Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Past, Present, and Future of Human Chae-ryeong (2)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A shocking conversation echoed from beside Yeong-chae's corpse, which had grown ice-cold under a blanket of blood.
"How's it going? Any progress on the experiments?"
"Ah! Hero, you've arrived. Unfortunately... there hasn't been any progress."
The identity of the person who appeared dressed differently from the researchers was none other than a Hero.
This was the 'Hero' that Yeong-chae had mentioned to her.
"That's a shame. I understand that the research isn't yielding proper results, but...
the higher-ups are continuously demanding immediate combat-ready assets."
"Supernatural Abilities are so hard to research at humanity's current level of knowledge... haha."
- BAM!!
"Didn't you hear what I just said? Immediate combat-ready assets. Got it?"
When the researcher responded to the Hero's demand for immediate combat assets with a laugh and some flippant remark, she smashed her fist into the wall beside him, her tone and voice turning savage as she threatened him.
"S-sorry...! We'll do our utmost to show results as quickly as possible!"
The researcher trembled and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"Haa... Do you have any idea how much money is being poured into you people?
From now on, make sure I don't have to swing my fist. Not 'work hard'—do it right."
"Yes...!"
She kicked at the researcher, who had collapsed limply onto the floor, then glanced toward where Chae-ryeong was with a ferocious scowl.
"Tch."
She stared long and hard at Yeong-chae's body, fiddling with the research uniform she was wearing.
"Poor bitch. To go and die just trying to raise a brat like that.
What a waste of a body..."
"T-take your hands off her!!!"
"What?"
The Hero didn't hesitate to insult Yeong-chae as she groped the corpse.
Unable to hold back any longer, Chae-ryeong spat out her voice laced with rage toward the Hero.
"Don't you train your test subjects properly? No manners at all.
Toward someone who might become your senior someday. Right?"
- CRASH!! CLANG!
The Hero shattered the glass wall separating Yeong-chae and Chae-ryeong with a single punch, veins bulging on her forehead as she approached Chae-ryeong with a savage expression.
"H-Hero! You can't touch the test subject!"
Even after hearing the researcher's plea that she couldn't touch Chae-ryeong, the Hero merely gestured for him to get out of the way, her eyes never leaving the girl.
"Ha... A green little brat mouthing off like that.
Hey. You think you're something because these idiots are taking care of you here?"
The Hero adopted a ferocious expression and stance, as if she would kill Chae-ryeong right then and there.
Yet Chae-ryeong, overwhelmed by profound loss and fury, refused to yield to the Hero's attitude.
"For trash like you to be a Hero... I can't forgive it... I won't forgive you!!!"
"Can't forgive me? And what are you gonna do about it? What?!"
- THUD!! THWACK! BAM!!!
When her threats failed to work, the Hero raised her fists and began to exercise violence.
"You! Fucking! Bitch! Answer! Me! Now!"
Her superhuman strength far surpassed that of an ordinary adult male.
Monstrous blows that could crack the wall with a light punch rained down on her.
"That's enough, Hero 'Great Guy'.
What if you kill the test subject? Will you take responsibility?"
Just then, a hand from behind grabbed the Hero's shoulder, halting her swinging fist.
"What? Oh, it's you... 'Blade Master'!"
Hero 'Great Guy' stopped her punches and turned her head, greeting the other Hero 'Blade Master' who had stopped her with evident pleasure.
Unlike Great Guy, whose body was covered in brutal slabs of muscle, the Hero called 'Blade Master' had a relatively sharp impression.
"Hoo... I was just pissed off, you know. Those dumbass researchers piss me off too.
So I gave her a bit of a beating."
"You'll get disciplined by the higher-ups again. Let's stop here."
He patted Great Guy's shoulder and back, dissuading her from attacking Chae-ryeong further.
"Behave properly from now on. Got it? Hoo."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yeong-chae had left Chae-ryeong's side for a reason she simply couldn't accept,
and she was left alone in the lab's isolation room, refusing food and water as she awaited death.
However, the researchers force-fed her nutrients to continue the experiments,
and eventually began injecting her with unknown drugs and objects.
But still, contrary to what the researchers wanted,
no Supernatural Ability manifested in Chae-ryeong.
Day by day, she lived a life no better than a corpse, treated worse than livestock,
until a major turning point arrived.
"We're under attack!!! Villains have broken into the research institute!!!"
It was a raid by a Villain organization on the research institute.
At the time, Villains were focusing on attacking supply production factories and related research facilities to weaken the Heroes' forces.
Before long, this trend reached the laboratory where Chae-ryeong was held.
They smashed the institute's security forces and B-Rank Heroes in mere hours,
and kidnapped the test subjects inside, taking them away.
"I like the look of this one. Those eyes aren't ordinary.
Feels like something amazing is hidden inside."
'What...? That person is a Villain...?'
The one who took Chae-ryeong away was an unknown Villain with a refreshing appearance.
Her face was pretty and cute like fresh flower petals, too pure to call Villainous,
yet it exuded a strangely captivating aura of charisma.
At the time, she held an executive position in a massive Villain organization.
Uncontent to stay in her position, she planned to lead her followers and establish a new organization.
After finishing the raid on the organization's research institute,
she held a private meeting first with Chae-ryeong among the test subjects she had kidnapped.
"Your eyes look really fierce."
"What... are you planning to do with me...?"
She examined Chae-ryeong's face closely with a very kind and relaxed expression.
When Chae-ryeong replied in a feeble voice, she made a pitying face.
"Ahh! Don't worry. I'm not planning anything weird with you."
"Then... just kill me already."
"Kill you? No way! After all the effort I went through to bring you here!
And... you look like you have something you want to do. Right?"
As if she already knew what had happened to Chae-ryeong,
she asked if she didn't have some 'thing she wanted to do'.
"I'll make everything you want come true.
Money... power... and the revenge you crave most of all."
She stroked Chae-ryeong's parched, pale skin,
saying that if she worked for her, she would give her everything.
Chae-ryeong remembered.
The researchers who had taken away her precious past.
The face of the researcher who had shot innocent Yeong-chae dead with a gun.
And the Hero who had mocked her corpse while unleashing violence and abuse on her.
'Finally, a chance has come to me.
For those damn research institute bastards... and the Heroes.'
Revenge.
The resolve to get revenge on the Heroes who had taken everything precious from her.
As if some god had recognized her ironclad will for vengeance,
from some day afterward, the Supernatural Ability 'Doppelganger' manifested.
Something the researchers hadn't achieved despite months of experiments and abuse.
Of course, the triggers for gaining Supernatural Abilities varied greatly from person to person,
but the timing was too perfectly aligned to call it mere coincidence.
Having accepted the unknown Villain's scouting offer and manifested her ability, Chae-ryeong thereafter
became her subordinate, obeying her every command faithfully.
Not long after she became a subordinate Villain, the Dark Knights was established,
and Chae-ryeong became the Leader, assisting the woman who called herself 'Kaiser' in handling all the organization's affairs.
From gathering intel on Heroes and the Hero Union, their movements,
to how other Villain organizations grew and operated,
and how to secure funding to run the organization.
With nothing but her thirst for revenge against the Heroes,
Chae-ryeong accomplished feats that seemed impossible alone, perfectly through her Supernatural Ability.
Thus, through Chae-ryeong's efforts, the Dark Knights grew into a not-insignificant organization over a few years,
amassing enough force to occupy an entire small city.
Leader Kaiser praised her efforts and granted her the position of top executive,
working together to fulfill the revenge she desired.
But as time passed,
the Heroes' power, backed by the government and civilian support, grew ever stronger.
In just a few years, dozens of suspected Villain organizations in S City were forcibly dismantled,
and the Dark Knights couldn't escape it either.
They suffered major defeats against the Heroes time and again, forced to retreat first,
and even lost several executive-level Villains, shaking the organization to its core.
Even in that dire situation, Chae-ryeong scouted powerful Villains into the Dark Knights,
barely managing to protect Leader Kaiser and keep the organization afloat.
And after those new executive-level Villains had settled into the organization,
exactly 100 days later.
In the end, it happened.