Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

Beneath the clear, bright autumn sky. Following the beautiful tree-lined streets, a small blue awning came into view – an ice cream parlor serving gelato, a rare Italian treat in these parts. A young girl with her hair braided back paused before that shop.

“One scoop of strawberry, please.”

“I’ll have the same, one strawberry as well.”

The girl, Xie Haozhu, glanced sideways at the man who had appeared beside her.

While undoubtedly handsome enough to be considered a pretty boy, his elongated, slanted eyes exuded a rather unsettling aura.

The man flashed Xie Haozhu a faint smile. Seeing that smile, she inwardly remarked:

‘He looks quite foxy.’

Those slanted eyes crinkling slightly did indeed resemble a sly fox.

But she promptly lost interest, shifting her gaze away from the man. The gelato was the priority here.

“Didn’t you used to prefer vanilla the most?”

The man’s words caused Xie Haozhu’s pupils to tremble slightly.

“Huh?”

“If I recall, you loved having vanilla with crushed nuts mixed in.”

Had it been a casual, false remark, Xie Haozhu wouldn’t have paid the man any heed. But it was an undeniable truth, causing her to turn her eyes back towards him.

“You know me?”

“Quite well, in fact.”

Before she could respond further, their gelato orders arrived. Accepting the strawberry gelato, Xie Haozhu eyed the strange man holding an identical treat, casually licking away.

“You…”

“It’s a day off, so why not spend it having fun together? It’ll be an enjoyable time.”

Xie Haozhu contemplated briefly.

“Are you trying to kidnap me?”

After a moment’s consideration, she posed that question, prompting the man to shrug nonchalantly.

“Even if I tried, it would be pointless. You’re far stronger than me.”

A fair assessment.

Xie Haozhu could effortlessly crush the man before her like an insect if she desired.

It was indeed a day off, so extra time was available.

“Alright.”

She gave a light nod of agreement.

* * *

As we strolled together, I repeatedly gauged Xie Haozhu’s reactions.

—I had thought such blatant lines would be dreadful, but they seem to be working.

‘It’s because I’m confident in my ability to escape any situation.’

Despite her diminutive stature that didn’t even reach my chest, this girl Xie Haozhu was a veritable monster capable of obliterating an entire city in an instant.

Through sheer physical force alone, no less.

So why would she feel any trepidation towards the likes of me?

“Where would you like to go?”

“Perhaps a nearby game center first? Or we could watch a movie instead?”

—A totally clichéd date scenario straight out of TV dramas.

‘She harbors rather conventional tastes, it seems.’

“What’s that?”

But this current Xie Haozhu didn’t yet seem to comprehend such amusements. I led her towards a nearby arcade.

The first game I guided Xie Haozhu towards was a claw machine.

On the initial attempt, she failed to retrieve any prizes. Alternating between gazing at the plush toys and the machine controls, I remarked:

“Don’t try breaking it. That’s not how you obtain the prizes.”

“Really?”

“Just watch.”

Positioning Xie Haozhu beside me, I took a seat before the claw machine myself. Having spent countless hours practicing these very skills during my past life, I managed to snag a plush toy within a few attempts.

“Here’s a gift for you.”

“A gift?”

“Yes.”

Holding the clearly counterfeit stuffed rabbit, Xie Haozhu’s eyes widened in apparent surprise.

Our next stop was a coin karaoke machine.

Unfortunately, Xie Haozhu didn’t seem to recognize many songs. But when I selected tunes that matched her tastes, she appeared quite delighted.

—She has an unexpectedly pleasant singing voice.

‘I was the unparalleled king at company dinners, after all.’

After that, we tried tossing some basketballs, then played through various arcade games together. Despite her seemingly disinterested expression, Xie Haozhu gamely followed along rather well.

“This is fun.”

As we exited the arcade, I purchased a crepe from a nearby stall and handed it to Xie Haozhu.

It was about time for a sugar boost.

Providing sustenance at appropriate intervals prevented any tantrums.

Nibbling on the crepe, Xie Haozhu inquired:

“But why did you bring me here? Why did you seek me out?”

The time for such a question had indeed arrived. Savoring my own crepe, I answered:

“There was something I wanted to ask you personally.”

“What is it?”

“When you intend to attack the Silver Moon Society.”

At those words, Xie Haozhu’s demeanor shifted drastically. Even the surrounding air seemed to freeze over, the abruptly sharpened atmosphere stinging my skin like needles.

But I remained undeterred, continuing:

“Some friends of mine work there, you see. Ah, ideally I would have abandoned them, but that’s rather difficult.”

“You…”

My remarks caused Xie Haozhu’s eyes to narrow dangerously.

“Do you even know who I am?”

“I’ve known since the beginning. I tailored everything to your preferences, didn’t I? Of course I’m aware of your identity.”

“You know who I am, yet you still speak so brazenly?”

“I merely came to make a request.”

“If you know me, you should be terrified. You should be fleeing.”

“Ah, should I? But I don’t feel particularly compelled to do so.”

Whoosh – her fist thrust towards me, the shockwaves alone rupturing my blood vessels as crimson tears streamed down my face.

I channeled my abilities. My primary ‘Truthful Lie’ talent.

The target was Xie Haozhu before me.

The content: ‘I am not afraid of you in the slightest.’

The basis: my demeanor throughout our interactions today.

If it didn’t take, I would die. I fervently prayed for this lie to be convincing.

And finally…

“I suppose so.”

It worked.

Xie Haozhu failed to detect my trembling body, my underlying terror. Inwardly, I exhaled a sigh of relief.

She disliked those who feared her.

That had also been the reason I earned Xie Haozhu’s favor in the past.

When I had first encountered Xie Haozhu, I hadn’t feared death. In fact, I had actively yearned for it at the time.

Which was why Xie Haozhu had taken a liking to me.

She had even outright demanded Seol Rok-jin to hand me over, though he had refused. But whenever dealings with Xie Haozhu arose, he would lend me to her services.

It was only later that I learned the reason.

Xie Haozhu’s adoptive father had been someone congenitally incapable of experiencing fear. So she had become obsessively attached to him as the first person who didn’t fear her.

While my current self cherished living and dreaded death, I could still feign the persona Xie Haozhu desired.

Regaining my composure, I smiled calmly – as if utterly unafraid of her presence.

“Who are you?”

After spending hours together, Xie Haozhu finally inquired about my name.

A playful impulse struck me at her question.

“It would be boring to simply reveal it now. How about I tell you after we’ve met a few more times?”

Xie Haozhu narrowed her eyes at my response.

“There’s no guarantee we’ll meet again…”

“Even so.”

“Very well.”

With a vague nod of acknowledgment, Xie Haozhu asked:

“How did you learn about me?”

“We’ve actually met before, you see.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Xie Haozhu stared intently at my face, as if attempting to read my thoughts.

While her scrutinizing gaze as she circled around me appeared quite adorable, knowing her true nature caused cold sweat to trickle down my back. If this lie was exposed, my body would likely be torn asunder on the spot.

But no need to employ my talents this time – the fact that Xie Haozhu and I had indeed encountered each other in the past was an undeniable truth, not a falsehood.

“When?”

“You truly don’t remember?”

Furrowing her brow at my words, Xie Haozhu replied:

“I don’t. Sometimes I just… forget things.”

As I had expected, she had forsaken her memories – a sacrifice for greater power.

Peering intently into my eyes, she questioned:

“Are you certain we’ve met before?”

“Yes. Otherwise, how could I possibly know about you? I’m a little hurt you don’t recall.”

“Hurt…”

Xie Haozhu blinked at my remark. As someone who always wandered alone, such words were likely unfamiliar to her.

Maintaining my casual demeanor, I continued:

“We had quite an enjoyable time together, just like today.”

“You and me?”

“Yes. The last time was at a baduk salon – you enjoy baduk, don’t you? I can’t play worth a damn myself. So I taught you the Alkkagi game instead.” (tl/n: The Flicky Game/Stone Flicking.)

She didn’t comprehend the Korean word ‘alkkagi,’ tilting her head adorably in confusion.

“You were really good at alkkagi.”

“Alkkagi?'”

“Did you prefer spending time like today, or playing alkkagi instead?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember ever going to a baduk salon with you.”

“Then I suppose we’ll have to visit one next time, since you’ve forgotten. I’ll teach you alkkagi again.”

“Next time?”

Xie Haozhu stared at me dumbfoundedly, clearly never anticipating such a prospect. That she traded her memories meant forgetting this very day she had spent with me tonight.

Yet I still posed the question, fully aware of that fact.

“Shall we meet again tomorrow?”

I had once asked this very question to Xie Haozhu’s future self. A sudden whim had compelled me at the time – she had seemed so utterly apathetic and bored with existence itself.

The Xie Haozhu before me now appeared far livelier than that future version.

But the empty, hollow gaze in her eyes remained hauntingly familiar.

Her current strength had been acquired by forsaking nearly every aspect of herself.

Relinquishing even her memories as payment to obtain power.

I was privy to Xie Haozhu’s ‘future.’

After continuously sacrificing her emotions and memories to gain abilities, one day Xie Haozhu would personally slay the very adoptive father she had adored, having lost all recollection of him. Realizing this, she would subsequently descend into an uncontrolled rampage, obliterating Shanghai from the map of China that fateful day.

She would ascend to become a national-level criminal, drifting aimlessly throughout the world. Even in the future where she remained the Anti-Society’s boss, an awakener too formidable to ignore…

Nothing would be left for her.

Her future was undoubtedly bleak.

The answer I had received from her that day was a mere ‘Who knows?’ And the following day, Xie Haozhu had been discovered having taken her own life.

I never wished to witness such a wretched sight again. Perhaps my very presence in China was to prevent that ill-fated future from unfolding.

Addressing her, I said:

“Promise me you’ll meet with me again tomorrow to have more fun. That you’ll learn alkkagi too.”

At my words, Xie Haozhu narrowed her eyes, scanning me up and down appraisingly.

“I’ve lost interest. I’m leaving.”

“Very well. I’ll see you at that same place tomorrow, then.”

No response came to my farewell. Watching Xie Haozhu’s departing figure, I let out an inward sigh.

Was it still too soon? With that thought, I turned to head the opposite direction.

But a faint murmur reached my ears:

“Don’t loiter near the warehouse beside the theater tonight.”

Smiling at her parting advice, I continued on my way.