Hero's Qualifications (9)
"Haa, haa..."
Han Sua panted heavily. The floor around her was littered with the corpses of villains whose heads had exploded from her telekinesis.
"Cough, cough...!"
Blood streamed down her jawline from the splatter. They called it the power of the gods—Authority—but that didn't mean she could unleash it endlessly. She could improve her proficiency through training and such, but the human body had a fixed capacity for Authority.
Monsters like Judgment, the current number one hero in Korea, could fight for three days and nights without breaking a sweat. But for her, still just a promising rookie, she'd long since surpassed her limits.
"You... fucking bitch...!"
An A-rank villain called the Baron ground his teeth and spat curses. He clutched his severed arm, blood pouring from the stump. More than half the villains were still alive, glaring at her with pure hatred.
It was a miraculous stand for a single C-rank hero, hard to believe she'd achieved it alone... and that made it all the more frustrating.
"Psyche. You dare stab us in the back...! You won't die easy...!"
"Haa, haa... Ridiculous..."
Even as she gasped for breath, Han Sua's face twisted into a sneer.
"Taking down villains is a hero's duty... What do you mean 'stab in the back'? Pfft..."
"You little...!"
The Baron, mid-rant, suddenly shifted his expression.
"Looks like you've lost your mind. Believing you're actually a hero."
"Haa, haa..."
"I'll give you credit—you fought well. But you've lost, Psyche."
"Haa... Nonsense..."
Regaining his composure, he continued slowly.
"We've still got over half our forces intact. But you? Looks like you're tapped out on Authority."
"..."
Hitting the nail on the head, Han Sua bit her lip and fell silent.
The villain caught it and grinned wickedly.
"Time to pay up, Psyche. You won't die as a hero. We'll expose you as a spy to the media."
"What...!"
"Hwaryeon will let this slide. Self-defense, right? Oh, and of course, we'll kill off those orphans as planned afterward."
Han Sua cried out in horror. The Baron's sinister smile only deepened.
"Too bad, Psyche. You betrayed us and got nothing in return. The orphans' lives, your hero's honor— you'll die with nothing."
"Ugh..."
Han Sua's eyes gradually lost their light. She tried to stay calm, but dark despair crept over her moment by moment.
She wasn't afraid of death. She just wished her efforts would be acknowledged, even a little.
All she wanted was to protect the children and be remembered as a hero in the end.
She'd thought she'd finally found her path, but fate refused to let her grasp it.
"Enough games. We've wasted too much time already."
At the Baron's gesture, sharp feathers sprouted from behind him. The surrounding villains prepared their own Authorities to unleash on her.
There was no escape anywhere.
Han Sua let a bitter smile slip.
...This is it, then.
Maybe this was her punishment, she thought— for blindly ignoring the evil before her eyes all this time.
For daring to dream of being remembered as a hero despite it all.
If so, she'd have to accept it sweetly.
Han Sua closed her eyes.
And then, a voice spoke.
"Why did you do that?"
"Huh...?"
An unexpected presence, someone completely unfamiliar.
Everyone's attention snapped to it, and Han Sua's eyes flew open.
She stared straight ahead.
Thud, thud.
Slow steps, each one radiating overwhelming pressure.
The intruder in the midst of them was clad head to toe in a black suit. A mask hid his face, making it impossible to identify.
Overawed by his presence, the villains could only gape, too stunned to speak.
He strode through the frozen villains and stopped before Han Sua.
Just staring down at her silently.
"Answer me, Han Sua."
The rough, modulated voice demanded again.
This was her first time seeing him in the suit, but she knew instantly who it was.
Kim Woojin.
In other words, Marionette.
The culprit who had bound her and dragged her life into the abyss.
"Why... why are you here...?"
Han Sua's mouth fell open in bewilderment.
She'd never expected him to show up.
She'd assumed he was off plotting some evil scheme somewhere.
But why here...?
"I said answer."
The urging continued.
Hacking up a cough, Han Sua shot him a resentful glare.
"Wh-what do you want me to say?"
"Why did you get in the villains' way?"
"..."
Overstepping your place, you trash. Or just putting on some pathetic act?
That's what the man seemed to be asking.
Given how he'd always treated her, it was probably spot on.
Han Sua stared blankly, lost in thought.
Come to think of it, everything had started unraveling since this man found her.
For her, it was just fear mixed with boiling rage.
Even her final moments being dismissed as worthless trash—she couldn't even close her eyes in peace.
She thought: At the very least, she wanted to go out as the self she'd finally found.
"...Isn't it obvious?"
Decision made, Han Sua finally spoke.
There was no point lying to him anyway.
"Because... I'm a hero."
"..."
With that, Han Sua bared her heart.
A wave of relief washed over her, and she let out a soft laugh.
She waited for his response.
But Kim Woojin, listening silently, just murmured softly.
"...I see."
Suddenly, curiosity struck her.
Why had he come here?
Was Kim Woojin planning to attack the orphanage too? He didn't seem connected to the Half-Moon crew.
He was a vicious villain, sure.
Maybe he was pissed that she'd interfered with his plans.
The thought that he was angry oddly pleased her.
Like she'd landed one last hit on the annoying bastard.
"So that's... how it is."
His masked face remained hidden.
For a moment, she sensed hesitation, confusion, even a hint of softened leniency—then shook her head.
No way.
She'd gotten her answer, so it was probably over now.
She'd said her piece, but regret lingered.
At least she'd wanted to protect the kids inside.
"...Who the hell are you? Not a hero in that getup...!"
The Baron snapped back to his senses and bellowed in fury.
Kim Woojin didn't even turn, standing firm.
"If you're here to interfere, die with her!! Attack—!"
And as the Baron spat his final word—
-Snap!
Before he could finish, the familiar finger snap rang out—familiar even to Han Sua.
"No...!"
"Wh-what is this!!"
"My body... it won't move...!"
Cries erupted everywhere.
The Half-Moon villains stood frozen like twisted trees, mouths flapping in panic.
"Wha...?"
Slumped on the ground, Han Sua muttered in shock.
She raised her hands, staring at them alternately.
She could still move freely, unrestricted.
Kim Woojin slowly turned.
He stood tall, silently gazing at the villains.
Then, a thick, gravelly voice boomed from behind the mask.
"Kill yourselves. All of you."
-Snap!
The finger snap echoed again.
Han Sua blinked.
Before her eyes unfolded raw hell.
"My arm, my arm's moving on its own...! Suddenly this... Gahk...!"
"Grk..."
"No, not yet...! Cough...!"
Flesh flew, blood sprayed.
The villains unleashed their Authorities—on themselves.
The scene of remorseless motions and terrified faces was utterly intimidating, overwhelming.
"You bastard...!"
The mighty A-rank villain, the Baron, glared at Kim Woojin with bloodshot eyes, spewing curses.
"Daring to control this body...! I won't let you get away... Gahk...!"
But he was no exception.
The crow feathers he'd summoned pierced his throat. Spewing bloody foam, the Baron collapsed.
Kim Woojin didn't flinch, impassively looking down at the corpse.
"Ah..."
Silence settled around them.
Han Sua let out a trembling gasp.
Her fevered mind rejected rational thought.
It made no sense.
Why had he killed the villains?
Why spare her?
It was almost like... he'd come to help her.
"Get up, hero."
A low voice spoke.
He looked down at her, reciting calmly.
"Your job isn't done yet."