I Woke Up as the Villain

"If you want to join the guild, submit your resume and have an interview. It’s for an immediate opening, anyway," said Kim Do-Jin coldly after considering various things for a moment.

“Isn’t the ability what matters for a hunter’s resume?”

“I don’t want people who only have ability and have a bad personality," said Do-Jin.

“You’re quite different from what I saw on TV. Doesn’t that expectation apply to you too, president?”

“It means that one person with a bad personality is enough in my company.”

It was when Kim Do-Jin shook off his hand and tried to enter the president's office again that Cha Sun-Wook continued.

"There are fifteen others besides us."

For a moment, Do-Jin stopped walking.

"I assume the top ten guild are making things quite annoying for you, but wouldn't it be quite advantageous for you if nearly thirty talented hunters enter your company?”

The reason why Kim Do-Jin hesitated after hearing Cha Sun-Wook's proposal was due to the top ten guilds trying to keep him and his guild in check.

‘It's been a long time since I officially posted a job opening, but only five resumes have been received.’ 

Do-Jin also wasn’t quite satisfied with those five applicants. Nevertheless, he still had expectations, which was why he had come to interview them in person. Although there were no results yet, he might meet talented people with unexpected potential and he could raise them up himself.

‘It's a pain in the ass, but I have no choice since Baek Ah-Rin is busy right now.’

Recently, Baek Ah-Rin's main task was to deal with the constraints of various guild activities due to the top ten guilds’ accusations. Even if just a tiny problem occurred in terms of the law, the other guilds crazily disparaged them. She was extremely busy blocking their attacks one by one.

If Kim Do-Jin couldn't come to work and remained busy clearing the dungeon, it would be hard for Baek Ah-Rin to even keep her position because of the fight with the top ten guilds. Under such circumstances, Cha Sun-Wook's proposal was definitely pleasant.

"I agree that there should be a procedure since this place is also a guild, but you know, beggars can't be choosers,” said Sun-Wook.

In the end, Kim Do-Jin looked at Cha Sun-Wook again and said, "...Who the heck are you guys?"

Cha Sun-Wook was not a talented person that anyone could recognize by his name, but he was pretty useful even judging by Do-Jin’s expectations. Also, Do-Jin quite liked the guy’s cool impression.

"We’re in a similar situation. People who want to do personal activities but can't do anything because of the top ten guilds’ pressure. We’ve gathered and formed a group,” Sun-Wook said.

"Why do you want to join our guild, then…?" asked Do-Jin.

“Don’t you get it? It’s because we lack strength. But that doesn’t mean that we want to stick with the top ten guilds,” Sun-Wook replied.

There were about twenty B-rank hunters and about five to six A-rank hunters. Obviously, they were not a weak group, but their power wasn’t even half of the Gorilla Guild, which was the weakest of the top ten guilds. However, what if they joined Kim Do-Jin and Baek Ah-Rin, who would both grow above an A-rank?

'Not bad.’

In fact, if you only looked at the number of people and their ranks, their company size would grow enough to make an attack team, albeit a small one.

In the end, Kim Do-Jin nodded, and Cha Sun-Wook, who seemed somewhat nervous, also smiled peculiarly. Do-Jin then said, "All right."

"Of course, there are conditions on this side before that,” said Sun-Wook.

"Isn't it about the skills?"

"Exactly. I've heard rumors about you and have watched your video, but we're confident in our own way. If we experienced your skills in person and you didn't meet our expectations, it would be too much of a loss for us.”

"Who's the opponent?"

"You're still in the C-rank, right? We have a conscience. I'll have a man of about B-rank, level 50 ready. If you can beat him, then...." said Sun-Wook.

"I don't like it. Aren't you the captain?” said Do-Jin as he looked directly into Sun-Wook's eyes.

"What?"

“The leader should fight against another leader.”

"...Well, well." Cha Sun-Wook made a crooked smile. It was because his pride was hurt. He pointed out, "I'm an A-rank hunter and my level is over 50."

"Do you think I can't win?" asked Do-Jin.

"What a big ego," Sun-Wook sneered.

"No, I just have great ability," said Kim Do-Jin.

Their eyes met fiercely in the air.

"I’m quite offended. If you lose…"

“Me and Baek Ah-Rin, we’ll both go under you," said Do-Jin.

"What?” said Sun-Wook.

“It means that you can be our company’s president. And I'll do what you want. Will a minimum of five years be enough for the contract?"

"Are you confident that you won't regret saying that?” asked Sun-Wook as his eyes sparkled. He also had pride. No matter how much potential Do-Jin had, he was only a C-rank hunter right now after all. Also, Sun-Wook’s own decision to go under Kim Do-Jin was not easy.

"Rather, I hope you understand that if you lose, you won’t be treated as well as your current status,” said Do-Jin.

“Well, that wouldn’t be a problem. In the first place, I didn’t have any expectations in the company that doesn’t even have an attack team yet,” said Sun-Wook.

"Then do you accept the bet?" asked Do-Jin.

"Don't regret it."

“You too.”

“So, what’s the date?”

"Is there a reason to drag it out? Let’s do it right now. Follow me," said Do-Jin as he took the lead, heading toward the hunter-only gym.

In the distant future, when Sun-Wook recalled this day again, he had to explain with an absurd-looking smile.

- Our boss is an absolutely insidious person, contrary to his appearance. Did anyone know he could use magic until then? Damn it, I was totally swindled back then. I wouldn't have lost if I had known that magic would be used. You don't believe me? Hey, or how could an A-rank hunter lose to C-rank? Oh~ You have to believe me, it's a true story. If I knew, I would have won!

Of course, it was already spilled milk.

***

After Choi Byung-Chan's death, Choi Min-Seok's life began going downhill. He struggled with panic disorder, social phobia, and alcoholism. He was wary of all who approached him, and he could not sleep without being drunk… It all started out from a place of fear.

‘Choi Yu-Seong, he's the one who killed him.’ 

Choi Min-Seok remembered the last time he had seen Choi Byung-Chan. As always, Byung-Chan had been strong and scary right until the moment…he died.

The criminal was said to be the Slaughter Queen, but mysteriously, Choi Yu-Seong had survived that entire incident.

Theft is never good, try looking at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

‘This is not the first time Choi Yu-Seong has survived after meeting the Slaughter Queen.’ 

Would this just be a coincidence? Choi Min-Seok could not think so.

‘There must be something between the two…’

And sooner or later, the Slaughter Queen would come to visit him. Why? It was because Choi Min-Seok had been the one who bothered Choi Yu-Seong the most when he had been wandering.

Not long after Yu-Seong was Awakened, Min-Seok had been the one who hired Lee Jin-Wook as a killer and had tried to kill Yu-Seong. If he put himself in Yu-Seong’s shoes, there was no reason not to kill him.

Even if Choi Byung-Chan had been scary and violent, if he was still alive, Min-Seok wouldn’t be this scared. It was because Byung-Chan had been his strong supporter. However, now he was completely alone.

Feeling scared, Min-Seok had called Choi Woo-Jae, crying and praying for his life, but he had heard absolutely nothing except the sound of a slight click of a tongue. The call had cut off, and Choi Min-Seok then repeated his days of falling into a deep sleep, struggling in hellish fear, recalling numerous deaths.

Swoosh-!

The thick blackout curtains that were set swept aside and sunlight suddenly jabbed the sleeping Min-Seok’s eyes. Normally, he would have raised his voice in irritation, but for some reason, he opened his eyes quite calmly. He soon stiffened when he saw the long brown wavy hair of the woman in a tight dress in front of him.

"Are you awake? Oh, my. Look at you, what happened?" the woman, Choi In-Young, said in a soft voice. She saw a messy-looking Min-Seok sitting around with a strong alcoholic odor. She dragged a chair that was randomly thrown in the room, sat down, and asked, "Can you hear me?"

"In-... In-Young noo-nim," Min-Seok replied.

Choi In-Young smiled with her big, thin eyes.

Min-Seok didn’t speak irritatedly regarding the sudden sunshine, not because he had changed his mind or had been surprised. It was somewhat more of a survival instinct. He had a feeling that if he had shouted, he would have lost everything even if he was not completely Awakened.

‘In-Young noo-nim came to me.’ 

When In-Young asked if he had woken up, Choi Min-Seok was even touched by her words. He was relieved, thinking that he was not completely abandoned. He thought that, if Choi In-Young visited him now, he still might have a chance.

The power structure within the Comet Group, especially the Choi family, clearly existed. As of now, the person at the peak was definitely Chairman Choi Woo-Jae. The second person in power was Choi Jin-Woo, the third son. Then, the next person was Choi Seok-Young, the fourth son.

Choi In-Young was the fifth child who had the same mother as Choi Seok-Young. Therefore, there was no person who could ignore Choi In-Young in the family, even though she did not have a direct relationship with any executives or figures with power.

The reason why Choi Mi-Na's name was not included in Choi Min-Seok's mind was simple. She was clearly the most overwhelming individual among the current siblings, but she didn't have decent supporters to support and share the power with. Unlike other siblings who subtly competed and secretly fought to occupy wealth in the family, she was completely alone. Therefore, in Choi Min-Seok's mind, Choi Mi-Na was simply a scary and powerful sister rather than a person with authority.

Of course, there were signs of change in terms of the power flow after Choi Mi-Na's participation in the Comet Group’s guild project. However, by Choi Min-Seok's standards, the situation seemed close to a somewhat volatile variable.

It was wishful thinking that Min-Seok wouldn’t face problems since he had been alone all this time. He was foolish, ignorant to the reason why the other siblings with high authority were trying to keep Choi Mi-Na's guild business in check. Although, in this situation, that fact was not important to both Choi Min-Seok and Choi In-Young.

Choi Min-Seok was delighted to find a stronger-than-expected lifeline, and Choi In-Young was satisfied that he was not completely ruined yet when she saw light returning to his eyes. She called out, "Choi Min-Seok."

"Yes!" answered Min-Seok in a strong and energetic voice.

"Do you want to live?" Choi In-Young asked and twisted her lips.

Although it was close to a sneer rather than a smile, and there was a sense of death in her voice, as it was mentioned before, these details were not important to Choi Min-Seok. He just nodded crazily at Choi In-Young's question. Of course, he wanted to live. He was too scared to die.

"I don't want you to die, either. Nevertheless, you're my younger brother, right?”

"That means..."

"But helping you for free is not our family’s style, is it?”

"I'll do anything. I'll do exactly what you tell me to do."