Epilogue: Bloodied Homecoming

Dragging my battered body, I pushed on until I finally reached the slums of New Seoul's 23rd District—my home turf.

Before heading to my own hideout, I stopped by Yongpal's place first.

"Hey. Where you rushing off to li—hiiik!"

"…."

True to the slums, a few villains tried to pick a fight but recoiled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in shock and backed off.

I hadn't checked a mirror, but I knew I looked like someone you didn't want to mess with right now. Blood-soaked raincoat, black mask, acrid gunpowder stench wafting from every inch of me, and an iron pipe dripping with gore and flesh chunks.

Anybody could tell I had a story to tell—and it wasn't a happy one.

"Th-that's... Blank, right?"

"The B-Rank wanted villain Blank...?"

"S-sorry! This kid's new around here. Ahaha...."

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠troublemakers scattered on their own.

BOOM—!

I kicked open the door to Yongpal's hideout and stormed in. There he was, messing around on his computer.

"Hey, you fucking bastard."

I marched straight toward him.

"W-wait a sec... Blank? How about calming down first? There's a good explanation for—"

Sensing he was screwed, Yongpal waved his hands frantically, trying to placate me.

Smashing his face with the pipe first would shut him up, but the damn thing kept begging to pulverize something. Couldn't be helped. Be satisfied with this, Iron Pipe Caliber (name just now).

KABOOOOOM—!!

I dialed back the shockwave just a bit and slammed a spare desk next to him with all my might, reducing it to splinters.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAH?!"

Yongpal shrieked like a little girl and collapsed.

"I almost died because of that job you gave me, asshole."

I pressed the pipe against his cheek. I could hear it—the pipe whimpering a low, hollow whir, starving for more blood.

"I-I didn't know!!!! The broker had three middlemen besides me, which felt off... But I never imagined this would happen!!"

Yongpal flailed and sputtered excuses.

"No ulterior motives, I swear!! Why would I screw you over!!! You're my top merchandise!! No partner like you anywhere!"

His eyes bulged wide, pleading with raw emotion, refusing to look away from me.

"I heard some group was stealing weapons to sell to Russia! But no intel on it being Karls Industries stuff!!"

He rushed his defense. Didn't seem like he was lying, so I stowed the pipe.

A broker like Yongpal doesn't come easy.

Even if I beat him down and found a new one, no guarantee they wouldn't stab me in the back. This clown was the most trustworthy option I had, ridiculously enough.

"Next time you give me a job, if anything feels even slightly off, don't. Only safe ones. Got it?"

I made that crystal clear.

I hadn't been possessed long, but I knew the villain ecosystem inside out. Underestimate them, and you're done.

"O-of course!! My bad this time! Eheh.... Wanna hear about compensation?"

Yongpal rummaged through the mountain of business cards and papers on his desk and pulled one out.

"There's a reputable doc in the 23rd. Illegal, but conscientious with solid skills. Doesn't harvest organs or anything shady. One call from me, and he'll patch you up nice. Yeah?"

He rubbed his palms like a maniac.

"Fine. Got it."

These wounds were beyond first aid. Better to let a doctor handle it.

"Healing superpower holder. Any wound heals scar-free. Hehe."

Yongpal gazed at me desperately.

Healing ability user.

That sounded reliable.

Original story had one too.

There was a popular character who treated heroes exclusively. Natasha, the healing-powered hero who moved from Russia to Korea.

With protagonists Seo Ha-yoon and Ida-in always getting roughed up, Natasha appeared a lot. After every brutal arc, she'd welcome them back to consciousness in the hospital—I couldn't forget those scenes.

Natasha.... pretty.

Not a main character, but every cameo updated her beauty peak, racking up male fans.

I'd love healing from pretty Teacher Natasha... but as a villain? Fat chance.

I took the card from Yongpal and headed to the address.

True to a slum illegal doc, no real name on the card.

But "Sugar" in the name... sweet, huh?

Pretty lady doctor?

If hero-side Natasha was the pure beauty type, villain-side doc might be sexy and decadent. Kinda exciting.

——

"Ah, Yongpal-kun sent you. Lie down. Buhiit."

In the dingy clinic, a balding, frog-faced toad of a man grinned at me with beady eyes. He wore a stained lab coat that made my skin crawl.

"…."

Yeah. Slum illegal doc aesthetic. My bad for expecting more.

——-

Dr. Sugar's treatment worked wonders.

He pulled out all the metal shards and asphalt chunks, then healed me without a scar. Definitely had healing powers.

"Thanks."

Thanks to Yongpal vouching his life, it cost less than standard.

"Hehit. Heard you're making waves, Blank. If you climb higher, does that make me the doc who treated a big shot? Buhiit."

Dr. Sugar chuckled creepily.

"Still, take care. Abuse your body, and the limit comes calling."

Appearance aside, solid doctor advice.

"…I'll be careful."

Yeah. Gotta play it smart. Thin and long is my style.

"Can I take one of these?"

I grabbed a mint from the counter. Dust on the bag said it'd sat forever, but insides ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked fine?

"Ah. Go ahead."

I popped one in while half-listening. Just regular mint flavor.

———

"Flash. Karls Industries is most disappointed."

The operator's emotionless, polished voice drilled into Seo Ha-yoon's ear.

"Machine went berserk first, and villain Blank was nearby. Quiet recovery was impossible."

Seo Ha-yoon felt wronged too.

"We know. Drones relayed the situation. That's past, so moving on—but comms cut out earlier. We ordered you to abandon Blank pursuit, destroy the Karls secret weapon completely, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and control civilians. Ignoring that for solo Blank chase..."

"Comms cut out briefly."

Seo Ha-yoon spat it out curtly.

"…."

Hours-old scenery lingered in Seo Ha-yoon's mind.

Inhumane war machine stuffed with living human brain and spinal nerves. Corpses with bizarrely protruding veins scattered on the ground.

Karls Industries did monstrous shit—that was clear.

And now Seo Ha-yoon aided it under the hero banner. Self-loathing hit hard. Heroes from childhood dreams weren't this.

Ziiiiing—

Following Association orders, Seo Ha-yoon blasted the shattered Brain Buster wreckage with high-heat beams, melting it traceless. Molten metal seeped into cracked asphalt.

Arrived police desperately herded civilians while erasing Karls traces from the factory.

Media wouldn't report this. Seo Ha-yoon's work was censorship by another name. Not the hero dream. But he'd believe: utilitarian good for citizen peace? Eyes half-shut, as always.

I'll do what I can. Like... Blank.

Yeah. Focus on that nagging villain. Hero instinct. Blank had something.

Plus, Blank protected civilians.

When Brain Buster charged a vehicle, beam primed, Blank smashed the emitter with his pipe, saving them.

My analysis was spot on.

Blank never targeted civilians. Same for heroes. Avoided fights unless essential—fled from rookie hero blocking his escape without striking back.

Exactly as theorized. Blank was special.

Not your average villain. Some other goal?

Deep in Blank thoughts, a nearby cop cleared his throat at Seo Ha-yoon.

"Uh... Flash-nim? Think that's enough now."

Snap—Seo Ha-yoon refocused.

Brain Buster remnants fully melted. He'd been mindlessly beaming the ground.

"Ah. Yes. Sorry. Got lost in thought."

Face flushing, he powered down.

——-

That same time.

Karls Industries HQ.

"Recovery was the goal, but those Hero Association meatheads couldn't even manage that?"

A silver-haired loli sighed, shaking her head. Looked about 6. But suited adults around her watched her nervously, faces stiff.

This silver-haired girl was Karls' tech director, Ryu Ji-eun. Childlike body, but 30 years old. Proved their anti-aging research success—though never commercialized.

"Shock must've triggered Brain Buster. Unavoidable. Flawed prototype anyway. And we didn't lose it entirely. Think positive."

A golden-haired twin loli soothed her. Ryu Ji-eun's sister and Karls' business consultant, Ryu Ji-na.

"Got data. Priceless combat logs no one else has. Real fight with Flash. Useful later."

Ryu Ji-na grinned, locking eyes with her sister.

"Oh. Fun guy in the data too. Villain Blank, right?"

"Yeah. Caught my eye."

Ryu Ji-na leaned on the transparent metal desk, beaming.

"B-Rank... but not B-Rank level."

Pure curiosity and possessiveness gleamed in her eyes.

"Right. Matches the superpower type we're after. Shockwave-based? Exactly for our new weapon, sis."

Ryu Ji-eun mirrored her impish smile, eyes meeting kin.

"Yeah. Worth investigating."

"Snoop around when we have time."

The sisters' chilling laughter chilled the boardroom air.

——-

Next day.

Woke up, checked darknet out of habit—head instantly spun.

Darknet pages 1 through 4 were plastered with "Blank".

Ah. Fucked.