heart raced.

While I was empathizing with Namsanho’s temporarily broken mood from reuniting with Seo Ga-eul, she spoke up coolly.

“Is my training request progressing smoothly? It won’t be easy to get ‘soft-soft’ twice as a reward with ordinary effort.”

“What…!? How do you know about that…?”

The only ones who knew about the training request and ‘soft-soft’ were me and the future Seo Ga-eul.

That means, the one in front of me now is─.

“Before explaining anything, if you haven’t had dinner, would you like to eat together? I’m hungry.”

The convenience store bag Seo Ga-eul was holding was full of ramen packets and spam.

There was no reason to refuse.