Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: How Can I Believe That?
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“Th-this can't be happening! Let's go again, one more time!”
“Hahaha! Boss, no turning back once you've lost. You can't retreat after stepping forward.”
Clearing away the Go board neatly, Yushin secured his vacation leave.
The Black Woman let out ragged breaths, clearly in deep shock.
To suffer such a crushing defeat against an opponent she'd always beaten soundly!
“You bastard. Were you hiding your true skill all this time?!”
“I just got lucky.”
“Lucky? And you captured my grand arch?!”
She raised her voice, but it echoed hollowly into emptiness.
Standing from his seat, Yushin gave a parting greeting that he was off on vacation.
“Wait!”
“No more games, Boss.”
“But we can play again later! Right. We made a bet, so I won't interfere with whatever you do today. In exchange! You have to play Go with me again next time!”
“Ahhh. This is a bit tricky.”
She asked what was so tricky about it.
Yushin answered as if it were the most obvious thing.
“What if you lose the bet again?”
“Y-you! You dare provoke me?!”
“Hahaha! Just kidding! We'll play again next time!”
Leaving the Clan behind, Yushin immediately set off to track Lee Bora's trail.
It wouldn't be hard. It was obvious where that woman had gone.
When people can no longer do something they've been doing...
They always return to that place one last time.
'I hope I'm not too late.'
What would happen if that villain he'd just seen leaving the Clan fought Lee Bora right now?
Purely in terms of physical prowess and skill, it would be Lee Bora's overwhelming victory.
A guy who was little more than a terrorist couldn't beat her.
The problem was mindset in battle. Whoever broke first.
It would be good if Lee Bora didn't yield, but it wouldn't be easy.
She'd likely fall prey to the weakness the villain had grasped, with high probability.
That was the difference between a real villain and someone merely playing one.
“It should be around here...”
The orphanage Lee Bora frequented wasn't far.
If someone was targeting her, they'd definitely linger nearby.
Hunting happens where the prey frequently appears.
And soon enough, Yushin heard a small explosion.
Accompanied by Lee Bora's scream filled with agony.
“Over there.”
Yushin leaped toward the source of the sound.
It didn't take long. A few steps sufficed.
Wasn't that the right of a sleepy-eyed guy—to reach anywhere he wanted?
“Aaaagh...!”
Another explosion, followed by Lee Bora's scream.
Even if ambushed, she should have had time to counterattack.
But if only her screams continued, there was only one conclusion.
'In the end, she couldn't overcome a real villain's baseness.'
Even the Black Woman hadn't noticed her undercover status, so he'd had high hopes.
But fake madness could never beat true madness.
There was no way around it—someone acting and someone for whom it was life itself were different.
“You fucking bitch. Got you at last.”
Oh dear. The orphanage wasn't far, and he was using such vulgar words.
What if the kids overheard on the wind?
This was a serious issue. He couldn't just stand by.
Kids these days already had bad manners, people complained.
Instead of guiding them, trying to teach early profanity!
What are you talking about? No idea!
Hahaha! Don't worry. I have no clue either!
Pulling out his sunglasses from his pocket like when visiting the orphanage, Yushin...
No, the villain, the Smiling Man...
“Could you keep it down a bit! This isn't just your neighborhood!”
Like a neighbor complaining about barking dogs.
Arms crossed, he boldly appeared and snapped at the villain.
“What the hell are you!?”
Oh. That line was utterly unbearable.
The Smiling Man lowered his sunglasses just a touch and replied.
“Just a sleepy-eyed passerby.”
Embarrassed? Not at all. It's my introduction—why be embarrassed?
“Sleepy-eyed...?”
By the way, he'd slightly altered his appearance. His voice was thinner than usual too.
In case he ran into a patrolling hero; it'd be a headache otherwise.
To pin everything on that guy and slip away, this much was necessary.
“Wait. That speech pattern... Mana Threads... No way, the Smiling Man?!”
“Oh. You figured it out right away! Impressive!”
Unlike the applause, the Smiling Man's smile turned chilling.
What an oblivious villain.
At times like this, you should ask, “Who are you?!” at least once.
He even wore sunglasses, and you spot him this fast?
Mentioning his identity outright. No manners at all.
“Perfect timing! Smiling Man! Why not join forces with us?!”
“Us?”
“You killed the Holy Knight. You qualify to move with our ‘Brigade of Evil’! Our boss might be wary, but the other Seven Evils will surely welcome you!”
“Hoo.”
Letting out an exclamation, the Smiling Man conveyed his thanks.
Grateful for the offer.
“Then...”
“But my answer is no.”
“No? Why?!”
Because unlike the Black Woman, the Seven Evils were merciless butchers.
Here, there was room for persuasion; there, it was kill on sight.
Ally-candidate turning into kill-target? That's terrifying!
“The name's too tacky.”
“Wh-what?”
“Brigade of Evil? What even is that? If you'd named it Welcome Brigade, I might've considered!”
“Then! If we change it, will you join?!”
“No.”
That could lead to big trouble!
“...So in the end, you're taking her side no matter what.”
“If I had to choose between a sudden backstabber and a company colleague, it'd obviously be the latter, right?”
The villain nodded at the Smiling Man's words, agreeing it made sense.
At the same time, he assessed the situation. Calculated win rates, bit his lip.
He himself had trained hard; his level was much higher than before.
Maybe enough for Highest Danger Class promotion.
He could handle this secretary bitch he had pinned.
But the Smiling Man in front was different.
He'd killed an S-Rank Hero. Alone.
Even the Seven Evils wouldn't carelessly fight an S-Rank.
No matter the ambush, his strength far surpassed his own.
'If we fight, I lose for sure.'
The best move was to abandon everything and retreat.
The Smiling Man hadn't shown killing intent yet.
That meant room for negotiation.
'But...'
This damn bitch kept getting under his skin.
A chance he'd finally caught. One that wouldn't come again.
If he didn't kill her today, he'd regret it for years.
The jeers from around had worn him down too.
“...Hey. Smiling Man.”
A villain's nature demanded seeing through what they'd set their mind to.
“Know what this is?”
Eying the device in the villain's hand, the Smiling Man spoke.
“Hmm. Looks like a detonator.”
“Smart. Truth is, I secretly hid a bomb in that orphanage. Planned to blow the whole place if this cursed bitch resisted.”
“I see. Hm. But isn't this a threat that won't work on me at all?”
“Not on you. But what about her?”
The villain thrust the detonator toward Lee Bora.
Then growled, aiming at the orphanage.
“Choose. Die yourself, or give up the orphanage.”
“What?!”
“If the Smiling Man takes one more step from there, I'll blow the orphanage. I'm dead to him anyway—what do I have to lose? Right?”
This guy was serious. Not some absurd bluff.
“Or just submit here without resisting. I'll kill only you and back off.”
“How can I believe that?!”
“The moment you try using your Ability on me, the Smiling Man charges in. I don't have the leeway for two at once.”
So, what would he do? The villain cackled.
Choose. You, or that orphanage and its kids.
“I-I...”
Fear of death. Worry over mission failure.
And the thought that the orphanage might suffer because of it.
The rationality she'd maintained so well was crumbling.
What should she do? What choice...
Sabak—
“Hey. Smiling Man. I said don't move.”
The villain shook the detonator threateningly in warning.
But the Smiling Man grinned and took another step.
“Your choice is taking too long! I'm just helping out!”
“What the fuck are you saying, you psycho! Hey! Decide quick! If the Smiling Man gets closer, I'll really blow the orphanage! Stay back! Don't come any closer!”
The Smiling Man approached. Tension gripped the villain's finger.
But Lee Bora's mind grew even more chaotic.
“Tch! Whatever! It's your choice—you're to blame for it all!”
“W-wait! No!”
“Stupid bitch! And you, Smiling Man! This is your fault!”
Before she could grab it, the detonator activated.
Kwaaaang!!
“What's this?”
“Dunno. Someone left it in front of the place.”
“It's a present!”
Among those who came to the orphanage, there were faceless donors.
People who occasionally left items and vanished.
So the kids had no aversion to such gifts.
“Let's open it!”
The director and adults were busy with other matters.
The kids immediately opened the box.
Inside was another box wrapped in red paper.
The moment everyone wondered what it was, the timer activated.
Beep!—Beep!—
“What's that sound?”
“Coming from inside.”
“A clock?”
The timer didn't last long.
The moment the set time ended...
Pooof!—
“Whoa?!”
“Eek?!”
The kids screamed.
But soon, the screams turned to cheers.
“Woooow!”
“Awesome!!”
A magic trick unfolding automatically from the box.
The kids instantly knew who left the gift.
“It's Sunglasses Uncle!!”
“What the...”
The villain was stunned.
First, the bomb he'd hidden so well was in the Smiling Man's hands.
And second...
“Ouch! That stings quite a bit!”
The moment the bomb exploded. He'd suppressed the blast with sheer force!