Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Ally-to-Be Mid-Boss
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“Hey. Just date me once, will you?”
“Give it up. I don't like pigs, and I hate tattoos even more.”
“Fuck! Why does a villain like you have so many pet peeves?!”
“That's why I'm telling you to quit it.”
The pain of first love was something Tattoo Man—no, Tattoos of the Seven Evils—knew all too well.
He'd fallen head over heels for a fellow member of the Seven Evils at first sight. He had to make her his.
He'd done everything he could for her. Gifts, yielding fights against heroes—he gave it all.
Every time she laughed and asked if he was really giving it to her, he felt like he owned the world.
The problem was that she'd cherry-pick everything he offered... but sliced his confession to ribbons without mercy.
When he incredulously asked why, her answer was simple: she just didn't like him, period.
Rage boiled up. What kind of bitch was she?
...Wait. Hold on. We're all villains here. So she's not a bitch—she's got that edgy charm!
But he was in too deep to back out now. Too far gone to escape.
Tattoos clung harder the more she rejected him. He figured something would eventually sway her.
But she shoved him away for good. Fury surged to the top of his head.
Then one day, by chance, he overheard her talking to another Seven Evils member.
“Who's that guy? The one who showed up when the boss called. Super pale, crazy handsome. Eyes are a little weird, but totally my type.”
“...Smiling Man? Wow. What a name. Well, how many normal names are there around here anyway? Thanks. Smiling Man. Smiling Man. Next time, I'm definitely hooking up with him for a one-nighter.”
Crunch!
She took all the gifts and cash without a second thought, but shot down his plea to date her even once.
And now she was saying she'd give a one-night stand to some guy she'd never even met?
He was pissed. That raging inferno wasn't aimed at her anymore... but at Smiling Man.
Wrong target? Hell no! Just get rid of that bastard, and it'd all be fine. Kill him, and the anger would fade!
“Hey.”
The chance came sooner than expected.
That was how Tattoos' first encounter with Smiling Man in his life went down.
And Tattoos, for the first time, turned tail the moment he faced the man.
He tried to play it cool, but cold sweat poured down his back.
***
Fuck.
It was just like back then. Instinctual wariness and fear surged up together.
His instincts screamed: Don't fuck around with this monster.
If you're really gonna fight, you'd better risk your life.
That's why Tattoos' rational mind flat-out refused this situation.
The guy wasn't doing a damn thing. No Ability, not even moving.
So why the hell was his body freaking out like this?
I could crush this punk into the dirt just by flexing right now!
Instinct clashed with reason. One side yelling to bail, the other to show him who's boss.
His gut had never been wrong before. It was spot-on this time too.
But what if this fucker's holding back or something? If he turns the tables, it'd be humiliating as hell.
No. That's exactly why he had to smack him down once for sure.
Then that girl would look at him again, rethink things, right?
Fuck! That woman's mine! I'm the one who's gonna have her!!
Yeah. Decision made. Right here, today—he'd show them the terror of the Seven Evils.
This guy might be strong, but he couldn't hold a candle to the Seven Evils.
Time to remind them why the Union formed that Special Task Force just for guys like him!
“Who the hell are you to tell me to let go?!”
His build was way bigger. His raw power had to be superior too.
This skinny anchovy? No need to flip him—just slam him down and done.
“Raaahhh!”
With a booming shout, Smiling Man lifted in his grip floated into the air.
Perfect. Crush this bastard into paste just like this.
Reasons? Figure 'em out later. Villains act first, think later!
Boom!!
A massive crash shattered the pavilion floor. Debris scattered everywhere.
Not satisfied, Tattoos stomped it repeatedly with massive feet.
“You fucking prick! How dare you look at me like that?!”
“Hey. Ease up. What if you actually kill him?”
“...Shut up.”
“The pavilion's trashed. Hope the boss doesn't chew us out.”
“Don't worry! The boss can fix this gazebo in a day flat...”
Hold up. Hold the fuck up!
Tattoos whipped around. Murder Maniac Girl and Gloomy Swordsman did the same.
They'd clearly seen Smiling Man gripped in that massive hand and slammed down.
No escape, no resistance—nothing.
It happened so fast and sudden, they'd assumed no one could react.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Like you've seen a ghost.”
But why... why was Smiling Man sitting in the chair across from him?
Not one of the Seven Evils here had noticed him slip away?
What the fuck? I definitely felt him in my hand!
He's insanely fast?! Holy shit. If he'd countered, that tattooed pig would've been in deep shit.
...Shut up.
Whether the flustered Seven Evils stared or not...
Smiling Man just urged them to sit before the boss arrived.
Enraged at the sight, Tattoos charged again. Now it was a matter of pride.
This wasn't bare hands anymore. He gripped his weapon and unleashed his Ability.
Vmmm!
The chipped greatsword came whistling down at Smiling Man's head.
Surpassing any human strength or speed.
Against a Seven Evils member, it'd cleave him in two.
“Well, now.”
But Smiling Man didn't budge.
All he offered was that awkward smile.
Clang!
“Guh!”
His body slid back. Tattoos gritted his teeth and looked ahead.
“What the...”
Something translucent shimmered in the empty air before vanishing.
A glimpse was enough—Tattoos and the other Seven Evils knew it instantly.
Mana Threads!
Whoa. First time seeing someone handle an Ability like that.
...Shut up.
The Ability to materialize mana into threads.
Insane enough on its own—but wielding them like solid matter?
Word was, that was twice as hard as elemental powers.
“So that's your secret confidence.”
Tattoos sneered, readjusting his greatsword. Ominous energy seeped into the blade.
Mana Threads. Impressive Ability, sure. He'd admit that much.
But invincible? Nah. Overpower it, and it snaps. Slices right off.
And ultimately, the user's defenseless while puppeteering those threads!
Power and speed ramped up. He battered the blocking Mana Threads mercilessly.
Rejected by his crush or not, Tattoos was still Seven Evils.
He'd faced countless heroes, seen their Abilities up close.
Summoned constructs like this always had a weakness. Hit it, and they dispel—or worse, backlash on the user.
“Let's see how long you stay cocky, you sly bastard!”
How many heroes had he killed? How many Abilities smashed?
No way he'd flinch at some Mana Threads! Hell yeah—Tattoos accelerated again.
Clang! Thud!
The taut threads loosened bit by bit. Losing their oomph.
After several exchanges, they finally bounced back—leaving Smiling Man in range.
He was still seated. Still wearing that eerie smile.
Confidence? Another trick? Didn't matter. All futile.
He'd slice him up. Bisect him. A-rank heroes were tofu to him.
At this distance, even an S-rank couldn't dodge unscathed!
The greatsword plunged down again, dead accurate from above.
Slicing. Cleaving. This strike was landing for sure. Certainty swelled.
“Oh dear.”
He smiled. That damn guy—the one the boss favored—Smiling Man.
He extended a hand. Right at the greatsword.
Has he lost it? Against a blow that could fell an S-rank?
“Your balance is off.”
What?
“Hard to even take this hit properly.”
Smiling Man flicked the falling greatsword with his index finger. Lightly. Tap.
In that instant, Tattoos felt his body lurch wildly.
A feather-light motion... but the impact hit like a boulder.
Boom!!
The cocky swordsman tumbled ass-over-end.
The masterless blade skittered across the floor before embedding itself.
“What?”
Murder Maniac Girl, who'd muttered he'd been caught, gasped in shock.
Gloomy Swordsman, who only ever said to shut up, spat something new.
“...”
The biggest shock was Tattoos himself.
Fuck. What... what the hell just happened?
Dazed, he looked up at Smiling Man approaching.
That guy, with his concerned smile asking if he was okay... suddenly terrified him.