I’m Not That Villain

14 – New Face (4)

Gradually, my stamina started to build up. It was always there, but now it had increased even more.

Fortunately, I was the kind of person who improved as much as I put in the effort. By dedicating all my spare time to exercise, I was able to exchange muscle soreness for visible muscles.

“You can increase muscle mass with drugs… but I don’t recommend it. There are too many side effects.”

“This is enough for me.”

It wasn’t just about escaping from being a weakling; I started to enjoy exercising.

It was different from the joy of honing my workshop skills.

Moreover, as my work performance improved, so did the number of eccentric tasks I could handle. In a way, my overall work efficiency increased as well.

But the changes didn’t stop there. Once I had a solid foundation, Lily threw away the clothes I had brought.

“Why are you throwing away those precious clothes?!”

“How many years have you worn them?”

“…Three years?”

“Throw them away. I’ll buy you some basic clothes.”

“Why are you throwing away my underwear?!”

“Your mindset changes from the smallest things.”

Lily kept her word. She measured my size herself and ordered clothes that fit.

Since she bought them on her own, I thought she might get something like a butler’s uniformbut they were all perfectly normal clothes.

Lily crossed her arms and whispered softly.

“The reason for this investment is that I hope Mr. Seo-jun will change from this point on. You don’t have to fully master the art of dressing. But I hope you’ll take a little interest from now on.”

“…….”

It was definitely different.

The unfamiliar me in the mirror felt, how should I put it, the same as usual yet completely different.

Is this what it feels like to dress up? But something still seemed lacking. I absentmindedly touched my awkwardly long hair.

Lily naturally came over with scissors.

“Uh, excuse me?!”

“Trust me.”

How can I trust a woman who burns her food when she’s bored?!

Lily twirled the hairdressing scissors. She didn’t seem like she would stop even if I tried to dissuade her, so I asked hesitantly.

“Can I really… trust you?”

“What do you usually say when you go to a hair salon?”

“Just trim it a bit…”

“Watch quietly before I really trim it all off. I’m confident in my hairdressing skills.”

Something piled up in front of me. I realized one of them was hair dye.

“What?! Are you planning to dye my hair too?”

“Just changing your hair color can easily exclude you from being tracked. White hair isn’t that rare, but it’s not a color you see often either. If you don’t like it, I won’t force you.”

She says she won’t force me, but she’s already opening the hair dye.

But well, she’s not wrong. As long as the nickname Viper is still out there, it’s better to be cautious.

Black hair, huh. Come to think of it, I’ve never considered it. I’ve had this hair color ever since I survived the double suicide attempt…

Well, thanks to that, I’ve sometimes been a spectacle, like a mysterious animal.

“Well… I don’t mind.”

In the end, I agreed. What does hair color matter? My life is more important.

Even though I have a fake identity and settled in Seoul, I shouldn’t forget my true nature. After all, I’m a criminal, so it’s better to do everything I can.

“I’ll dye and trim your hair. It’s easier to style that way.”

“Just don’t make me bald, please. Boss.”

“Oops. My mistake.”

“Excuse me?!”

“Just kidding.”

Lily giggled. At her almost childlike smile, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Well, she’s still a kid. Even though she’s an adult…

Isn’t she a few years younger than me?

This look suits her.

Snip snip…

The hair started to be cut. Lily hesitated slightly with the hairdressing scissors.

“…Oops.”

“I think I hear something disastrous.”

“No, you don’t.”

Scritch, scratch…

“…Hmm…”

“Can you tell me what’s happening at the back of my head?”

“It’s probably nothing serious.”

“It sounds serious.”

“It…won’t be?”

“Don’t add a question mark. Please.”

“I’m joking.”

The hair that was being cut off piece by piece as if in deep thought had taken on a somewhat human shape.

Should I say it went from an awkward long hair to a much shorter one? But it wasn’t completely short either.

Just the length I wanted. I looked at the mirror, satisfied with the hair that gave off a natural yet styled vibe.

In terms of appearance, it seemed to be the best I’ve seen so far. If I could just get rid of this ambiguous beard, it would look much better…

“Shave it yourself.”

I gratefully accepted the electric shaver Lily handed me. After shaving cleanly, I checked myself in the mirror once again.

The haggard look was gone, and a neat young man stood there.

Muscles had just started to form, so it looked…good. Objectively, not just subjectively.

“How is it?”

“What?”

“How do I look?”

“…Did you gain confidence just from that?”

Lily sighed. She tapped the table and nodded her head.

“It’s not unbearable.”

“That’s good enough for me.”

Hmm. This is nice.

Doesn’t it seem like I’ve gained a new fun thing? Who knew grooming myself could be this fun.

To be honest, the situation had been so urgent that I couldn’t find joy in anything.

It was rare to have a day without overtime, and I was stuck in the workshop all day. Even as my years of service piled up, the work environment didn’t change, and I continued to handle tasks similar to those of a junior for three years.

“…….”

But you know what?

It’s a bit funny to find joy in life now.

Isn’t it laughable that I only became free after becoming a criminal?

Well, fine. Let’s discover things one by one. Things that are this interesting.

Exercise is fun. Grooming myself is satisfying…

It feels like I’m gradually picking up hobbies I couldn’t have before. Hmm. Very good.

. . .

Lily Bennettwater stared blankly at Lee Seo-jun, who was exercising.

Now, he exercises according to his own plan. Moreover, his posture is quite good.

Should I say his academic zeal is tremendous? Once he took an interest, the speed at which he improved was no joke.

Above all, his diet.

He set it by himself without being taught, even determining his daily calorie intake.

It’s been almost two months since we met.

In his systematic movements, there was no longer any of my coercion.

“…….”

Something.

Something feels strange.

All the people I had protected so far had rejected my advice.

They didn’t listen. As a result, my workload increased.

They wouldn’t stop actions that were obviously strange to my eyes. Most of them even raised their voices, asking if I, their protector, was defying them when I pointed it out.

It didn’t happen just once or twice.

Most of the missions I had taken on were like that.

No one tried to change, and no one took my advice seriously.

But the man in front of me is different. He seemed slick and sly…

But he’s not at all. Rather, he’s steadfast. He pushed through with what he decided and took others’ advice seriously.

Not only that, but he even improved.

Moreover…

“Here. Ketchup.”

“…….”

At every meal, there was always some side dish with ketchup.

A meal fit for a maidisn’t that how you could describe it? The ketchup was ketchup, but the taste of the food was also quite something.

The improvement in cooking skills was visible. What started as simple grilling and frying had now moved on to decorating.

“…….”

The taste was also excellent. Above all, the seasoning was well done.

Even for someone like me, who had lost most of my sense of taste due to various damages, the food tasted delicious.

“How is it? Fish and chips today. Doesn’t it remind you of home?”

“…….”

I was born in England.

But to be honest, I hadn’t eaten much English food.

The special mercenaries of the private military company Bakery, ‘Arcana,’ were made up of orphans with special abilities who had nowhere to go.

From a young age, they followed a special combat course, and it was rare to get proper food. They had eaten all sorts of bizarre foods, starting with cockroaches. Naturally, they had hardly ever eaten proper meals.

In fact, if you counted what they had eaten, there were more poisoned foods. This had also damaged their sense of taste.

So…

I don’t know much about English food. I’ve never even had a hamburger from a street vendor.

I always had to focus on work.

If there was no work, I had to return to headquarters and focus on training.

“…….”

Even when dispatched to a company called Black Market, it was similar. Since VIP protection required 24-hour close contact, it was hard to have proper meals.

Clients don’t eat with their bodyguards. Most of the people I served were from the upper class. In a way, it was natural.

From their perspective, I was just a consumable.

A replaceable item at any time.

The most I ate was the energy bars supplied by headquarters. The calories were perfect. Even one bar could roughly substitute a meal, and there was nothing lacking in terms of nutrients.

The important thing was…

I couldn’t taste anything.

So this was very unfamiliar. Eating at the same table was strange, and accepting my advice without hesitation was strange.

They didn’t curse me for being picky despite being a brat. They didn’t grumble that I should have come earlier even when I cleaned up their mess.

It felt like being treated as a proper individual.

Lily Bennettwater picked up a fork. She grabbed a French fry and chewed it.

It was delicious. But still.

I don’t know the authentic taste. I’ve never had it. I’ve seen a lot, but hardly experienced it myself.

I was raised that way.

So I quietly speak honestly. Unlike before.

“…I don’t know. I haven’t really tried it.”

“Really? Then, let’s order it together sometime. There must be at least one British restaurant somewhere in Seoul. We can go there and eat.”

“…….?”

“Why? You don’t want to eat?”

It was strange how naturally he said ‘together’.

But Lily tried to hide that strangeness.

She felt like she was losing for no reason.

“Of course, I’ll follow you as your escort.”

“Why are you angry?”

He’s a strange person.

Really.

…But let’s not let our guard down.

My job is not just simple escorting but also ‘monitoring’.

. . .

The weapon, which had been delayed due to self-management, was finally completed.

“Ugh.”

White Anvil Workshop.

No…no…

White Mirror!

Ah. That’s not it either…since it’s dyed…hmm…

I should call it Black Mirror. How many times has the name changed?

Anyway. It’s finally completed.

The first item I worked on in this workshop.

Cha Seo-yoon’s exclusive equipment.