Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

During my encounter with Xie Haozhu that day, I was able to uncover several key facts.

First, Xie Haozhu hadn’t discarded her memories since the day we met.

This was good news.

Moreover, I learned that she had defied her ‘Papa’s’ orders.

“You don’t have to obey your Papa’s commands?”

“I shouldn’t, but I didn’t want to forget that day.”

Those words were quite touching. It felt like confirmation that my diligent efforts invested for Xie Haozhu’s sake hadn’t been in vain.

Xie Haozhu whispered softly to me:

“Besides, I’m still strong enough even without those transactions.”

True, while not as overwhelmingly powerful as when sacrificing her memories, she still vastly outmatched ordinary awakeners.

However, she wasn’t potent enough to obliterate entire buildings with a single punch anymore. Which meant her ‘Papa’ would likely throw a tantrum upon discovering this.

Like the greedy old geezer he was. Inwardly cursing him, I sat beside Xie Haozhu and listened patiently to her ramblings.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come that day. I did remember, but it was difficult leaving because of Papa.”

“It’s alright. At least we could meet like this today.”

“I really wanted to come. You were the first person who told me to meet again tomorrow. So I wanted to keep that promise.”

Hearing those words, I contemplated – perhaps by continuing to regularly encounter her like this, to converse with her, I could gradually rectify her wayward path in life.

But unfortunately, the time allotted for the two of us was not so abundant.

* * *

That evening, Han Seo-hyeon delivered the news I had been awaiting.

“I’ve located that person – the one called the ‘Papa.'”

“Ah, is that so.”

Noticing my lackluster reaction, Han Seo-hyeon asked with concern:

“Are you truly intending to kill that man?”

Yes, the simplest solution would be to eliminate this so-called ‘Papa.’

Having lost her Papa, Xie Haozhu would likely self-destruct – just as her future self had committed suicide after losing him.

She had sacrificed her growth and memories as payment. Meaning her mental age was effectively fifteen, if not younger.

That ‘papa’ had deliberately nurtured her codependent tendencies, rendering her an imbecile incapable of anything without his presence.

Deprived of her Papa, she couldn’t survive independently.

Yet if I refrained from killing him, Xie Haozhu would remain eternally shackled to that man’s control.

“For now, I’m considering abducting this ‘Papa.'”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon’s eyes widened.

“Abducting him?”

“Yes. I’d like to have a conversation with him.”

“Normal people don’t just abduct someone they want to talk to.”

“We aren’t exactly normal people. Besides, I didn’t mention this, but that side had also attempted to eliminate me first.”

“What did you say?”

“Don’t worry. The ones targeting me were all dealt with by Xie Haozhu herself.”

“That’s a rather major incident, you know. Why didn’t you say anything about it earlier…?”

Han Seo-hyeon appeared visibly shaken by this revelation. Well, he had likely devoted all his intelligence efforts towards locating the ‘Papa’ recently. The fact that I had been in peril must have completely escaped his notice.

It was then that Kim Jae-ho, who had been silently seated in the corner, spoke up:

“That’s right, there were many who came searching for the master. I killed them all.”

“When was this?”

“Yesterday.”

At Kim Jae-ho’s nonchalant response, Han Seo-hyeon clutched his head with a bewildered expression.

“Just what have you been up to?”

This felt rather unfair. After all, I had genuinely avoided any untoward incidents over the past two days.

“It wasn’t my fault. I was just wandering around yesterday.”

“But why would people target the Boss simply because you were wandering around?”

“Well, they must not have liked me playing around with Xie Haozhu. That’s just how those people are – only capable of resolving matters through such methods. Compared to that, abducting their leader is actually a rather restrained response, don’t you think?”

At my explanation, Han Seo-hyeon let out a sigh.

“I suppose conventional standards don’t apply in this world.”

While I could spend two or three days ranting about just how despicable this Sima Xuan truly was, that wasn’t the pressing concern right now.

Turning to Kim Jae-ho, I asked:

“Jae-ho-ya. Would it be possible for you to secretly capture that man without alerting anyone?”

Until now, Kim Jae-ho had relied solely on brute force to resolve everything. But his former role had undoubtedly been as an assassin, infiltrating undetected from the rear blind spots.

Moreover, his talent involved manipulating shadows – concealing himself within them or utilizing them to strike opponents.

Later, he had even learned to generate his own shadows.

He could swiftly conclude any situation without drawing the slightest attention.

Seeing Kim Jae-ho nod in response to my request, I shifted my gaze towards Han Seo-hyeon.

“Seo-hyeon-ah, find us a secluded warehouse with minimal human presence.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s have a little chat with this so-called ‘Papa’ – the one who ruined Xie Haozhu.”

* * *

“So you’re saying you’ve lost track of Xiaozhu’s whereabouts?”

At his subordinate’s words, Sima Xuan clutched his throbbing head. The sudden loss of communication from those he had dispatched to eliminate that man was vexing enough. But now this additional complication had arisen.

The final report stated Xie Haozhu had seized that man’s hand and scampered off with him.

“Has she been deceiving me this entire time?”

Clenching his fists in a surge of betrayal towards Xie Haozhu, Sima Xuan seethed. How could she have been so swiftly swayed by that wretched, fox-faced cretin after everything he had done to mold her?

“Just who is that man, anyway?”

“We’re still investigating, but all our men we sent after them have gone incommunicado…”

“So even after several days, you haven’t uncovered anything about him?”

The Anti-Society relied solely on Xie Haozhu’s might. But to demonstrate such utter incompetence – failing to eliminate this man threatening Xie Haozhu, failing to even identify him?

“Just what are you useless fools even doing? If you’re accepting my money, you should be earning your keep!”

Furious, Sima Xuan hurled nearby objects across the room. But that outburst did nothing to alleviate his rage.

Nothing was proceeding according to his desires.

“This won’t do. When Xiaozhu returns, I must firmly set her straight. Warn her that following such a man will only lead to ruin. I’ve been far too indulgent in raising her.”

He had only just begun to grasp the cusp of the success he had coveted for so long.

Molding that ignorant girl into the perfectly obedient doll adhering solely to his commands had been an arduous endeavor.

Until now, Xie Haozhu had been flawlessly meeting Sima Xuan’s every expectation.

An endearing puppet moving solely for his sake, heeding only his words.

Sima Xuan yearned to possess this entire world, to place this nation of China beneath his heel.

With Xie Haozhu’s power, it had seemed attainable – subjugating everything beneath his dominion.

Yet at this crucial juncture, that very doll had committed an infraction.

“Where is Xiaozhu right now?”

“The young miss is currently…”

“Never mind, I’ll contact her directly. She’ll surely answer my calls.”

Unsettled, Sima Xuan rose from his seat, retrieving his mobile phone as he muttered a curse.

“This is why I worry about leaving her unsupervised – she might encounter some mangy stray out there.”

As he dialed Xie Haozhu’s number, an eerie chill crept up his nape. Realizing the looming shadow overhead, Sima Xuan opened his mouth:

“Wait, what is this…”

A thick hand clamped over his mouth before he could utter another word.

Wha-?! Before he could even cry out, a tremendous force struck the back of Sima Xuan’s head. And everything faded to black as he lost consciousness.

The last sight his falling eyes registered was an unnaturally dense shadow enveloping him.

* * *

Xie Haozhu rolled the baduk stone Kang Yi-sin had gifted her in her palm. Just an ordinary pebble, yet Xie Haozhu had determined to cherish it preciously.

Spending time with that man had been enjoyable.

During those moments, she hadn’t even thought about her Papa once.

She had always believed normalcy was incompatible with her existence.

Papa had said so himself.

That she was different from other children, destined to never blend into their midst.

She had never doubted those words.

From a young age, Xie Haozhu’s luminous eyes had instilled terror in everyone around her.

Demon, cursed child, monster, freak.

Such labels had always accompanied her existence.

If Papa hadn’t rescued her from the villagers assaulting her that day, she might not even be here now.

Which was why she had endured Papar’s transformations, no matter what.

Even as he lied to her, instructed her to discard her memories.

As her cherished aspects gradually vanished one by one, she could still tolerate it all.

But this lone memento, she didn’t want to lose.

Rolling the baduk stone gifted by that man in her palm, Xie Haozhu hummed a soft tune.

“We’ll have to play again tomorrow.”

Tomorrow.

Recalling that word she had forgotten for years, Xie Haozhu smiled radiantly.

However, that smile soon faded.

Would Papa permit it?

Her heart clenched at the thought.

Papa had disliked her meeting that man. He had even attempted to eliminate him. But she hoped he wouldn’t succeed in that.

Please, spare just that one man.

She could forfeit everything else, as long as he remained.

Because he was enjoyable company. So just him, only him.

Murmuring those words, Xie Haozhu began walking at a leisured pace.

It was time for her to return ‘home.’

A place she held no desire to go back to, yet Papa awaited her there regardless.

Still, Papa remained the most pivotal existence for Xie Haozhu.

The one who had saved her life, taught her, always whispering affection by her side.

All because of Papa.

While she had gravely erred this time, Papa would surely forgive her.

He had to.

Taking a deep breath, Xie Haozhu opened the door and stepped inside.

“Papa! I’m back.”

Though she called out upon entering, no response came.

“Papa?”

The usually lively manor now stood eerily silent, devoid of any human presences. Tilting her head in confusion, Xie Haozhu surveyed the interior.

What greeted her eyes was a collapsed man lying prone.

“Get up.”

Tap tap, Xie Haozhu prodded the fallen man’s back with her foot. But no response came.

Sensing an ominous pall, Xie Haozhu left the unresponsive man behind and proceeded further inwards.

All she encountered were corpses, one after another.

While the sight of corpses was hardly unfamiliar, the ones strewn across this place deeply unsettled her.

“Papa…”

Stepping over the bodies of men, Xie Haozhu swiftly dashed towards her Papa’s chamber.

Papa had to be here. He simply had to be present.

Before opening the door, Xie Haozhu exhaled a ragged breath. Please, this couldn’t be happening, please…

With trembling hands, she flung the door open.

But the room was empty.

The baduk stone slipped from Xie Haozhu’s grasp, rolling across the floor with a clatter.