HRDH 03

Chapter 03

“This is the living room, and the kitchen is inside. Usually the housekeeper cooks, so if you’re hungry, you can just heat something up. And before 7 p.m., you can ask her to make whatever you want for dinner.”

“So when exactly does that housekeeper come?”

“She was supposed to come in the afternoon. She should be here soon.”

That was good news. I didn’t care who it was—just someone, please come quickly.

“This side is the guest bathroom and the drawing room. That over there is the master bedroom. Father and Madam will use it.”

As expected from a rich family’s mansion, there were all kinds of rooms.

A study, a storage room, a dressing room, and even something called a pantry.

There was even another dressing room on the second floor.

“They really have everything…”

“I used to use the second-floor dressing room alone, but now you can share it with me, Seyoon.”

“I’m fine with just having a closet in my room.”

“Why? Are you uncomfortable again?”

“…!”

My breath caught in my throat.

“No… it’s just… I don’t even have that many clothes. Why would I need a dressing room…”

Maybe it was because of yesterday’s PTSD. I couldn’t bring myself to speak harshly.

Was I always this much of a coward…?

My own gentle voice felt unfamiliar. Wasn’t I the same person who used to shout back fiercely even when Mom beat me in the name of “love”?

“Ah, is that all? I thought it was something serious. You can just buy more clothes.”

The sweet smile on his face made the back of my head feel cold.

That bastard knows exactly what he’s doing.

Seriously, what a psychopath.

I suddenly became curious. If someone lacks empathy, do they actually feel happy about other people’s misfortune? Does killing bring meaning back into their life?

If that were true, it would be ridiculously funny. Like some elementary school kid trying to act edgy.

But in the original story, when Seo Jinhyung killed the White Killer, it wasn’t because it was ‘fun.’ It was because he wanted to destroy the Association.

In other words, his goal had come from simple curiosity—What would the world look like if the White Killer Association disappeared and monsters filled the world? Murder was just the means.

Ugh, damn it. I tried to mock him, but now I’m more creeped out. Forget it.

I forced a kind smile and cleared my mind. I really wanted to stop thinking about Seo Jinhyung.

“Shall we have breakfast now?”

“Yes, Oppa.”

“…What?”

I had only meant to tease him without thinking, but his reaction wasn’t normal.

Flustered, I hurried to make an excuse.

“I mean… you said you wanted to get closer. So…”

Seo Jinhyung stared at me silently for a moment, then turned his back.

“Fine. Sit down. I’ll prepare it.”

His voice was gentle, but his back felt cold. Maybe that was just my imagination.

I stiffened like overcooked noodles and sat at the table.

I’m going to get indigestion, I thought to myself.

Five days had already passed since I started living with Seo Jinhyung.

Life in a rich house with a psychopath… was more peaceful than I expected. Someone else handled the cooking, cleaning, and laundry, so it was incredibly comfortable.

Since I deliberately stayed in my room to avoid him, we rarely ran into each other.

There was even a bathroom attached to my room, which made hiding inside very easy.

Before I knew it, I was completely satisfied with my current life.

“No school, sleeping in late, using my phone all day…”

This was heaven.

I didn’t even mind if Mom and Uncle came back later.

Buzz.

[Mom: Grandma’s condition isn’t good… I think I need to stay a bit longerㅠ Uncle’s schedule got pushed back too, so we’ll come together next Tuesday~]

That didn’t mean I wanted them to really be late.

“Damn it…”

I sighed and got out of bed. My chest felt tight, so I thought I should at least get some fresh air.

Click.

I went out to the yard and sat on a bench. White breath puffed out in the cold air.

“How long has it been since I came outside…?”

It had been so long that even the dusty air felt refreshing.

I’ll go back in after five minutes.

I didn’t want to run into Seo Jinhyung.

But then—

Creak—

The front gate opened.

Ah, no way.

My heart dropped at the terrible timing.

Shit.

Our eyes met as Seo Jinhyung walked in.

“It’s Seyoon. Hi.”

“…Yeah.”

“Why are you outside? Aren’t you cold?”

“Why do you care…”

I muttered, but he walked over and sat beside me. Worst-case scenario.

Why did Kim Seyoon even come out here?

I wanted to get up and run back to my room, but I held it in. I didn’t want to provoke him and see that chilling side of him again.

“Why are you sitting here? Bored?”

“Maybe.”

“Where did you go?”

“Just out. For a bit.”

He wasn’t being cooperative.

Something’s weird.

Except for when he acted like a psychopath, Seo Jinhyung wasn’t difficult to talk to. He was naturally good with words and knew how to deal with people.

But right now, it felt like he was deliberately cutting off the conversation.

“Did something happen?”

I decided to ask directly.

He smiled with narrowed eyes.

“Do I look like something happened?”

“Let’s fight.”

I snapped, and he let out a small laugh.

“Haha, just kidding. Actually… today is my father’s death anniversary. I went to visit his grave. I guess I didn’t want to be alone afterward. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“Are you crazy…?”

I stared at him like he was insane. Uncle was perfectly alive.

Wait… was that ‘America’ not the America I know?

Seeing my increasingly confused expression, he spoke calmly.

“I meant my biological father. My current father is my adoptive father.”

“…What?”

That was strange.

There was no mention of that in Not a Killer. Actually, there was barely any backstory about Seo Jinhyung at all.

He pretended to be kind in front of people and killed behind their backs. That was it.

I had thought he was just pure evil—a sociopathic, crazy murderer. But he had such a cliché, complicated background?

“You didn’t know? I thought Aunt would’ve told you.”

I couldn’t answer.

Right. Why didn’t Mom—or the original story—tell me something like this?

I felt dazed.

I thought he was Uncle’s child from a previous marriage.

Now that I thought about it, Seo Jinhyung didn’t resemble Uncle at all.

“Th-then what about your biological mother…?”

I asked carefully.

“I don’t know. My biological father raised me alone until I was five.”

Wow. What a mess.

I was extremely curious how he ended up being adopted into such a wealthy family, but I didn’t have the courage to ask further.

“Curious how I got adopted?”

“…A little.”

He laughed openly, mocking me. My neck burned with embarrassment.

Of course I’m curious.

But it didn’t seem like a sensitive topic, because he answered soon enough.

“My late father and he were best friends. And I guess they wanted a child.”

“Oh…”

It was a simpler reason than I expected. Still, I couldn’t shake the quiet shock.

I had first met Seo Jinhyung through a novel.

So I thought I knew everything about his hidden sides.

But I had been caught off guard.

Right… this is reality now. It’s ridiculous to think I know everything just because I read a few lines in a novel.

It felt strange.

Seo Jinhyung was supposed to be a flat villain to me—a complete bastard without exception. But he acted like someone who had lived a real life, just like everyone else.

“Were you close with your real dad?”

“I don’t remember well.”

Liar. With that memory of yours?

…He said he didn’t want to be alone.

I had felt something similar after visiting my dad’s columbarium.

It was hard to imagine that psychopath feeling that way, but I couldn’t help sensing a strange sense of connection.

After a moment of thought, I leaned back on the bench.

“Ten more minutes, then I’m going inside. It’s cold.”

He smiled again.

“Okay. Thanks.”

And so we sat quietly in the garden without much conversation.

I was too soft-hearted for my own good.

Finally over!!!

I stretched my arms inside the blanket, celebrating.

In about ten hours, Mom and Uncle would finally return.

I should celebrate with some late-night snacks.

It was 2 a.m., the hungriest hour.

I quietly left my room.

I glanced at Seo Jinhyung’s door—it was firmly shut.

He must be asleep, right?

It had been so long since I’d had a midnight snack. I couldn’t help smiling.

“…!”

As I lightly walked down the stairs, I barely managed to swallow a scream.

“What are you doing up at this hour?”

There was a ghost sitting in the living room.

Why the hell is he awake?

My heart pounded wildly, but I pretended to stay calm.

“…I’m hungry. I’m going to make ramen.”

“It’s not good for you to eat at night.”

“Sure. You keep maintaining your nice body.”

I mocked him cheerfully and headed to the kitchen. I heard a small laugh behind me.

“Can Oppa eat with you too?”

“Why do you keep calling yourself Oppa? We’re not even family.”

I muttered, but he heard me perfectly.

“Then what should I be? Senior?”

“…That’s also weird.”

After easily winning the argument, he got up from the sofa and sat at the table.

“Make two.”

“What nonsense? If there are two of us, it’s three. And look at your size if you have any conscience.”

Sharing two packs of ramen with a tall high school boy was practically a hunger strike.

“I won’t eat much.”

“Ugh.”

Hearing someone like Seo Jinhyung say something straight out of a typical sibling meme felt disgusting.

Like watching a robot imitate human emotions.

What was that term again? Ah, right. The uncanny valley.

Ignoring him completely, I cooked three packs of ramen.

“Looks good. Thanks for the meal.”

“Whatever.”

At first, eating face-to-face with him made me feel like I’d get indigestion. But after doing it a few times, it wasn’t so hard.

“Wow. This is so good. Seriously insane.”

“It is.”

I slurped the ramen enthusiastically. Seo Jinhyung, sitting across from me, was quiet.

He eats well, but…

Suddenly, the words slipped out.