Villain Encounter # 7
Villain Encounter # 7
So I went down to the lounge with the instructor.
"Hey! What took you so long!"
Yu-ri, who'd already torn into drinks and snacks, greeted me enthusiastically. Si-hoo was in there too, munching on bread or something.
You guys, just loafing around here, have no idea... how much I suffered. Starting now, I'm gonna share every last bit of it. Not a single detail left out.
Please, please acknowledge my suffering.
"Phew. You said it."
"What?"
"Geun-cheol? Did something happen?"
I glanced over at the instructor's face for a sec.
"It's not some state secret. You can speak if you want to."
"I think I will. This mental anguish I've endured. If I don't share it with my friends and get some emotional comfort, it'll fester inside me for sure."
"For god's sake, do something about that mouth of yours. In my whole life, I've never seen a guy as long-winded as you, Kim Geun-cheol."
At that, Yu-ri and Si-hoo both tilted their heads. I plopped down in a seat, grabbed a potato chip, and opened up.
"So, I just got back from... an illegal, coercive interrogation."
"Say what?"
"Huh?"
I told my friends everything that had happened to me today.
Starting with the absurd interrogation, the back-and-forth cursing. My parents' absence. The situation spiraling to the worst. And finally, the instructor coming in, fixing everything, and the promise of compensation I left with.
"Even so, apparently suing's pointless. Special Operations Division motherfuckers."
"No, what the... what happened?"
"...Oh my god."
After hearing the whole story, Yu-ri and Si-hoo's mouths hung open.
"You're telling me a Special Operations agent pulled that bullshit on a cadet? What the fuck. Does that even make sense? Are they insane? Are they out of their goddamn mind?"
"..."
Yu-ri was pissed off and completely incredulous, while Si-hoo couldn't seem to find words.
Yes! I really did suffer that much!
I'm so grateful you get it!
"That's what I'm saying! Whew! The pain I went through, I swear!"
"This is such shit... Instructor? Is this all for real?"
Yu-ri asked.
"I thought I was going to die just trying to stop him from screaming about suing."
"That's insane. How could they. Wow."
"I know, right."
"This bastard's had a rough time."
Yu-ri pat-pat my back like I'd really been through it. Pain really is halved when you share it. Just being open with my friends about it was already lightening my mood.
"But yeah, if it was an agent who's got some pull, I could actually see that happening. Ham Woong-cheol. Ham Woong-cheol, huh... That little fuck. I'm gonna remember that name. He dared to threaten the fucking Kim Geun-cheol? You son of a bitch, I'm gonna beat you half to death if I ever meet you. Ugh."
"Heh heh heh, thanks. But hey, Yu-ri. How did your interview even go?"
"We just wrote down what happened and told them. Nothing much."
"Thank fucking god."
Definitely a relief.
"But man, Kim Geun-cheol, I bet this guy was scared shitless at first."
"Scared totally shitless, shoved my fist in my mouth and bawled. But then, he just kept talking shit. So I dished it right back, cursing his mom and dad until the tears went dry."
"This guy and his family insults, really."
Even I think it was a perfect family insult.
"Geun-cheol. You really went through a lot... I'm getting mad just hearing about it. How can they even do that?"
"I know, right. It was fucking terrible."
"Since you said Geun-cheol was crying his eyes out, it must've been seriously terrible."
"Hey. Me crying, that was just a figure of speech, man."
I didn't actually cry.
"Well, then. It seems the story's over. Let's head back now."
"Ah, yeah. We should."
Where do I even go now?
To my house?
Or the dorm?
"Hey. Leona went up ahead. When you said you got dragged here after the investigation, she was all 'what the hell happened,' but she said she'd head up for now."
"Yeah? Then I should go home."
I'd send Leona a message telling her I was done, too.
"Instructor. Are you coming with us?"
"I drove here... but I can just have these kids pick up the car. Let's take the helicopter."
"Ooh!"
Helicopter return!
"As expected of you, Instructor!"
"No more chit-chat, follow me."
"Yes!"
* * *
We got in the helicopter with the instructor and headed for the academy. Not like there was anything else to do on the way, so I explained everything that happened today.
"But then, as it so happened, she had a bazooka there too. Leona carries all kinds of stuff around in her car. Heh heh heh. So anyway, the four of us fired bazookas, fired guns, and took down the villains."
When I finished, the instructor let out a long sigh.
"Haah... I'm craving a cigarette."
"What, why?"
"How could I not? Cadets were in an actual engagement? First of all, you won, so I'll praise you for that. But if anything similar happens again, don't even think about fighting, just run. Engaging villains in real combat isn't something you first-years should be doing."
Yeah, I thought she'd say something like that.
"I'm sorry, Instructor."
Si-hoo bowed her head and apologized.
"Enough. It's in the past. But keep it in mind that it was a dangerous situation."
"Yes."
"Yes."
And as we were going.
—Ding-a-ling.
I got a call from Leona.
"Kim Geun-cheol? That noise... are you in a helicopter?"
"Yeah. I'm in a helicopter. You got back okay?"
"Yes. So that's what happened. You said you went to get investigated? You've worked hard. It took longer than I thought?"
Leona doesn't know the details yet.
"There were... reasons. I went through an illegal investigation and an intense interrogation in there."
"What?! What kind of bullshit are you talking about! You're joking, right!"
"No... I'm not joking. My heart's a complete wreck right now."
"Give me a proper explanation! Don't say weird things!"
"It might take a while. I'll tell you next time."
"Tell me today! Call me when you arrive!"
"Gotcha."
Is she planning on coming over?
Then I'll tell her then.
"Ugh, just thinking about it pisses me off again. Hey, Kim Geun-cheol. But really, did you just sit there and take it?"
"What? No, what do you mean just take it! Halfway through I cursed his parents out royally!"
"You should've fucking hit him, you bastard!"
"Yu-ri. No matter how awful it was, I don't think I could've taken him in a fight."
"Still, like! A man should, like! Bravely, like! Fight! Like!"
He would've pulverized me for sure.
"I would've fought if Si-hoo was there next to me. Right, Si-hoo?"
"...I would have fought if it happened right next to me."
"I knew it, my true friend!"
Except for the fact she's a girl, she's so fucking reliable!
"I can't help but be amazed!"
Chatting away like that, the school started coming into view.
The dormitory... no, wait.
Maybe it was because the tension was gone.
A thought suddenly came to mind.
I got that investigation just for facing a villain. My friends also got dragged in and investigated, at least.
If that's roughly how these interrogations go, wouldn't that happen to most heroes?
"Hm?"
Now that I think about it, it's a bit strange.
The moment they heard news of that incident, they dispatched Agent Ham Woong-cheol, a brainwashing identification expert. That means... ultimately, it means the Republic of Korea government knows something.
The recent new monster species and the special gate.
Could it be that among those who use it, there are some who mainly use brainwashing? Otherwise, there's no way they'd send a bastard like Ham Woong-cheol instantly upon hearing the report.
I sense something fishy.
I should discuss this with Kitty.
* * *
It wasn't exactly a full after-party, but Leona came running when we arrived. So we all gathered together and told her the story.
"No, how in the world could this happen! I can't believe it!"
Enraged, Leona clenched her fists and shouted.
"I'm a foreign noble, so I can't officially say it, but isn't this too much! I'm getting angry just listening! This is so unjust! After how hard we all fought...!"
Exactly.
We all fought hard together. So to be treated like that, of course it's fucking infuriating.
"Exactly. I was so goddamn pissed I thought I'd lose it."
"We came to have fun and what is all this...! Ugh! I'm really so angry! Are you okay, Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Yeah. I've calmed down a little now. But earlier, I thought I was going to die."
"Oh no, seriously."
Leona let out a sigh.
"We just went to have a fun time together and it all got completely shot to hell. Phew. I'm sorry. For suggesting we go to the sea."
"No, Leona. Why are you sorry? It was just an accident."
Right now she's feeling a lot of responsibility, but this is definitely not something Leona should feel responsible for.
"Yesterday, though, was great."
"Yeah, but still."
"I had fun going to the sea too, so don't worry about that stuff."
When I said that, Yu-ri added a word too.
"Right. Leona, it's not your fault, so don't talk nonsense. Why are you sorry? We went to the sea, it was fun."
"Yeah. It's not Leona's fault. They were the bad ones."
Si-hoo said that too.
"Ahh..."
Leona looked moved.
"And besides. Even if we'd known it would turn out like this, we'd still have fought. Hey. Isn't that right?"
"Yeah. You're right. Even if I'd known this would happen, I'd still have fought."
Just like I said. Even knowing the outcome, is there any reason not to fight? We did it because we had to. This was just a malicious accident that happened there.
"Kim Geun-cheol... well, you're right. Even if I'd gone through something like that, I wouldn't have regretted fighting."
Leona answered with an expression that looked a little more at ease.
"Still, it really stings my heart. How much more hurt must you feel, Kim Geun-cheol... What do we do."
"What d'you mean, what do we do. Just talking to you about it right now, Leona, I'm all recovered."
"Don't say weird things."
It's not weird, though?
"Anyway. I want to formally protest, but as a foreigner it wouldn't do a bit of good. Being from a noble family, I'd obviously just hear about interfering in internal affairs. Ugh, really. So cowardly, just leaving me out and doing that. It's so frustrating."
"Seems like they just excluded you, Leona, being a foreign noble and all."
"Exactly!"
But if they were going to investigate thoroughly, shouldn't they have interviewed Leona too? Even a foreigner could at least be investigated.
"Whatever, let's just eat!"
"Sounds good."
Since we're all together, let's have some meat.
"But didn't the instructor say something?"
"Yeah. She just kept taking my side the whole time."
"As expected, a true teacher!"
"Honestly, it's because she was there that I had the guts to act up. If she wasn't, I'd have probably just gotten beaten to a pulp."
* * *
—Ding-a-ling.
Ryu Cheon-hwi's phone rang, which was rare. He picked it up without thinking, and his face twisted immediately.
"That Taliban bastard...!"
There's no one with such a damn annoying phone number except the Taliban bastard. Ryu Cheon-hwi answered the call, feeling anger surge inside him.
"For what possible reason are you calling late at night, you Taliban bastard! You have no sense of time whatso—"
"Hey! Ryu dude! I fought a villain and won today!"
"What!"
"Look up the West Sea thing! We totally wiped them out!"
What on earth was he talking about?
"Did you seriously steal my precious time just to spout such nonsense?"
"Huh? What's this fucker Ryu saying? Obviously I called because bragging about myself is more important than your precious time!"
"Wha...!"
Breathtaking sophistry.
Just as he thought he had to utterly destroy him.
"Oh, and after catching the villain, I got dragged to Namsan and got interrogated too. Fucking scary. Hey. You ever been to Namsan? It's fucking terrifying there. They were basically trying to kill me."
Namsan?
"Namsan? You. Were you taken to the Special Operations Division?"
"Yeah. So what happened there was."
In that instant, Ryu Cheon-hwi focused completely on the next words. That Taliban got dragged to Namsan? Namsan is the nickname for the Special Operations Division. At some point, people started calling it that.
Anyway, it sounded like after engaging a villain, he'd been dragged to the Special Operations Division and interrogated—something totally incomprehensible to Ryu Cheon-hwi's common sense.
What in the hell did a lowlife like Taliban do to get dragged to the Special Operations Division?
But Ryu Cheon-hwi's expectation was shattered to pieces.
"Curious? Noooot gonna tell ya."
—Click.
He hung up.
"What!"
He actually hung up.
"You, you insane son of a bitch! Finish what you're saying! He was babbling on one-sidedly about things I wasn't even curious about, then he just suddenly hangs up! I was wrong to expect any common sense from you!"
But since the call was disconnected, his voice had no way of reaching him.
"Arghhhhhhhh!"
Frustrated, Ryu Cheon-hwi roared.
What the hell happened!
As he was doing that.
"Cheon-hwi? What's wrong?"
His older sister came in.
"What! I told you not to barge into my room!"
"Then you shouldn't have been making a racket. What on earth is going on for you to act like this? I heard you mention the Special Operations Division."
"I told you not to eavesdrop!"
"Cheon-hwi, you were the one talking too loudly. So what?"
"Hmph...!"
It was annoying that his sister had invaded his room, but knowing she wouldn't leave until her curiosity was sated, he briefed her.
That the goddamn bastard had been dragged to Namsan.
"Oh my, Geun-cheol did? Dragged to Namsan? For fighting a villain?"
"I don't know the details..."
"What could it be?"
Ryu Cheon-hwi's older sister, Ryu A-ra, felt puzzled.
She was on leave and hadn't been checking information, but something like this happened. Intrigued, Ryu A-ra immediately went back to her room and pulled up the Special Operations Division files.
[Interrogation Record of Cadet Kim Geun-cheol, Suspected Brainwashing Attack Victim]
"There it is."
Arms crossed, legs crossed, leaning back against her chair.
She played the file.
—Yo' mamma!
—Your mother!
—You fuck!
—Son of a bitch!
And an ensuing feast of colorful profanity.
"..."
The cursing continues at a level that would put even the most hardcore villains to shame.
—I'M! GOIN'! TA! SUE!!!!!
When it got to the part where he had a fit about suing, even Ryu A-ra's jaw dropped.
"Has he lost his mind...?"
Was her little brother's only friend, Geun-cheol, that type of guy?
That thought flickered through her head for a sec.
—Calm down, Kim Geun-cheol!!!
But when she saw Lee So-ra flustered and scrambling around.
"Pfft."
A little laugh escaped.
—Kieeeeeeeek!
And so, Ryu A-ra went through the entire interview record.
"...He really is an entertaining kid."