Villain Eaten By The Hero - Chapter 78
Belze fell asleep at 8:40, and Seo went to bed 30 minutes later.
Although he had finished work early, and he was unhappy about going to bed so early, surprisingly, he fell asleep as soon as he laid his head down. The stress of the past few days had taken a toll on his body, and he lacked sufficient sleep.
After falling into a deep sleep, forgetting about the cold, Seo was awakened by bright lights and bustling sounds overhead.
Rising slightly from his stomach, he saw Belze moving about. A quick glance at the clock showed 12:00 am. It wasn’t time to leave for work.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes and yawning, Seo saw Belze holding a pillow, crouched down next to him on the bed, and made eye contact.
“Hey?”
The person who deliberately turned on the light asked. Seo responded drowsily.
“You… woke up… It’s cold?”
“Yeah.”
Upon waking up, the surrounding air did feel chilly. The warmth that had lingered around 9 o’clock seemed to have completely dissipated.
No need for long explanations. Seo lifted the blanket to make room for Belze to come in. However, Belze slumped down and disappeared under the bed.
Seo poked his head under the bed to see what was going on, and finding Belze lying quietly on her bedding, let out a sigh mixed with disbelief.
Belze’s futon was spread out at the foot of the bed. She lay on top of it, pulling the covers up to her nose to hide her expression.
“So, you’re going to sleep here?”
Bringing the blanket and spreading it out, deliberately turning on the light to wake Seo up, admitting it’s cold, but not getting on his bed.
For all the trouble she’d caused the heroes of Meteor City, Belze really had a knack for making people in disbelief. Even in a very strange direction.
Seo tightly gripped the blanket on the bed and pressed his lips firmly together. It was risky; he felt like he might let out a moan-like sigh.
If Belze were the type to firmly uphold her pride, Seo might have found her stubborn. If she were the type to have no care about pride at all, he would have felt more comfortable. However, navigating through the delicate balance of not easily crumbling one’s pride while also exploring different paths was a tantalizing challenge.
Observing her playful antics, Seo understood the meaning behind people saying that relationships involve a delicate balance of push and pull. Skillfully pushing away with a hint of arrogance and then pulling back with an equal amount of affectionate playfulness was an art.
After contemplating for a moment, Seo went down under the bed, crawling into Belze’s bedding. It was regrettable that he couldn’t do as he pleased, but he realized the importance of pushing and pulling.
His thoughts were exactly right. She liked the way Seo would take a step back when she took a step forward. Trusting that, she silently crawled into Seo’s room.
Belze stretched her arms and pulled Seo, who had entered under the blanket, into an embrace. Soon, warmth spread, and it warmed not only the body but also the heart.
Turning the blanket around and sticking it closer than usual, Seo’s hands wandered everywhere. At first, they were gentle, resting on the small of her back, but then they roamed down her sides.
Then he wrapped his legs around her thighs and buried his lips in the nape of her neck. Not stopping there, he caressed every inch of her body—arms, wrists, belly, chest, leaving no part untouched.
As his innocent touch seemed to be infused with mischief, Belze tilted her head.
“That’s enough.”
“Why say it like you’re scolding someone else? You’re touching my thighs too.”
“How can I not touch you?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
If there was something he wanted to touch within reach, why refrain from touching it? Patience had its limits, and both of them agreed on that.
So… Seo’s hand found its way to the back of her thigh, but Belze gently pushed his chest away with her left hand. It was a very gentle push.
“But not tonight.”
“Why?”
Belze, who was contemplating for a moment, lightly bumped her forehead against Seo’s forehead.
“I’ve been pushing myself too hard at night lately, making it hard to walk during the day.”
“Then just stay in bed until I get off work. I don’t make you do chores.”
“That would be easier, but I really need to go to a job interview.”
“A job interview?”
“Yep. I need to get a job again. I’ll earn money, and this time, I’ll put it in a savings account.”
As cheerfully as she could, Belze brought up the subject of savings and her job search. Seo’s expression worsened, as she tried to delicately convey that she couldn’t stay here forever.
It would have been better if he had shown some irritation. However, his complexion darkened for a moment, and liveliness seemed to drain from his eyes.
It wasn’t because of the lack of emotions, but trying not to show them made staring at the indifferent face up close more difficult than expected. Belze quickly clung to Seo, seeking comfort in his embrace.
“What do you want? I’ll save my money and get you whatever you want.”
“…”
“To be honest, I’ve been rejected by most of the villainous organizations active in Meteor City, but… I’m still staying here, so don’t worry. I can contact large overseas organizations and establish a branch in Meteor City.”
It wasn’t the kind of thing you’d say to a hero, but Belze was using an unexpectedly gentle tone, trying to comfort Seo and alleviate his concerns.
Even though she was going for a job interview with an organization, it wasn’t because she found it dirty and dangerous to live with Seo. It was more like, “If I earn a lot of money, I’ll buy you delicious things.” That kind of thing, a little childish and a little desperate.
Belze’s intentions achieved only half success. Seo didn’t show irritation, but his expression turned gloomy.
It’s just that he wasn’t angry; he calmly lowered his voice with a sad look on his face.
“Do you really have to live like that?”
“I’m not criticizing you, but you’re being a little harsh.”
“Well, you can stop. If there’s someone you resent, I’ll take care of it for you. I’ll help you achieve what you want. You’re not as dangerous as your boss.”
She remembered hearing the same words from another Seo before. At that time, she thought it was a trap to lure her into danger, but maybe he really meant it.
Hearing it twice now, it felt heavy with sincerity. Belze’s eyes rolled away from Seo’s gaze.
“Why did you become a villain?”
“… These kinds of discussions should be held when your mind is clear, not when you’re lying down before bed.”
“Why?”
His eyes were both fierce and heavy. He wasn’t asking with the same lightheartedness as before, with the intention of passing by lightly. He was going to get an answer.
In the profiling conducted by the Hero Disaster Headquarters, they couldn’t find the story of why Belze became a villain. It was mentioned that there was a story significant enough that even the Hero Disaster Headquarters couldn’t grasp.
“You might be disappointed if you hear it. I have no choice but to be a villain.”
“Tell me.”
Even though they were facing each other, the air around them felt chilly. Belze breathed in the cold air, cleansing her lungs.