Villain Executioner (4)
S-grade heroes are celebrities. Not just any ordinary celebrities, but global superstars whose names are known around the world. If one S-grade hero goes overseas for a trip, the state assigns them a private jet and an entourage just to keep foreign agents from casually probing them about defection. Naturally, their freedom is restricted, their movements hampered, and S-grade heroes lead lives more exhausting than those of actual idols.
Therefore, even if she'd disguised herself with a wig to hide the physical changes from her superpower—her white hair—it wasn't strange at all that I recognized this woman as Snow White.
"Shh...!"
Snow White pressed a finger to her lips in surprise.
"H-how did you know?"
"......"
Because she's one of the main heroines? Or because she's drop-dead gorgeous?
"I'm a fan. One of the Dwarfs."
"Ah."
Snow White grabbed her sunglasses with one hand.
"That explains it...."
What the hell are Dwarfs? It's the name of her fan club, the kind of obsessive followers celebrities have. Of course, for her, having a fan club on a global scale must be a massive stressor. Trying to rent a bike in the parking lot of Banpo Jjaye in Seoul, only to find out the owner is one of her fans? Talk about awkward.
"I'm really sorry, but could you lend me the bike right now?"
"You planning to ride that thing over there? To, uh, stop him?"
"Yes. I'll make it up to you. No, I'll transfer the money right now."
"No need for that."
Get paid by a hero? My account gets traced, my villain identity exposed?
-Freeze that bastard's accounts!!
All my hard-earned cash seized by the government. No way in hell was that happening.
"Just take it. If a hero's protecting the country, of course I'd lend it."
"Huh? B-but still."
"In return, please protect my home. I bought it less than three months ago...! Anyway, good luck!"
I gave Snow White a quick bow, handed over the keys, and bolted. Even to me, I looked like a panicked civilian fleeing the scene. I could feel her gaze from afar, but I gunned it north as fast as I could, pulling out my smartphone.
"Huff, huff, Chairman...!"
[What's wrong, Manager Do?]
"Shaky—no, Black Knight got stolen by Snow White...!"
[What?!]
I relayed the facts to Chongsu exactly as they were.
[Why the hell is that woman in Seoul?]
"No idea. She just came up from behind asking to borrow the bike...!"
[The bike?!]
"I lent it to her for now."
[Gah, no! Go get it back! Why'd you lend the bike I bought you to Snow White, you idiot?!]
[The one I!! Bought!! You!!]
"...Sorry. I didn't want to risk exposing my identity and causing you trouble."
[That's fine! ...Sigh, whatever. What's done is done. Ahem. Manager Do?]
Her voice shifted back to that cool beauty tone.
[No need to recover the bike. I can just buy you a new one. You did well. Looks like... she's on the move now.]
"The bike?"
[Yes. It's got a tracker on it.]
I knew that, but hearing it confirmed like this was a little chilling. My one personal vehicle, and it had a GPS tracker—
"Chairman, by any chance?"
[Let's track the signal and chase her down? I'll give you a mission, Manager Do.]
A playful lilt crept into Chongsu's voice.
[Go smash the bike along with Red Scarf in one go.]
"Then...."
[We'll put Snow White in our debt. An S-grade hero can cough up cash no problem, but a custom bike's worth more than money.]
"Chairman. What are you scheming?"
[Using this connection with Snow White to launch that operation. I'll fill you in later. For now, go wreck the bike. I'll hook you up with a cooler one.]
"Got it."
In a deserted alley, I took a deep breath and raised a hand to my face.
"...Transform."
Vrooooom—!!
The bike roared forward. Snow White, aka Baek Seolhui, lost her composure for a moment at the speed surging past 200 km/h.
A civilian with a bike this fast?
Absurd. Maybe the guy was a biker gang punk? Or he'd borrowed it from some gangster. This was Seoul, after all. Even Banpo Jjaye wasn't the upscale spot it used to be—just a haunt for the ghosts clinging to the city like dead sons fiddling with their fathers' balls, unable to leave.
Compared to the relatively safe "eastern" districts, the "western" side was inevitably turning into a lawless zone. No helping it. With the world's safest hub—the Island—sitting in the East Sea.
Screech.
Lost in those thoughts, she'd already reached her destination.
[Snow White! Current position?!]
"Anseong, Anseong."
[He's heading north via Cheonan! Intercept if you can en route, and recover that item at all costs!]
"...Fuck."
Snow White dismounted. She parked carefully on the shoulder to avoid damage, set the kickstand, and used her Ice Magic to freeze the wheels to the ground. No one would steal it now.
"...Hoo."
Battle loomed, but her mind was a mess. The bike was one thing, but this mission itself was stressful. She'd shown up in Seoul because she was on "vacation" here—not because the pursuit team from Busan had called her in. Heroes couldn't even enjoy a proper break. If any other hero had been in Seoul, fine—but she was the only one around.
365 days a year. The three days they could finally escape prying reporters and paparazzi, and here she was, forced to fight villains.
[Snow White. The Minister of National Defense...!]
"...Put him through."
Irritation flared, but she couldn't ignore a "higher-up."
[Ah, Baek Seolhui? So, as for myself—]
"In the middle of an operation. Call me by code name."
[...Ahem! So, Snow White. As for myself—]
"Engaging enemy shortly."
Click.
Snow White mashed the earpiece and thrust her hand toward the intense red heat approaching from ahead.
"Ice Wall."
Crack!
An ice barrier erupted across the road with a splitting sound. A wall dozens of meters high, unbreakable by any ordinary foe. An S-grade superpower's ice wall. Most ability users couldn't breach it, but if he had that—
Boom—!!
A red streak slammed into the ice. Something blood-like splashed around, stabbing at the wall like an awl.
"Ngh!"
Snow White poured more mana into her hand. The wall's surface chipped away but held firm.
"Tch!"
The red streak—the man inside—clicked his tongue and retreated. A young man with a red muffler-like aura fluttering around his neck from his mana surge. The villain Red Scarf flashed crimson eyes and extended a hand.
"Hey, government dog."
"...What? You not embarrassed saying that shit?"
"What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s the truth."
"Step aside if you don’t wanna die."
"You? Against me?"
"Heh heh heh. Guess you’ll find out firsthand."
Whoosh.
Blood-red wings unfurled behind Red Scarf. Mana mist like a devil’s wings. Snow White glanced skyward urgently.
"...Phew."
No chopper yet. Satellites couldn’t pinpoint here immediately—they had about three minutes. She had to subdue him fast.
"You know how dangerous that thing is?"
"What, scared it’ll plunge the world into terror?"
"No reasoning with you. You’re really 19?"
"Shut up!"
Red Scarf raised a fist skyward. Pillars of fire erupted around him. Snow White thrust ice spikes snaking along the asphalt upward.
"Even Snow White can’t stop me! With this power, the power of Darkness—!"
Roar!
The fire pillars exploded outward. Snow White threw up an ice barrier, but the flames spread faster than expected, engulfing everything.
"Ah...!"
A fireball hit the bike, which exploded spectacularly.
"This indiscriminate terrorism...!"
Snow White bit her lower lip and reached forward.
"You think you awakened mana just to pull this crap?! Use mana’s blessing for the world, not this!"
"What’s wrong with using it for myself!!"
Red Scarf floated upward, flipping her off.
"I’ll live my life my way! Fuck this shithole hell peninsula—better off in a place where I can be the hero...!"
Suddenly.
"Where I can live as a hero...!"
Skreeeech.
Something scraped the ground. A black silhouette approached from afar.
"What’s that...?"
[Danger!! S-grade ability reaction! Pattern... Dokkaebi!!]
The Villain Executioner had arrived. Crushing the burning bike wreckage underfoot, Dokkaebi tilted his head crookedly, staring down Red Scarf.
And then.
With those words, Dokkaebi charged at Red Scarf.