Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Innocent?
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It was a split second.
The moment before the last droplet from the upside-down glass Justice held even touched the sink.
From the tip of Lily's index finger, aimed squarely at the back of Justice's head, a small, ominous burst of energy shot out.
A pale purple energy that could pierce straight through a human skull and brain intact.
Justice couldn't see it, but her upper body instinctively twisted, reacting to the incoming death.
Crack-
A bizarre sound rang out.
The ability Lily had barely dodged left a rotting decay on the living room wall in front of Justice.
No, not decay—corruption was the better word. For the Justice who had taken her in, Lily had prepared the most agonizing, repulsive death imaginable.
"...Lily, you're out of your mind."
The first shot missed, and the standoff continued. A golden aura seeped from Justice's body. Pure, pristine, without a speck of dust...
"What's your reason?"
The two strongest forces in the Association began preparing for an unexpected battle.
Lily's pajamas, covered in rabbit characters, fluttered in the air as her ability fully activated. A pale purple energy, like a ribbon of the Milky Way, swirled around her body.
"Was it you? How far did your plan go? Why on earth?"
Justice knew that was Lily's full battle stance. Clenching her fists until they hurt, she racked her brain endlessly.
No matter how suspicious Lily's actions and attitude had been, she and Crow had cherished her like their own child.
No, at the very least, Crow had truly adored Lily. From the sidelines, they had seemed like a warm family—a father and daughter.
So why was that girl
once again pointing her finger and sealing her lips?
"...You framed Crow and sent him to prison, but tried to kill me outright."
So Justice spoke for her.
Her mind was piecing together the limited information, drawing nauseating hypotheses.
"That means your target was me from the start. Why didn't you kill me sooner? And before that—what crime did the Director and Crow commit to deserve what you did to them...!"
But no matter how sharp the mind, limited information could never lead to the truth.
Unless Lily, who held the key to it all, opened her mouth, Justice would never know the answer.
"Unnie."
Perhaps pitying her position, Lily finally spoke. Purple energy seeped into her red eyes, exuding an eerie beauty.
"It'd be better if you just died. Why dodge? You don't even understand my feelings."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Defying the Association members' pleas, Justice strode firmly to the lower floors, to the Director's office there.
No, walking was too slow.
Unable to contain her impatience, Justice used her ability to kick off space itself, leaping through the corridors like skipping across puddles.
Her patient gown, unable to withstand the heat, caught fire and burned fiercely. Torn and riddled with holes, it exposed glimpses of her skin underneath.
But Justice paid it no mind and ripped open the door to her secret room where her gear awaited. There, her signature uniform hung, waiting for its owner.
Pouring even more energy into it, the patient gown incinerated away like mist. Only then did Justice sweep her hair back into a ponytail and don her iconic costume.
A black uniform and fluttering cape that contrasted her ability.
Clothing made solely for Justice, impervious to fire or tearing.
She blasted straight through the ceiling into the sky, beginning her flight.
Like a comet streaking through the night sky, Justice tore through the air. Golden light blazed brightly, trailing behind her.
Below, the city—its lights not yet fully extinguished—flickered as brightly as she did.
Her flight held deep symbolic meaning, so pedestrians pulled out their smartphones, raising them high to snap photos and videos.
Come morning, the news headlines would surely feature Justice's return. Public broadcasts would eagerly replay the citizens' short clips, padding them with unnecessary commentary.
It was all too familiar.
Justice had always loved burning herself brightly like this.
Hope for the citizens.
Terror for the villains.
A powerful light that gave both.
But tonight, it all felt repulsive. Justice felt an unexpected burden from every gaze and bit of attention surrounding her.
What she had to do now couldn't exactly be called just.
No, justice itself was ambiguous from the start.
Justice was hope.
Salvation, the brightest burning star.
The wishes and faith of all became her power. She had to be the incarnation of justice protecting as many as possible.
Yet her destination was the revolting prison housing the worst villains.
She had to meet Crow right now.
She had to see the man being mocked and punished by everyone.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Correctional Officer!"
"What is it?"
A guard on night duty urgently sought out Orca. Unlike the guards, correctional officers resided in the prison full-time, so Orca handled all nighttime incidents.
"Um, Justice is here."
"...What?"
Orca, still in her uniform out of worry for Crow,
was hit with the bombshell of Justice's visit. She hadn't even heard that Justice had recovered.
"...That Justice?"
"Yes, yep...!"
With her share of past mistakes, Orca already felt anxiety budding in her chest. Why had Justice come here?
"Reason for the visit?"
"Sh-she says it's a visitation."
"At this hour?"
The inmates she might visit numbered only two.
Crow,
or Lily.
"...Tell her to wait. I'll be right there."
By the book, she should refuse the late-night visitation and send her away,
but this particular visitor was the top hero with the greatest influence among all ability users.
It was obvious that Justice commanded both Orca's respect and envy. Orca admired Justice as much as Crow.
"...Haa."
But in the current situation,
Justice had become nothing but a nuisance to Orca.
An obstacle she couldn't dare refuse.
As Orca headed to the visitation room, her mind raced. She couldn't let Justice meet Crow.
Justice hadn't returned since her one prior visit—what business could bring her here now?
The timing was the worst. Bad things always piled up.
"Orca!"
From afar, Justice hurried over. She couldn't even wait for Orca's steps. Her golden hair shimmered and swayed in the gray visitation room.
"I'm truly sorry for coming so late. But I need to see Crow right now. Right...!"
They were acquainted. They'd spoken briefly during her previous visit for Crow, and they'd helped each other a few times before.
About twice as awkward as the bond between Crow and Orca. Unlike the affection for Crow, Orca felt only faint admiration and respect for Justice.
With her mind filled only with worry for Crow, Orca couldn't view Justice kindly anymore.
She was a good person,
a great hero,
but right now, no one else mattered to Orca but Crow. So she steeled herself, reclaiming her cold composure.
"...I understand. But requests like this are problematic. Please head back tonight and come again tomorrow."
"Pardon?"
Wearing an utterly impassive expression, Orca clearly conveyed her refusal. Of course, by prison regulations, there was nothing odd about it.
"Preparing a visitation now would disrupt the guards' night patrols, and any commotion in C Wing where Crow is housed would disturb the inmates' sleep. Come back tomorrow."
Without showing tension, Orca finished her piece. Even Justice, once admired, couldn't sway her resolve.
But Justice couldn't back down here. She had to persuade the stubborn, arms-crossed Orca somehow to see Crow.
"That's not...!"
Glancing at the guards, Justice leaned in and whispered into Orca's ear.
"...Lily deceived me. There's a high chance she's the one who killed the Director and planned REP. Crow might be innocent."
It was shocking news.
Orca blinked, doubting her ears, barely swallowing.
"..."
But Orca's emotions, not easily shown, had already pierced through her own stance and desires.
"...That's not for me to worry about, is it?"
A high chance of innocence didn't make him innocent. Crow still had to serve his sentence in her prison—that hadn't changed.
"This is a prison, a place with rules we all must follow. If you want a visitation, come back tomorrow...!"
She drove Justice away with even stricter standards.
"Orca...! Wait!"
Justice desperately called after Orca's back, but Orca retreated to her office without looking back.
Yet in Orca's mind, one sentence echoed endlessly.
...What if Crow really is innocent?