The Uninvited Guest
“Ah, drink up, drink up! Let’s eat and die today!”
“Hey, this guy’s down too! Someone beat Manager Emma at drinking!”
“The Boss is coming down! Everyone stand up!”
As I descended into the hall, my subordinates, who had been busy chugging alcohol, saluted me. I accepted it lightly and ordered them to take a break.
“Boss, it’s starting soon. The ‘Nameless Year-End Hero & Villain Ranking’!”
A sharp subordinate reported.
Ah, there was a program like that.
It’s an awards-like program broadcast at the end of every month by an unidentified, unaffiliated ability user named Nameless.
It’s broadcast every year on an untraceable frequency, and because the information is accurate, it’s considered quite credible.
It’s a ranking evaluated not by data, but solely by the past year’s performance.
In reality, it was an event where GMs announced the players’ rankings, but here, there might actually be a real ability user named Nameless somewhere.
As the broadcast started and the image appeared on the hall’s large screen, the subordinates cheered.
『Hero Category. Ranking 1st. Red Dragon. S-Rank. Affiliation: Seoul Hero Association. Ability: Red Dragon. Level: Immeasurable. Affiliation Squadron: Dragon King Squadron...』
“That’s a given!”
“Show us the villains already!”
“Call out Vengeance’s name!”
“Vengeance!”
“Vengeance!”
The subordinates chanted Vengeance’s name in excitement.
『2nd Place. Pink Wings.』
『3rd Place. Silver Mirrored.』
『4th Place. Blue Saber.』
『5th Place. Yellow Clocker.』
『6th Place. Absolute Seven.』
『7th Place. Exile.』
『8th Place. Green Nature.』
……
The mention of the hero rankings ended, and the screen transitioned from a white to a black background.
『Villain Organization Category Ranking.』
“Ooooooh!”
“It’s coming!!”
『1st Place. Holy Water. Level 9 Villain Organization. Leader CEO El-Lena. SSS-Rank Villain. Second-in-command Finisher. SS-Rank Villain. Members: 1,129. This year’s Social Risk Impact Index: 972.』
“Tsk. As expected, 1st place is Holy Water.”
“You can’t be full on the first bite.”
“Actually, isn’t it amazing just to be in the top 10? We’re total newbies.”
“Sin’s Work’s impact index last year was 25.”
The subordinates lost steam, their shoulders slumping.
But the next moment.
『2nd Place. Vengeance. Level 3 Villain Organization. Leader Georgius. B-Rank Villain. Second-in-command Dark Matter. SS-Rank Villain. Members: 86. This year’s Social Risk Impact Index: 924.』
“What!!”
“2nd place?!”
“Kill it!!!”
The subordinates screamed, dancing and raising their glasses. The DJ started playing music, and the hall began to turn into a scene of frenzy.
Emma, Illusion, Deep Dive, The Count, Hans, and others could be seen enjoying the party.
A satisfying result.
This is quite an achievement in just a few months, not even a year.
It seems that ruining the Dragon King Squadron, which was judged to be the biggest contributor to this society’s peace, earned high points.
This ranking doesn’t directly affect growth, but it was proof that my direction wasn’t wrong.
Currently, there are 86 members.
That number includes 12 actors, including Kim Deok-bae, but I’m only gathering useful A-rank or higher villains, not just any riff-raff.
“Everyone! I would like to say a few words!”
A man’s voice rang out from the speakers. It was Kim Deok-bae, who had played Dr. Hyun.
“Until recently, I was a pathetic old man without family, friends, or even money to pay rent. Georgius-nim, who discovered my talent, sought me out, and wrote the masterpiece that shocked the world—the resurrection of the Red Dragon—is a great prophet and the one who will become the king of the world! Everyone, applaud his keen insight and his great achievements!”
Applause poured out from the subordinates. I raised my hand lightly to respond.
“Old man Deok-bae, do some acting!”
“Yeah! You were good! The whole world was fooled!”
The drinking party heated up. Kim Deok-bae immediately began to immerse himself in emotion.
“Oh, my lord. Beware of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster that mocks the human heart and feeds upon it.”
“5 seconds until the New Year!”
““4! 3! 2! 1!””
““Happy New Year!!””
The subordinates shouted loud enough to blow the building away. I had come out to the balcony and closed the window, but I could see the windows vibrating from their voices.
This is a place provided after I formed a cooperative relationship with El-Lena that was mixed with significant mutual wariness.
While leaving the damp underground arena to be used only for minimal operations, we are now using an entire building that comes with a penthouse.
Moving to a new hideout has sent the subordinates’ morale through the roof.
It means we’ve entered El-Lena’s surveillance range, but since we can also avoid the eyes of the Hero Association, there are more advantages.
The Association President and the Dragon King Squadron must be burning with rage trying to find the Red Dragon.
“Geo, Happy New Year.”
Irua is standing next to me. We leaned against the railing and looked at the glittering city.
“I look forward to this year as well.”
After returning the greeting to her, I took out the gift I had prepared and handed it to her.
“Happy birthday.”
Irua opened her eyes wide like a goldfish, sucked in her lips, smiled bashfully, and accepted my gift with both hands.
Irua observed the wrapping paper for a long time, reflecting it in the faint light. Then, as if she liked it, she hugged it tightly to her chest just like that.
“I like it.”
“You haven’t even checked what it is yet.”
“I like it anyway.”
“Open it.”
Irua carefully untied the ribbon on the wrapping and peeled it back layer by layer to check the contents.
“Is this… a hair tie?”
“You have long hair. Use it if it’s uncomfortable during operations. I matched the price to the product you gave me.”
“There are two.”
“It’s an item that’s easy to lose.”
“I won’t lose it.”
Irua answered that while looking lovingly at the two hair ties.
“Or would it be better to tie it in two pigtails at once? Which one do you like, Geo?”
“Well, I…”
Two pigtails.
“There’s nothing to like or dislike. Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to tie it in one?”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Emma also prepared a cake. It’s chilly, so let’s go inside and eat.”
“Hey, Geo.”
Irua turned to look at me.
Midnight. Even with the threat to humanity hanging over our heads, the city lights, celebrating the New Year as if none of that mattered, shone brightly on her.
She looked straight at me and calmly conveyed the fact.
“I’m an adult now.”
“Ufufu, ufufufu.”
Choi Min-seo stood in front of the mirror and let out a laugh. She held this outfit and that outfit up to her body, choosing and wearing the one that suited her best.
She received a message from Jung Ui-seok.
Only to her, very secretly.
Just the fact that he kept his promise made Choi Min-seo feel like she was flying.
A light dress and a luxurious coat. She packed her designer bag and was leaving her private room when she faced a face she didn’t like.
It was Ji Se-hwa.
“What is it, you. That outfit?”
Ji Se-hwa furrowed her brows as much as she could.
“It’s training time in a little while. Where are you going?”
She was in a good mood for once. Choi Min-seo’s mood was ruined.
“It’s none of your business, sister. I told you. I’m not training with you anymore.”
“You bitch. Didn’t you feel it during the Pegasus battle? I was trying to put in some effort for once, and you had to go and pour cold water on it.”
“Since when did you work hard? You should have done that sooner when Ui-seok oppa was there.”
“You…! That’s why I’m doing it! If I defeat the Galactic Empire from now on, maybe Jung Ui-seok will look at me again…!”
Ji Se-hwa screamed.
She always acts like this.
That’s why Ui-seok oppa hates you.
I’m different from you.
I’m going to see Ui-seok oppa right now.
If I train with Ui-seok oppa, I’ll become much stronger than you guys in no time, right?
Hehe, just kidding.
Yeah. Actually, I’m not even interested in that.
I just need to be recognized.
I just need someone to recognize my efforts, my talent, and watch over me.
You guys have never looked back at me.
In the first place, weaklings like you don’t even deserve to recognize me.
“I’m not going out to play either. I’ll train on my own, so know that.”
“Hey. Do you want to get beaten like a dog by me like the Association President to come to your senses?”
“Do you have nothing to boast about other than violence?”
“You rushed at me that day when Jung Ui-seok told me to cut off my arm. Did you think I forgot?”
“Then you should be grateful. I threw my body to block you because you were trying to cut off your own arm.”
“What…?”
It was enough to just say that.
At the time, Ji Se-hwa was out of her mind and couldn’t grasp the surrounding situation, and in the end, the four of them were tangled up in a lump, so she wouldn’t have been able to tell who was who.
“I’m busy for a while, so don’t call me unless it’s for a sortie. Bye.”
Choi Min-seo snapped at Ji Se-hwa and left the association.
Choi Min-seo arrived at the meeting place with Jung Ui-seok. An abandoned factory with no people. When she went inside, training facilities were built.
“Ui-seok oppa!”
“Oh, Min-seo.”
Noise began to interfere with Choi Min-seo’s head. She ran to Jung Ui-seok and hugged him right in his arms.
“Oppa, it’s been a while! Thanks for your hard work on your business trip to the US! How were the villains there?”
“They were nothing. You were watching the house well, right?”
Jung Ui-seok stroked Choi Min-seo’s hair.
“Hehe. Ah, but why did we meet here…?”
Choi Min-seo looked around. When Jung Ui-seok clapped his hands, a woman walked in.
It was a person with long, straight black hair tied to the side, wearing a mask.
“She’s a hero junior who joined recently. We decided to let you be her training partner, remember?”
“Training partner? Did we? Well, if it’s Ui-seok oppa’s word, it must be right! I’ll work hard!”
Choi Min-seo gave a big smile, approached the junior, and offered a handshake.
“Junior, nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you, Green Nature-nim. I’m Irua.”
Choi Min-seo tilted her head.
It was because she thought it was a voice she had heard somewhere before.