episode_0089
by fnovelpia
The weather forecast comes through the speakers of an old radio, accompanied by a crackling noise.
Masquerade, who had been sitting quietly on an old wooden box listening to the radio, was now waiting for a visitor.
That visitor wasn’t alone.
The number of people coming to this natural dwelling he had created himself was probably more than a dozen.
“I guess so… … .”
A new hero came here a while ago.
A man with the rare ability to unconditionally nullify abilities.
Hero Handler.
There was something vaguely felt about him.
A person who has completely forgotten the past and whose only ability is to be stimulated by others.
The afterglow of the SSS-class villain, Ruina of Destruction, was felt from him.
It was a literal smell, and it was also something indescribable that stimulated my nerves.
Of course, I was very surprised at first.
Because Masquerade had just gone to find a handler with the thought that he could catch Ruina a little more comfortably.
But after feeling the power of nullifying Ruina’s afterglow from him.
I realized that meeting him was definitely fate.
When several coincidences overlap, it is said to be fate, inevitability.
Lately, Ruina has been very quiet, as if her powers have disappeared.
In the midst of all this, a hero who can seal abilities suddenly appears in the world?
And do you sense a familiar lingering scent from that hero?
Even if Masquerade was a muscle-brained organization that did things without thinking about the consequences, it was impossible to dismiss those coincidences as being completely unrelated.
So Masquerade openly asked the Handler for cooperation.
And soon I was convinced that he had arrived with a woman who claimed to be the head of the agency.
‘This man is definitely connected to Ruina in some way.’
Of course, the lady boss also felt the same lingering scent of Ruina.
And now.
That assumption turned out to be slightly different than Masquerade had thought.
Squeak.
The roughly made wooden door opened with an eerie sound.
Soon after, men in black suits rushed into the small house.
They were all wearing sunglasses and had their mouths tightly shut, so their expressions were completely unreadable.
“You guys are in the same position as me.”
Likewise, the Masquerade, whose face was never revealed to the outside world due to the helmet mask that was put on him without his knowledge, joked around.
“Hello. Hero Masquerade.”
“Wow. It was you who led this group, boss.”
The woman who appeared between the men in suits was the one who had previously introduced herself as the president of an agency.
Unlike her companions, her face was clearly tense.
“Everything we tell you from now on is strictly confidential.”
“You’re not an ordinary agency president, are you?”
“… … If the comments made here are exposed to the outside in any way─.”
Ignoring Masquerade’s words, she continued to speak.
“Fuck!!”
Kuung!
Masquerade jumped up from his seat, stomping his feet excessively on purpose.
The president’s facial muscles twitched and reacted.
“If I can meet Ruina without any interference, I will never reveal this until I die. Is that okay?”
“, thank you.”
“Hahaha!! I should be the one thanking you!! If only you could let me see Ruina right away without having to chase after her!!”
The Masked Hero’s voice was louder than usual.
Soon his eyes flashed in the dark room, and he glared at the secret agents fiercely.
“Then please guide me. To my nemesis, Ruina.”
* * *
Caw. Caw. Caw.
High in the sky filled with gray clouds, only the pitiful cry of crows could be heard.
Other than that, there was just the natural sound of a cold wind blowing fiercely.
There was no human voice, no car engine noise, no mechanical noise, no artificial sound whatsoever.
This is the southern part of the Korean peninsula.
About 4 years ago. It was the ruins of a city that Ruina had destroyed when she first appeared in the world.
The damage was so extensive that it could not be repaired or demolished, and was left as an eyesore.
“Ruina. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t here… … .”
I spoke to the SSS-class villain wearing a plain mask and a baggy hoodie while caressing his shoulder.
The reason we came all the way here was because she personally selected it from the list of places to meet up with the Masquerade.
“Hehe. Is it because I have this really good feeling about this place?”
“Jo, good… … .”
“And here, no one can interfere or cause any damage. That’s probably what Masquerade wants.”
“Haa… … .”
I really hope that the two of you don’t end up fighting.
It seemed like Ruina had already made up her mind to fight.
Well, it seems like the situation on the Masquerade side that I heard over the radio isn’t much different…
“Ruina. You might fight someone who is like your own sister. Aren’t you worried?”
“Yeah. It’s okay.”
Is it because he wears the mask of a cold-blooded villain?
Ruina looked very calm.
But, I could feel a slight tremor in her shoulder that was just now touching my hand.
Although he said it casually, he must have been worried.
The hero who had been stalking her like a stalker was actually someone who was like a sister to her.
“You’re in danger, so stay far away from me.”
From far away in the ruins, where only silence filled the air as if the world had stopped, a loud roar was heard.
The familiar sound of an engine.
It was the sound of the National Intelligence Service’s van engine that I had been hearing ever since I first met Ruina.
“Ruina… … .”
“I’m really okay.”
When I called her name softly, Ruina turned around to look at me.
Because she was wearing a white mask, I couldn’t tell what expression she was making at the moment.
However, the way he was staring at me seemed like he wanted to be petted by me.
“Hehe. As expected, you know without me saying it.”
As I stroked her head over the hood she was wearing, Ruina came into my arms and hugged me tightly.
“Ruina. Don’t get hurt. And don’t fight too hard. Okay?”
“I knew it, I knew it.”
Ruina fell away from me and brought her fist and beans to my chest.
“Your girlfriend is the most evil villain in the world! So don’t worry!”
“Haha… … . I told you, this is an amazing girlfriend… … .”
“Hehe. I’ll be back.”
“Yeah.”
The moment when you raise your hand to see them off.
Ruina jumped up from her spot and disappeared.
The destination was probably somewhere near where the van stopped in the distance.
“Ruina… … .”
I put my hand on my heart and hoped that nothing would happen during our four-year reunion with my sisters.
* * *
A black van arrived at the center of the ruins.
In front of him, the small yet huge shadow of the SSS-class villain of destruction stopped.
“… … … … .”
Thanks to the white, patterned mask, Ruina’s expression was not revealed to the outside world.
Years ago, while living in the back alleys, I heard rumors that this was the perfect mask for criminals, so I stole it. It was a very sturdy mask that I have been using to this day.
Ding ding.
The slide door of the van opened.
Inside, the legs of the white rider suit stretched out.
“You invited me to such a faraway place. Is this the proper treatment for a rival?”
Masquerade jumped out of the van, throwing out a joke.
Immediately after that.
Vroom! The van’s engine roared loudly and it quickly reversed into the distance.
“I’ve never thought of you as a nemesis. If I had to say, I’d say you’re a stalker.”
“Huh? Is that your voice? I thought you might be a woman because you’re small.”
“You’re the one who has your pretty face wrapped up in a mask.”
“Hahahaha! You know my secret! As expected, you have a lot of secrets that I don’t know!!”
The Masquerade crouched low to the ground.
It was a sign that it would rush towards Ruina at any moment.
“Haa. I really don’t want to fight with you.”
Even though she said that, Ruina also crossed her arms and stretched them forward.
“Today is the day I will defeat you and reclaim my true self! Ruina, the villain of destruction!”
“Yes, welcome. Sister 24, who has returned as a passionate fool after 4 years.”
The two took a big step towards each other.
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