I Woke Up as the Villain

Indeed, a picture was worth a thousand words. Yu-Seong thought that showing once would be better than explaining a hundred times. Thus, he led the four to a nearby training ground and proposed a four-on-one sparring session.

"You're really going to take us all on by yourself?" Jin-Hyuk asked in surprise.

Yu-Seong nodded. "Yeah. But, since the training ground might not withstand our full power, we should spar at a level that allows us to gauge our skills appropriately, right?"

The four of them nodded at the sight of Yu-Seong's relaxed smile. In fact, Yu-Seong had never made a meaningless suggestion so far. They believed that this time, too, there had to be a reason.

"Understood."

Along with Yu-Ri's reply, the four began to gather their energy in front of Yu-Seong.

Yu-Seong casually nodded and transformed his Pharaoh’s Caprice into a spear. He said, "Come at me.”

"I’ll go."

The first to act was Do-Yoon. His movement was as swift as a flickering light, befitting a Physical player of the SS rank.

'But he’s still underestimating me.' 

Yu-Seong felt it was time to give them a taste of his true power. With that thought, as Do-Yoon lunged at him, he swung his leg like a whip and hit Do-Yoon's arm.

BANG!

Do-Yoon slammed into the training ground wall with a loud explosion. He trembled for a moment as blood trickled down from his mouth. He looked at Yu-Seong in surprise and said, "Sure enough... young master."

That was all he managed to say before he fell unconscious.

Seeing the one who had led the charge collapse, the remaining three's eyes widened in shock.

‘Even though he hadn’t transformed into a beast…’

A Physical-type player had been knocked out with just a single blow. It meant that if Yu-Seong hit the other three, who were all Psychic-type players, they would go down instantly.

'Hmm... I did hit him a little too hard.' 

Yu-Seong’s determination to demonstrate his strength had indeed been quite intense. As a result, one person had been knocked out more swiftly than he had expected, but he didn't particularly mind. After all, it put the remaining three on high alert.

"So, shall we see how much each of you has improved?"

With a smile, Yu-Seong charged toward the three.

***

The sparring session took less than thirty minutes to wrap up. Unlike with Do-Yoon, Yu-Seong had been more controlled when facing the rest, but the fundamental skill gap was simply too wide.

Yu-Seong gazed at the four individuals—including Do-Yoon, who had regained consciousness and joined the spar once again—who were sprawled out in exhaustion.

Standing tall with pride, Yu-Seong let out a brief sigh. "Still, I must admit I was surprised. You all did better than I expected.”

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

"...There's no credibility in your words when you say that with such an expression, boss,” Ye-Ryeong muttered.

Yu-Seong scratched his cheek with an awkward smile. "No, it's not a joke... I should be considered an exception to the standard."

In the first place, Yu-Seong had been trained by three transcendent beings, who were among the strongest beings in the world, for the whole 250 years. No matter how talented the four were compared to Yu-Seong, it would not be easy to leap over 250 years in just three years. That was a given.

"So what exactly happened?"

The question from the always curious and truth-seeking Yu-Ri continued. The other three also naturally showed curiosity in their eyes.

Yu-Seong, smiling and sitting down in front of them, began his story. "It's going to be a fairly long story. The thing is, while you guys spent three years training, I spent a total of 250 years.”

His subsequent explanation was the same as what he had told Woo-Jae and Helen. He told the truth, excluding the part about the transcendent beings. He also didn't hide the existence of his master.

"I knew from the start that you would become an amazing person, hyung!"

At Jin-Hyuk's excited words, Yu-Seong made an awkward expression and shook his head. He said, "I was just lucky. The truly amazing ones are the four of you. Thanks to you, I feel really relieved.”

“You seem to have a plan, right?”

At Yu-Ri's inquiry, Yu-Seong nodded without hesitation and declared, "Yes. I plan to eliminate the Demon King Worshipers from this world."

Hearing Yu-Seong’s declaration, the four looked shocked. Despite his casual manner of speaking, it was a task no one had accomplished until now.

What kind of organization were the Demon King Worshipers? Indeed, they were infamous as the world's worst and largest criminal group. They were an immense organization with so much power that the whole world would have to unite against it as a single force. Could eradicating such a group be an easy task?

Strangely enough, the thought that emerged in the minds of the four at that moment was that it might indeed be possible. Above all, even if it seemed impossible, they did not feel like backing down. This was because it was Yu-Seong who had brought up the topic.

"Since you made up your mind to do it, hyung, we'll definitely make it happen," Jin-Hyuk said.

"I owe a lot to you, boss. Even if it's difficult, we have to do it," Ye-Ryeong said with a radiant and encouraging smile.

In fact, these two were essentially the greatest force immediately available to Yu-Seong.

'It may be too early to judge based solely on a spar, but...' 

According to Yu-Seong’s guess, the two were nearly on par with a Hexagram Master. It meant they hadn't just mindlessly raised their ranks over the past three years.

'They are pretty reliable.' 

Although they weren't particularly tall, and their faces still showed signs of youth, they could no longer be seen as mere children.

A pleased smile lingered on Yu-Seong's face when Do-Yoon and Yu-Ri echoed their companions’ sentiments.

"We will devote ourselves to being more helpful to you, young master," Do-Yoon said.

"What can I do when both of the oppas say they will? I'll follow your lead," Yu-Ri said.

The siblings' abilities were, to speak objectively, a step behind Ye-Ryeong and Jin-Hyuk.

'But they've certainly surpassed the limitations from the original novel.' 

Alone, they would struggle, but if they joined forces, they could, like Ye-Ryeong and Jin-Hyuk, topple a Hexagram Master. More than anything, the trust Yu-Seong had in these two was incomparable to any other individual.

'It's not that I don't trust others...but these two are definitely special.' 

The siblings even sacrificed their own lives in the original novel for the rascal known as Choi Yu-Seong. Remembering that, how could he not trust them?

Seeing the four who affirmed his difficult decision, Yu-Seong said with a smile, "I appreciate your support, but... It feels awkward to say this... I suppose I need to explain the reason. It's not that I want to be a hero."

"You don't really have to say it; we will follow your lead anyway..." Jin-Hyuk said.

An unintentional smile slipped on Yu-Seong’s face, and he nodded in response. He said, "Thank you. In truth, there isn't much reason. I just thought that the Demon King Worshipers need to disappear for my own happiness."

"That's a very reasonable reason," said Yu-Ri.

Then, everyone burst into laughter. To eliminate a criminal organization obstructing Yu-Seong’s own happiness—there couldn't be a more valid reason than this.

'In my personal opinion, my abilities are probably on par with Eveheim’s. I may even have a slight advantage.' 

Yu-Seong’s masters, the transcendent beings, had told him so. Thus, it was unlikely to be far off the mark. However, Eveheim surely would have a trick up his sleeve.

'And there are Hexagram Masters to assist with that trick.' 

There were also the Twelve Dark Kings and everyone else within the gigantic organization. The fortunate thing was that Yu-Seong had managed to take the life of Noah, one of the Hexagram Masters, faster and easier than expected.

'And then, there's the people I have with me now...' 

Rachel, Helen, Bernard, Baek Cheol, Mi-Na, the four in front of him, and Do-Jin; adding them all up, Yu-Seong could reasonably believe that the power balance was tilting slightly in his favor right now.

'The problem is that those Demon King Worshipers can now summon the Demon King quite easily.' 

Furthermore, they were even harnessing the power of the Demon King through summoning. If Yu-Seong had to consider the possibility of facing that as well, he felt somewhat lacking in power.

'As for a solution to this...'

In fact, it wasn’t like there was no solution. If Helen managed to create the training room she had mentioned before, and if they could utilize that space where mana was amplified and time could be extended, he should be able to further enhance everyone's power.

'Helen said she would contact me as soon as it was complete, so I guess I'll have to wait a bit for this.' 

It might take a little time, but as long as the situation wasn't too dire, they should eventually find a solution.

'In the meantime, my job will be to throw some obstacles in the way of the Demon King Worshipers to prevent Eveheim's side from doing anything unnecessary.' 

Just as Yu-Seong was reaching a conclusion, a call came in on the cell phone in his pocket.

'Father?' 

It was a summons from Woo-Jae.

***

When Yu-Seong visited his family home, he found three quite unfamiliar faces sitting in Woo-Jae's office. There was a balding middle-aged man with a strong physique, as well as another middle-aged man and a young man, both with striking features and an aura that seemed capable of cutting through anything.

'Who are they? They don't seem to be Korean.' 

As if to answer Yu-Seong's thought, the robust elderly man seated there began to speak. He said, "Oh, you must be Choi Yu-Seong? I've heard a lot about you."

His Japanese was easy to understand and casual. Understanding the language, but not feeling any need to respond in kind, Yu-Seong walked toward Woo-Jae. Seeing this, the robust man’s eyes narrowed. He asked Woo-Jae, "Does your son not speak Japanese?"

"Well... I've never heard him speak it before."

Shrugging his shoulders, Woo-Jae looked at Yu-Seong.

"I do speak it, but I didn't feel like responding to a stranger who greets me in Japanese in Korea."

Hearing Yu-Seong's words, which were delivered in Korean, a broad smile stretched across Woo-Jae's face as he said, "That’s what he says, Chairman Takaku."

The Japanese middle-aged man, Takaku, frowned deeply and said, "You’re rumored to be a rather polite young man, but it seems I was mistaken."

"Me? I'm better known by the name 'rascal,' actually."

The conversation kept switching back and forth between Japanese and Korean, but it nevertheless continued without a hitch.

"Hmm... Very unpleasant. Is it your first time hearing my name?" asked Takaku.

"I'm well aware. Takaku Ryuu. Aren't you the Chairman of Issai, the biggest corporation in Japan?" Yu-Seong answered.

"You know that, and you still talk to me in Korean? That’s..." Takaku mumbled.

"You're also speaking Japanese even though you know Korean, aren't you?"

At Yu-Seong's firm retort, Takaku's face turned bright red, and he turned to Woo-Jae. He yelled, "Your son is completely insane!"

It was certainly not the kind of thing to say to a father with his son present. Angry, Yu-Seong was about to step in again when…

"What can I do when a son known for being a rascal is acting like one?"

"...Huh?"

"Have you ever seen a rascal son listen to his father?" Woo-Jae asked.

Of course not. If he had been obedient enough to listen to his father, Yu-Seong wouldn't have been known as a rascal in the first place. In other words, what Woo-Jae was saying was that he could do nothing to stop Yu-Seong.

Thus, there was no response.

"Actually, I quite enjoy being a rascal; this is kinda fun," Yu-Seong remarked with a casual shrug of his shoulders.