Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Raid (2)
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"What should we do, Marmo-nim?"
"Grr, where the hell did that bitch come from? You lot, you did exactly what I told you, right?!"
"Y-Yes! Of course!"
"Damn it...!"
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the carnage on the CCTV.
I'd planned to hole up in the hideout, kill time, and live it up easy.
But some crazy bitch ruined everything.
I hadn't even worried about getting caught.
No, even if I'd sensed we were found out, I could've bolted right then.
I'm confident in running and hiding.
That's the one skill that got me all the way to executive in Übermensch.
...Fine, I admit it. The hideout's location was risky.
But it was unavoidable if I wanted to feed hundreds of people.
This was the best option to keep all those mouths fed.
A spot people didn't like, the ruins of an old dungeon.
And the outermost edge of that.
I'd even disguised it as private property to keep out any accidental intruders.
No way she stumbled in by chance.
She came here with clear, deliberate intent.
But how did she sneak past me without me noticing?
If she'd even hinted at figuring out our location, I'd have known.
How the hell...?
"S-She's moving at insane speed! At this rate, she'll be here any second!"
"Crazy...!"
A chill ran down my spine.
I'm the weakest among the executives. Makes sense—I'm specialized in hiding and fleeing.
But an executive is still an executive.
I prided myself on being leagues above the grunts.
Even so, I couldn't imagine beating that woman.
Turning dozens into cube steaks in an instant.
The merciless brutality gave me goosebumps.
Doing that in an Academy uniform?
Ha, sure, Academy students turning traitor is a social issue these days, but no way there's someone like that.
That's no Academy student.
She's a villain.
"A bitch from some other villain group infiltrated the Academy...? Tch, we run! Hurry and prep! No time!"
"That might be tough."
"Tough my ass! Do what I—"
Hold on.
...That voice just now.
That's not the guy I was talking to.
Who is it?
"First time meeting. You're the one in charge here, right?"
"...!"
-Slash.
"Haha, so passionate. I like it. Quick on the draw. Definitely executive material. You pass."
Crazy bitch doesn't even flinch?!
It was a desperate ambush.
The dagger I always carry for emergencies, infused with mana and hurled at her.
The intruder was totally off-guard.
Relaxed posture. Not even looking at my hand.
Every sign screamed perfect ambush.
...The dagger shattered in a blink.
The moment I realized the ambush failed, I turned to flee without looking back.
That's when I saw mana gathering in that crazy bitch's skirt.
"Damn it! It's that attack! Everyone, brace!"
I heard one of my men shout.
No, that's not it.
That's not the indiscriminate slaughter—!
Too late when I realized.
Threads unraveled in an instant, coiling around my men's necks and mine.
D-Damn it. I got too tense from her dicing people up...!
"Don't move. You might get hurt."
"Ma-Marmo-nim! Grr, die!"
"Ah, I said don't move."
-Crunch.
The gruesome sound of flesh and bone crushing echoed.
Ha, haha...
What the hell is she?
That guy was definitely a physical enhancement ability user.
I remember.
He was always at the front on missions.
Even when a monster bit him full-body, it was just scratches.
And he dies that easily?
Threads around his neck tightened in a flash.
In a real flash, with a horrific sound, his neck twisted.
I don't need to check.
Dead. By her hand.
Cleanly, without a hint of hesitation.
A man's life snuffed out like slaughtering a pig in an abattoir, emotionless.
"Mm, I told you not to move. It's dangerous."
Goosebumps.
Anyone seeing that would feel it.
A human neck torn like that, so brutally.
Even villains hesitate more when killing.
She's properly insane.
She doesn't see people as people.
Even battle-hardened villains weren't thinking of resisting now.
Life's precious.
Mouthing off to someone who doesn't value human life just hastens your death.
No one but her could move freely now.
Her threads were around everyone's necks here!
Cold sweat dripped; my stomach churned as I touched my neck.
Soft like a baby's smooth skin.
Disgustingly silky.
Felt like high-grade silk, but I couldn't enjoy it.
Normally, I'd grope that slutty body and have fun.
But no.
My subordinate's fresh corpse flashed in my mind.
This woman's clearly threatening us.
She's not killing us when she could, so it's obvious.
Silent pressure: obey or die.
"...What do you want."
"Ahaha. What I want?"
"Cut the crap. You're keeping us alive when you could kill us anytime. Spit it out. What's the condition?"
Her smiling like she liked it made me sick.
Damn it.
Our luck's rotten.
"Same as the ones who left earlier? Attack the students, kill them, and you're free. How's that?"
"...No choice, huh. Fine."
"Great! Glad we can talk. Now go on, hurry!"
"...Tch. Let's go, boys. Mountain lodge midway up. Targets: three Academy students."
"Yes, sir!"
I heard four Academy students were coming here.
Bullshit four.
One monster, three people.
Fuck, the Academy's worthless.
How much tax do I pay, and they can't screen one dangerous bitch?
"Ma-Marmo-nim. Can't we run now...?"
"No, impossible. We hit a bad one. Too meticulous."
Of course I'd thought about it.
She was already out of sight, far away.
But no dice.
"You, remember that bitch's face?"
"Wh-Why? I... I can't remember...?!"
Thought so.
No way I'd forget like some dementia case.
Slut using her clothes as weapons, and she's meticulous.
...Can't recall her face.
I definitely saw it up close, remembered it.
But close my eyes to picture her, fog fills my head—no appearance.
All I remember is the leotard-wearing slut.
Where'd she get that artifact?
One ability per ability user.
If threads are her power, her face should show.
Now I get why no hoodie.
That was the artifact.
"Threads on our necks won't come off either—too risky. Guess we play along for now."
"Gr, grr..."
"Don't worry. You know me."
"Y-Yes! We trust you, Marmo-nim!"
"Good."
I swallowed my rising irritation.
How, how can we escape this slut's grasp?
My brain started spinning fast.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Wow, that was better than I expected!"
[Y-Yeah? Hehe.] "Yeah. You should've told me you added more lore—that's why there were only pushovers."
[W-Well... You seemed really mad...] Ahaha.
>Why would I be mad?
Our Writer-nim went and fleshed out the plausibility for 2,400 villains.
"I was wondering why they had guns—turns out they're not superhumans."
Right.
Those pushovers didn't notice the threads.
Explains the guns—Writer-nim slipped in extra setting.
"Mm, very Übermensch-like. Superhumanizing all humanity... That's the flat reason?"
[Y-Yes. But no more spoilers! Not even for a reader like you!] "It's fine. Totally convincing."
Yeah.
Makes sense why there are so many villains who can only become superhumans.
Superhumanizing all humanity?
Total cliché pile-up, sure.
Worn threadbare—you know the vibe without tasting it.
But clichés are clichés for a reason.
Familiar flavors sell—readers love guaranteed hits.
Try some "new dish," and boom, flop city.
Mint-choco pineapple pizza or kimchi pizza sweet-sour pork? Few takers.
Some innovate, but masses crave safe tastes.
That's why verified kimchi stew reigns.
Feed too much, they tire and wander—but not my worry now.
Better slightly stale kimchi stew than experimental disasters.
Readers of Writer-nim's novel will thank me.
Of course they will.
"Pills' compatibility decides—if high, even normals become superhumans. Love it."
[Ehehe...] "Plus points for a betrayal-worthy goal if they need a villain boss."
[H-How'd you know?!] No, cliché.
I'd know without seeing.
Told you.
Familiar taste, no need to try.
"Alright, shall we go? Time to check on Yoo Siu."
[Y-Yes! ...Just this one thing first.] "Pardon? What'd you say?"
[Oh, nothing!] Lame.
...And later, I regretted not grilling Writer-nim.
Who knew she'd sneak in something cool behind my back.
Fine, it's cool, I'll admit.
But still, no.
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