The Small Ball Steel Armor Shot into the Sky
After helping Ice Queen evacuate the heroes and civilians, I slipped away from the scene. I was tempted to spend a steamy night with her, but she had too much on her plate for that. Instead, I'd make up for it later—really make up for it, going all night long.
"Come to think of it, I can finally ditch this mask, huh?"
The play with Ice Queen had been thrilling, but wearing the mask came with its annoyances. It blocked more than just eye contact; it got in the way of that deeper, mental connection during the physical one.
"Man, I'm beat. Talk about turning disaster into triumph."
When Siren had me cornered, I'd genuinely thought I was done for. But in the end, I'd won—turned her into my slave monster. And that wasn't all. I'd scored that handy anal video with Flame Witch for future use, and now I wouldn't have to wear the damn mask during sex with Ice Queen anymore.
Overcoming that crisis had netted me a mountain of rewards. Oh, right—and the superpower creation ticket and level-up ticket too. Nice, but whatever, not the point.
"More importantly, you're screwed, Peter Elder. Just you wait."
I'd made a bet with the old man: whether I could tame a monster. I knew my infinite potential better than anyone, so I'd bet yes. He'd bet no. Now he owed me one favor. Fucked.
From here on out, forget elder respect. Today marked the start of my crusade to dismantle Confucianism. Confucianism? What's that? Edible?
I'd wring that old timer dry for all he was worth. But... exploiting him aside, something even more pressing had come up.
That was—
"Seeeeeeeeeeex!!!!!!!"
Yuna, Jina, Elis—jackpot!
*****
"The morning when my dick goes haaaaard—! A hard dick in the morning is proof you're healthy!"
Waking up, I stretched and rolled out of bed. I'd been fucking until two hours ago, but I felt refreshed, like I'd slept a full night. As I'd said a million times, this body enhancement superpower was the best.
"Aw, my pretty little darlings."
I grinned warmly at the women sleeping beside me. They were out cold—even with me yapping right next to them. They must've been exhausted.
From the moment Siren begged me for her life, my clones had been banging them. Then I swapped in with my position-switch skill, and we'd gone at it in a foursome till dawn. Sex was pure pleasure, sure, but it burned calories like a brutal workout.
I planted kisses on Yuna's, Jina's, and Elis's cheeks in turn, then got up. We'd showered before bed, so no need now.
Down on the first floor, I grabbed milk from the fridge, chugged it straight from the carton, and flicked on the TV.
Every channel was buzzing about Siren, just as expected. And predictably, no mention of me.
"Huh?"
It wasn't total radio silence on me. The station was interviewing a District 105 survivor, and the face looked familiar—it was the father of that boy who'd helped me snap out of it.
"......"
The man bowed deeply to the camera.
I snapped off the TV.
"Ugh, embarrassing as hell."
That "hero" he mentioned? Me. Without me, tons of folks would've drowned under Siren's song. How'd he even spot me mid-escape? Run faster next time.
"Tch. Hero? I'm a villain, damn it."
Batman would get it. Why did everyone keep calling me a hero? I wasn't one—I was a villain. A heinous S-rank one sowing seeds of evil in Dark City: Steel Armor!
"Embarrassed? That was about you, right, oppa?"
"Huh? You're up already? Not tired?"
"Mmm~ I am tired."
Jina had snuck up behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. She yawned hugely, rubbing her cheek against mine. Like a total kitten.
"Drinking straight from the carton again? I told you not to."
"What's the big deal? You finish the whole thing in one go anyway."
She nagged, eyeing the milk on the table. She hated when I drank from the carton like a savage.
"Still, if I say don't, don't."
"Yesss, ma'am~"
"Eek!"
I yanked her onto my lap, caressing her firm thighs.
"But oppa."
"Yeah?"
She was calling me "oppa" even outside sex—first time in ages. Was the sun rising in the west?
"That hero from the interview... that was you, right?"
"Embarrassing, but yeah. Why?"
"...Just. It's wild. How does someone that nice end up a villain?"
Her curious gaze tickled my chest.
"To live life my way, duh."
"So you block monsters, save people... on a whim?"
"Precisely? Nah, it was to buy you guys time to run. I figured I'd just hold out till the heroes showed. Planned to bolt the second they did. So those folks surviving? Pure luck."
Yeah, total luck. No way I'd fought that desperately to save them.
"You're such a tsundere, oppa."
"Hey, tsundere? That's you."
"Nuh-uh, you're more tsundere."
"Am not—you are!"
We bickered over who was the bigger tsundere, then burst out laughing and kissed.
"Yawwwn~ Oppa, I'm sleepy..."
"Go crash upstairs then."
"Wanna sleep like this."
"...You're trying to torture me, huh."
Hold still with her in my arms? Pure agony.
"......"
"......She's actually asleep."
Head on my chest, Jina conked out for real. Must've been wiped.
"Fine, sleep tight."
And so I endured until she stirred.
*****
"Nngh..."
Valencia, Hero Association president, opened his eyes in the hospital bed. He glanced around and bolted upright.
"Siren!"
"Siren's fled—no need to worry, sir."
"Who... oh? Gumiho?"
He turned toward the voice. There she was, book in hand—she'd been reading till just now.
"Siren's gone? For real?"
"Yes, sir."
"Sigh... Couldn't finish her off after all."
Relief washed over him, quickly turning to a frown. A wounded monster fleeing battle—what next? Realize humans could hurt her and steer clear? Or lick her wounds, grow stronger, and return for revenge?
No one knew—not even him. But he bet on revenge. Born a predator, she wouldn't cower from mere humans, injuries or not.
"The kids? How are they?"
"HiLow, Gun Fighter, Cyborg, Stylish, Heaven King. Five A-rank heroes KIA."
"Damn. Good ones gone too soon..."
Valencia mourned their loss.
"S-ranks?"
"Injured mostly, but back in a day or two. Wind Line's hurt bad—week-plus recovery."
"Silver lining, I guess. Where're the bodies?"
He nodded, sighing as he rose. Time to see the fallen off properly.
"Morgue for now. Funerals once families arrive."
"Right... Miho."
"Yes, sir?"
"You did great. Sorry. We should've killed Siren ourselves... but we fell short, made you step up."
"Pardon?"
Gumiho tilted her head, realizing his mistake.
"I didn't fight Siren."
"Huh? Then the others pulled you back?"
"Steel Armor did."
"......"
His brow twitched at the name. Steel Armor? There?
'Now that I think...'
When Siren grabbed him, someone saved him—then electrocuted, blackout. That savior? Probably Steel Armor.
"Sir, a question."
"Hm? Yeah, shoot."
"Steel Armor said he saved your life in Shadow Killer's underground base. True?"
"...Yeah."
He eyed her, then nodded.
"Why hide it from me?"
"Didn't know."
"Sir?"
She looked ready to dig in, so he perched on the bed, pointing upward gravely.
"Higher-ups."
"Pardon? What...?"
"Steel Armor's a minion of some massive organization."
"....!"
Gumiho's eyes widened. That Steel Armor—the one who'd critically wounded Siren—a subordinate?
"T-true?"
"He saved me, then said it himself. Orders to keep me alive."
"......"
"That arrogant powerhouse followed orders to spare me. Dark City's got something huge we can't even imagine. That's why I stayed quiet."
"Impossible! We track every organization in Dark City."
"Yeah. If it's inside."
"...Sir. You mean...?"
She caught on.
"Yep. Suspect the Monster Hunters."
"Monster Hunters...!"
Gumiho reeled. Humans once ruled vast lands, claiming dominion. But monsters changed that. Now humans huddled behind walls in shrinking zones: Dark City, Red Town, Purple Hill, White Island, Green Field—the five nation-sized strongholds.
Yet one group roamed monster lands freely: Monster Hunters. Nomads without fixed bases, untraceable unless they sought you. Elite monster slayers, each a powerhouse fighter with specialized powers. And for Gumiho? A hated enemy— they'd slaughtered her family. She'd fled into Dark City, evading them, till meeting Valencia. To her, they were terror and blood debt.
"You think Monster Hunters are targeting Dark City?"
"Just suspicion for now."
"Th-then it's dire! We must alert the heroes—"
"Enough! It's suspicion. Gather intel first, decide later."
Valencia calmed the panicked Gumiho and continued.