Chapter 56
Chapter 56
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Hero Fallen for the Villain (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Two days had passed since Lumi and Si-yoon took down the Executioner.
Si-yoon had spent those two days plus some extra time driving around everywhere in a rented car with his three women.
Starting from the outskirts of S City, where their base and the Hero Union headquarters were located,
they went to Y City, their first destination and a coastal town, then to B City, home of the airport.
They checked every hideout location Chae-ryeong remembered.
But most were unmanaged ruins or showed signs of use by others,
and only a few had traces of recent visitors—no sign of the Leader anywhere.
After rushing around busily with nothing to show for it,
Si-yoon and his three women returned to base utterly exhausted.
"We covered so much ground... and still nothing."
"Yeah. Looks like the Leader knows something's up."
To soothe their weary bodies and minds, they all flopped onto the sofa, basking in the cool AC breeze,
and pondered their next move over bowls of cold bingsu topped with rice cakes and fruit.
"So we've checked everywhere Chae-ryeong knew about?"
"Nyaaat! If it wasn't one of those five spots... he's gotta be somewhere else entirely."
She took a bite of bingsu, her eyes widening as her head buzzed from the brain freeze, letting out a nyaaat,
then shook her head side to side as she answered Si-yoon.
"Chae-ryeong probably realized she got caught by the heroes or was in serious danger.
If that's the case... finding the Leader might have to wait a bit."
"Any other ways to contact him or the other executives?"
"Nyaa... We did use overseas-based SNS sometimes.
But I was always stuck to the Leader, so we never really needed it."
The Hero Union was an independent organization, not under the government,
but it maintained close ties with both the government and police.
So villain groups often avoided standard communication methods to evade tracking.
They used everything from physical couriers and drones
to overseas messengers, like the Dark Knights did.
Rumors swirled that massive organizations with huge capital built their own networks,
but the Dark Knights weren't quite that big.
"Finding him on our own is gonna be tough now....
I didn't really expect him to let us tail him so easily, though."
Even using all the info and methods from Chae-ryeong, they came up empty.
"That's why I set something up."
"Ice Queen! That blue-haired ice hero, right?"
"Yep. Good thing I took her out in one shot back then... would've been trickier otherwise."
Si-yoon had successfully made contact with Lumi while neutralizing the Executioner at the rest stop,
and luckily avoided exposing himself to civilians or agents.
Lumi was in the middle of a major operation to take down the Dark Knights' remaining executives,
so she might have even more up-to-date intel.
"That Ice Queen hero seemed totally smitten with Master!"
"Wasn't exactly planned... but yeah."
Ji-woo had seen that look on Lumi's face too.
It was the expression of a girl head over heels for her prince on a white horse.
"She was like a cold, emotionless machine....
Guess that just shows how amazing Master is, huh?"
Do-hwa's memories of Lumi from the joint op were all icy rationality and dry speech.
Except for that heartbroken look when they failed to capture Chae-ryeong.
"I did tell her to come to the Union if she ever needed help."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, at a cafe in the Hero Union headquarters building.
"Si-yoon... where in the world did he come from, and what does he do?"
During her sweet vacation days after taking down the Executioner,
she couldn't stop thinking about him.
She'd asked around the Union staff, trying to track him down,
but with just a vague description and a name, it was hopeless.
"If I keep getting distracted like this... it might mess up my work when vacation ends."
For nearly three days, she'd brooded alone over him,
and comforted herself like she did the day they beat the Executioner.
But no matter how much she rubbed herself or chased light climaxes, the ache only grew.
'That's right. I need to forget... just forget.
This isn't like me.
Seol Lu-mi, you became a hero to find your sister.
You can't let personal memories and feelings sway you.'
She chugged her ice-cold Americano until her tongue went numb,
then slapped her flushed cheeks hard to snap herself out of it.
'...But I can't forget...!'
"This is driving me crazy..."
Normally, a single firm thought would've pulled her together,
but a girl's heart in love isn't so easily tamed.
The more she tried to forget, the more her heart raced for him.
- Ring ring ring―
"Eek?!"
Lumi jumped at the sudden alert from her hero communicator.
Someone was calling.
"...Yes. This is Ice Queen."
"Ice Queen! Someone's here looking for you.
They said to call for Si-yoon... ring a bell? A friend of yours?"
"Wh... who? Did you say Si-yoon just now?"
"Yes...? Yeah! He's at the Consultation Management Division, asking for you...."
"I... I'm on my way!"
A call from the Consultation Management Division—Si-yoon was there looking for her.
Lumi bolted there faster than anyone ever.
"Huff... huff!"
This was the first time in her life she'd rushed to someone with such desperate longing.
At the Union, they called her the Ice Queen after her hero name,
seeing her as cold and unyielding.
So her flushed, panting dash became huge gossip among the staff.
- Screech―
"I... I'm here...!"
She burst into the Consultation Management office without stopping.
A smiling staffer greeted her as she cautiously opened the door.
"Ah! There you are. Must be someone really special!"
Turning, she spotted Si-yoon sipping coffee in the reception room.
"Si... Si-yoon...?!"
"Ah. You made it. Nice to see you."
Lumi rushed to him and grabbed both his hands mid-sip.
"You finally... finally came...!"
"Haha... that's one intense welcome."
"Ah...! S-sorry. I got too excited...."
Seeing Si-yoon a bit flustered by her enthusiasm,
Lumi finally realized and bowed repeatedly, apologizing.
"No need to apologize that much. Feels nice to be welcomed."
"I-If you say so... that's a relief...."
Lumi couldn't even look him straight in the face,
just stared at his brown instant coffee in the cheap paper cup.
"You okay? Your face is super red...."
"N-No! It's just... hot, that's all."
The reception room and office blasted cool AC,
but Si-yoon let it slide.
"Anyway... I was wondering if you'd grab a meal with me."
It was a bit early for lunch when Si-yoon arrived.
The staff were heading out for their own meals.
"Lunch... I'll treat you!"
"Wasn't planning to mooch, but if you're offering, I'll happily accept."
As Lumi mustered the courage to meet his eyes and offer to pay,
Si-yoon grinned and stood.
"I'm not from around here, so I don't know the spots.
Any good places near Union HQ?"
They stepped out, and he tried casual chat,
but Lumi's heart pounded wildly.
"I... I'm not sure either, but... I hear the Japanese place across the street is good."
"Oh! I love Japanese food. Tonkatsu, sushi, that stuff.
You like it too, Ice Queen?"
His barrage of questions made her head spin,
sweat beading on her flushed face and trickling down.
'I haven't even done anything. Am I really that effect on her...?'
Si-yoon wondered for a second,
but figured good was good and didn't dwell.
"That one there, Ice Queen? The place with the wooden sign."
"Lu... Lumi. Call me by my name."
She told him her real name instead of her hero alias.
Of course, Si-yoon already knew it from the imprint,
but hero files were classified, so he played it cool.
"Pretty name. Lumi."
"Hnnng...!"
Lumi lost it completely at her name on his lips,
and Si-yoon found her adorable as they strolled slowly to the restaurant.