Chapter 139

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 139

Chapter Title: The Mayor's Return

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Ah, how sweet it had been.

Those dreamlike days in Catopia's VVIP room.

Naps with Nero.

Pizza delivered by room service. Binge-watching dramas. Unlimited purring massages from the cats.

A few days had passed.

The comfortable, peaceful isolation in Catopia was over.

The Black Knight had been caught—no, not exactly caught, but resolved somehow.

The city had regained its peace.

So, I had to return to my post.

City Hall briefing room.

Today, I stood at the podium.

After all the commotion ended, I was back here.

As Neo Incheon's mayor, to neatly wrap up all these incidents.

Hundreds of eyes fixed on me.

Hundreds of lenses aimed at me.

Click. Click-click-click. Click-click-click-click.

A barrage of flashes exploded without respite.

Not even a machine gun would fire this rapidly.

My vision flickered white.

If I collapsed from photosensitive epilepsy right now, could I take sick leave?

Such shallow thoughts surfaced.

"We will now begin the official briefing on the 'Black Knight Terror Incident' by Neo Incheon's hero, Mayor Lee Garam."

The voice of the public relations officer beside me sounded distant.

Hero? Who? Me? Ridiculous.

I was just a pitiful everyman scraping by day to day, counting down to my escape to a South Pacific island.

I stepped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the microphone and unfolded the prepared script.

A perfect, concise, and thus all the more irritating script penned by Seria.

"Hello. This is Neo Incheon Mayor Lee Garam."

I read it in the most soulless voice possible.

"The 'Black Knight,' which caused anxiety to our citizens over the past few days, has been successfully repelled through a joint operation by our city's proud Special Task Force and the Hero Association."

Repelled? Hardly.

He just went home.

On his own two feet. Waddling away.

"There were no casualties in the process, and the damaged Catopia facilities will be fully restored within two weeks."

How much will the repairs cost?

I could hear my money—no, the city budget—melting away.

"The Black Knight's armor secured at the scene is currently undergoing detailed analysis by the Neo Incheon Scientific Investigation Team. That's all."

Done. That's it.

If I just say no questions and exit, perfect scenario.

Then back to my sweet home to bury my face in Nero's fluffy belly and nap.

But the world isn't that easy. Especially not for me, Lee Garam.

"Mayor! I have a question!"

"Mayor! This is reporter Moon Hyeji!"

"Mayor, just one more word, please!"

Reporters' hands shot up all at once.

Damn. No choice.

First, avoid Moon Hyeji.

I pointed to the least noticeable glasses-wearing reporter in the corner.

"Yes, go ahead."

"This is Kim Minjun from Hero Magazine. Mayor, you said the Black Knight was 'repelled,' but only the armor was found at the scene. What happened to the Black Knight himself? Was he captured alive or killed?"

Straight for the jugular right from the start.

Damn, picked the wrong one.

"Th-that matter is... currently under investigation, so I can't comment."

How cowardly and convenient an answer.

I definitely have a talent for playing the incompetent politician.

"Mayor! This is Moon Hyeji from Daily Hero!"

The voice I'd wanted to dodge finally broke through.

I pretended not to hear and tried pointing to another reporter—

"This Black Knight incident raises many questions!"

She continued without a mic, her voice booming through the entire briefing room.

She adjusted her glasses.

Glint.

I knew that look.

The eyes of a fanatic who'd already drawn her own conclusion and was ready to praise, 'As expected of the mayor, a genius!'

"Whenever the Black Knight appeared, major audits of corrupt corporations and villain organization crackdowns happened simultaneously. Almost as if the Black Knight's emergence was an excuse for large-scale operations. Yet the Black Knight vanished, leaving only his armor behind."

She took a breath. Every eye in the room focused on her and me.

"Some are claiming the entire incident was a grand scheme by 'Strategist Lee Garam.'"

There it was. What had to come, came.

Why? Why do you all always reach that conclusion?

Why do all my blunders, all my screw-ups, all my escape attempts turn into 'genius strategies' after passing through people's filters?!

"Was this your scheme too, Mayor?"

"Did you use the Black Knight as bait to clean up the city?"

Voices of agreement erupted here and there.

Their eyes were already filled with conviction.

'As expected of our mayor. He pulled off another one with an unimaginable method. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Thrilling! I admire him!'

Such eyes of respect and awe. Made me want to puke.

This way, I'd end up praised again.

My approval ratings would rise again.

I'd become a hero again.

No. Absolutely not.

I bit my lip.

Whirr—

Circuits raced desperately in my head.

A way out of this.

Yes. Only one way.

Tell the truth.

The pure, 100% truth.

'Sorry, Edward.'

Our brief friendship ends here.

The pain from when you pecked my hand still throbs.

Your brutal wing slaps are still vivid.

Still, you were a good penguin.

No, not really that good.

Arrogant, selfish, foul-tempered penguin.

But cute. I admit that much.

'This is the resolve of swift, decisive justice.'

Who would understand this heartbreaking sorrow of tearfully slaying my beloved penguin?

For the greater good.

For my greater good of peaceful escape, I must sever our personal bond.

"...No."

I gripped the mic and murmured softly.

The briefing room fell silent in an instant.

"It wasn't a scheme."

I slammed my fist on the podium.

Bang!

"The Black Knight's identity! The identity you've all been so curious about!!!"

Everyone held their breath.

Yes, listen clearly.

"The Black Knight is!!! A penguin!!!!"

My scream-like revelation filled the briefing room.

...

......

.........

Silence.

The flashing cameras stopped all at once.

The murmurs vanished like a lie.

"...Wh-what are you doing?"

I bellowed.

"What's with that reaction! Why isn't anyone writing it down! A penguin! Lives in Antarctica, waddles, can't fly! The Black Knight was a penguin!"

Despite my impassioned plea, the reporters' expressions didn't change.

Instead, a new emotion added to their eyes.

Pity.

And sympathy.

Whispers reached my ears as reporters murmured to neighbors.

"Poor mayor... Must've been through hell..."

"Looks like the stress got to him..."

"Tsk tsk, even the mayor's human..."

No! Don't look at me like that! I'm not crazy!

Then, Moon Hyeji quietly raised her hand and spoke.

"Ah..."

Awake intellect, Moon Hyeji!

Daily Hero's ace!

Truth-seeking journalist!

She'll understand!

"Yes. A penguin...... Understood, Mayor."

But her response felt half-hearted.

She just nodded, not writing a single word in her notepad.

"That concludes today's briefing."

The PR officer hurriedly wrapped things up.

Reporters began rising one by one, packing their things.

They still gossiped.

"If it's classified, just say classified. Why penguin..."

"He's hiding some huge truth we can't know."

"Or maybe 'penguin' is code for something deep..."

"As expected of Strategist Lee Garam... Won't reveal the truth easily."

Grumbling, but respect and awe lingered on their faces.

"Huh?"

I muttered blankly at the emptying press seats.

That evening, the internet flooded with articles like this.

"Why doesn't anyone believe me!!!!"

*

Office.

I was back.

My kingdom. My prison. My workplace.

"So unfair..."

The truth is sometimes powerless.

No, always powerless?

Or maybe the very concept of truth is an illusion.

The world sees only what it wants, believes only what it wants.

"So unfair! Seria! People won't listen to me!"

I vented my grievances, pouring out my despair that not a single ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soul in this world was on my side.

Only this devilish secretary and one arrogant cat would hear me out.

How absurd the world is.

Seria gracefully set down her teacup with a flick of her wrist.

Clink.

The sound echoed loudly in the office.

"Mayor. Who in their right mind would believe a penguin was the Black Knight?"

Her turquoise eyes looked at me with pity.

"Even I witnessed it firsthand, and I still can't quite believe it."

"But it's true! You saw it! You're a witness!"

"Well. Maybe I was so exhausted that day I hallucinated."

This devil!

"Nero! You saw it too, right!? That black penguin suddenly making ice and rampaging! You saw it clearly!"

I pinned my hopes on the final witness.

Nero, rolling at my feet, lifted his head lazily.

Meow-meow.

A nonchalant 'Saw it, so what?' reply.

Then he rolled away again.

Seria's lips curled slightly.

"Not sure if a cat's testimony holds up in court."

"Urgh..."

I groaned. Besieged on all sides. Isolated and helpless. Enemies everywhere.

A moment later.

Seria approached my desk with a tray piled high with heavy documents.

Thud.

A mountain made of paper.

"Here. Backlog."

She pointed at the stack.

"Approval docs for repair budgets on facilities destroyed by Penguin Edward. Reports from the special audits of 15 corporations during this incident. And administrative orders for transferring the newly captured villains to Ganghwa Island Detention Center. All neatly organized."

Huh?

Something's off.

I wasn't here.

The mayor was evacuated.

Why are there documents?

"If the mayor evacuates due to assassination risk, shouldn't work stop too?"

No mayor → no approvals → no work → no documents → happiness!

"Perfect slacking off, right!?"

"As if."

Seria scoffed at my delusion.

"Then what's the point of evacuating!"

What was my sweet Catopia life for!

"Evacuation was for your safety, not a vacation to dodge work."

"Arrrgh!"

Seria shoved the stack toward me.

"Now, get to it. Unless you want overtime."

I finally picked up the fountain pen.

Custom German-made. Seria's 'gift'—a torture device.

I stamped mechanically: Lee Garam. Lee Garam. Lee Garam.

Then a thought flashed.

Right! CCTV!

"CCTV! There are tons around City Hall and Catopia! It must've captured it! A penguin using superpowers!"

I jumped up. Eureka!

This proves my innocence! I can reveal to the world I wasn't babbling nonsense!

But Seria remained calm.

"Oh, that?"

She sipped her tea.

"I erased them all."

"Why!!!"

Crack.

The sound of my hopes shattering.

"You seem to like penguins so much, Mayor. I preemptively protected it in case that penguin faced backlash."

"Prot... ect...?"

"Mayor."

Seria met my eyes squarely.

Her gaze was more serious than ever.

"Do you want to protect the penguin? Or prove your innocence?"

My mouth just opened and closed.

"......"

Couldn't answer.

Seria smiled faintly.

"You always make the best choice, Mayor."

Arrrgh!

I slumped back and started stamping.

Stamp. Stamp. Stamp.

The sound of my soul grinding away.

Seria flipped to the next doc and said,

"By the way, good news."

"Good news?"

What good news now.

Not approval ratings up again, I hope.

"Word from the Grand Park: Edward returned safely. Living peacefully with the other penguins."

Seria handed over her tablet PC.

On screen: Edward standing proudly amid dozens of penguins.

A zookeeper woman stroked him fondly.

"......Good."

A small smile escaped me unwittingly.

"That's enough."

A Nutube video had popped up too.

Real-time trending.

The video was simple.

A penguin waddling.

But at an astonishingly fast pace through Neo Incheon's bustling streets.

Flapping wings to balance—adorable to anyone.

Even stopped at a red light at the crosswalk, waiting for green.

The video racked up millions of views instantly, becoming an internet meme.

People forgot all about the Black Knight, just enjoying the cute penguin.

And the sparks flew across the sea to Japan.

Today too, the world flowed in a direction utterly unrelated to my intentions.

I just sighed and stamped documents.

A few days later, I visited Neo Incheon Grand Park. The zoo.

Not an official inspection.

Purely personal visit. One purpose.

'To see the penguin.'

Entering the penguin zone, the familiar sea stench hit my nose.

Squawk! Honk! Kreep!

Ice, cold water, and penguin noises mixed into bizarre vitality.

Amid dozens of penguins, one stood out with regal, haughty poise.

Emperor-like arrogance.

Edward.

"Edward! I'm here!"

I shouted at full volume toward the enclosure packed with dozens.

I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Edward, who had snatched another penguin's herring.

He glanced back briefly.

0.1 seconds.

Our eyes met.

And.

Whip.

Turned away as if seeing nothing.

You little—?

"Hey! Don't ignore me! I'm here! Neo Incheon's mayor! Your savior! Lee Garam has graced you with his presence!"

I pressed against the iron fence and yelled.

But Edward remained silent.

He just munched the herring clutched in his—no, wings.

But Lee Garam doesn't back down.

Using mayor privileges, I entered the penguin enclosure via the staff door.

Striding up, I reached to pet his head.

Then.

Smack—!

Edward's wing flew out, sharply striking my hand.

"Ow!"

I clutched my hand. Stings pretty good.

"Hey! Why hit! There's a limit to biting the hand that feeds!"

Kreeek.

Edward chirped shortly. Warning: Don't touch arrogantly.

Now pretending to be a grumpy mute penguin?

"Hoh. Playing it that way, huh."

I grinned wickedly.

Fine, I have ways.

Cleared my throat.

As loud as possible.

As pitiful as possible.

"Ms. Imina!! Come down here! Edward hit me!"

That instant.

Edward froze like stone. His black eyes shook violently like an earthquake.

"Wait, no! Let's settle this ourselves! Why drag in a third party!"

Too late.

"Mayor! What's wrong?"

Zookeeper Imina poked her head from the upper viewing platform.

I donned the face of the world's most wronged victim.

"Mina! Look at this! I just tried to greet him happily, and Edward ignores me, even hits me like this!"

"What? Edward!"

Imina strode down the stairs.

"Edward! You can't do that to the mayor!"

She scolded him.

Gentle but firm tone.

"The mayor helped us. Be nice, or no more tasty fish!"

Krrk!

Edward's beak quivered in rage.

Holding fish hostage. How petty and cowardly.

But effective.

Edward finally hung his head in resignation.

"Good boy. That's it."

And reluctantly allowed my touch.

I savored victory, petting his feathers freely.

Soft.

Fluffy.

Grind.

Sounded like his beak grinding.

"Now, to business."

I pulled a document from my pocket and spread it before his eyes.

"Wh... what's this?"

Edward recoiled.

"Labor contract."

The mayor works, but penguin rolls around all day?

Can't tolerate that.

Edward must work like me.

Suffer like me.

That's justice!

"Why me?"

Edward's eyes filled with suspicion.

I kindly recited the terms.

"Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM. Duties: Greet visitors, allow photos, promote penguin exhibit. Pay deposited to Ms. Mina's account."

"Oh my! Edward, from 'slacker penguin' to proper citizen? Wonderful!"

Imina clapped beside me.

I added,

"Special note: As penguin, no suit required. Special consideration. Sign here."

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Then no herring. Dry penguin feed for life."

Imina chimed in.

Penguins who don't work don't eat fish.

"Grr... You'll regret this...!"

Edward finally yielded.

Squish.

Dipped foot in ink and stamped the contract.

Face grim and tragic, like signing away his body.

"Congrats, Edward!"

I patted his back.

"Now you're a proper citizen! Share labor's pain! We'll all be miserable together!"

Kreeeeeeeeeeek!

Edward's wail echoed through the enclosure.

Other penguins eyed him with pity.

Today was my perfect victory.

*

Thus, peaceful days continued for a few days.

No villains, no terror, no rampaging penguins.

If this is peace, then peace.

Plus, I enjoyed on-time retirement joy after ages.

6 PM. Sharp!

"Ah, happy!"

Huh?

'Wait.'

A strange feeling hit.

Something wrong. Definitely wrong.

Before, work itself was loathsome.

I dreamed not of quitting time, but never starting.

365 vacation days. Eternal break.

That was my Avalon.

Yet now, grateful for 'on-time quit'.

Did Seria break me?

Horrifying.

Utterly horrifying.

Tamed livestock.

Work machine.

Corporate slave.

'No! I'm still a free spirit!'

I shook off the nightmare and headed straight for the office sofa.

Sink.

Sofa cradled me softly.

Meow~

Nero climbed onto my belly.

Purr-purr.

Front paws kneading.

'This. True happiness.'

Lazy afternoon with cat.

Right then.

"Mayor, mail arrived."

Seria handed a thick envelope with ornate crest.

Letter in this era?

Anachronistic.

Analog.

Retro.

"Which old fogey sent this?"

Grumbling, I tore it open.

Swish.

Paper unfolded.

Old-fashioned script.

Flowery language.

Then the point.

Huh?

"Ancestral home...?"