Hatred
Lee Seoha trembled with a flushed face as she scrolled through the headlines dominating every portal site's front page.
Daytime Subway Hijacking, Fortunately No Casualties...
Hero vs. Villain Battle Unfolds atop the Train.
Deviants, Who Are They?
Mysterious Hero Revealed as Hero Nova? Association Announces...
Japan in Shock, America in Awe: Hero Stops Onrushing Train Barehanded!
She had no idea how things had spiraled after the Deviants' attack that day. When she came to, she was in the hospital, and somehow Nova had become a nationwide star overnight.
The real-time terror broadcast live via drones had pulled in massive attention, and in just one day, Nova's fame had skyrocketed.
Thanks to that, even a simple walk down the street filled her ears with talk of Nova everywhere.
"Nova's seriously amazing, right? Trying to stop that massive train all by herself."
"Yeah. When those huge engines popped out of her legs and spewed fire—total badass."
"Ah, Nova's so pretty!"
"Don't yell it, idiot."
A whole week had passed since the incident, but Nova's name was still on everyone's lips.
Lee Seoha felt a mix of joy and overwhelming pressure from the attention she'd received in one week—far more than in her entire life before.
The power came from Stella, but even with it, she couldn't stop the train. In the end, she'd been toyed with by Sigma's hands.
'Sigma...'
The moment she recalled the man who seemed to be the Deviants' leader, a question arose.
He was an unforgivable villain who endangered countless lives without hesitation, but something was off.
'He was a total mess.'
That day, Lee Seoha had poured every ounce of strength into stopping the train, leaving her limbs shaking, barely able to walk a few steps before collapsing.
Even transformed with Stella's power, healing that level of damage should've taken considerable time—
'But they said there wasn't a scratch.'
The heroes who arrived later to rescue her reported no injuries on her body.
She'd been bleeding, in agony—how could there be no wounds? It didn't make sense.
She'd wondered if Stella had healed her, but...
"I was maxed out just keeping you from dying after pushing your energy to the limit."
Stella's words left Lee Seoha apologetic for her stubbornness, yet grateful too.
Anyway, not Stella, not the hospital—only one possibility remained.
'No way... Sigma?'
Ever since becoming Stella's compatible user on the bridge, he'd seemed obsessed with her. Had he healed her for that reason?
'Creepy...'
The thought of him touching her unconscious body made her skin crawl.
She hated relying on a villain who hijacked a train in broad daylight, but she had to acknowledge his skill.
'No idea how, but he fully healed me in that short time.'
Just like that man she'd seen back then.
'...Wait, that civilian guy too?'
Suddenly recalling the man with harsh, fierce features but a good heart, Lee Seoha tilted her head.
He'd taken a massive injury from the Muscle Pig villain, but the moment their eyes met, he'd healed instantly. No way...
"You're early. Did I keep you waiting?"
The sudden voice snapped her from her thoughts. "Ah, Fla—!"
"Shh. I'm just a civilian right now."
As the woman's finger touched her lips, Lee Seoha clamped her mouth shut in realization.
"S-Sorry... Han Jua-ssi."
Facing Han Jua—S-rank hero Flare—Lee Seoha stammered in panic.
"Treat me casually. We're not meeting as heroes right now."
"R-Right. Yeah, casually... casually."
Easier said than done. Though she'd grown stronger lately, as a core B-rank hero, she couldn't help tensing up before an S-rank.
Han Jua smiled softly at Lee Seoha's squirrel-like hunching.
"Let's move spots first. Too crowded here, right? I know a good place."
"Ah, yes...! Thank you!"
"Hehe."
Lee Seoha followed like she was entranced.
@
Her vivid red hair burned like flame, contrasting her icy blue eyes—like jewels meticulously embedded. Even to another woman, she was stunning up close. She'd fit right in as a model or idol, hero or not.
"Something on my face?"
Caught staring, Lee Seoha shook her head in surprise.
"No! Just... you're so pretty, I zoned out..."
"Hehe, thanks. You're super cute too, Seoha-ssi."
"Th-Thank you."
Mortified after blurting it out, Lee Seoha's face softened a bit, tension easing.
"Um, Han Jua-ssi? Why'd you call me out so suddenly?"
With the mood lighter, she cut to the chase. They'd met once when visiting her sister, but she hadn't expected a direct invite.
"Straight to business? Fine by me—I didn't come for small talk."
Han Jua's serious expression made Lee Seoha straighten up tensely.
"I'll be direct. Tell me everything you know about the Deviants."
"Deviants?"
"Yeah. That lion from the escort mission—you said it was a Deviant."
Recalling the massive lion on the bridge furrowed her brow. Her smile vanished, replaced by a chilling gaze.
"Heard from the Association the subway hijacking was them too."
"From the Association?"
"Yes."
Given the severity, it'd be classified, but as an S-rank with ties to the incident, she'd gotten the info.
"I don't let villains walk over me. If they hit me, I hit back harder—or I can't sleep."
Her blue eyes flickered as she spoke, flames threatening to erupt. Lee Seoha nearly buckled under the intensity.
"So tell me everything you know. What happened after I passed out, when you faced them on the train, and that guy Sigma too."
"Ah, yes, sure."
Overwhelmed, she nodded, though she didn't have much to say.
"I've already told the Association everything. Nothing new for you, probably."
She'd cooperated fully during their investigation, even from the hospital. Her info matched the reports, but Han Jua was firm.
"Sure, but you're the only one who faced and fought them. Reading reports isn't the same as hearing from someone who was there—that's key in this business."
"R-Right."
It felt forced, but logical, so Lee Seoha didn't argue.
"Okay, it's mostly what the Association has, but here's what I felt."
"Great. Every detail counts."
Her eager eyes and recorder plus notepad were intimidating, but Lee Seoha recounted it all: Deviants after Han Jua fell, Sigma offering the Core Relic, the subway promise, battling Accel Unicorn, stopping the runaway train.
Familiar territory, it flowed smoothly, but still took time.
"—And then I blacked out."
"I see."
Helpful? Han Jua pondered her notes.
"That's the oparts on your arm from back then?"
"Yeah... Wore something I was supposed to protect..."
"Don't mope. You kept it from villains—that's your job done."
"Hehe, thanks."
Scratching her head sheepishly, Lee Seoha caught Han Jua eyeing the bracelet.
"Core Relic, huh. You said the lion used one too?"
"Yeah, according to her."
Stella called it Core Relic-Power for the lion, Core Relic-Accel for Accel Unicorn.
"Oh, Accel Unicorn! What happened to it? I beat it, so the Core Relic should've been left."
"That Deviant? Yeah, it exploded spectacularly on broadcast."
"B-Broadcast..."
Her fight live nationwide? Blush surged again.
"S-So, did they find the Core Relic?"
"Sadly, Association said no trace."
"What? Did the explosion destroy it!?"
"No, no trace at all. Not even debris."
Lee Seoha blinked, uncomprehending. No remnants from that blast? Impossible?
While she puzzled, Han Jua asked cautiously.
"...Could I maybe try using it?"
Use it? Her gaze on the bracelet clicked. Lee Seoha smiled wryly.
"Afraid not. It chooses its owner—only I can use it."
"Too bad."
Regret shadowed her face. Lee Seoha felt oddly guilty. An S-rank like her could've done more with it—
No.
A flash: the villain writhing on cold asphalt, flames piercing and cauterizing its body in brutality.
Unconsciously, she gripped the bracelet.
"—Jua-ssi, I have a question too."
"Sure. I've been grilling you—go ahead."
She had to ask.
"Why do you treat villains so cruelly?"
Han Jua's eye twitched at the bluntness.
"...Cruelly?"
"Exactly. You always mutilate their bodies when subduing them."
First time, piercing Muscle Pig's side. Escort mission, holes in the cargo attackers, limbs torn off at worst.
Lethal normally, but cauterized instantly—no deaths. Still, survivors would suffer lifelong.
"Couldn't you subdue them easily? Heroes suppress and arrest—no need for excessive violence."
"Hah."
Han Jua set down her teacup slowly. Her soft smile gone, replaced by eerie, chilling killing intent.
"Why I cripple villains? Simple."
Her flat tone chilled deeper. Gazing at her pale hands, she continued.
"Truth is, I want to kill them all. Burn them to ash with these flames. But I can't, right? 'Villains have rights,' 'Victims have lives too'—hypocrites yapping worldwide."
"Jua-ssi...!"
Shocked by her extremism, but Han Jua waved it off reassuringly.
"Yeah, yeah. Heroes can't say that. So instead of killing, I give pain as bad as death. Make them regret villainy forever."
"..."
"Heh, know what villains caught by me beg? 'Spare me, please.' Never mind their crimes—their lives matter most."
Her calmed, quiet tone seemed poignant.
"But Jua-ssi, no matter how much you hate villains, you can't. It's just venting."
A sneer crossed Han Jua's face.
"Hah. A mere B-rank lecturing an S-rank?"
"Not lecturing. I don't get your hatred, but..."
Lee Seoha met her fierce glare steadily.
"Hatred breeds hatred. Those scars you leave are eternal—their hate for you won't fade."
"..."
Han Jua stood without reply, face coldly set—like Lee Seoha's words weren't worth hearing.
"Time's up. I paid—I'm heading out."
Without waiting, she turned sharply. Heat still wafted from her elegant retreat, but Lee Seoha's heart chilled.
She watched Han Jua's back with pitying eyes. Wrong method, yet her deep hatred's source was a mystery—leaving a heavy ache.
Thus ended their brief, precarious meeting on the worst note.