This Villain is Soft - Chapter 18
Only Noblemtl
Episode 18
Blue mana spread widely underfoot.
The warehouse doors flew open and white cloths fluttered wildly.
“Hey, why is it like this?”
“Cue! Do something about it!”
People couldn’t even stretch out their arms because of the cloth wrapped tightly around their bodies.
The wind that rose while floundering caused the clouds to flutter wildly.
Haon had changed it into that kind of material.
Q couldn’t show any invincible powers to Cheon, who didn’t even harm me.
All he could do was wrap himself in cloth and scream in rage.
In the midst of the chaos and noise, the sky began to move and opened a path in front of Juyeol.
He found Ha-on standing at the end of the thin cloth with a worried expression.
Even after creating this absurd scene, Haon just pointed to the exit and told them to leave quickly.
Joo-yeol looked around the warehouse with his mouth slightly open and let out a hollow laugh.
When he came close to Haon, who was walking slowly, Haon grabbed his hand and ran outside.
He was only pretending to run, but his speed was similar.
Just before leaving the warehouse, Juyeol muttered softly while chuckling.
“Ripe sweet corn?”
I glanced back and saw a bracelet made of colorful, round gems shining beautifully under the few good lights.
* * *
It was only after returning to the lab that Haon was able to clear his mind.
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“To some extent.”
Joo-yeol, who gave an ambiguous but positive answer, looked down at Ha-on’s small head and asked.
“I’m talking about changing things like you did with that cloth today.”
“Magic engineering?”
“Yeah. How far can you go with magic engineering?”
Haon hesitated with his mouth wide open.
How far can you go? How far can you say?
Can we even say that it is possible to create a dimensional gate?
I can’t even believe that he came from another dimension.
In a world where mana had not yet been discovered, teaching magical engineering in detail would only cause confusion.
After much thought, Haon answered with a question.
“What do you need? If there’s anything you need fixed, I can help you.”
“Do you know how to handle a bike or a gun?”
“Of course. Any machine can be fixed.”
“That’s right.”
Joo-yeol glanced around the lab with a meaningful expression and added.
“Then from now on, you are my… … .”
He paused, startled, and stared at the lab door.
“Why? Who is here?”
“fizzle.”
Suddenly, he hurriedly covered Ha-on’s mouth and pulled her waist.
“Oh my!”
Before Haon could even panic, the two disappeared into the shadows.
At that moment, the door flew open.
The one who walked into the lab was the leader of the heroes, Hunter.
“Hmm.”
The hunter looked around the empty laboratory, fiddling with the crossbow hanging from his waist.
Haon knew at once that she was a hero because of the goblin pattern drawn on her clothes.
So I didn’t understand why Joo-yeol took me and hid with me.
‘Why, even though we’re both heroes?’
Haon became nervous along with Juyeol’s heartbeat, which was beating a little faster.
I wanted to check his expression, but the hand covering his mouth and the arm wrapped around his waist were motionless.
Joo-yeol looked sharply at Hunter, who was inspecting the laboratory.
The timing is bad.
While on leave, he couldn’t be seen wearing civilian clothes instead of his work clothes in Eunhaon’s lab.
‘I already got caught coming here with the Awakening Orb.’
You might be taken to an interrogation room because of some misunderstanding.
Fortunately, the Hunter took another look around the lab and quickly left. It seemed like he had no intention of waiting for Eunhaon for too long.
But Juyeol waited for several minutes before releasing the ability. There was no harm in being careful.
“Phew.”
“Can I talk now?”
At the sound of his sigh, Haon pulled down the hand covering his mouth and looked up. The back of his small head touched his broad chest.
“… … ?”
Only then did Joo-yeol realize that he had hidden with Eun-ha-on and flinched.
Ha-on leaned toward the door and asked as he quickly released his arm with a bewildered look on his face and took a few steps away.
“Is this the person I shouldn’t meet?”
Juyeol’s black eyes wavered. In fact, it was the opposite.
‘I was definitely trying to get you to meet the Hunter.’
If by any chance the Haon in front of you is someone other than ‘Dr. Eunhaon’, you will be able to recognize him with your Hunter’s abilities.
‘But why did I… … .’
He didn’t understand my behavior.
All I had to do was hide in the shadows and quietly watch the Hunter check on Haon.
“Juyeol-ah?”
He suddenly came to his senses at the strange call.
“Just. I was in a hurry so I just happened to do it.”
When Ha-on was puzzled by the vague remark, Ju-yeol quickly added.
“If you’re not going to take requests from the villains, then take them from me from now on.”
“Huh? To you?”
“You said you knew how to use machines. So, be my engineer.”
While I was wondering what to do with this brilliant scientist, I contacted the engineers at Hero Headquarters because there was a problem with the helmet.
The only answer I got was that there was nothing they could do, as if Hunter had strongly urged them not to help me while I was suspended from duty.
But, since Eunhaon had decided not to accept any more requests from villains, I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
The work at the logistics warehouse still lingered before my eyes.
“Your… … engineer?”
Ha-on, who had been standing with a fierce face, smiled faintly.
“I’m good!”
“… … Is it good?”
Joo-yeol was taken aback by the response of such a willing acceptance. It was unexpected that he would be so happy when he didn’t have a lot of money.
“Okay! I’ll do it. Your engineer!”
Haon was very proactive.
‘That’s great! Maybe we can resolve the hostile relationship with the heroes.’
She also had her own wishes.
The fact that ‘Eunhaon’ makes weapons for villains must have been a major factor in his poor relationship with the heroes.
But if I become a hero, Joo-yeol, and a ghost engineer, wouldn’t people’s perception of me change a little?
Even if they don’t believe that ‘Eunhaon’ is a different person, they might think that he has come to his senses and reformed.
‘It would be better if I could study comfortably until I get home.’
Haon spoke with determination and full of enthusiasm.
“I will do really well.”
Juyeol’s eyebrows twitched at the subtle words.
“So, Joo-yeol.”
He moved his chin slightly as if to tell me to speak.
“Can’t you just live here with me?”
Joo-yeol froze for a moment and then tapped his ear hard. After confirming that his ear was working fine, he grimaced.
“What the hell are you talking about again?”
Even for a refreshing morning, Haon needed Joo-yeol.
“Live here. Yeah? There are lots of rooms.”
But Joo-yeol was fed up with the nonsense he heard whenever he forgot.
“Stop saying things that don’t make sense.”
It would be most reassuring to keep an eye on them, but if they catch me visiting Eunhawon frequently while I’m suspended from duty, the headquarters will find that suspicious in itself.
Even if that weren’t the case, I was amazed at how there could be so little distance between them.
“It would be nice for you to live close to the engineering studio… … .”
“It’s good.”
He spoke decisively as he stepped out of the lab.
“You were the one who whined that all you needed to do was fix your phone, so if you don’t want a hole in your forehead, you’re going to have to find the guy who killed my brother.”
“Where are you going? Are you coming tomorrow too?”
“I’m busy. Fix your helmet.”
“Are you busy? Are you going to the old town tomorrow?”
“Why there?”
“Chacha said he was fighting the Halla gang.”
“Why are you stopping the villains from fighting each other? They’ll all die this time.”
“then?”
“There’s a villain you’ll meet.”
Haon exclaimed, “Wow,” with shining eyes.
“You’re still doing hero work even though you’re being disciplined? Was going to the exhibition today part of that?”
“I’m going to meet the villain.”
“That’s it! It’s sturdy and cool as always!”
“… … .”
This was unfamiliar to Juyeol. Other heroes would be used to this kind of reaction, but not me.
“Don’t get hurt, and if you need anything else, come see me anytime.”
Haon shook his cell phone and smiled brightly.
“I’m your engineer now. I’ll make sure your helmet is fixed.”
Joo-yeol’s expression became strange.
He thought that now that Ha-on had obtained the awakening orb he had been desperately seeking, he might start to reveal his true colors.
But I still left the penthouse without saying a word, still looking at her with kind eyes.
It felt like someone else was looking at me. It was a strange feeling.
‘It’s not wrong to see me as a close friend. It’s a good thing that he wants to help me first.’
* * *
The next day, Haon was still doing something to the neatly repaired helmet.
I started repairing the helmet before adjusting the lab, in case Juyeol’s mind changed.
He must have been sincere when he said he wouldn’t come today, because by lunchtime there was still no word.
The owner of the helmet wasn’t even visible, but Haon was in a good mood because it was the first proper repair in a long time.
‘Zoom is working fine, and the additional modifications just need a little tweaking. I was going to just fix it, but I got so motivated that I ended up adding more things.’
I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of using magic engineering for a hero rather than a villain.
The moment to check off the things you want to add and sink into the chair to relax.
“Honey. What’s so funny?”
“… … !”
I jumped up in surprise at the sound of a voice right next to my ear.
And I was even more surprised by the identity of the person who approached me without any warning.