Chapter 183: The Reason for the Favor (End)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 183: The Reason for the Favor (End)
“Hmm, or is my eye for talent failing me? That can’t be right.”
There’s a saying.
A madman doesn’t know why he’s mad, and his way of thinking is fundamentally different from that of a normal person.
“You should turn villain right now. It’s a global loss for a talent like you to aim for something as pathetic as being a hero.”
I mean, who recruits a villain like that? To an outsider, it would sound like he was offering me a spot as the sole apprentice to a National Intangible Cultural Heritage holder, not a life of crime.
If he were just a common lunatic, I could ignore him. But looking at Professor Cathy’s expression, this madman wasn’t just any ordinary crazy person; he was a significantly dangerous one.
“No, there’s no way I saw it wrong. It’s still clear as day. I see. You just haven’t realized what kind of human you are yet.”
Perhaps because there was no one to stop him, the nameless madman struck a contemplative pose with his chin in his hand before nodding as if something had occurred to him.
“It’s fine. It’s a pity when talent withers away without ever being recognized, but it happens often. It is the duty of those who walked the path before you to correct your course and ensure you don’t stray down the wrong path.”
He raised his hand.
Anxiety.
Should I call it anxiety? Perhaps it was more of a foresight born of experience rather than mere sensation.
Madmen are called mad because there is no way to understand them, but I believe they do have a sort of pattern.
Among them, the ones I’ve dealt with so far always do something extraordinary at a timing no one could imagine. My instincts, honed by surviving countless lunatics, were screaming at me.
Whatever this bastard was about to do, it would absolutely not be beneficial to my life.
In an instant, his gaze shifted away from me. He smiled brightly at Ha-ni.
That smile, so full of apparent goodwill, contained not a shred of malice. It was bone-chilling precisely because it held only conviction and “kindness” toward the act he was about to commit.
I threw myself forward.
It was an instinctive action rather than a conscious one—the kind of move absolutely necessary when facing a madman stronger than yourself.
The spot where Ha-ni had been standing a moment ago crumpled, a small hole gouged into the earth.
“Oh? You noticed that? Good senses. I like you even more now.”
“Ugh!?”
The others only seemed to realize after the fact that it had been an attack—and one backed by enough killing intent to crush and kill an ordinary person before they could even resist.
“Hmm, if you hadn’t dodged, that would have definitely… Huh?”
Words were unnecessary.
I instantly severed a portion of my Innate True Qi, wrapped it around my body, and lunged toward him.
My short sword, which I had grown quite accustomed to, sliced through the air.
Even though I cut through the space where his neck had been just a second ago, he dodged with practiced ease and burst into a fit of delighted laughter.
“Haha! Look at you. You’re a hero cadet? What a tragedy—no, could there be a better comedy? A brat who can harbor such vivid, upright killing intent in a single heartbeat?”
Shut up.
Could Ha-ni have blocked that attack? In a combat situation, sure, maybe she could have.
But right now, she was off-guard, and because she was acting like someone else, there was a high probability her reaction would have been delayed.
In other words, this bastard had just tried to harm Ha-ni—my friend, someone precious to me—right before my eyes.
Maybe she wouldn’t have died. She’s a superhuman, so she might have survived.
But that was no reason for me to forgive him.
“Your eyes are the eyes of an Asura. You suppress such thick killing intent so well, don’t you? You hide such powerful resentment so skillfully. Do you really think someone who goes on such a rampage just because I tried to kill one girl can ever become a hero?”
Shut the fuck up.
No matter how I swung my sword, the man skillfully accelerated, dodging every blooming petal of my technique while staring at me with pure enjoyment.
“Good, good! Your level is incredibly high for your age! I wonder what you’ll show me if I try to kill someone else? Who do I have to kill to make you strip off that pathetic mask completely?”
Just for that.
Just for a reason like that.
How long had it been since I was this furious?
It was strange.
The sense of dissonance I felt even during intense training was gradually fading, and I could feel myself drawing closer to my past self.
This was perfect.
My current level was just short of what I needed to slit this disgusting bastard’s throat.
I severed more Innate True Qi and requested a trade from the Touch of the Devil.
Demonic energy seeped into my body, which was already enhanced by my talent, and my doubly reinforced form accelerated even further.
“Oh! You even have demonic energy? Splendid! Simply marvelous! Come on, if you’re hiding anything else, you’d better bring it out now. Otherwise, you won’t be able to protect anything.”
I told you to shut your mouth, you piece of trash.
No, actually, don’t. Let’s see if you can keep blabbering after I rip out that tongue you wag so freely.
“I was wondering why you were holding back, but seeing your reaction now, you’ve already experienced ‘loss’ before, haven’t you? And you have a history of falling into quite the despair. Yet you still try to be a measly hero? For someone with your talent, you’re quite mentally ill.”
Even with this acceleration, I couldn’t reach him.
“You probably thought you’d overcome it. No, maybe you’re trying to run away from your past by embracing something new and precious. But that doesn’t suit you. It must be uncomfortable, right? You must think about it often. It would be so much easier if I just killed them. Ah, do I really have to go this far? Those guys do it, so why can’t I?”
The white-haired demon grinned.
“But compared to how much you’ve endured, the results will never be satisfying. You reach out but always miss; things are taken from you unreasonably; your efforts are slandered. And perhaps, after you overcome all that, there will be those who try to restrict your actions. After all that, what is left in your hands?”
So noisy. I know all that. I came back prepared for it.
There should have been words to retort with, but in my overheated brain, no answer came to mind.
Instead, my sword was filled with killing intent.
As my sword path wavered from losing its composure, flowers no longer bloomed along its trajectory.
What? Why is this happening? Whatever. I don’t need it.
If I can’t swing it straight, I don’t have to stick to the sword.
Wait, no. If I use Ruyi, the building will collapse.
Even so, I felt like I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I crushed that laughing face into a pulp.
“Hmm, good. It’s a fine killing intent, but you shouldn’t focus so much on me. Look how much distance has opened up already.”
The moment he laughed, my body began to be crushed by an immense weight of gravity.
“…Ngh…!”
“Oh? You’re enduring this without even dropping to your knees? You’re sturdier than I thought. Well, anyway, just stay there and watch. Since you don’t seem to have any intention of taking off that mask yourself, I’ll strip it off for you.”
His hand pointed toward Ha-ni among the hostages again.
Don’t.
I realized what his ability was. Gravity Manipulation. That explained his speed, which was far superior to others, and the power he was using.
So, how do I break free? No, just breaking free isn’t enough. I have to break free right now and protect Ha-ni.
What is the best move I can make right now?
Ah, right. I just have to fight the way I did before the regression.
I felt like there was a reason I was trying not to do that, but I couldn’t remember it through the clutter in my head.
I only knew one thing.
If I hesitate any longer, I will lose her.
Again. I will lose everything in vain and repeat the cycle of regret.
That was so terrifying to me that I didn’t even want to think about it. I severed my life force and spread the light of reinforcement toward the deepest part of myself.
It was my own talent, so I understood it better than anyone.
I could easily endure the pain of the severed Innate True Qi.
I would use Reinforcement to enhance my own talent.
My heart thundered, and just as my trump card was about to see the light—
“There’s no need for that, Cadet Kang So-hyun.”
At the same time Professor Cathy blocked the attack aimed at Ha-ni, a flash of golden light and a storm swept toward the man.
“Hah, shit. I never thought I’d see that face again. What the hell is Alcatraz doing?”
“How exactly are you out here?”
As if certain that the opponent would be unharmed by the storm, the women threw questions toward the figure beyond the dust. The opponent replied just as casually.
“Ouch. This is the problem with heroes. Isn’t it cliché to show up late and make me repeat myself?”
To take a direct hit from the Chairperson and Park A-ram’s main skills and respond with an “ouch”—it was enough to make me laugh in disbelief.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere. I’m a bit busy right now. I think I only need a little more. I’ll deal with you after that. Besides, do you really think the three of you can stop me?”
How many people in the world could make such an arrogant statement in front of an S-rank Chairperson and two top-tier A-rank heroes?
But he was probably right.
If we were to catch him here, no one else could do it.
So, I had to do it.
“So-hyun, don’t.”
Whose voice was that?
I looked up to see Ha-ni trembling, looking like she was about to cry.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but you’re not supposed to do that. So please, don’t.”
* * *
Kang Ha-ni had good instincts for a superhuman.
That was why she felt she was too late when the first attack came, and she vividly felt the chilling sensation that she might die.
She was incredibly grateful when he saved her, but upon seeing his face, she froze again, unable to say a word.
It was the expression he wore only when he was truly enraged—one he never usually showed.
It was similar to when he fought the villain War Demon, but not to this extent.
A torrent of emotion, too viscous to even be called killing intent, was clouding his vision.
Even as she watched the fight that followed, only one thought occupied her mind.
She had to stop him.
She was certain that if she didn’t stop him now, she would regret it.
The movements he was showing now were in a realm far beyond his usual level, and this was power that could never be achieved without paying some kind of price.
But how? Would he even listen to her? What was she supposed to say to stop him?
I’m okay? After she almost got killed? You need to calm down? Did he not know that?
What could she possibly say to reach him?
The moment the professors appeared and pushed the villain back, she had a brief window to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.
Until she saw him muttering something with a hollow face.
“Don’t.”
Don’t cry with a face like that.
* * *
Right.
I decided not to use it because I didn’t want to see you guys making faces like that.
If I do this, you’ll just worry again.
I have to endure.
I still want to kill that guy, but it’s not something I should do if it means distorting your faces in pain.
At least for this moment, I have to suppress my emotions.
“…What a waste. I finally managed to pull out your true nature, and you’re trying to hold it back again. I see. Having a place to lean on was the problem.”
It seemed the madman didn’t take kindly to my change in demeanor.
The emotions that had just begun to warm up turned cold again.
Maybe this really does suit me better.
Maybe it’s faster to just eliminate every threat before my people get hurt.
“No! So-hyun, please! Hold it in…!”
My reason heard Ha-ni’s voice and told me to endure, while my instincts, already too accustomed to slaughter, screamed at me to use every means at my disposal to kill him.
“That hesitation is the reason you will lose something again today.”
But as soon as he said that, the man clutched his heart as if in pain.
“That’s enough. I told you to stay quiet. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
With a familiar voice, she appeared through a portal.
The appearing Seo-ha—no, Chae Yu-jin—began to glare at the demon with smoldering eyes.
“What am I doing? I’ve been quite well-behaved, haven’t I? I could have killed everyone, but I barely killed anyone. And wasn’t I just supposed to avoid the ones you told me not to touch?”
“…Yes, that’s right. Staying quiet was just a request, but the order was to be careful with the people I told you not to touch. But you just touched one.”
“…What?”
He stared at me blankly for a moment before bursting into laughter again.
“I see. So you were Kang So-hyun. I didn’t intend to meet you like this, but what a coincidence.”
I wanted to rip that snickering face apart right this second, but I couldn’t move because I would have to shake off the trembling hand holding onto me.
“Right. Then this was my mistake. I apologize. To think such a coincidence could happen. I wondered what kind of guy you were since she was so obsessed, but you’re certainly worth the obsession.”
“Shut up. I’m currently regretting breaking you out of prison with every fiber of my being.”
“My, I can’t afford to fall out of my employer’s favor. I suppose I should call it a day. Or rather, since I broke the contract, should I receive a punishment?”
“I’m warning you for the last time. Shut up.”
Even as a portal suddenly opened in the air, no one moved to stop them.
Everyone knew that they weren’t running away, but rather sparing us.
Chae Yu-jin’s eyes, looking this way from the portal, trembled for a moment when they met mine, but she forced herself to look away and stepped into the portal.
I watched that scene with a complicated heart.
The fact that I had almost failed to protect anything and lost it all again felt so wretched.
I couldn’t bring myself to say a single word.