Villain Executioner (5)
There were plenty of reasons to kill that law-breaking punk, Red Scarf. He was arrogant. He spat casual banmal at adults. He hocked loogies on the street. The Total Leader of the Association had personally ordered his elimination. And he'd trashed my bike that Snow White had borrowed.
'He deserves to die.'
The last reason was purely personal, but whether public or private, the fact remained: I had to take down that flaming punk.
There were two obstacles.
"Hah...! Dokkaebi! Let's see if you can handle my flames?!"
One was that cocky brat staring me down, terrified yet burning with fighting spirit.
"Stop it!"
The other was the uptight hero wrapping an ice whip around my wrist from behind.
"You can't kill people!"
Snow White. He's already caused casualties. Would you say that to the victims' families too?
"That's...!"
I didn't particularly want to mind-game her, but if Snow White was in the way, I had to make her back off. Mercy? Letting it slide? Leaving it to the law? None of that. The Total Leader had ordered execution, and as an executive of the Association and a villain, I was just handling this demonic punk.
Those who kill people get the death penalty. Anyone who's cracked open a Korean history book knows that.
"That's Gojoseon!"
I'm Dokkaebi from Gojoseon.
It was all an act to play the unhinged type who wouldn't listen to reason. I wasn't some Dokkaebi chosen after thousands of years from ancient Gojoseon or anything.
Letting that guy face legal judgment is just a hassle. A fist judges faster than the law—no need to take the long way around.
Just sticking to the concept.
Red Scarf. Try killing me. Then you might survive.
"Kuh, kuahaha! With this power right in front of you, how long can you stay so cocky? Let's see!"
Red Scarf burst into mad laughter at me.
"Take flight, Vermilion Bird!!"
With that bizarre shout, flames erupted into massive wings from his back.
"Uahaha! This is the power of darkness! Through my contract with the devil, I've grown stronger!"
Tch.
"Th-this...! That lunatic!!"
Snow White panicked at the rampaging Red Scarf, and irritation flared in me.
The main villains were the Association, but there were other external threats besides us. If the Association was humanity's main villain group, this devil power stemmed from the malefic essence attached to the alien meteor from space.
Mana didn't only bless humans—it could manifest as demonic power like this too.
"Kuhaha, uahaha! Now I'm a superhuman with S-rank power!!"
Of course, the culprit behind this rampaging punk's so-called blackening was human influence—a man-made disaster.
Snow White. Was Red Scarf originally an S-rank villain?
"Ngh...!"
Her silence means it's a messy issue.
I could guess, but no need to poke the bear right now.
Doesn't matter. Dead is dead.
My mission was to handle that flaming punk—villain or whatever.
"Die!!"
Red Scarf transformed into a pitch-black flaming Vermilion Bird. Massive wings flapped on his back as the mana ether coalesced into a monstrous form, roaring with laughter.
"This is the power of darkness...! I'm no longer Red Scarf! Call me Black Flame Demon Vermilion Bird...! Krahaha!"
Crazy bastard.
I gripped my baseball bat lightly and dashed forward along the asphalt lane markings.
"Where do you think you're going!"
He spread his wings, spewing flames downward. Black-red fire melted the road in seconds, pillars of flame erupting to block my path.
Weak.
I barreled straight through. Sticky asphalt clung to my shoes, black-red flames licked my body, but I ignored it, smashing through the fire pillar and charging ahead.
"Wh-what...! This madman!!"
Black Flame Demon Vermilion Bird or Dark Flare Phoenix—doesn't matter.
I kicked off hard from the ground and leaped high.
You're dying by my hand.
Mana-enhanced body strength propelled me higher than a 10-story building. Red Scarf panicked as I closed in instantly.
"Uh, uwaaak!!"
He flapped back to gain distance, but too late. I'd already channeled mana into the bat slung over my shoulder—one swing and done—
Tch.
A restraining chill from behind. I sighed as ice tried grabbing my bat and extinguishing the flames on me.
"You don't need to kill him!!"
Snow White flapped her white wings, soaring into the air.
Planning to stop me? That guy's—
"You'll rack up a murder record and fines!"
Oh.
For hero talk, that was surprisingly persuasive.
Almost gave me chills. Pretty radical for Snow White.
Not her usual script. Most heroes yell "You can't kill people!" or "He needs to face justice!"
Ah, maybe I've heard it all too much from others.
More striking than the usual lines. But you think a rap sheet or higher bounty will stop me?
Shh. Snow White's ice whip shattered instantly. Leaving her shocked at her power's nullification, I kicked off the air and lunged forward.
"Uh, uwaaa!!"
He was already fleeing, turning his back and flapping toward Busan—probably aiming for China. Fat chance.
Swiftness
I became a missile. Kicking the air relentlessly, I thrust my bat like a spear into his back.
"Kuhuk!!"
Mana shield blocked penetration, but the impact rocked his body.
Whatever it is, you can't suddenly be S-rank. Temporary form might hit S, but your class is A-grade at best.
"Kraaak...!"
Red Scarf plummeted, eyes tearing up. I tossed my bat high, mounted his back mid-fall, and gripped his burning wings with both hands.
Fwoosh!!
"Kaaak!!"
Ripping the wings by hand drew a scream like I'd torn off real flesh. Red embers spurted from the stumps like blood—chillingly lifelike.
Thud!
He crashed face-first into the lane divider. I used him as a landing pad, stomped his back, and raised my hand.
Click. The tossed bat landed perfectly in my grip. Spot-on calculation—no missing cool points.
Bam!
I slammed the bat beside his face. Melted asphalt stuck gooily; Red Scarf stared up in terror.
"S-spare me...! I don't wanna get caught in this shithole country...!"
This shithole country?
"T-take me to China! I'll reward you! There, I can—"
You dogshit bastard.
I stomped his throat and raised the bat high.
I'm a crazy villain, but I'm Korea's villain!
Kwaaang!!
I smashed down. Not on his head—instead, beside it again.
"......."
Terror-induced blackout. Eyes rolled back, out cold.
Tch.
I meant to kill him. Was gonna pulverize his spine at least. But orders changed.
Section Chief Do?
Via the mana signaler in my mask.
Red Scarf is just a tool. What's important is saddling Snow White with a debt. Same as villain Dokkaebi.
In other words, the Total Leader's order: spare him to make Snow White owe us one mentally.
Lame.
I stepped off him. Snow White landed behind me, folding her wings. I slung the bat over my shoulder and nudged the unconscious Red Scarf with my foot.
Hey, Snow White. He's out cold—am I getting nabbed for assault?
"...If you'd really killed him, it'd be murder."
Then this gets leniency. Hope no record or bounty piles up later. Anyway.
I nudged Red Scarf again.
What's the secret to his sudden power-up? Got me curious.
"...You don't need to know. You're already strong enough."
I knew. But as reader and Dokkaebi, I knew; on the surface, I shouldn't.
That so? Fine then. Was gonna kill him, but mood's killed.
"...Thank you for cooperating. Even if you're a villain."
Not cooperating. I just do what I want.
I approached Snow White, bowed at the waist, and leaned in close.
I do whatever I please. Don't misunderstand—
Bang!
A gunshot rang out. I spun reflexively, hand outstretched—but the bullet wasn't aimed at me or Snow White.
Far off, toward Busan, a man with what looked like a rifle approached. Smoke trailed from the barrel; its target on the ground.
Red Scarf.
Crunch.
Red blood sprayed sideways as his head exploded.