Chapter 42: Disposition Confirmed - Interlude
Chapter 42: Disposition Confirmed - Interlude
"…I don't look strange, do I?"
Operator muttered, pulling his ball cap down lower. His voice was laced with an obvious trace of anxiety, prompting Dark Swan, who stood beside him, to let out a deep sigh.
"You don't look strange at all. No one’s even paying attention to us."
"But still, I am technically an A-rank hero…"
In principle, he wasn't wrong. Once a hero reached A-rank, not only was their ability recognized, but their fame usually spread, leading to high public awareness.
While it was true that S-rank heroes commanded about ninety percent of the total hero fandom, an A-rank hero could still carve out their own niche. In the process of becoming A-rank, a hero usually had at least one or two missions that were featured prominently in the media, making their name widely known.
Some took that opportunity to turn hero work into a side gig and become celebrities or internet personalities, but that was a different story.
What Dark Swan was thinking, however, was that Operator’s fame hadn't quite reached that level.
I’m just a C-ranker, so there’s no need to even mention me, but for an A-ranker, Senior Operator is a bit…
As she just thought, simply having the title of A-rank didn't make one famous. One gained popularity by performing missions that captured the public's attention during the climb to A-rank. In that sense, Operator was at a relative disadvantage.
Since he mostly handles rear-support.
Operator’s strengths lay in information gathering and analysis. While active field heroes knew exactly how vital his abilities were, to the general public—who consumed hero content through YouTube videos or the news—Operator didn't exactly stand out.
On the other hand, Floss had firmly established her position among the A-rankers despite her short career, thanks to her unique Magical Girl concept. Dark Swan had no doubt that once Floss reached S-rank, she would become a national superstar.
That’s why I have to protect my position as the president of her fan cafe at all costs.
Firmly reaffirming her devotion as a fan, Dark Swan stepped onto the university campus with Operator, where a suspected illegal drug user was reportedly enrolled.
"The atmosphere of a university is… fascinating."
"Huh? Oh… is it?"
"I’ve never been to a university before."
Operator was a state-affiliated hero who had awakened quite early. Though he was now in his mid-twenties, he had first become a hero in his mid-to-late teens. In other words, he had been busy being summoned for hero duties since he was a high schooler.
Naturally, he had neither the time nor the need to go to college. Thus, unlike Dark Swan—who had awakened her powers while preparing for a job after graduation and belatedly pursued the dream of being a hero—he was unfamiliar with the campus atmosphere.
Right, now that I think about it, I’m actually his senior in life, aren't I?
Because both Operator and Floss were such distant seniors to her as heroes, Dark Swan often forgot they were younger than her. This time, she decided to guide the college-educated-challenged Operator through the overwhelming campus vibe.
"Aren't you walking a bit too… boldly? If they find out we aren't students here…"
"Oh, come on. Do you know how many people are at a university? Besides, anyone can come in here even if they aren't a student."
"Is that true?"
"Of course. Look over there, there are grandfathers out for a stroll. They don't kick people out just for being outsiders, so let's just square our shoulders and walk in. Acting like this makes us look more suspicious, you know?"
Only then did Operator regain some confidence and steel his resolve. His gaze turned sharp.
Right. We have to catch that guy.
There was a reason it had taken a week since they discussed the infiltration plan. Although Floss, a reliable informant, had said there was an illegal drug user at this school, the clues were too vague.
Of course, Floss knew the culprit was Michael, but she couldn't say it. She had claimed it was a university her "friend" attended. If she were pressed on how she knew so much detail, she wouldn't have a proper excuse.
Therefore, Operator and Dark Swan had to investigate separately to see if anything strange had happened at this university recently. They obtained an account for the student-only community and searched for traits commonly shown by illegal drug users. As a result, they were able to identify a suspect.
One of the many clubs in the College of Liberal Arts: the "Basketball Club." Even a cursory search revealed a poor reputation, but the rumors circulating among female students were particularly grim. A few years ago, there had even been a major exposé regarding sexual harassment. However, it was a stretch to assume there was an illegal drug user based on that alone.
— It’s hard to find a connection.
Sexual harassment was one thing; illegal drugs were another. Furthermore, the harassment case was from years ago. The timelines didn't match, and it was unclear what causal relationship sexual harassment had with illegal drugs that granted superpowers.
However, in a post that looked like a simple "shitpost" unless read carefully, Operator found the path to the answer. It was while he was searching for keywords related to the basketball club.
[LOL the captain broke the hoop while dunking today]
An anonymous post presumably uploaded by a club member. Attached to the post was a photo of a black international student scratching his head awkwardly in front of a basketball hoop that had been snapped in two.
No matter how strong someone is, breaking a basketball hoop while dunking is something unimaginable for a normal person's strength. It wasn't just the glass backboard shattering; the hoop itself had snapped in half. This wasn't the late 1900s; with the increased durability of modern hoops, such a thing rarely happened.
Of course, there’s no physical evidence. It’s purely circumstantial. But since it’s a tip from Floss, that alone makes it believable.
It could simply be that the university's basketball hoop was old, and the sexual harassment issue might be an entirely unrelated story. Nevertheless, Operator took the time to make his move.
If it’s not him, we can just leave.
Operator’s superpower also played a role in this decision. He could just open the suspect's Status Window, take a look, and if they weren't the culprit, he could just turn around. Since the target wouldn't know Operator was peeking at their Status Window, there was nothing to lose except the time spent traveling.
Using powers on a civilian without permission is a violation of regulations for a state hero, but…
The moment one sets aside their sense of morality, life becomes much easier. Just this once, and I’m only opening the Status Window of the guy named Michael who’s suspected of using illegal drugs… Thinking this, Operator arrived at the gym.
"I think it's here."
"Then that must be the locker room over there."
Where Operator’s gaze landed, two students were standing like sentries guarding the basketball club's locker room. They were chatting, unaware that Operator and Dark Swan had arrived.
"Damn, I was so horny today, why do I have to be last in line?"
"Can't be helped. Instead, you get to be at the front of the line tomorrow."
"Being at the front is better. If you go after everyone else, the smell is one thing, but when you're thrusting, it's a bit…"
"Excuse me. I have something to ask you."
The two male basketball club members, who were having a conversation of ambiguous meaning, were startled by Operator’s greeting and immediately went on the defensive.
"W-who are you?"
"You aren't supposed to be here."
"No one but the basketball club is allowed. We're training right now."
"Y-yeah. The basketball club rented the gym. Come back later."
They looked suspicious to anyone's eyes. Operator merely sighed and didn't even bother opening their Status Windows. There was no way guys like this were the illegal drug users.
"Should I take care of them?"
"Quickly."
A brief exchange of glances passed between Operator and Dark Swan, and that was enough. As Dark Swan made a gesture, the two men instantly fell into a deep sleep.
Leaving the two club members slumped on the floor snoring, Operator opened the locker room door.
Creeeeak—
What appeared as the door opened was an utterly surreal sight. However, because it was a daily occurrence for the club members inside, they didn't find it strange when Operator opened the door, assuming it was just another member.
"…Holy shit."
But the moment they saw a woman named Dark Swan, the club members, including Michael, realized the gravity of the situation. Dozens of eyes simultaneously looked at Do Min-jeong, who was sprawled on the locker room floor like a frog. She was spurting semen from every single hole.
"What in the world is…"
A woman collapsed, her entire body covered in semen. Dozens of men surrounding her. And on Michael’s Status Window, which Operator had summoned, the status effect "Drug Addiction" was clearly written.
Operator was a man too, but this didn't turn him on. It only made him scowl. He almost reflexively opened the dark Status Window… the "Sex Status," upon seeing the collapsed woman, but he hurriedly stopped himself.
Am I crazy? What was I about to do to a victim?
Summoning a Status Window without consent was only for suspects. And that suspect was right in front of him. It was the black man with his massive member dangling between his legs.
Even without an explanation, it was clear what had happened. In the minds of Operator and Dark Swan, the basketball club sexual harassment case and the illegal drug use case were linked, and at that moment, the case was as good as closed.
"Are you Mr. Michael?"
"W-what the fuck are you doing…?"
"Forget it. All of you can just sleep for the rest of your lives."
Dark Swan swung her arm wide, her voice cold as ice. Ahn Gyeong-han, Choi Jun, and the other members, who were mere civilians, could not resist the superpower she unleashed. Hesitating between whether to fight or flee, the members all slumped to the floor alongside Do Min-jeong.
It was Dark Swan’s superpower, "Sleep," which rarely worked on Gate monsters or villains with superpowers but boasted outstanding effectiveness against ordinary people.
"Haha, no way… are you heroes?"
Even in the chaotic situation, Michael desperately racked his brain. How had this secret play been leaked?
But he soon realized that thinking about it was pointless. For now, his priority was to deal with the two heroes in front of him and save his own skin.
"Senior, I don't think my ability works on that guy."
"This is enough. Leave the rest to me."
Michael inwardly sneered at Operator. Just this morning, he had injected the strength-enhancing drug he’d bought from the "Aphrodisiac King." He didn't think a fight with this scrawny-looking Asian boy would even be a contest.
"It can't be helped then, yo! I'll just have to take you guys out quick… and run away, yo!"
Michael charged like a giant beast. Even in the face of that, Operator remained calm. He observed the situation, read the Status Window, and aimed for the spot marked as Michael’s weakness.
Although Operator was an analysis-specialist hero who spent so much time sitting and working that he almost looked like an office worker, he nonetheless possessed a well-maintained, muscular physique.
This wasn't something created by injecting drugs like Michael. It was the fruit of pure time and effort.
Thwack!
No matter how strong a human is, they can die instantly if hit in a vital spot. That is the nature of humanity. Of course, "true superhumans" with physical-type powers would be fine no matter how many times they were hit in a vital spot, but Michael was not one of them.
"Gah, cough… how did you know… about the surgery site from ten years ago… and aim for it…"
"Tsk."
Looking at Michael, who had collapsed on the floor from a single well-placed punch, Operator clicked his tongue. He hadn't lost consciousness immediately, likely due to the drugs he’d taken, but since he was now in a state where he couldn't fight, it didn't make much difference.
"So even with drugs, he’s nothing more than a fake superhuman. It’s almost pitiful."
The drugs only elevated an ordinary person to the level of a slightly stronger ordinary person. Having confirmed that, Operator belatedly turned his gaze toward the woman who was presumably the victim of their sex crime.
"……Hmm?"
Where the black-haired woman had been lying, Dark Swan was now collapsed.
"What is this…"
"S-Senior! Be careful! There must have been someone who wasn't affected by the sleep! Someone just hit me in the back of the head, ugh…"
Fortunately, she didn't seem seriously injured, as Dark Swan stood up while rubbing the back of her head. Leaving the grimacing Dark Swan behind, Operator looked around in confusion.
"She’s gone?"
There was no one who hadn't been affected by Dark Swan’s sleep, and the black-haired woman was gone as well.
How on earth did this happen…
It was as if a ghost had spirited her away.
*
…T-They didn't see me, right?
Meanwhile, having barely made it back home, I was frantically rubbing my clitoris out of anxiety and fear.
That was a close call. Truly.
If I hadn't escaped through the open door the moment Dark Swan and Operator were distracted.
If I hadn't jumped out the window and taken flight naked, using the maximum strength I could muster without transforming.
If I hadn't quickly transformed into a Magical Girl and put on my costume the moment I fell to the ground after being unable to fly far due to the lack of strength from being just gangbanged and untransformed.
…It was chilling even to imagine what would have happened by now.
Of course, the fact that I was wandering around in my Magical Girl form in front of people during my suspension could be a problem.
The sight of me flying through the sky naked might have been captured by someone’s camera.
The moment he entered the locker room, Operator might have checked me with his Status Window and realized that Do Min-jeong is Floss.
They didn't see, right?
So for now, I had no choice but to comfort myself. In more ways than one.
First, I had to believe that the gentlemanly Operator wouldn't have bothered to open the Status Window of a woman who had been gangbanged and turned into a semen-pickle.
Second, I had to pray that no photos were taken of me flying through the sky naked, drenched in semen, and that they wouldn't be uploaded to male-dominated communities with titles like "Flying Naked Girl."
"You should have… ngh♡… given me a heads-up… before coming…♡"
And the third comfort was… literally, self-comfort.
What if I meet Operator next time and he already knows that Do Min-jeong, who was being gangbanged at the basketball club, is the same person as Magical Girl Floss? What if my naked flying photos are leaked all over the internet?
…A squelching pussy-fingering session predicated on such a worst-case future.
Thump, thump, thump!
"Sis, what are you doing in there! I need to use the bathroom too!"
"J-Just a second! I'll wash up and be right out!"
It seemed that after washing up, I would have to spend the whole day waiting for a secret contact from Operator or waiting for my photos to be uploaded to the community.
