Villain Eaten By The Hero - Chapter 49
CHAPTER 49
Seeing Belze hiding behind him was irritating. She peeked her face out from behind his back and observed his expression, making him even more irritated.
Where was she getting the audacity to hide behind him and act so frantic? She should have acted like usual…!
“I’m the one who suffered here, and I’m the one who should be angry, right?”
“With a personality as dirty as yours, anyone would want to change it. I didn’t realize it when I was in you, but looking at it this objectively, I can understand Belze’s feelings.”
“What?”
“You raise your voice at the slightest provocation. You’re so aggressive that it makes you wonder if we’re really living in the same society.”
“Why should I be polite to villains? Are you out of your mind?”
Seo clenched his fist, instinctively attempting to grab the other version of himself by the collar. It was a habit he had developed when dealing with villains and criminals.
However, just like ‘original’ Seo, this version of himself also had good reflexes as he did. He brushed off Seo’s attempt to grab him as if he were dusting off dirt.
This other version of Seo sneered, mocking him as if to say he was pitiful.
“When you say that villains have no human rights, I suppose that makes private sanctions a little more acceptable, but do you apply that to every case?”
“That’s right. Isn’t it too much, even for your standards?”
“I mean, even you think you’re too much, don’t you?”
Belze, who was sticking her head out, interjected to the other Seo’s voice.
She even pointed a finger at the ‘original’ Seo, as if to show her support for the other Seo’s words. However, under ‘original’ Seo’s fierce gaze, she folded the tip of her index finger slightly.
Meanwhile, the other Seo, the one who had Belze’s support, looked down on the ‘original’ Seo in a way that completely belittled him.
“That’s why Belze dislikes you. If I were you, I’d want to change my personality too.”
Belze involuntarily flinched at the unexpected statement.
As much as she dislike ‘original’ Seo, the other version of him was definitely a bully. Without Seo, things would be much easier, and she always wanted to win, feeling irritated by others messing up her work.
As for his personality being too much to handle, that’s also true, which is why Belze used the personality changing device to soften him up.
To summarize, Seo still fell into the category of being ‘disliked’. She would say it in front of other coworkers and subordinates.
However, it felt awkward to say such things when looking at Seo, who was quietly brooding with an angry expression. Putting oneself in his shoes, it honestly didn’t feel good.
“Who… who cares if she doesn’t like me, anyway?”
Despite his words, it was clear that he was agitated. Whether it was anger or something else, his body trembled slightly.
Seeing Seo like that, Belze’s heart squeezed in a way that was hard to describe express. Seo couldn’t possibly like her, but seeing such a reaction kept sparking strange suspicions in Belze’s mind.
No, it couldn’t be that. It was probably just a matter of his pride being hurt, thinking that someone he disliked didn’t like him back.
Moreover, after being through a lot in the past few months, they had come to realize that they didn’t dislike each other that much anymore, which made outright saying ‘dislike’ a bit awkward. Seo was that kind of person.
“What do I care? Did I become attractive by catering to you like that?”
Look at that. That’s how Seo talks.
Having the same face but having someone align with him differently was unsettling. Even she would feel uncomfortable. Hearing the word ‘dislike’ from someone he had slept with was a bit much…
Belze leaned in a little further, trying to understand Seo’s actions within the framework of her logic. Their eyes met, and Seo raised his head abruptly.
“Anyway, changing someone’s personality is a serious offense. It’s disregarding my identity and sovereignty. Just because you don’t like my real personality, you can’t change it….”
In this passage, Seo grimaced uncomfortably, but he quickly swallowed the pain with his saliva.
“…doesn’t mean you can change it! I’m offended by the very fact that my body has been taken over by a sneaky human like you. Where did you get the nerve to play me into your hands….”
“No, I didn’t aim for the body!”
Seo and his duplicate ignored Belze’s protest.
“Still, she admitted her mistake and try to return things to normal. Belze is surprisingly decent. If Belze was in a worst situation, you probably wouldn’t have thought of restoring things back to normal.”
“…”
Seo’s jaw clenched at the justification. Even though all of this was her fault, she chose to revert Seo back to his original state.
On the contrary, the other version of himself in front of his eyes hadn’t been given a choice. It felt a bit uncomfortable to see the same face in such a situation.
“If it were me, I would’ve chosen you.”
“…”
Seo still kept his mouth shut. But this time, Belze couldn’t bear it anymore. She was the one who had created this version of Seo.
She tightly gripped the fabric of Seo’s clothes in front of her, her fingers curling around it.
“You know, I don’t dislike you.”
Upon hearing this, the other Seo casually turned around, smiling brightly held Belze’s hand.
“I know. It’s not about blaming anyone. Since it’s already like this, let’s go fill our stomachs. Are you hungry too?”
“I am.”
“Then let’s go eat. I know a good restaurant.”
He then wrapped his arm around Belze’s waist like a lover and led her outside the old laboratory.
When ‘original’ Seo protested, questioning if this was the right time to leisurely have a meal, he waved it off nonchalantly.
“Aren’t you coming to eat? Don’t you want to go back to how things were before?”
To get back to normal, he had to unite his mind and body, whether he like it or not, to the other version of him. Only by acting as one and doing the same thing will he be able to return to his old body.
If he was hungry and needed to eat, ‘original’ Seo had no choice but to eat as well.
Reluctantly, Seo followed behind them like an intruder in their lovers’ outing.
***
The fleeting atmosphere lingered for a moment. Seo leaned his weight on his arm on the table at the pasta place and glared at the other two. He looked like he’d just met a lifelong enemy.
“Can you guys tone it down a bit?”
The three of them, disguised to some extent, were dining in a quiet pasta restaurant that was about a third full. To be more specific, Seo was eating risotto, while Belze and the other Seo were happily sharing cream pasta and penne arrabbiata.
They were using their forks to dip the penne into their mouths and roll the pasta around their forks, feeding each other, and it was horrible. Seo, unable to bear the sight, gulped down several glasses of water.
The fleeting emotion towards the other Seo, who seemed like he would disappear soon, was truly momentary. It wasn’t just for Seo; it was fleeting for Belze and the other Seo too.
If one were to speak from Belze’s perspective, she was adoring the other Seo as if she were sending him abroad for studies tonight, and the other Seo was earnestly acting cute towards her, trying hard to please her.
They both narrowed their eyes at ‘original’ Seo’s criticism.
“Don’t you find him pitiful? He’s still you, after all.”
“It’s okay. My original self had many selfish traits.”
Their expressions were more like older siblings scolding a naive youngest sibling than those of people facing a bittersweet farewell.
Watching this, Seo couldn’t help but feel like a wretched human being, even entertaining the misconception that he was so despicable
How could humans live like this?
Seo bit down on his straw.
Me, pitiful? Huh.
“Like hell I would…”
But the most pitiful one right now was himself.
He, the one wearing his own skin, has to witness Belze’s affectionate gestures and the other Seo’s whining!
Seo gulped down another glass of water, wondering if he could call this feeling self-loathing.
Seo didn’t know Belze would willingly display affection for someone like that. They weren’t even dating, and considering he’d always been a prideful, assertive, Seo expected her to be even more bitter.
Sure, he occasionally threw tantrums, but when you looked at it closely, Belze was always the one receiving care.
Whether it was covering her with a blanket so she wouldn’t get cold during her nap, giving her water when she was thirsty, peeling candies for her just because she wanted something sweet – it was all Seo.
Even tidying up the bed, taking her to the bathroom for post-activity, wiping her with towels, carefully drying her long hair, putting on her gown and outerwear – all of it was his responsibility. There were even times when he took care of her in his dreams.
He didn’t feel unjust about pampering her like a princess now. It wasn’t something he disliked.
However, he couldn’t help feeling dismay and betrayal at Belze’s attitude.
Belze had always wanted to be the center of attention, receiving all the affection, and while there was a bittersweet aspect of wanting to be loved, her primary goal was to feel superior.
In this relationship, the sense of superiority came from being the one who wanted less affection and was generous.
The reason she didn’t move a muscle in bed wasn’t merely because she lacked stamina. It was because she enjoyed the princess treatment by Seo, who relentlessly sabotages her plans during the day.
But now, Belze was offering food without asking for anything in return. And not to him, but to another version of himself.
He, on the other hand, had received nothing. Belze di nothing for ‘ original’ Seo.
Seo couldn’t tell if his risotto was going into his mouth or his nose anymore. He had ordered creamy seafood risotto, but he couldn’t taste the cream at all.
“Ah, feed me.”
“Don’t make d*sgusting sounds with my face.”
“It’s my face too.”
He said it in a tone that went beyond repulsiveness, but neither the other Seo nor Belze flinched. They treated ‘original’ Seo’s words as if they were coming from a broken radio. This kind of disaster hadn’t happened in a long time, so it felt like the food was about to land on the table.
But what Seo truly couldn’t stand was Belze’s attitude.
“Ah…”
Belze was obediently fulfilling yet another request of this version of Seo.
His insides boiled. Belze playfully said, “Ah-” and extended the fork, and the familiar face he had seen in mirrors and photographs was accepting it. It felt like his skin was being turned inside out.
The other Seo, who had scooped up another mouthful and brought the fork to Belze’s lips, nudged her.
“If you’re jealous, why don’t you do it too?”
“How can I…?”
Seo’s attempt to argue how he couldn’t possibly do that stopped. He managed to think of a response that didn’t require him to keep silent.