The Fragile Nature of Heroes
“Then will you die in their stead, Silver? Offer up your life, and I shall spare twenty of them.”
“…….”
Shin Yugyeong could not answer my question. It was only natural. For a human, one’s own life is always the most precious thing of all.
I pierced the carotid artery of the hostage hero without a moment’s hesitation.
“Aaah, ah….”
Shin Yugyeong stared at the death of her crew member with eyes full of despair and futility. I poured the blood of the dying corpse onto her face. Don’t make that face just yet. There’s still plenty left to go.
“Aaaah, no, I don’t want to die!”
“Yugyeong unni, unni! Save me!”
“Shin Yugyeong! What are you doing, you bitch! You’re an S-rank!”
“Aaaaaaack!!”
The heroes died, each letting out a different final scream. When Shin Yugyeong tried to close her eyes, I had my subordinate force them open. Finally, the work was finished, and the deck was piled high with corpses.
“You… fucking… bastards….”
Shin Yugyeong spat out the curse with great effort. It seemed the side effects of Excalibur were indeed severe; she still couldn’t properly control her body. I covered her with the corpses like a blanket. One should sleep warmly, after all.
“Well then, we’ll be going, Silver.”
Irua grinned and waved goodbye.
“Where… I’ll kill… I’ll kill you….”
“Let’s play again sometime.”
With Irua’s parting declaration, we jumped from the deck one by one. Irua’s black substance enveloped us. The massive sphere dove into the sea and soon vanished from their sight.
Villain Organization 'Vengeance' has debuted!
📍 Status: Other villains are taking note of you!
🎁 Reward: Villain Organization 'Vengeance' level has increased!
✨ Objective: Advance toward becoming the leader of evil.
The first terror attack was a success. The experience points from an S-rank hero and her twenty-person crew were excellent nourishment. The newly formed organization, Vengeance, needed to grow even faster. Irua’s stats had also risen significantly from defeating Shin Yugyeong.
“Wueeegh. Ugh. Wueeegh.”
After returning, she had been clutching the toilet and retching for a long time.
“Hic. Sob. Ugh. Wueeegh.”
Crying, vomiting, and crying again. It was a cycle. About an hour later, seemingly a bit calmer, she stumbled out of the bathroom and collapsed onto my sofa. I brought her some water. Irua found it difficult to even drink that, merely taking small sips.
“Was this your first time seeing a corpse?”
“It’s… not my first time.”
“But it’s your first time being the one doing the killing. My consideration was lacking. I apologize.”
Irua didn’t answer. Tear tracks were clearly visible on her face. She hadn’t personally taken a life in today’s operation. I didn’t intend to have Irua carry out killings in the future if I could help it. Yet, was she unable to bear the guilt? She was far too moral for an SSS-rank villain.
“Rest for a while. We shall proceed with the plans slowly.”
“No. I can do it.” Irua breathed out, steadying her rhythm. “Because that’s the only way my revenge will be realized quickly.”
“Is that so.”
“It’s so painful, even though I wasn’t the one who killed them. Were you like this when you killed your first monster?”
“I was.”
Games and reality were different. The sensation of a life like mine fading away from these hands was utterly repulsive. It felt as if something thick and viscous was clinging to me, a sensation that wouldn’t go away no matter how much I washed my hands.
“It was even more agonizing when I had to eat them. I cursed my own stupidity for choosing the Red Dragon solely for its specs.”
“But you didn’t stop.”
“Because I couldn’t.”
“Do you feel a bit better? You got one over on Shin Yugyeong.”
“I liked it. It’s still far from enough, but it’s a good start. It’s thanks to you, Rua.”
Irua smiled faintly.
“Give me a reward.”
“What do you want? If it’s money, I have plenty.”
“Not something like that.”
Irua stared intently into my eyes.
“I don’t feel well. My head is dizzy, and my muscles ache. It must be the backlash from my ability. I want to sleep comfortably today.”
“And?”
“Hold me until I fall asleep.”
“From the front, or the back? How tight? Do you find my breathing bothersome? Do you need a blanket?”
“…You have no sense of romance. Fine. I’ll leave it to you.”
I went to the sofa, lay down in front of Irua, and used my left arm as a pillow while wrapping my right arm around her back to pull her into my chest. Irua closed her eyes as if comfortable and buried her head against me. Her hair smelled of lime.
“Hey, Shin Yugyeong. Are you feeling okay?”
“Ah, Sehwa unni.”
Ji Sehwa asked as she walked into the hospital room. Choi Minseo, who had been sitting next to Shin Yugyeong, greeted her.
“I used the Justice Stone, so why didn’t it work for me? Jeong Uiseok used three at the same time. It makes no sense. There’s no way he could have used them while enduring this kind of pain.”
Shin Yugyeong was curled up in the corner of the hospital bed, muttering to herself.
“She seems to be in deep shock.”
“Yes…. All the crew members were like that….” Choi Minseo couldn’t finish her sentence and dropped her head. Ji Sehwa felt disgusted and clicked her tongue. She had seen the video, too. Shin Yugyeong being crushed by the dark matter of Vengeance, and her crew members being executed one by one. The video had been broadcast live to everyone through the media. The association had cut the feed after the second execution, but it was already too late.
“You couldn’t catch them?”
“No. That black substance caused signal interference, so we don’t know where they fled.”
“Pathetic fools. Should I have followed them? I wouldn’t have let them get away in the ocean.”
Ji Sehwa looked at Shin Yugyeong.
“Did I, did I fail to surpass Jeong Uiseok? Jeong Uiseok, was what you said true? You used the switch, the Excalibur, alone for my sake….”
“Hey, Shin Yugyeong! Get a grip!”
Ji Sehwa grabbed Shin Yugyeong’s shoulders and shook her. Shin Yugyeong’s eyes, fixed on Ji Sehwa, trembled.
“Why are you looking for Jeong Uiseok! You’re much stronger than that drug addict! It’s obvious that dark matter played some trick! You just had bad luck. Let’s find Vengeance and kill them. We’ll join you.”
“Se, Sehwa….”
Life returned to Shin Yugyeong’s eyes. She grabbed Ji Sehwa’s hand. Kang Yerin was quietly watching them from the entrance of the hospital room.
Kang Yerin sought out the training ground. The special room for S-rank heroes was spacious. She still wasn’t used to coming here alone. Usually, Jeong Uiseok, who would teach her, was with her. Kang Yerin pressed the switch held in her hand.
NORZTORM!
“Transform.”
On your way! Here comes the Dragon Lord!
Kang Yerin transformed into Yellow Clocker. She applied the training settings. Machine guns appeared from all directions. She immediately released the power of the yellow dragon, Norztorm, and began to use her ability.
Tutatatata—!
The machine guns fired mercilessly.
“…Hoo.”
Kang Yerin created a spherical zone centered on herself. The bullets that entered it began to slow down until their speed was visible to the naked eye. The power to slow down the time of objects within her radius. That was the ability of Yellow Clocker.
‘They killed him themselves, and now that there’s a problem, they immediately look for Jeong Uiseok?’
Shin Yugyeong’s appearance from just a moment ago floated into Kang Yerin’s mind. ‘If you were going to do that, why did you kill him? Why did you kill him? You took the switch, yet you can’t even use it.’
The slowing bullets began to vibrate.
‘It’s divine retribution. Shin Yugyeong, you ungrateful bitch, you deserve it.’
Perhaps it was because these stray thoughts had flooded her mind. The bullets regained their time. Bullets flew toward Kang Yerin.
“Ugh!”
Thousands of bullets struck Kang Yerin’s entire body. As an S-rank hero, she wouldn’t take damage from just that. But.
‘What is this…? It feels more painful than before…?’
With her heightened senses, she was feeling the difference.
‘This kind of pain… compared to the pain Uiseok-ssi endured.’
It should be nothing. Kang Yerin decided to stop complaining. She fired the next round. She activated her ability again. Just as Jeong Uiseok had taught her. Believing that if she trained endlessly, she would one day break through her limits. If she did that.
‘I want to see you.’
Her ability to decelerate time might,
‘I want to meet you.’
Become an ability to stop time,
‘I want to apologize.’
And one day, she might even rewind time.
“I want to see you, Uiseok-ssi….”
She couldn’t hold it back and burst into tears, collapsing to the floor. The bullets that collided in mid-air scattered in all directions.
“I’m a fool.”
Without even wiping away the flowing tears.
“To be so slow in noticing not just the time around me, but my own heart.”
She, staring only at the floor.
“I like you. I like you, Uiseok-ssi….”
She muttered, but the person who would hear it was already gone from her world.
“Is the communication signal clear?”
『It’s perfect.』
Weekend. I was lying in wait in a building in front of a secret party venue for the next operation. Irua had already infiltrated the interior. She was disguised as a Secret Service agent. Limousines arrived one after another. As I examined the guests through the scope, I spotted the target. A pure white dress with luxurious light green decorations. Her well-set hairstyle was sophisticated yet retained a modest charm. Choi Minseo. She arrived at the scene, escorted by guards.
“The parrot is entering the cage.”
『Roger.』
I pulled up a multi-view on my display. I synchronized Irua’s lens with my vision. Irua, who had been waiting at the entrance of the party hall, bowed politely to Choi Minseo as she entered. Her designer accessories, which she had accented, glittered.
“Greetings, Green Nature-nim. I am Agent Shin Mina of the Secret Service, in charge of your dedicated escort today.”
“Oh my, this is my first time with something like this… I’ll be in your care.”
Choi Minseo greeted her shyly.
“I will guide you to the party hall. Shall we start by looking around the main hall?”
Choi Minseo and Irua entered the hall along a luxurious corridor. Soon, they arrived at a space with a club-like atmosphere, not too excessive, where sophisticated music flowed. People were enjoying light snacks and drinks. Everyone was someone recognized in the entertainment industry.
“Oh my. Green Nature-ssi, nice to meet you.”
“Oh my, Teacher!”
Everyone was accompanied by one Secret Service agent each. The person speaking to Choi Minseo now was the most famous MC in the broadcasting industry. Even after hearing the name Green Nature, the celebrities didn’t move rashly. Here, she was just one of many newcomers. Even if they were interested, they merely waited for their turn. There was no unsightly rushing. And Choi Minseo was becoming intoxicated by that atmosphere. Her usual shy personality vanished along with a glass of champagne, and her voice tone gradually rose.
Actors, singers, PDs, directors. Every time she exchanged greetings with figures from the entertainment industry, her confidence gradually swelled.
“How was Dark Arthur? Was it very scary?”
“Yes. Monsters above the executive level emit energy from their bodies, which we call aura. It’s dangerous to be exposed to it, but when my Quetzalcoatl heals it….”
Choi Minseo spun tales of her heroic deeds. She must be enjoying it. A girl who had been ignored her whole life and couldn’t even speak a word was now receiving the attention of such famous and great people. Is it fun? How much fun is it? Enjoy it to your heart’s content. Because I will enjoy it just as much.
“Hoo, it’s dizzying. I’m a little tired.”
“Green Nature-nim. If you would like to rest, shall I guide you to another room? Since this party is held regularly, we have prepared various types of rooms for the different tastes of our celebrities.”
Irua guided her kindly.
“Ah, please do.”
Choi Minseo walked down the corridor following Irua. In front of a certain room, Irua opened the door for Choi Minseo. Choi Minseo, who peered inside, wore a slightly bewildered expression.
“Th, this is?”
The room was also filled with famous people. However, they were all lying on sofas, staring into the void, or laughing or crying meaninglessly. Everyone was high on drugs.
“This is a room for dreaming pleasant dreams. It’s a place with very high customer satisfaction.”
Choi Minseo was too busy looking at Irua’s smile to notice. The fact that the black substance was blowing the emotion of curiosity into her mind.