Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Dark Hero
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Burning London.
"Smiling Man."
In the midst of it all, Louise opened her mouth with a trembling voice.
"You... you knew, didn't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"That day. The day you came to the hospital to see my father."
"...Ahhh. Right. That's how it was."
At first, she thought he was up to something dangerous with her father.
For a brief moment, she had harbored immense hatred and murderous intent.
Who in the world could do something strange to their family
and expect anyone to think positively of it upon seeing it?
"Have you dismantled all the bombs planted in Father's head?"
"...Quite the common testimony."
Jin Seo-ah. Seo Ha-eun. Kang Yuna. Even Valkyrie.
They all shared the exact same evaluation of the Smiling Man.
"In important moments, you always try to slip away with some weird joke."
"Oh. I only do it to lighten the mood."
"Liar."
It was to evade the answer. To divert attention.
Louise saw through it and demanded a response from the Smiling Man.
"Hmm. As expected of the Bullet Witch? Your aim is impressive!"
The Smiling Man turned his head, clapping lightly.
The heroes were struggling to subdue the broken ones.
"It's a kind of parasite."
"A parasite?"
"It doesn't just invade indiscriminately. That would be cheating. It enters through wounds where blood is flowing. From there, it travels through the bloodstream to the brain, blocks all signals, and manipulates the host according to its will."
This was the first she'd heard of it. A monster with such an ability?
If something like this was possible, shouldn't it have happened multiple times before?
"It was just a monster that spread germs. But it ate something extremely unusual in the process and mutated. Ah... This is why humans are their own worst enemies."
Ah. Something clicked for Louise, and she let out an exclamation.
The Union researchers who had fled. And the serums they created.
The monster must have devoured them, causing the mutation.
It was a twisted result of amplification and enhancement abilities.
"Fascinating. How did you..."
"Oh. Are you suspecting me, by any chance?"
"N-no, that's not it. I just..."
"I know. I just came back from killing that monster."
He killed the monster? When? Where? In what gap of time?
It was the one that even her father and Britain's various heroes had struggled against.
The mutant that had grown stronger and put everyone in a bind.
And he took it down alone, without any help?
"In the case of Miss Louise's father, he was lucky. The parasite hadn't fully taken root in his brain yet. A little later, and his daughter might have had to kill him."
"Wait. Father underwent a thorough examination. How did the hospital miss it?"
"Abilities transcend science from the start. You know that well, don't you, Miss Louise?"
"..."
He was right. Abilities could heal massive wounds in an instant.
It was a world where powers defied past common sense.
"Then... couldn't you do for them what you did for Father, Smiling Man?"
"Too late. Once the brain is taken over, that's it. Even killing the parasite doesn't change it. The brain is already ruined beyond repair."
"What about using abilities?"
"Same thing. It's not just broken—the monster poured all its power into it."
You can't revive someone whose heart is shattered, even with abilities.
Same principle. A destroyed brain can't be fixed.
"Then, they..."
Louise looked at the ones who used to be heroes, her voice trembling.
They were heroes who sacrificed themselves for their country.
People who would smile and accept death if it meant saving citizens.
Yet now, stripped of reason and self, they had to die as puppets.
"...Is there really no way?"
"None."
A chillingly cold answer. But that was better.
She knew well the emptiness of false hope from vague words.
In such moments, that kind of coldness was far more helpful.
"Then, as expected..."
Help them find peace. Preserve their honor.
Louise's hand trembled faintly as she gripped her gun again.
How could it not shake? How could anyone stay unmoved?
They weren't monsters or villains—they were still heroes.
They had been someone's hope, dream, and heroes.
She herself had admired them deeply since childhood.
And now, she—or others—had to take their lives...
"No, Miss Louise."
The Smiling Man grabbed the barrel and forced it down.
"There's no need for you or Britain's heroes to do it."
"What do you..."
The Smiling Man slowly drew a smile across his lips.
"I'll handle their end."
The reason Yushin boarded the flight to England was simple.
Summer break's main stage wasn't Korea—it was there.
The homeland of Louise, who still eyed him with suspicion.
Nothing serious. He planned to enjoy it moderately.
Originally, a few monsters would appear in London, and that would be it.
There would be some damage in the process, but not to this extent.
This is... I was foolish.
He had crushed all the trash inside the Union.
A cleaned-up Union would be a great help.
So he exposed their secrets and brought judgment upon them.
But who would have thought the Union researchers would escape?
They could've just been caught obediently, but they successfully fled.
And of all things, the monsters devoured them and the serums.
Yushin rubbed his dry face, genuinely regretting it.
A clear mistake on my part.
It wasn't in the plan. A change birthed another change.
Bad luck, one could say. Yes, truly unfortunate luck.
Who could've known those researchers would be eaten by monsters?
Even Yushin hadn't foreseen things twisting this way.
At least he saved Louise's father, but that was the limit.
Self-recrimination now changes nothing... Sorry, everyone.
In the end, all he could do was belatedly kill that monster.
Come here now and pay the price directly. That was it.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll kill them."
"Why? Why you, of all people?"
"Then should you do it, Miss Louise? Let the other heroes do it?"
You. You all. You're all good people.
Wonderful, cool, shining ones.
So, everyone would writhe in guilt.
No matter how much they consoled themselves that it had to be done.
No matter how much others said no one blamed them.
They'd still feel like sinners, plunged into gloom.
"I hate that."
No special reason. Just... it wasn't a pleasant sight.
What kind of heroes were they? They had to stand tall always.
Knowing it wasn't a sin, yet slumping over?
Fine. Then I'd handle that chore instead.
Already stained with plenty of filth— what was a bit more blood?
"No. You can't. This is something Britain must do. They're our people, so we should. Smiling Man, it has nothing to do with you?"
"Correct. It has nothing to do with me. That's why I'll do it. I'm different from you all. No guilt, no regret, no sorrow. I feel nothing."
And he'd already prepared their end completely.
He showed Louise his other hand, kept hidden.
Hundreds of mana threads glistened at his fingertips.
"This isn't a request. Hmm, let's call it a notice."
"No way, that..."
"They won't even feel pain. I promise you, Miss Louise."
Couldn't drag it out. Needed to end it quickly.
As he turned to go, Louise grabbed his sleeve.
"And you?"
"Oh. What do you mean?"
"Are you... okay with this?"
"I've killed plenty, so it'll be fine. Hahaha!"
A cheerful laugh. Like someone anticipating a fun prank.
But Louise knew this man wasn't smiling at all.
"It's inevitable, but some might condemn you."
"Let them condemn me. Curse me. Whatever. But I won't blink. Born that way, it won't faze me."
Lies. You're human too. It can't be like that.
You're pretending. Sacrificing. For others.
Yes. Just like the heroes you deny being.
"Alright. That's enough talk."
"..."
"Oh. Don't look so glum. It makes me seem like some great martyr."
I'm just doing what I've always done.
Hurting people in place of others.
So don't pity me. Don't look at me that way.
Back on his stage, the man raised his hand.
He clenched his open hand slightly, with emotion.
Plop!
With that, the former heroes began collapsing one by one.
As if puppet strings had been severed by a blade.
Now, they could harm no one else.
Even if their final moments were gruesome and hasty.
In the end, they died as heroes.
The London incident concluded like this.