Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Chaos in the Old District
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She had only witnessed Nova get suddenly attacked and collapse, so she hadn't seen the assailant.
“...Juyeol.”
“...”
Haon’s eyes widened as she carefully studied his face.
He looked more gaunt and on edge than the last time she had seen him.
It was more than just being busy with work in the Old District; a sharp, tense aura emanated from him.
He had said they shouldn’t meet for a while. How long did he mean by ‘a while’?
A few months? Or a few years? Or was it his way of saying he never wanted to see her again?
Juyeol, whose gaze had been locked with Haon’s as if time had stopped, suddenly frowned. His jaw muscle twitched as if he were clenching his teeth.
Just as Haon, puzzled by his expression, was about to step closer.
The mechanical hamster nestled in Haon’s arms leaped out and rolled toward Juyeol.
[Repairs complete! No need to worry!]
Snapped back to her senses by the sound, Haon cautiously spoke first.
“H-Have you been well? I fixed Ttiyong right away.”
Juyeol, hiding his embarrassment, nudged the mechanical hamster with the tip of his shoe.
“This thing keeps following me around on its own. Take it back, now.”
“But Ttiyong could be helpful...”
“Darling...”
Nova whined, clinging to Haon’s shoulder.
Startled, Haon turned to look at him.
“Does it hurt a lot? Lift your head.”
Nova lifted his head with a pitiful and tragic expression.
He didn’t forget to tilt his face to better show off his split lip.
“You’re bleeding. What should I do?”
Haon held his face with a look of pity.
“I guess getting beaten up by a Hero can’t be helped. Maybe I’m just an irredeemable person, like everyone says...”
“Nova! That’s not true.”
“But...”
Haon was at a loss, faced with Nova’s frail and pathetic state.
Juyeol let out a scoff, as if in disbelief.
‘That detestable bastard.’
Haon’s attitude, casually touching Nova’s face, was also dumbfounding.
Just a while ago, she’d been shunning and fearing Nova after losing her memory, but now she was stuck right by his side, busy consoling him.
Nova’s provocation, acting as if something had happened between them, came back to him.
‘...They were inseparable before she lost her memories, so something could have happened.’
As the thought crossed his mind, Juyeol felt his breath catch in his throat.
Out of habit, he readjusted his grip on his gun, finding comfort in its cold touch.
Noticing this, a startled Haon quickly moved to block Nova.
“Don’t do it!”
“...”
Juyeol’s face twisted into a scowl. He rubbed his temple and the nape of his neck, then took a deep breath.
Meeting his cold gaze, Haon began to ramble.
“N-Nova may have done a lot of wrong, but he hasn’t done anything right now, and he’s already hurt, so...”
“Why are you here?”
Juyeol cut her off irritably.
At that, Haon recalled her reason for coming to Old District 1, and her face turned pale.
“Ah! This is no time for this. Juyeol. The thing is, Bani—”
*KABOOM!*
In an instant, a deafening roar echoed from nearby.
As Haon let out a short scream and flinched, Nova wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
Juyeol found himself ridiculous for realizing that every single one of Nova’s actions felt like a provocation aimed at him.
“Ghost! Hurry!”
Just then, River called out to Juyeol urgently.
She flinched upon spotting Haon and Nova but, seemingly in a hurry, immediately ran off somewhere.
After a moment’s hesitation, Juyeol followed River, and the mechanical hamster trotted after him.
Seeing the Heroes’ retreating backs, Haon’s heart sank.
It was clear the Villains gathered here to take over District 1 had started to make their move.
If the Villains recklessly stormed Cue’s hideout, Bani would be in danger too.
“Nova. I need your help.”
“Hmm?”
Nova, who had been wearing a satisfied smile, quickly composed his expression.
“Bani was kidnapped by Cue.”
“Bani? He must have demanded money, then?”
“Yes. But I can’t give in to the kidnapper’s demands.”
“How decisive.”
“If I give in, he’ll just kidnap Bani again when the money runs out.”
Haon’s mind was made up. She knew all too well that giving in to the demands of terrorists and kidnappers once was never the end of it.
Haon looked worriedly at the crusted blood on Nova’s lips and said.
“So, if you’re okay with it, please help me rescue Bani.”
Nova stared at Haon for a moment before his lips stretched into a wide, beautiful smile.
“Darling. I’ll do my very best to help you. No payment needed.”
“...!”
Haon was genuinely surprised, her eyes widening. For him to take the initiative and say he didn’t need payment.
This time, she had been willing to make him something if he wanted it.
As if guessing her thoughts, Nova smiled slightly and held out his hand.
“I know a path to his hideout’s basement. Let’s go.”
* * *
The area around Cue’s hideout was pandemonium.
The Villains were busy taking out their rivals first in order to kill Cue.
Unless he gave up his position as the boss of District 1 himself, the one who killed Cue would become the new boss.
Even if he gave up his position and left the Old District, he would be killed to eliminate any future trouble.
Defend District 1 or die in District 1. Cue only had two options.
“District 1 is mine! Die!”
A Villain from outside the Old District charged at Weaver.
*Bang! Bang!*
The Villain, who had been smirking as he casually blocked the bullets flying from the side with a manhole cover, soon screamed and collapsed.
He had clearly blocked the bullet, but another identical bullet had flown in from the opposite direction.
“One shot from me is never just one shot.”
Two-Shot walked up beside Weaver, looking triumphant.
Two-Shot’s ability was that when he fired a single bullet, an identical one would simultaneously be fired from the exact opposite direction.
“You look like you’re having fun.”
Weaver said as she placed a mark on the head of a fleeing Villain—a comrade of the one shot down by Two-Shot.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in a dogfight like this, so of course it’s fun! No need to thank me!”
“Right. Not that I was going to.”
With an elegant smile, Weaver threw a dagger high into the air in a seemingly random direction.
The dagger shot up, drew a long arc as it fell, and a death scream echoed from deep within an alley.
Weaver’s ability was that no matter where she threw her dagger, it would fall on the head of the person she had ‘marked’.
A short distance away, a Villain who was pointing a shotgun at Halla flinched just as he was about to pull the trigger.
In an instant, his gun had rusted over, and the trigger wouldn't budge.
“I see foreigners here and there, too. They must have heard the rumors.”
Rusty said, adjusting his fedora as he approached.
The ability to make metal rust just by staring at it belonged to Rusty.
Halla swatted the hesitating Villains away with her bear paws and grumbled.
“I saw them too. What do those guys who can’t even speak the language think they’re gonna do by setting up shop here?”
The four bosses once again used their abilities on the outsider Villains fighting in different areas.
Villains continued to fall around them. They had decided to first eliminate the troublemakers from the outside before fighting amongst themselves.
A change in the Old District’s boss was a major event for the public. It was a chance to witness a battle between the Awakened, an opportunity they wouldn't want to miss.
There were many civilians watching from rooftops all over, and many reporters snooping around with cameras.
It was the Heroes who had a headache because of them.
“It’s dangerous! Don’t get any closer and get inside the buildings!”
Chaser shouted, but it was no use.
“You expect me to miss a scoop like this?”
When the Heroes showed up to block their way, the reporters decided they now had protection and became even more reckless.
The three Heroes dispatched to Old District 1 weren’t there to stop the Villains’ fight, but to save the citizens making such rash moves.
*BOOM! CRASH!*
The sounds of explosions and collisions came from all directions.
Juyeol batted away a chunk of concrete flying at him from the side with the barrel of his gun, then grabbed a reporter by the scruff of his neck.
“Get inside while I’m asking nicely.”
“H-How is this asking nicely—”
The reporters tried to resist but were overwhelmed by Ghost’s imposing presence and were pushed inside a building.
However, unable to give up on taking pictures, they pressed against the windows, pointing their cameras out.
River, who had just returned from evacuating onlookers nearly caught in the fighting, slapped a wooden board over the window.
“So reckless. Don’t they know that making eye contact with these lowlifes could make them a target for their frustration?”
“Once the Old District bosses start fighting each other, it’ll be even harder to rescue people, so we need to hurry.”
As he scanned his surroundings, Juyeol realized he was unconsciously searching for someone and clicked his tongue.
His body was on the scene and his senses were sharp, but his thoughts kept straying. It was likely because he had run into Haon without any mental preparation.
Feeling uneasy, Juyeol glared at the mechanical hamster for no reason.
‘Why the hell is she here? Surely she’s not suddenly aiming for the boss’s seat, right?’
He immediately told himself that was ridiculous.
‘Her, a boss? She gets scared by the sound of an explosion. It’s more likely she followed Nova here in case he caused trouble.’
Muttering to himself, the image of Haon protecting Nova from him suddenly came to mind, and he shook his head to clear it.