Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Ulleungdo Uproar!
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Things have gotten crazy!
S-Rank Hero Guardian. He was currently en route to Ulleungdo.
Originally, he would have arrived at the scene much sooner.
But after Holy Knight's death, he had to fill that vacancy.
To make matters worse, his fellow S-Rank Hero Valkyrie had gone on a short business trip to Japan.
With his patrol area expanded, it took him much longer to reach the East Sea coast.
On top of that, the worsening weather delayed him by over an hour.
"Hurry it up! If something big happens on Ulleungdo because of this, who'll take responsibility?!"
"I'm sorry, Hero Guardian! But the weather's at its worst—we could crash!"
"If it's that bad, just give me a parachute. I'll swim there if I have to!"
He spent the time anxiously in front of the delayed helicopter.
Then, for a brief moment, the dark clouds parted, and the wind and rain weakened.
Now's the time. If not now, there might not be another chance.
Hoping he wasn't too late, Guardian boarded the helicopter immediately.
'I heard Valkyrie jumped out of a JSDF transport plane.'
There were already two confirmed Apocalypse-Class monsters.
He didn't mean to underestimate Valkyrie, but she couldn't handle both alone.
If the heroes had equal power and numbers, they'd have the advantage.
But when monsters held the numerical superiority, the story changed.
If there were even some A-Rank heroes nearby for backup, maybe.
But Valkyrie was alone. She'd stepped up to defend Ulleungdo by herself.
As a fellow S-Rank Hero, this was deeply embarrassing.
"Guardian!"
Whirrr!—
He could barely hear. Even with the mic-enabled helmet.
Covering his ear, the crew member went "Ah!" and spoke again.
"Guardian!! Can you hear me?!"
"Loud and clear!"
"Then check this out!"
The crew member pulled out a phone and held it up.
What's this? New intel?
A moment later, Guardian couldn't believe his eyes.
"...What the hell is this?"
"They say this is the person who just saved civilians from the monsters! From the video reactions, no one's seen this hero before. Thought you might know something, Guardian?"
"That's..."
"With ability like that, at least A-Rank, right? Even I've never seen an S-Rank like her!"
"..."
Of course it's new to you. She's not a hero.
'Black hair. Eyes that freeze you on sight. And telekinesis.'
No doubt about it. Clan Boss. More dangerous than even the Seven Evils.
Her activities had been quiet for some reason, but her power was real.
Look at her now—crushing monsters with a gesture.
In the past, she'd used that ability to kill heroes.
And now, this woman suddenly appears on Ulleungdo. Suddenly saving people.
Protecting a holy site of heroes instead of smashing it!
'This... this... fuck. This makes no goddamn sense!'
Unbelievable. He wished it was AI-generated deepfake.
A villain doing the heroes' job?
Not harming people, but saving them?
"Captain! Can't we go any faster?!"
"This is max speed. And the weather's turning bad again..."
Kaboom!—
The helicopter shook violently.
The mood turned dire. The winds were intensifying.
Then the pilot's sharp scream came over the mic.
"What happened?!"
"Th-there! Up ahead!"
Ulleungdo came into view. Smoke rising from various spots.
Evacuation ships heading hastily to shore below.
At first, he thought they were fleeing the attacked island.
But soon, Guardian's jaw dropped in shock too.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
Krraaaash!!—
Right next to Ulleungdo, a colossal tsunami was surging in at unbelievable height.
The moment it hit the island, it'd sweep everything away equally.
Buildings, people—all dragged into the sea.
"This is..."
A catastrophe. The worst disaster. Even he couldn't stop that.
His name was Guardian, specialized in protection with his ability.
Yet even he thought of death first upon seeing it.
'It's over. Ulleungdo's gonna vanish from the map.'
The captain said it was impossible and they'd turn back.
Guardian tried to protest at first, but realized there was no choice.
No matter how much of a hero... against a natural disaster like that...
Peeing!—
The change...
Fwaah!—
...began with a single flash of light.
"...Huh?"
Something sparkled from Ulleungdo.
It bisected the tsunami that seemed ready to engulf everything.
Yes. It literally sliced the tsunami in half.
Impossible. This shouldn't be possible.
Cutting water. Erasing a tsunami. Both impossible.
Yet everyone in the helicopter witnessed the absurd sight.
Rumble...
The waves crashed harmlessly against the island, turning to white foam.
The disaster that would've swallowed all vanished in an instant.
And that wasn't the end. Look beyond—to the tsunami's rear.
Kraaaah!!—
A monster that had lost one head was turning tail and fleeing.
By its aura, definitely Apocalypse-Class.
An opponent even S-Rank Guardian would need full power against.
Yet it was fleeing for its life.
All this... actually possible?
The tsunami about to devour the island sliced to nothing.
The monster itself, a walking disaster, running away?!
"Guardian! Message from Hero Valkyrie!"
"Valkyrie?!"
His colleague who'd gone to Japan on business and headed to Ulleungdo.
She'd even borrowed a JSDF transport to get there.
And immediately engaged an Apocalypse-Class monster.
He'd worried about her being surrounded front and back.
"You're early, huh? Senior?"
"Sorry, sorry. This is early."
"Some of us went on overseas business and came back. Early? You trying to die?"
"..."
He'd feared she'd be badly hurt, but she seemed fine.
Her voice over the phone was pure Valkyrie.
Full of energy, yelling non-stop.
"What happened? Didn't you engage an Apocalypse-Class?"
"I did. But it ran away."
"It... ran?"
The monster fighting Valkyrie had also abandoned the battle and fled.
These things hated lifeforms—especially humans—to the extreme.
For them to retreat? A chain of miracles.
"...By any chance. The monsters fleeing..."
"You saw? Yeah. Another monster coming from the opposite side. The tsunami it caused got split, and it sensed something and bolted. Ah, too bad. I almost had it."
Classic Valkyrie.
She'd nearly died, and she calls it a shame.
"We'll talk details in person. Other heroes are arriving soon."
"Even the early birds are coming. Got it!"
He ended the call with Valkyrie.
Meanwhile, the helicopter approached the helipad.
"Landing!"
For now, land on Ulleungdo and assess the situation.
About the Clan Boss. And that flash from the island.
Rumble...
"Ahh."
Jin Seo-ah stared blankly at the crumbling tsunami.
At the sword in the Smiling Man's hand.
She barely held onto her reason.
She wanted to cheer in overwhelming joy right then.
If this weren't a site of tragic devastation.
She was sure she would've done just that.
"Smiling Man..."
People around called him a villain but not a villain.
Jin Seo-ah somewhat agreed.
Her life was saved. Not just hers, but others too.
But fully trusting him? That was a separate issue.
He'd undeniably killed heroes.
Even if Sword Saint and Valkyrie defended him somehow.
Doubt still lingered in her heart.
"What an excellent sword!"
But today. Right this moment.
Like the sun rising, burning away morning mist.
All doubt vanished without a trace.
"Thanks to it, I cut that thing nice and pretty! Hahaha!"
She wanted to speak, but her mouth wouldn't open.
Her chest swelled with sublime awe.
Like a blind man seeing the world for the first time.
Finally knowing the path to walk.
Bzzz! Bzzz!—
"Hm? Ah, excuse me. Sudden call."
He pulled out his phone and hit accept.
"Yes! I've got the call, Boss!"
"Time to go. Uninvited guests are coming."
"Understood!"
After a brief exchange, the Smiling Man scratched his nose.
Then pulled a book from his pocket and handed it to Jin Seo-ah.
"I'm done with it. They say reading is food for the soul, so give it a try. These days kids get motion sickness from text, but if you can't read a book, you're in trouble!"
He shoved the book at her and waved.
"Ah, don't return it!" were his last words.
And in a blink, he vanished.
"..."
Like seeing a ghost.
A thought Sword Saint once had...
His granddaughter Jin Seo-ah now shared.
Flip—
She carefully turned the page, and words greeted her.
To dream the impossible dream.
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong.
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star.
That moment fighting the monster.
When temptation to give up everything whispered.
Those words echoing like hallucinations in her ear.
The Smiling Man had surely been there.
Victory Monument of the Republic of Korea on Ulleungdo.
A place celebrating great victories.
From past fierce wars against monsters.
"..."
The Black Woman gazed at the monument.
"I'm here, Boss."
"Good. Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Thank you for the consideration."
She waved it off like that was enough.
Then took something from her pocket and placed it on the monument.
A single black stone. Like placing a go piece.
Etching a villain's mark on heroes' holy ground.
"Boss."
"Speak."
"With this, we've declared full war on the Union."
They'd dropped a nuclear bomb of doubt on heroes' existence.
If the world saw villains could do what heroes do.
Ultimately, the two would stand on equal footing.
The Union might not lord over them as before.
To reverse this, two things were needed.
Demonizing villains. And eliminating villains unfit for the role.
"So. Are you scared?"
The Black Woman's words drew a "Hahaha!" from the Smiling Man.
"Me? Never!"
The final boss's outline had emerged far earlier than expected.
That alone was a huge gain from this trip.