Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

Despite completing the dwelling, there was a problem.

“We’re broke.”

“Huh?”

Han Seo-hyeon’s eyes widened in confusion.

“We robbed that auction not too long ago, didn’t we?”

Right, we were the culprits behind that auction heist that had caused such an uproar worldwide. There, we had successfully stolen two priceless items worth billions of won. For us to be penniless after that seemed scarcely believable.

“It’s only been two weeks!”

“We didn’t sell those items. Plus, I spent all the money I had saved while constructing this place and furnishing the interior. It was depleted just from buying that sofa you’re lounging on.”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon’s mouth fell agape.

“You, you spent it all?”

“Yes.”

From the outset, my finances had been rather limited. While I had invested with Baek Do-san’s group, there was no telling when I would receive those investment returns. In any case, we were currently destitute.

I had even seriously contemplated selling the Vampiric Lord’s Ring.

“So what do we do? Don’t we need to find some work? Ah! Maybe we could take requests on the dark web or something?”

I shook my head.

It had only been two weeks since I had promoted the Weltschmerz name on the dark web. That name was now gradually solidifying into an entity of its own. The feat of outmaneuvering all those hunters to steal two artifacts had garnered quite a decent reputation.

Moreover, in those subsequent two weeks, no one had been able to uncover Weltschmerz’s true identity – further enhancing our aura of mystique.

If we accepted some shoddy request under that name now?

The image I had painstakingly cultivated over those two weeks would instantly plummet into ruin. Such an outcome was absolutely unacceptable.

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

“We’ll have to pillage from the wicked instead. And perhaps earn some money in the process.”

“Will we be raiding illegal gates again like last time?”

Raiding illegal gates would certainly yield funds, but there was an issue.

“It might be perceived as Kang Yi-sin’s doing, not Weltschmerz’s.”

“Well, Weltschmerz is you, Boss, right? Kang Yi-sin.”

“To be precise, Weltschmerz is our organization’s name, not my personal alias. Plus, I’d like to conceal my involvement within this organization for as long as possible.”

“Isn’t it fine as long as we don’t get caught?”

“Hmm, I suppose. But I’d prefer not leaving even the slightest risk, if possible.”

The one pursuing those two cases was none other than the tenacious Do Chae-hee, dubbed the ‘Demon of Perseverance.’ While others might overlook the details, Do Chae-hee could potentially piece together the fragments into a clearer picture.

Not now, but eventually, I couldn’t risk her discovering that Kang Yi-sin equaled Weltschmerz.

“Then where are you thinking of hitting?”

“There was one place that had been concerning me.”

Not particularly lucrative, or perhaps even more costly, but a location that couldn’t be ignored for the future’s sake.

I addressed Han Seo-hyeon:

“Remember when I explained Kim Jae-ho’s situation to you before?”

“Um, yes.”

I had previously informed Han Seo-hyeon that Kim Jae-ho was no ordinary human – kidnapped as a child, subjected to various inhumane experiments and modifications, then sold into slavery.

Which was why his behaviors seemed so awkward and stunted, I had said. Be understanding.

“I’m thinking of paying a visit to the place that turned Jae-ho into what he is now.”

A location I had to go, for the sake of saving this world.

“Huhhh.”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon’s mouth fell open in shock.

“Do you know where that place is?”

“Roughly.”

I raised my voice deliberately, ensuring the one eavesdropping on our conversation could hear as well.

“So, would you like to go there?”

Kim Jae-ho’s gaze met mine, his sunken eyes appearing pitch black.

“I intend to utterly demolish that place. To thoroughly cleanse it, ensuring such atrocities can never occur again.”

Han Seo-hyeon gulped hard, finally realizing who I was discussing this for.

“And if there are any poor children trapped there, forced into unwilling circumstances, I’ll rescue them.”

“Rescue them?”

“And help them live their own lives.”

“How?”

The one who had just questioned me wasn’t Han Seo-hyeon. Somehow, Kim Jae-ho had silently approached until he stood right before me.

“How would you help them?”

At my counter-question, Kim Jae-ho scrunched his face in contemplation.

“I don’t really know that place. I’ve only seen and heard things, never experienced it myself. So I’m not sure how to deal with those people – those beasts who have abandoned their humanity.”

I wasn’t certain whether Kim Jae-ho grasped the concept of vengeance or not.

But one thing was clear – he harbored hatred towards them.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be making such an expression towards me.

“If you come along, you could show me how best to handle them.”

Kim Jae-ho mouthed my words silently to himself.

“How best to handle them…”

“Exactly.”

Kim Jae-ho didn’t know how to live in this world. Always following others’ commands, he was oblivious to his own desires. Whispering about some greater purpose would hold no meaning for him.

But this, this was his own personal matter.

Perhaps by going there, he might discover his own aspirations for how to live.

After tilting his head contemplatively, Kim Jae-ho spoke:

“I think… I want to kill them.”

Kim Jae-ho declared his intent, and I nodded in affirmation.

“Yes.”

In his previous life, Kim Jae-ho had killed countless people.

But never once had it been of his own volition.

Perhaps starting from this wouldn’t be a bad way to begin.

Observing our exchange, Han Seo-hyeon remarked:

“Is, is this really okay?”

“It’s fine.”

“To so casually discuss killing people… Well, they may be bastards, but still.”

I wasn’t a good person. Despite claiming to save the world from ruin, I didn’t believe a path of mutual coexistence that preserved everyone was possible.

Because this world contained far too many evildoers.

“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon flinched.

“No, I’m going too! I’m definitely going…”

“No, I’m being sincere. You don’t have to come.”

It wasn’t a test. I genuinely wanted to confirm Han Seo-hyeon’s intentions. Truthfully, I even hoped he wouldn’t accompany us.

“That place was the site of horrific human experimentation. You’ll likely witness many disturbing sights.”

Despite my warning, Han Seo-hyeon awkwardly laughed and said:

“But I’m a necromancer.”

“Hmm.”

Certainly, he would be accustomed to death. But the issue there wouldn’t be death itself. Rather, the living could prove more problematic – as I had mentioned ‘physical modifications,’ inhuman monsters would undoubtedly lurk there as well.

“Plus, I’ve been a bit unusual since childhood. No matter how cruel or disgusting, I never really felt anything when witnessing such things.”

Add a creepy ‘kukuku’ laughter, and he would perfectly embody an edgy middle-schooler. But Han Seo-hyeon’s expression remained utterly impassive as he spoke those words.

Not a delayed onset of some condition, but an actual fact.

Well, as a necromancer, recoiling from every corpse would have been highly impractical. So it wasn’t strange for him to be born with such an even-tempered disposition. But that place had harbored truly inhumane individuals.

Even I had vomited multiple times upon later viewing the photographic evidence.

Han Seo-hyeon was still a minor.

No matter that he had set foot onto the path of villainy by following me, there were still some things I wished to protect him from.

“You’re not allowed inside the laboratory itself. You’ll be providing rear support.”

“Uh! Again this time too?”

“Yes, this time as well.”

Speaking solemnly, I warned Han Seo-hyeon:

“Don’t enter any areas I forbid. Using Rat for scouting is also prohibited.”

“Tsk.”

During the auction, the skeleton had needed line-of-sight to the Red Flame Mana Stone for the theft. But now, there was no such requirement.

I only needed his assistance for the initial infiltration, after which I planned to completely relegate him to the rear.

Han Seo-hyeon was still too weak. While I had recently been providing him training, it hadn’t been that long since he had started.

I couldn’t bring him into those unknown underground depths.

Seeing Han Seo-hyeon’s disgruntled expression, I remarked:

“Do you even realize how feeble you still are?”

His sullen face revealed his wounded pride, but Han Seo-hyeon still nodded. He had yet to endure more than five of my attacks.

“Instead, there will be plenty for you to handle from the rear lines. Without you, this entire operation would have been impossible to plan in the first place.”

After sufficiently dampening his spirits, it was time for some praise.

Han Seo-hyeon’s self-esteem had plummeted to rock bottom. Having always detested his own talents, coupled with losing his sole pillar of support in his brother – no matter how brightly he tried to act, how much forced levity he displayed, his inner turmoil must have been immense.

Kim Jae-ho and I were utterly inept at such emotional overtures, leaving Han Seo-hyeon to suffer alone.

It was time to utilize those smooth-talking skills I had learned while under Seol Rok-jin’s tutelage.

“You possess incredible talents. Without you, we couldn’t have succeeded at the auction. From your position, you can perceive thousands of miles in any direction.”

Seeing Han Seo-hyeon’s eyes light up as his spirits lifted, I patted his shoulder and continued:

“Remember, your talents don’t lie in close combat. All this training you’re undergoing is merely to protect yourself. Once you fully bloom your abilities, you could defeat not just me, but even Kim Jae-ho here, without lifting a finger.”

“Of course!”

After reassuring Han Seo-hyeon at length, I finally revealed the plan that had formed in my mind.

Upon hearing my scheme, Han Seo-hyeon’s face alternated between a pallid white and flushed crimson.

“I, I absolutely refuse!”

But his rejection wouldn’t be accepted.

* * *

Bomnal Orphanage.

Seeing that name, I clicked my tongue in displeasure. The signboard painted in a bright pink hue befitting its ‘spring day’ moniker was excessively gaudy. (tl/n: ‘bomnal’ literally translates as ‘spring day’)

Adorable murals adorned the walls, while the visible courtyard housed a colorful tiled playground where children could freely romp about.

No matter how well gate appearances were controlled, their manifestations still constituted disasters. Many had lost family members. Like myself and Jeong Ho-san ending up in orphanages, countless children must have been brought here as well.

From outward appearances, it seemed a perfectly ordinary orphanage.

With overseas adoption avenues now blocked, domestic orphanages were always overflowing nowadays.

Whether due to difficult financial circumstances forcing parents to abandon their children, or situations rendering them unable to provide adequate care – some families chose to sever their offspring like lizards discarding tails, prioritizing their own survival.

The person I was impersonating today was one such metaphorical lizard. Donning a holographic disguise as a man in his forties, I directly met with the orphanage staff.

Upon hearing my claim to leave a child here, the staff member couldn’t conceal their bafflement.

Which was understandable, considering the ‘child’ I referred to was the seventeen-year-old Han Seo-hyeon…

“He may be tall, but he’s still practically twelve, isn’t he?”

I was adamantly insisting that the youth towering over 170cm was merely twelve years old.

—You’re utterly shameless.

Despite Ray’s remark, I maintained my audacious front without faltering.