Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Mayor and the True Identity
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"Argh! What are you doing, miss? Don't just stand there gawking—help me out!"
Don Durma bellowed from amid a pile of tomatoes and oranges. His fez hat was soaked in juice, squashed into a pitiful mess.
"What do you mean? You yelled all big and tough, but you're the one who couldn't hold out any better than me!"
Polaris shot back with a sharp yell. For someone who'd just been on the brink of death, her voice was surprisingly robust.
"This is a strategic retreat! A tactic to analyze the enemy's attack patterns!"
Don Durma peeled an orange slice off his face as he made his excuse.
"You just got hit and flew off!"
"Eh, we'll quibble over the small stuff later! Anyway, I've figured out the pattern now, so let's both go beat the tar out of that black tin can together!"
Don Durma burst up from the crushed fruit pile.
"...I agree!"
Polaris glared at the Black Knight, clenching her fists. Starlight flared across her body once more.
Fwaaah—!
Beautiful yet destructive light. The embodiment of the will harbored by a girl named Polaris.
The two heroes exchanged glances. No words were needed.
Polaris from the front, Don Durma from the side.
"Eat this, you black bastard!"
"Starlight Smash!"
A golden flash erupted from Polaris's fist, streaking straight for the Black Knight's face.
At the same time, Don Durma reduced the ground's friction to zero, sliding in like he was on skates to invade the Black Knight's blind spot.
"Right side? Whoops, left? Nah, actually under your feet!"
His movements were laced with playfulness.
But that playfulness was lethal.
Unpredictable. No patterns. Defying logic.
Like a Turkish ice cream vendor toying with customers, he toyed with his foe.
Sliding in defiance of physics. Turning with disregard for inertia.
Kang!
But the clash was all noise, no impact.
The Black Knight didn't even turn his head. His left hand caught the metal rod, his right Polaris's fist—with ease.
"Caught?"
"No way!"
Exclamations burst from both their mouths simultaneously.
[Pathetic.]
The Black Knight tossed them aside like toys.
"Ugh!"
"Kyaa!"
But they weren't content to just take it.
Heroes always rise again, no matter how many times they fall.
Don Durma twisted in midair for a perfect landing, then slid right back in, targeting the Black Knight's lower body.
Polaris pushed off the ground and came at him from the opposite side.
Kang! Chaeng! Kwaang!
Front and back, left and right.
Up, down, left, right.
Pressure impossible for one alone.
Their relentless attacks hemmed in the Black Knight.
Don Durma's metal rod left afterimages dancing in the air. The flashy moves disrupted the Black Knight's vision, unpredictable arcs exploiting defensive gaps.
Polaris's starlight fists exploited those openings, unleashing explosive barrages.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Metal clashing against metal, light exploding in thunderous booms, the rod slicing the wind sharply—all blending into discordant cacophony.
[…….]
The Black Knight said nothing.
He simply blocked, parried, and counterattacked in silence.
Ultra-high-speed exchange.
Sparks. Metal clangs. Flashes. Afterimages.
0.5 seconds.
In that fleeting instant, five punches and six thrusts came and went.
1 second.
Seventeen clashes.
The density of time was different.
Even the same one second was worlds apart between ordinary lives and a hero's battle.
Compressed, concentrated, distilled time.
Within it, life and death, victory and defeat crossed dozens of times.
Pajik—
Countless sparks erupted over the Black Knight's black armor.
Golden cracks spiderwebbed where Polaris's fists landed, vanishing like lightning. Where Don Durma's rod grazed, friction heat scorched it red-hot.
Damage was accumulating.
Microscopic, but definite.
[……Grk.]
A groan-like sound leaked from the Black Knight's helmet.
"It's working!"
It's working.
The attacks are landing.
Then they can win!
In truth, the Black Knight wasn't at full strength.
Days ago at Insim-dang. A grueling fight with the unexpected monster Sugar Girl.
The armor was repaired, but fatigue lingered.
The sweet nightmare forged of sugar still haunted him.
50%? 60%? No exact measure, but definitely not pristine.
"Keep pushing him, Don Durma!"
"Don't need to tell me! I'll skewer him like kebab!"
Don Durma responded to Polaris's shout, gripping his rod tighter.
"Eat this!"
The rod tip gouged the Black Knight's side.
"Hraaah!"
Simultaneously, Polaris's starlight uppercut rocketed toward his chin.
Kwaang—!
With a dull thud, the Black Knight's massive frame was pushed back for the first time.
One step.
Two steps.
"We did it!"
Faint hope dawned on Polaris's face.
They could win. They could protect the mayor.
But.
That hope was cruelly brief.
Swish.
The Black Knight's movement halted abruptly.
The raging storm ceased as if it were a lie.
Silence descended on the plaza.
Breaking it, a low, cold voice emanated from the helmet.
[I've toyed with you enough.]
The Black Knight slowly raised both arms, crossing them in an X before his chest.
And then.
Explosively unfurled them.
Seogeok. Seogeok. Seogeok-seogeok-seogeok—!
The ground quaked.
The plaza's asphalt cracked, black weapons erupting from the fissures in all directions.
Swords, spears, axes, maces, glaives, tridents...
Weapons of every cold steel kind formed a grotesque forest, thrusting outward.
"W-what is this?!"
"Dodge!"
No time to evade.
Black blades surged from beneath their feet, whipping precisely into their bodies.
Peok! Kwa-jik!
"Kuhk!"
"Agh!"
Polaris and Don Durma were flung into the air.
Vision spun. Sky and earth flipped.
They traced limp parabolas before crashing into the central fountain.
Splash!
Water sprayed sky-high.
The fountain's dolphin statue shattered into fragments.
[More interlopers change nothing.]
Splash!
Fountain water splashed everywhere.
"Cough, hack!"
Polaris spat water, staggering to her feet. Her soaked blonde hair plastered to her face.
Don Durma lay sprawled in the water like a starfish. His fez bobbed beside his face.
"Hold up! Strategy time!"
Don Durma yelled, thrusting only his hand out of the water.
[Impressive.]
The Black Knight halted, folding his arms.
Mercy for tenacious life.
No, not mercy—interest.
How much longer could they endure? How many more times rise?
"What do we do? That's a total monster!"
Polaris whispered in despair.
Even two-on-one, not a single proper wound.
They'd been overwhelmingly crushed.
"No, no. While getting smacked around just now, I realized something crucial."
Don Durma wiped water from his mustache solemnly.
"What? That we're done for?"
Polaris yelled, slicking back her wet hair.
"No! That I've figured out that black tin can's power!"
Don Durma sprang up shouting.
A thread of victory found in defeat.
Playfulness sharpened to acuity in his eyes.
"What is it?"
Polaris demanded urgently.
"That guy's armor and weapons are all ice."
Polaris's eyes widened.
"Ice? When it's that black?"
Black ice? Ice is clear or white. Common sense.
But in a world of superpowers, common sense didn't exist.
Impossible was just possible by another name; absurdity, everyday variation.
"I've sold ice cream for 30 years. I can tell at a glance. Even blindfolded, I know the subtle textures of ice. The feel of the weapons it makes, the bursting sound when they shatter—definitely ice. Super hard, super cold black ice. That armor's probably an artifact forged from its superpower."
Don Durma shook water droplets from his mustache and continued.
"Its high-speed movement too—thin ice underfoot, skating along."
Polaris was skeptical, but had to trust him now.
"So, I'll pin its feet to stop the sliding. Friction manipulation. You exploit the gap and hit it with a real one. Something big and hot!"
Don Durma winked at Polaris.
The plan was simple. Reckless. But the only option.
"Got it! Let's do it!"
Polaris nodded.
The two charged out of the fountain again.
The battle resumed.
This time, the dynamic shifted.
Kiiii—!
The Black Knight slid forward again. The ground froze instantly, forming black ice paths.
Polaris pursued.
Seogeok!
The earth tore once more, black ice weapons surging. Polaris reflexively leaped airborne.
"Same pattern again!"
As she balanced midair, the Black Knight was already upon Don Durma.
But Don Durma didn't dodge. He moved faster, taunting.
"Gonna catch me? Over here? Whoops, can't, huh?"
He circled like a monkey, prodding with his rod.
"Tickles? Want more scratches?"
[Annoying.]
The Black Knight's patience snapped.
He thrust his gauntlet at Don Durma.
Grab.
"Huh? Caught again?"
Don Durma's rod was seized once more. Merciless beating followed.
Peok! Puck! Kwa-jik!
"Kuhk! Kraa!"
Even as blows rained helplessly, Don Durma desperately reached for the Black Knight's gauntlet.
The fist slammed his gut mercilessly. Ribs cracked dully.
"Kuhk... ugh..."
Blood burst from his mouth, but he didn't let go.
His hand clutched the gauntlet desperately.
"Yes... got it...! Turkish men... once they grab... never let go...!"
Contact.
His power manipulated friction on touched targets.
Don Durma squeezed his last strength, clinging to the Black Knight's body.
And shouted.
"Now! Miss!"
The signal.
The sky.
Polaris, gathering starlight aloft, moved.
She soared higher.
Stood backlit by the blazing sun.
Fwaaaaaah—!
Backlight.
At first, only her silhouette showed black.
Then explosive golden starlight burst from its edges.
Overwhelming luminosity beyond compare.
"For disrupting this city, you're unforgiven!"
Neo Incheon.
The city she loved was wounded.
And.
"Threatening the mayor— even more so!"
The first to offer a warm hand. The one who let her see light in darkness.
Heroic duty.
Pure feelings for Lee Garam.
Two flames merged, igniting her soul.
The light intensified. Golden to blinding white flash.
Vast starlight energy condensed into her right fist.
Near-infinite into finite point.
[……!]
The Black Knight sensed primal threat, trying to shake Don Durma.
But his body wouldn't move.
Feet glued to the ground. Friction maxed out.
Polaris dove like a meteor.
Golden trail slashed straight across the sky.
Ssssk!
The Black Knight desperately spewed black ice spikes from his feet. No time to shape weapons.
Chiiik—!
But the vicious spikes vaporized to steam before touching Polaris.
"It's the age of global warming! Time to melt!"
Declaration.
Certainty of victory.
Hero's line.
Her cry echoed over Neo Incheon's skies.
"Starlight── Crash!!!"
Light's explosion.
The world bleached white.
Kwaaaaaang—!!
Ear-shattering roar shook the entire plaza.
When light faded, the plaza was transformed.
A massive crater scarred the center. Asphalt melted, bubbling.
And at its heart.
The Black Knight knelt on one knee.
His black armor melted and shattered in places. Cape reduced to ash fluttering away.
"Kraaak... haak..."
Beside him, Don Durma lay vomiting blood. He barely lifted his head, grinning at the sight.
"Heh... Turkish ice cream... survives global warming too..."
Polaris stood at the crater's edge.
Her body trembled, strength drained, but she didn't fall.
Standing tall on both feet, she looked down at the kneeling Black Knight.
"Haa... haa... got him...?"
Polaris murmured, panting.
The massive crater from light's blast. Black Knight at center.
On one knee, head bowed.
Chiiik—
White steam rose. Melting ice evaporating from heat.
Cracks spread across the armor.
Some parts shattered, exposing innards; others warped molten.
Kudang.
Finally, the helmet dropped limply, rolling.
Degururu.
Fragment rolled to a stop.
"......No face?"
Polaris was speechless.
Empty.
Nothing.
Where head and face should be—eyes, nose, mouth—absent.
Just void gaping darkly.
Don Durma groaned by the fountain, eyes bulging at the sight.
"What the heck? It's hollow inside?"
Then.
Kwa-jijik!
The breastplate shattered completely, clattering down.
And within.
Something writhed inside the armor.
Dark, small, round shape.
It stepped out from the broken armor.
"Huh?"
Small.
Polaris rubbed her eyes. The Black Knight was over 2 meters tall.
The being emerging was ridiculously tiny.
Standing on two feet, barely 120cm.
Smooth black skin. Belly snow-white.
Like a gentleman in fine tuxedo.
Short stubby wings. Sharply hooked beak.
Encompassing it all, emperor-like dignity.
One word flashed through Polaris's mind.
"P-Penguin!?"
Yes.
A penguin.
The Antarctic ruler, an Emperor Penguin, stood majestically before the shattered Black Knight armor.
"......"
"......"
Silence blanketed the plaza.
Polaris and Don Durma stood dumbfounded, unable to process the surreal sight.
The penguin broke the silence first.
"You scum...!"
Voice without mechanical modulation.
Surprisingly clear, even oddly cute soprano.
"How dare you! How dare you force my true form to reveal itself!"
The penguin flapped short wings threateningly, shrieking.
"Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!"
It pointed a wing at Polaris threateningly.
Padak-padak.
But utterly unthreatening.
Dudung-dudung.
Even stomping in rage looked like cute antics.
"......Adorable."
Kieeek!
The penguin screeched like a scream.
"How dare you call me cute! I am the hard-boiled penguin!"
Zero conviction.
'Hard-boiled' and 'penguin' were fundamentally incompatible.
"What is this..."
They'd staked their lives moments ago.
Brushed death. Watched allies fall.
Burned everything to protect the city, the mayor.
Yet the foe's identity: a penguin.
Polaris's mind reeled.
Pfsh.
The sofa cushions my weight comfortably.
Ah, this is it. This is what human life should be.
On my lap, Nero kneads contentedly before dozing off with a satisfied look.
Cat weight. Warmth. Purring. Perfection.
The wall-sized 8K QLED TV blared the live city battle coverage.
Channel locked. Highlights incoming.
Kwaaaang!
I savored the golden meteor slamming groundward, spooning half-melted ice cream.
Ah. Plaza pavement. Newly laid not long ago.
That special reinforced asphalt coating—cost per square yard was insane. Filling that crater means more budget...
No, is that what matters now?
Right. Doesn't matter. I'm on vacation.
Hiding in a secret safehouse from assassination threats, the tragic mayor.
Such trivia isn't my problem.
Even thinking that, my mind whirs with calculations.
The plight of the petty everyman.
Crater center: Black Knight kneeling, venting smoke.
Armor melted and smashed everywhere.
[Haa... haa... got him?]
Polaris staggered on the TV screen.
Classic death flag line. Textbook example.
Genre rule: characters saying that rarely mean it's truly over.
Thud—
Helmet faceplate shatters, drops.
Revealed interior.
Empty.
Ghost? Remote control? High-spec AI? Or armor alive itself?
Thoughts spiraling when.
Kwa-jijik!
Chest plate rips off entirely.
And.
From within.
Something.
Wriggle.
I gripped my ice cream spoon tight, face inches from the screen.
Finally, 'it' toddles out from the shattered armor gap.
Dudung-dudung.
Eh?
Small?
Tiny?
Standing firm on two feet, yet so small. Early elementary kid size?
Sleek glossy black back. Snow-white belly. Tuxedo silhouette.
Wings. Beak.
And that majestic poise.
...Penguin?
Penguin.
Penguin!?
Penguin?
"Penguin? Why a penguin!?"
My brain rejected reality.
Ping.
Fuse blew in my head, it felt.
Penguin Reality Shock. PRS for short.
"Wait. Hold on. Calm down, Lee Garam."
World has many penguin species.
Gentoo, Adélie, Madagascar penguins...
But that dignity, poise, size—only one.
Emperor Penguin.
The Black Knight was actually an Emperor Penguin?
Emperor Penguin is the Black Knight?
No, why? Why? Doushite?
Plenty of villainous animals, no?
Even sharks, crocs, tigers—intimidating ones make sense.
Why penguin?
The waddling, flightless ones huddling frozen in Antarctica?
[You scum! How dare you expose my true form!]
TV speakers blasted an indignant voice.
Without modulation, weirdly cute.
No, that's not the issue.
That penguin looks familiar.
Where from? That haughty gaze.
That 'I'm above you lowly creatures' arrogance.
Definitely met before...
I turned, scanning the Catopia VVIP room.
This room filled with my personal stuff.
Sudden hideout life, but Seria fetched my requested items from home.
Penguin cushion from living room.
Penguin blanket from bedroom.
Penguin figurine from desk.
Penguin towel from bathroom.
Penguin merch.
Prized souvenirs from last zoo date... pilgrimage.
I reached for the Emperor Penguin plush beside the sofa.
Look at plush face.
TV penguin face.
Plush.
TV.
Plush.
TV.
Plush.
TV.
"Ah."
It hit me.
The one lone penguin standing aloof amid the flock.
While others clamored for fish from the keeper, it alone turned away like 'I don't eat cheap trash.'
"......Edward?"