I Chose You

The news that Little Devil had raided a Hero Association research lab spread like wildfire. To cover up the human experimentation that had taken place there, the Association issued a warrant for her arrest under the pretext of Association terrorism. The entire nation was shocked by the terrorist actions of their beloved national hero.

Some refused to believe it, insisting there was no way Hwang Yerang would do such a thing, but public opinion gradually shifted toward trusting the Association's account—surely they wouldn't lie about something like this.

Heroes who were close to Hwang Yerang struggled to accept it. But she had already vanished, and with the Association's stance so firm, there was little they could do. Furious citizens began scouring the heroes' social media for ideological purity tests, leaving them unable to defend her any longer.

Only Midnight, the one closest to her, rebelled to the end, demanding a proper explanation from the Association. Of course, no satisfactory answer came. In the end, Midnight searched for her himself, determined to hear the truth straight from Hwang Yerang—but he never found her.

Then one day, Midnight's phone rang. It was Hwang Yerang.

Hwang Yerang's voice trembled faintly over the line. Having been close to her, Midnight could sense how precarious she was right now.

"Even if it's true, there had to be a reason you had to do it. It's okay. Just tell me what happened. I'll help you."

"Forget it. I just called to say goodbye."

"Hwang Yerang!!"

"Ow, that hurts my ears for real. Worry about yourself instead. Don't go around saying weird shit defending me. You're already a loner without me—what if you end up hated too?"

"You think I give a damn about that?"

"Sigh. Fine, do whatever."

"…You planning to just disappear like this?"

"Yeah. We won't see each other again. Thanks for looking out for me all this time."

Midnight knew her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stubbornness all too well. He realized convincing her was impossible. Just as she said, he had a premonition they'd never meet again.

"If you need help, call anytime. No matter what it takes, I'll be there."

"Pfft. Won't happen. Take care."

Click. The call ended.

"You sure you're okay with this? Midnight would've understood."

"What's the point now? Besides, I can't ruin a rising star's career over my mess. How's Seungah?"

"…"

"…I see."

"All we can do is watch. I'm sorry."

After the lab raid, they holed up in the hideout Kim Youngho had prepared. Only Hwang Yerang was wanted as a villain; Kim Youngho was treated as having retired voluntarily. As a villain with her face known nationwide, she was practically confined to the hideout.

And Baek Seungah… had become a shut-in. She locked herself in her room, unresponsive to calls, and it had been days since anyone had seen her face properly. The faint noises from beyond the door were the only sign she was still alive.

Hwang Yerang was terribly worried about Baek Seungah but lacked the courage to face her. If she begged to be killed again, Hwang Yerang would crumble.

Meanwhile, Baek Seungah was wasting away in her room, doing nothing. She just stared blankly at the wall with wide eyes, letting time slip by.

Hwang Yerang had said the world was beautiful. But to Baek Seungah, it was a cold, dull gray. Hwang Yerang wouldn't lie, so it must be her own fault. Or maybe…

If the world was wrong instead.

If that's why this happened.

That would be too cruel. It was easier to think it was all her fault.

Baek Seungah scratched her wrist with her long nails. Red blood trickled down, dripping onto the floor, but she didn't register it as pain. She instinctively sought familiar hurt, but she couldn't feel it anymore.

When had she broken?

Staring blankly at her bleeding wrist, she noticed the phone. Kim Youngho had brought her a new one. Maybe there was news about her online? She picked it up and went to the internet.

The lab incident from days ago was dominating the web. Curious if anything mentioned her—what people thought, if they'd pity her, curse her as a witch, or loathe her as a monster—Baek Seungah clicked an article. She hoped they'd blame her. Hate her. Tell her it was all her fault.

But the Association had covered it up; nothing about her anywhere. Just vicious hate and condemnation for Hwang Yerang, the terrorist.

"…Huh?"

Every site was flooded with Hwang Yerang hate. Even a post from the wife of a lab worker killed in the "terror attack"—a heartfelt lament about her kind, responsible, hardworking husband murdered by Hwang Yerang, shattering their family. It drew massive attention, fueling even more outrage.

Rare defenses of Hwang Yerang were drowned out by the mob.

Only then did Baek Seungah learn Hwang Yerang was wanted as a villain. She'd shut herself off completely since that day, oblivious to it all.

For the first time in days, she opened her door and stepped into the living room. Hwang Yerang was lounging on the sofa, watching a nature documentary about animals.

Sensing her, Hwang Yerang turned. "Oh? Seungah?"

"Why'd you save me?"

"Huh?"

Outwardly, Hwang Yerang seemed unchanged, making Baek Seungah wonder if it had all been a dream.

"Why'd you save me? You're wanted now, right? The internet's ripping you apart."

"…You saw."

"Why save someone like me? What was the point? You got ruined because of me!"

"How's it your fault?"

"Because I messed up. Because I'm… a monster."

A top hero, toppled in an instant, finger-pointed and cursed by the nation—all to save her. She always brought misfortune. Memories of being called a witch resurfaced. If she'd just died sooner, this wouldn't have happened.

As Baek Seungah's voice cracked with sobs, Hwang Yerang rose from the sofa and approached.

"It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who screwed up."

"You could've just ignored trash like me! Then you wouldn't be the enemy of the whole world!"

"I chose you. I made the choice. I weighed you against the world… and I chose you. You didn't do anything wrong. You're no monster. If you were… then so am I."

Hwang Yerang gently embraced the trembling Baek Seungah. Her body still shook. Or maybe it was Hwang Yerang herself shaking.

The dream of becoming a hero together, earning the world's acceptance—it was shattered. No more comrades, no more dreams. Her days would never shine like before.

But having Baek Seungah by her side was enough. That was all she needed.

"I'll stay with you. I'm not going anywhere now. I'll keep telling you it's not your fault. So… don't cry anymore."

Baek Seungah had no attachment to life. She wouldn't mind dying tomorrow. But if she did, Hwang Yerang would follow. Certain of that, she chose to live—for her friend. Losing Hwang Yerang would hurt more than dying herself.

Time passed. Hwang Yerang, face known nationwide, had no choice but plastic surgery. A minor tweak and ditching her twin tails—her comrades had loved them—made her look similar yet like someone new.

Baek Seungah abandoned her old identity entirely. No more Baek Seungah in the world.

From that day, she became Seo Chaerim.

Kim Youngho, Hwang Yerang, and Seo Chaerim formed Jamryong. It started as just them surviving together—Hwang Yerang named it on a whim—and grew into a proper group as villains with similar stories joined.

And six years later, Joker joined Jamryong.