Chapter 5: Help Me, Hero! (5)

Her crying made all traces of my smile vanish.

Truly, I now realize that Song Soo-yeon of today is much more sensitive than the Song Soo-yeon of the future.

I felt helpless, unsure of what I could do for her.

No other comfort came to mind.

In embarrassment, I crouched down and gently placed my hand on her shoulder as she sat wrapped in her knees, crying.

".....It's okay. You seem hungry, let's get something to eat. Anger is best expressed on a full stomach."

I only offered the help I knew.

To her, showing no response, I urged again.

"Come on, quickly."

".....Why should I go there?"

She asked, her head buried in her knees.

".....What?"

"Why should I go there?"

"....."

I was at a loss for words.

Her question left me speechless.

".....Aren't you hungry?"

I asked carefully.

"It's not that...!"

She raised her head, her voice rising in frustration as she bit her lip.

"Why are you acting so familiar?"

"....What?"

I felt a sting of guilt.

I thought I had maintained a distance, but perhaps it was more apparent than I realized.

"Just because I ate something at your restaurant, do you think that means something?"

"...."

"Do you think I'll feel grateful? I don't like you, mister."

".....Hmm?"

I asked back, utterly baffled.

"Why are you saying that all of a sudden?"

"I've never seen such kindness without a reason."

Her eyes were steady, as if speaking an unwavering truth.

For the first time, I felt true pity for her.

Even when she was being bullied.

Even in her shabby clothes.

Even when she had no money and came to my shop.

Even when she looked lonely, I didn't feel pity for her.

What experiences had she endured to be this way?

She let out a cold laugh.

"Ha, your intentions are so obvious, mister. It's obvious what you're trying to do."

If I really had such intentions, I would have felt ashamed or embarrassed, but that wasn't the case, so I was just confused.

What misunderstanding was this?

"I'm not trying to do anything. What can I do to a high school student..."

"I'm pretty, and I'm being bullied, so did you think you could do something about it? I've encountered guys like you more than once. It's not just you who approached me because of my looks. You know?"

Her experiences made her speak bluntly, unable to contain her anger.

Obviously, the bullying she suffered from the three girls earlier had contributed to this rage.

I learned a bit more about her.

It seems she had to endure many unwanted experiences due to her devastating beauty.

In a soothing tone, I gently asked her.

"....Is that so?"

She responded with a mocking tone.

"Yes, that's right. There's no hope for you, mister. I never intended to like anyone anyway. Wake up from your dream."

Though our physical ages aren't much different, our inner selves differ by more than ten years.

As an adult, I felt sorry that such a young person had to endure the touch of vile adults.

I didn't understand why I felt this way, but I genuinely felt sorry.

Even in my days as a villain, I never tolerated those who harmed children.

Because of me, an unspoken rule emerged in the villain world that children were off-limits.

....But Song Soo-yeon, or 'Luna,' was an earlier victim.

She even looked pitiable.

"...I'm not like that,"

I said again.

"What do you mean, not like that? From the moment you looked at my legs, from the moment you tried to eat what I left behind, no, from the moment your restaurant's name included 'Heart,' I knew you were a pervert.

It's disgusting, so please stop. Don't like me, it's uncomfortable."

Only now do I realize that each of my actions had been hurting her.

How desperately hungry must she have been to come to me for food?

How hungry must she have been to endure all that?

".....Ah...seriously."

I lifted my head.

...I felt like crying out of pity for her.

Damn it.

But I can't cry, not with my pride at stake.

I blinked rapidly to hold back the tears.

Has my sensitivity increased with age?

Meanwhile, Song Soo-yeon continued.

"...I get it. So please, just stop."

She stood up, pushed me away, and left.

I suppressed my tears and shouted after her.

"Hey!"

She flinched again at my call.

It seems she often gets startled and jerks her body like that.

Her actions reveal a fragile interior, contrasting with her bold exterior.

I keep learning new things about her.

Song Soo-yeon turned around sharply in response to my call.

Even that seemed like the struggle of a fragile person who didn't want to be hurt anymore.

"Why-"

"-It's for my own satisfaction."

I revealed my true intentions.

"What?"

"I'm doing this for my own satisfaction. There's no other motive."

"....."

"....You're hungry."

"....."

"Just eat and then go. There are no ill intentions."

"....."

"I know the bitterness of hunger, that's why. Just eat. It'll be tasty today."

Her eyes wavered for a moment.

I knew then that the main reason was, after all, hunger.

In this moment, I too convey my feelings genuinely.

Perhaps it's because I felt sorry for her earlier, or because I hoped she wouldn't go hungry.

"I won't bother you. I won't say anything. Just eat and go."

Like a parrot, I kept repeating for her to eat and then leave.

"....Just eat and go. Just eat."

---

---

I am good at distinguishing malice directed at me from unrelated malice.

I know easily when malice is directed entirely at me.

But with someone like Song Soo-yeon, who has personal reasons for being sensitive, I don't get as upset.

I just understand.

Song Soo-yeon and I entered the store through the back door.

Honestly, my competitive spirit was somewhat stirred.

I didn't want to give up and retreat.

If I can't overcome this challenge, I won't be able to overcome future ones.

Considering her past life as the villain ranked second, I somewhat expected her to have a tough personality.

That's why I was somewhat indifferent to her hurtful words.

I don't want to forcibly hold onto someone who rejects help.

Heroes choose whom to save, right?

Villains just beat them to death.

....Except for Solace.

She saved me to the end, so she's not in the same category.

Hmm.

Anyway, just as heroes selectively save people, I didn't feel the need to help someone who pushes away assistance, but Song Soo-yeon seems like an exception.

Is it because of our past life connection?

Or because she's still young?

Or maybe because I just learned a few pitiful facts about her?

".....Ah."

Then an idea strikes me.

If she became a villain because of such a past, and if I could rehabilitate her.

Then both Song Soo-yeon and I, or me and Luna, disappearing would lessen the burden on Solace, right?

The first and second-ranked villains vanishing altogether.

"...Oh.."

I marveled at this idea.

Why hadn't I thought of this before?

I had intended to continue doing good deeds for Solace anyway, but now I'm considering taking more serious action.

Another reason has emerged, after all.

Of course, I still don't know why she became a villain.

Anyway, one needs a trigger to become a villain.

That's how everyone turns.

So, if I observe her closely and see signs of her turning into a villain, maybe I can intervene.

If left in this state, she'll surely become one.

"Just sit anywhere and wait."

As Song Soo-yeon walked across the kitchen, she looked at the fruits of my unorganized efforts.

Dirty dishes and pots.

Pieces of various vegetables.

The scent of oil and Chunjang.

Piles of bloated noodles.

Her previously rigid expression had softened somewhat.

"....This is all..."

She paused, then looked at me with a complicated expression.

Eventually, as if deflated, she let out a sigh and walked towards the dining table.

".....What even is love."

"What did you say?"

"Never mind."

Once again, she muttered words I couldn't understand.

I wondered what she meant, but soon gave up trying to understand.

It must be something trivial.

I washed my hands and began cooking, based on the practice I had done all day.

She watched me from the table.

There was nothing else for her to do.

I wasn't sure what she was thinking, but it wasn't the hostile energy she had shown me before.

Soon, the food was ready.

After serving the black bean noodles to Song Soo-yeon, I sat down at a table nearby.

"Just fill your stomach."

I refrained from saying 'enjoy your meal' for fear of receiving the same scolding as yesterday.

As expected, she must have been really hungry, as Song Soo-yeon didn't refuse the food anymore.

Having gone through similar times myself, I understand.

It must be tough.

"...."

But what could be the reason for her starving like this?

I was an orphan, so I often went hungry.

Having to fend for myself since childhood, I starved until adulthood.

But Song Soo-yeon?

Is she an orphan like me?

Or is her family poor?

Or could there be another reason?

Curious as I was, I didn't dare ask due to her high guard.

While I was pondering, Song Soo-yeon glanced at me and picked up her chopsticks.

She slowly mixed the Chunjang with the noodles.

Then, just like yesterday, she lifted a large bite of black bean noodles.

"..."

I unknowingly swallowed as I intently watched her eat.

I felt unnecessarily nervous.

After exploring other restaurants and spending the whole day making black bean noodles.

It would be slightly disappointing if she spat it out like yesterday.

Song Soo-yeon opened her mouth and then closed it again, sending me a cold glance for staring at her.

"....."

Jolted back to reality, I quickly regained my composure.

"Sorry, was I staring too much? Go on, eat."

Then I turned my head away.

Still, I kept sneaking glances at her.

"....Huh."

Song Soo-yeon sighed and put the black bean noodles in her mouth, then stopped chewing.

Her eyes blinked a couple of times.

Then she looked at me, rolling only her eyes.

As her gaze turned to me, I again pretended not to watch her.

"...."

Without a word, Song Soo-yeon started to chew the black bean noodles thoroughly.

She continued to eat the food without any complaints.

She ate with such haste that it almost seemed frantic.

She must have been very hungry.

"....Hehehehehehehe."

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling a sense of achievement.

Just the fact that she didn't spit it out like yesterday felt like a victory.

I had won.

My act of kindness was a success.

"Hehehe... Pfft hahaha..."

But my laughter startled Song Soo-yeon, causing her to drop her chopsticks in surprise.

-Clang...

The metal chopsticks rolled on the floor, accentuating the sudden silence between us.

She looked at me with wide eyes, covering her mouth in shock.

Her intense reaction also startled me, and I stared back at her.

"...What did you put in this?"

She suddenly asked.

"....What?"

"Did you put something weird in here?"

".....Are you asking about the secret ingredient?"

"....No, not that...."

She looked at me fearfully, as if seeing a monster, or rather, a real pervert.

I slowly began to grasp what she meant.

By 'something weird,' she seemed to imply a drug-like substance, possibly a sleeping pill.

Her absurd suspicion quickly wiped the smile off my face.

...Seriously, what the.