The Villain’s Recipe - Chapter 16.1
While Baek Seok-gyol was away, Min-ha learned how to guide Park Jung-woo in addition to cooking.
To realize the power within oneself and infuse it into the other person. Infusing it works best when skin touches skin.
“Ugh, ugh!”
Hearing Park Jung-woo’s painful sounds coming from behind, Min-ha slowly guided Baek Seok-gyol. This was because Baek Seok-gyol seemed more urgent right now, enough to ignore Park Jung-woo’s pain. Fortunately, when he glanced over, it seemed Ma Jin-cheol had turned on the water for him instead. A shout of survival echoed.
“A bit of a mess, isn’t it?”
Min-ha was a bit embarrassed that the kitchen was in this state. So he asked with an awkward smile, and Baek Seok-gyol shook his head. The fog lifted, and his heightened senses gradually subsided. However, everything was still lacking for him. Like an oasis encountered by a traveler wandering through the desert for a long time, he wanted to drink all of Min-ha.
“I’m thirsty.”
When he whispered that, Min-ha spoke softly, just like Baek Seok-gyol.
“Shall I get you some water?”
“No.”
Because what he wanted to drink wasn’t real water. Still, if he said what he really wanted right now, Min-ha would hate it. He might even try to run away.
‘I have no intention of letting you go, though.’
Even if Min-ha cried out in hatred, Baek Seok-gyol intended to keep him by his side. How would it be to break his ankles and tie his wrists so he couldn’t run away? Perhaps feeling the chilling thought that crossed his mind for a moment, Min-ha shivered slightly. That appearance felt just like a timid rabbit.
A pure white rabbit with red eyes that was frequently used for ability research in the laboratory. Cute rabbits constantly entered the laboratory, and just as many died. What had he thought seeing the rabbits meet death in various forms that could not bear to be spoken of?
Did he think it was pitiful, or did he think it was futile? When his thoughts reached that point, a warm and delicious smell permeated his slowly recovering sense of smell. It was a unique smell he was smelling for the first time. Baek Seok-gyol’s gaze naturally turned toward the large pot. Seeing that, Min-ha smiled and spoke.
“I thought the stew would be ready soon, so I made curry today. I made it mild so it should be fine.”
With those words, Baek Seok-gyol belatedly realized. He had not yet fully recovered from the aftermath of using his ability. The murderous intent that engulfed his entire body was proof of that. Baek Seok-gyol twisted the corners of his lips and looked down at Min-ha.
The rabbit always trembled in front of Baek Seok-gyol. Min-ha was no different. Yet, the sight of him trying hard to pretend to be calm strangely struck his heart.
‘Adorable.’
It would be fine to express it like that. Without even thinking of hiding his emotions, Baek Seok-gyol rubbed his face against Min-ha’s shoulder. Their height difference made the posture awkward, but he didn’t care.
“There’s something more urgent than a meal right now.”
“Pardon? More urgent than a meal.”
Thinking up to that point, Min-ha opened his eyes wide in a circle.
“Would it be better to give you more guiding?”
Only then did Baek Seok-gyol pick Min-ha up in his arms.
“Ah!”
Inside the hideout of ZERO, Baek Seok-gyol had frequently carried Min-ha around, but it seemed he still hadn’t gotten used to it.
“Then shall we go to my room?”
“Pardon? Yes.”
Min-ha obediently let himself be carried by Baek Seok-gyol and left the kitchen. The others were witnessing that as well, but no one added a word and kept silent. And only after the two of them left the kitchen did Chae Ji-won belatedly let out his breath.
“Phew! I thought I was going to die.”
“Did you hold your breath?”
“I held it. I felt like I would die if I caught the leader’s eye there. Hyung, are you okay?”
At those words, Park Jung-woo nodded with his swollen eyes. He, too, had felt murderous intent from halfway through, but he tried hard to act like it was nothing. It was a good thing Ma Jin-cheol had stepped in and blocked it halfway through.
“Today’s meeting didn’t seem to go smoothly, did it?”
At Chae Ji-won’s words, Ma Jin-cheol shrugged his shoulders.
“Naturally so. Villains are absolute madmen, after all. They are always eager to pick a fight with the leader.”
“Is that so?”
