Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: #20 The Hero Association is Honest
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rachel beamed as she looked at the villain on the paper—Steel Armor—and nodded vigorously.
"Yes! This uncle saved us!"
"..."
"..."
Ronister and Memory Hunter couldn't help exchanging glances at Rachel's words.
Did I hear that right? Am I imagining things?
Ronister asked Rachel.
"Uh... this villain—no, this guy who looks like that—saved you?"
"Yes, exactly! This uncle beat up the bad guys and rescued us!"
"..."
Ronister was at a loss for words as she watched Rachel answer so brightly and innocently.
What kind of villain not only saves kidnapped kids but sends them home? And without asking for anything in return?
As far as she knew, villains were greedy, immoral types who felt no responsibility for their powers.
A villain rescuing kidnapped children?
To Ronister, that was as absurd as the sun rising in the west.
"Hey, Rachel. Are you sure you didn't mistake him for someone else? Maybe a hero who looks similar saved you and..."
"No way! It was definitely this uncle! He was wearing a mask with a skull on it too! And he was huge!"
Thinking Ronister didn't believe her, Rachel shrieked before she could even finish.
"Rachel's right. That man personally brought her to me."
"Really? You actually ran into this guy?"
"Yes, I'm certain. He has my deepest gratitude. Is he a new hero who's just appeared? If you know him, please pass along my thanks."
"..."
Rachel's mother, Emily, chimed in from behind. A child might easily get confused in the chaos, but an adult's testimony changed everything.
Villain Steel Armor had truly rescued the kidnapped children.
Ronister subtly tucked the wanted poster Rachel was holding behind her back.
A villain had done the heroes' and police's job. This was a matter of the Hero Association's honor—they had to bury it at all costs.
"Rachel."
"Yes? Oh, Mom..."
Memory Hunter, who had been silent until then, called out to Rachel. She flinched at the chilling gaze peeking through his shaggy hair and clung to her mother.
"..."
Emily eyed Memory Hunter warily too. He was a hero, sure, but the rumors swirling around him in the streets weren't kind, so civilians tended to steer clear.
S-Rank heroes were more popular than celebrities, but Memory Hunter was the sole exception.
"Um, Memory Hunter, sir. For now..."
"I'm sorry."
"...?"
Ronister braced for some harsh words from him. But what came out was an apology.
"Our heroes were so incompetent that even though you were suffering, we couldn't save you. I can't speak for all heroes, but let me apologize on their behalf."
"..."
Rachel peeked out from behind her mother. She could feel the sincerity, regret, and warmth in Memory Hunter's words.
"Rachel. You got to go home to your loving family, but there are still so many friends who haven't made it back. If you help us, those kids can go home too. I hate to ask this of you, but will you let me read your memories so we can send them home?"
"...Yes."
The girl nodded and stepped forward.
"What do I need to do?"
"Just shake my hand. Easy, right?"
"Yes."
As Rachel extended her hand, Memory Hunter gently took it.
"Ah, ahhh..."
Rachel's memories began flowing into Memory Hunter's mind.
Newborn Rachel. Rachel too young to understand her father had died. Rachel spending happy times alone with her mom despite their poverty. Rachel playing with friends. And then...
"Ah, ahhh..."
"Memory Hunter, sir?"
Having read all of Rachel's memories, Memory Hunter shed tears. Ronister and Emily were stunned. Tears from someone who seemed like he wouldn't bleed even if stabbed were shocking to everyone.
"Rachel?"
"Yes?"
"You're a hero."
"Me? But I don't have any superpowers."
"No, you are a hero."
Memory Hunter gazed at Rachel warmly and offered his fist.
"You don't need superpowers to be a hero. A true hero is someone who doesn't lose hope and courage even in tough times. If it weren't for you, the other kids with you might have made terrible choices. But because you stayed brave and protected them, they all got to go home safely. Hero Rachel? Fist bump?"
"..."
Rachel stared up at Memory Hunter in a daze. Then she grinned shyly and tapped her little fist against his. Blushing, she buried her face in her mother's embrace.
"Rachel's mother."
"Yes? Oh, yes."
"The Hero Association will cover all costs for Rachel's treatment. We'll arrest the kidnappers soon and make them pay. I'm truly sorry this is all we can do for our hero."
"Oh, no, that's not necessary."
"Then we'll be going. Thank you for your cooperation. Hero Rachel?"
"Yes!"
"Hope we meet again. You know how to say goodbye, right?"
"Yes!"
Tap!
Their fists bumped once more.
Stepping outside, Memory Hunter immediately barked orders at the waiting Association staff.
"Search the warehouse registered under Joan Trading Company in District 65. That's where the kids were held. Confirm the company's location and put out a wanted notice right away."
"Yes, sir!"
There was no trace of the gentleness he'd shown Rachel. The staff snapped to attention under his razor-sharp aura.
"So Joan Trading Company is behind this kidnapping?"
As Memory Hunter climbed into his car, Ronister rushed over and grabbed the door.
"Yeah. But it'll probably be a bust if we go now."
"What do you mean?"
"Rachel was telling the truth."
"Huh?"
He pulled Steel Armor's wanted poster from the stack Ronister held.
"This guy took out the bad guys in the warehouse and saved the kids. How the hell did he become a villain?"
Memory Hunter checked the charges listed on Steel Armor's poster: habitual assault, murder, rape, robbery.
"You sure about this?"
"Huh?"
"Did Steel Armor really commit all these crimes?"
"Uh? W-Well, probably?"
Memory Hunter clicked his tongue at Ronister's uncertainty.
"Tch. Useless. What do you actually know? You a hero or what?"
"..."
It was the first insult Ronister had faced as a hero, leaving her speechless. But coming from an S-Rank, she had no comeback.
Memory Hunter had solved over a thousand cases alone. Reading memories was his only trick, but it was why he was S-Rank.
"Dig up everything on Steel Armor and report back. Don't miss a single detail. Got it?"
"M-Memory Hunter, sir!"
With that, Memory Hunter drove off. Left standing alone, Ronister stared blankly at the receding car.
Soon, she exploded in frustration.
"Argh! I'm a B-Rank hero! B-Rank! I'd kick your ass in a straight fight! Raaagh!"
In reality, Ronister would win against Memory Hunter. She was a Level 6 Body Enhancer.
But what did that matter? Ranks ruled all.
Memory Hunter was S-Rank. Ronister was B-Rank.
"Sigh... Huh? Wait a sec!"
Sighing, Ronister turned to head back to the Hero Association. But not a single car remained to take her.
The staff had all peeled out on Memory Hunter's orders. And Ronister? She didn't have a license.
"..."
To get back to the Hero Association, Ronister hailed a taxi.
'Steel Armor.'
Heading to District 65, Memory Hunter pondered Steel Armor.
Through Rachel's memories, he'd confirmed Steel Armor's appearance and voice.
But the mask hid his true face, and he hadn't seen him fight, so combat strength was unknown.
At least the sounds gave a rough idea.
Thunderous gunfire. Massive explosions like bombs. Followed by the criminals' screams.
'Body Enhancer.'
The poster listed Steel Armor as a Body Enhancer. A-Rank threat meant A-Rank villain. He could shrug off bullets and bombs.
'Dubious charges, and he rescued kidnapped kids.'
Habitually, Memory Hunter grabbed the bottle beside him. Drinking and driving was illegal even for heroes, but one bottle couldn't faze his iron will.
He downed it in one go and tossed the empty bottle into the back seat. Crash! It clinked against others.
His car looked like a dumpster—full of nothing but booze bottles.
'Are you a villain or not?'
Memory Hunter silently asked Steel Armor in his mind.
If a villain, even kid-saving didn't excuse his crimes. That was an S-Rank hero's job.
But if not...
"...Verify first."
Memory Hunter stopped thinking and grabbed another bottle. The S-Rank hero's car sped toward District 65.
Where knows villains best? Info brokers, maybe, but the Hero Association topped the list.
Handling public safety with police while specializing in superpowered villains, no group encountered more.
For citizen safety, they updated wanted lists monthly. Sometimes more if a powerful new villain emerged.
And today, while surfing the web, I spotted a familiar face on the Hero Association's site.
A man in a skull-masked balaclava and black suit. Me.
"Steel Armor, huh... Not bad."
I'd been mulling villain names anyway. The Hero Association handed me one on a platter.
Plus, with this bounty, most Dark City citizens would know me as Steel Armor.
My rep spreading on its own—no need for another name.
"Let's see... A-Rank threat, 500k dollar bounty? That's it?"
500k USD was about 580 million won. Huge sum, but for a Level 10 like me, pathetically low.
"Should've killed a few heroes back then?"
That'd jack the bounty sky-high. Regret stung.
"Charges: habitual assault, murder, rape, robbery? What the hell? When did I commit these? Are they insane? No news coverage, and they fabricate crimes? These damn... bastards?"
Fuming at the Hero Association's fabrications, my last two days flashed back.
Beat the crap out of Sanctuary Corp guards and heroes → habitual assault
Tore the scorpion guy apart alive → murder
Had a good time with Aqua Girl → rape
Took out the kidnappers and looted their stuff → robbery
"...Huh. What is this? Truman Show?"
The charges were spot-on, like they were watching me. Hero Association, you guys are honest, huh?