Chapter 374: The World’s Fastest Fall (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 374: The World’s Fastest Fall (1)
As I listened to the Chairperson’s explanation, I felt more dumbfounded than angry.
“The villain who introduced himself as the King of Villains apparently sent an advance notice to the Association first.”
While we were in Hell, a villain had appeared and sent a declaration to the Association, claiming he would seize Alcatraz and liberate the imprisoned villains. To counter this, the Association had stationed about half of the Starlight Team at Alcatraz.
The leader of the Starlight Team—Flash—won a small-scale skirmish that followed. However, he apparently overextended while pursuing the fleeing enemies and fell right into a trap.
…Up to that point, well, it sounded pathetic, but since he is pathetic, I could let it slide.
The problem was the Association’s subsequent response.
A cover-up.
The very first thing the Association did was suppress that damn information.
They had hidden it so thoroughly that even the Chairperson only noticed something was wrong well after the incident had occurred. It was absurd.
I could guess why they hid the information.
They probably thought that if Starlight, who had recently been gaining popularity for the Association, were defeated, it would damage their image.
They also likely assumed that if they organized an attack with the remaining half of Starlight and additional heroes, they could easily retake it on their own.
The Association is incompetent, but the heroes under them aren’t necessarily so, so it wasn’t a completely baseless assumption.
Of course, that’s only if they could actually succeed.
“As you can see from the current situation, that attack failed.”
“It’s because of that bastard Flash, isn’t it?”
“…Yes. They dispatched heroes to rescue Flash after he miraculously escaped and sent a signal, but it was a trap. Due to Flash’s betrayal, the Association lost a significant portion of its main force. Well, most were A or B-ranks. Fortunately or unfortunately, most of the Association’s S-ranks are currently away on individual missions.”
“…Well, it’s not like there are that many Association-affiliated S-ranks in the country anyway.”
“…I have no defense for that.”
It was mind-boggling, but honestly, Flash was the type of guy who valued his own life above all else. He was exactly the kind of person who would betray everyone if someone had leverage over him.
So, I wasn’t particularly surprised by that part.
The strange thing was this ‘King of Villains’ guy.
There was no such person in the 1st Timeline, yet a similar incident had definitely occurred.
The culprit’s methods and the progression of the incident were identical to back then. Could this really be a coincidence?
“…And from here on, I honestly think you all have every right to be angry with me.”
…Hm?
“The Association, which had been repeatedly rejecting requests for cooperation, only asked for outside help after their feet were held to the fire. I intended to refuse at first, but at the request of some cadets, the Academy eventually sent support.”
“…What? Support? Who? Wait, the cadets requested it?”
I had a bad feeling about this…
“…Fortunately, we were able to prevent them from being captured, but Cadet Aisha and Cadet Cheon Yu-hak were injured. Cadet Cheon Yu-hak, in particular, is in very serious condition.”
It’s common for a hero—well, they aren’t heroes yet, just cadets—to get injured in battle.
But a bitter sense of dread washed over me.
Why did Cheon Yu-hak and Aisha choose to participate in that battle?
“…Where are they now?”
“In the infirmary.”
Cheon Yu-hak had changed quite a bit, but he hadn’t become such a philanthropist that he would reach out to help fools.
Aisha was still the type who didn’t care about anything outside her immediate circle and wouldn’t dream of fighting an enemy stronger than herself.
Following the Chairperson’s lead, we arrived at the infirmary, where I spotted the Doctor smoking a cigarette for the first time in a long while.
“Doctor.”
“…Ah? Oh, hey.”
The Doctor’s dark complexion brightened slightly when she saw me, but her expression quickly clouded over again, likely remembering the patients inside.
“So, you’ve returned safely.”
“…Yes. Well, it wasn’t exactly ‘safe,’ but I made it back in one piece.”
“…It looks like you’ve used up all your medicine. It’s a miracle you’re even maintaining human form.”
She seemed to be subtly trying to divert the conversation, but I couldn’t let her.
“Is it okay to go in?”
“No, they still need stability…”
[I know you’re saying that for my sake, but there’s no need. You may enter.]
“…As a doctor, I recommend staying out, but I doubt you’ll listen to me.”
Everyone held their breath as we opened the door to the room where Cheon Yu-hak and Aisha were lying. The sharp scent of disinfectant filled the air.
“You’re here? It seems everyone made it back safely.”
Cheon Yu-hak’s face, grinning as usual, was so handsome that for a split second, I almost mistook everything for being normal.
“I don’t know why you’re all looking at me like that. Isn’t it natural for a hero to get injured? I got greedy and joined this battle, and I got hurt because of it. That’s all.”
He spoke of his wounds so lightly, as if they were mere scratches, but his injuries were anything but minor.
“Well, I’ll be fine once I work hard at rehab.”
In the spot where his right arm should have been beneath his hospital gown, there was only emptiness.
Everyone swallowed their words at the sight of him smiling bitterly while clutching the space where his arm used to be with his left hand.
“They say the curse has taken root, making it difficult to treat with Divine Power. Since it’s come to this, I guess I’ll just have to get a mechanical arm or something. What can you do?”
“Hey.”
“Stop. I’ve already cried enough and shown plenty of my pathetic side. I’ve calmed down now, so it’s fine. It’s not like losing one arm is going to stop me from living.”
“Why did you go there?”
“…Does a hero need a reason to help people?”
“Don’t give me that bullshit. I know you’ve changed a lot, but you still hate idiots.”
Funnily enough, the guy who had been talking non-stop suddenly shut his mouth as if he’d been silenced by a spell.
But what can I say? I don’t know how, but I can practically see what’s going on in your heads.
“You went there to save my sister, didn’t you?”
“…Well, I won’t deny it. But you don’t need to feel responsible for my injury. I just decided on my own that I would protect this place so you wouldn’t have to worry while you were gone, and I figured that included your family.”
Is this bastard really saying this right now?
“I fought someone I couldn’t beat yet because of my own carelessness, and I got hurt as a result. That’s the whole story. If I had at least saved your family, I could brag about it, but in the end, I even failed the rescue. So don’t worry about it too much.”
Cheon Yu-hak hadn’t broken yet.
“ I’ll be a bit behind you guys for a while, but I’ll catch up soon.”
One might expect him to fall into despair after losing an arm, but he seemed to be looking for a way to endure and rise again.
“Just rest for a bit.”
“…Hm?”
“I’ll get you something better than what you had before.”
“…What, is Yuseong Group getting into the prosthetic business or something?”
“You’ve got enough energy to joke, so I guess you’re alright.”
“I’m telling you again, you don’t need to feel responsible. This was my choice and—”
“It’s not responsibility, it’s gratitude.”
“…What?”
“I’m saying thank you. Thank you for going in my place to save my sister. And thank you for not giving up even after getting hurt.”
“…Did something happen to this guy in Hell? His vibe seems a bit different.”
“…Ah, well. It’s a bit complicated to explain, Yu-hak.”
Leaving behind the puzzled Cheon Yu-hak as Lilac began to explain, I approached the other bed.
Fortunately, this one seemed to have all four limbs intact.
“Zzz… Honk-shoo…”
“What kind of person actually makes a ‘honk-shoo’ sound with their mouth while sleeping? Wake up, Aisha.”
“I-I’m sleeping! I definitely wasn’t acting all cool and trying to rescue her with Mr. Yu-hak only to get beaten up and scared out of my wits, okay?!”
“I’m not trying to scold you. I’m saying thank you to you, too. I was just worried if you were hurt anywhere.”
“…Huh? Worried? You, So-hyun, worried about me?”
Seeing her look at me with suspicious eyes, I briefly considered giving her a flick on the forehead, but since my gratitude was slightly greater, I decided to let it slide just this once.
“You went there to save my sister too, didn’t you?”
“W-well, yes, but I only did it so I could brag about it after saving her!”
“Most people only do nice things for others because they have an ulterior motive. Doing something nice because you want to get closer to someone is one of them.”
“No, wait, I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious—did his condition get worse after he went there? He’s talking like he’s reached some kind of enlightenment.”
“T-things happened!”
At Ga-eul’s words, Aisha tilted her head, still not quite understanding.
“Anyway, you worked hard too. Get some rest.”
“Okay…?”
I turned around, intending to leave immediately, but for some reason, the Chairperson was blocking my path.
“…Cadet Kang So-hyun, I know you’re angry and worried, but you won’t be able to handle this mission alone. You must wait for the S-ranks to return from their missions and form a professional team before entering.”
“Why?”
“Because the villains haven’t taken much damage, and Alcatraz is a prison that can also be used as a fortress.”
“I’m asking why that matters.”
“…I won’t call it bravado, but you’re likely not in the best condition. You shouldn’t overdo it. If, by some chance, even you are captured, things will become truly irreversible.”
“I don’t think they’ll be much help anyway.”
“…I understand your lack of trust in the Association. However, we are seeking help from various places other than the Association this time.”
“No, I’m not saying the heroes won’t be helpful. Um, okay, I guess I phrased that wrong. What I mean is, I think I’ll be fine on my own.”
“…Cadet Kang So-hyun?”
…To be honest, I wasn’t sure where this confidence was coming from either, but I just felt like I could do it alone.
Even if the main culprit was different, if the methods were similar, I was worried about my sister suffering while waiting.
And if we all moved together, I might lose the chance to get the item I wanted to give to Cheon Yu-hak.
“If you’re all worried, do you want to come along? I don’t think it’ll take that long.”
— Well, he’s not exactly wrong. It’s only natural for you to feel confident.
‘Pardon?’
— There probably isn’t anyone in the human world stronger than you right now.
I honestly thought it might just be baseless confidence, but Sun Wukong nodded as if it were a matter of course.
* * *
The prison of Alcatraz.
Inside the iron bars that were once filled with superhuman criminals, heroes and guards who had not yet surrendered were now packed.
“Ms. Kang Na-hyun. You’ve been fasting for nearly a week now. Even a superhuman will die at this rate. Please, just have some water.”
“…And what if it’s laced with truth serum?”
“Ah, well. I think there’s a misunderstanding. I truly want to become your comrade, Na-hyun. I’ve restrained you, but I’ve taken care to ensure you aren’t injured. And while your mana is sealed, it’s not a permanent seal. I’m being quite considerate in my own way.”
“…What do you want me to do about it?”
“There were so many villains interested in you, and the only reason they haven’t come near you is because of me. I’m actually quite gentle for a villain. You can tell by the fact that there hasn’t been a single casualty among the heroes yet.”
The King of Villains smiled thinly as he sliced a well-cooked piece of beef and offered it to her.
“Why don’t you just say you’ll be my comrade? Just the words for now. You don’t even have to actually be my comrade. Just one word, and I’ll give you this beef and a set of fine wine! You won’t find a better deal than this!”
For a moment, the hunger and thirst were tempting, but Kang Na-hyun endured and turned her head away.
“…Oh boy, this is going to take a while again. But I’m more patient than I look, so I’ll come back to persuade you tomorrow.”
“Don’t come. I have no intention of yielding to such a ridiculous threat.”
“No, I will come. And I will make you my comrade. I prefer people who hold out until they break rather than those who bend easily.”
When Kang Na-hyun didn’t respond, the King of Villains chuckled again.
As long as she was human, she wouldn’t be able to resist the hunger forever, nor would she be able to endure the thirst.
Time was on his side.
It had taken him a week to completely dominate this place, and he had already finished his investigation: there was no hero in the country capable of breaking through this iron fortress and rescuing her faster than he could.
The moderates of Labyrinthos, the villains of Alcatraz who had become his allies through his talent, the turncoat Flash, and even the Starlight Team.
“There’s no way they can break through.”
So, he could take his time, very slowly, to build a rapport with her.
Should he suggest playing tennis tomorrow?
With such naive thoughts, the King of Villains prepared to return to his quarters.
He had forgotten the basic fact that one must never let their guard down until they have completely secured what they desire.