Chapter 180
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: Love Rookie Isabella
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Having finished her usual patrol, Isabella headed to the Correction Headquarters.
To meet Xenovia.
The main building was pure white, as always. White like it'd been doused in bleach, with no real aesthetic appeal. It was like placing a block of tofu in the middle of the road.
If someone joked, "You're gonna end up in the white place?" they'd usually mean the Correction Headquarters. What went on inside wasn't public knowledge for civilians.
There were creepy rumors that brutal torture for villains' resocialization happened there daily, but
to the wardens, it was just their workplace.
Isabella strode confidently through the complex security gates unlocked by her high-pass. Ahead stood two women in form-fitting white warden uniforms—one with black hair, the other blonde.
The two had a noticeable height difference.
"Director. What brings you here?"
The taller one asked.
"I'm here to see Xenovia."
"Ah, she's actually come to."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing in particular."
The three walked together naturally, chatting as they went.
"She snapped out of it intermittently for 1 or 2 seconds before, but this time she's been awake for over a minute."
"......"
"Director, we had a question when you came. You didn't do that to her yourself, right?"
"Hey."
The shorter one snapped irritably, cutting off the taller warden.
But Isabella didn't react.
She just stared speechless at her sister's state beyond the special glass barrier.
"It doesn't make sense that an S-rank villain got beaten like that and you're fine. I figured there'd been a fierce battle with wounds to match."
"......My assistant was a bit too capable."
"Xenovia's barely alive thanks to the life support."
Barely alive.
Xenovia looked the part.
Her head was completely shaved. Surgical scars dotted her scalp from multiple brain operations.
Her eyes were mostly closed, and an oxygen mask covered her mouth.
Strapping a critical patient like that in restraints—neither lying nor sitting—fit the Correction Headquarters' infamous reputation.
However.
Knowing she'd killed 50,000 innocent civilians, this didn't even count as punishment.
They were just keeping her alive on the brink to extract justice before she paid the price.
It wasn't much different from desperately saving a war criminal who attempted suicide before trial, just to drag them to court.
But.
Seeing her shaved, dying sister twisted Isabella's heart.
'......'
In truth,
wasn't Villain Xenovia finished?
Overwhelming violence had ravaged her body. Even Isabella, who wanted the villain dead, wouldn't have used violence to destroy her enemy's form—and the reaper's touch had been excessively cruel.
How dare you touch Kim Sanghyeok?
The death reaper's barrage had overwhelmed Xenovia, as if demanding she pay back a hundred—no, a thousandfold—for piercing Kim Sanghyeok's chest.
With that body......
"Step aside for a bit. I need to talk to her. Little Jack."
"Can't you just kill her? Reforming Xenovia is our job."
This time, the shorter one agreed.
"Three groups of wardens lost parents to her."
"I know. Xenovia's the head of the Villain Alliance. I just want information."
Quintia's solo actions.
The Villain Alliance's movements......
Since she didn't know much, asking Xenovia directly was fastest. She was the leader, after all.
Isabella unlocked the security and stood before her dying sister.
"......"
Xenovia's blinking intensified as the oxygen mask was removed.
A subtle change, but the air shifted.
"......Isa, bella."
"...Xenovia."
"If you're happy... it won't last......"
......
Xenovia smiled faintly.
"I'm... your misfortune......"
"...Stop. Don't say that. It's all over now."
"...All... over?"
"Yeah. The Villain Alliance lost its head, so it'll crumble. Whatever you planned, this was beyond your expectations."
"......"
You're in deep shit now.
That's what Isabella was saying. A rational inference based on logic.
Kim Sanghyeok's existence being an unforeseen variable for the Villain Alliance was obvious. The academy had been in a panic until recently over how to handle Personality Excretion.
In fact, it wasn't just that.
Kim Sanghyeok was blessed by the gods.
A reliable boyfriend, but weak himself—needing protection. Especially with the Villain Alliance likely moving organizationally.
"Dreaming of revenge is pointless, Xenovia."
"...Scared?"
Xenovia pierced right through her.
"Not at all. Why would I be, after capturing the Villain Alliance's head?"
"......"
She seemed to mull it over for a long time.
Or maybe she was unconscious. The life support's red light showed she was barely breathing.
Xenovia spoke weakly, but clearly.
"...Villains."
"......"
"Don't band together......"
"......?"
Isabella furrowed her brow, puzzling over the meaning.
"......Don't get it?"
Xenovia murmured.
"True villains don't build alliances...... Isabella."
"......Multiple villains were sighted acting with you. Don't deny it."
"Really? Think those guys...... meekly... do as I say? Not bite when I say don't, wait when I say wait?"
It seemed all villains feared and revered Xenovia.
Every incident sparked black curtain theories about her, with claims the next would claim hundreds of thousands, even millions of victims.
Media chased any glimpse of her, going wild at shadowy figures.
Villain Alliance, where's the next strike?......
Headlines like that flooded the news.
"......You really believe that?"
But she denied it all from the start.
"Then why target me? You went for me out of nowhere on the street. Wasn't that the foundation of your plan?"
"...Told you... because you smiled happily......"
"......"
"Hahaha......"
Xenovia feigned a dry laugh. Pain from the vocal vibration made her exhale deeply and squeeze her eyes shut.
"Hoo...... Told you... I'm your misfortune......"
"Just for that reason......!"
Despite vowing not to react emotionally,
Isabella's mind boiled over.
"You tried to kill a total stranger?"
"...Villains are society's trash......"
Xenovia struggled.
Ignoring Isabella's words, she continued.
"...You lot force us... twist us to fit... then discard when we don't......"
"......"
"Thinking now we'll band together, the broken ones... that's pretty funny......"
"......Look at yourself. Even the strongest villain can't handle everything alone. What's wrong with borrowing others' power?"
There was physical evidence of followers.
Yet Isabella couldn't grasp why Xenovia flatly denied the Villain Alliance—complete with documents and hideouts.
Because she was captured, pride? To seem strong? It didn't feel like that. Isabella couldn't understand the villain mindset, the undercurrents.
No matter how strong and beautiful a hero, she was still a student. No professional profiling knowledge—and even if she had, facing this darkness would freeze anyone.
"Your man's gonna die...... Even if I don't... Plenty have caught the scent......"
"Is that the Villain Alliance's plan? Why target Kim Sanghyeok?! Answer me!"
"Smells delicious......"
"What smells delicious?! Why target Kim Sanghyeok!"
"......You... won't get it......"
Not just to scare her.
It felt genuine, but the meaning escaped her.
Frustrated, Isabella clenched her fists, trembling.
Xenovia seemed amused by some private joke, while Isabella was just dragged along—and she hated it.
Timing-wise, attacking Kim Sanghyeok now doesn't make sense.
How long ago had Seridwen warned?
If the Villain Alliance had any common sense, they'd avoid upsetting a Master Hunter at all costs.
......
After the unsettling visit, Warden Little Jack noticed her expression.
"Director?"
"...Watch her closely. Don't let her pull any stunts."
"Got it."
Xenovia couldn't move for a while anyway.
That was fact.
Leaving headquarters, Isabella sat on a bench, fiddling with her smartphone.
[Kim Sanghyeok] (Dorky profile pic in uniform)
Should I message him?
She was worried.
She shook her head side to side. But pride made her hesitate.
Worried? What worry?
Until recently, she'd hounded him as a student of concern, treating him like a servant—suddenly now?
Too shameless...
Becoming girlfriend was sudden, but...
Should she just honestly say she was worried about her boyfriend and contact him?
She didn't know what to do.
To Isabella, her first boyfriend was Kim Sanghyeok—and likely her last.
The Student Council President naturally thought so.
[Isabella]
Evangeline, got a question
[Evangeline]
What's up?
[Isabella]
2nd years in class now, right? How's it going? Kim Sanghyeok sleeping?
[Evangeline]
Special note: gravity waves are irregular. He'd probably bail with portal if danger, but no word.
[Isabella]
Generally, what do you say when worried about your boyfriend?
The student council group chat froze for a moment.
[Evangeline]
......You're dating? Kim Sanghyeok?
[Isabella]
Yeah.
[Evangeline]
Whoa!!! How? Who confessed first?
Council execs flooded with emojis, crashing the chat briefly.
Isabella panicked a bit.
Didn't expect this enthusiasm.
[Isabella]
Kim Sanghyeok confessed first. What to text when missing boyfriend?
[Evangeline]
Say you miss him!
[Council Exec]
Ask what he's doing! How about sending a council pres selfie?
[Council Exec 2]
Cute act! What about aegyo??
She just wanted to check in, but they treated the silver-haired big-boobed council president like an avatar for romancing Kim Sanghyeok,
ideas pouring in.
Isabella listened unfiltered, recalling Sanghyeok's words.
"Next time you contact me, do it cutely with aegyo."
"......!"
[Isabella]
Aegyo seems right. What are some cute aegyo lines? Make 'em lovey-dovey.
The council's collective brainpower gathered, smoothly providing answers.
Is this right?
Boyfriend worry. Ask to contact.
She thought plain was fine, but things escalated.
No choice—Isabella blushed faintly, typing away.
[Isabella]
Honey, whatcha doing? Reply right away when you see this, okay?
This feels off...
Still, he'd probably reply immediately upon seeing it.