I Became a Villain's Hero

TL/Editor: raei

Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri

Illustrations: Here

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Only one week was left until everything was over.

Even Riem had finally been turned over to the Association.

Han Yoo-jung felt increasingly pressed for time.

She needed more time.

She continued with a kind of silent persuasion to appeal to Jung-gyeom's lingering feelings... but his heart still hadn't changed.

He stubbornly kept looking for Tryno and worked hard for Song Soo-yeon.

Of course, it wasn't that there was no change at all.

Han Yoo-jung consistently spoke words that could trigger Jung-gyeom's memories through the notebook Soo-yeon had given her, and each time, Jung-gyeom would become dazed.

Day by day, he spoke less.

When she secretly opened his door to peek, she saw him fiddling with the wish bracelet that she had secretly put in his pocket.

The fight with Solace was becoming mentally exhausting, and he became increasingly depressed.

It wasn't easy to watch him struggle emotionally, but it was necessary.

When Han Yoo-jung's plan was complete, the lingering feelings she had built up would be a great help to the plan.

Of course, the choice would still be Jung-gyeom's to make.

Regardless, Han Yoo-jung accelerated her plan.

If she had one more week, she might be able to completely turn Jung-gyeom's heart.

But since that wasn't the case, she tried to make the best use of the time she had.

---

---

Han Yoo-jung left the psychiatric hospital with the prescribed sleeping pills in her bag.

Given her regression, her sister Han Yoo-ra's death had occurred only five years ago.

This made it easy to obtain medication under the pretext of depression.

Holding onto the drugs she would use someday, she headed back to the hideout.

---

---

"Gyeom, the food's almost ready."

"...Okay."

Han Yoo-jung was lost in thought.

She had forgotten something while trying to change his heart.

She, too, had only one week left to create memories with Jung-gyeom.

Of course, if the search for Tryno took longer, it would be long... but that wasn't likely.

Having expectations could lead to disappointment.

Thinking that there was only one week left actually made her feel more at ease.

-Tap tap tap tap tap.

Han Yoo-jung continued chopping, silently repeating to herself about the week left.

It's funny, but she didn't realize how happy she was during this time with Jung-gyeom.

Wasn't this the most emotionally fulfilling time since Yoo-ra's death?

She was too happy just to express love.

She was grateful for such an opportunity.

-Tap tap tap... Thud!

...How happy must Song Soo-yeon have been?

"....Ah."

Han Yoo-jung scoffed at herself.

At the thought that popped up out of nowhere

She could never replace Soo-yeon.

She could feel that Jung-gyeom was happiest when he was with Soo-yeon or Solace.

If she offered to replace them, she might just mess everything up.

So, for now... it was right to cherish the remaining time.

---

---

Han Yoo-jung continued to have light conversation with Jung-gyeom over dinner.

Even though Jung-gyeom had more worries and concerns than before, she noticed he was treating her much more gently.

It was the dream about the past that Han Yoo-jung had shown him that became a turning point.

Especially now, with only a week left, he responded with short answers to questions, perhaps out of sympathy.

Han Yoo-jung didn't mind if it was due to pity.

She was satisfied just to have conversations like this.

Then, there would be moments of silence.

And in such silences, detached from the conversations that distracted them from reality, the atmosphere would turn cold.

Han Yoo-jung found these moments too precious.

Given the pressure of time, it was inevitable.

The more anxious she became, the more curious she got.

How much time was left?

"....Gyeom, so about Tryno..."

"..."

Jung-gyeom stopped, slowly shaking his head.

"I couldn't find him."

"...I see."

Han Yoo-jung secretly felt relieved.

Even though she knew capturing Tryno was Jung-gyeom's wish and goal, it also meant the end of everything.

-Ding!

A text message arrived at that moment.

"..."

"..."

Han Yoo-jung and Jung-gyeom exchanged glances.

Then, naturally, Han Yoo-jung took out her phone to check the incoming text.

[Tryno is approaching. Please check the tracker.]

A simple message from Song Soo-yeon.

Yet, that message made Han Yoo-jung's heart freeze.

She found herself lying to Jung-gyeom, who was staring intently at her.

"It's, it's spam."

"..."

Jung-gyeom, being perceptive, didn't fully believe her.

But there was no choice.

With the little time she had scrambled together, Han Yoo-jung racked her brain fiercely.

Perhaps the time left for her wasn't a week... but a day.

---

---

After secretly sending the text, Song Soo-yeon followed a man into an abandoned building.

In a district without a single person or streetlight, Tryno was hiding inside a nearly collapsed building.

Where had the villain, who once boasted of his strength, gone, now hiding like a rat in such a place?

Jung-gyeom couldn't find him for a reason.

If he hadn't hidden like this, Jung-gyeom's fight would have ended much sooner.

She thought, maybe she was more accepting of death than he was, especially if she had to live without Jung-gyeom.

Of course, it was nothing to brag about.

The man who had led her here reached out his hand.

"...?"

"Please give me your phone for a moment."

"Why should I?"

"Tryno wishes it."

"I thought Tryno wanted to meet me? Why should I comply with his demands?"

"If you don't hand over the phone, you're not to enter. His instructions."

"..."

"Don't worry, you'll get it back when you leave."

Song Soo-yeon had already sent all the messages she needed to.

She decided against a pointless standoff and handed over her phone to the man.

She still had the tracker Han Yoo-jung gave her, so being without her phone was fine.

Song Soo-yeon needed to meet Tryno at all costs.

If it would end Jung-gyeom's fight, she was willing to do anything.

She didn't expect any trouble, likely just an offer to join forces at most.

Song Soo-yeon moved forward.

She twisted open a rusted iron door and stepped into a dusty room.

-Creak...

Something hit the door.

A voice echoed from deep inside the room.

"...Hand over that bag to the man."

"..."

Looking down, Song Soo-yeon saw a duffel bag filled with items, seemingly a bag of money and possibly the man's payment for leading her here.

She nodded to the man, who then bowed, picked up the duffel bag, and left.

-Thud.

Song Soo-yeon closed the door and surveyed the dark room.

In the distance, she saw a faint figure.

"..."

"It's been a while, Luna."

The figure spoke in the same low voice as before.

A one-eyed gleam reflected in the darkness like that of a beast.

"...Tryno."

"It seems only you and I are left."

"......"

"Stingshot, Liquid, Riem, Stella........all of them were taken by that monster...Dice."

Tryno suddenly let out a slow laugh. It was an unsettling sound that made one uneasy.

Song Soo-yeon asked him a question to hide her agitation, trying not to lose control of the conversation.

"...I know without you saying it. Anyway, tell me why you were looking for me."

"Hm? Were you planning to act alone? Wouldn't it have been safer to band together like this?"

Song Soo-yeon could sense the sarcasm hidden in Tryno's tone.

Every word he uttered sent chills down her spine.

"Or is there a reason you can be on your own?"

"......"

His words weren't questions... but they sounded like them.

The atmosphere of the conversation was off.

Tryno suddenly clapped his hands and rubbed them together.

"....Luna. I've noticed something strange... Lurking in a place like this... you find yourself with an abundance of time."

"..."

"Listen to what I have to say and tell me what you think."

Song Soo-yeon didn't respond to his comment.

Tryno continued without minding her silence.

"You roam the streets quite freely, don't you? You've been wandering the streets for almost a week this time. Even I found you easily."

"..."

"Of course, since your appearance isn't widely known, I guess that's possible... But the problem is that Riem went looking for you."

A brief silence. Tryno scrutinized Song Soo-yeon's every reaction.

"That Riem, soon after, disappeared. Probably taken by Dice. The problem is... you came back. You returned and strutted around the streets looking all the same."

"..."

"The more I thought about it, the stranger it was. The day Dice first appeared... you weren't there. When everyone gathered to devise a plan, you didn't show up. It's like you had all the time in the world."

Song Soo-yeon finally responded.

"What are you trying to say?"

"You know, Luna. What I'm getting at."

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

He stood up and asked gently.

".......You, do you know Dice?"

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