Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Commotion is Just Beginning
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Clan Boss was in an extremely good mood right now.
Look at those idiots blabbering beyond the screen.
Acting like it's no big deal somehow. Like the damage was minimal.
They were calling it an apocalypse-class monster just a moment ago, and now they've changed their tune.
They say it had just ascended from fierce class to apocalypse class, so it wasn't fully formed yet.
The monster was relatively weak. That's why the cadets could hold it off.
And in the meantime, S-Rank Hero Valkyrie succeeded in subjugating it.
They're declaring victory. Disgustingly, after it had already done its damage.
"What a bunch of idiots."
Fools. Try covering the sky with the palm of your hand.
If it got stronger from fierce class, that's apocalypse class.
Since when did that rank have sub-levels anyway?
What? Do villains get ranked differently by age too?
How do they stay so unchanging? Too busy catering to their own tastes.
"...".
So. The Black Woman was in quite a foul mood right now.
It wasn't even a branch full of heroes—just the academy with cadets.
A monster had appeared there and nearly ravaged the entire area.
Even if it was an incomplete apocalypse-class, a monster was a monster.
There shouldn't have been any miracles. There should have been at least double digits in casualties.
But that tragedy didn't happen. No, that satisfying outcome didn't come to pass.
Even now, the anchors were yapping about divine blessings and good fortune.
That fact was making the Black Woman's heart grow even colder and harder.
"What the hell are they thinking?"
They claim it was an incomplete apocalypse class.
That mere cadets could buy time because of that.
That S-Rank Hero Valkyrie arrived just in time to subjugate it.
"Are they clueless and babbling like that? Or do they know and are deliberately covering it up? Either way, I know. I know you were there. I know you helped the cadets."
"Ah. So you knew."
Slurp—
This wasn't the look of someone caught. Nor someone trying to hide.
Just leisurely enjoying a cup of tea, flashing a troubled smile like, "Well, what now?"
Not a single gesture, glance, or breath wavered.
"I'll ask again. Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
The Black Woman's eyes narrowed just like the Smiling Man's.
"It was the perfect moment. You could have made it look like the monster did it and nip those nuisances in the bud. You could have inflicted catastrophic damage on the academy."
"Oh ho."
"Or when Valkyrie showed up, you could have ambushed her and dealt a fatal blow. For you, who already took out Holy Knight, that wouldn't have been hard."
This wasn't an overreach. Far from an overestimation.
It was entirely possible. As a villain, to those heroes and cadets.
You could have shown those foolish believers in heroes and this world.
That no one can escape the Clan's grasp, so better to submit.
"Why are you doing this, Boss?"
But the Smiling Man instead chided the Black Woman.
"If I wanted to end it with something this small, would I have gone through the trouble of infiltrating?"
"...?"
"You permitted my infiltration because you wanted something out of it too, right, Boss?"
"...???"
What the hell was this man babbling about?
All I wanted was to collapse the Hero Academy.
"Attacking the academy right when the monster appeared? All eyes would go to the monster. The world would say the academy was hit because of it. We'd be downgraded to cowardly ambushers taking advantage."
"...Keep going."
"Right now, we need to give them hope! Build up their expectations! Wow! Look at that! The cadets banded together against an apocalypse-class monster, and the S-Rank Hero finally took down the fearsome beast! Heroes are the best! Amazing! So cool! Sign my shirt! Kyaa!"
Is he insane? Or was that tea actually booze?
The Black Woman flinched at the reaction, unsure if it was acting or sincere.
"So. When expectations are sky-high like that, we show the villains grabbing those heroes and cadets. That's how real fear builds up."
"A monster above heroes. Villains above heroes. Is that what you wanted to show?"
"Yes! Exactly!"
Not really. I have no idea what I'm even saying.
But man, these sly fox types. Lies just pour out effortlessly.
Yushin flashed a gentle smile and continued.
"Think about it, Boss. Even if I stepped in, would Union just sit by? Fabrication! Manipulation! Lies! They'd pin it all on the monster!"
"Hm."
"And."
Clink—
The Smiling Man set down his teacup.
The smile vanished from his lips, leaving only a hazy expression.
"Should I move in sync with the monster's appearance?"
"...".
"Am I failing at something I couldn't do without the monster showing up?"
"...I see. I made a mistake."
The Smiling Man hadn't moved. He'd only been wounded in his pride.
The academy he should destroy himself. The heroes he should kill himself.
Some beast called a monster stole that away—how infuriating.
So he killed the monster. Just venting his rage as a villain.
Like instantly striking down the one who snatched his prey.
'I didn't realize, and I scolded this prideful man.'
Anyone else would have stormed out.
Or exploded in fury with a shout.
But the Smiling Man chose to keep respect for the boss.
What an odd guy. A villain who doesn't act like one.
"Ah. And there's one more reason."
"Another one?"
"The academy needs to be just a little damaged like that."
"Hm?"
"That's perfect for an ant hell. A trash bin."
Ant hell. Trash bin. The Black Woman let out a gasp.
He knew? I thought only I knew about this.
"You read the Seven Evils' unusual movements?"
"They've been acting solo for a while. Lately, they ignore even your orders, Boss. That means one thing. They're planning to leave the Clan and form their own."
Unlike Union, which perfectly controls its heroes.
The Clan has no means to control villains.
Only one thing: force. But using it is tricky.
If we fight among ourselves, heroes will just watch happily.
That's why we get pushed back by heroes at crucial moments.
We built the Clan, but these self-centered fools can't be controlled.
Might as well clash with heroes and whittle their forces, but.
They're too sly to take losses.
"But if the academy shakes just a bit, they'll see it as an opportunity."
"They'll dive in without you telling them. Perfect! Disobedient fools die, heroes die with them! Isn't it delightful just thinking about it?"
Boss. The academy needs to stick around for a long time.
So we can enjoy this fun movie for longer.
The Black Woman nodded at the Smiling Man's words.
'Of course. It has to last. I might even get a real job there later. Yep.'
Yushin had already mapped out everything ahead.
"Tell me."
I clearly told her to rest more in the hospital room.
Kids these days don't listen to adults.
Valkyrie quickly schooled her expression while eyeing Seo Ha-eun, who wasn't much younger.
"What do you mean by that, Cadet Seo Ha-eun?"
"Smiling Man."
Damn, how far did that villain poke?
"That villain... that man saved us."
"It's too much to call it a misunderstanding when you know this much already."
What to do? The dilemma lasted only a moment.
Anyone else, maybe not. But Seo Ha-eun deserved to know.
"Want to come with me for a sec?"
Valkyrie pulled out a memory card from her secret safe.
She connected it to a device and showed the footage recorded inside.
I'd tried not to tell her. It might be better that way.
But it meant nothing to Seo Ha-eun, who had one foot in the truth.
The contents would make anyone nauseous.
How much more for the victim herself? She could have been one.
"...".
Throughout, Seo Ha-eun said nothing.
Lips bitten bloody, fists clenched.
She took it all in without a word till the end.
Click—
Finally, the footage ended at the moment the Smiling Man appeared.
"...Ha-eun."
Compared to Holy Knight, Valkyrie didn't know Seo Ha-eun well.
That's why she couldn't even ask if she was okay.
"Valkyrie."
After a long silence, Seo Ha-eun slowly spoke.
"The ones who hurt my parents... were villains."
"Yes."
"And the ones who did that... were villains too."
"That's right."
It was a tragedy. A catastrophe.
We still haven't caught the culprits.
"I hate villains. I curse them. I want to kill every one I see. I feel murderous intent, the urge to slaughter. Everything. I became a hero to catch and kill them, and I even made it to cadet."
"...".
"That won't change till I die. I will have revenge. No matter what. I'll find the ones who hurt my parents, beat them to a pulp, and sneer down at them."
"That's...".
That's not the right thing for a hero. She almost said it.
But she couldn't. Because she'd never lost parents to villains.
"Even after revenge, I'll keep killing villains. Kill and kill and kill. And kill some more. That's how I'll live my life. Till the moment I die."
"Ha-eun."
"But... really, but. When I think of Smiling Man. What should I do?"
He's a villain too. Same as the ones who hurt my parents.
So why did he save me? Not once, but twice?
It'd be better if he was just toying with me. Then I could rage more.
But he really saved me. Saved by a villain I hate so much.
"Why... why did a villain save me, when I was trying to kill villains...".
She couldn't say something easy like make an exception.
All that was left in her was hate, rage, and revenge toward villains.
If there was anything to say to such a Seo Ha-eun, it was probably—
"Find out."
"Valkyrie?"
"That man will definitely appear before you again. So find out. That's all you need to do."
"...".
"So. Don't give up. Don't go numb either. Just like now. Keep moving forward."
Whether it's revenge or a desire to meet him.
If it gives you a reason to move forward, anything goes.