Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Who is the Villain?
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Who is the villain?
For a brief moment, the Holy Knight couldn't collect himself.
An S-Rank Hero like himself. The ace of the Union Korea Branch.
Against a sealed space like a hotel room, no less.
He had even chased away Seo Ha-eun, whom he had so desperately wanted.
And even at the moment this mysterious man lay sprawled on the bed.
The fact that he himself had felt absolutely nothing was shocking.
"You bastard!"
The surprise, horror, and doubt were fleeting.
Whatever this guy was up to, it didn't matter anymore.
He knew everything now, so he had to die.
Bang!
The light lingering in the air was absorbed into the Holy Knight's fist.
With a single strike, the bed shattered into pieces and collapsed.
"Oh dear."
The man who dodged the attack so effortlessly flashed a playful smile.
He patted the Holy Knight's shoulder as he passed by and casually spoke.
"Looks like we'll have to deduct the bed's cost from your life insurance payout."
"You...!"
This wasn't good. His S-Rank instincts were screaming it.
Even in this situation, he hadn't noticed a thing.
There weren't many who could pull this off against an S-Rank Hero.
At minimum, a Highest Danger Class villain. Or possibly worse.
'It's fine! As long as it's not one of the Seven Evils, I can escape somehow!'
He pinpointed the enemy's position. The man was still standing not far away.
Though blocked by the darkness, that irritating smile was clearly visible.
"I don't know how you figured it out and got in here, but... you'll regret it, you villain scum."
"Oh."
As if fitted with a spotlight, the Holy Knight's entire body glowed brilliantly.
Ability: Blessing of Light. As long as the radiance lingered, all his abilities surged.
No attack could block it, no defense could withstand it.
"Hah!"
One punch unleashed a thunderous boom as light exploded in all directions.
Seo Ha-eun might be somewhere nearby, but he didn't care.
It was a shame she got away, but women were plentiful for an S-Rank Hero anyway.
He could pin the whole mess on this villain, which was a relief.
"Ha! So cocky at first. What's the matter? Put up more of a fight!"
Kaboom! Crash!
If he meant to kill me, he should've done it before I activated my Ability.
Daring to lounge on the bed and wait? Against me?
I'll rip him limb from limb. Then hang his corpse in the hotel room.
"At this rate, you might hurt the lady hiding somewhere. Don't you care?"
"Not at all! You'll attack me, kill Seo Ha-eun in the process, and then I'll slay the villain in righteous fury. What better knightly tale is there?"
"Hmm. Fair enough."
"Thanks to you, I'm a star again! Even with the tragic uncle who failed to protect his niece!"
The radiance enveloping the Holy Knight's body shone even more brilliantly.
It rivaled a flashbang now. Vision was impossible.
The moment his opponent shielded his eyes, the Holy Knight seized the chance.
In mere seconds, he unleashed dozens of straights and kicks.
An S-Rank Hero. A being who surpassed not just humans, but other heroes.
He displayed the full might of those chosen by the gods.
"You won't die easy. How dare you interfere with my business."
"... ."
"Still holding out? Good. Keep it up. I said keep it up!"
Crack!
A sensation traveled up his arm. That uppercut had landed perfectly.
An S-Rank Hero's fist. No way he walked away unscathed.
Indeed, there was no reaction. He looked like he'd passed out standing.
"Shit."
Only then did the Holy Knight realize he was completely naked.
He should be in the throes of ecstasy right now.
Damn villain showed up and ruined everything.
This wouldn't cut it. He had to tear the bastard apart to vent.
The Holy Knight approached and concentrated light into one arm.
Full power. A strike that could pierce titanium alloy.
At work, he'd always subdued foes stylishly for his image.
The strong, cool, merciful S-Rank Hero Holy Knight. That's who he was.
But not here. No one would see a hole punched through his chest.
'The human rights groups might whine, but whatever.'
He could say the villain took Seo Ha-eun hostage and flustered him.
So he'd kill him. Beat him to a pulp until the stress was gone...
Ping-
"...What."
His arm wouldn't move. No matter how hard he pulled, it stayed put.
"Urgh!"
He was using his Ability at max output.
This couldn't happen. Impossible. Absurd!
"I was a bit tense since you're an S-Rank Hero."
The guy was alive? How? It hit dead-on.
"This is a little disappointing."
The opponent dropped his guard. An utterly ordinary face anyone could see anywhere.
The smile tugging at his lips was a tad odd, but that was it.
"Hm? Ah, sorry. I forgot about this."
Crack! Creak!
As the man fiddled with his face, grotesque sounds emerged.
Looking closely, translucent threads clung to his fingertips.
The moment he saw them, the Holy Knight recoiled in horror.
'Mana Threads?!'
No doubt. Mana Threads. Not just one—at least five.
And this villain was using them to manipulate his own face!
Creak creak!
Muscles realigned. Bones twisted. The man's features changed in an instant.
The Holy Knight gaped at the unimaginable sight.
Was that even possible? No, before that—what was that emerging face?
"Th-the Smiling Man?"
In this world. Damn it. Of all people, the Smiling Man.
No, wait. How? Did he have disguise powers?
"This is how it works. Mana Threads woven into the face to control muscles and bones. Like this."
Crack creak! The Smiling Man's face shifted again.
Now it was a commonplace Korean man's face. Nothing suspicious at all.
"In wuxia novels, they call it Face-Changing Technique, right?"
"Using such cheap tricks, you villain!"
"That's what villains do, isn't it?"
This was bad. No weapons, no gear, and facing the Smiling Man.
The Holy Knight gritted his teeth. No pushover.
From now on, it was do or die.
Ping!
"Guh?!"
But before even seconds passed, the Holy Knight sensed something wrong.
"Wh-what is this."
Not just his right arm—left arm too. Right leg. Left leg. All immobile.
No matter how hard he strained, they wouldn't budge. As if bound by something.
Only then did he see it: Mana Threads coiling around his entire body.
They had infiltrated every major muscle, perfectly seizing control.
"When did you..."
He hadn't seen it. Felt it. Not even a hint.
Ghostly bastard. Monstrous freak. How was this possible?
"S-Rank Hero. Holy Knight. Ace of the Union Korea Branch, yet humble, upright in conduct, exemplary character. Popular with kids, ranked #3 in 20-something women's 'ideal older man to date.' Wow. Jealous. I mean the kids part."
"Smiling Man..."
The Holy Knight's mouth clamped shut. Not by choice.
The Mana Threads pulled taut. Now even his facial muscles were taken.
"Shh. Quiet now. This is where the real you comes in. S-Rank Hero. Holy Knight. Perpetrator of all sorts of crimes and corruption. Worse than any villain—a monster who crushes anyone who hinders or defies him. The epitome of hypocrisy, inside and out."
"Mmph!"
"And one more thing."
The Smiling Man leaned in close and whispered as if he knew it all.
"The pathetic beast who sold out the hero couple that supported and helped you so much to villains. A creature even the gods wouldn't forgive."
"...Mmmph?!"
As if demanding how he knew, the Holy Knight thrashed wildly.
But escape was impossible. Once caught in the web, no way out.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
"You're thinking it, right? 'If we'd fought fair, it'd be different. I could've won.'"
"Mmmph!"
"Are you stupid? Or just naive? Villains don't fight fair."
Ting-
Like plucking a string instrument, the Smiling Man flicked his finger.
A single Mana Thread wrapped around the Holy Knight's neck.
And slowly. Very slowly. It pulled upward.
"Guhk! Gulp!"
Like a condemned man on the gallows. A beast dragged to death without resistance.
The Smiling Man sat in a nearby chair and watched impassively.
"Gulp! Guhk!"
"You shouldn't have touched Seo Ha-eun."
"Guk?!"
"No need for more words. Rest easy."
The thrashing beast's struggles slowed.
The ragged gasps faded to sporadic gurgles.
An S-Rank Hero made no difference. A few minutes to suffocate.
No more vibrations from the Mana Threads sensing vitals.
There lay the beast, dead in a filthy, unsightly heap.
Quite a peaceful end for trash. Should've made it suffer more.
Wee-oo! Wee-oo!
"They're here early."
Sirens wailed from below. Police had arrived.
Heroes would swarm soon after sensing the commotion.
Best to leave now. Lingering would complicate things.
"Hmm."
But the Smiling Man didn't. He deliberately waited for the guests.
Like an artist displaying his work.
"This way, you won't be suspected, Seo Ha-eun."
He glanced at Seo Ha-eun, moved safely away from the fight.
Leaving her alone would raise questions. Better stay a bit.
This blocked the fate the Holy Knight would've forced on her.
Erased the scene of her being toyed with during a date invite call.
Even to him, NTR plots crossed a line.
As he pondered, the door burst open and police rushed in.
"Hero Holy Knight! What the... Gasp!"
Seeing the scene, they froze. The Holy Knight dangled from the ceiling.
No one spoke at the noose-gagged sight.
"Please enjoy my artwork. Title? Hm. Ah, yes! Holy Shit Knight! Ahahaha!"
"V-Villain!!"
"Fire! Shoot him!!"
Dozens of lead rounds fired from police pistols.
Not one touched the Smiling Man.
All blocked and deflected by the translucent threads.
"Fun's over. Time to go."
Crash!
Glass shattered as Mana Threads glimmered under city lights, spilling outward.
Gripping them, the Smiling Man vanished into the dark night sky.
"R-Request backup! Alert nearby heroes! The Smiling Man's here!"
"Holy Knight! Check his status! Status first!"
"Starting CPR!"
In the hotel room turned to chaos.
Seo Ha-eun slept soundly, unaware her future had changed.