I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan

Episode 71

The week from Christmas to the end of the year. It was a time that passed quickly for Jae-young and slowly for Seung-hyun. 

To celebrate the year-end and New Year, Jae-young was dragged to all sorts of events to show his face and was told he should spend time with family. Jae-young, who had to endure subtle marriage pressure and questions asking if he had obtained any information from Seung-hyun, often called Seung-hyun.

“So, are you still at your parents’ house?”

― I can’t tell if this is a conversation between family or an interrogation when they said to spend time together as a family. Really.

“But still, compared to this family gathering…”

― Hmm… I guess you’re right.

Half of the silly conversations consisted of Seung-hyun comforting Jae-young, who was complaining, but it was still fun.

Until then, he was a bit hesitant to contact him for no reason, but now he didn’t feel that way. It seemed like the memory of the Christmas Eve they spent together made people a little soft.

“But there’s not much time left now.”

It was the last day of the year. It also meant that there wasn’t much time left until the two of them departed. It may not be the first for ‘Han Seung-hyun’, but for the current Seung-hyun, it was his first overseas trip, so he was a bit excited.

No, maybe he was more excited to leave with Jae-young.

― That’s right. Just tomorrow, no. Until the day after tomorrow…

Jae-young said in a slightly tired voice. There was a playful feeling too, but certainly, as the days went by, his voice was getting more and more tired.

“Is today’s schedule the end of the family gathering?”

― In the evening, there’s a group meeting place under the pretense of briefly socializing… Ah.

Jae-young hesitated for a moment. This evening, Jae-young was forced to participate in a gathering where unmarried male and female alphas and omegas were gathered in the hope that they would hit it off, although it was called a year-end party to promote friendship.

― It’s just a small occasion.

“I didn’t say anything…”

It was a bit funny to see him being considerate of himself even though he didn’t think anything. I know he’s not going because he wants to, and that he doesn’t really want to go himself.

“I guess you have a guilty conscience.”

He felt like teasing him for no reason. At Seung-hyun’s words, Jae-young jumped up.

― Do I seem like that kind of person to you?

“Well. I still don’t know much about Jae-young…”

At the clearly teasing tone, Jae-young belatedly calmed down. If he had teased someone else with these words, he would have, but he wasn’t the type to be teased.

― Don’t tease me. I don’t really want to go either. They say I have to go to these kinds of places for future network management even though I can see through it…

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

Seung-hyun said with a slight smile. Does liking to play around also spread to the person you’re with? Even after hanging up the phone, his mood was good.

He knew this peace wouldn’t last very long. So now he just wanted to enjoy the tranquility without thinking about anything.

After Seok-hyung dropped the bomb and left, somehow knowing, several calls came to the changed number. Since it was an unknown number, he couldn’t know who it was, but thinking it would be the same no matter who it was, he blocked the contacts as they came.

He wanted to think about the upcoming trip next week rather than that. Seung-hyun, who had searched a bit about what kind of place it was when Jae-young specifically mentioned Sapporo, had only known that it snowed a lot there, but it was more famous for snow than he thought. To the point where he thought, can it really snow this much?

‘…Does he like snow that much?’

When he said there’s really nothing to see but snow, Seung-hyun wondered if Jae-young liked snow that much. He took out the passport he had found in advance a few days ago and opened it.

“You’ve been to a lot of places.”

Considering that the original Han Seung-hyun took planes like eating meals, he shouldn’t show that he’s not used to it, but as the date approached, he seemed to be getting a bit excited.

Of course, among Seung-hyun’s numerous departure records, there was not a single departure for a trip or vacation. All of them were business trips, business trips, business trips.

At first, he wondered why he lived so hard while making efforts that wouldn’t even be rewarded… but now these records looked a bit different.

‘With a family like that, it might have been better to not have one at all.’

He couldn’t turn back what had happened, but… it was clearly not ‘Han Seung-hyun’ himself who made the ‘Han Seung-hyun’ who didn’t know how to stop while being driven by evil, but the people around him.

If he had said he needed time to cool off, to give him some time, he could have quietly ended his life, but the reason he made a fuss and left was because of that.

“But they won’t be grateful for that.”

But he wasn’t sure if it could really be called something done for Han Seung-hyun. He was like a truck with broken brakes. It became even more certain after hearing Seok-hyung’s declaration of war.

‘Just because I came to understand his life doesn’t mean I need to follow his actions.’

Seung-hyun put the passport back where it was. At least for now, at least until the incident Seok-hyung was preparing erupted, he could spend the remaining time peacefully.

So now, he should spend the remaining time preciously, as if anxiety never existed from the beginning. Seung-hyun spent the last day of the year quietly, forcibly erasing anxiety from his mind.

***

“……”

The first day of the much-anticipated trip ended in a way that was different from expected and utterly empty. He knew it was a place famous for snow and that it snowed a lot…

“But with this, we can’t even go out.”

But isn’t this too much? Seung-hyun sighed as he looked at the snow swirling so much that he couldn’t see in front of him properly.

When they arrived, it seemed like it was snowing a little, but as soon as they reached the accommodation, a snowstorm began to swirl. With this, we can’t do anything.

“I know, right.”

But Jae-young didn’t look very disappointed. Why does he look so calm when he was the one who suggested coming? Seung-hyun, who became a bit spiteful, glared slightly at Jae-young.

“The hotel is a good place too, so we can just rest comfortably for today.”

He seemed to like it even more that they couldn’t go out. Although he didn’t come because he really wanted to, now that he’s here, he has to make the trip worthwhile. Seung-hyun followed Jae-young with a displeased face.

As Jae-young said, the hotel was a good place with nothing to criticize. Although a snowstorm was swirling outside, the inside was peaceful beyond words.

“Have you been here before?”

“Despite how I look, I’m someone who will inherit the hotel business, so I go here and there to study.”

Jae-young bluffed. It wasn’t a completely wrong thing to say.

“The luggage must have already been brought, so shall we eat first? There’s a restaurant with a nice view.”

“What’s the point of a view when you can only see snow…”

“You really have no sense of romance, Seung-hyun.”

But what can I do when I really can only see snow? He thought the snow became a bit likable with the Christmas memory, but apparently not. But since there was no way to help it, Seung-hyun eventually nodded.

“Right. We can’t go out anyway.”

When they went upstairs, a restaurant with an entire wall made of glass windows appeared. Contrary to thinking what view when a snowstorm was swirling, it was quite a sight to see.

“What would you like to have for your meal?”

An employee who could speak Korean came out and served Jae-young and Seung-hyun. Jae-young familiarly placed the order. Now that he knew Seung-hyun’s taste inside and out, ordering wasn’t difficult.

“Ah, I know this place has nut toppings, is that right?”

“Yes. These two menu items contain nuts. Do you perhaps have an allergy?”

“I don’t have an allergy, but I’d like them excluded if possible.”

“Yes. I will inform the kitchen.”

After the employee disappeared with the order sheet, Seung-hyun looked at Jae-young for a moment. That he doesn’t like nuts, it seems like something he mentioned in passing very early on.

“You remembered.”

“Of course. I remember everything about Seung-hyun.”

“Why?”

“…You probably don’t want to hear it.”

Jae-young smiled with a slightly bitter face. It was clearly Seung-hyun who told him not to say those words, so Seung-hyun also understood the meaning and didn’t ask further.

But he still felt good. It seemed to be because of that annoying snow. The Christmas incident also came to mind again, and he felt excited for no reason.

“I’ll prepare the appetizer first.”

“Thank you.”

Seung-hyun silently touched the menu that came out as an appetizer. After doing that for a while, Seung-hyun, who was hesitating to relieve the slightly awkward atmosphere, said,

“…It’s delicious.”

How much did he eat to say that? It was obvious what he was thinking, but Jae-young didn’t point it out and just smiled.

“We’ll probably be able to go out tomorrow. They said the snow will stop by the afternoon at the latest. So don’t feel too suffocated.”

Jae-young joined in Seung-hyun’s effort. As if nothing had happened, the first meal of the trip passed like that.