Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Strongest Hero
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~
"Welcome... haa..."
The bell on the door chimed, and Peter Elrain, who had been reading the newspaper at the counter, looked up to greet the customer. But when he saw it was me, he let out a sigh.
What the? Sighing at a customer?
"Why are you here again?"
"Hey, as the shop owner, shouldn't you welcome customers without sighing?"
"Customer my ass. I've never considered a villain like you a customer. Cut the crap—what do you want today?"
He wasn't just prickly; the guy had aged into pure grumpiness.
"Villain or hero, anyone who walks into your store is a customer! I bought this suit with my own money."
"That was back when I didn't know you were a villain. I have no intention of selling you a single piece of clothing I've made now, so just leave."
"What about my mask then?! You promised to make me one!"
"When did I ever promise that? Never happened."
"You did! Last time you said you couldn't because you didn't have the fabric!"
"I don't know anything about that. So get out and don't come back."
"..."
Watching Peter play innocent lit a mischievous spark in me.
Promises between people are sacred—how could he spout such nonsense?! Sure, people say things change before and after using the bathroom, but still...!
Ugh...! I'm pissed! So pissed!!!
Mischief level MAX!
"So you're saying you can't make my mask now?"
"Yes. Now leave."
"...You shouldn't have said that."
"What?"
His eyebrow twitched when I switched to casual speech. Sure, I usually respected my elders like a proper Confucian, but if he acted like this, I didn't need to hold back anymore.
You just ignored my final warning!
"Heh heh heh. You'll regret that choice today."
"Go ahead and try. I've already reported you to the Hero Association."
"..."
Peter's confidence wasn't just in heroes. He'd lived 365 years by swapping into new bodies with his superpower.
Naturally, the knowledge, combat skills, and new body's strength he'd accumulated over that time far exceeded any normal human's.
He probably planned to take me down if things got dicey.
But would that be easy?
I was a level 30 villain overall: level 10 Body Enhancer, Superpower Analyst, and Cloning Mage.
No way Peter could beat me.
Get ready, Peter Elrain!
This is the power of a level 30 vil—!
"Waaah! Armor's here! It's Steel Armor! You promised to make it! You promised the mask! Why break your promise?! Why break the promise you made with Armor?! Waaah!"
Tantrum time!
"...What the hell are you doing?"
"Give it! Give me the mask I asked for! Waaah! Mooom! He's not giving me my mask! Waaah!"
"..."
Peter stared at me in disbelief as I threw myself on the floor, wailing. What're you gonna do about it?
I'll keep this up until another customer shows! I'm mad now!
"Waaah! Give Armor his mask! He said he wanted the mask made!"
"Get up already! You're being too loud—get up!"
"...Will you make the mask?"
"Why the hell would I make a mask for you?! Just go ask someone else!"
"Waaah! You broke your promise! You broke the promise with me! Liar! Uncle's a liar! Waaah!"
"Ugh... my ears... Why is your voice so damn loud?! Look! I reported you to the Hero Association! Get out before the heroes arrive!"
"No way! No way! I won't leave without my mask! Wah! Wah! Waaah!!!!!!"
"..."
Peter gazed desperately at me as I screamed and rolled around, wiping the floor with my body. What do you want me to do? This is what you get for breaking your promise!
After ten solid minutes of wailing and thrashing, Peter finally waved the white flag.
"Fine! I'll make it! Just stop already!"
"...For real?"
"For real! So quit yelling! And stop rolling on the floor!"
"Yep."
I jumped right up. Damn, my suit's covered in dust now. Should've cleaned instead of reading the paper if you had nothing better to do.
"So when can I pick up the mask?"
"Haa... Come back in two days."
"Two days... Guess I'll swing by tomorrow then."
"I said two days!"
"Tomorrow's just a cheer-up visit. Got any favorites? I'll bring something."
"I don't need anything—come in two days."
"Then I'll pick something myself. See you tomorrow. Bye now."
"..."
Peter blankly watched my back as I coolly exited the shop. Heh. Hooked yet? Had to be. A real man speaks with his broad shoulders.
"Adios!"
"...That lunatic."
I ignored the mutter from behind.
"Alright~ What now?"
I'd cleared the daily quest of visiting Peter, so time for something fun. Sun hadn't set yet.
"Oh! Date with Yuna?"
We'd planned one before, but it fell through. Now that she'd seen my true identity, it wouldn't hurt to make up for it.
I pulled out my phone to call Yuna...
"Kyaaak! Villain!"
Right as I was about to dial, screams erupted. Villain?
I glanced around, wondering if they meant me, but no one looked my way. Oh right, I'd taken off my mask leaving Peter's shop. So which villain bastard shows up in broad daylight?
"Stop right there!"
"Hah! You ever see a villain who stops on command?"
"..."
In the distance, I spotted a guy with a bulky backpack sprinting, chased by a group of masked heroes.
"Huh?"
And among those heroes, I recognized a familiar woman—no, hero.
"It's Aqua Girl."
My slave number one, Yuna Reyes! Hero name: Aqua Girl!
"Aqua... Wait, no."
I almost called out in excitement but realized the timing sucked and dropped my hand quick. I'm not that oblivious.
"Don't follow me, you bastards! Got nothing better to do?"
"We're doing our jobs, you piece of shit! Stop!"
"Bullshit! Eat this!"
"Wha—what?! Kyaaak!"
The fleeing villain shamelessly grabbed a woman filming on her phone and hurled her. Impressively, she kept hold of her phone mid-flight. A true Twitter warrior!
"Jumper!"
"On it!"
The lead hero called out, and Jumper leaped high, catching the woman safely.
"Not bad, huh?"
He'd jumped at least five meters straight up. Hero name fit—some jumping-related power.
Meanwhile, the villain was closing in on my spot.
'To help or not?'
Catching him would be easy. Just trip him as he passes. Heroes pile on, done.
Case closed!
"There! Aqua Ball!"
'Perfect. Time to help!'
If it were random heroes, I'd let him escape. But one of them was my pretty slave.
Duty as master: boost her record!
I was just about to stick out my foot when—
"Now!"
"Kuhahaha! You idiots! Think we'd keep taking this forever?!"
"Ngh! It's a trap!"
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, more people burst from the crowd, attacking the heroes. Things flipped so fast, it took a second to process.
"A trap? In a place this crowded... Oh. Makes sense—crowds favor villains."
I'd initially puzzled over villains ambushing heroes mid-street with all these people. But I got their angle quick.
Heroes have to protect civilians.
If pursuit and civilian safety clash, safety comes first—even if it means letting the villain go.
A real pain for heroes, so they always deploy at least five on a call.
"Damn it! You cowards!"
"You got time to focus on us?! What if civilians die?!"
"Run! Hurry!"
The leader hero yelled at citizens while fighting, but few fled. They were too busy filming the spectacle.
"Jeez... Social media really ruins people."
Saw this crap on Earth all the time—same here. Reality check?
That's what the ambush villains banked on. They'd feint toward crowds, warning heroes first.
"Gonna hit these guys here! Block good, hero!"
"Damn it! Please run!"
Villain attacked as threatened; a hero bit his lip and shielded the civilians.
This repeated everywhere, tilting the fight toward villains. Five heroes vs. eleven villains—numbers crushed them.
"Hey, hot stuff! Wanna play with big bro?"
"You psycho! Die! Aqua Ball!"
"..."
Then I saw a villain harassing Aqua Girl with pervy taunts while attacking. That fucking prick?
'Daring to sexually harass my slave?!'
Rage snapped.
I ducked into an alley, donned my mask quick, and shoved back into the street.
"Hey, what?!"
"Don't push!"
"Argh! Who the hell—huh?"
"..."
I bulldozed through the gawkers. People grumbled at the shoulder-checks but shut up spotting me.
No one in Dark City missed Steel Armor's infamous mug.
I glared down at a dazed onlooker.
"Don't wanna die? Get lost now. Can't you see you're making it hard for the heroes?"
"Huh?"
"..."
This guy's IQ must suck. No other reason not to get my point.
Poor low-IQ uncle! Fine, I'll escort you to safety myself!
"Wh-whoa?! H-help! Somebody heeelp! Aaaah!"
Bam—!
"Urk! Uuugh!"
"Kyaaak!"
I grabbed his collar and yeeted him onto a parked car. He screamed bloody murder; finally, the crowd scattered.
Heroes were protecting them over there, sure—but Steel Armor was right here.
"Huh? Shit! That's Steel Armor?! He's with them?!"
"Steel Armor?"
"What? Why's he here..."
The commotion hit the fighters. Heroes gaped; villains eyed me weird.
'Hey Aqua Girl.'
'Master?! Why here?!'
'Yeah. Love you too.'
'These his minions?!'
'I know. Love you too.'
'Wh-what now?'
I traded glances with Aqua Girl. Yuna kept beaming love eyes. No mistake there.
My entrance stalled the fight. I strode toward the villain who'd groped at her. Who the hell does this dog think he is?!
He was huge, but fat outmassed muscle—unlike me. Unkempt hair and beard everywhere, bald spot gleaming.
'Oof... Laser hair removal got him good.'
Shiny crown like a mythical kappa. Guess he only maintained that.
"Hey."
"Wh-what?!"
"Wanna die?"
"What? Hey! I'm a villain too! Why attack your own—"
"Who the fuck's your fellow villain, you shit?!"
"Kuak?!"
Sad about the bald laser, but harassing Aqua Girl? And claiming same villain status? Unforgivable.
I'm ripped; you're a lardass! And crucially—no bald laser for me!
"Y-you psycho! Get him too!"
Villains swarmed me after I decked their buddy. Half stayed on heroes; half charged me.
"You're fucked, shitheads."
I met their charge head-on. Or tried to.
Ziiiiing—!
"Hm?"
"Wh-what is that?!"
"Gasp! That's...!"
Laser beams rained from the sky, circling me and the eleven villains. Asphalt scorched in a ring instantly.
Villains gawked upward; I followed. A hero descended slowly, regal as hell.
"Who the hell's that?"
White full-body suit under armor-like battle gear, white cape billowing. Unlike others, face fully exposed.
New face to me. Onlookers ID'd him.
"Wooo! The strongest hero's here!"
"White Knight! I love you!"
"White Knight!"
Crowd cheered his name like a ballgame roar.