Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples

At that firm voice, Eunwoo blinked. He had just said he was going to be discharged because he didn’t have money—so why was this man stopping him?

“I don’t have any money.”

“That doesn’t matter, because I do.”

What kind of response was that?

As Eunwoo tilted his head, the man shoved his hand into his pants pocket, bent down, and met Eunwoo’s gaze.

“I’m the one who hit you. So why are you the one worrying about the hospital bill?”

When Eunwoo looked straight at him without avoiding his gaze, those dark eyes seemed to gleam. Reflexively, Eunwoo flinched and leaned back slightly. He wondered if this man’s interest in him was the same kind of twisted fascination the twins had when they used to torment him.

As Eunwoo suddenly tensed in fear, the man leaned back a bit and spoke.

“Don’t be so wary.”

“……”

“I’m just trying to take responsibility.”

At the same time, a large hand reached toward Eunwoo’s head. Startled, Eunwoo trembled and tightly shut his eyes. The man abruptly froze and stared at him, startled.

“You…”

He had been about to say something, but instead slowly withdrew his hand.

Feeling oddly guilty, Eunwoo glanced around and gave a small cough. The man, who had been opening and closing his mouth as if unsure what to say, finally continued.

“Anyway, don’t worry about the money. Just stay in the hospital a bit longer. Your guardian hasn’t come by even once since you were admitted.”

“Ah…”

So that really was the case.

The “Lee Eunwoo” from this world had a family that never showed even the slightest concern for him. They would strip him of any money he earned, and if he refused to give it to them, they would get drunk and beat him.

Yet that “Lee Eunwoo” still considered them “family” and couldn’t bring himself to abandon them coldly, not even at the moment of death.

If that child came into my body, then it must mean he really did die once, even if just briefly.

If so, then the hospital must have contacted his guardian, calling it an emergency. Eunwoo didn’t know much about this world, but by the standards of the “Lee Eunwoo” he’d inherited, that’s how it should have gone.

“My phone—”

Just as Eunwoo was about to get lost in thought, the man sat on the bed and pointed to the shattered phone screen.

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

“…What?”

“I’ll also buy you clothes you like. Ah, though I guess we’ll do that after you’re discharged.”

Was he speaking casually or formally?

The man mixed both without care, talking on and on in front of Eunwoo.

“I’m busy with work, so I can’t visit often, but I’ll make sure you don’t get too bored, Mr. Lee Eunwoo.”

“……”

“Like coming to see you after work, for example.”

Instead of replying, Eunwoo just looked quietly at his face.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face? Hm?”

After a moment of thought, Eunwoo said to him,

“I don’t think you really need to go that far.”

“……”

“I don’t think I’d get that bored on my own anyway.”

It was better to be alone if he wanted to study and learn about this unfamiliar world. Otherwise, people might start thinking he was strange.

“I don’t like that idea.”

“…What?”

“I want to see you. That’s why I’ll keep coming.”

A question mark seemed to pop up over Eunwoo’s head at the man’s words.

‘…Aren’t we strangers?’

Then why was this man saying he wanted to see him so casually?

As Eunwoo stared at him warily, the man slowly reached out his hand. It wasn’t sudden like before; his movement clearly showed that he was approaching, so there was no surprise this time.

A large hand landed on his head and gently tousled his hair.

“I nearly killed you. So I want to be the one to take care of you. Are you not okay with that, Mr. Lee Eunwoo?”

“……”

“If it really makes you uncomfortable, just consider it repayment for your hospital bill. I heard the only insurance you had was a death benefit, so the cost of your stay has to be paid in full.”

‘…Death benefit?’

What’s that supposed to mean?

Eunwoo blinked in confusion, and the hand that had been stroking his head slid down to his chin.

The man cupped Eunwoo’s jaw and tilted his head up, then smiled slightly and asked,

“What’s your answer?”

‘…What is he even saying?’

***

Confined to the hospital room all day, Eunwoo learned about the world through the television. And every day at 7 PM, that man came to visit and told him all sorts of things.

“Partial amnesia or something? They say even if you lose your memory, you don’t forget the knowledge you’ve gained from living your life.”

And finally, the conclusion the man arrived at was this: Lee Eunwoo had amnesia.

What amnesia.

He hadn’t lost his memories. He just had no knowledge of this world, so it was only natural he struggled to adapt to its culture and technology.