#146 Steam
Of course, injecting Steam doesn't immediately transform the body into something animal-like. The more Steam that's injected, the closer the external appearance gets to that of a beast. And as the body becomes more beastly, the mind follows suit—turning aggressive and savage, craving blood and flesh.
Anyone who'd injected Steam had to keep dosing once a day if they didn't want to die. And the more they injected, the more beast-like they became. In other words, even a single dose trapped you forever in the abyss of evil. It wasn't an exaggeration to say Steam had been created by the devil himself.
And the reason Dr. Cruemora's face had turned so beastly? He'd injected Steam too.
"Kuhuhuhu... You strutted around like hot shit in front of me, but in the end, you're just as worthless as they come. Nothing funnier than this comedy! Kuhuhuhu..."
Krrrng— Krrrng—
Every breath he exhaled came with the growl of a beast.
"But hey... Isn't lounging around here a breach of contract?"
Dr. Cruemora approached the glass tank holding Shadow Killer.
"Didn't you promise to supply me with test subjects so I could research to my heart's content? But what's this? My research isn't done, and the supply's cut off. That's a contract violation, Shadow Killer."
Dr. Cruemora's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Shadow Killer.
"You broke the contract first, so from today on, I do things my way. No objections, right? You con artist bastard."
Dr. Cruemora opened his mouth.
Sssshk— Thung!
A snake shot out from his gaping maw and bit at the glass tank. The tank was so sturdy that even the snake's fangs couldn't penetrate it. Like hitting rewind, the snake slowly retreated back into Dr. Cruemora's mouth.
"I've given it some thought... Using powerless nobodies as test subjects isn't as useful as someone like you with superpowers. The results would be way more meaningful."
Dr. Cruemora pulled something from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. He chewed it with relish.
What he'd taken out was none other than one of Shadow Killer's tentacles—the one that had been electrocuted and severed in the fight against Steel Armor and Jenaraider.
"Keeping something this good all to yourself. You sneaky prick. So typical of a con artist."
Dr. Cruemora swallowed the tentacle with a blissful expression.
"Wait for me. I'll come get you soon."
With that, Dr. Cruemora leaped upward, clinging to the ceiling dozens of meters above. He crawled along it and slipped into the ventilation duct.
A moment later—
"Shadow Killer!"
Dark Lady burst in frantically. She checked on Shadow Killer first, then inspected the glass tank for damage. Given where Shadow Killer was held, the tank was incredibly sturdy, and even the slightest external impact would trigger an alarm straight to her.
"What's this...?"
After thoroughly examining the tank, she spotted two tiny marks.
"Which bastard...!"
Furious, Dark Lady searched every inch of the room. But she didn't find so much as a rat.
*****
"Ah, so embarrassing."
My face burned, and a glance in the rearview mirror confirmed it was still flushed. It had been red ever since I fled Yuna's house like a coward, and it showed no signs of calming.
Of all people, showing my naked body to Yuna's little sister! Was there anything more mortifying in the world?
If Yuna's sister had been over twenty, some adult, I wouldn't have felt this bad. Hell, I'd have proudly flaunted my physique and dick, greeting her with casual confidence. If Tiana took a liking to my body and that impressive tool, it could've been a sisters combo platter, right?
But Tiana was a clear minor—outside the boundaries I'd set for myself. No point flashing my goods at fruit I couldn't eat.
"Hah... Fuck my life."
Too embarrassing to bear. I'd make it up later by pounding Yuna's ass.
Anyway, I drove to Karinbia's hideout in District 72. Before getting out, I didn't forget to don the mask I'd removed to meet Yuna.
"Sssup~ Haa... This is villain air. Fuck, not a shred of shame."
As Bal Jeong-nam, showing my naked self to Tiana had mortified me. But the moment I became Steel Armor, the shame vanished like it'd been washed away.
These days, kids know everything anyway, right? I stood tall, gazing at the sky without a hint of regret.
I got out and headed straight for Karinbia.
Bam!
"Freeze! FBI!"
"...Boss?"
I kicked open the door to Karinbia's office and bellowed.
Karinbia, reviewing documents, didn't even flinch at "FBI."
Ah. Right, no FBI in this world.
"What brings you here without notice, Boss?"
Karinbia set down his papers and greeted me.
Tch... No fun pranking this guy.
"Remember that job I told you to handle before?"
"The job?"
Karinbia pondered what I'd assigned him, then recalled.
"Ah. Finding those superpowered folks, you mean?"
"Yeah."
Wow, he actually remembered? I'd have forgotten.
The day Karinbia joined me, I'd given him one order: Track down people with [Body Enhancer], [Superpower Analyzer], [Clone Master], and [Gravity Dominator] powers—those four specific abilities.
I could've tasked Jungbo or anyone, but Karinbia's astrologer power seemed perfect for pinpointing them easily.
"I've secured three so far."
"Three?"
Fewer than expected. A bit disappointing.
"Stars not talking?"
"..."
Karinbia stared at me like I'd said something absurd, then spoke with a complicated expression.
"My power isn't omnipotent. Once a week, I get a chance to ask the stars a question."
"Aha."
A weekly cooldown, huh? Fair enough.
"Can't be helped, then. Tell me the locations of the three you've found."
"Here."
Karinbia pulled three files from his drawer and handed them over. He'd prepared them separately, anticipating my visit.
"Hm."
All three had Body Enhancer powers. No other abilities, which was a shame, but not bad.
Specializing in one thing isn't so bad.
Body Enhancer had killer cost-performance compared to other powers. Better to max one to level 11 than spread thin.
At 17% now...
83% more—83 total levels of Body Enhancers to kill and absorb.
Daunting.
"Karinbia."
"Yes, Boss."
"From now on, ignore all other powers. Just Body Enhancers."
"Body Enhancers? Understood."
With the order updated, I headed to where the first guy lived.
*****
Obviously, I'm not some psychopathic maniac dying to kill people. In fact, to reach my current position, I hadn't killed a single soul.
I have a powerful murder inhibitor called the No-Kill Rule.
Huh? Doesn't seem like it?
Then what about all the villains who've died fighting me? They didn't die—they went to America. A country that doesn't exist in this world.
Thus, I'm a pure, innocent young man and villain who's never committed murder.
Anyway, the reason I'm saying this now is to emphasize that the guys about to die by my hand—no, donate XP and take a one-way trip to America—aren't good people.
I arrived at a quiet mansion district in District 69 and picked up the top file from the passenger seat.
"Rapelli Romeo."
A C-rank villain called [Levit Foot]. Multiple assault records, one attempted murder, two murders, three rapes. A real scumbag.
"This kid's already this rotten at his age?"
Rapelli Romeo was a young man, just 23. Pretty young for such heinous crimes.
And this bastard was scum of the scum. All his victims? Weak, poor bottom-feeders with no connections.
"Why's the name so familiar?"
First time seeing him, but the name rang a bell. Specifically, "Romeo."
"Heard it somewhere? Whatever, not important. Let's finish quick and move on."
I got out and strode boldly to Rapelli Romeo's house. Rang the doorbell.
A moment later, footsteps inside.
"Who is it?"
Casual talk from a stranger? Villains—except me—have zero manners.
"Delivery for Rapelli Romeo."
"Delivery? Hold on."
Huh?
I was thrown off by "hold on." Dude, delivery said, and you don't open the door? In Korea, it'd fly open.
Bang bang bang!
"..."
Instead of the door opening, a bullet slammed into my gut. The guy inside had shot me.
I stared at my stomach in disbelief. The bullet hadn't pierced my suit, but the audacity was unreal.
No check who it was—just greet with gunfire?!
Bam!
"Argh!"
I kicked the door open and charged in. A man lay pinned under it—not my target Rapelli Romeo, but he held a pistol. The shooter.
"You mannerless fuck. Shoot first thing when delivery arrives? Villain scum!"
If I'd been a normal delivery guy, he'd be dead. Basically a murderer.
I kicked his head while he squirmed, knocking him out. No-Kill Rule still on—no murders.
I'm not a psycho killer!
"What the fuck!"
"Kill him!"
Men rushed from inside, unloading guns at me. My target, Rapelli Romeo, among them.
"Heh heh heh. Delivery's here."
Package: Steel Armor.
Taking the bullets, I advanced into the house.
*****
"Kuh, cough...!"
"Ughhh..."
"S-save me..."
It took less than a minute to subdue them. My target, Rapelli Romeo, was now in my grip.
"Kuh...!"
True to his Body Enhancer powers, the villain fearlessly tried close combat. Decent kickboxing stance, sharp legs. Didn't hurt a bit, though.
"You think you can touch me and walk away?! The Romeo Family will hunt you forever!"
Rapelli Romeo still hadn't grasped the situation, threatening me.
Romeo Family, huh?
Oh, those guys?
The Romeo Family—I knew them. They ruled Districts 68 and 69. Not all villain groups in Dark City, but locals near my turf.
Two districts meant solid power, lots of villains. Fun fact: All family members.
That's why "Romeo" felt familiar—he was one of them.
"But you don't know who I am?"
"How the fuck would I know some masked nobody?!"
"What're you talking about? I'm Steel Armor."
"Bullshit! Why would Steel Armor come for me?!"
"...Aha."
Now I got why he was so cocky. He didn't believe I was the real Steel Armor. Figured some impersonator.
And logically? Spot on. Why would an S-rank bother killing a C-rank personally? Send minions.
"Turn back now, and I won't chase you."
"Heh heh heh... You expect me to buy that? Anyway, two more to handle besides you—no time for your shit."
"What? W-wait...!"
"Adios, Levit Foot."
No-Kill Rule OFF.
"Kragh...!"
I squeezed, and his neck snapped limply. His power turned to light, absorbed into me, tattooed on my skin.
4%.
Progress: +4%.
*****
"N-no! Romeo! Romeo!"
After Steel Armor left, Rapelli Romeo's friends came to, clutching his corpse and sobbing.
"Contact the boss quick! Hurry!"
"Right!"
They tried reaching the Romeo Family head, Rapelli's father—the [Godfather].
Krrrr...
"Huh?"
"What?"
If not for the man growling like a beast outside the door, they might've succeeded.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Krr... Kraaaang—!"
"U, uwaaaah!"
Screams and ripping sounds echoed from Rapelli Romeo's mansion.