Chapter 51 - Big House

Lee Ha-yul.

It had already been a week since she began living in this mansion.

"Noona, are you awake?"

"Huh? Oh..."

Her younger brother, Cha-yoon, entered from the next room, yawning.

She affectionately ruffled his hair, then got ready to start her day.

She washed up and changed her clothes.

As she walked down the long hallway toward the living room, she saw a woman with long, straight black hair preparing food in the kitchen.

Perhaps hearing her approach, the woman stopped cooking and looked up.

When their eyes met, she smiled broadly and greeted her.

"Ha-yul, you're up? Sleep well?"

"Yes, Unnie. Did you sleep well, too?"

"Yep."

She gave a soft smile and went back to scooping rice.

Ha-yul stood beside her and helped with the cooking.

Subin Unnie had tried to stop her at first, saying it was fine, but Ha-yul insisted so strongly that she eventually allowed it.

Breakfast consisted of simple fried rice and various side dishes.

Shortly after, footsteps were heard on the stairs, and two figures appeared.

"Seo-eun, walk with your eyes open. You're going to fall."

"Ughhh. Oppa, just hold me."

"Oh, my..."

A woman with short silver hair and a man holding her up as they ascended.

They were Han Seo-eun, a girl two years younger than Ha-yul, and the owner of this house, Da-in.

"Did everyone sleep well? Yawn."

"Good morning..."

The two trudged over and collapsed onto the sofa, closing their eyes. They hadn't lived together long, but those two always looked so frail in the mornings.

With the cooking nearly finished, Subin Unnie went to wake the two dozing on the sofa, and I went to wake my brother in his room.

"Cha-yoon... are you studying already?"

"Yeah!"

When she opened Cha-yoon's door, she found her younger brother sitting at his desk, studying before he had even eaten breakfast.

Since he was scheduled to start school next Monday, he had announced he would do some preview study beforehand.

It was admirable that the kid was studying on his own, but...

'Cha-yoon. Why are you studying so hard?'

'I'm going to study hard, become a great person, and help Da-in hyung!'

...Seeing her brother declare that so boldly, she could only offer a bittersweet smile.

"Rice is ready. Let's go out and eat."

"Okay!"

Cha-yoon scribbled down the answer to one last question before getting up and heading to the living room.

Watching him, she felt a pang of sadness.

A child who wanted to study this much... until now, she hadn't even been able to feed him properly, let alone let him study.

When they returned to the main area, everyone was seated at the dining table.

Once she and her brother took their seats, everyone finally picked up their spoons.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Let's eat."

They all ate together.

The fried rice was delicious.

"Seo-eun, open your eyes and eat! Your eyes!"

"Ah... They're open..."

"Cha-yoon isn't a picky eater at all, is he? He eats everything so well."

When Subin Unnie said that with a pleased smile, Cha-yoon answered energetically between mouthfuls.

"Yes! I have to eat well so I can grow big like Da-in hyung!"

"That's right! Hahahaha. If you want to become an outstanding person like this hyung, you have to eat plenty."

"Ugh... Oppa, your narcissism is gross."

"Tsk..."

Watching Da-in and Seo-eun bicker like a comedy duo, Lee Ha-yul found herself smiling slightly without realizing it.

It had already been one week since she started living in this house with them.

A time that felt both short and long.

Living together for a week, Lee Ha-yul had learned a lot.

The man sitting across from her, bickering with the girl next to him, was Da-in.

His true identity was South Korea's most famous Villain, Egostic.

He had committed three terror attacks and killed dozens of other Villains.

She hadn't known because she was always busy working to survive, but he was incredibly popular. Even Cha-yoon liked him.

She had wondered what he was always watching videos of things breaking on, and it turned out they were Egostic VODs. Goodness...

The Egostic she saw while living with him was, contrary to public perception, how should she put it... a good person?

When he first asked them to live together and offered his support, she had been suspicious that he might try to do something to them.

But she didn't think that anymore.

Her doubts about how much money he had to support them so lavishly vanished the moment she saw this massive mansion.

Ah. He really has money. A lot of it.

Egostic, Da-in. He actually kept his word and didn't really ask anything of them.

And what she felt while living with him was that he wasn't that kind of person. Seeing him play with Cha-yoon and subtly look out for her...

Then there was Subin Unnie, who lived with him. She took care of Ha-yul and Cha-yoon as if they were her own younger siblings. She went out to pick clothes with them, taught her how to cook, and even handled the administrative procedures for school...

Lee Ha-yul felt so grateful and apologetic to her.

One week of living here.

It still felt like a dream to her.

The abuse from the Orphanage Director that had continued since her earliest memories, and drifting from one small shack to another until just recently—it all felt like yesterday.

To think that suddenly, overnight, she could live in such an antique, large house like a noble lady, eating Three Meals a Day without fail?

In fact, more than her own satisfaction, she was overjoyed that her younger brother, Cha-yoon, could grow up without suffering that harsh pain.

Her brother, who had been frail since childhood and was always the target of the Director's persecution, whom she had always protected.

Just seeing him laughing brightly and chatting while eating was enough to make her feel full.

At the same time, she stole another glance at Da-in.

The reason she could enjoy this luxury was entirely due to the man before her eyes, Da-in.

No, actually, if he hadn't helped, she and her younger brother might have died right there and then.

But he had known somehow, came to find them, and saved them.

In truth, Subin Unnie's influence played a large part in her coming to trust Da-in. Since coming to live in this house, she had looked up everything about Egostic, and in the process, learned about Subin as well.

Subin was someone who had been taken in under circumstances similar to her own.

Da-in had taken her with him when she caused a terror incident.

There was intense debate among netizens about what Egostic had done to her.

But she knew now. That Subin was doing well.

Actually, although Subin Unnie looked as kind as an angel, she was also a sort of Terrorist who had caused an incident.

Egostic was an A-Rank Villain watched by the Association in the first place.

And that silver-haired girl over there—she looked small and cute on the outside, but apparently, she was a genius Hacker.

However, what did that matter?

The important thing was that they had welcomed her and her brother like family.

Actually, she wasn't exactly proud of her past either. She had maintained her livelihood through pickpocketing, after all...

As time passed, she felt an immense sense of gratitude toward Da-in. It could be said that her suspicion had almost entirely faded, replaced only by a heart full of thanks.

Although he seemed to be unaware of her ability—that is, the ability to heal almost any human wound.

'If he comes back injured later...'

I will definitely repay this kindness someday.

She quietly made a vow to herself.

***

"Mister. Let's go to the basement."

"Seo-eun... We finally went through the trouble of moving, so you should get some sunlight."

"Ah, hurry uuup."

"Okay, okay. I got it."

Because Seo-eun was whining so much, I eventually headed for the basement. I felt like she'd keep calling me "Mister" if I didn't go...! First "Hyung," and now "Mister"...?

The way to get there was simple. We just had to use the teleportation device.

It was a device I'd pestered Seo-eun to build over three months. If you opened the door of this thing, which looked just like the TARDIS from Doctor Who, it went straight to the basement.

Although it had the limitation of only being able to travel between places where the devices were installed... well, the original purpose was just to connect the house and the basement anyway.

While stuck in this underground base for three months, I realized something: this is no place for a human to live.

Before, I was too busy working frantically to notice, but once I took a break, I realized it was hopeless. I mean, people need sunlight to live.

So, I made a big decision and bought a huge mansion deep in the mountain valley. Even for me, who has money to burn, it was a truly massive expense.

Looking at its antique, magnificent majesty—like something out of an 80s mansion—made my heart swell with pride.

There was only one reason I bought such a big house.

It was to serve as the headquarters for my Villain Alliance, a.k.a. the Ego-Squad, as I lured in various ability users in the future.

Although just the five of us were living there cozily right now, I had no doubt that it would be full in the future.

...It will be, right?

"Haa. Home is the best, after all."

"Seo-eun, our home is that palace-like mansion up there..."

"I'm comfortable here. Haa, my monitors. You were lonely, right?"

...Of course, there were some who opposed the move, like Seo-eun over there hugging her monitors.

But at least Subin seemed to like it. Especially watching her take such good care of the two kids, it made me feel warm inside. It seems she has a personality that surprisingly likes children. Come to think of it, she got close to Seo-eun pretty quickly too.

Those siblings. I seem to have succeeded in getting close to them somehow. Well, I paid for everything, gave them a house, and practically saved them from living like beggars, so it would be stranger if they disliked me, right...?

Was it Lee Cha-yoon? It was a huge help that he was a follower of mine. I took a peek, and he was practically brainwashing his sister about Egostic... So reliable!

Anyway, recruiting Lee Ha-yul was a really good move. It was practically the same as having several extra lives. Even if I were on the brink of death, she would save me if I ran to her. Probably?

In any case, since I've secured Lee Ha-yul, it feels like I've done everything I needed to do roughly.

Three months... no, is it almost four months now? Either way, I seem to have spent the time fruitfully. It's almost becoming winter now.

"Oppa, what are you thinking about again?"

Seo-eun puffed out her cheeks and glared at me while I was lost in thought for a moment. She's been clinging to me a lot more since those siblings moved in.

"It's nothing. Oh right, Seo-eun. Let's do that now."

"Huh? What is that?"

When Seo-eun tilted her head and asked, I grinned and answered.

"What do you think? A new terror attack."

I had rested for too long.

At this rate, the public was going to forget me.

I needed to bring some tension to the slackened Peninsula, draw some aggro from Stardus, and prevent future crises.

*

[If Mangostick doesn't come back next week, I will poop my pants.]

I warned you.

=[Comments]=

[I support this.]

[I will poop in front of Gwanghwamun. Don't stop me.]

└ [Captured.]

└ [So we can see you at Gwanghwamun next week, right?]

└ [M][Captured. If you don't poop, I'll ban you. Bye.]

└ [Manager appeared LOL.]

[They say the OP ordered another pair of pants.]

[Hey, you're still waiting? You guys are hardcore LOL.]

*

...And to stop our Mango Squad from actually pooping their pants. I need to pull off a new terror attack in style.

Seo-eun's face brightened at the mention of causing terror. Did I raise her wrong...? She's become a middle school girl who loves terrorism. No, is she a high school girl now...?

"Wow! Are we finally doing it?"

"Um... Yeah. This terror concept is..."

Let's go with 'Mapo Bridge Has Fallen.'

Mapo Bridge is going to collapse, you bastards.

Because I'm going to bring it down.