Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Must You Be a Villain?
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Wake up!
"Hero Valkyrie! We just got a report that the Smiling Man kidnapped Cadet Seo Ha-eun!"
"…."
Valkyrie, who had been covering her phone for a moment, turns her head again.
The Smiling Man kidnapped Seo Ha-eun. Yeah. Looks like she has something to say.
No need to worry about that side. Right now, this place is more important.
"Yes, Branch Chief. Please continue."
[You! What the hell are you doing?! Making statements sniping at the Union? Are you insane? Do you know how furious the Union's upper echelons are right now?]
"Anyone would think I'm part of the Union if they heard that. I do get support from the Union, but I'm ultimately under the Republic of Korea Heroes. Right?"
The Union cannot officially command any heroes under its wing.
It merely provides support and receives backing from those heroes.
So. Even if a hero with resentment makes sniping remarks, it's no problem.
"And. I heard something truly shocking. You know the Jin family was attacked yesterday, right?"
[So what.]
"I'm close with that old man over there. Word is they requested support, but when I checked, half the heroes didn't even know about it? The rest said they had to deploy elsewhere and headed out. And it turns out the Union was the one who informed them of the deployment location? Said there were a lot of villains there. But in reality, it wasn't even that serious."
[No way.]
"Branch Chief. Tell me you really didn't know. If you're pretending not to…."
I might suddenly pop up next to someone and go 'Hehehe!' too.
Whoooosh!!-
Fierce wind whips my hair into a total mess.
Looking down, a forest of gray buildings comes into view.
Fighting to protect that down there—that's what heroes do.
But from up here, it looks awfully cold. And rigid.
I turn my head again to look at the person holding me.
The Smiling Man. The criminal who killed numerous heroes.
Just like the ones who harmed my parents, this man is a villain too.
He was someone to avenge. An enemy I had to hate.
At least, that's what I believed without a doubt at first.
"…."
But he saved me.
Over and over. Again and again. Endlessly. Without fail.
And he saved Kang Yuna and the other cadets too.
Even ordinary citizens owed him their lives.
A bit late, sure, but now I realize it.
He chose the path of a villain, but he wasn't one.
He harmed people, but those weren't people.
They were villains wearing heroes' masks.
The Smiling Man merely judged them in his own way.
'Smiling Man.'
I'm curious. Why did you choose that path?
Why did you help me? Why did you save me?
Every time I was struggling. Every time I was in crisis, you appeared.
The true hero I once admired so much.
To think you, of all people, embodied that.
It's weird. Frustrating. But... I'm a little glad.
Like Holy Knight. Or Blader.
Better than those who are heroes but more wicked than villains.
At least there's someone called a villain who does what must be done.
"…."
Before I know it, I burrow deeper into the Smiling Man's arms.
You... yeah. I think it's okay to trust you.
You call yourself a villain. Everyone thinks so.
But everything I've seen of you says you're not.
I'm sure. Because I hated villains more than anyone.
I still hate villains. This thirst for revenge won't fade.
You might keep being a villain from now on too.
You've harmed people and committed all sorts of crimes, after all.
The world won't forgive you and will try to catch you.
And in the end, you might grow closer to being a true villain.
But I want you to be a different kind of villain from the others.
Please don't get caught. Stay like this—as a villain. As a hero.
"Oh. Cadet Seo Ha-eun? Don't burrow in too deep. It tickles. Haha!"
"…."
And it'd be even better if you didn't say such weird things that snap me out of it once in a while.
Rustle!-
The floating sensation fades, and my feet touch solid ground.
The rooftop of a high-rise building. Alone there with the Smiling Man.
"I heard from Hero Valkyrie. You agreed to spread the video."
"…You talk directly to Instructor Valkyrie?"
Something hot surges up and vanishes inside Seo Ha-eun's heart.
What was that just now? This emotion too vague to explain.
"Well. She's sort of a business partner? Hmm. How should I put it—accomplice? Something like that."
"Did Instructor Valkyrie harm heroes?"
"Hahaha! No way. Hero Valkyrie is a true hero. Nothing like Holy Knight. A splendid one."
Plus, she's basically a slave working without proper rest?
The Smiling Man chuckles to himself, clearly amused by something.
In the past, I'd have thought he was truly mad seeing that.
But strangely, it doesn't bother me now.
"By the way. Why did you bring me here?"
"Didn't I tell you? Kidnapping a witness. Witnesses need to be eliminated!"
"Is that so?"
Seo Ha-eun casually glances around.
Then suddenly spins and runs toward the rooftop railing.
Without hesitation, she throws herself over the edge to the dizzying drop below.
Thud!-
But her body doesn't plummet to the ground.
Semitransparent threads gently catch her and lift her back to the rooftop.
Step-
"What are you doing?"
A voice slightly different from his usual tone.
The Smiling Man approaches Seo Ha-eun and asks.
A huge change. He was always the one asking.
And I was always the one answering.
For some reason, it feels good. Like I've flustered him.
Like I've seized the initiative, even if just this once.
"…Haha."
Before I know it, I mimic the Smiling Man's laugh.
Then Seo Ha-eun steps closer to the Smiling Man.
He doesn't dodge. Instead, she stands tall right before him.
"You lied, huh? About eliminating me. No way you'd let me die when I tried to kill myself."
She'd thrown herself off just to shake him up.
The Smiling Man couldn't help but let out a scoff for the first time.
"Hahaha! Oh dear. Looks like I underestimated Cadet Seo Ha-eun."
"I'm not exactly normal either. So be honest. Why did you bring me here?"
This... To think I'd get one-upped by such a young cadet.
His mutterings sound quite dissatisfied.
But a smile gradually deepens on the Smiling Man's lips.
As if this is what he'd wanted. What he'd been waiting for.
"Revenge will get much harder from now on."
"…."
"There are people who hate the Union, heroes who feel repulsed—but plenty who don't. You might have to fight villains and those guys too. A hero aspirant fighting heroes. That's what it means, Cadet Seo Ha-eun."
Even if that path is arduous and grueling, can you endure to the end?
Can you keep carrying out that thrilling revenge for me?
Can you show me that smile at the moment you complete your revenge?
"…I told you. I'm going to get my revenge. On the villains."
"Good."
"And on those who aren't villains but act more like them than anyone."
"What's your reason?"
"Just a hunch. Maybe those guys had a hand in my parents' deaths too. In a Union this rotten, there has to be at least one like that."
Oh. She's grown in all sorts of ways?
I was worried about her unstable mental state.
But she's using it as a stepping stone to climb higher.
This spectator is truly delighted, Cadet Seo Ha-eun!
"But. There's one thing that bothers me."
"Heh. You were so resolute just now, and now you're weakening already?"
"There's something I want to confirm."
Seo Ha-eun takes another step.
Closer to the Smiling Man.
Each sees their reflection in the other's eyes.
"You. You're a villain."
"If the Union or the nation asked right now, I'd say yes, I'm a villain. Killing heroes is a plain fact."
"But all those dead heroes had something suspicious about them."
"Holy Knight was a bit twisted, sure."
"Hero Blader too."
Hahaha! Did she figure that out?
I thought the Union covered it up, but this is unexpected?
Seo Ha-eun replies to the Smiling Man that she got lucky.
"…Smiling Man."
Then, after a brief hesitation, she blurts it out without thinking.
"Villain. Do you have to be one?"
"Huh? Cadet Seo Ha-eun. What did you just say?"
"Do you have to be a villain?"
A moment of silence. Followed by.
"…Kh. Ha. Haha. Hahahaha!!"
A mad laugh bursts from the Smiling Man's lips.
Insanely. No, utterly deranged, he roars with laughter.
After laughing for a good while, the Smiling Man wipes away tears.
"That was a hilarious joke, Cadet Seo Ha-eun."
"…I'm not joking."
"No! It has to be a joke. Otherwise, it's too absurd!"
Arms spread wide, the Smiling Man paces the rooftop for a moment.
"Quit being a villain. Then what? You can't seriously be telling me to become a hero now?"
"…."
"Please, don't make such ridiculous suggestions. Even as a joke, it's hard to swallow. Makes me nauseous. Haha!"
At that moment, emotion stirs Seo Ha-eun awake again.
Just as she hates villains because of that past incident.
The Smiling Man has his reasons for hating heroes.
It's his reverse scale. Something you must never touch.
No telling what madness lies behind that laugh.
"Then."
But. Seo Ha-eun wanted to say this no matter what.
"Do you plan to stay a villain to the end?"
She will become a hero.
The Smiling Man is a villain.
So someday, they will inevitably clash.
She doesn't care if she dies once revenge is complete.
She just doesn't want to fight him.
"If that's what everyone thinks I am, then I'll remain a villain to the end."
"…."
"Oh. Don't look so disappointed. Villain and hero— the world isn't divided just into those two, is it?"
Not divided into just two?
"Sometimes allies become enemies, and enemies become allies. No need to divide us by villain or hero. That'd be no fun. Haha!"
"You mean…."
"Shh. That's enough. Talking more would ruin the fun. Let's leave it here for our future sakes."
Hmm. Time to head back now.
Where to, miss? Just say the word.
Seo Ha-eun smiles at the Smiling Man's banter.
It had been so long. Smiling like this.