Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: What is Justice?
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'Oh no, he's done it now!'
The moment Valencia Association President kicked Director Guzman's shin, everyone in the conference room shared the same thought.
The president assaulting a director!
This calls for dismissal.
"Argh! Aaaah! Oh man, I'm dying! The president's attacking people! Help, somebody save me!"
Clutching his shin and hopping around, Director Guzman threw himself flat on the floor and wailed.
But this wasn't some Hollywood action flick. Valencia Association President was a superpowered individual and one of the rare S-rank heroes in the Hero Association.
When someone like that kicked your shin, it was bound to hurt like hell. A massive bruise was probably already forming on Director Guzman's leg.
'No wonder... He dug out those pointy heels he always complained were uncomfortable and never wore.'
Valencia Association President's secretary and A-rank hero, Nine-Tailed Fox, sighed inwardly.
"P-President! Please calm down first!"
"Yes! Violence isn't the answer!"
At the other directors' words, Valencia Association President shot back.
"Violence is bad, but you all just sat there watching Director Guzman beat on Ice Queen without saying a word? What, selective permission?"
"..."
"Th-that was..."
The other directors couldn't properly respond to the president's question. He had heard everything that went down inside from outside.
"Director Guzman can use violence, but I can't? Where's the justice in that double standard? He used violence, so I'll use violence too."
"B-but Director Guzman was justified in..."
"Justified? You call that justified? Director Hans, are you seriously saying that what Director Guzman said and did to Ice Queen was justified?"
"Th-that..."
Director Hans, who was close to Director Guzman, tried to speak, but he was overwhelmed by the president's blazing glare and couldn't respond properly.
Turning him into a mute, Valencia Association President grabbed the collar of Director Guzman, who was still rolling on the floor, and hoisted him up effortlessly.
"Aaaah! Help!"
"Director Guzman."
"Argh! Aaaaaah! The president's attacking people!"
"Scream one more time, and next it's not your shin—I'll kick that noisy trap of yours."
"..."
The president was like a bulldozer—if he said he'd do it once, he did it without fail. Valuing his mouth, Director Guzman clamped it shut.
"What the hell are you?"
"What do you..."
"Are you a Hero Association director or a chaebol lackey?"
"..."
"Pick one and stick to it. Don't try to do both. And don't lay a hand on my kids for no reason. You might end up dead."
"...!"
Setting Director Guzman down, Valencia Association President returned to his seat. But instead of sitting, he slammed his fist down on the desk.
Bam!
The president's fist crashed into the desk.
"Who are we?!"
"..."
"We are heroes! Heroes who use our mysterious superpowers to protect citizens from villains committing crimes!"
All eyes turned to the president.
"The ones Ice Queen arrested yesterday had taken drugs banned by the Association and the city. They also raped innocent women! The moment they broke the law, they became criminals—regardless of status! Ice Queen!"
"Yes, President!"
"As the first hero to witness the scene, answer me: Are they criminals or not?"
"Criminals, ma'am!"
"They took drugs, but they're chaebol heirs and politicians' sons. Criminals or not?"
"Criminals!"
"They raped innocent women, but they're chaebol heirs and politicians' sons. Criminals or not?"
"Criminals!"
Bam!
"That's right! Criminals! Heroes have a duty to arrest criminals! Ice Queen fulfilled that duty as a hero! Is that grounds for reprimand?!"
"..."
"..."
Overwhelmed by Valencia Association President's commanding presence, no one could speak.
"Nine-Tailed Fox!"
"Yes, President."
The president called his secretary.
"Go tell the chaebol families and politicians: Cutting sponsorship? Political pressure? If they want to go all out, be my guest. Drag my kid to court or whatever—do your worst! But tell them we're going all the way too. The 306 heroes under the Hero Association will pursue this drug and rape case to the end and ensure severe punishment!"
"Understood."
"President, that's!"
Everyone was shocked.
If the Hero Association started a chicken game with the chaebols and politicians, no one side collapsing wouldn't end it. All three would suffer massive damage.
The president's words weren't over.
"We're human too! Who pays our salaries? Citizens? Their taxes can't cover us! We have to secure our own funding! Yeah, so we took money from chaebols under the guise of sponsorship. I led the charge! So what?!"
"..."
"We take that money to fill the pockets of my kids risking their lives on the front lines. What's wrong with that? Director Hans!"
"Y-yes, President!"
"Are you a hero or not?"
"Pardon? I, I'm..."
Director Hans was a non-superpowered individual without abilities. He wasn't a hero. As he hesitated, the president awakened his identity.
"You idiot! You are a hero!"
"Me?"
"Yes! Think you need superpowers to be a hero? 'Hero' means everyone doing their absolute best in their position to protect citizens' safety! Director Hans! You proposed the hero support plan for flood victims last time, right? Who was that for? Yourself? No, it was for the citizens!"
"Y-yes, it was!"
"Then you're a hero too! Because you serve the citizens!"
"...!"
Director Hans's eyes widened.
He had never once thought of himself as a hero.
Yet here was someone calling him one—a political adversary, no less. An inexplicable excitement swelled in his chest.
"We're heroes! Every single person in this room is a hero! We took chaebol money, sure! But we're heroes, not chaebol puppets!"
"..."
Dominating the conference room in an instant, the president looked each person in the eye and spoke.
"Remember that. Never forget. We are heroes. If you want to be chaebol lackeys or politicians' spokespeople, quit now, get a job at a big corp, or become a political mouthpiece. But if not, do your utmost to protect our heroes and citizens."
"Ice Queen, who fulfilled her duty as a hero, is innocent—no punishment. Meeting adjourned. Everyone, go home. Ice Queen, you follow me."
"Yes, President."
With that, the president strode out of the conference room. His secretary and Ice Queen followed. It felt like a massive storm had just swept through.
"He said meeting's over, so let's head out."
"Yeah."
The people, exchanging awkward glances, filed out of the conference room. A faint smile graced their lips.
"Ugh... grind... Valencia...!"
Only Director Guzman, left alone, spat fury instead of smiling.
"You okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. And... President."
"What?"
"Thank you."
"Thanks for what? A hero doing his job—who's gonna complain?"
Flustered by Ice Queen's gratitude, the president chuckled awkwardly as he sat down. Ice Queen chuckled too and took her seat.
"Shall I make some coffee?"
"Nah, bring booze."
"I'll get water. Ice Queen?"
"Oh, I'm good."
"Got it."
"Hey! Water? I said booze! Nine-Tailed Fox! Hey, Miho!"
Thirsty for alcohol, the president desperately called his secretary, but she coldly exited the office.
"Tch. She always treats the president like a joke."
"Hee-hee."
Ice Queen burst out laughing at the president whining like a child. Then, with a worried expression, she asked.
"By the way, are you really going all the way with them? If you do..."
"Deal's already done."
"Pardon?"
An unexpected response.
"They reached out first. Said they'd send a substitute, so just help once. Thanks to that, we can proceed with part of the canceled plan as is. Ah~ But it needed President Bal's son. Then it could've been full steam ahead. Why's that kid so squeaky clean? A chaebol heir, huh? Should be doing drugs and stuff."
"...President."
"Yeah, I know what you're gonna say."
Ice Queen opened her mouth, but the president held up a hand.
"I'm an S-rank hero. A Body Enhancer at that. Bullets bouncing off my head can't pierce my skin. Without aging, I'd be immortal."
"..."
"I've personally arrested over a hundred villains and killed five S-rank ones. But even I can't kill or capture this massive monster called society. All I can do is compromise with the monster."
The president gazed into the distance. He looked utterly exhausted.
"And I haven't let those guys off completely. Ever seen junkies quit cold turkey? Bet they'll relapse eventually. So we compromise now and nab 'em later."
"...Not compromise again later?"
"Huh?"
The president's eyes widened at Ice Queen's words. Then she burst into laughter.
"Kuhahaha! Who knows? Money's never enough, no matter how much you have. Another fat settlement, another compromise, and I can fatten my kids' pockets more."
"President!"
"Oh, and we settled with the rape victims too. All early-20s models, apparently. No wonder those guys lost it. Chaebols got cash to burn. $1 million each to settle."
"...!"
Shocked, Ice Queen shot up from her seat.
"President! How could you...! The victims will live in pain forever! And you're saying... throwing some money at them ends it? You said it yourself—we're heroes! Yet you're releasing criminals just because they're chaebol heirs, because of a settlement?!"
"Doubt it."
"Pardon?"
"The victims. They won't suffer forever. Time heals all wounds, right? Scars fade, pain dulls over time."
"President!"
"Better to be rich and in pain than poor and in pain."
"!!!!!"
This was alien. Utterly alien.
Was this really the man she'd admired all this time?
The same person, yet today he felt like a stranger. None of the respect she usually felt remained.
Ice Queen felt nauseous beyond endurance. She turned to storm out but spun back.
"President."
"Yeah?"
"A villain once said this to me."
"Villain?"
"Hero Ice Queen. Enforce justice."
"..."
"Not a hero. A villain said it to me."
"..."
"...I'll be going now."
Ice Queen turned coldly. The president leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"Enforce justice... Yeah, enforce justice. Gotta. But... society's monster blocks me. Anyone bigger than the monster? Wish someone would just slay it... Even as president, I'm too small."
Valencia Association President muttered bitterly.
"...But seriously, Nine-Tailed Fox said she'd bring water—where is it? Did she go home?"
'This isn't right.'
Leaving the president's office, Ice Queen bit her lip. The nausea was unbearable.
'This is absolutely not right!'
How could money heal the victims' wounds?!
'If the law can't handle it...'
"Ice Queen."
"...Oh. Nine-Tailed Fox."
As Ice Queen exited the Hero Association, the president's secretary, Nine-Tailed Fox, called out.
"Can we talk for a moment?"
"...Sure."
"This way."
Nine-Tailed Fox led Ice Queen to a nearby café. The two women sipped coffee in silence for a while before speaking.
"Please don't hate the president too much."
"Pardon? Ah..."
Ice Queen gave a bitter smile at Nine-Tailed Fox's words. No way she hadn't heard the outburst. She should say she didn't hate him, but the words wouldn't come.
"That was the best choice he could make."
"That? Taking chaebol money to let them go?"
Her words were as cold and sharp as ice.
"Yes. As you said, chaebols and politicians back them. Even if we drag them to court, they exist outside the law's reach. Punishment? At best, a suspended sentence."
"But!"
"The president has brought over a hundred villains to court. Including regular criminals, it's easily over two hundred. What punishments do you think they got?"
"..."
"Excluding villains, the harshest was 1 year and 6 months for a guy who killed three people—no powers, but a chaebol heir. Three murders for 18 months. That's reality, and the president's watched it for decades."
"...So? That makes what he's doing right now?"
"I didn't say right. Just that it was his best option. If the law functioned properly, he never would've compromised. He's the most just hero there is."
"...I'll head out first."
Ice Queen rose weakly.
"And the rape victims."
"..."
"The president convinced them to settle."
"..."
"But she demanded at least $1 million each, no less. And if the chaebols harm them later, he'll step in personally—he warned them hard. They accepted. He even assigned top counselors, fully covered."
Nine-Tailed Fox picked up her coffee and stood.
"That's who the president is. He compromises with society when he must, but does everything he can within that. So please, don't hate him too much."
"...I'll be going."
"Take care."
Parting with Nine-Tailed Fox, Ice Queen entered an empty building and dropped her disguise. The haughty hero Ice Queen vanished, replaced by a pure, innocent college girl.
Han Ji-min sipped her coffee and walked slowly down the street.
'Hero Ice Queen. Enforce justice.'
Villain Steel Armor's voice echoed in her ears.
"...What is justice?"
'Hero Ice Queen. Enforce justice.'
"Tell me. I need to know what it is to enforce it. What the hell is justice?"
'Hero Ice Queen. Enforce justice.'
"I don't get justice. I don't know what it is. Am... am I even a hero? What did I become one for?"
'Hero Ice Queen. Enforce justice.'
"..."
Tormented by doubt, Han Ji-min walked slowly.
She wanted to ask Steel Armor when she saw him. What is justice? She wanted his answer.