I Became the Academy's Kibitz Villain-Chapter 398: Good Things Should Be Shared (3)

Full-time househusband.

Live-in partner.

Unable to leave the house, he would spend every day doing simple household chores or passing time at home, waiting for his wife to return.

Depending on perspective, some might think, “This is a pretty good deal, even unto death!” while others might say, “This is a life of slavery and confinement, no better than death!”

Just as heroes and villains couldn’t understand each other, people with extroverted (E) personalities and introverted (I) personalities struggled to understand one another.

Extroverts, who feel rejuvenated by going out and about, would obviously detest the idea of this househusband confinement.

However, introverts, who thought the world beyond their blankets was dangerous, and for whom leaving the house felt exhausting, might find this lifestyle more agreeable.

Perhaps they’d even welcome it.

So where did I stand?

“Obviously, it’s best for Do Ji-hwan to remain confined while Goblin goes out and acts.”

Introverted Do Ji-hwan lived quietly in obscurity, building credibility away from prying eyes.

Even if Goblin caused a stir outside, people would still think, “Do Ji-hwan is being cared for by Baek Seol-hee,” so this situation couldn’t be more advantageous for me.

If Baek Seol-hee herself provides my credibility and alibi, as long as I made her “happy” in return, what’s the problem?

Especially if Baek Seol-hee permitted me to venture out as Goblin.

“At this rate, Goblin will end up as a salaryman who only works during Baek Seol-hee’s office hours.”

“That’s not exactly wrong, is it?”

While Baek Seol-hee returned to speak in front of the public, Yumir and I sipped tea from the hotel room service, chatting leisurely.

“Either way, during the time Do Ji-hwan is being cared for or living as a househusband, Goblin can move about freely.”

“And what about later? Hm?”

“Wouldn’t it actually be more convenient later? If Seol-hee unnie eventually has to stay home with a baby on the way, you wouldn’t need to leave the house at all. You could just stay put.”

“…It feels like the setup is a little too perfect. Isn’t this too much of an advantage for me?”

“In exchange, it’d be harder for you to meet other women easily, right? Now Seol-hee unnie will be keeping a close eye on you.”

As Yumir said, it would indeed be challenging to approach other female ability users while living in Baek Seol-hee’s house.

Even as a married man, Baek Seol-hee’s clear claim of “This man is mine” effectively marked me. Who would dare approach me?

Unless someone wanted to challenge Baek Seol-hee, they wouldn’t easily come near me.

Even if a lunatic attempted an attack on Baek Seol-hee’s house, the barrier she set around me would keep me safe.

Moreover, Yumir and I could pass through this barrier freely.

Thus, my alibi was airtight, and Goblin’s activities could become more systematic and proactive.

“My days and nights will completely flip. I used to be Do Ji-hwan by day and Goblin by night, but now I’d have to stay by Baek Seol-hee’s side at night and act as Goblin during the day.”

“That’s not so bad, is it? Villains don’t exactly divide their activities into day and night.”

“But most crimes happen at night, don’t they? Mir, do you know why villains who know S-Man’s identity avoid causing trouble during the day? They could make things difficult, but they choose not to.”

“Um… Because they’re busy with work during the day?”

“Exactly.”

S-Man was also an office worker.

As a hero, it was fine to rest at home during the day and spring into action when villains showed up at night. But having to act during the day creates significant issues with workplace performance reviews.

“Heroes living double lives would be angrier if you disrupted their personal time. So villains keep things quiet during those hours.”

“It’s complicated. Maybe they should be active at night after all.”

“Would you rather face an S-Man watching soccer with a beer or one steeling themselves for a scolding from their boss later?”

“I’ve never been an office worker, but if it’s the latter, they’d probably be in a really bad mood.”

“Fine. Let me explain it in terms you’ll understand.”

Tailoring my explanation for Yumir:

“If you’re researching abilities at home at night and a demon shows up, versus if a demon appears while you’re renting a hotel room with me during the day, which would upset you more?”

“Ah!”

Yumir immediately got it.

After all, effective teaching was adjusted to the student’s personality and needs.

“I see. For someone living a double life, disrupting personal time is worse than disrupting their ‘double life’ time…!”

“Exactly. You’ll face someone fully fired up.”

Applied to Baek Seol-hee’s case, it’s the opposite.

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If she worked hard at the academy by day and came home to watch a cozy movie with me, only to have a villain interrupt mid-movie, that villain would end up encased in ice forever.

Anyway.

“I think it’s a good deal. If Baek Seol-hee’s that considerate, I can’t complain. But I’ll need your help too.”

“Officially, I can’t help directly. But I can teleport books for you, right?”

“Sure. I’ll owe you… Oh.”

One thing suddenly felt disappointing.

“This means I won’t be able to visit the archive for a while.”

“The archive?”

“Yes. It’s a place where censored books are gathered. The system is designed so that you can only access those materials there.”

For me to personally go as Do Ji-hwan and check it out was practically impossible.

However, when I thought of the advantages of this confined lifestyle, it was disappointing, but not a significant issue.

Yes, it was just a bit disappointing.

“Shouldn’t we just ask Seol-hee unnie to get it for us?”

“…Huh?”

“If we tell Seol-hee unnie to ‘do it,’ she’d either request it from the Hero Alliance or pressure someone in the government to deliver it right away, wouldn’t she?”

“You…”

Genius.

While I naturally thought of hacking or stealing as a solution, Yumir immediately thought of leveraging a hero’s authority. Clearly, our starting points for problem-solving were fundamentally different.

“That’s a brilliant suggestion. You’re right. We should actively make use of the power of an S-Class hero.”

After all, she was S-Class.

“Oh, it seems like unnie’s afternoon press conference is about to start.”

Yumir turned the TV back on.

Baek Seol-hee, looking calmer than in the morning, was seated at the press conference. The reporters, now full from lunch, each waited like hyenas for an opportunity to ask questions.

In the composed atmosphere, a new round of developments was about to unfold.

[Baek Seol-hee, a question for you. If an S-Class hero from another country were to say, ‘I want to personally confirm how capable Do Ji-hwan is,’ how would you respond?]

From the outset, they struck with a heavy blow.

[Well, I’d naturally tell them to go ahead and confirm it.]

And Baek Seol-hee responded as if it was the most obvious thing.

[Good things are meant to be shared, after all.]

Exactly.

The best thing about being Baek Seol-hee’s live-in partner?

Not just being with Baek Seol-hee, but through her, gaining opportunities to connect with other S-Class and A-Class female heroes curious about Do Ji-hwan.

Just like befriending a celebrity opens doors to meet their circle, as Do Ji-hwan, I’d gain more opportunities to interact with various S-Class heroes.

[It doesn’t even have to be a hero from another country. Isn’t there a saying, ‘Shin-to-bul-i’? It’d be even better if it were a hero from our own country. I’ve already discussed it with Ji-hwan and even spoke with his wife.]

[Who is his wife?]

[That, I’m afraid, is personal privacy, so I can’t disclose it. Absolutely not.]

No matter how much they searched, they’d never find her.

When creating Do Ji-hwan’s identity, we didn’t bother fabricating a wife’s identity as well.

[There’s a rumor going around that Do Ji-hwan’s wife is a fictional character. What do you think about that?]

[I’ve spoken with her. I’ve even received her permission. For the sake of Korea’s future and national security, she said she’d gladly ‘share’ Ji-hwan.]

[She’s not an imaginary figure?]

[She’s a real person.]

Through Baek Seol-hee, it was time to reveal a hidden truth.

[According to what Ji-hwan told me….]

The truth I’d shared with both Baek Seol-hee and Yumir:

[…His wife is an S-Class ability user. And she’s already pregnant.]

“Oppa, didn’t you say you were infertile before?”

“I said I couldn’t have children. And so is Baek Seol-hee. She’s infertile too.”

“Wow, this oppa is really…”

“I never lied.”

I simply concealed the truth for a while.

“If she’s already pregnant, how could she get pregnant again? So yes, technically, she can’t have children anymore.”

[What kind of S-Class is she? Who is she?!]

[Do you know her?!]

[Yes.]

Baek Seol-hee, with a faint bitter smile, continued.

[It’s someone you all know well. That’s all for now.]

“The Chief of the Secret Society.”

Yumir stared intently at me.

“Must be nice having the Chief as your wife.”

“Yeah, it is.”

Of course.

“She even allows me to ‘serve the nation’ with other women.”

[One of the S-Class female ability users is Do Ji-hwan’s wife, so if you’re curious, feel free to find out for yourself.]

A declaration to the world.

[The person in question said that if you find out, they’d even let you ‘sample’ Ji-hwan. My goodness.]

“So, is this the dawn of the ‘Ji-hwan Era’?”

“Come on, it’s not like you’re selling yourself for money, right?”

Yumir casually picked up my bat, grinning slyly.

“Oppa, are we charging for this service?”

“Of course not.”

It was purely out of goodwill.

“How could I charge money for something that contributes to world peace? I’m not receiving money; I’m receiving peace.”

All I wanted is world peace.

“It’s just that my method is a little different from conventional heroes.”

The way of the Secret Society.

The way of Goblin.

“It may look like an affair to others, but with me, it’s romance.”

To prevent the destruction of this world.

To protect the peace of this world.

By spreading love, truth, and darkness.

I am.

Goblin.