Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Why Do Good Deeds Keep Stacking Up? (1)
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"Lalala~"
I stuffed the unconscious Elizabeth into a travel suitcase and slipped right out of the Francesco Hotel. Of course, just like at Sanctuary Corp, I destroyed all the CCTV cameras using the hairpin she'd been wearing.
Originally, the side story I'd scripted was supposed to culminate with me taking Elizabeth's virginity right in front of Duran, with the door between us.
But she passed out midway, so the story never reached its conclusion.
"Well... it doesn't really matter."
The side story hadn't gotten its proper ending, but it wasn't over yet. This tale would end with Duran shedding tears and semen in front of the TV.
"But where should I stash this girl?"
I'd gotten Elizabeth out, but I had no safe place to hide her. If only I'd split off from the family sooner! I desperately needed my own space.
Once they realized Elizabeth was gone, Duran and the two conglomerates would spring into action. They'd scour the CCTV footage and investigate everyone at the party.
"Oh, right."
I'd dealt with the CCTV on the way out with her, but not on the way into her room. My mistake.
If they investigated, I'd be suspect number one in Elizabeth's kidnapping.
The easiest way to avoid being a suspect? Return Elizabeth. Problem solved, neat and clean.
"But why would I?"
Not a chance in hell.
I hadn't planted my flag of conquest yet, but Elizabeth was basically my woman now. Why hand my girl over to some random guy?
Besides, I still hadn't seen her in a bunny girl outfit. I had to witness that.
So, what now?
"It's closed today... no choice."
First things first, stash Elizabeth somewhere.
I hid Elizabeth in the same hotel where I'd taken Yuna's virginity, then headed back to the Francesco Hotel. Before entering, I pulled a mask from my suit pocket and slipped it over my head.
"Ahh... my dick—no, my chest—feels so imposing."
A black mask with a skull emblem. The symbol of the A-rank villain, Steel Armor.
The moment I put it on, I wasn't some horny chaebol heir anymore. I was the villain Steel Armor.
"Huh?"
"What's that...?"
As I strode boldly toward the Francesco Hotel, people nearby started noticing me.
"What the hell is that?"
"N-No way?!"
It hadn't been long since the Hero Association put out the wanted notice on me, so most people didn't recognize Steel Armor yet. But some did.
A guy who spotted me pointed and yelled.
"V-Villain! It's the villain Steel Armor!"
"Villain?!"
"Run!"
Kyahhhh!
The hotel entrance turned into pandemonium in seconds. Villains were symbols of terror. People screamed and fled from me.
The hotel guards reacted swiftly.
"Notify the Hero Association now!"
"Shoot! Just open fire!"
Bang bang bang bang!
They reported me to the Hero Association while the others drew their guns and unloaded on me.
"I-I can't believe it!"
I was shocked by the sight.
T-This is... the Shoot-to-Greet Law!!!
There was a song from some broadcast station like this.
'When we meet, we kiss kiss kiss to say hello~'
The villain version? The Shoot-to-Greet Law song.
'When we meet, we bang bang bang to say hello~'
The Shoot-to-Greet Law was a villain's greeting. Which meant the hotel guards shooting at me... were villains.
"Villains!"
Click click click!
I reached out and snatched the bullets flying at me. To normal eyes, it would've looked like my arms vanished.
Ting!
"Huh?"
Then, a bullet aimed at me ricocheted off a utility pole, veering off course. And where it headed? A kid walking hand-in-hand with his mom.
"Gasp!"
"Kyaa!"
I hurled myself forward, shielding the kid and his mom with my body. I felt the bullet slam into my back.
"P-Please... spare..."
The mom trembled in fear at my sudden appearance. Even terrified herself, she clutched her child tight. Motherly love was something else.
Bang bang bang bang!
Despite the kid and mom in front of me, the hotel guards kept firing. Good aim—they kept hitting my back.
"Hyah!"
I yanked a nearby parked car over as cover and said to the mom,
"Get out of here fast. It's dangerous."
"Spare us... Huh?"
"See ya."
If I stuck around, more bullets would fly, so I launched myself at the hotel guards. The mom stared blankly at the departing Steel Armor and muttered,
"What... just... happened?"
"Mom, what's that?"
The kid, too young to realize the danger, spotted something on the ground and pointed.
"A bullet?"
The mom found the bullet where the kid pointed. The exact one Steel Armor had blocked first.
"No way?"
Only then did she realize Steel Armor had saved them.
"Damn it! He really is a villain! What's that guy's superpower?!"
"Body Enhancer! He's an A-rank villain!"
"Son of a bitch! Of all the luck!"
The guard captain bit his lip at the staffer's words.
They could handle villains with other superpowers just fine with guards alone. Guns worked on superpowered folks too.
But a Body Enhancer—and an A-rank one? No chance. Guns couldn't stop an A-rank Body Enhancer.
"Report sent?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good! Keep shooting! Hold for three minutes! Just stall till the heroes arrive!"
"Yes, sir!"
The hotel guards fired even more furiously at the captain's order.
'These criminal bastards!'
Meanwhile, having saved the kid with the car, I hurtled toward the hotel guards shooting at me. I landed in front of one.
"Gasp?!"
"Shoot-to-Greet Return Fire!"
"Guh?!"
I drove my fist into his solar plexus. Bullets they'd fired were pinched between my fingers. The guard wheezed and collapsed.
"Return fire! Return fire! Return fire!"
"Gasp!"
"Argh!"
"Mommy!"
"Damn it! Fall back to the lobby!"
I took down the hotel guards one by one, and the ones still conscious retreated to the hotel lobby for a standoff.
"These criminal bastards!"
"Who's the criminal, you villain scum!"
It wasn't because they used the Shoot-to-Greet Law that I called them criminals. It was because they shot at me.
Good thing I was a real villain. What if I wasn't? What if I was just a Steel Armor fan wearing the same mask?
Those hotel guards had just casually committed murder.
Therefore, they were criminals.
'Hiring criminals as hotel guards! Francesco Corp must be a corrupt company riddled with scandals!'
One day, as the villain of justice, I'd wipe out the rotten Francesco Corp.
"D-Damn..."
I followed them into the lobby, taking them out one by one, until I grabbed the guard captain by the collar as he barked orders.
I shoved my face in his pained one and demanded,
"Why'd you shoot at me?"
"W-What are you..."
"Didn't it occur to you I might be a guest staying here? Do you shoot guests in this hotel?"
"...?"
The guard captain looked utterly baffled, unable to grasp my words. Of course he couldn't. It was all bullshit. Heh heh!
"No answer? You're sentenced to death."
"N-No...!"
"Your Shoot-to-Greet too!"
"Gack?!"
I knocked out the guard captain with a solar plexus strike. I'd said death sentence, but I had no intention of killing him.
"..."
"Gasp!"
The front desk staff panicked when I turned to them. Like prey spotting a predator, they huddled and shivered. I approached.
"Where's the security room?"
"Spare us!"
"...Answer me, and I'll let you live. Where's the security room?"
"Follow this hall straight past the restrooms, then turn right! It's marked 'Security Room,' so you'll find it easy!"
"...Thanks. Here's a tip."
"Thank you!"
I tossed a tip to the rapid-fire-talking staffer, and he snatched it up. What a quirky guy.
-Security Room-
Following the staffer's directions led me right to it, as promised.
Bang bang bang!
I smashed the door open and wrecked all the equipment inside. Especially the CCTV footage—I ground it to dust, beyond recovery.
"Alright then..."
Mission accomplished, but I didn't head straight back to Elizabeth's hotel. If I only trashed the security room, the heroes would figure out I was after the recordings.
I had to smash up guest rooms and elsewhere too, to throw them off.
"There he is!"
"Steel Armor!"
"...Hm?"
Back in the lobby, heroes who'd responded to the report were waiting. And I spotted a familiar face.
"Ice Queen?"
"You! You pervert bastard!"
It was the Ice Queen from our clash at Sanctuary Corp. She immediately called me a pervert.
"Why am I the pervert? You're the pervert, Ice Queen."
"Shut up, you pervert! H-How dare you call that massive dic—ahem! Anyway, surrender, Steel Armor! Resist, and I'll use force!"
"Hm. You couldn't take me down before and ran. Think you can this time?"
"This is different."
"Looking forward to it."
"Battle stations!"
Seeing I wouldn't surrender, Ice Queen and the heroes readied for combat. I clenched my fists, preparing too.
'System.'
Checking the heroes with Ice Queen: two A-ranks, four B-ranks. Including her, three A-ranks. Levels: one 9, two 8s, two 7s, two 6s.
Pretty heavy firepower just to catch me.
'Might have to burn a ticket after all.'
Specialists at catching villains. This wouldn't be easy.
'This'll be fun.'
Was it because I fought villains daily? Seeing the heroes glaring murderously at me brought a smile to my lips.
In a world of superpowers, banging girls was great, but clashing with powered foes like this? Just as thrilling.
"..."
"..."
Tension hung thick. One move, and the fight would erupt.
The hotel guards I'd downed, even the tip-grabbing staffer—all had fled. I could cut loose with my powers.
Squeeze!
Outnumbered, I planned to strike first. Spotting it, sharp ice shards formed around Ice Queen. The other heroes activated their powers too.
"Here I go!"
"Make your peace, Steel Armor!"
Just as we charged—
Ding!
The elevator doors opened.
"Hohoho~ If you're sleepy, grandpa, go home and rest."
"Aigoo, you old hag... We're at a nice hotel for once, why go home to sleep?"
"Home's the comfiest."
An elderly couple stepped out, hand in hand.
"..."
"..."
Heroes and I froze, staring at them. Awkward silence fell.
"Aigoo? What a mess this place is."
"Huh? Old lady, looks like they're about to fight."
"Oh dear... What now?"
"Let's wait till it's over."
"Should we?"
"..."
"..."
Seeing us at a standoff, the couple decided to wait it out.
"Um..."
I lowered my fists and politely said to the couple,
"Please, go ahead."
"Aigoo, you sure?"
"Of course. Right?"
"Uh... Y-Yeah. Go on, elders."
I glanced at Ice Queen; she nodded, face flushed with embarrassment.
"Aigoo, thank you kindly. Such polite young folks these days. Don't fight too rough now. Your parents would worry if you got hurt."
"Uh... Sure. We'll go easy."
The couple left the lobby after my reply.
"..."
"..."
The awkward silence between me and the heroes lingered even after they were gone.