Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Perfect Reasoning (11)
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"Ugh! Ack! Aaaah!"
Just like a scene straight out of a comic, Shinsuke's body bounced around the dirt floor like a rubber ball. Once, twice, rolling wildly and tearing up the ground before finally slamming into the wall, where it came to a stop.
"Pfft...! W-What the hell?! What is this?!"
Shinsuke staggered to his feet, still reeling from the impact. Clutching his side and gasping for breath, he dry-heaved and spat out curses. Meanwhile, Hwayoung crouched low in place, her intense deer-like eyes wide as she babbled on.
"Dada... goo goo gaa..."
Shinsuke blinked, his face twisting in disgust. From her childish boxing stance to those clear eyes and the baby talk—everything grated on his nerves.
Honestly, even I'd lose my cool if someone fought like that.
Shaking off the hit like it was nothing, Shinsuke squared up again, flexing his arms and yelling.
"...I don't know what your power is, but don't get cocky just because you landed one lucky shot. Now I'm gonna get serious! Hiyah!"
With a shout, Shinsuke vanished. A blurry afterimage trailed him as dirt kicked up toward Hwayoung—like a cannonball hurtling through the air. Yumi jumped in alarm, her eyes following him as she cried out.
"W-Watch out!"
"Die!"
But Shinsuke's fist sliced through empty air again. Hwayoung weaved aside effortlessly, twisting her hips to drive another body blow into his side.
Kwachak!
"Guhhh!"
This time, Shinsuke didn't just take it lying down. He offered one arm as bait, trying to guard with the other and land a counter into her side.
"Wha...! Whaack...!"
But his body, braced to block, floated up into the air mid-motion. Bones cracked as Hwayoung's fist slammed home, hurling him away. His body arced sideways in midair before rocketing off with a thunderous boom.
Bam!
"Nuaaaah!"
If the first hit had bounced him like a rubber ball, this one launched him like a rocket. He shot straight out in the exact pose she'd struck him, smashing into the factory wall. His body shuddered violently amid screams, twitching from the impact.
"This is our young lady's ability. She channels the spirit of the Baby Bodhisattva blessed by Mount Jirisan's vital energy, granting her strength no one can match."
"...Who are you?"
Glancing sideways, I saw a stranger in a neat suit introducing Hwayoung's power. Stunned and confused, I asked again, and the man pulled a business card from his jacket pocket.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I'm the young lady's chauffeur. Here's my card."
"Oh, uh... thanks."
The card had his name neatly printed in elegant script. Below it: Affiliated with the Martial God Church. I'd never heard of the religion, so I tilted my head.
"What's the Martial God Church?"
The chauffeur didn't answer directly. Instead, he pulled a small wooden splint and bandage from his belt, asking:
"Is religion really that important? More importantly, are you hurt anywhere? If something feels broken, I can splint it for you."
"No, I'm fine. Thank you anyway. Doesn't feel like anything's broken."
An Instant Acceleration user had pummeled me for ten full minutes, and sure, my whole body ached, but nothing seemed fractured. He'd avoided vitals to keep from killing me outright, but mostly, Serika's body was just tough.
"Gaaaah!"
While I checked myself over, Shinsuke screamed again, bouncing off in another direction. Across the way, Hwayoung pumped both fists in a victory pose, her lips pursed like she was sucking on a pacifier.
"Ootah! Tteol! Dada! Ttaeya!"
Those sounds sent Shinsuke into a red-faced rage, mixing curses and roars as he lost it completely.
"Uwaaaah! Shut up with that baby talk! Fight me seriously! Don't mock me! Uwaaaah!"
Bam!
"Gaaaah!"
Another boom, and Shinsuke flew off again. Starting out somewhat human, he devolved into a battered wreck with every hit. His face swelled beyond recognition, clothes torn to rags. His limbs dangled limply whenever he staggered, hidden wounds galore.
It was so gruesome I worried about traumatizing Yumi, but when I checked, she was cheering Hwayoung on with gusto.
"That's it! Beat him down! Smash him to pieces! You filthy kidnapper scum! How's that taste?!"
No need to worry about Yumi, then. The chauffeur stared blankly at Hwayoung and remarked:
"What a magnificent sight. Her ability is terrifying—body enhancement plus that baby talk shatters the enemy's will and pride. No one's ever survived it and stayed in the business. Looks like another retirement today."
"Gaaaah!"
Shinsuke sailed through the air again with a scream. His body skidded across the dirt, shirt ripping clean off. Struggling up, he retched and wobbled.
"Y-You damn brat...! Ack...!"
Eyes half-rolled back, he flailed at the air, gasping. One arm hung limp—broken from repeated blows. But Shinsuke's spirit held. Burning with hate, he jabbed a finger at Hwayoung.
"D-Don't underestimate me! I'm Yamaguchi Shinsuke! I clawed my way up from nothing! My path to glory's right ahead! You think I'll lose to some freak-powered elementary kid? End here? Don't make me laugh! I won't lose here! I won't fall here!"
Mouth agape, he bellowed. Fists clenched, glaring—that was the manliest he'd looked all day.
But his body was at its limit, legs trembling, barely moving. Hwayoung ignored his desperate cry, gliding forward until she was right in his face.
"Dadaa..."
Too late, Shinsuke realized her fist was upon him. Eyes bulging, he uttered one word.
"Ah."
A heavy thud, and his face crumpled like dough. Veins bulged on Hwayoung's arm from the force as she launched him.
Bam!
Shinsuke flew limply back, crashing into the factory wall with a roar.
His nose bridge caved in, face unrecognizable. Blood streamed from nose and mouth. The rebound sent him stumbling forward before face-planting into the dirt.
Hwayoung blinked at him, then slowly spread her arms and spun in place. The chauffeur approached, brushing dust from her clothes.
"Young lady, good work. Any more and he might actually die. Let's call it here."
Hwayoung pressed her forehead, shaking her head slowly.
"...Sigh, I've gone and taken down another villain with this dangerous power. My talent frightens me."
She glanced my way, so I gave her a thumbs-up and smiled.
"Yeah, exactly. You were awesome, Hwayoung."
She'd stylishly crushed an acceleration ability user. Baby Bodhisattva or whatever, she'd saved me—it was badass. Hwayoung puffed out her chest proudly, lips twitching, as the chauffeur pulled out his phone.
"Then, I'll call the police and hand this guy over..."
Screeeeech
A chilling sound cut through the air. Hwayoung and Yumi startled, looking around, as the chauffeur scooped up Hwayoung and turned.
It wasn't human.
The factory sign, unable to withstand the shock from Hwayoung launching Shinsuke, was tilting. The massive "Iwamoto Industry" sign swayed, screws giving way.
"Uh... uh... that thing looks like it's gonna fall?"
Yumi squinted, shaking her head and backing away.
"Young lady, danger!"
The chauffeur pulled me and Hwayoung back.
And with that, the teetering sign tipped forward and dropped.
Bam!
It smashed right onto Shinsuke's head.
Dust puffed up with the boom, and we all stared silently at the scene before us.
"Uh... umm..."
"Mm..."
Hwayoung, the chauffeur, Yumi, me—we all gawked awkwardly at the perfect tableau.
The Iwamoto Industry sign lay like a gravestone over Shinsuke's body.