Chapter 48: Go away, you're a nuisance (3)
TL/Editor: Raei
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The sky was clear, and a pleasantly chilly breeze blew through the air.
It was such a beautiful day that it made me forget yesterday's conflicts.
It was early in the morning, I felt a sense of comfort breathing in the fresh air.
I was sweeping the front yard of the restaurant.
There was no better task for clearing my thoughts.
Pushing aside the dirty snow and the cigarette butts buried underneath, I also pushed aside the thoughts swirling in my mind.
The events of yesterday were complicated, as I understood the reasons behind both parties.
I understood why Song Soo-yeon was angry, and why Solace felt hurt.
Though Song Soo-yeon apologized to me, calming things down, it didnt mean everything was resolved.
She needs to reconcile with Solace for things to be truly at peace.
But then again, I couldn't force her.
Soo-yeon's hatred towards heroes was deeper than I had thought.
It must be due to some unpleasant memories with heroes in her childhood, deeply rooted scars.
That's probably why she became a villain in her previous life, before the regression.
Still, my thoughts haven't changed.
Just because I was influenced by Solace doesn't mean all villains should live like me.
I have no intention of imposing my standards on others.
...However, I hope Soo-yeon doesn't continue down that path.
I can't bear to see her become a villain again.
Maybe its because of my growing affection for her.
I hope she doesn't go down the path I regret.
If she became a villain, it would feel like a failure of my good deeds.
"...Time will solve it,"
I murmured to myself, shaking my head.
I didn't want to be caught in negativity.
I wanted to believe everything would work out.
I looked around the restaurant.
Having slept here every day, it now felt like my own home.
The place held dear memories of happiness, all created within these walls.
Becoming friends with Soo-yeon, getting closer to Solace, it all happened here.
In doing so, I experienced various positive emotions.
My plans for this second life I was given were unfolding well.
I've made friends... well, not a lover yet, but that will come in time, I suppose.
Resisting impulses for deeper happiness, things seem to be falling into place.
Not solving everything with powers, but acting for others first, like Solace did before regression, brings many rewards.
It seems letting go of selfishness pays off.
I put down the broom and went inside the restaurant.
I adjusted the arrangement of the desk, aligning the chairs at proper angles.
After sweeping and mopping the floor, I cleaned this beloved space thoroughly.
Finally, I opened the refrigerator.
"Hmm."
It was time to restock the ingredients.
I'll have to visit the bathhouse and then the supermarket.
I glanced at the clock.
Speaking of which, Song Soo-yeon was running a bit late today.
Perhaps she was still troubled by yesterday's events.
---
---
I browsed through the meats at the butcher's corner, comparing prices and conditions, pondering what to choose.
As I stood there, intently scrutinizing the meats and stroking my chin, someone tapped on my shoulder.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
Two men stood there, examining me from head to toe.
After a long look at my face and appearance, they nodded to each other and then asked me,
"Are you the one who got a peck from Solace at the baseball game yesterday?"
I didn't know how to respond.
It wasn't something I needed to hide, but... how did they even know?
I heard my photo in the news was pixelated.
They didn't seem to have the scent of villains.
I asked,
"Do you know me?"
The man in front, nudging his friend with an elbow, said,
"See, I told you."
"..."
"Ah, sorry about that. We were actually at the baseball game yesterday."
"Were you?"
"Yes, haha. It was so shocking that I guess your face just stuck in our memory."
I nodded.
As expected, they didn't seem to be approaching me with villainous intent.
Although, the idea of villains approaching me just over yesterday's event seemed ridiculous.
Of course, that didn't mean I was pleased with their presence.
There was an odd, slightly perceivable discomfort.
It didn't seem like they called out to me out of sheer delight.
I didn't know their intentions, but I didn't want to get involved.
"Yesterday's game must have been quite a disturbance for you. I'm sorry about that."
I apologized and began wrapping up the conversation.
"No, it wasn't really... a disturbance."
"That's good to hear. Oh, I must be going. I have a busy day ahead."
After a brief nod, I quickly picked up the meat I had eyed earlier and started pushing my cart away, not giving the two men another chance to speak.
They paused for a moment, watching me leave.
---
---
"Damn it."
On my way home, I clicked my tongue.
I was, once again, reminded of how sensitive my intuition was in these matters.
The two men had started following me from the supermarket.
What could their motive be?
As I said, they didn't seem like villains.
Nor did they appear to want to pick a fight.
But there was definitely something.
I mulled over it as I walked.
".....Hmm."
It must be related to Solace in some way.
Could they be fans of Solace?
I had clearly denied any connection with Solace, but perhaps they wanted to verify the truth of that?
Maybe they suspected that I knew Solace more than I let on?
That seemed plausible.
They didn't appear to have any harmful intentions towards me, so that was the most likely reason.
What should I do?
Using my powers, shaking off these two men would be no problem.
But I couldn't use my abilities, which I had decided not to use, just because of these men.
There was no need to do anything drastic to people who were just following me out of curiosity.
I could run away, but I didn't want to appear as if I was panicking.
"...."
Well, I could just tell Solace to stay away from the restaurant for a while.
That seemed like the safest and least bothersome option.
Those idle men would probably drop off soon.
I turned my attention away from them and headed towards the restaurant.
"Soo-yeon?"
Arriving at the restaurant, I found Song Soo-yeon crouching in front.
She glanced at me upon hearing my call, then slowly got up.
Then, with awkward movements, she kicked at the ground.
"Why are you outside and not going in?"
"..."
She remained silent.
After a moment of contemplation, I said to her,
"Let's go in and talk."
Song Soo-yeon nodded in agreement.
We opened the door and entered the restaurant.
I started by organizing the groceries I had bought.
"Have you eaten?"
I asked her a routine question, but Song Soo-yeon didn't respond.
She seemed to be burdened with many thoughts.
After a quick tidy-up, I poured some plum juice I bought for us to drink and handed her a glass.
She was still maintaining an odd silence, so I asked.
"Why arent you saying anything? What's the matter?"
She hesitated before speaking.
"Mister, like I said yesterday... I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I told you. Don't worry."
After sipping the drink, I shared my sincere thoughts.
"Thinking about it yesterday... it makes sense why you did what you did. Im grateful you were concerned about me. Maybe I underestimated villains."
Song Soo-yeon looked up at me for a moment, then nodded with moist eyes.
She seemed moved by the simple words.
Then, she fell silent again.
I didnt break that silence.
Sometimes, it's okay not to have anything to say.
After sipping the drink for a while, I stood up.
"You havent eaten, right? Just wait here."
"Mister."
Song Soo-yeon called me as I was heading to the kitchen.
"...I have something to say."
She said.
And with those words, an unusual atmosphere, unlike anything I had felt before, lingered.
It was a strangely tense moment.
What was she about to say that made her hesitate so much?
As I sat down without a word, Song Soo-yeon hesitantly started speaking.
"...I rewatched the video from yesterday."
"Which video?"
"...The one with you and Solace at the baseball game."
"Did you have to rewatch that?"
She looked at me.
Her gaze was a bit cold.
Then, taking a deep breath as if making up her mind, she said.
"...I think I was also at fault."
"Huh?"
"Looking at it from a different perspective... she had to show up. I hesitated too much... and even bowed my head."
I felt like our problem was beginning to resolve.
With a slightly uplifted heart, I asked her.
"You mean you'll apologize to Bom, right?"
"...Yes."
I smiled broadly.
"Soo-yeon, you made a good decision. It's really nice of you to do that."
"And."
"...?"
"..."
"And what?"
She paused for a long time again.
She loosened her throat, opened and closed her mouth, and took sips of her drink before finally speaking after a long while.
"...I think I need to change."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I understand what Solace did, I still think that it hurts you and that she shouldn't have kissed you and that..."
She bit her lip for a moment.
A flush rose on her cold cheeks.
She lowered her head and murmured.
"...The kiss should have been mine."
I was momentarily stunned by Song Soo-yeon's statement.
I forgot to breathe.
Ignoring my reaction, Soo-yeon continued.
"If I had received it, there wouldn't have been all this fuss..."
I waved my hands dismissively to console her.
"Soo-yeon, no. You've been hurt by men, you don't need to go that far for me."
But Soo-yeon didnt accept that.
"No?"
She leaned in closer to me.
"I'm the one who's sick. I'm the one who's not normal. If I was normal, I would have kissed you in that situation."
Her constant talk about how she should have kissed me was making me feel flustered.
I didn't know how to express it.
I was just bewildered.
"Do you think-"
"-I mean, even if there were no feelings involved, I should have reacted appropriately to the situation."
Song Soo-yeon explained.
I nodded as if I naturally thought the same.
"So yesterday... I reflected a lot on my own. Actually, you got criticized because of that, right?"
"Everyone was just caught up in the moment, that's all."
"Whatever, anyway. I've been rambling...but the bottom line is this."
"..."
"I... want to overcome my hatred of men. So, um..."
Song Soo-yeon bowed her head again.
Her voice was trembling.
"...Can you help me with that?"
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