I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan - Episode 78

Episode 78

“This is your ordered room service.”

The staff said in a friendly tone as if they hadn’t hurriedly breathed in a moment ago. However, judging by the cold sweat that had formed in an instant, their condition didn’t look very good.

Why? Jae-young, who was puzzled, realized something and said.

“I guess you’re an alpha.”

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

The staff bowed their head and apologized. Although hotels mainly employ betas as staff, it wasn’t uncommon for passionate alphas or omegas to be assigned as well.

“I guess I was a bit sensitive since my rut hadn’t passed long ago. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s my fault for not being mindful.”

They seemed to have instinctively felt repulsion for a moment at the thick pheromones filling the room. Jae-young told them not to worry about it and turned around, but noticed something strange.

Until not long after they had met, Seung-hyun had definitely reacted to Jae-young’s pheromones.

But today, despite the thick pheromones filling the room, Seung-hyun showed no reaction.

He didn’t tremble slightly at the stinging sensation, nor did he not know what to do with that feeling, and the faint but definite pheromones he had felt before were also not felt.

“Seung-hyun.”

“It looks delicious. Aren’t you tired? Hurry and eat…”

“What are you really taking that medicine for?”

At Jae-young’s serious face, Seung-hyun closed his mouth, contemplating an answer. It seemed like he couldn’t dismiss it ambiguously.

But since he couldn’t tell the truth, he needed a plausible excuse. After thinking for a while, Seung-hyun said.

“…Actually, it’s true that my health isn’t very good.”

In this situation, the best choice would be to give an answer mixed with truth and lies that could buy him some time.

“The reason I can’t feel pheromones is because of the side effects of the medicine.”

“What’s wrong with you that…”

“I just didn’t want to mention it because it’s not to the extent of worrying you. They said if I get treatment for a few months while resting, I’ll be fine.”

Seung-hyun said, shrugging his shoulders. It was a blatant lie, but it would be enough to reassure him for a while.

“Actually, the reason I was reluctant to take a long flight was also… because of that.”

“Then now, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, that’s why I’m able to be like this. If it was a really serious illness, wouldn’t I have already been in big trouble after being tormented by you?”

At Seung-hyun’s words, Jae-young blinked his eyes and laughed. Hearing such a joke in this situation made him feel strangely relieved.

“It’s complicated to explain in detail, but… I’m just often tired. And until I’m completely cured, if I don’t take my medicine well, I might have a sei…zure.”

“….”

Anyway, since it seemed like he had heard something from Sun-hu, if he didn’t mention this, it would rather raise more suspicion. Seung-hyun thought so and said.

“But since I can lead a normal life as long as I take my medicine well, I thought there was no need to talk about it.”

“Still, if you had told me, I would have been more considerate.”

Jae-young sat next to Seung-hyun with a slightly relieved face. Although he wasn’t completely healthy, it was fortunate that it wasn’t a serious illness.

“Still, just in case, shouldn’t you get re-examined?”

“Don’t ignore my attending physician. I’m already getting checkups often enough to be bothersome.”

“…Are you really not hurting anywhere?”

“I’m fine as long as I take my medicine well. I just didn’t want to say it because it felt like I was making a fuss over nothing.”

“Nothing?”

Jae-young, who had become a little serious, approached Seung-hyun. Anything related to Seung-hyun, no matter how trivial, was bound to worry him.

Even if he just cut his finger while flipping paper, it would bother him all day, so how could needing periodic treatment be nothing?

“Now that I know, even if it’s late, I should be mindful. How long does it take to be completely cured?”

“That… If I receive consistent treatment for about a year.”

A year. By the time that passes, there won’t be anyone to hold him accountable for the lie anyway. Seung-hyun thought so and spoke. At those words, Jae-young slightly frowned.

“For something that’s nothing, the duration is too long, isn’t it?”

“….”

What should he make up now? Seung-hyun, who was sweating a little nervously, thought of something.

“They said I could recover faster if I have surgery, but I don’t want that.”

“Why? Isn’t it better to recover quickly without risk, even if it’s briefly difficult?”

“Then… won’t everyone find out about my health condition? I don’t like that.”

For an excuse he came up with in a hurry, it was pretty good. The original “Han Seung-hyun” was someone who never wanted to reveal his weaknesses, and the business world was wild enough that such a Seung-hyun wouldn’t be strange.

“I’m tired of being the talk of the town now.”

“Still…”

He seemed convinced, but if he kept probing here, there might be contradictions in logic. Seung-hyun cleared his throat and said.

“…Before I got sick, I was probably no different from the me in the rumors that you know.”

“….”

“When I said I would take a break from work and rested for the first time while reflecting on my life, I felt strange. I wondered what the point of everything I had done until now was.”

Jae-young nodded slightly at those words. He approached Seung-hyun a little closer and said.

“Although it’s fortunate that it became an opportunity for reflection… still, don’t get sick.”

“I’m fine as long as I take my medicine well. What’s the big deal?”

“Still, an illness that requires a year of treatment isn’t light, is it?”

Jae-young had a very worried look on his face. Was the setting a little strange? Seung-hyun hurriedly added.

“They said it’s not a difficult illness to treat. But since the treatment period is long, I didn’t mention it because everyone would misunderstand like this.”

“Then…”

“More than that, aren’t you hungry? This looks delicious.”

Seung-hyun awkwardly changed the subject. It seemed better to completely shift the topic to something else.

“Mmm, it’s tasty. You should try some too. I’m really sleepy now, so I need to eat quickly and sleep.”

Seung-hyun brought a nicely cut piece of sandwich in front of Jae-young’s mouth. It was an obvious trick to change the subject, but Jae-young silently opened his mouth.

It wasn’t easy to even get him to talk this much. Jae-young also gave up on getting more answers and chewed what was in his mouth.

“It’s delicious. Not as good as our hotel’s though.”

“They say the closer, the stingier.”

“I’ll bring some for you next time, so try it. I can confidently recommend it to anyone.”

Relieved by the changed atmosphere, Seung-hyun swallowed the sandwich that he couldn’t even taste. He was just eating it because of Professor Kim’s strong advice not to take medicine on an empty stomach.

‘I’ll be lucky if I don’t get indigestion.’

On top of that, there was Jae-young’s unexpected question. Having overcome the crisis, Seung-hyun ate one more piece of sandwich and wiped his mouth. He was so tired that he felt like he could fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

‘Take the medicine, brush my teeth…’

Seung-hyun thought so and tore open the medicine packet. Jae-young closely watched the pills that landed on his palm, but Seung-hyun didn’t notice and poured the pills into his mouth.

“I… I’ll brush my teeth and go straight to sleep. You should sleep soon too. We’ll be able to go out starting tomorrow…”

He was already tired, but perhaps because the tension had been released, a stronger drowsiness than before came over him. Seung-hyun barely walked to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and immediately collapsed onto the bed.

“You should cover yourself properly with the blanket.”

“….”

“…Seung-hyun?”

He must have been really tired, as he fell asleep without even properly covering himself with the blanket. Jae-young called Seung-hyun a few more times in a low voice, and when there was no answer, he sat at the head of his bed and looked at Seung-hyun’s sleeping face.

His eyes, which were usually slightly raised, were closed and drooping downwards. His under-eyes were slightly swollen from being tormented the whole time he was awake.

“It seems like he still hasn’t told me everything…”

Although he understood why he was trying to hide it, there were still questions that weren’t satisfactorily resolved.

He had obtained a little more information about Seung-hyun’s health condition, but he hadn’t heard exactly what was wrong with him or what he needed to be mindful of.

‘White oval pills, small yellow round pills, and blue capsules…’

Jae-young recalled the shapes of the pills that were on Seung-hyun’s hand. If he remembered this, wouldn’t he be able to find out something more?

“Someone I can ask…”

Jae-young tried to think of acquaintances working in the medical field. Who was there that he could meet as soon as he returned home?

“Mmm…”

“Oh no, was my voice too loud?”

Seung-hyun tossed a little at the mumbling sound. Jae-young gently stroked Seung-hyun’s hair and got up from his seat. It was time for him to slowly fall asleep too for tomorrow.