Chapter 133: That Bitch's Voice
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 133: That Bitch's Voice
Crash—!
"Fuuuck!! These goddamn bastards!!!"
Im Jin-ah let out a loud, vulgar streak of curses as she kicked the tea table. The teacups and expensive ornaments sitting atop it tumbled to the floor, shattering into pieces.
Han Byeong-su, who had barely managed to save his own teacup from her violent outburst, could only blink as he stared at a small, fragmented flowerpot on the floor.
Im Jin-ah probably didn't know, but that fist-sized pot was a collaboration piece between luxury brands. It was something a C-rank Hero couldn't even dream of buying with their earnings.
Han Byeong-su couldn't understand why she always came to his office to throw a tantrum whenever she was pissed off.
He knew exactly what had happened to her.
In a world where news spreads at lightning speed, the Black Unicorn broadcast was impossible to miss. Communities, news outlets, streaming platforms—everywhere in Korea was buzzing about it.
Stories about how Black Unicorn, who had participated in a simultaneous conquest, cleared their dungeon three times faster than Iron Wolf, or how a member of Black Unicorn had actually fallen asleep while waiting for Iron Wolf to finish.
It was just a conquest video, but it was packed with so many highlights that Han Byeong-su would have enjoyed it himself if it hadn't involved Jeong Yeon-woo.
If he hadn't stopped Fist’s younger sister, Lee Yu-na, from criticizing Im Jin-ah for overusing orbs on air, he could have used that to manipulate public opinion. Aside from that missed opportunity, the video was perfect.
Of course, since Black Unicorn was the protagonist and Iron Wolf was the victim, a furious Im Jin-ah had stormed into Han Byeong-su's office and flipped everything over.
She’s the one who got humiliated, so why the hell is she taking it out on me...
Han Byeong-su swallowed the words he wanted to say and tried to calm Im Jin-ah, who was still huffing and puffing, unable to suppress her rage.
"What's the point of getting angry? We need to respond calmly."
"Are you fucking kidding me? You can stay calm after this? You're not even pissed?"
You're the one who got wrecked because you were acting out, you stupid bitch. Why should I be pissed?
"I'm telling you, there's no need to get angry."
Hiding his true thoughts, Han Byeong-su continued.
"That bastard will be finished soon anyway."
At his meaningful smile, the scowl on Im Jin-ah's face slowly faded. The two looked at each other, sharing despicable smirks.
"What are you going to do?"
"Just watch and enjoy the show as it unfolds. And get ready for an interview. You need to make your return to broadcasting, too."
Han Byeong-su chuckled as he watched Im Jin-ah light up at the bait he threw her.
A dog that didn't recognize its owner and barked back needed to be trained to know its place. Whether through treats or punishment, he would make sure those arrogant pests who dared to bare their teeth at the future heir of Hanseong Group realized exactly where they stood.
Han Byeong-su watched with a pathetic gaze as Im Yu-jin, who had been fuming just moments ago, was now busy picking out an outfit for her broadcast on her smartphone. He let out a laugh.
As I intended, the video is spreading like wildfire across the internet.
Someone even made an edited version with sound effects and movie clips spliced in; it’s actually quite entertaining.
I hope Im Yu-jin sees this.
I don't like getting revenge all at once.
In movies or comics, people often "get revenge" by just slashing someone's throat and ending it. I don't understand why they finish it so easily. You should keep them around and torment them so they suffer. Why give them a peaceful end?
"I don't want to become like them"? What kind of nonsense is that? The reason people keep backstabbing and bullying others is that they aren't afraid. Instead of a comfortable death, you have to torment them for a long time so that other punks think twice before acting out.
There's no need to act like a "good guy" toward bad people. Isn't it only natural to return what you received—no, to return it twofold or threefold?
Since you bullied the body owner during his school days and made him cry tears of blood, it’s only fair that you cry tears of blood and cough up some real blood too, don't you think?
Don't even think about dying easily unless you're going to kill yourself. I'll keep showing up whenever you're about to forget and keep creating the exact situations you hate the most.
"..."
Im Jin-ah is an easy target, but the problem is Han Byeong-sin.
Since he has the Hanseong Group backing him, it's hard to pay him back over a long period. If I could just strip the Hanseong Group away from him, his life would be ruined instantly, but that’s not easy.
Square Garden and the Magic Tower protect me, but only because I'm a Hero and I act according to morality. If I suddenly started scamming Hanseong Group or bullying innocent people, they wouldn't stay on my side.
That means my options are limited if I want to deal with him while maintaining my duty as a Hero. My best position is to have him strike first, so I've been intentionally drawing aggro, but he's been quiet.
Usually, when things are this quiet, it means they're planning something big, which makes me uneasy.
As I sat there feeling uneasy and wondering what he would do next, Ellie stepped on my forehead with her foot and told me to fix my scowl.
Must be nice to be so carefree.
I caught the little pest, who was munching on snacks and dropping crumbs on my nose, and sat her down quietly beside me.
Bzzzz—
My smartphone, set to vibrate, rang.
Restricted Number.
Could this be part of Han Byeong-sin's scheme?
Lately, I've been getting a lot of calls from restricted numbers. When I answer, a woman just breathes heavily into the phone without saying a word.
That's right. A stalker.
I figured it would be the same thing, but I answered anyway.
"Hello?"
"Haa... haa..."
As expected.
This person has some nerve. Even if men are looked down upon in this world, I'm still an Awakened. If they get caught, they're screwed. Plus, since I'm a Hero, the law isn't exactly merciful.
The law is strictly applied to all Awakened, not just Heroes. If I hit a civilian, I'm heavily sanctioned, but if a civilian messes with me, they're also heavily sanctioned.
Especially after the families of Heroes suffered from paparazzi, a society was formed where even a simple invasion of privacy is severely punished, and everyone is careful.
And yet, stalking a Hero? The culprit was likely either a Villain or someone completely insane.
"Haa... haa..."
"If you're going to call, say something, damn it."
When I spoke firmly, the breathing on the other end stopped. However, after a moment, the heavy breathing started again. I focused on any other sounds to find a clue, but it was quiet in the background.
After listening to the breathing for about a minute, I hung up, and the phone stayed silent. This person followed a certain pattern despite their madness; once I hung up, they wouldn't call again for half a day.
Still, it was annoying that they called once or twice a day like they were punching in for work.
"Is it that bitch again?"
Ellie asked with a smirk as she saw me hang up.
"I'm not sure if it's a 'bitch' or a 'bastard' yet."
"It's probably a bitch. Wouldn't it be scarier if it were a guy?"
Now that I think about it, she's right. I only assumed it was a woman because the breathing sounded feminine, but the thought of it being a man suddenly gave me goosebumps. Is this why people are afraid of stalkers?
As I was thinking about how to handle this, a man approached me.
"Is it you?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"No, sorry. Is there something I can help you with?"
I've really hit rock bottom if I'm getting jumpy because of a stalker. When I apologized for my reflexive irritability, the man gave a gentle smile.
"It's quite alright, Mr. Jeong Yeon-woo."
He was a closed-eyes character. I thought he was just squinting because he was smiling, but his eyes remained closed even as he spoke. Since this is a game world, does the trope that "closed-eyes characters are strong" still apply?
He gave off almost no presence, which actually made me more conscious of him.
"Do you know me?"
"Is there anyone in Korea these days who doesn't know Black Unicorn's Jeong Yeon-woo? You're quite famous."
He was praising me, but his tone was somewhat grating. Since his eyes were closed, I couldn't tell where he was looking. For that matter, could he even see?
He was dressed in a neat suit, but his hair was long and tied back. Strands of hair partially covered the left side of his face, and he was quite handsome.
"Well—setting that aside, what is your business with me?"
"I was wondering if we could share a cup of coffee. Ah, I assure you, it won't be a bad conversation for you, Mr. Jeong Yeon-woo."
I hope this isn't a request for a date. Still, he didn't seem like someone I could just ignore.
"Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty without even giving your name? Hey, you eyeless freak, do you think you're someone special?"
"Ah, my apologies. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Baek Seo-woo. Please forgive my rudeness, Miss Elisia."
"O-Oh... you can see me... Ah, hello... I am Elisia, the noble Fairy of Joy born from the dew of a narcissus. Please call me Ellie."
"Yes, Miss Ellie. Will you forgive my rudeness?"
"No, I'm sorry too..."
Stay still, you're embarrassing me. Ellie bowed her head and became incredibly submissive the moment he recognized her.
This man who introduced himself as Baek Seo-woo must be quite powerful. His presence was faint, but if he could see Ellie, it meant he had undergone significant training, unless he had a detection skill like mine.
Since I was on my way back from a quick stop at the Magic Tower, I glanced at Square Garden behind us.
"We can go to a cafe inside Square Garden. Please choose a place where you feel comfortable."
Baek Seo-woo said with a smile, as if reading my mind.
Fine. Let's go to Square Garden then. If he's okay with it, it's better to head somewhere with guaranteed security.
We entered a cafe located near the east gate. After greeting the staff who recognized me, I sat down, and Baek Seo-woo handed me a business card, still wearing that smiling face.
"I'm late with my introduction. I am Baek Seo-woo from The Hero."
The card he handed me had the words THE HERO embossed in red in the center. On the back, there was nothing but his name and title.
Dumbfounded, I set the card down on the table and stared at Baek Seo-woo.
"I didn't know Villains carried business cards these days."
"The Hero is not a Villain group."
Baek Seo-woo corrected me with a smile.
Not a Villain group, my ass.
When they first formed, their intentions were good. They were an activist group that felt disgusted by how commercialized Heroes had become and wanted to return to the old ways.
The sentiment was fine, but they didn't hesitate to commit violent acts, and these days, they accept just about anyone, making them nothing more than a Villain group. Since they commit acts of terror as easily as breathing, they're more dangerous than Villains who just rob banks.
"So, why did The Hero come looking for me?"
"To scout you, Mr. Jeong Yeon-woo."
"It's fascinating that Villains do scouting too."
"Because we aren't Villains."
Baek Seo-woo spoke confidently. People who commit atrocities while believing they are serving a greater cause are the most vicious kind. They sacrifice anything for their "grand purpose" without a shred of hesitation.
Baek Seo-woo began to explain the grand vision of The Hero. However, I had no intention of listening to that ideological drivel.
"I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of leaving Square Garden."
I checked the ranks of the Heroes entering the cafe, gauging whether I could capture Baek Seo-woo without any civilian casualties. There were too many employees out for a break or a simple meeting. If I didn't suppress him instantly, casualties were inevitable.
First the New Human Alliance, and now The Hero is interested in me? I wonder if I'm emitting some kind of fatal charm, given how these Villain groups keep sending me love calls.
It's annoying as hell. I just came from a world where I slaved away with all the responsibility and none of the authority; why would I join a group with a similar vibe?
Am I crazy? I think saving people is good, but I hate being forced to do nothing but volunteer work.
"That's a shame. I thought someone like you, Mr. Jeong Yeon-woo, would understand our ideals."
"I'm refusing precisely because I understand them so well. To maintain an organization, you need money. To do dangerous work, you need honor."
"But hasn't it tilted too far? Heroes who crave money and seek honor are just celebrities."
"It's because of that money and honor that Hero equipment and techniques have advanced. You're making quite the speech while enjoying those very benefits yourself, Mr. Baek Seo-woo."
When I spoke while looking at his sleeve, Baek Seo-woo smiled as if he hadn't expected me to notice. He had some nerve coming here when Lee Ru-da was nearby; he clearly had a way to escape.
Hidden under his sleeve was a teleportation device, the same kind used by the New Human Alliance.
Baek Seo-woo gave a bitter smile and pulled a small black box from his sleeve.
"It seems I can't persuade you for now. I understand your thoughts well, Mr. Jeong Yeon-woo. Ah, keep the business card. The day will come when you'll need our strength."
"I doubt that day will ever come."
"It will. Humans stained by greed never leave the pure ones alone."
I never particularly thought of myself as pure.
But before I could respond, Baek Seo-woo activated the device. Other Heroes looked on in surprise at the empty seat where Baek Seo-woo had vanished in a small flash of light, but I didn't have the luxury to worry about them.
How on earth do these guys see me to think I'd share their ideals? Even looking back at my actions so far, it doesn't make sense.
Regardless, I should report this to Lee Ru-da before any misunderstandings arise.