Heroes Always Have to Smile
"Just a passing werewolf, huh? Then why not keep going on your way instead of getting in my face?"
He posed the question, but I didn't bother opening my mouth. No more chit-chat. The guy's as good as dead anyway.
"It's quiet out there. Did my buddy already take care of your friends?"
I snorted and nodded instead of answering.
"He wouldn't go down that easy. Guess you're stronger than you look. Fine by me—I was planning to kill you the second you showed up anyway."
With that, he shut up too. We eyed each other warily, neither making the first move. Tension stretched taut through the building's basement like a bowstring.
Nam Hyunsu had been tough, but this guy was stronger. Still, he didn't feel unbeatable. I'd tired a bit from the fight with Nam Hyunsu, but he wasn't much better off—worn down from battling Seo Chaerim and Spica. No way I was losing here.
I charged first. He countered with razor-sharp gusts of wind. I threw myself sideways to dodge the frontal blast, but he'd anticipated it, hurling more blades my way in the direction I'd fled.
But wolves can move on all fours. With my hands on the ground, I wasn't restricted—in fact, I was even freer.
Dogs get mad if you steal their food bowl too.
Of course, it was a joke. I didn't need to eat people, and I sure as hell didn't want to. But whatever I said, he'd dismiss it as a lie anyway.
"Bullshit. You're with the Betrayer, aren't you?"
Betrayer? What the hell was that?
What's a Betrayer?
"Don't play dumb. Or are you serious? Werewolves are all liars—can't tell truth from bullshit with you."
Betrayer's ally. He'd been fighting Seo Chaerim earlier, so that must be her. Seo Chaerim was the Betrayer? Was he Villain Alliance too? Or something else entirely? Didn't matter. My only job right now was killing the bastard in front of me. Nothing else.
You talk too damn much. Scared? Come at me.
"Arrogant pup who can't even speak properly."
I practiced speaking every day, but it wasn't easy. No one around to teach me.
Conversation over. I lunged again. He blocked with blasts that repelled me. I had the stamina edge, so I could've dragged it out until he tired, but if another hero showed up and jumped me like before, I'd be screwed.
I tried roaring to create an opening like with Nam Hyunsu, hurling debris from the crumbling building—nothing worked against that repulsive wind.
Annoying as hell. Every approach nicked me with wind blades, leaving shallow cuts that bled and stung. Weaker than Nam Hyunsu's lasers, so they regenerated fast, but the constant pricks grated on my nerves.
How to beat the wind? I could pierce it, but the resistance sapped all power—no real damage. I'd just get countered. Close in for a choke? Nah, he'd shred me with blades before I finished him.
On yet another charge, I got repelled, claws scraping the floor to halt. Long gashes trailed my talons.
Claws. My strongest weapons right now, along with teeth. Even dulled by resistance, maybe they'd do real damage.
Wait. There was a way to hit hard from a standstill too. I had a plan to kill him.
Both of us running on fumes. No time to waste—heroes could show any second. Time to end it.
I bolted on all fours, charging fast. He flung wind wildly, but I dodged like always.
Closing in, he tried to wall me off with a wind barrier.
"This'll never end. Why not call it a draw and go our separate ways?"
Funny. You're dying here.
I pushed through the resistance, arm outstretched. Power faded, but I hooked my claws into both his arms.
"What the—"
He whipped up fiercer blades, slashing me, but I could tank it briefly. Mouth gaping, my razor fangs gleamed wickedly.
Habit from fighting human-style with fists, but I wasn't human—I was a werewolf. Beasts' best weapon? Teeth. Bite to kill.
"You crazy fuck!"
He thrashed in panic, realizing. Too late. Claws dug deep; no escape.
I engulfed his head and bit down hard.
Crunch.Grind.
Wolf bite force hits around 200kg, they say. But I was bigger, no ordinary wolf. No clue on my exact strength, but I learned empowered humans' skulls pop like apples.
Fangs pierced bone. I crunched down—brain and blood burst like pulp.
Headless, his wind died. Body slumped, collapsing.
Ptui.
I spat out the gore clogging my mouth. Filthy, bitter, revolting.
Honestly worried I'd develop a taste and turn hunter like other werewolves. Hesitated for that reason. Good thing it sucked—I'd never eat human.
Fight over. Tough one. Bite plan worked, but his final flurry nearly minced me. Seconds later, and I'd be the one pulped.
Regen lagging; blood spurted from gashes, limbs shredded. Worst injuries since becoming werewolf. A normal human? Instant death.
Villains all down, Spica alive—time to bail. Linger too long, heroes arrive. Even a pissed-off Night-level hero would be dicey now.
Dragging my battered body toward the exit, Spica staggered over.
"Why... did you save me?"
Answer? She wouldn't believe me anyway.
"What are you, ajusshi?"
Like I'd tell her.
Naive girl.
This world's a novel. I'm a good guy who got isekai'd into a werewolf while reading it.
Straight truth, for fun. No way she'd buy it—just testing.
"You do drugs too, ajusshi?"
Saved her life, and she calls me a junkie? Rude. Never touched the stuff, don't plan to. Don't even know where to get it. Even if I did, hell no.
Wolf joke. Laugh, kid.
"You think this is funny?"
Laugh even if it's not. That's social life. And...
Heroes always have to smile. Or people get scared.
"You're a werewolf. What do you know?"
That's why you smile.
"Jeez. So what now? Gonna kill me too?"
You look too scrawny to eat. Gain some weight if you wanna be dinner.
"That's sexual harassment, you know?"
Mad? Arrest me then.
I chuckled and turned away, putting distance between us. Spica just watched me go, no attempt to grab me. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't in her state.
Fight done. Some casualties, sure, but minimal damage overall. Stopped the terror plot clean.
Time to head home and crash. I'm beat.