Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Shocking Debut (3)
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The Hero Association divides heroes into ranks based on the superpowers they possess.
Ranks are determined by how much impact they can have on the world. An S-rank hero, for instance, can topple buildings or even trigger natural disasters with their power alone.
Even without destructive abilities, one could still reach S-rank, as exemplified by the Memory Hunter.
The S-rank hero known as Memory Hunter could read people's memories completely—even those they themselves had forgotten. For example, peering into the mind of an 80-year-old would reveal every single second of their entire 80-year life, without omission.
His ability found its greatest use, naturally, in interrogating criminals.
No matter how convincingly a criminal shed crocodile tears and professed innocence, Memory Hunter could verify the truth. His power thus wielded tremendous influence over society.
Ranks ran from the highest, S-grade, down to the lowest, D-grade, based on superpowers.
For reference, according to Bal Jeong-nam's system, the levels for each rank were as follows:
The Hero Association also ranked villains using the same criteria as for heroes.
However, villains had one additional factor: their criminal record.
For example, if an A-rank villain murdered someone in the morning because they slept well, killed again at lunch because the food was tasty, and ended the day with another killing before bed—a utterly depraved maniac—the Association would classify them as S-rank instead.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm the Shadow Killer."
"Sh-Shadow Killer...!"
And right now, the villain standing before Cruemora Doctor was one of the S-rank villains designated by the Hero Association—the worst of the worst.
Shadow Killer resembled an abyss of pure darkness molded into human form, devoid of any facial features.
His abilities rivaled those of an S-rank hero, but that wasn't all. He had committed countless heinous crimes: murders, hits, drug trafficking, and more. His known kills alone exceeded a hundred.
That was just what was public knowledge; the unreported ones were beyond counting.
The phrase "a monster in human skin" existed for villains like Shadow Killer.
'So this is how I die.'
The instant Shadow Killer appeared, Cruemora Doctor sensed his end. There was no way this ruthless killer would let him live.
'This is so unfair!'
Tears welled up in the doctor's eyes.
He didn't dare dream of dying peacefully by a loved one's side. Even keeling over on the street would be fine. At the very least, he wanted to witness the world from his research—the one he had dreamed of—before death claimed him.
A beautiful world where everyone wielded superpowers.
A world free from discrimination based on the luck of the draw when it came to abilities.
But the doctor's pursuit of that dream ended here.
"Let's have a little chat..."
"...Just kill me."
"Pardon?"
"I'm not afraid of you! So don't toy with me— just kill me already!"
"....."
Cruemora Doctor bellowed at Shadow Killer, desperately masking his terror.
Everyone feared death.
But in a situation where death was certain, he wanted to face it with dignity. That was the final choice available to an old scientist who had walked the path of science solely for his dream.
"....."
"Eek...!"
As the black humanoid figure approached right up to his face, the doctor—who had steeled himself for death—flinched anyway. He had only hidden his fear; it hadn't vanished.
Shadow Killer didn't kill him immediately. Instead, he tilted his head, circling the doctor like he was studying him.
Cruemora Doctor assumed Shadow Killer was mocking him.
"What are you doing? I said kill me!"
"Pfft..."
"What?"
"Puhukikikik!"
Suddenly, Shadow Killer's shoulders began to shake. The tremors grew, soon convulsing his entire body.
"Puhihihihihik! Kikikikikik! Ohohohohoho! Kukukukuku! Krurrrr! Kerrrr! Kuhehehehehel! Miyuhuhuhu!"
"....!"
The bizarre laughter sent chills down the doctor's spine, his body hair standing on end. Rumors said Shadow Killer wasn't human but a monster—and they seemed true.
Drip-!
"....."
"....."
Shadow Killer abruptly stopped his mad cackling. Even without eyes, the doctor felt their gazes lock. Fear made his legs give out.
"Cruemora Doctor."
Shadow Killer lowered himself to match the seated doctor's eye level.
"Why would I kill you?"
"What... did you say?"
"Someone as brilliant as you? That would be a loss for humanity. Your mind is humanity's treasure. Killing you would harm all mankind! I have no intention of doing that—not even as much as a single pubic hair. Oh, and for the record, I don't have any pubic hair, Doctor."
"....."
The doctor stared blankly at Shadow Killer. Overwhelmed, he didn't even register that he had switched to polite speech.
"I'm here to deliver some great news."
"Great... news?"
"Exactly! Great news. Or in other words, a business proposition. Just hear me out—you'll be intrigued, Doctor."
"....."
Cruemora Doctor gazed at Shadow Killer, utterly entranced.
Bal Jeong-nam had planned to corner Cruemora Doctor, turning him into a villain.
But the unexpected arrival of a terrorist and the A-rank hero Ice Queen had derailed everything.
Just as Bal Jeong-nam hadn't anticipated them, neither had he foreseen Shadow Killer.
Yet Bal Jeong-nam's plan had succeeded in a completely unforeseen way.
Because Cruemora Doctor was listening intently to the devil's whispers.
Cracklecracklecrack-!
'Again?! This is freezing my ass off!'
Ice Queen's ice encased my body once more. Who knew how many times this made it? After ten, I'd stopped counting out of annoyance.
Bam-!
I stomped down hard, shattering the ice surrounding me into fragments.
"Tch!"
Ice Queen bit her lip at the sight. You think you're pissed? So am I!
The ice walls encasing the lab seemed to amplify her powers—a kind of field effect.
I'd attacked her relentlessly so far, but she was so damn quick that none of my strikes even grazed her clothes. Her attacks, meanwhile, hit me dead-on every time.
We'd been pounding away one-sidedly, yet both sides had taken zero damage.
I hadn't touched her at all, and her assaults hadn't hurt me either. The only casualty was the slight tear in my skintight suit.
'Should've picked Cold Resistance if I knew it'd be like this!'
Among the traits I could choose were resistances to cold, fire, lightning, and such.
With so many options, I hadn't committed to any. I figured bulking up my body would make me pain-proof anyway.
And that logic was half right, half wrong.
No pain was great, but freezing my nuts off was pure hell.
In hindsight, Cold Resistance would've been clutch. I hate the cold more than heat anyway.
"....."
Bam-!
If I had one edge over her, it was my infinite stamina, rock-hard body, and raw power.
So my only option was to stubbornly keep attacking Ice Queen until she tired out and couldn't dodge anymore.
"...Ha!"
Ice Queen dodged my kick and let out a hollow laugh as she eyed the spot where she'd stood.
Her ice was tougher than steel. Yet that sturdy ice wall had just shattered.
From a single kick of mine.
She'd probably never faced a villain like me before, so this had to feel utterly baffling.
"A brute with nothing but wild boar strength."
"....."
Right now, thanks to Mom, I was playing the strong, silent villain type. Concept was everything in hero-villain play.
To stick to it, I had to keep my mouth shut.
"Slippery little rat bitch."
But in a situation like this, I couldn't hold back.
What? Wild boar? Is this bitch nuts?! Why call a fine specimen like me a boar?!
"What?"
Ice Queen's reaction was weird. Her eyes narrowed.
"Rat? Bitch? Has this wild boar lost its mind?!"
"....."
Hey, why are you cursing now...? A supposed hero with such a filthy mouth? I never imagined. And you started the taunting...
"If you're so tough, try blocking this."
Ice Queen assumed a stance and thrust both hands toward me. Arms spread shoulder-width, she slowly brought her palms together.
'Huh?'
My eyes widened at the sight. As her palms drew nearer, the cold between them intensified. If I didn't block it, I'd be in deep shit.
"....."
I charged to stop her. The distance closed in an instant—close enough to reach out and grab her.
The moment I extended my hand—
"Ice Rage."
"....!"
Her palms met, unleashing a blinding beam of ice from above them.
It chilled me to the bone—marrow and all!
My remaining 300 HP started plummeting. At this rate, game over loomed.
Steel Skin
Temporarily transforms skin into steel, granting extreme defense.
"Ugh... That was close."
She had unleashed her most powerful attack on the black skintight-suited villain.
Ice Rage.
This technique, meaning "Ice Fury," condensed cold into a beam-like strike.
Anything it touched froze solid, and not even S-rank heroes or villains dared take it head-on.
"....."
She stared at the massive ice statue before her—the former skintight villain who'd dared call her a rat bitch.
"N-No way he died, right?"
In a fit of rage, she'd fired her ultimate move. It was self-defense, but if the villain actually died, she'd be in hot water.
"Guess I should call people..."
Crackle-!
"...Huh?"
As Ice Queen prepared to dispel the igloo for cleanup, an ominous sound from behind froze her. She turned slowly.
Cracklecracklecrack-!
"N-No... impossible..."
The massive ice statue began to fracture.
At first, just a few chunks fell, but soon it crumbled like icicles melting in spring warmth.
Boom-!
"Kyaa!"
Finally, the statue shattered completely, the shockwave knocking Ice Queen flat on her back.
Drip-! Drip-!
The giant emerging from the ice rolled his head, loosening his stiff neck.
"Ah... aaaah..."
Ice Queen couldn't hide her shock.
This insanely tough bastard had taken her strongest technique head-on and emerged unscathed.
A move no S-rank hero or villain would face directly.
It meant one thing.
The giant before her was an S-rank villain!
'His body...'
Amid the chaos, Ice Queen noticed the giant's body gleaming gray. Ice Rage had shredded his skintight suit, exposing his skin. He'd shielded his face with his hand, so the mask covering it remained intact.
The scent of iron emanated from his body.
"....!"
As she unwittingly scanned his form, her eyes widened.
'Y-You're... way too...'
Way too...
'Big?!'
What? What was big?
Whatever she'd seen, Ice Queen was horrified by something enormous.