Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Villain, But Not a Villain
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...
Seo Ha-eun quietly watched the news before standing up from her seat.
Without deciding on a destination, she simply started walking.
'The Smiling Man did something like that...'
No. That can't be. The Smiling Man wouldn't do that.
Even though he's undeniably a criminal who killed a hero.
He never committed such brutal acts against civilians.
"You're not, are you?"
Right. You can't be. Smiling Man. You absolutely can't be.
If, by any chance, all of this really was your doing...
Then I've been a fool for wavering all this time.
When I should be filled with hatred for every villain in this world...
I'm harboring doubts about you, of all villains.
The massive billboard blared its usual message.
Villains destroy the world. Heroes fight them.
Even if it means dying, they protect the citizens.
So everyone in the world must see heroes as good.
We must never view villains through any other lens than evil.
Otherwise, the heroes who sacrificed themselves fighting them...
Will have fought for nothing, forever unknown.
Her own parents died fighting villains.
They were denied even the last dignity a person should have.
As their daughter, her anger and hatred are natural.
No. They must be. Even if everyone else forgets, she can't.
She must hold onto her hatred for villains until her dying breath...
Braaaang!-
"...Ah?"
Oh no. She'd been too lost in thought.
She'd tried to cross the street at a red light.
She nearly caused an innocent driver to crash.
"Are you okay?"
A man wearing sunglasses looked down at her and asked.
Only then did Seo Ha-eun realize she was in his arms.
"Ah. Sorry. And thank you..."
What is this? This strangely familiar aura. This piercing sense of déjà vu?
Seo Ha-eun slowly lifted her head to look at the man.
It's different. Completely different. And yet, she wanted to ask.
"...Smiling Man?"
"This isn't the place to talk."
"...!!"
It's him. The real Smiling Man.
The villain the Union was desperately hunting.
The one suspected of fleeing overseas without a trace.
And here he was, standing calmly right in front of her!
"You...!"
"If things kick off here, innocent civilians will get hurt. I'm not thrilled about that. What about you, Miss Seo Ha-eun?"
Is this a threat? Yes. A clear threat.
And yet, his voice strangely sounded like a plea.
So Seo Ha-eun bit her lip but didn't activate her Ability.
"I was just heading to my usual café. Care to join me? Drinks are on me."
"You know you're being hunted right now, don't you?"
"Of course I do. I watch the news too."
He pulled out his phone and showed her the news channels.
Unbelievable. How could he be so nonchalant?
"The café doesn't have many people, so we can talk comfortably. Shall we?"
The Smiling Man turned and walked ahead.
Was he saying he didn't care if she ambushed him from behind?
Or that a sneak attack from her wouldn't even work?
"..."
Seo Ha-eun glared at him for a moment before quietly following.
A short while later, the man and woman entered a small café.
"Oh, regular! Back again."
"The usual, please."
"Got it. ...Huh? Not alone today?"
"That's how it turned out. I have company today. What would you like?"
"..."
"Got it! Same as mine, please!"
"Girlfriend? Haha!"
Seo Ha-eun's face crumpled.
The Smiling Man's girlfriend? She'd rather die.
"Uh, whoops... My mistake. Drinks will be ready soon. Come pick them up."
"Thanks. Alright, shall we?"
The way he treated her made it look exactly like she was his girlfriend.
While the café owner prepared the drinks, puzzled...
Seo Ha-eun sat facing the Smiling Man by the window.
"..."
This was uncomfortable. Unbearably so.
Something was boiling inside her, but she wasn't sure if it was anger.
"Nice to see you again, Miss Seo Ha-eun. You've gotten a bit stronger since we first met."
"...You're the one, aren't you?"
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
She was startled for a moment, but the water was spilled—might as well pour it all out.
"What do you mean?"
"The indiscriminate attack on civilians the other day. Seven dead at the scene, more from worsening injuries later. Over ten victims total."
"Hmm."
The Smiling Man stroked his chin, dodging the answer.
No way. Really? Did this man really do it?
"Miss Seo Ha-eun. Let me ask you one thing."
"...Ask."
"If I say it wasn't me, would you believe me?"
A villain asking a hero cadet if she'd believe him.
The obvious answer she should give was 'No.'
No compromise or negotiation with villains. Evil must simply be judged.
Unless they surrender first and admit their crimes.
"..."
But Seo Ha-eun couldn't bring herself to say no.
She should as a hero. But something else held her back.
This is wrong. As a hero, she absolutely couldn't...
"It wasn't me."
At the Smiling Man's words, Seo Ha-eun quickly looked up.
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"For real."
"Yes. For real. It wasn't me."
Gulp-
She swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Why the relief? Why did it feel like a weight off her shoulders?
"Looks like other villains framed me to divert the Union's attention."
"..."
"I'm not into targeting civilians. What's the fun in attacking people who can't even resist? It'd just lead to self-loathing."
What would other villains say if they heard that?
Villains who avoid scary, hard-to-fight heroes and prey only on easy civilians.
"I looked into you."
"Oh."
"No crimes against civilians. Only hero killings."
"I have killed quite a few, haven't I?"
The Smiling Man, wearing a strange smile, suddenly stood up.
Seo Ha-eun reflexively tensed for defense as he passed by.
"The drinks are ready. Wait a sec."
As he walked past, there was no sound, no presence at all.
Ghostly. She sensed there were only two moments she'd notice him: when he chose to reveal himself, or when death came.
"Here we go. My usual when I come here!"
The drinks placed before Seo Ha-eun and the Smiling Man were...
"This is..."
"Strawberry yogurt frappe. Yeah. This is the only thing I get here."
She'd thought a villain would drink something weird.
Strawberries. Sipping such a bright, cheerful drink.
Hard to believe this man single-handedly killed the Holy Knight.
"Where were we? Ah, heroes. Right. I've killed a lot of heroes."
"Most recently, the Holy Knight."
"Correct."
"I was there too, and you saw me but let me live."
"Miss Seo Ha-eun, you're a cadet, not a hero."
Watching him munch on strawberries, Seo Ha-eun realized something.
There it is. Something's off. He acts casual, but there's something there.
"I know what the Holy Knight tried to do to me now."
"I see."
"And Smiling Man, you killed that Holy Knight."
"I did."
"He probably committed other crimes too, even if I don't know the details."
"Maybe."
A brief silence. Then Seo Ha-eun spoke again.
"Did you... kill the other heroes for the same reason?"
"Hmm."
"Because they committed crimes. You targeted only them?"
The Smiling Man didn't answer.
He just swirled his straw and sipped his drink.
But that was enough for Seo Ha-eun.
"Smiling Man."
"Yes, Miss Seo Ha-eun."
"You are a villain, right? Aren't you?"
"Anyone who awakens an Ability and harms people without state authorization is legally defined as a villain. So, to sum it up, yes, I am a villain."
Heroes who pretend to be honorable in front but commit crimes behind.
Villains who are brutal criminals in front but judge the hypocrites behind.
Something was wrong. The world she knew felt upside down.
"It's not complicated at all, Miss Seo Ha-eun."
The Smiling Man drained his glass cleanly, smiling.
"You'll become a hero someday. If I'm still a villain then, catch me."
"Not now?"
"Hmm. Let's make now an exception. I bought you a drink, after all. Haha!"
Catch me. If I'm still a villain then, catch me by all means.
At those words, Seo Ha-eun thought something without realizing it.
I hope before that, you won't be a villain anymore.
Defect. It'd be great to see you as a fellow hero.
"Ah. I should get going. Got some people to meet."
"Gonna kill more heroes?"
"Oh come on. If that was my plan, I wouldn't have met you. Killing a hero right after meeting a cadet? That'd make me seem too insane."
No matter how I look at it, you do seem insane.
As Seo Ha-eun muttered softly, the Smiling Man suddenly extended his hand.
"...What are you doing?"
"Coming along?"
To meet the 'real' villains you hate so much.