A Successful Debut
Today held profound meaning for me.
It was the day Pax Corporation announced my debut.
The day I first hunted villains on American soil.
Though in reality, it was closer to being Great America's launchpad.
—Get lost and stop getting in my way.
The words Great America spat at me the moment we arrived on scene were still vivid in my mind.
At the time, only a few hours had passed since she'd beaten me half to death.
Given that situation, and her declaration that she'd handle the villains alone, I had no choice but to stand there helplessly and watch her "heroics" unfold.
But.
"Eclipse, start guiding the civilians out first."
"Yes, I'm already on it."
—Whooooosh…….
Things were different now.
The moment we reached the scene, I had Eclipse use his mind control to evacuate the surrounding civilians.
After that—
"Atlas, clear the debris in the area."
"Got it."
—Crrraaaack——!!
We created a path so the citizens could escape safely.
Rescuing lives wasn't just about clashing with villains.
It was about shaping the environment so people could evacuate without harm.
In my previous life, people had died here.
Then Pax Corporation covered it up.
…And in the end, the only thing left was Great America's so-called successful debut.
I had zero intention of letting that happen again.
"Is it inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art?"
"…! Yes, that's correct. There are six hostages held inside."
Good. My memory was accurate.
"We'll split up. Eclipse, Atlas, and Napalm—focus on rescuing the hostages."
"What?! Why the hell should I—"
"—Napalm. You got a problem with that?"
"…No."
"Then we're good. Eclipse will handle location tracking and briefing, Atlas will escort the hostages out, and Napalm will provide cover."
"…Sigh. Fine. I got it."
"Understood."
"I'll do that."
"And Great America and I will take out the enemy."
"…."
After giving those orders, I slowly walked toward the main entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
At the same time, the other three split off.
They were probably planning to enter through the back door or various side routes.
That made it even more important for Great America and me to draw the attention of everyone inside.
—Creeeeak——!
"Hey! Let's talk this out!!"
The moment I stepped inside the building, I shouted loudly enough for them to hear.
It was the most basic way to focus their attention on me.
Buying time for the rest of the team to move in and rescue the hostages.
I planned to keep spouting meaningless nonsense to get on their nerves.
However.
—KWAaaaaaaaang———!!!
"…Huh?"
Before I could even close my mouth.
The red-and-blue star-spangled figure who should have been standing beside me.
Vanished from my sight like lightning.
A massive boom shattered the thick marble pillar at the museum entrance.
Dust exploded outward like a storm.
And from beyond that cloud of dust came not the sound of negotiation.
But screams of pure agony.
"Aaaaaaaaagh!!"
"Save me, please—!!"
What the hell is this crazy bitch doing.
I let out a short curse in disbelief.
My future foresight only activated when I was in direct danger.
It didn't react to sudden outbursts like this.
She didn't even give me time to respond. A complete, reckless charge.
That insane woman… had ignored my orders and acted on her own.
*
I'll kill them all. Every last one, without exception……!!
Great America's mind was consumed entirely by rage.
She was Pax Corporation's greatest masterpiece.
The symbol of America. An existence standing at the absolute peak that no one dared look down upon.
Yet today, she had been thoroughly trampled by one insignificant Asian monkey.
While she was still sweating coldly, unsure what to do.
Those pathetic executives had even hidden behind that monkey and tried to control her.
That humiliation.
That shame.
The stress swelling inside her had long since passed its limit.
And now, perfect "toys" were scattered right before her eyes.
"M-monster! Fire! Shoot her!!"
The terrorists camped out in the museum lobby panicked and unleashed a barrage of rifles and magic bullets at her.
—Ratatatatang——Boom——!!
Sparks flew and the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air.
But Great America didn't dodge. She had no reason to.
The bullets fired by those weak insects couldn't even scratch her tough skin.
They simply fell to the floor with dull thuds.
"Ha… hahaha……!"
A grotesque chuckle slipped from between her lips.
"You pathetic bugs."
—Vrrrrrr……!!
Her eyes began burning a fierce crimson.
The red beams that shot out next.
Completely incinerated the upper body of the terrorist who had just been firing at her.
"Aaaaaaaaaagh——!!"
"Eek! Please, spare—!!"
With the sickening stench of burning flesh, they began crawling across the floor in a desperate attempt to flee.
But she had no intention of showing mercy.
—Boom!
She leaped behind one fleeing man in an instant and grabbed his shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going? Hm?"
"Please, please……!"
"Trash like you deserves exactly this, don't you think?"
—Riiiiip——!!
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
As casually as a child plucking the legs off an ant for fun.
She tore the terrorist's arm clean off while he was still alive.
Blood sprayed like a fountain, soaking her costume and staining her pale cheeks red.
She was smiling.
Pouring all the stress that had been crushing her and her hatred toward Hajun.
Onto these helpless insects.
She crushed their heads until they burst, broke their legs so they could only crawl, and toyed with them until their final breath.
The museum lobby transformed into a slaughterhouse in moments.
Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, and even the pleas for mercy gradually faded.
"Haa… haa……."
Only after snapping the neck of the last remaining terrorist did she rise to her feet, breathing heavily. The air reeked of blood.
She was shaking the sticky blood from her hands, savoring a strange sense of release.
—Click. Clickclickclickclick!!
"……!"
Her entire body stiffened.
The dust at the museum entrance had cleared, revealing familiar faces.
Pax Corporation's CEO Bender, followed by a swarm of reporters and cameras from every news outlet.
"W-what is that…? What on earth has she done?!"
"My God, those horrific corpses…?!"
"Is it true that the hero chose massacre over capture?!"
Every time a flash went off, her blood-soaked figure was reflected in countless camera lenses.
Ah…….
A chill raced down her spine.
—You must be perfect and pure.
—You are the symbol of America.
—If you do anything even slightly dirty, we'll throw you right back into that hellish laboratory.
Bender's threats echoed in her ears like hallucinations.
The camera lenses captured everything without filter—her bloodstained hands.
The mangled corpses.
And her face, twisted like a beast's.
Bender's expression was already warped with shock and fury.
It's over.
Her red eyes trembled faintly.
They had seen that she wasn't a perfect doll.
Bender would abandon her.
She would be tied down once more to that cold, horrific laboratory bed.
Forced to endure the agony of her flesh burning away every single day.
Her throat tightened.
Her lips quivered in terror as she tried to step back.
At that moment—
"—Everyone, please pay attention!"
Someone stepped in front of her.
A neatly tailored suit.
A tall, straight back.
It was Jun.
Without a trace of panic, he absorbed the barrage of camera flashes and raised his voice confidently toward the reporters.
"I'll be taking all your questions.
Until just moments ago, those terrorists were holding six hostages inside!
And among them were young children!"
"B-but to be so brutal…!"
"Brutal, you say?"
Hajun scoffed and shot the reporters a sharp glare.
"They used children's lives as shields. Those pieces of garbage.
Great America simply couldn't contain her 'righteous fury' after witnessing such despicable behavior.
Is being enraged by evil and showing the will to protect citizens somehow wrong?"
"W-well…"
"Thanks to her charging in without regard for her own safety, the other members of The Paragon are currently safely rescuing the hostages.
She has shown the noblest spirit of sacrifice befitting America's symbol!"
Fortunately, Hajun's words hit perfectly.
"H-huh?! Over there—!!"
"—The hostages! It's the hostages!!"
There really had been hostages.
"Hic…! Waaaaah……!!!"
"It's okay, little one. Come here."
The sight of a child crying in Eclipse's arms gave his words undeniable weight.
The moment Jun saw that scene, he shouted even louder.
"America does not negotiate with terrorists who use children as shields.
That is the justice of Great America, America's greatest hero."
One statement from an Asian man touching America's pride.
"Oh, so that's what happened? As expected of a Pax Corporation hero!"
"She handled those scum so easily. Who exactly is this person?!"
The reporters' murmuring opinions flipped in an instant.
The eyes that had been ready to tear her apart just minutes—no, mere seconds—ago.
Were now looking at her… as a 'hero.'
…Huh?
Great America stared blankly at Hajun's back.
Then Hajun casually reached behind him and gripped her blood-soaked wrist tightly.
His grip was firm, though not as strong as hers.
He naturally pulled her to his side and stood with her in front of the cameras.
"Come on, smile."
His voice slipped into her ear as she stood frozen in confusion.
"…B-but earlier…"
"That wasn't hatred toward evil. It was an insult directed at me personally.
I don't mind righteous anger. Punishing villains is only natural for a hero."
"…!"
Something inside her head snapped with a quiet pop.
It was confusing.
She was supposed to be perfect.
She wasn't allowed to have even the slightest flaw.
Everything Pax Corporation had taught her amounted to exactly that.
But this man.
Didn't deny her true nature.
—Punishing villains is only natural.
Those words settled heavily inside her.
Even the media crossfire she should have faced.
"Above all, I was the one who gave those orders.
Great America here simply followed my instructions, so please don't be too hard on her."
"…Hmm. Then I'll ask directly. Why did you issue such orders?
I see you're of Asian descent—does this reflect Asia's characteristic preference for harsh punishment—"
"—Harsh punishment? Well now.
I simply made sure those vermin threatening children's lives paid a 'just price.'"
Even Bender's murderous glare.
He was standing in front of her, taking it all in her place.
Ah…….
She was overwhelmed by a strange emotion she had never felt before.
Whenever she had been forced to smile under Pax Corporation's control, it had filled her with nausea.
But right now, with Hajun gripping her arm tightly and stepping forward…
It felt utterly, intoxicatingly euphoric.
Her gaze clung stickily to the side of his face.
—If I just stay behind this man's back.
—If I just hold his hand tightly.
I can rampage as much as I want.
Cover myself in blood.
Tear those insects apart.
And still remain a perfect, good hero.
Ha… haha…!
Her cheeks, which had been deathly pale with fear.
Her pale cheeks began flushing with a bizarre mix of excitement and relief.
Her ragged breathing gradually calmed, replaced by a strange heat.
Only one clear proposition remained in her mind.
—If I just listen to this man's words.
—If I just act like a good girl in front of him.
This man will love me forever and protect this perfect world of mine.
Like a child experiencing absolute safety in a parent's embrace for the very first time.
An uncontrollable, grotesque yet ecstatic smile spread across Great America's lips.
She clutched Hajun's sleeve.
"…? Ah, yes. You there, reporter—what did you say?"
As carefully as if it were an umbilical cord.
Yet with a grip that said she would never let go.
*
Amid the relentless barrage of camera flashes.
…Did she feel fear? Well, in my previous life she was extremely sensitive to public criticism in the early days.
I glanced sideways at Great America standing beside me.
She couldn't speak, simply clutching my sleeve tightly.
For now, I've managed the situation.
In my previous life, after this incident the researchers' excessive interference and suppression intensified, driving her mental illness to the extreme.
But this time, I had stepped in urgently to handle it.
And I was the one who had come forward to face the media.
If I played my cards right with Pax Corporation later, I believed I could prevent that outcome.
Still, we weren't there yet.
Among the factors that allowed me to control her, 'public opinion' was crucial.
Her near-childish need for validation and attention.
I had to satisfy that to some degree.
"Great America, would you please say a few words for the citizens?"
I gently pushed her back as if affectionately and handed her the microphone.
The moment my hand touched her, she flinched.
Then, glancing at me nervously, she opened her mouth shyly—though it looked grotesque on her blood-covered face.
"…First, I would like to thank Jun, who led this operation.
After witnessing such utterly repulsive evil, I ended up going too far.
I seem to have shown you all an unpleasant side of myself, and for that I offer my deepest apologies."
Watching her speak, I thought to myself.
…Not bad.
Fortunately, there was still plenty of room to mold her.
