Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: It's Not Shameful to Run from a Hero
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Stay right there and freeze. Or I'll just roast you."
'What should I do? Should I just ignore her and jump in?'
I'd planned to escape to some place where no one would find me and rest easy with the money from selling the jewel.
But as expected, the world wasn't that lenient.
A-Rank Hero Ignition stood there arrogantly looking down at me.
"I... I mean..."
"You mean?"
"I was just trying to survive... you know, make ends meet! It's hard to get a job these days... right? Haha..."
"No excuses. Come out quietly. Or you'll really get hurt."
I tried flashing a friendly smile to somehow stay alive,
but it didn't seem all that effective.
Flames were already sparking around her fist again.
"Uwaaaah!!!"
I spun around and leaped back into the hole.
If I'd stayed put, I really might've pissed myself.
I slid down the metal escape route for what felt like forever.
The friction was scorching my ass, but that didn't last long either.
- Crash!!
"Uwaaaack!!"
Maybe the hideout was wrecked from the hero raid,
but the escape route suddenly cut off like someone had sliced it clean.
"Pfft."
Hero Ignition was already waiting at the hole in the escape route.
"Ah! Ow..."
As I fell from the exit, the jewel I'd stuffed in my pocket must've shattered,
because sharp fragments stabbed into my leg.
"I told you you'd get hurt."
She sneered at me with a pathetic look.
How worthless must I seem to a hotshot hero like her?
Just a pathetic fly buzzing around, desperately clinging to life compared to her.
"Just come along quietly. Stop whining."
This was utter despair.
Was I really going to get dragged off to prison like this?
Or face something even worse?
What had I done so wrong?
Sure, I'd come here with the evil intent of becoming a Villain, but I'd been through a lot too!
This was unfair!
- Kiiiiiiiiing-
Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from my pants pocket where the shattered jewel fragments were.
"Ack! What the hell is that noise?"
"Urghhh...!"
The ear-piercing screech rattled our eardrums for a moment,
and as it faded, a blinding light exploded out—bright enough to blind us.
The light turned the dim warehouse into broad daylight.
It engulfed both me and her before vanishing as quickly as the roar.
"Urghhh..."
"Ow... my eyes..."
The jewel shards stabbing my thigh vanished without a trace after emitting the light,
and when I looked up, Ignition had collapsed on top of me.
"What?!"
"Uwaaack!"
With her breasts pressed right against me.
"Y-you... pervert!!!"
"It wasn't on purpose! Just calm down first!"
Ignition stomped her feet, her face flushed with extreme humiliation.
I let out a resigned sigh, thinking I was done for,
when I noticed a translucent screen floating beside the furious her.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Target Information: A-Rank Hero 'Ignition' Yoon Do-hwa Ability: Fire Emission Status: Imprint Stage 1 (Corruption Level 0%) Available Commands: Body Control / Ability Nullification / Heat I'd definitely seen something like this before.
The status window common in RPG games or comics about reincarnation into another world.
But this one showed the opponent's info, not mine.
'Did that light from the jewel grant me this power?'
Hero rank, hero name, and ability.
Comparing to what I remembered, it matched this hero perfectly...
But I had no idea what 'Imprint' in the status or the available commands meant.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'Imprint' can be engraved upon direct physical contact with the target's body. 'Commands' can only be used on targets that have been imprinted. The status window kindly popped up an explanation when I wondered about it.
Pretty user-friendly, answering questions right away.
But had I ever made direct contact with Ignition?
...Ah. Her breasts earlier.
Anyway, the priority was getting out of this mess.
It said I could use 'commands' on imprinted targets...
Like that 'Ability Nullification,' for example.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Applying Ability Nullification to target: 'Ignition' Yoon Do-hwa. As soon as I thought of an available command, a message appeared at the bottom of the screen.
'But... does this actually work?'
"If you won't come quietly... I'll just char you and carry you cooked."
"W-what?"
Saying something so chilling so casually—she was terrifying.
Did you need that kind of grit to become an A-Rank Hero?
If I was doomed to die anyway, burning up here would be fine,
and if this status window was a real new power, I'd live.
With that thought, I closed my eyes as Yoon Do-hwa reached out to blast flames at me.
"Huh?"
"Wh-what? Why won't the fire come out...?"
Nothing happened from the palm of her outstretched right hand toward me.
The Ability Nullification had really worked, just like the message said!
"Argh! Ugh! No fire!"
Yoon Do-hwa kept waving her hand, but not even a spark flew.
"Pfft..."
A chuckle escaped me.
An A-Rank Hero—not some rookie—flustered and whining "Why won't it work?"
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Argh!"
- Thwack-!
Her kick landed on my head after hearing my snicker.
"Gah!"
"You... dare laugh at me?"
Years of combat training taking hits and countless battles—I figured I could tank punches or kicks no problem.
But this kick sent me flying; no way I could withstand that.
'Ow, damn... is my neck broken?'
Luckily, my sturdy body held up.
A-Rank Heroes really weren't just about their powers.
- Whoosh-
No time to get up before she came flying at me again with a whoosh.
I caught a glimpse of her incoming, but no chance to react.
"S-stop!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Applying Body Control to target: 'Ignition' Yoon Do-hwa. "Uwaaaah?!"
As 'Body Control' activated from my command to stop,
Yoon Do-hwa plummeted straight down mid-flight and collapsed.
"Suddenly my body won't move...!"
"Close call. Whew."
As I approached her sprawled and immobile form, a message appeared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Status: Imprint Stage 1 (Corruption Level 13%) Corruption Level had risen from 0% to 13%.
So using commands increases the Corruption Level.
"...You think this changes anything?"
"Doesn't it? At least I won't die."
Hold on.
This situation right now...
Even as a bottom-tier combatant, I was still a Villain,
and Ignition was neutralized in front of me, spouting lines like that.
This boiling emotion deep in my chest.
The dream of making a hero kneel before me, even once!
A thrilling chill ran through my body—I finally felt like a real Villain.
"Grgh...!"
I lifted Yoon Do-hwa's chin with my finger, facing her.
I'd seen Villains do this tons in dramas and movies.
Heh heh heh.
"D-don't touch me! Let go!"
She had the looks to be an idol or actress.
Kind of a mix between cat-like and puppy-like charm.
- Thud thud-
Just as I was admiring her face,
footsteps echoed from below, climbing the stairs.
'Better get out of here first...'
No matter how cheat-like this power was, survival came first.
I could suppress Yoon Do-hwa with commands since she was imprinted,
but not other heroes.
Plus, imprinting required direct physical contact.
I'd only managed with her breasts by lucky accident;
with others, I'd be mush before getting close.
I wanted to toy with this A-Rank Hero more now that I had power, but no choice.
"Wait. Does this not work?"
A good idea hit me, so I whispered close to Yoon Do-hwa's ear.
"Today at 6 PM. In front of the back gate of Seonnam University."
A precise time and place command.
I wondered if something this specific and restrictive would work.
But no harm in trying.
Especially not passing up a chance to test it on an A-Rank Hero.
"Should be fine if I drop here. No people around."
I gave her a kind of hypnotic suggestion and jumped straight out the window.