S-Rank Villain
It was over in the blink of an eye. For a second, I thought the S-rank villain was coming for me, but who could've guessed she'd move like that?
I never expected Flare to land a hit on me like that, but it didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth. I'd figured her hatred had blinded her to a hero's true duty, but nope. A hero's still a hero, after all.
"Exactly. A hero's duty is to protect people."
I muttered softly, gazing down at the fallen Flare.
"Too bad you didn't get to step in, Nyangshik."
"Nyaaang~"
Thud, thud.
I called out to the lion—Nyangshik—as it lumbered up behind me, but the massive beast let out a drawn-out yawn like any house cat, belying its size. Yeah, guess it didn't matter much to him.
"Auuugh, what the hell kind of bolt from the blue was that?"
"You okay, Makina?"
"No, I'm not!"
Makina, who'd been unexpectedly knocked over by Flare, scowled and let out a shrill wail. Luckily, she didn't seem seriously hurt.
"Heh, yeah. Anyway, Makina, you've got some real talent for acting. I almost thought you were just some random civilian."
"Hmph, this is nothing!"
She turned her head away like she was sulking, but she couldn't hide her reddening ears.
"Alright, good work anyway. No civilians got caught up in it, right?"
"You think I'd miss something like that?"
"Just checking—don't take it personally."
I'd confirmed no civilians were around before striking, after all. Thanks to that, even with Flare unleashing more wide-area attacks than expected, we wrapped it up quietly without any civilian casualties.
"For an S-rank, her one year of experience really shows. She didn't even check her surroundings."
"Tell me about it. I was scared out of my wits."
Makina glared at Flare, her eyes full of irritation. She'd been prepared for contingencies, but clearly hadn't anticipated the whole building getting dragged in.
"Well, it ended on a decent note, so shall we head back?"
I'd repaid her for the donuts and achieved my goals, so it was time to clock out—or so I suggested. But strangely, not only Makina, but Purung and Nyangshik showed no sign of warping away.
"...Hey, guys? Why aren't we going?"
"You call that asking?"
Makina planted her hands on her hips and shot me a fierce glare from below.
"What if you send us ahead again and end up getting hurt alone?"
"Cough... No, that was just me letting my guard down..."
"And you, Jinwoo! You were gonna send us away first and then heal her, weren't you?"
...Damn, this kid's sharp. I'd averted my eyes after she nailed it, and Makina yelled with her eyes narrowed to slits.
"She tried to kill you! Healing? Just let her get treated at the hospital!"
Her face was full of dissatisfaction as she continued.
"Besides, she needs to feel what it's like to have a hole punched in her gut! That's the only way she'll realize what she's done."
"Can't argue with that."
I almost added that the hole I'd made in her was way beyond that level, but I shut my mouth under Makina's piercing stare.
Beyond that, sirens were growing louder in the distance—no time for Restoration, no leeway left.
It left a bit of a sour note, but what could I do? I'd have to trust the hero hospital's doctors.
"If she was just out for revenge, she should've stopped at that—instead she goes on about a hero's duty and tests me. What a pain."
For someone who said that, she sure jumped in eagerly. I wanted to say it, but kept my mouth shut this time too.
Fine, as Makina said, revenge had been my initial goal. Any proper villain has to pay back what they get, right?
But after talking with Nova, it started nagging at me. Call it intuition from reading countless webnovels.
Flare's hatred and ideology were extreme, but with the right handling, she could be a great ally for Nova.
Nova had the qualities to be a hero, but she was too pure and naive—that was the problem. Sure, it was her charm, but in this brutal world, to rise as the protagonist, she'd need a bold comrade like Flare by her side for reassurance.
No matter how much I mentored her growth, I couldn't always be there, so there were limits.
That's why I'd pegged Flare as a potential comrade to entrust to her—but if hatred overrode her hero's duty, she might drag Nova down instead.
So I'd tested Flare this time, and the results were satisfying. Her eyes might roll at villains, but she didn't forget her duty at the critical moment.
Confirming that was enough.
"Hero's duty my ass—with this mess, can she even keep heroing?"
Makina, on the other hand, didn't seem convinced.
True, no casualties, but she'd demolished a building, melted roads, sidewalks, poles, and cars into slag. Even if it was against a villain, disciplinary action was certain—especially with her history of excessive force controversies. Suspension, demotion review, or even jail time...
"Nah, nothing major'll happen."
"Nothing? After this?"
Logically, Makina was right, but the world wasn't that forgiving.
"You'll see on the morning news."
And sure enough, the next morning, the news broadcast the previous night's aftermath in stark detail, just as I'd predicted. Helicopter footage showed molten asphalt and collapsed storefronts, overlaid with the anchor's urgent voice.
"See?"
"What the—how is this even possible?!"
Makina shrieked in disbelief at the news. Fair reaction from a kid who didn't know the industry's ways.
No matter Flare's controversies, she was one of Korea's three S-rank heroes. In a time of surging villain crime, no one would ditch an S-rank. Plus, thanks to Makina and me clearing civilians beforehand, no casualties or witnesses—easy for the Association to spin.
"Tch, but pinning stuff we didn't even do on us?!"
Makina puffed out her cheeks in outrage.
"That's just how it works—adults' circumstances and all."
"You're not mad they blamed you for stuff you didn't do?"
"Heh, why would I? I'm a villain anyway."
If anything, my rep only rose—no downside. Makina seemed to get it, pursing her lips but still not fully buying in.
"B-But if S-ranks are so important, is it okay to air that she got beaten by one villain? Won't she look like a joke?"
Before Makina finished—
The anchor delivered the news calmly, her face grave. My head—and Makina's—snapped to the screen.
Panels came on after, gravely yapping about me, but something didn't add up.
"Plant manipulation? Okay, teleportation I get—they saw the warp device—but plants? What the hell?"
I could buy the teleport misread from Makina's warp device vanishing us, but plant manipulation out of nowhere? I was pondering when—
"Maybe from the train?"
"Train?"
"You know, right before it stopped, you grabbed it with vines. They were still there after you vanished, so maybe they thought it was your power?"
"Ah."
Only then did it click why the Association misread my abilities. Those vines on the train were huge—no surprise if they jumped to ability user. And the only Deviant I'd shown on broadcast was Purung—no plant handlers, so easy mix-up.
"Pfft—hahaha! Plant teleporter! Oh man, my sides!"
"You didn't show your powers yourself, so fair enough—but you're laughing now? You're an S-rank villain."
"Khkhk, so what? Higher stock only helps."
Purung—Core Relic Accel alone could overwhelm an S-rank, and I had seven more. Eight S-rank minions? Obvious I'd get tagged S-rank villain, but this fast? Probably to sell Flare's "defeat" upstairs.
Either way, the Association's plan to redirect all arrows from Flare to me worked. News and internet buzzed more about me than her.
Fine, I didn't want her hero career derailed anyway—I'd play along with the dilution.
"—But that doesn't mean I'll just sit idle."
"Whatcha gonna do?"
Makina's eyes sparkled with anticipation, and I chuckled. Guess a few terrors hooked her.
"What else?"
I'd neglected Nova thanks to Flare drama—of course I'd make up for it.
"Terror time."
The flashiest kind. Plant manipulation, huh? Fine, I'd bring some along this time.