Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Installment Villain
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"Ungh!"
The Steel Armor MARK-II—me, protecting the kids in the warehouse—suddenly let out a weird noise. But calling myself Steel Armor MARK-II feels kinda off. Guess I'll just go with me.
Anyway, as I let out a low grunt, Rachel, who was holding my hand, looked up at me.
"Mister, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing. More importantly, I'm not 'mister'."
"Huh?"
"I'm Steel Armor MARK-II."
"What's that?"
"It's like... a guy's dream come true... Ungh! Nothing at all. Anyway, I'm Steel Armor MARK-II. Call me that."
"Hmm... I wanna just call you mister. That's okay, right?"
"... Do whatever you want, kid."
I gave Rachel a reluctant look, then nodded like I'd given up. Truth was, we'd been going back and forth like this for a while now.
Turns out Rachel was surprisingly stubborn.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
"Ah, mister..."
A massive roar echoed from outside the warehouse, and Rachel gripped my hand tighter in fear. She was scared the bad guys might be back.
But these weren't the trash criminals who only kidnapped kids. These were heroes dispatched to back up the Memory Hunter.
"Don't worry. The heroes are here to rescue you all."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You're completely safe now."
"Haa... Thank goodness..."
Rachel sighed in relief at the news of the heroes. Even with me by her side, she was still just a little girl—scary things were scary.
I spotted the Hero Association's special forces rappelling down and let go of Rachel's hand.
"Mister?"
"It's time for us~ to part ways~. See you next time~"
"Huh?"
"The heroes will take you home. So, this is goodbye."
"D-Don't..."
"Hm?"
"Don't go... Stay with me..."
"....."
I looked down at Rachel, who had this heartbreakingly sad expression. This kid had totally fallen for my devilish charm, huh? Sorry, but I don't touch minors.
I patted her head. We were parting now, but not forever.
"We're not parting forever."
"Huh?"
"As long as you remember me, we can meet again anytime."
"....."
"See you later, Rachel."
"Ah, mister!"
With that farewell, I figured it was time to head back to my real body. My form started crumbling into powder and floating away. Rachel reached out in surprise, but just like before, she couldn't grab me. I dissolved even faster.
"N-No!"
"Rachel."
"Yes?"
"Ah will be back."
"...?"
I flashed a thumbs-up with an epic line and vanished.
Come to think of it, I'd heard thumbs-up means "up yours" somewhere. John Connor just sobbed as the governor dude who'd saved him from future robots got dumped into boiling lava.
John Connor was definitely a psychopath.
Rachel stared blankly at the spot where he'd disappeared. An overwhelming sadness washed over her.
But she didn't cry.
Because mister had said they'd meet again.
"We found them!"
"The kids are safe!"
The moment Steel Armor MARK-II vanished, Hero Association special agents stormed the warehouse. The children were handed over to them and safely returned home.
"Huh? What's this?"
On my way to the hospital where Rachel's mom Emily was admitted, I noticed some strange powder drifting toward me.
W-Wait, no way...!
"Sandstorm?!"
I waved my hand to blow away what I thought was dust. Palm wind thrust! Whip up a gale!
"What the hell?! Palm wind thrust isn't working?!"
I flailed wildly, but the dust didn't budge—instead, it got closer. Some even clung to my arm and seeped right in.
"Ah."
Then it hit me—this wasn't dust. It was the clone I'd summoned to protect the kids: Steel Armor MARK-II.
"Forgot about that."
So that's how it returns when dismissed? As our split consciousness merged back, my head throbbed a bit.
"Status."
Name:Bal Jeong-nam
Age:30 | Gender:Male
Height:191cm | Weight:104kg
Values:Winner Takes All
Disposition:Chaotic
Motto:There's no bad money in the world.
Superpowers:Body Enhancer (Lv.10), Superpower Analyst (Lv.10), Clone Summoner (Lv.10)
HP:400
Clone Summoner (Lv.10) Skill Tree
Clone Summoner was a bit underwhelming compared to my expectations. I figured maxing it at Lv.10 would let me spawn like a thousand clones or something.
But nope, reality was different.
"It's still plenty useful... but it feels lacking somehow."
Among the superpowers I'd picked, Body Enhancer was still the best value. The others all had their shortcomings.
Of course, that was just my high standards talking. The other two were solid abilities.
Superpower Analyst required watching an opponent use their power up to 7 times depending on level, but if I saw that much, it meant they were strong—which gave me more data.
The more fights I had, the better my perfect takedown plans became.
Clone Summoner was the same. Max 4 clones meant I could handle what 5 people could do alone.
Plus, with superpowers, it was like having a team: one Lv.10 me and four Lv.7 clones.
For someone like me with hardly any superpowered minions, it was a huge help.
Not to mention, gaining experience as someone else while still being me was priceless. Opening my eyes without a mirror and seeing myself? Wild.
"Alright, let's go."
I dismissed the status and kept walking.
If I didn't pay the bill, Emily—Rachel's mom—might get crappy treatment at the hospital. Off to pay up.
"Behold my arrival!"
"Eek?!"
I kicked open the ER doors with a shout, and a nurse passing by screamed and collapsed. It was the same one I'd talked to earlier.
Hmm! This is an 19+ world alright—even random nurses are hot! What a fine place.
"Kekekeke! Did I scare you good?"
"Ugh! First earlier, now this! Can't you just walk in normally?! Why always so dramatic?"
The nurse stood up, snapping at me.
Oh ho? She's got some guts.
I was still wearing the Steel Armor signature skull mask. She knew I was the infamous villain Steel Armor, yet she bitched anyway.
Not your average heart.
"Oh ho? Snapping at me?"
"N-No, not snapping... Just asking you to come in normally... Hehe. You're not mad, right?"
I loomed over her intimidatingly, and she immediately backed down. Seeing her sheepish grin cracked me up. Cuter than she looked.
-Bae Su-jeong-
"Bae Su-jeong? Hmm! Nurse Bae Su-jeong! Got it memorized."
"Eek?! W-Why me?! Forget me! Please!"
Nurse Bae Su-jeong flailed in horror. Too late—you're on my harem candidate list!
"Anyway, how's the patient I brought in?"
"Oh. She went straight into surgery and it went well. She's in recovery now."
"Good. No threat to her life, right? If anything happens to her..."
"Waaah! Don't get mad! It won't happen!"
"Is that so? Then I'll trust Nurse Bae Su-jeong. If she ends up in danger, it'll be on you."
"W-Why me?! I'm just a nurse! Spare me!"
"Who said anything about killing? Just take good care of her. She's got a daughter. Kidnapped a year ago, finally reunited with mom a few days back."
"Ah..."
Nurse Bae Su-jeong's eyes widened at my words.
"But today, that daughter got kidnapped again."
"What? N-No way... You?!"
"....."
What do you take me for? Oh, right—a villain. Guess that's fair.
"As if. By the time I got there, the kid was already taken, and mom was how you saw her."
"Ah... Th-The kid! Is the kid safe? Don't tell me she still hasn't been rescued..."
"The kid's fine. Me and the heroes teamed up, solved it perfectly."
"Haa... Thank goodness. Wait—what? You did a joint investigation with heroes? Aren't you a villain?"
"Not important—skip it. Anyway, the daughter's coming here soon. Nurse Bae Su-jeong, take good care of her. Poor kid."
"Uh... Sure. Do you know her name?"
"Rachel."
"Rachel... Got it. Memorized."
"I memorized you as Nurse Bae Su-jeong too."
"Waaah! I said forget me!"
Nurse Bae Su-jeong pouted. So damn cute. She just leveled up from harem candidate to harem member.
"Anyway, where's billing?"
"Oh, this way. I'll show you."
"Much appreciated."
I followed Nurse Bae Su-jeong to billing. She kept glancing at me nervously, like she had questions.
"Something you wanna ask?"
"Um... Just wondering what your connection is to the patient."
"No connection."
"Huh?"
"Met saving Rachel. Kid's mature for her age, very adult-like. Just looking out for her."
"Ah, I see..."
At billing, Nurse Bae Su-jeong explained. The staffer paled when he realized I was a villain.
Kekekeke! That's right—I'm the lord of terror, Steel Armor!
"$250,000."
"....."
I froze mid-pull from my wallet. I only had $50,000 cash left. Cards were for chaebol heir Bal Jeong-nam only—using one here would blow my cover.
Thud!
"Hey, staffer."
"Eeeeeek?! Sp-Spare me!"
"Hey, why are you like this?! Calm down! The bill—I'll talk to the director and figure something..."
I leaned over the counter, and the staffer toppled backward. Panicked Nurse Bae Su-jeong tried to intervene. What's with everyone?
"Do you do installments?"
"Spare... Huh?"
"I only have $50,000 now. Pay that upfront, owe $200,000—I'll settle when the drug money rolls in."
My minions would handle the selling, of course.
"....."
"....."
Nurse Bae Su-jeong and the staffer stared blankly. What? First installment villain you've seen?