White Knight
The junior hero Night, who had clashed with Jeong Yuseong at the hospital, scratched his head sheepishly in front of the woman he called Princess.
"Sorry, Princess. It was because I fell short..."
"Do you even know what you did wrong?"
"Yeah. I couldn't stop the werewolf because I was too weak."
"You're still miles away."
Princess sighed and shook her head slowly at Night's response.
"People blabber that heroes should never fall, but that's just empty talk from dreamers who can't face reality. It's only natural you can't beat someone stronger than you."
It was the kind of statement that would stir up scandal if overheard, but Princess said it without a care. Of course, aside from Night, no one else was there—but even if someone were, they wouldn't dare challenge her words. After all, she was one of the Hero Association's elite, a White Knight.
She was arrogant for a hero and didn't mince words or watch her image. Some disliked her for it, but far more supported her. Her overwhelming track record backed it all up. Even if her attitude rubbed people the wrong way, the number of lives she'd saved was beyond counting. Who would hate someone who'd saved their life—or their family's—over a little bluntness?
"Your mistake wasn't fighting a foe you couldn't beat. It was charging in without knowing your place. The ideal move would've been to stay out of it altogether. If you had to get involved, you should've prioritized evacuating civilians. There was already someone holding off the werewolf at the scene."
"Right."
"And if you run into that werewolf again? Just ignore him from now on."
"Huh? Why?"
Just ignore him if they met? Her words didn't feel like she was saying it was pointless because he was too weak. It carried a nuance that leaving the werewolf alone wouldn't cause any issues—like he wasn't a threat worth bothering with.
The junior hero Night knew the werewolf as a Villain Alliance member from the news, but Princess knew the truth: Nam Hyunsu had been the Alliance infiltrator, and the werewolf had fought to stop him. She kept it from her disciple Night since it wasn't info to spread lightly.
"Questioning your teacher like Seong Haneul? Looks like my disciple's grown some guts."
"You always hide stuff from me, so of course I'm curious."
It wasn't exactly disciple-like behavior, but Princess let it slide. Her pupil had been like this for ages.
"I'll tell you everything when the time's right. Anyway, time to get to work. Come on."
"Work meaning... the Villain Alliance subjugation?"
"Yep. Time to squash those rats before they forget their place and start scurrying around again."
"You know where they are?"
"Someone's marked a few likely hideouts. Probably just small fry, but taking them out sends a nice warning up the chain."
"Got it. But it's just you and me going?"
"The other White Knights'll handle their own. I hate wasting my time on trash like this, but these days' heroes are all useless, so no choice."
Arrogant and provocative as it was, coming from her, it almost felt restrained. The White Knights were the Hero Association's ultimate force. They should be out in the Pollution Zones on expeditions, but the Association had pulled them back over public pressure. She clearly preferred the comfort here to the harsh Zones, but being yanked mid-mission irked her.
"But can I even tag along? Feels like I'll just get in your way, Princess."
"Then stay put in the corner like you know."
"...What's the point of bringing me then?"
"Watch and learn. You can't stay a junior forever just 'cause you're my disciple."
"Learn what? You just smash everything—nothing to pick up there."
Night grumbled with a sigh, but Princess ignored him and strode off. He scratched his head watching her back, then shrugged helplessly and followed.
"Welcome to our hideout."
A few days after deciding to join Jamryong, I followed Hwang Yerang to their base. I'd pictured a dingy basement in some rundown alley building for a villain lair, but it was a pristine standalone house on the city outskirts. Pristine didn't even cover it. A tall, upscale wall taller than me encircled it, and inside lay a manicured lawn garden. It screamed chaebol drama mansion.
The building itself looked newly built—clean lines, stylish vibe. And surprisingly, it had underground facilities: training grounds, meeting rooms. When I asked why the meetings were underground, she said it felt secretive and cool, like a proper secret org. Villains live on romance and dreams, apparently. I felt a twinge of shame agreeing with her kid-like logic.
Only three lived here full-time: Hwang Yerang, Seo Chaerim, and Diana. The rest had their own places and dropped by occasionally. Plenty of spare rooms, so I could crash here if I wanted, but mooching off a house full of women felt awkward. I passed.
No real duties beyond belonging—Boss gave rare orders, but even those were infrequent. No strict rules either, except one: don't cause trouble. As a group of villains living peacefully, breaking laws meant expulsion. I'd expected mobster ops or corporate structure, but it felt more like a college club. Some members vanished for months without showing.
Is this really a villain group? It was so far from expectations, the steam went out of me. Joining or not wouldn't change much.
"Oh, right. Chaerim got discharged yesterday—she's back. Wanna say hi?"
Her injuries had been brutal, but as an Awakened, she recovered faster than normals. I hadn't visited during her stay, so Hwang Yerang and I headed to Seo Chaerim's room for a reunion.
"What the hell? Why's he here?"
"'Cause he's our new teammate?"
"What? You never told me!"
"You were stuck in the hospital—no chance to chat."
Seo Chaerim, sipping coffee and reading in her room, spotted me and flipped out like she'd seen a ghost. What are you, a cat?
"Who decided to let him in? I never agreed!"
"Looks like your wounds healed fine, Chihuahua."
"Huh? What's that mean?"
I called Seo Chaerim a chihuahua, and Hwang Yerang asked what I meant.
"Hey! I told you not to call me that!"
"See? Small but yappy—just like a chihuahua."
"Pfft! Totally matches! Perfect fit!"
"You little shit?"
We ignored her flushed face and flung book, chatting on. Her snark grated during supporter runs, but with the team shifted, I kinda missed it. Felt settling in now.
"Anyway, what about supporters? Coming back?"
"Nah."
"Why?"
"Was just for intel gathering. No need anymore."
"What're you talking about?"
"White Knights are mobilizing."
Didn't click, so I asked again. Hwang Yerang explained instead of Seo Chaerim.
"What's that got to do with the Alliance?"
"White Knights stepping in means no breathing room for Alliance terror."
"That big a deal?"
"Ha. What do you even know?"
Seo Chaerim smirked, sensing an opening to jab. This bitch? We'd fought side-by-side risking lives, and now teammates—I figured I'd cut her slack. Lasted under five minutes.
"Ever seen Ann transformed?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Think you could beat her?"
"...No."
Embarrassing to admit, but no lie would stick. The gap was too vast. A hundred fights, zero wins.
"White Knights are around our level—me and Ann. We're a bit stronger, though."
"Diana, maybe. Why lump yourself in? You lost to me."
"Oh yeah? Check this guy. I went easy then."
"Losers always say that."
"Wanna go? Follow me—let's settle it proper!"
"Sorry, I don't touch weaklings."
"Argh, seriously! Need a hierarchy smackdown?!"
I tuned out Hwang Yerang's rampage, lost in thought. If White Knights matched Diana, crushing the Alliance would be easy. Bomberman, Nam Hyunsu, Stormbringer—maybe stronger ones, but Diana could solo that level.
So why leave them be till now? Bigger priorities than terror? Association's game was baffling. And with Seo's human experiments, trust was thin.
One thing clear: something I didn't know. Should've read the novel harder knowing I'd possess this. Regret now was pointless, but the pang lingered.