Chapter 70 - Recuperation

"Seo-eun."

"Why?"

"Could you please undo this?"

"No."

I said, rattling the handcuffs fastened to my bed.

Honestly, pinning my hands to the bed like this is a bit much...

Besides, I could just escape using Teleportation anyway, couldn't I?

"Just try taking those off. I'll never see your face again, Oppa."

"....."

As if reading my intent, Seo-eun spoke with a chilling gaze.

Tsk... Given what I've put her through, I can't really do anything.

"Alright, alright. I'll just stay lying down, okay?"

I finally surrendered and leaned back against the bed.

An IV was plugged into my right hand. Saline solution or whatever.

It's already been a few weeks since I took a knife wound for Stardus in the Haneun Group underground.

After hovering between life and death, I barely survived thanks to the healing Ha-yul provided. To live despite having a hole in my body—if that's not a miracle, I don't know what is.

And considering the sheer fatigue from teleporting all the way here, it's truly a miracle I'm even alive.

But the problem is...

Everyone in my house found out I almost died.

As a result, I was confined to my room.

"......"

"Now. Say 'Ah~'."

"...Subin. Please, please, can't I just feed myself?"

"No. Say 'Ah~'."

"Haaa...."

Fine. To be honest.

I would have been shocked too.

If Seo-eun, Subin, or one of the siblings came home with a hole in their body, bleeding profusely? My heart would have dropped too.

In fact, when I woke up weeks after collapsing, everyone was sobbing in front of me.

...Still, I don't think I would have handcuffed them to the bed.

Anyway, even after waking up, I wasn't in the best shape, so I spent a while lying in bed with an IV.

"...I'm sorry for hiding it until now."

"No, no. I should be the one thanking you for saving me. Stop that now!"

Then Ha-yul confessed to me that she had healing powers. Excluding the orphanage Director she'd told unknowingly as a child, I was the first person she'd confessed her ability to.

Of course, since she treated me while I was collapsed in the living room, everyone found out anyway. Well, I already knew. I just stayed quiet until she brought it up herself.

And so, I officially gained a Healer.

I did get smacked on the head by Seo-eun for saying, 'Isn't it fine since Ha-yul can just heal me if I get hurt?', but anyway.

Once I got a bit better, the first thing everyone asked was how I got hurt so badly.

I was going to tell the truth, that I got hurt while trying to protect Stardus.

"....."

I felt an ominous chill.

For some reason, I felt like if I said that, I'd be screwed.

Do I have a Super Sense like Stardus? What is this feeling?

...Right, let's say it like this.

"A monster ambushed you from behind?"

"Yeah. I was caught off guard and got hit."

It wasn't a lie. I only told part of the truth.

It's true I was stabbed because of a monster's ambush. I just neglected to mention I got stabbed on purpose, but if I said that, I'd likely have a terrible time, so I'll keep quiet.

Even though I'd only said that much, everyone's expressions had already hardened.

Everyone nagged me so much about why I went to such a dangerous place in the first place, and I was only released after finally promising I wouldn't go to places like that anymore.

...Tsk. A man is supposed to embrace risk, though.

Anyway, that was the end of my few days of confinement.

At my plea that staying in bed was actually bad for my health, I was finally allowed to get up and take a walk.

Since the house is in the mountains, the front yard is essentially landscaped like a park, making it a great place to walk. A trail right in front of the house—isn't that every modern man's dream?

Of course, I didn't walk alone. Seo-eun stuck to me like glue, claiming she had to keep an eye on me.

....I mean, what would I even do? Suddenly run away from here? It's truly unfair.

Thinking about it, maybe she just wanted to walk with me. Well, whatever.

Regardless, the weather was beautiful.

Perhaps because it was spring now, birds were fluttering about and flowers were starting to bloom... The breeze was cool and refreshing.

"Oppa, are you really sure your body is okay?"

"Yeah. I'm perfectly fine now. Exactly how many weeks have I been resting? It'd be weirder if I weren't healed by now."

"...It's weirder that you healed so quickly after having a hole in your chest."

"It's because Ha-yul did such a great job with the healing. Every team really does need a Healer. If it weren't for her... I'd have been in big trouble."

Still, I do feel sorry toward Ha-yul.

I heard she even fainted for a bit after she finished treating me because she was so drained.

....To be honest, I recruited her as a Healer, but hearing that still makes me feel a bit uneasy.

I reached out and stroked Seo-eun's hair as she continued to watch me with worried eyes.

Seo-eun stayed still and let me pet her without saying a word. She isn't usually like this, but she's become much softer since I collapsed.

Well, it makes sense. Seo-eun was the first one to see me in that half-dead state. The others at least had a moment to mentally prepare themselves after hearing her scream, but she saw me without warning.

...I heard she was really shaken up. According to Subin, she kept crying. I feel bad.

Right. Let's show her something fun.

"Seo-eun, look at this."

"What is it?"

I gathered Behemoth, which had been clinging to my body, into my hand.

This was essentially the only gain from my recent reckless stunt.

It's a black, remote-controllable liquid slime.

...Saying it like that makes it sound a bit lame, but anyway.

I clumped it into several balls.

In an instant, four wriggling black spheres were formed.

"Ta-da. Juggling!"

I started juggling with them.

A special feature of biological weapons made by grinding up people in a secret research facility:

They can be used as juggling balls.

"...Oppa. Is this fun for you?"

Seo-eun only looked at me with a cold, unimpressed gaze.

That's strange. Do kids these days not like juggling?

***

Anyway, I spent quite a long time recovering.

After a few weeks passed, I was finally back in top condition.

I finally graduated from the life of lying in bed just receiving IV fluids and could sit properly in my room.

That's how I finally got some private time again.

Everyone needs some time alone, after all.

"......Done."

After recording everything that happened this time in my diary, I tucked it deep inside a drawer and locked it with a key.

I have to keep writing in this diary every day until 'that Villain' appears. After that, I can just burn it...

So, it would be a huge problem if anyone else read this. I've written down all my secrets.

...But the problem is that Seo-eun keeps trying to read my diary. You can't read this. It's off-limits.

I'll have to come up with a solution soon.

"Phew..."

Having finished my work, I leaned back in my chair and organized my thoughts.

The incident that took place in the Haneun Group underground. I had succeeded in absorbing Behemoth as I wanted, but everything after that was the problem.

In truth, for the first time since arriving in this world, I realized that I, too, could die.

It would be quite a problem if I died.

I don't know how Seo-eun, Subin, or Ha-yul would react... and as a result, the world would go to ruin again.

Actually, everything I'm doing now is just delaying the descent into a tragic world; it's all meaningless unless I defeat the final boss of the original work.

So, the conclusion is this.

I need to think about the world after my death in advance.

"...."

I guess I'll have to buy another notebook.

Anyway, moving on, let's talk about preventing something like this from happening again.

I felt it this time, but since I have almost no combat power, it feels a bit dangerous for me to step out alone.

"...No. I'm not completely powerless anymore."

I looked at the black mass attached to my right shoulder. Behemoth. Now that I have this, I have a certain level of combat power. I should be able to block things like flying bullets with this.

...But since I won't have many occasions to participate in actual combat, it's really just for insurance. Something to pull out at the worst possible moment.

Anyway. The point is that I have almost no combat power.

Moreover, it's exhausting because I keep putting myself on the front lines.

Right. As expected, I need to implement my plan even sooner.

Bringing all the villains in South Korea under my control.

If heroes have an Association to manage them, shouldn't villains have something to manage and control them as well?

Once something like that is established, I won't have to take the lead in every terror attack.

I can just outsource everything. Making sure there are no civilian casualties and only Stardus grows stronger.

If that happens... maybe... my retirement won't just be a dream.

I would just stand far back in the wings, managing and confirming all the terror operations.

...But will such a day ever truly come?

"Phew... First, I should try to recruit her."

I began to draft my next plan. For now, I'll need someone with actual combat power.

...

I need to... plan...

"Sigh...."

I stopped planning and let out a deep sigh.

Yeah. Future plans and all that don't matter right now.

The biggest concern at the moment is...

"....What should I do about Stardus?"

What on earth must she be thinking of me?

What kind of villain would use their own body as a shield to save a hero who was about to die?

I really have no excuse even if she starts doubting me.

"...Ah, I don't know."

I don't know. I'll just have to talk my way out of it later.

Besides, I have my track record. She won't suddenly start doubting me just because of this one incident.

I mean, I've already carried out four terror attacks. Yeah.

...I have to believe that. Let's not worry.

"...."

...Wait, before that. Since we parted while I was in that state.

She doesn't think I'm dead, does she...?

***

"Haru. Why have you been spacing out so much lately? Is something bothering you?"

"Ah... it's nothing, Unnie."

"What do you mean it's nothing? You've been so listless lately, and you've looked so gloomy. Did something happen?"

Something did happen.

Something very bothersome.

Swallowing those thoughts, Shin Haru just forced a smile and insisted it was nothing.

It was exactly one month since that day.