The Tough Guy Hides the Villainess - Chapter 133



133 – Weasel #2

133 – Weasel #2

In novels and movies, it’s common to take down the villain’s subordinates one by one before facing the villain.

In the RPGs I liked, after defeating the 10 commanders of the demon king, you had to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings, and after defeating them, you would face the second-in-command of the demon king’s army before finally reaching the demon king.

Why is it like that?

Is it because adults need to extend the running time and playtime?

From noble mtl dot com

But?

In a man’s life, there’s no such thing.

You go straight to the final boss.

To me, Gu Sejun was that final boss.

Through Marahyeon’s information, I met him at a secluded church in D City, so there was no need for a long conversation. It would either be a manly showdown or a settlement.

“My father was a pastor. He ministered to less than ten congregants in this old, small church. He didn’t even make minimum wage, so he worked at construction sites on weekdays.”

But Gu Sejun started reminiscing about the past on his own.

Was he trying to buy time?

It was infuriating, but when a man talked about his father, it was a gentleman’s agreement of the International Men’s Association to pause whatever he was doing for a moment.

“To be honest, my father’s sermons were terrible and didn’t move anyone. But things changed after I became an Awakened. Have you heard of the ‘Eden Church’?”

The ‘Eden Church’ was a cult that performed exorcisms on the demon Jin Eunbyeol.

I could recall that Gu Sejun was from that ‘Eden Church.’

“My father’s sermons didn’t change, but just because his son was an Awakened, people flocked like angry bees. Every time my father shouted from the pulpit, people were moved to tears.”

Swoosh-.

Gu Sejun stood up and clenched his fist.

“That’s when I realized. Being an Awakened is that amazing. Those of us who have newly awakened and been chosen have the duty and right to lead people like lambs. Join us.”

What the heck, he went on about his father just to try to convert me?

I shot back at Gu Sejun.

“You must take after your father, having no talent for preaching or persuading. If you want to move my heart, you should at least tell me I can date pretty girls if I go to church.”

“A man speaks through actions, not words. Han Namjin, isn’t that what you would say? Han Namjin, lay down everything you’re carrying and come with me. You will be the cornerstone of a new era.”

“A new era, huh? A society where ordinary people are discriminated against?”

The ‘Genesis Temple,’ which had risen to power in the ruined world, was an organization that operated entirely around the Awakened. Under the pretext of enlightening and protecting ordinary people, how many ordinary people had been exploited?

Knowing such a future, I had no particular interest in Gu Sejun’s story.

“We will lead people. And eventually, we will make everyone Awakened. Let me show you the first step.”

The screen of the old church lit up.

The screen showed a crowded place.

“It’s L-Mart in D City. Even in the end times when the ‘Black Rain’ falls, people act recklessly like sheep unaware of the future. It must be now.”

Shaa-!

The sprinklers at L-Mart activated.

I could immediately tell that this situation was unusual as I watched people scream and run around.

“Gu Sejun! You b*stard! What are you doing!”

A terrorist act on a large mart.

The Villainers had committed another crime at a large mart following N-Mart.

“I told you. We will make everyone in the world Awakened. What was just sprayed is an Awakening substance developed at a government facility that researched witches. It will turn those with aptitude into Awakened.”

A liquid that artificially makes ordinary people Awakened.

I recalled that there was a substance called ‘Baptismal Water’ in the old ‘Genesis Temple.’

And what happened to those who took it.

Some would awaken safely, but those without aptitude would be overwhelmed by uncontrollable power and perish.

─Weasel.

Suddenly, a name buried in the graveyard of deep memories flickered in my mind. So when I hesitated for a moment, Gu Sejun reached out to me.

“Han Namjin, I feel a deep sense of guilt from you. Is that what drives you? You hate sin and are angry at yourself for committing illegal acts. The original sin that binds you. If it’s me, I can solve it for you.”

“Are you saying you can forgive my sins?”

“It’s possible. With the concept of a 4th-grade ‘Savior’ that I possess. Having longed for a savior for a long time, I became everyone’s savior myself. Just as a thirsty deer seeks a stream, sinners are bound to seek me.”

Ssshhh-.

Gu Sejun’s hand reached out towards me.

It was a gesture without any threat or murderous intent, like trying to touch a cat passing by on the street, but I felt an ominous feeling from that movement that I had never felt before.

So I stepped back with all my might.

“Namjin, reverse charge!”

Crash-! Crack-!

Thanks to that, the church chairs that hit me broke and fell, but it didn’t matter.

‘It’s dangerous if I get caught by that man.’

Instinct was telling me.

That man’s attack is close to instant death.

At that very moment.

Snap-.

The hand I thought I had avoided was suddenly touching my forehead.

When did the distance between Gu Sejun and me narrow like this?

What trick is this─.

# # #

“Hyung! Look at this! It’s ramen! Ramen! You can’t eat this, right? I bought it with the few bottle caps I had. Let’s cook it together! With eggs!”

“Hey, you’re here again? Raccoon.”

“Hyung, I’m not a raccoon, I’m a ‘Weasel’!”

Weasel, he was a kid who rolled in from the last city of mankind.

Was he about middle school age? He was short, but a faint mustache was starting to grow under his nose.

When he first saw me, he followed me around calling “Hyung! Hyung!” with such friendliness that it was top-notch.

I deliberately acted coldly towards such a kid.

“Hey, this is not a place for brats like you. There are people aiming for a big score by targeting awakened ones, and there are many strange monsters that you don’t know where they came from.”

━Whine whine whine.

“Like this one.” I gestured with my chin towards Yingying beside me, and the weasel retorted without backing down.

“So, have you thought about what I said back then? About going with me. I found the headquarters of the ‘Genesis Temple’!”

“What am I supposed to do there? You know, those crazy cultists are despised even by awakened ones from Yeongsa High. A limping guy like me would be less than a pebble kicked around.”

“Brother! I heard it, you know? That you took care of all the thugs who had taken over the hospital! Most of them died, and the few who survived are really in the hospital now? That’s totally satisfying!”

“You fool, life and death are never satisfying. It’s a tragic thing. And that was just my luck. They were careless.”

“Brother! Luck is also a skill! With that level of skill, you’re much better than awakened ones our age!”

The weasel kept egging me on like this.

At first, I let it go in one ear and out the other, but gradually, I found myself tempted.

He was, in a way, a motivational speaker embedded in my mind.

“If it really doesn’t work out!”

The weasel’s eyes sparkled.

“There’s a branch of the ‘Genesis Temple’ nearby! The cultists are using ordinary people to build a huge structure! How about we take that down first?”

I had heard of it. But it looked dangerous, so I didn’t go near it.

That was my survival instinct.

“Brother, it’s really suspicious. If we don’t stop it in advance, who knows what worse things those ordinary people will suffer.”

Young awakened ones often rushed into incidents as if to prove their skills, and the weasel was just like that.

And then, the final blow.

“If you don’t go, I’ll go alone. And!”

He looked straight at me and snatched the hot ramen pot from in front of me.

“If you ate this ramen, shouldn’t you consider it as accepting the request?”

“…You rascal, trying to bind me with ramen?”

I wrinkled my nose, and he shamelessly gathered his chopsticks as if nothing was wrong.

“That’s why I even added an egg! Brother! Come on! Let’s go together! Do you really want to see me go crazy?”

If I didn’t step in, this righteous kid would definitely storm the branch of the ‘Genesis Temple’ alone.

So I had no choice but to accompany the weasel, and that night, amidst the clumsy structures of the cult, I witnessed a horrifying scene.

Ordinary people were caged like animals.

“It was true that they were enslaving ordinary people! Brother! We have to save them!”

“Hey! How are we supposed to save them right now! We need to retreat for now and come back later!”

“We can’t do that!”

The weasel was caught rescuing the ordinary prisoners by the cultists.

Armed, Rank 3 Awakened, ten of them.

Me, leg busted, and Super Rookie Weasel.

Frankly, it was a complete disadvantage.

Then Weasel pulled a round bottle from his chest.

“Hey, that’s….”

“The Baptismal Water. The stuff that turns normal people into Awakened. And if an Awakened drinks it, they get even stronger. Hyung, I’ll handle this. You escape with the others.”

Glug, glug-.

Weasel had the *concept* of “Weasel.”

The concept of him, fueled by the Baptismal Water and going berserk, soon began to dominate him, devouring his body, and finally, he became a Fiend.

That was the first time I’d actually seen a Fiend.

Just like the rumors said, the Fiend was a terrifying being, and Weasel ended up losing control and attacking even the civilians he’d been trying to protect.

Shashashak-.

The Fiend-Weasel, scattering sharp wind blades with his claws.

“Eek! Monster!”

“It’s a monster! Aagh! Save me!”

“Hy, hyung…. I can’t stop it. I can’t stop it…. Killing people, it’s not satisfying at all….”

“I forgive your sins, Ha Namjin.”

When I came to, Gu Sejun’s hand was on my head.

A warm, gentle touch. A touch that seemed to affirm all my wrongdoings, to forgive me without any conditions.

“You’re going to forgive me?”

Before the question flitting through my mind could even disappear, overflowing joy began to fill every inch of my body.

From my fingertips to my toes, a sensation washed over me as if I were being reborn. But… strangely, that joy made me uncomfortable.

Could it really be this simple?

Is it really this easy for a person to repent for their sins and start a new life?

Just because a man who possesses the concept of ‘Savior’ laid his hand on me, I’m entitled to live a new life?

I couldn’t believe it. Something felt wrong.

“Do not resist.”

Gu Sejun said in a calm but firm voice.

“Your mistakes, your pain and humiliation, I will take it all.”

“Fuck you!”

I shouted out in a burst of emotion.

“Why are you trying to take what’s mine? My mistakes, my pain and humiliation, and the sins I’ve committed. All of it is mine! Those scars are who I am!!!”

Shouting like that, I steeled myself with the resolve to never back down.

Then, in an instant, I bent down and flew towards his legs with all my might.

“Ultimate Southern Kick!!!”

Fiercely, and resolutely!

Fly like a bee, sting like a bee!