Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Justice, and Evil
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"Hey."
My footsteps came to a halt. Orca, who hadn't said a word until the incident was fully wrapped up, called out to me. I stopped walking and turned to look back at her.
We were both utterly exhausted, and she probably wanted nothing more than to shower under warm water and collapse into bed right then and there.
Yet for some reason, even in that fatigued state, she held me back and hesitated for a moment.
"...I caused you trouble again."
All that for just those few words.
Orca had to put in a tremendous effort to say them.
"It's fine. It's not like this is the first time or anything."
Knowing her intentions, I brushed it off lightly with a smile. I knew better than anyone that even those short lines represented a huge step forward for her.
Back then, she was still a police officer. She was inexperienced at handling cases and couldn't finely control her ability yet, sometimes damaging public property in the process.
"It's not your fault. Being stronger than others always comes with its inconveniences. It's harder to apply just the right amount of precise, delicate force than to go all out, right?"
She was wracked with guilt. The air around us was thick with chill, and a few citizens were yelling about their frozen phones and demanding compensation.
Even though they were the ones who pulled them out to film.
"Don't mind what people say. They might act like they're cursing you to your face, but they'd be terrified without you around."
"...Yeah."
She didn't deserve that kind of treatment. She was strong enough to work as a Hero, yet she devoted herself to the nation and its people.
No, it was more accurate to say she'd always had that mindset, and her ability had luckily awakened on top of it.
Orca was the only one in the police force with an ability, and thanks to that uniqueness, she received unusually proactive and exceptional support, like she was their star badge.
"Must be tougher as a civil servant."
"...Yeah. I guess so."
Of course, I suspected the drawbacks outweighed the support.
It had been a decade since abilities suddenly began manifesting, but society still failed to properly support or manage those with them.
As always, even discussions about abilities split down the middle, turning into tug-of-wars over vested interests,
and all sorts of stupid rumors and suspicions proliferated across society, fueled by the sensational topic.
"You're basically a civil servant too, Crow."
"Sort of, but technically not. Officially registered ability users with the Association get solid insurance coverage at least."
"Much better."
In the midst of all that,
Orca was the police's sole card against the Hero Association,
and I had all sorts of leeches clinging to me just for being the only male ability user,
so maybe we had a bit in common after all.
"...Hey."
"Yeah."
Isolated within the police force, Orca seemed at a loss, unable to find her bearings.
Inversely proportional to her powerful ability, her inner humanity grew ever more fragile, desperately seeking answers.
"Crow, why do you work as a Hero?"
Compared to the other female officers, Orca's image was firm and distinct. Stiff and cold, yet the police emphasized her personality and abilities. It was poisoning her.
"I mean... just because you have an ability doesn't mean you have to throw yourself into the fight like that. It's not that special. You didn't even ask for it."
The police dream Orca had wanted wasn't like this. Not some contrived cop from a promotional brochure—she just wanted to be a regular officer.
But the police couldn't just shove their one secret weapon in storage like that. Nor could they sacrifice her.
They left the too-strong, too-dangerous terrorists to us,
and dumped the petty crooks and idiots on Orca.
"Sometimes it all just feels so pointless..."
I remember her question wasn't a simple one.
So I paused, thought for a moment,
and tried to comfort her.
"It's not pointless. And we're special."
No clever words came to mind,
and my head was foggy from exhaustion,
but I said,
"It might feel pointless now. But we live to realize our own justice, our own dreams. Maybe that's why we got these abilities. You just have to realize your justice, and I'll realize mine."
I forced a smile as I finished.
"Someday you'll be able to do what you want, so hang in there until then. Justice doesn't crumble. People do. If you and I keep holding on, our justice won't lose to evil."
I don't know if it really comforted her. But she let out a small chuckle at my clumsy words, so it eased my mood a bit too.
"I see."
On the frozen ground,
listening to the noise from the citizens and everything else,
we sat for a moment, gazing up at the night sky.
"What's your justice?"
"Making a better world. At least making sure good people don't suffer losses, and all the bad bastards get caught and face judgment."
"Nice."
Sitting there on the ice, our sweat-soaked bodies quickly cooled.
"What's yours?"
"Something similar to what you just said..."
Everyone else was sweltering,
and the city was engulfed in summer clamor,
but we were enjoying an impromptu picnic.
"Guess I'll have to change it. Can't overlap."
Thwack—
Every time the long baton slammed into my torso, a gruesome sound echoed. After a few blows from the air-splitting bludgeon, even someone used to pain loses the will to resist.
"Act like a Villain if you're gonna be one!"
Pain so intense it made my vision blur radiated from my left arm and knee where I'd taken bad hits. Looked like cracks in the bones or equivalent damage.
"Quit your innocent bullshit and grovel like that for the rest of your life...!"
Thwack—
We'd definitely laughed together once upon a time.
But here, we were just inmate and Correctional Officer.
Orca swung her weapon in earnest to subdue me. I had no idea what was going through her head, but a solid hit there would've made survival doubtful.
"Hoo..."
A bit of blood clung to the baton's tip. Looked like the impact had burst something open.
But with no spot on me that didn't hurt, I couldn't pinpoint the bleeding.
Just,
death seemed to emanate from everywhere.
"Never."
The droplet at the tip froze solid.
Like red sorbet, it crackled as it hardened.
"Never call me Orca again. Show respect to your Correctional Officer, Villain."
That's when I finally understood why all the guards here were women.
Fewer in number,
but they all had abilities too.
Because ability users were special.
Chosen ones.
"Don't act familiar. Don't you dare meet my eyes. The only reason I let you scum live is because it's my role and duty. Depending on the situation, I can execute you on the spot. Remember that."
The merciless suppression ended.
Orca stopped swinging and irritably flicked off my blood from the tip.
Was this mercy? Or judgment worse than a curse?
She wouldn't kill me.
"...Pay for your crimes. Quietly."
Instead, she infused her last words with old sentiment.
Seemed sad, or angry.
"No matter what you do, you're still a Villain."
My steps were heavy. No, my leg was messed up, so I was limping badly.
Despite that, the Correctional Officers only showed brief dismay—no special measures for me.
"Go in."
Even at the metal door to Wing C,
they ignored me.
Polite words,
zero respect.
"Baby!"
Instead, Creep rushed over with a face full of worry, checking my condition in place of the officers.
Broken teeth, shattered leg, busted shoulder.
Pain that made breathing hard.
Facing all that, Creep looked like she was the one hurting, her face crumpling as she hugged me tight.
"Those awful bastards. How could they? Right...?"
If Correctional Officer Orca hadn't personally [guided] me, I'd have suffered even worse humiliation from Creep and her underlings.
I knew that. That's why I could feel how performative and contradictory Creep's attitude was.
"Rest inside. I'll pick up lunch and bring it."
Yet her quivering voice and supportive hold were endlessly gentle.
"Come on, slow steps. Or I can carry you. Slowly..."
I just couldn't understand.
Was this place twisted,
or was I the one going mad?
I couldn't comprehend.
The things I'd unswervingly believed in were crumbling.
Justice was cruel,
and evil contradictory.
Scardi watching me worriedly from afar,
the nameless Villain anxiously glancing at everyone,
Creep helping me back to my room—
none of it made sense.
"That Correctional Officer bitch did this? That dog!"
The moment Creep laid me on the bed, she exploded, cursing Orca.
Stomping her feet like a kid unable to contain her rage.
"It's okay. I'll kill that bitch someday. She'll remember doing this to my baby. When the chance comes, I'll get proper revenge. Got it?"
She'd rage like that, then suddenly crumple, gripping my hands tight and sniffling.
I could no longer understand these emotions. Maybe I'd been wrong about everything all along.
Her feelings shifted by the second, dizzying me.
"Sniff... They're awful. Brutish, violent, stubborn hypocrite bastard. Who does she think she is, hitting my baby? Only I get to hit my baby. Ung...?"
Humans were such fleeting, complex beings.
I didn't know right from wrong anymore.
"...I'll overlay your body again. Okay?"
At this point where everything I'd believed my whole life collapsed,
I could only blink, unable to die.
Chapter 1 - Admission
End.