Raising Ida-in (1)
Now that the curtain had risen on the Ida-in Raising Project, there was no room to stop.
Rinrang had provided such high-quality, detailed intel. With just this information, the plan to feed Ida-in experience points and raise her up felt entirely feasible.
In the slums of New Seoul's 14th District, there were plenty of high-quality trash mobs perfect for Ida-in to farm XP from.
"Blank-nim. There's a member of the 'Panda Love Squad' over there. They're probably in a meeting to plan a convenience store robbery."
Rinrang's report came from the drone hovering beside me.
"Yeah. There they are."
Rinrang really could dig up anything if given enough time. I was starting to grasp just how terrifying a major villain rated A-rank purely on hacking skills could be.
These were your typical C- or D-rank rookie villains. Still, a few had common but powerful abilities like fire or lightning.
It was plenty of XP for Ida-in. Fighting them would sharpen her combat sense without truly threatening her life.
They were born to be her XP fodder.
As we slipped into their makeshift hideout, a gang of rough-looking guys was clinking glasses, hyping each other up.
"If we keep banding together and pulling off big jobs, we'll make it big too!"
"Hell yeah!! Haven't you seen Blank? You don't need a huge organization—if you're good, you'll blow up anyway!!"
"Convenience store today!! Bank tomorrow!!"
"Con-ven-bank!!"
"Con-ven-bank!!"
It was like watching a fresh-faced young band dreaming big and spilling their ambitions. Heartwarming, almost.
Even if they were all rotten villains.
"Sorry to interrupt. Mind if I have a word?"
I pulled out my baseball bat and strode in like I owned the place.
"W-wait!! Who the hell are you?!"
"B-Blank?!! The real Blank!!"
"No way! It's him in the flesh!!"
"For real?"
The villains scrambled in shock, eyes locked on me.
"Panda Love Squad. I've got business with you."
I cut off their escape routes, then bounced lightly on my toes to loosen up.
"Holy shit!! Blank knows our name!!"
"We going viral or what?!"
The kids lit up with excitement, staring at me wide-eyed. For villains, their gazes were annoyingly innocent—gave me a twinge of guilt.
"In two days, cause a ruckus near the 17th District. Then a rookie hero called Paladin will show up. Take her down—or kill her. Do that, and I'll reward you."
Rinrang had already mapped out Ida-in and her mentor Fox's patrol route. My job was to place these monster(?) pawns right there.
Felt a bit like being a game dev.
"W-what the... out of nowhere like that."
"How much we gettin'? You gotta front some cash to hire us proper, right?"
These punks were bolder than expected.
But they had a point. Gotta pay an advance. Business etiquette and all.
I closed in on the villain lurking in the corner, swinging my bat in a sudden arc. A fast strike loaded with impact and speed slammed clean into the head of the guy fiddling with his butterfly knife.
CRACK—!!!
The shockwave-riding blow burst his body apart spectacularly.
SPLAT!!
Only after his blood sprayed across their faces did the others catch on.
"That's your advance."
Did you think you had a choice?
This motherfucker...!!!
Still, rookies were rookies—full of fire. They all lunged at me.
But that was all they had. They were shaking way more than necessary.
Seemed they'd overhyped my rep as Villain Blank.
"Kya. Up against the legendary villain who crushed Villain Crusher and his entire organization, casually took down B-rank Venom Breath, and toyed with S-rank hero Seo Ha-yoon—no way these scrubs can even think of fighting back!"
Suddenly Rinrang rattled off my resume like a chant through the drone. Since when was she so eloquent? She'd stuttered like crazy our first meeting.
Whatever. Their fear made this easy.
"Rush me all at once, and you die."
I said it flat out.
And it was true. Their quality was below Crusher's grunts—stray alley cats at best. If I wanted them dead, they'd be gone.
"But do what I ask, and you live."
They could live. Sweet deal.
"Like hell we'll bow to that?!"
One with some pride charged anyway. Guess the 'advance' wasn't enough.
I snatched his thrusting arm like husking rice, gripped his fist, and poured in a shockwave.
CRUNCH!!!!
"Aaaargh!!"
The guy who'd swung at me screamed, clutching his now-pulverized fist crumbling to dust.
"Will you do as I ask? Or choose death? Decide."
Easy choice. Even a stray cat on the street would've picked right.
"…."
Their conflicted stares converged in the silence.
———
Freshly licensed D-rank hero Ida-in had to start her duties with a mentor, per regulations.
Her mentor was C-rank hero Fox. No superstar, but a solid mid-tier with a firm rep and high request completion rate.
Seniors always have something to teach. Gotta get close and learn some skills.
That was Ida-in's resolve. But things weren't going smoothly.
"Hmph. You reek of rookie. Attitude like that'll get you nowhere in hero work."
As a request pinged on the terminal, Fox blocked the signal from a distant one.
"Hey, Senior?!! That 20th District request looks huge!! Why block it...?!"
Fox had already nixed five. He only took nearby ones.
"That's what you don't get. Far-off requests mean walking or running extra. Stick to close ones to rack up efficiency."
He eyed her like she was an idiot.
"Isn't a hero's job to save people in distress?"
"Ha. Heroes, huh. What're they? Just pros cashing in on superpowers. Gotta think efficiency on the job. Time to round-trip that 20th District gig? I could clear three easy locals instead. More requests in limited time means more cash. We're just grinding to eat."
"...That's!!"
This wasn't the dream Ida-in admired.
"You can't become a great hero who inspires hope like that."
She said it firmly.
"Ha. This bitch is hilarious. Living in a dream world?"
Fox's eyes chilled.
"Great heroes aren't for us from the start. Only the lucky few born with killer powers. Look at A- and S-ranks—all innate super-talents. They get to play hero. We're different. We're just wage-slave heroes."
"…."
"Think of it like driving a cab. You skip long-haul fares unless they're premium. That time, you pick up multiples. That's life. Handle easy small fry, stay safe, no injuries. Got it?"
Fox patted her shoulder.
"Shoulder's puffed from that Starfield Crusher brawl, but that's for elite chosen heroes. Wake up from the dream."
He smashed her ideals with cold reality.
"That's not a hero."
"Hey. Watch that look. Wanna get smacked?"
Fox and Ida-in locked glares.
That was when it hit.
"It's hero Paladin!! Grab her!!"
"Fuck!! Catch her or we're dead!!!"
A gang of armed villains charged the pair right before they could've clashed.
"Shit... villains here?"
Fox's face hardened—but only for a second. A motorcycle roared up fast.
VROOOOM—!!!!
The rider snatched Fox mid-stride, slinging him onto the bike.
"B-Blank...!!"
Ida-in recognized the kidnapper instantly.
Before she could react, the bike peeled out.
"Paladin!! Get her!!"
"Die!!"
Other villains swarmed her, blocking any chase.
"No choice!!"
Ida-in focused on the foes in front of her.
———
Meanwhile, kidnapped Fox glared icily at Blank from the bike.
"B-Blank...!!!"
"Congrats, hero Fox. Finally clashing with a real-deal villain, huh."
You yapped endlessly that battling big bads and earning praise was for the elite few.
Now you were one of them. Take it or leave it.
For now, I'd toy with Fox.
Ida-in could handle the trash mobs herself.