Makina's Punishment and the Deviant's Chase

Whack. Whack. Whack.

"Ow, ow, that hurts, stop it, ugh!"

She said that, but how much could those delicate, fern-like hands really hurt? It didn't sting at all, but I wasn't tone-deaf enough to say so in this situation.

"You jerk, idiot, moron, villain, criminal, monster!"

"Well, villain's what I'm going for from now on, so that's fine, but at least the last two..."

"Shut up!"

"Cough."

No point talking to Makina when her eyes were bulging like that. It wouldn't get through.

"Tch, do you know how much I went through...? The house is way bigger than the capsule, and catching you was such a pain!"

"Yeah, you worked hard. And sorry for worrying you."

"Who said they were worried!"

"Kek!"

Then a smack on my back, but again, it didn't hurt. If anything, her hand was probably the one stinging.

"Eek...!"

And sure enough, she let out a groan. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠started to glance over, worried, but felt a sharp glare. Ahem. Still mad, huh? I ducked my head again.

How much time passed like that? This time, it wasn't a hit—it felt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a light tap, her fist resting on my back.

"Don't do it again. I was really scared, you know."

Who knows? Thinking about what comes next, this might happen again. I could just say okay and move on, but I couldn't lie to my partner, someone I'd be working with long-term.

"I'll try."

That was my vague answer.

"...Haa. Fine, got it."

Thankfully, Makina didn't push it, but it just made me feel guiltier.

"So, what's the next operation?"

She clearly wanted to drop the subject and get to the point. I grinned like I'd been waiting for it.

"Hey, that smile is straight-up villainous. Gave me chills for a sec."

"...Shut up."

Damn, gotta practice my expressions.

"Pork belly..."

The word "pork belly" from her smartphone made Lee Seoha clamp her mouth shut. Visions of sizzling pork belly on the grill, popping and crackling—slurp! She nearly drooled like a kid, hastily wiping her mouth and glancing around.

Luckily, it was a quiet time; the subway car was empty except for her. Relieved no one saw, she blushed and replied.

"O-okay. I'm passing by your neighborhood on the way home anyway, so I'll stop by then."

Ending the call, Lee Seoha gave a wry smile.

"Really, you don't have to take care of me like this..."

Ever since the escort mission where Spark had ditched her junior and fled from the villain, guilt had gnawed at her. Since then, she'd been extra attentive to Seoha—like buying her dinner now.

At first, Seoha accepted to ease her senior's conscience, but four days straight? It was starting to feel burdensome.

You're just clueless.

"Huh? What do you mean, Stella?"

What else? She's hinting you should back off. Your senior feels bad at first, sure, but that's not forever. She can't say it outright for face, but after four days, you should politely decline.

"I-is that it?!"

Stella's unexpected insight hit her hard, leaving Seoha flustered.

"W-what do I do? Should I text now that I can't make it?"

Do what you want.

Stella's tone dripped with pity as she continued.

But seriously, drooling over pork belly? It's not even ribeye. Get a grip.

"Ugh, but I haven't had meat in forever. And they say hospitality ends at pork belly—anything fancier means ulterior motives."

True, who'd buy ribeye for someone as socially inept as you?

"Urk..."

Getting roasted on social skills by a can—a relic, no less—Seoha teared up in shame.

She was about to text an excuse about sudden plans when—

Rumble!

The train lurched violently, nearly knocking her phone away, but her superhuman reflexes snagged it.

"Phew... that was close."

So what if that old phone breaks? Get a new one.

"I'd be in trouble without it."

Stella was right—it was beat-up—but with rent just paid, her wallet was tight. Losing it would suck.

"What was that? Something wrong with the subway?"

The jolt was bad enough, but now the train felt off. Due at the next station soon, yet it wasn't slowing—instead accelerating. The ad screens flickered with static.

Unease building from the eerie vibe, every monitor in the car—including the one ahead—suddenly filled with a man's face behind a bizarre mask.

"Sigma!"

The man on screen was Sigma—the guy who'd vanished with the Deviants during the bridge attack. His voice, distorted mechanically from behind the eerily lifelike mask, froze the air in the car.

Seoha shot up from her seat, yelling at the monitor.

"What the hell are you doing? Stop this train now!"

As if expecting her outburst, Sigma smirked chillingly from behind the mask.

"Protagonist? Cut the crap! You're endangering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠innocent people for that bullshit?!"

Seoha clenched her fists in rage, but Sigma ignored her, delivering a flat announcement.

With that, every monitor blacked out in unison, plunging the car into darkness. All that remained was the deafening screech of the accelerating train grinding the rails.

Subordinate? What did that—

Don't just stand there like an idiot—look out the window!

Seoha whipped around at Stella's sharp command. In the dark tunnel, something barreled toward them on the opposite track at terrifying speed.

Thud thud thud!

A heavy pounding cut through even the subway's roar. It was a horse. No—not just any horse. A monster with a sharp steel horn on its head, sleek metal armor plating its body.

"That's... a horse? No way—a Deviant?!"

Memories of the bridge attack flashed—lion, whale, and yes, a horse too. The beast closed in, then leaped onto the train's roof.

Neeeigh!

A grotesque cry laced with metal vibrations shook the entire car.

"Hero Nova! Come out now, or I'll smash this train to bits!"

A thunderous boom as its hoof slammed down—the ceiling buckled with a crash.

"Kyaaah! M-monster!"

Screams erupted; the other cars descended into chaos.

"Damn it, of all times!"

She had to stop it rampaging, but problem: she was in civilian clothes, no hero suit. The suit boosted her lacking powers, covered weaknesses, and hid her identity with facial recognition jamming. Revealing her hero status meant villain retaliation or wrecked daily life—suits were mandatory. But no time to grab one from HQ now.

"I can't just sit here...!"

Even if exposed, she had to protect the civilians. Steel resolve forming—

...What are you doing?

"Don't stop me, Stella. If I don't block the villain now, civilians are at risk."

Sure, it was a Deviant—strong enough to drop S-ranks easy—but she was the only one here.

No, I mean, you gonna fight like that?

"No choice. Not enough time to get a suit from HQ."

She might not win, but buy time till backup...

...You already forgot who I am?

"Not the time for that, Stella. You're a relic, a Core Relic...

...Oh."

Finally remembering Stella's power, Seoha froze. Stella sighed deeply.

Sigh, glad you didn't pick me just 'cause that guy said so...

"Huh? What was that?"

Whatever—transform already, you defective bait!

"Y-yeah! Got it!"

Blushing, calming down, Seoha checked the empty car, then activated the Core Relic-Stella on her wrist.

In an instant, civilian clothes became ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a jet-black suit. Transforming for the first time since awakening on the bridge, Seoha—no, Nova—felt a strange euphoria surging through her as she rushed toward the villain.

And that was when she came face-to-face with the rampaging Deviant in the train.

"W-whoa! What's with the sudden warning?"

Ignore it—focus on the enemy. It's a Deviant.

Stella was right; time to prioritize the threat ahead over mystery alerts.