The Betrayed Red Becomes the Leader of Evil

I met the executive of evil and decided to become the leader of evil. Pain Queen Morgan. She was one of the four great executives of Apo-Camelot. Was she still alive?

"What are you thinking?"

"I felt Red-nim's energy and searched the area."

"I am asking why you helped me."

"That is…."

Morgan's eyebrows trembled. She couldn't meet my eyes, as if her pupils were filled with heavy remorse.

"…I was repaying a debt."

"A debt? What kind of debt could an executive of evil possibly owe a hero!"

CRASH!

I struck the wall of the airship in a fit of rage. The solid steel bent like taffy. "You are a hateful existence who tortured and killed humans in agony! Did you think I would forget!"

I cannot forget. The sight of Morgan's subordinate monsters invading the city and mercilessly piercing the hearts of citizens with their spears. The expression on this woman's face as she watched that scene from high above, letting out a chilling laugh.

Hatred engulfed my body. Before I knew it, my rough, beast-like hand was gripping her slender neck.

"Ugh…."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't snap your neck right now."

"Ah, Red-nim… please…."

Morgan began to shed tears with a pained face. Can this wicked woman, who only enjoys the pain of others, also feel sorrow?

THUD!

I shoved her against the wall.

"Speak!"

"…When Dark Arthur fell, the girl's memories returned."

"Memories?"

"The girl is not originally a monster. She was human."

Morgan confessed as if vomiting the words.

"Do not wag your tongue carelessly."

"I know you won't believe me. However, when the girl was human, she owed her life to Red-nim. To Red-nim, who was active as a hero…."

Morgan's voice was trembling. We were people who had tried to take each other's lives. No matter how much she begged or pleaded, it wasn't a reason to believe her. But I had a hunch. Morgan was not a character who was originally in the scenario. In the game, there were only three executives of Apo-Camelot until the end. Morgan was a fourth executive who suddenly appeared in this world.

That was one of the moments I realized that this world was not a game, but a reality based on a game. History changed in places I didn't know, and it could be modified at any time. Because it is created by humans, not gods.

"Red-nim, take this."

Morgan pulled something out of her bosom. In her respectfully outstretched hand was a magnificent switch. The switch of the Red Dragon of the Apocalypse. It was the Red Dragon's switch.

I picked it up and examined it closely. The delicate carvings sparkled brilliantly. What is this worth? What is the Superior Squadron worth? Is an S-rank hero really that great? A mountain of money, a powerful switch, brilliant honor. Was it worth enough to betray and kill the comrades I had fought alongside just to get my hands on it?

"Damn this switch!"

CRACK!

The switch shattered in my hand like an eggshell. Then, a red light burst forth, swirling and being absorbed into my body. The power of the Red Dragon had found its master.

"Morgan. What do you want from me?"

"You dedicated your entire life to justice."

Morgan looked up at me with pitiful eyes and stroked my cheek with her long, slender fingers.

"So now, live for your desires."

"Is that all?"

"That is all."

I turned my body. I walked out to the decompression chamber and closed the door. Open. The silent space greeted me unwelcomingly. Desire, huh.

"System."

A window appeared before me.

Peace. That is what I, who loved this world, truly wanted. At first, I had a desire to return to the world I originally lived in, but now that feeling has faded. Somi also wanted peace in this world. That thought has not changed even now. The lack of peace means defeat by the organization of evil, and that also means my death.

At first, I naturally set the goal of being a Hero of Light. The result of achieving that is this mess. I used one item. A cash item. A goal addition ticket. It is intended for people who want to enjoy multiple playstyles with one character.

I chose without hesitation.

There are four main classifications of superpowered individuals in this world: Heroes, Villains, Independents, and Monsters. The organization of evil, which is the main enemy of the scenario, is a group of monsters, not humans. The Kingdom of Darkness, the Galactic Empire, etc. The Kingdom of Darkness were the dead from the underworld, and the Galactic Empire were aliens. My original goal, 'Hero of Light', was a way to defeat them as a member of the Hero Association. Now, I will act with the goal of being the 'Leader of Evil', the leader of the villains. Monsters are still enemies, but now heroes are my enemies too. I will never again turn my back to those women and fight the organization of evil. I will fight in my own way.

Heroes are not needed. Having finished the settings, I muttered low.

"Transform."

I draw the dragon's power from my heart. An exoskeleton is generated. An unpleasant red color, as if soaked in blood, wraps around me. My reflection appears in the wall's glass window. A blood-colored dragon-man, whom I have never seen before, stands there. The ominous atmosphere exuding from me is enough to make one believe I am a monster. It seems the transformation has changed due to the increase in stats. It's been a while since I've used my power as myself, not as the Red of the squadron. Before my eyes, the blue star, Earth. I was shot toward it without hesitation.

"…You have left."

Morgan watched the red light heading toward Earth through the small window of the airship. She traced the glass with her fingertips pitifully, but the warmth of Jung Ui-seok could no longer be felt. "Even if this heart is a deception, even if it is a sin, even if it cannot be forgiven." She watched that tail, like a comet, endlessly, endlessly. "Please, be happy. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ui-seok-ssi." Morgan muttered like that. In the empty universe where no one could hear, where nothing could exist.

"A dragon does not shed tears."

"It only soars."

Saying that, the warrior in the form of a dragon-man struck down the assassins. The large mansion, which had been full of happiness just an hour ago, was a mess from the attackers' gunfire. Before her eyes was the bloodied corpse of her affectionate mother. Behind her back, her father, a member of the National Assembly, had fallen after being shot in the shoulder. Kang Ye-rin, who would later be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠called Yellow Clocker, a young lady with no abilities, was about to meet her death while covered in despair and fear, her face a mess of tears and snot, barely holding onto her trembling legs, yet standing up to protect her father, her last remaining family member. At that moment, she was saved. By the hero called Jung Ui-seok, the Red Dragon.

"I have defeated the assassins. Your mother… I am sorry. You protected your father. You are admirable."

Kang Ye-rin knew. She couldn't protect anything. It was this hero who protected her and her father. Thank you. The four syllables she couldn't say then. If she had known she would put it off and off and never be able to say it for the rest of her life, she should have said it yesterday, or even before that. Even several times.

"Haa, haa!"

Kang Ye-rin opened her eyes. The ceiling. She knows. It's the Hero Association's hospital room. A headache occurred. She tore at her hair and retraced her memories. "A dream, how far is a dream." It comes back to life. The final battle with the organization of evil. The things that happened after that. Red fell. That was not a dream.

"Ugh…! No, no!"

Kang Ye-rin jumped out of her seat and left the hospital room. Kang Ye-rin headed straight for the Association President's office. She kicked the door open and entered.

"Oh, are you awake? You're a young lady from a wealthy family, so you sleep a lot. Hehehe."

Ji Se-hwa bared her teeth and laughed. Everyone was there. Ji Se-hwa, Shin Yu-kyung, Choi Min-seo, and even the Association President.

"We are in a Level 0 security meeting. Close the door."

"You people, what have you done!"

Kang Ye-rin walked up and slammed the conference table. "What happened?! What did you do to Jung Ui-seok!"

"Jung Ui-seok is dead."

Shin Yu-kyung answered without a single change in expression.

"Wha…t."

"The four of us defeated Jung Ui-seok, who betrayed us to Dark Arthur's side, and returned. Didn't you experience it together?"

Kang Ye-rin felt dizzy and her legs almost gave out. Jung Ui-seok is dead. It was something she had never imagined. No matter how much he became a slave to capitalism, no matter how addicted to drugs he was, no matter how broken a human he became. She never thought he would die.

"You people, are you really going to bury Jung Ui-seok like that…?"

"That was the plan from the beginning, wasn't it? You agreed to it then, so why are you acting like this now?"

"N-no, I didn't."

Kang Ye-rin didn't know. Jung Ui-seok is a drug addict and at risk of turning into an SSS-class villain. So, if they defeat Apo-Camelot, they will confiscate his transformation device and switch and arrest him. She had only understood it that way. Even when Ji Se-hwa cut off Jung Ui-seok's arm, she only thought the method was a bit extreme.

"I can't accept it. No matter what the risk level is, you are the ones who killed Jung Ui-seok! Jung Ui-seok was still sane! It was Jung Ui-seok who defeated Dark Arthur! I will make this fact public to the media!"

"Are you sure about that?"

The Association President muttered in a low voice.

"What did you say?"

"Kang Ye-rin, you know well that the Hero Association receives full support from the ruling party. Your father belongs to the opposition party. Since the appearance of Apo-Camelot, the ruling party's approval rating has reached an all-time high of over 80 percent thanks to the Dragon King Squadron."

"Ugh…."

"Such a claim coming from your mouth is the same as coming from your father's mouth, and it is your own politics risking your life to start a war between parties with false facts."

The Association President glared at Kang Ye-rin with sharp eyes. "I'll ask you one more time. Are you sure about that?"

Kang Ye-rin gritted her teeth. She couldn't answer. Seeing that, the Association President smiled satisfactorily.

"Then let's talk about the future direction. The four of you will become superstars for the merit of annihilating the organization of evil. You will receive generous compensation from tax revenue, and there will be enormous advertisements and sponsors."

"Hehehe! I'm already looking forward to it! A jackpot of money!"

"Hmm. Satisfactory. Please also develop new switches."

"A-advertising model…. Can I become famous too?"

"But individuals quickly lose their buzz. Above all, toys don't sell. You know that well, right?"

"Toys are important! The sales guarantees for transformation devices or mechas are enormous, aren't they?"

"So, the title of Dragon King Squadron needs to be maintained. But Jung Ui-seok is off the team. You can't even use the name Red Dragon."

"Are you bringing in a new Red?"

"Yes. I've decided on a candidate. He's a male idol who is popular these days. His name is AXII."

"Axi? I know him well. Isn't he a visual sent from heaven? I even bought five copies of his album."

"Huhu. Then the conversation will be fast. Silver Mirrored, you represent us for media interviews. Green Nature."

"Ah, yes."

"You manage Jung Ui-seok's Phestam. It's important evidence, so it must be managed by someone trustworthy. You also have Quetzalcoatl's ability."

"Ah, I understand! So everything has been confiscated? Emma-ssi must have been guarding it."

"That maid robot? It was a bit of a struggle, but there was no problem. I couldn't destroy it completely, though. Then Blue Saber, it's your job, but…."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Nothing reached Kang Ye-rin's ears. She could hear, but it wasn't being input into her brain. Jung Ui-seok is dead. Without being able to protect even a fingernail's worth of honor. The women in front of her, who were talking about money and honor without feeling a shred of discomfort or guilt about him, just looked bizarre. No, am I the strange one? Are they normal and am I the bizarre one? I don't know, I don't know. He always gave me the right answer in times like this.

Nothing was reflected in Kang Ye-rin's pupils for a long time. Even when a red light was shot from far in the sky to the ground a week later, she did not notice.