The Hero Association's Major Announcement
What is going on? I wake up to find Rena’s face right in front of mine. I can practically feel her breath. The distance between us can’t be more than five centimeters. I can even tell that she’s breathing 70 percent through her nose and 30 percent through her mouth. Her long hair spills over her cheek, cascading down onto the bed like a tangled thread. The ends tickle my collarbone, soft and light. If Rua smelled like lime, Rena smells like a firm, crisp winter pear.
Rena is watching me intently, her long eyelashes fluttering. Even her eyebrows seem to have a subtle blue tint under the morning sunlight. I ask, "What is it?"
"I came to give you a reward for growing the Villain Alliance so quickly. You seem to have trouble sleeping at night, don't you?"
"Emma was supposed to be on guard duty."
"I explained my purpose, and she let me in. She’s a girl who understands reason well."
"What did you do?"
"Your bones and muscles were twisting while you slept, so I straightened them out for you. Aren't you grateful?"
"I was wearing an eye mask."
"I took it off. Who on earth picked that out for you? You have absolutely no sense of style. Between that and the clothes you usually wear, we really should go shopping together."
"What is your goal?"
"I told you, it’s a reward. Isn't it time for you to bow and thank me? Zeo."
Rena wears a displeased expression. She genuinely seems to want me to bow to her. If she wants me to, she should stop crawling into my bed whenever she pleases. Does she have no common sense? Then again, if she had any, she wouldn't be a villain.
"*Yawn*. I eat a fresh sunny-side-up egg, two strips of limp bacon, and a mixed berry latte in the morning. Go prepare it, quickly."
Rena rolls around on my bed, spewing nonsense. If only she weren't ranked number one.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
Bang! The bedroom door swings open violently, and Rua rushes in. Her face is flushed red, and she looks quite agitated.
"You? Did you just call me 'you'? Considering my social standing and my age, shouldn't you be showing me some respect, you little brat?"
"What kind of respect does someone who sneaks into another person's bed deserve!"
Rua strides over and tries to drag Rena out by force. Before her hand can make contact, Rena murmurs lightly, "'Left hand up, right hand and right foot back'."
Rua freezes in a figure-skating pose. She immediately pulls out dark matter, using the force of attraction to forcibly move her own body. So that's how she counters it. Not a bad idea.
"Get out! Are you going to leave or not?!"
"It’s not even your bed, so what does it matter to you! I’m not leaving until I’ve had my bed-and-breakfast!"
At this rate, they’re going to pull each other's hair out until they’re both bald, so I get up. Rua in my left hand, Rena in my right. I grab the back of their necks with both hands and lift them up.
"Both of you, get out."
I toss Rua and Rena out the window.
"'Decelerate'."
Lee Rua, who manipulated gravity to land softly on the ground, glares at Rena, who is descending beside her, with clear displeasure. Rena, ignoring Rua, is busy dusting off her uniform as if nothing happened.
"What is your problem? Waking Zeo up in the morning is my job. Why are you interfering?"
"You’re the one who interfered with my breakfast. This is technically an important matter that could start a war. You should be grateful that I’m letting it slide because you’re Zeo’s subordinate."
Lee Rua’s jaw drops at Rena’s shamelessness.
"I’m the only one who calls Zeo 'Zeo' anyway! You were dying to kill him until just recently, so why are you acting all chummy now?"
"Does time really matter when it comes to intimacy? It’s the depth that counts."
This woman never loses an argument. Lee Rua feels her head slowly heating up.
"I win on depth, too! Just yesterday, Zeo pulled me into a tight hug. And he touched my thighs. Like, this."
It was an action she took to provoke Choi Min-seo. However, because there was no warning from Jung Eui-seok, Lee Rua had been quite flustered at that moment. "Z-Zeo has even lost control and pinned me down before. Hmph."
Caught in a sense of anxiety she’d never felt before, Lee Rua is blurting out everything, true or not. But Rena just looks at her with eyes full of contempt.
"How pathetic. Proving you’ve dominated a man isn't about the act of mixing bodies. It’s actually the exact opposite."
"I-I know that! I just meant that I did something you couldn't!"
Snap. Rena unfolds her fan to cover her mouth.
"You know it too, Rua. I am not the owner of this body. I never had any intention of handing this body over to Zeo from the start, nor do I have any desire to covet his."
"...What? Then why did you go into Zeo's room?"
"It was nothing. I just helped him sleep comfortably. Zeo needs to lead the Villain Alliance, so managing his condition is important."
Hearing that answer, Lee Rua feels as if she’s been struck on the head. "...You helped Zeo with his pain? Is that even possible?"
"It’s not difficult. You just have to observe and command the opposite of the problem."
Lee Rua’s shoulders slump. She knew Jung Eui-seok lived with a lot of pain. The nightly agony caused by the injuries sustained during the Dark Kingdom battle. The various side effects from the demerits of the Apocalypse. She couldn't solve a single one of them. She could bring him the corpse of the Gluttony monster, but in the end, Jung Eui-seok was the one who had to hold back his nausea to eat it. She wanted to accept his abnormality caused by wrath, but Jung Eui-seok resolved it alone. Lust had been handled entirely by Emma alone since the first incident. Even the nightly pain was just Jung Eui-seok popping painkillers he got from Hans and going to sleep. There was nothing Lee Rua could do. Rena was saying she had solved one of those problems so easily. No, according to her, she must have observed Jung Eui-seok’s body all night and kept whispering commands into him. It was a task filled with dedication and persistence.
Lee Rua feels an inexplicable sense of self-loathing rising within her. The power Rena displayed yesterday was also immense. It was only once, but it was enough for Jung Eui-seok to recommend she use an executive’s switch. '...I haven't even been able to use that.'
Lee Rua has no choice but to admit it. It was certain that Rena was a villain strong enough for Jung Eui-seok to desire her. And it’s not just strength. She has wealth and power, too. She thought she was closer to him in heart, at least. 'At this rate...' She’s going to lose even that. Anxiety washes over Lee Rua. 'I have to get stronger.'
She couldn't figure out the memories of Green Nature, so she couldn't be of help to Jung Eui-seok. Seeing how angry he was, it must have been an important matter. Jung Eui-seok had also mentioned breaking through his limits. Lee Rua had a hunch about what that concept meant. 'My dark matter level is 8. Since Rena and Yellow Clocker seem to have evolved from 10, that must be the original limit.'
She needs to reach that point as quickly as possible. When the limit break comes, it’s certain that Rena will become strong enough to be out of Lee Rua’s reach. Lee Rua clenches her fists in agitation.
The scale of the Villain Alliance has grown, and there is more to manage. I’ve left most of it to Rena to control the system. However, if her authority grows too large, it could become a problem later. Therefore, I need to devise a means before Rena’s ability level reaches 15 or 20 and evolves. Since that will be at least a year away, there is still time. According to the system, ability levels cannot exceed 10 during the second scenario. The operation needs to be revised more carefully. I need to ensure villains infiltrate society, and while annihilating heroes, I must be able to capture Shin Yu-kyung, Ji Se-hwa, Kang Ye-rin, and the Association President alive. I have to maintain a balance while doing all of this simultaneously.
If I wipe out the heroes of Korea entirely, the war against the Galactic Empire will fall solely on the shoulders of the Villain Alliance. With current resources, the burden is too great. The top-tier ability users are on our side, but looking at the world as a whole, the heroes' power is far higher. It would be counterproductive if the Villain Alliance were attacked and dismantled by heroes after defeating the Galactic Empire. Above all, I might not be able to effectively expand my influence in the third scenario. That scenario is structured to be advantageous to the hero faction from the start. Shin Yu-kyung and Ji Se-hwa have business to attend to, so I must target them more carefully. If I meet them on the battlefield half-heartedly like before, I might kill them in my rage before I can hear the truth.
As I structured the plan and grew the villains, a month passed in the blink of an eye.
"How is the situation?"
At my question, Rua reports, "The influence of villains has increased worldwide. In Korea, the social infiltration rate of villains is 27 percent. It’s risen by 11 percent in a short period. Dark spies have infiltrated various fields, including corporations, the National Assembly, and the prosecution."
"What about public opinion among ordinary citizens?"
"Hero approval rating is 37 percent, villain approval rating is 22 percent. Neutral is 41 percent."
We are going through a period of chaos. It’s not bad.
"Boss. It appeared. It’s executive-level."
Deep Dive reports. The scene is projected onto the large monitor in the hall.
"Hmm?" I furrow my brow. It’s in Busan, in front of City Hall.
"Zeo, shall I move?"
"Wait. That executive..."
The media is broadcasting the scene.
"Epsilon?"
I’m a bit puzzled. It’s a name I’ve never heard before. This guy is also an executive who wasn't in the original work. Is it an existence appointed as an executive elsewhere, like how Morgan became Ursula? The naming convention is also a bit different.
"Zeo?"
"Let’s watch for a moment. It’s a guy with no information. Unless we know how to capture/defeat it, moving rashly could lead to casualties. Tell Rena the same."
"Got it."
I continue to watch the broadcast. That was when it happened.
At this timing? The Association President is plotting something.
Two screens are broadcasting simultaneously. Executive Epsilon and the Hero Association President holding a press conference.
"Greetings, I am the President of the Seoul Hero Association! Facing the unprecedented crisis of the Galactic Empire, and with the Villain Alliance threatening the safety of our citizens, the Association has succeeded in preparing a definitive countermeasure to break through the current situation!"
The Dragon King Squad appears on the scene. Their appearance has changed. Shin Yu-kyung, Ji Se-hwa, and Kang Ye-rin are all wearing tactical, sleek steel armor.
"The Association has succeeded in drastically increasing the power of our heroes through the successful introduction of new technology. That is this new hero suit, the 'Deleter'!"
Hmm. This is actually quite interesting.