Transformation or Death

Chapter 168

Wait, Villains

Han Jae-jung had to explain to Joo Ah-yoon for a long time that they were not comrades, but simply in a cooperative relationship.

“Really...?”

“I’m telling you it’s true, Ah-yoon. It’s really stressful. Ah. I mean, it’s not that you’re stressful, but that I being tied to these guys is stressful. Don’t misunderstand.”

Joo Ah-yoon nodded hesitantly. Her habit of reverting to her past timid self when her heart softened remained the same. Her eyes were filled with sadness.

Han Jae-jung felt equally wronged.

‘Just a little while ago, he said I was his only comrade....’

Even now, Joo Ah-yoon was the only one he could call a comrade.

A comrade must be more than a simple cooperative relationship. It requires a trust relationship where one is willing to face danger together, even knowing they won’t receive any reward.

One cannot call a cooperation built by contract a comrade.

‘How could I call these villain guys comrades?’

These are the kind of beings who are likely to backstab the moment the purpose of cooperation is achieved. villains who can treat human lives as carelessly as flies.

What good is communication when they’re essentially different beings?

villains were born to exploit humans for their own interests, while humans were born to survive. Their values are different, and mutual hatred is natural.

Even now, countless people lose their families and workplaces because of villains. When finding the cause of someone’s misfortune, pinpointing a villain is 90% accurate.

Han Jae-jung himself was a prime example. His suffering was caused by villains.

“Ha, damn. It’s true, but it’s still irritating. Hey, won’t you help?”

“Receiving something and not helping? Where’s the romance in that?”

“...Damn!”

The Archer kicked an innocent sofa.

“Look, Ah-yoon. How can I be on the same side as such a violent guy?”

“Seriously, stop.”

No one paid attention to the Archer’s violent behavior. Han Jae-jung casually let it slide and patted Joo Ah-yoon’s back.

“So don’t worry too much. I’ll never be a comrade with that dementia patient.”

“Who’s got dementia, you one-month-living bastard!”

“A villain who’s forgotten its own purpose is nothing compared to dementia, you punk!”

From a human perspective, it’s like forgetting how to breathe.

Joo Ah-yoon watched Han Jae-jung and the Archer’s conversation with teary eyes. Jason would occasionally chime in, shielding or mocking them.

Certainly, their relationship was inappropriate to call comrades. It seemed they could backstab each other at any moment and laugh over the other’s head. ℞ΆNȯʙÊs

But saying they had no intimacy at all would also be inappropriate.

‘Friends... No, evil companions?’

Yes, evil companions. That seemed an appropriate expression. A relationship with mutual familiarity, but one where they would never sacrifice their lives for each other – both realistic and cold.

[Is being friends okay?]

‘Well, I’m not the type of girl to be picky about my brother’s friendships.’

With a snort, Joo Ah-yoon slightly puffed out her chest as if praising her own adaptability.

[I see... The guardian’s relationships are quite complicated. Is loving a woman really this complex?]

The mascot’s voice from the belt carried a hint of laughter. Finding the response mockingly, Joo Ah-yoon frowned. Of course, the mascot, familiar with Joo Ah-yoon after years together, didn’t care at all.

Knowing this, Joo Ah-yoon had already given up on getting an apology.

‘These villains... Didn’t they say they have no dreams?’

[Yes, that’s what I heard.]

‘I see....

She felt a strange sense of empathy.

‘I also have no dreams.’

[But the guardian is different. You have a childishly grand and noble goal of protecting others’ dreams.]

‘At least call it romantic, you punk.’

Naturally, the villains likely didn’t lack dreams but had forgotten them. However, Joo Ah-yoon could somewhat understand their feelings.

‘Well, I hope we find it quickly.’

[What if they might massacre humans in the process?]

‘Then my brother and I will stop them.’

Dreams are dreams, and evil deeds are evil deeds. I cannot tolerate destroying the dreams of an unspecified number of people for one’s own dreams.

‘...But somehow, I feel it’ll be okay.’

Especially Jason, that villain. While the Archer has a lot of past incidents, this villain has always been cooperative with humans so far.

No matter how much he might have forgotten his purpose, could he possibly reform like that? It didn’t seem so. Such behavior is undoubtedly his true nature.

‘Wait. I forgot the purpose. Forgot... Forgot... Forgot...’

In the case of the Archer, I heard the explanation. This is the death of Han Jae-jung.

After repeatedly transforming, his body faced death, and using that corpse as a medium, he was reborn as a villain. As a result, he completely forgot human life and became entirely a villain.

A villain that only communicates, with different values and behaviors.

But Jason is different. Although he has a large buckled belt around his waist, that’s just a villain’s equipment. It’s not a transformation belt like the one Han Jae-jung or himself uses.

Then what is it? Why did he forget his purpose? Unless it’s an extraordinary event, a villain wouldn’t typically forget its purpose.

‘Forgetting... Forgetting... Losing... Disappeared... Huh?’

Loss?

“Hold on there, Compass villain.”

“Please call me Jason.”

“Okay, Jason. Have you ever met Scorpion before?”

The Scorpion villain. A vicious beast and a bug that carries loss. If it’s the one that took Han Jae-jung’s lifespan, it’s entirely possible.

“Wait! I’m a warrior too! I’ll definitely go to the front and fight, fuck! Who are you to give orders!”

“C-can I be of help? I’m a villain of three-star level. I probably can’t be much of a force....”

“The only thing that can save your organs is a snipe, you bastard. And Jason. You just need to make the enemy’s attacks miss. You don’t need to continue. Just a few moments, at crucial times, is enough.”

Disrupting the enemy’s attack.

That alone would be sufficient help. He doesn’t even expect an escape route. Not only is there a possibility of moving to Scorpion, but Cassiopeia’s butterfly is also here, which is a higher-level entity.

Placing a butterfly here in advance would make convenient movement possible.

Even if they need to retreat in danger, this wouldn’t be a big problem.

“Since we’ve started, let’s end this quickly.”

The Archer let out a sigh and moved to the window for concentration. Jason trembled with a clenched fist, seemingly happy about having a role.

Joo Ah-yoon kept glancing anxiously at Han Jae-jung.

From now on, they’re facing a powerful opponent on a completely different dimension. The reputation of a galaxy-level villain is not an exaggerated rumor. Even becoming a Ursa Major form wouldn’t make it an easy opponent.

Ursa Major is certainly a powerful form. But ultimately, it’s a story limited within the constellation.

However, Han Jae-jung remained calm. No tension was visible. Even though one wrong move could mean death today instead of recovering his lifespan.

‘I hope he’s not acting like this just because he once landed an effective hit on a Lion....’

It would be problematic if he were tainted by overconfidence and arrogance.

Battles have many variables. Comparing past and present enemies and being confident of victory is a dangerous thought. Even more so if those enemies are different.

Even if bound by the same beast category, a Lion and a Scorpion are different. He had heard that the Lion had even retreated first in their previous encounter.

He’s not an opponent to carelessly predict victory against.

Of course, she would listen to his words, but Joo Ah-yoon’s true feelings were the opposite. She thought it would be better to challenge after defeating several enemies and accumulating more starlight.

‘What are you thinking, brother....’

His expressionless face was inscrutable. His thoughts were impossible to read.

“Found it.”

Soon, a report came from the Archer. It was quite fast.

“Oh, already?”

“That was quick.”

Jason and Joo Ah-yoon were impressed. But Han Jae-jung wasn’t surprised. His expression was calm, as if this were entirely expected.

“But, the number is quite large.”

“...What?”

“One, two, three... Oh fuck, it’s too many.”

The Archer was flustered. The other two were the same.

“Among them, is there one with Paradox or another villain?”

Han Jae-jung asked back.

“Uh... Yes. There is. Not just Paradox... Botis is there too?”

“What?!”

Jason reacted dramatically. It wasn’t an unusual reaction, given Botis was the one who deliberately hid his wound.

“Oh fuck.”

“What now.”

“They’re saying something over there.”

“What?”

“Have some patience, you bastard. I’m watching too.”

“Why are you being so irritable, you bastard?”

The Archer felt a sense of eye contact with Paradox. Since he said he could copy abilities, was he copying his field of vision right now? Paradox stared directly at him and spoke.

“‘I will retreat for now. Instead, this person will fight for us.’ What the fuck is this?”

Paradox seemed to have seen the Archer’s words and responded.

“‘Bong and I have made a contract. In exchange for handling all of you, I’ll get my memories back.’ Ah, what’s that about?”

For the listener, it was self-dialogue, but not for the Archer. He was undoubtedly having a conversation.

The Archer suddenly took his eyes off the window and looked at his companions.

“Let’s go! Hell Nameless Comrades! Let’s cut the necks of Botis and the bug bastard, that cactus head, and reclaim our lives!!!”

He raised his fist high into the sky and shouted.

“...Is Botis also on our team?”

“Yep.”

“Shouldn’t you have reported that first? Before acting like a leader.”

“I made the name of this alliance, so I’m the leader!”

“Okay, do as you want.”

“Then I’m the leader, right? I’m the leader? Got it? Don’t say anything different later!”

Joo Ah-yoon whispered to Han Jae-jung.

“Is he always this crazy?”

“Pretty much. Give him the butterfly. Have him tie it to an arrow and shoot.”

Joo Ah-yoon handed the butterfly to the Archer as he said. He immediately created an arrow, attached the butterfly to its end, and drew it on a bow that seemed to appear from nowhere.

“Wait for us, villains! Hell Nameless Comrades is coming!”

Kwang! The arrow was shot.

Han Jae-jung’s remaining lifespan was still 30 days, but he felt like his lifespan was decreasing from stress due to how pathetic his ally was.

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