Taming the Villain (3)
"…Who?"
Han Sua parted her lips curtly. Her voice was utterly flat, as if she couldn't care less. Her eyes stayed glued to her smartphone.
Wow, not even looking?
"I'm Kim Woojin from the general department. I have something to talk to you about—mind sparing a minute?"
"What general department…"
"Just ignore her. It's not like she's the first one… She doesn't know Sua's personality…"
The murmurs around us answered for her. From what I could gather, a truckload of clueless guys had hit on her and gotten brutally shot down.
…And now I was being lumped in with them?
"Haa…"
Han Sua let out a deep sigh. Her obvious annoyance made it clear she saw me as one of those types too.
Something felt off about this picture…?
"Sorry, but I…"
"?"
Then, as she finally turned her head to spit out her rejection, Han Sua suddenly clamped her lips shut.
The abrupt change threw me for a loop. She just slowly scanned me up and down, then gave a slight nod, tilting her chin ever so delicately.
"What is it?"
Her single word sparked an instant commotion. The wave of whispers quickly filled the entire classroom.
Honestly, even I was a bit surprised. It worked?
I'd figured she'd shoot me down cold based on her attitude. I'd even been ready to pull out more aggressive tactics.
This made things easier.
"Not here. Could we go somewhere quieter?"
"…Sure."
Han Sua nodded readily and slipped out of the classroom ahead of me. I followed, leaving the noisy room behind.
After a long walk, the place Han Sua led me to was a utility room in a deserted hallway.
"So, what's this about?"
Han Sua slammed the door shut and snapped at me viciously. The attitude flip from her initial indifference was almost disorienting.
She tacked on another line.
"I came because your eyes didn't look like those idiots'… but if this is some bullshit errand, you'd better prepare yourself."
Ha. I let out a disbelieving chuckle.
So that's why she dragged me to this empty utility room herself?
Could a hero really say that so brazenly? Then again, considering who she really was, it fit perfectly.
Perfect. No need to beat around the bush.
I don't like wasting time either. Let's cut to the chase.
"Han Sua, aren't you being a bit too shameless?"
I plastered on a smile as I said it. She furrowed her brow slightly, clearly confused.
"What the hell does that mean all of a sudden…"
"Come on, you know."
I cut her off again, deliberately. The more pissed she got, the better. Every bit was laying groundwork for what came next.
I glanced at her face. She looked outright offended by the random insult. Good, things were going to plan.
I smirked, lacing my voice with mockery.
"Does it make sense for a villain to hide their identity and infiltrate the Hero Department?"
"…"
The air grew heavy in an instant. Han Sua froze in place. Her red eyes locked onto me without a blink, sharp as knives.
Then she spoke in an even chillier tone.
"…What did you just say?"
It sounded like anger at baseless slander, but I knew better than anyone that it wasn't.
I continued nonchalantly, unfazed.
"Hwaryeon Group—it's a villain organization, right?"
"…"
"The city hall bombing last week—that was you guys. Want more? Three weeks ago, the C Corp headquarters raid. Last month, the cruise ship hijacking…"
Cheating's the best. I just recited the memo word for word.
"I could go on if you want. Aren't you scared? Korea's top company turning out to be villains. And the daughter sneaking into Yoram pretending to be a hero…"
"…"
Han Sua just glared at me silently, her eyes unnerving. Then, something translucent like heat haze began boiling around her.
Finally, her red eyes flashed as she growled low.
"…How did you find out?"
"Who knows? No reason for me to tell you th—gurk!"
Puppet Show used on target…
Target is too powerful!
Suddenly, space stretched oddly front and back. I was flying through the air, my head slamming into the wall.
My feet dangled limply in the air, kicking uselessly. It felt like invisible hands were choking my throat—breathing ragged, lungs crushed by a sickening pressure creeping in.
Through blurring vision, I saw Han Sua standing straight, glaring. Every time she thrust her arm forward and gripped the air, the pain in my neck intensified.
Telekinesis.
Han Sua's Authority. The reason she was pegged as top three in this class.
Her raw combat power fell short of Yuha's, but it was versatile for rescue and support.
Ironic, since she wasn't even a hero—just a villain.
"Hngh, gack…"
Either way, phase one was a success. For all her cool facade, Han Sua was pissed. I hid my trembling hands amid the suffocation and snapped my fingers with all my might.
Snap!
Shit.
'Damn it…'
I swallowed a curse. Of course it wouldn't be easy.
Her identity exposed and furious, I thought her mind might waver. Guess not enough.
"Tell me. How did you tail us?"
"Why would I tell y—guh, gack…!"
The grip tightened viciously. Han Sua smirked coldly and stepped closer.
"What, Hero Management Bureau secret agent?"
"Guhk, cough…!"
"Better talk quick. Wouldn't want you suffocating to death."
"Hack…! Ballsy… thinking you can kill in Yoram and get away…"
"Oh, that's fine."
She cut me off without hesitation.
"Just say you got jumped by a villain spy."
"Cough… Pinning it on me…"
"Hwaryeon's yearly donations to Yoram aren't chump change. They'll buy my story hook, line, and sinker."
She leaned in, voice domineering.
"So spill. Answer nicely, and I'll make it quick and painless."
"Cough, gack… Lady of a mega-corp… no shame, huh…?"
But I just grinned.
Like I'd die here. I hadn't even done a fraction for Yuha.
"Don't know embarrassment…? Cough, that explains those posts…"
"…What?"
Han Sua halted. Her calm tone hid it, but I felt the ripple inside her.
Bingo.
"Even anonymously, cough! Posting self-praise multiple times a day? Normal?"
"Wh-what…?"
Her red pupils shook violently. The arrogance vanished; she shrank.
The invisible grip loosened.
I caught my breath and pressed on leisurely.
"You're the one, right? Always posting Psyche worship on the Hero Minor Gallery."
"H-how did you…!"
Han Sua yelped in shock. I snapped my fingers without missing a beat.
Snap!
Puppet Show used on target…
Target's mind is severely shaken!
SUCCESS!
"Wh-what…!"
Regaining her senses too late, Han Sua shouted in panic. Her body froze like it was bound, everything but her face immobile. The telekinesis vanished.
I dropped from the air with a thud.
Thump!
"Ow… What else? Momentum's shifted now. Whew, thought I was done for… wild tastes…"
I winced at the back pain, flashing a grin at her glaring red eyes.
"Some narcissism. How do you post self-praise so casually? Normal people would die of shame."
"Ngh…!"
Her cheeks flushed. Good, she had some shame.
Lucky guess hit. Yoram's public IP at that time pointed to her.
I'd never have known without spotting her with Yuha in the hall.
"Filthy creep…!"
Han Sua ground her teeth.
Pot calling the kettle black.
"Release me! Nicely now…!"
"Shut it."
Snap!
Han Sua's mouth sealed; her eyes widened.
"Mmph, mmph!"
"Problem is, it's all lies. No conscience? Villain pretending to be a grand hero. The people you've killed must be weeping."
"…"
Her glare burned from behind. What?
I straightened up and turned coldly.
"Tell me, villain. How many innocents have you killed?"
"Mmph."
Oh, right. I told her to be quiet.
Snap!
Han Sua, looking indignant, answered immediately.
"…Not a single one."
I blinked in surprise.
Puppet Show applied to target…
Hypnosis was active. So that was truth.
Unexpected. Daughter of that monster Han Yucheon—I figured she'd offed a few without batting an eye.
Maybe no hands-on kills?
…Doesn't change much.
"Fine. Next: Have you leaked Yoram info to outsiders lately?"
"Hacked the full internal database recently… ngh…! What!"
Han Sua blurted, then yelped in shock.
"What did you do to me…! Why am I saying this…!"
I pondered, ignoring her.
So that's it. Her data dump included schedules. The training raid was based on that.
"Th-that's enough! Release me…!"
"Shut up."
I snarled.
"Filthy villain bitch giving orders? You know what that data's for?"
"…No. Ngh."
Puppet Show applied to target…
Truth again. No orders yet.
Raid cause identified—good enough. Now, decide her fate.
I turned slowly. Han Sua flinched, inhaling sharply.
"Wh-what."
"Deciding what to do with you. Kill you?"
"Ngh…"
"Kidding. Won't kill you. Better use."
"U-use…?"
Fear flickered in her eyes. Arrogance gone.
I already knew what to do.
I grinned.
"Han Sua. Become my puppet."
"P-puppet…? What…"
She mumbled blankly, then snapped back.
"You think I'd do that?! I'd bite my tongue first…!"
"Who knows? Might change your mind soon."
Hypnosis success made puppet conversion easy. But not what I wanted.
I needed a rational limb with will intact—not a mindless doll.
Requires true surrender first.
I knew the perfect skill.
"Wh-what… d-don't come closer…!"
I approached slowly. Her terrified eyes shook.
I looked down kindly.
"Han Sua. Sleep and we'll talk later."
"Hic… wh-what are you…!"
Snap!
Dream Manipulation used on target…
SUCCESS!
"Huh…? Where…?"
Her eyes dulled. She was dreaming now.
Dream Manipulation. Marionette's favorite torture.
Shows two dreams: best memory, then nightmare.
She was seeing the good one first.
Snap!
"Su-suddenly who—kyaa!"
Snap!
"Haa, haa… huh…?"
It breaks them to the core. Good dream becomes nightmare sanctuary—briefly.
Alternating erodes the line. Last refuge flips; no peace, mind shatters.
Then they learn only one savior in endless nightmares.
Snap!
"Hii…! D-don't come… please…!"
Snap!
"Hic, hii…"
Her small face was streaked with tears and screams. Villain with tears left?
No one escapes alone. Not even me.
Han Sua. How long can you last?
Snap!
"G-get away! Stay back!"
Snap!
"Hic, wh-where… kyaa!"
Snap!
"Cough, cough… hic… please…"
Snap!
"Haa, haa…! Sob…"
Snap!
……
…
"I-I'm sorry… I was wrong…"
A tearful voice begged at my feet. Han Sua clutched my ankle, head bowed.
Less than ten minutes.