Villain Encounter # 6
Villain Encounter # 6
Lee So-ra felt like she was going to lose her damn mind.
"Give me her number! Gimme your mom's number, you son of a bitch! I can't talk about this shit with you! I need to take it up with the woman who crapped you out and raised you! Spit out your mom's number, you fucking bastard!!!"
"Calm down! Calm down, Kim Geun-cheol!"
Restraining the rampaging Kim Geun-cheol was proving way harder than she'd ever imagined. Even with a hold from behind, he was thrashing both legs and screeching at the top of his lungs.
He needed to be subdued, but using any more force in this state felt like it might snap a bone somewhere, and going that far felt unfair—Kim Geun-cheol had genuinely been wronged in a lot of ways.
"Spit it out! I said give it to me! Your mother's number!"
But using such violently profane language?
While restrained, Kim Geun-cheol was causing a scene, demanding Agent Ham Woong-cheol's mother's phone number.
Of course, Agent Ham Woong-cheol's mother had passed away a long time ago. There was no way he could provide it. But her gut said that revealing that fact now would just detonate an even more colorful torrent of curses, so she kept her mouth shut.
"You grab him too!"
"Yes, yes! Ma’am!"
Agent Ham Woong-cheol himself joined in, grabbing Kim Geun-cheol's legs. As if that were the problem, Kim Geun-cheol exploded into even more violent convulsions.
"Kieeeeeeeeh!"
Just how was she supposed to fix this mess?!
"Kim Geun-cheol! You're gonna be in serious trouble if you don't quiet down!"
"I don't care if I'm in trouble! A bastard like him needs to be cursed out until he's crying his eyes out!"
"I agree with the sentiment, but at this rate we can't get anything done. Calm down first, won't you? Don't we need to talk about filing charges?"
"Ah. Yeah, that's true."
The moment the topic turned to pressing charges, Kim Geun-cheol started to see reason.
"...I'll start by telling you the truth. Ham Woong-cheol is an agent assigned to the Special Operations Division. So the odds are pretty high that a lawsuit won't stick."
"Whaaat?! What the hell?!"
"Unfortunately, that's reality. There are petty immunity privileges, and legal connections that seep into every corner of superhuman society. So don't waste your energy; settle down. I'll make him apologize."
"..."
Suddenly, Kim Geun-cheol went quiet.
Had her persuasion worked? Lee So-ra felt a tiny sense of accomplishment and joy. The thought that she had succeeded in convincing a student as a teacher crossed her mind.
But it seemed there were still plenty of mountains to climb before she could carry this happy feeling all the way home.
* * *
"I'm sorry."
The agent, whose face was a bruised mess, bent into a perfect right angle to apologize. But is this bastard's attitude really how you're supposed to apologize?
"You bastard! Look at you apologizing in that getup! Huh! Shouldn't you strip! Do it naked!"
"Wh-what?"
"Instructor Lee So-ra! I demand a naked apology!"
I heard that Namsan strips people totally bare the moment they start interrogations. I should really learn from that!
"Hoo... fine. Ham Woong-cheol. Do it."
"Y-yes..."
"Ah, fuck. Keep your damn underwear on. Seriously."
"Got it..."
In the end, Agent Ham Woong-cheol apologized in front of me in nothing but his boxers. But looking at his body, he's really on the verge of exploding. There's not a patch of human skin color left.
After hearing that suing was probably impossible, I briefly experienced a blackout. The moment I came to, I went completely berserk, and Instructor Lee So-ra inflicted a savage beating on Agent Ham Woong-cheol to calm me down.
That's why his body ended up looking like a butterfly or something.
"Kim Geun-cheol. To put it simply... what you went through was an illegal investigation and interrogation. It's a method officially used only when interrogating villains, villain collaborators, monsterkin collaborators, or criminals involved with other dimensions."
And they used that on me?
"It's an investigative technique that should absolutely never be used on a civilian cadet who isn't caught in the act. But this Agent Ham Woong-cheol is a psycho they call a mad dog. So he went and pulled this crap on his own, and that's how we got this situation."
"Go be a mad dog at your own damn house! You son of a bitch!"
"..."
"Bark! Bark like a dog!"
"W-wuff... wuff..."
Agent Ham Woong-cheol got the living shit beaten out of him by Instructor Lee So-ra—like a dog on the hottest day of summer—and his whole body was blotched blue, so he'd turned extremely meek.
I really liked that attitude.
"Are you still angry, Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Hoo, how could I not be when you tell me I can't even sue? Of course, I'm truly grateful you stepped in for me, Instructor, but I still can't let go of my rage toward that bastard."
"Oh dear. This is a real problem."
Haah.
The instructor let out a sigh.
"What would it take for you to let it go?"
"I-I'll personally treat you to a full-course..."
"Is that what you should be saying?! Offer a proper apology and compensation!"
"Ham Woong-cheol. Ready to open your wallet?"
"W-well, since things turned out like this, I guess I have to..."
He's offering financial compensation?
Hearing that, it felt like my anger cooled off a bit.
"This bastard's really a joke. Did you start all this crap without even thinking about this?"
"As I said, since he works for the Special Operations Division protecting national security, he holds certain immunity privileges and government connections. He acts out because he has backing."
"Hngh."
This, right here, is the problem with superhuman autocracy.
The Special Operations Division... is apparently an agency directly under the Minister of the Special Operations Department, who is literally nothing more than the Sovereign Commander's professional errand boy by another name.
Since they work on the autocrat's orders, once you dig into it, it's a scarier organization than the National Security Planning Agency from the Fifth Republic era. Weren't they the bastards who catch and squash professional villain-criminals and high-level monsterkin—the kind of people whose names alone make you piss yourself?
Even tigers who don't speak a lick of Korean supposedly tremble at just hearing the name Special Operations Division.
"Honestly, this only became an issue because Kim Geun-cheol protested so fiercely. Most ordinary people would be too terrified to even open their mouths."
"That might be true, but I can't stand injustice. Because I'm a hero."
It's definitely true that once you hear words like 'Special Operations Division,' most people would be scared stiff and unable to say a word.
But I'm a superhuman, fuck.
No matter what, I don't just let things slide... But honestly, I'm only making a scene here because the instructor, a former Division member, is completely on my side. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been able to mouth off either.
"No, but does this kind of thing seriously happen often? In our country? Is it really normal for Special Operations Division agents to go around threatening innocent people?"
Still, I've seen plenty of righteous heroes up until now. But dammit, a hero with this kind of power pulling this crap—it can't not make me question the country.
"No... it's just this bastard who's fucked up... At least when it comes to civilians or cadets, there isn't anyone besides Ham Woong-cheol who'd do something like this."
Fire the guy, then!
"Haah. I'm sorry about this. I've planted trauma in Kim Geun-cheol, who should be growing up to become a proper hero."
"Well then, shouldn't we just fire this bastard?!"
"His track record probably makes that difficult."
—Press.
The instructor pressed her finger into the bastard's temple.
"Ha, hahaha..."
"Are you laughing? Right now, while the cadet is this furious, you're laughing?"
"I apologize."
I almost said something, but I held back for the instructor's sake. Then the bastard whose temple she was pressing looked at me and spoke.
"I’m really sorry. That’s just how my investigation style is... I’ll compensate you properly, so please forgive me."
"How are you going to compensate me, Agent Ham Woong-cheol?"
"Financially... and I'll give you my contact number too."
Why the hell would I need this bastard's contact info?!
"Wait! Hold on! I mean I’ll handle any problems that come up... Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have done this normally, but Instructor Lee ordered me to..."
So that tiger-like agent can't do jack against the instructor.
"Then I think I'll need to receive some weapons and gear."
"Weapons? Gear?"
"I'll pick something expensive. Hand that over, and I'll let this incident slide."
"Y-yeah... alright... I'm sorry..."
This bastard only apologized to me because Instructor Lee So-ra wrecked him, just as it came out. If that hadn't happened, he would've pulled that investigation, gotten nothing more than a light slap on the wrist, and gone on living the high life.
"Good. Then let's wrap up this business here."
—Pat.
The instructor placed a hand on my head.
"Kim Geun-cheol? Do you need weapons and gear?"
"Ah, yes. I kind of need some. I plan to pick something expensive."
"Then we can go together during the vacation. We can talk, and I'll help you pick, so set a date."
What?
Shopping alone with the instructor?
An inhumanly good opportunity!
"Yes! Of course! Who could have a better eye for equipment than you!"
If the instructor personally picks it out, there's nothing better!
I never imagined this kind of chance would come!
"Look at him, already delighted again... Hoo. What's the use of making a guy like this angry, Ham Woong-cheol?"
"You said it... that's just my investigation style, see..."
Seriously, though.
"No, Mr. Ham Woong-cheol. What the hell is that 'investigation style' of yours anyway? Earlier you mentioned brainwashing or something. What the hell is that, to make you investigate me like this?"
"That is."
"Explain it."
At the instructor's glance, he pulled over a chair.
"That is... The truth is, what I did just now was to test whether you were under the effects of sorcery that works on the mind—brainwashing, suggestion, memory confusion, value alteration, personality swap, things like that—from monsterkin or otherworldly entities."
That sounds kind of scary.
"Keep talking."
"So, earlier when I was talking, straight up... A moron with zero intelligence. A bastard just spewing bullshit. A dumbass who can't understand a single thing and just babbles nonsense. A bastard who does nothing but tell weird, bullshit lies. A bastard who calls himself an investigator but acts like a villain. I looked like that, right?"
"You mean you're not actually like that?"
"Ah."
Woong-cheol's mouth fell open wide.
They said this bastard was a dumbass, and that was 100% about him.
"Anyway... By spouting bullshit while making completely irrational threats, throwing in a little torture, then reading your reactions while pressing hard... if your values, brainwashing, or personality had been altered, it would become obvious as your answers gradually tangled up. I was testing you and watching your reaction."
What the hell.
I was trying not to react, but as I kept listening, something about this felt kind of fascinating and weird.
All of these things really exist?
"Not only were you guys exposed directly in front of villains, monsterkin, the new monster species, and a special gate—you engaged in combat and then kept making contact while interrogating the villain you captured alive. So I did it myself to test as accurately as possible."
'Because we can't let someone with an altered personality or brainwashing enter human society,' Ham Woong-cheol muttered.
"But you're making it sound like you did it for my sake?"
"To be honest, I really did it for my own convenience. Sorry."
"..."
No, dammit, for real.
"B-but, Instructor? Brainwashing and personality swapping and whatever... all of that."
"It's all real."
"..."
"There are plenty of cases where the shell stays the same but the inside becomes a monsterkin or an otherworldly entity. They disguise themselves skillfully and live as humans. It's extremely hard to accurately determine using modern science... but Ham Woong-cheol is a specialist at uncovering exactly that. He's got the number one track record. With that bullshit-sounding interrogation of his, he's caught spies many times so far."
My jaw's hanging open.
"Really? Seriously? You've actually caught a lot of bastards like that—personality-swapped ones and all—using a method like this?"
"That's right."
A cool answer.
"Instructor Lee So-ra is also a master at it."
"Shut your mouth."
"Yes..."
No, but.
"No, but, looking at this, I think I'd be fucking amazing at it too?"
If it's about spewing bullshit while intimidating villains, I'm confident.
"Oh? Oh! That’s right! Kim Geun-cheol! Come to the Special Operations Division when you graduate!"
"You shut up!"
"Ah... you're not forgiving me...?"
"You think I'm gonna forgive you?! I know better than to let this go until I get my stuff!"
"Pfft—hoo!"
The instructor let out a burst of laughter.
"Anyway, that's the story. Since he's a guy who does that kind of work, suing him is useless. He's under the minister's protection, so forget a trial. I recommend taking everything you can get while I'm smoothing things over, and then burying it. Understood, Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Yes. Gotta do that. What choice do I have if it won't work? And besides, aren't I your excellent student who always listens well?"
"You've got the talking part down. Anyway. Ham Woong-cheol? The test results?"
I was kind of curious about that too.
"Yes. Well, I think a long-term observation and examination by the agency would be more accurate, but first, in my judgment, no matter how I look at it, there are no signs of brainwashing. Normally, when someone's affected, they can't react like he does."
That's right.
I'm me.
Who could make a mess of me?
"His sense of self, judgment, memory, and personality are all far too distinct. He seems like the type who wouldn't fall to a mental attack under normal circumstances. He also talks without holding back. Seeing his guts, he is a Special Operations Division agent personified..."
"Shut up. Kim Geun-cheol? It would be best to think carefully about your career path."
"I will. I can't work in a place like that."
The Special Operations Division? That's not a place for human beings.
Ah, wait.
But wasn't Ryu A-ra also in the Division? I made plans to tag along on the Ryu family vacation next time.
I'll have to ask her about it then.
"It's late. Let's head back. Ham Woong-cheol? This whole thing happened because you went on a rampage. If any annoying trouble comes to us, I'll simply kill you, so deal with it properly on your end."
"To begin with, once I tell them Instructor Lee showed up, the higher-ups will bury everything anyway... I’m in a lot of pain."
"Now get lost."
"Yes..."
And so Agent Ham Woong-cheol got dressed and left the scene.
"If you’re ever in a tough spot, contact me... As an apology, I’ll help you out..."
"I hope I never have to call you."
"I'm sorry..."
He kept apologizing right to the end, but I already know. That this bastard wouldn't have given a flying fuck if not for the instructor.
Later on, once I've got some real clout, I'm gonna make him get down in push-up position and beat the shit out of him. He's my enemy until I do that. I don't forget grudges... Just like I don't forget favors, either.
"Let's go, then."
—Slip.
The instructor placed a hand on my back and gently pushed me.
"Ah! Wait a sec! Instructor! Did all my friends go through intense interrogations too?"
If that were the case, it would be a huge problem. Honestly, if it was just me, I could take some compensation and move on, but if my friends went through it too, I don't think I could stand it.
"What? No. Like I just explained, it's only this bastard who's unusual."
"Huh?"
"Lee Si-hoo and Woo Yu-ri just got a simple incident investigation and are resting in the lounge now. And Leona in the first place is a foreign noble and a person of Mister Dominators, so she wasn't even interrogated. She didn't even get brought in here."
"So what you're saying is."
"I'm saying you're the only one who went through absolute hell, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Kieeeeeeeeh!"
"Quiet!"
Why is it like this.
I'm truly happy my friends didn't go through a rough ordeal, but thinking I was the only one who suffered feels unbearable... Well, whatever happens, it's for the best.
"Think of it as having gained precious life experience that you shouldn't get involved with the Special Operations Division this time. What a mess this all was during vacation. To call out an instructor who was resting. Kim Geun-cheol, you've got some serious nerve, don't you?"
"If your excellent student calls, you should come. Even during vacation."
I take pride in being an excellent student.
"If only your talk weren't so cheap."
Instructor Lee So-ra chuckled.