Ch.129129. Sulphur, The Time of Resolution

“That’s how the structure of this world is.”

That was my conclusion.

“It was a good choice to wipe out the heroes once. I cleaned up those corrupt bastards who were no better than criminals. The cowards quit or ran away long ago. But a world with only villains created problems.”

“Quickly, Ui-seok, executives who wouldn’t listen to your orders appeared. The instincts of villains cannot be suppressed by domination alone.”

Lena was right. That’s why I had to clash with her opinion.

“I felt it keenly. I had to create an internal enemy to resolve the villains’ instincts. That was UVC. But I couldn’t run the world that way forever. It’s ultimately self-destructive.”

“That’s when Vengeance’s approval ratings started to drop. But paradoxically, when the hero world and the Incursion began, our world regained its vitality.”

Somi was right.

The common point between Civil War and Incursion.

There was a clear, easily identifiable enemy.

“Villains are those who freely exercise evil. There’s a limit to restricting their targets. So they need an opponent.”

“That’s how villains are in the first place. All villains occur naturally. Many dangerous villains drive the world toward destruction. Heroes are the ones who have been hunting them down.”

I’m not saying I’ll apply the basic principle Lu-a suggested exactly as is. However.

“The world needs heroes for balance. Classical, good heroes who stand at my point of opposition and maintain tension.”

Just as heroes need villains to be complete,

Villains also need heroes to be complete.

Currently, only Sulphur can take on that role.

Her rank that I could see through the system was T15.

But both before and after, I couldn’t see any information about her when she transformed into a hero. It might be due to the influence of her monster transformation, or perhaps she’s become something beyond the system’s recognition range.

In other words, T15 is presumed to represent the rank of Sulphur’s pure physical body itself, without transformation.

I still can’t guess how much more power she might be hiding.

Or what’s an act and what’s sincere.

And above all,

What the operating principle of that personality is.

One thing is certain.

Sulphur’s goal.

She wants to protect this world as a hero.

She’s capable enough. She’s sufficient to place at my opposing point going forward.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I intend to hand over the world to the heroes she’ll nurture from now on. I’ll maintain the villain stance.

The important thing is balance.

Through the confrontational structure of villains and heroes, I can achieve more comfortable and secure dominance.

“I see. I didn’t understand everything, but it was interesting! Oh my, look at the time. It’s time to part ways. Congratulations on your survival once again.”

The witness rose from his seat. He savored our world one last time with satisfaction.

“I’ll continue watching with pleasure. Stay healthy, Gerogius!”

The next moment, the witness was gone as if cut out of a film frame.

“Finally, that noisy fellow is gone. My head was throbbing so much.”

“He was quite an interesting old man.”

“Boksil, bring more side dishes.”

“Fufu, shall we continue our cozy gathering?”

Somi held out her glass.

We clinked our glasses lightly.

***

“Releasing the seal is an angel’s mission!”

“Sea Lord Sentai Tensirjer!”

Five warriors in white, blue, yellow, black, and silver spread their wings and dove from the air to the ground.

KWAAANG!

Explosions erupted and chaos consumed the space.

Five heroes burst into the scene where villains and monsters were fighting in a tangled mess.

The situation began to grow more urgent because of them.

“The Vengeance Kang Wan branch was suppressing monsters that appeared downtown, but the Sea Lord Sentai has intervened once again!”

“Recently, hero sentai teams have been increasing around the world, and all eyes are on whether villains can keep citizens safe!”

The media broadcasts from the scene.

Monsters appearing randomly anywhere in the world. Originally, their subjugation was Vengeance’s job, but it had been several months since vigilante groups calling themselves heroes, led by the Sea Lord Sentai, began to appear.

“Those hero bastards, interfering again!”

The villains expressed their discontent.

The Sea Lord Sentai was closer to anarchists, overwhelming with force and taking down both villains and monsters without distinction, so they were far from welcome.

“Ah! Here comes our Lord Gerogius! Are the Incursion reversal warriors with him too?!”

“They’re all such distinguished individuals. Today he’s appeared alone to subdue the Sea Lord Sentai!”

Jung Ui-seok, who had been standing with his arms crossed on a high-speed flying mecha, lightly jumped off. Transforming into a dragon-man, he thrust his fist toward the ground.

KWAAANG!

The Sea Lord Sentai, who were his target, jumped to avoid it. Immediately, the snow-white hero who led the Sea Lord Sentai approached him.

“You’re energetic today too, Gerogius.”

“White Sulphur.”

“Haha, I’m honored you called me by my full name.”

The two continued their martial arts battle. While Sulphur engaged Jung Ui-seok, the Sea Lord Sentai and villains took down the monsters.

“It seems there’s a mass monster generation device underground. What a strange world, isn’t it? I don’t understand why these things keep popping up endlessly.”

“Why state the obvious now? Let’s go clean it up.”

Jung Ui-seok jumped and threw a powerful punch at Sulphur. Sulphur crossed her arms to defend.

KWAKWAKWAKWA—!!

The ground collapsed from the impact, and Jung Ui-seok and Sulphur fell deep underground as if being sucked in.

After breaking through several layers of earth, the two arrived in a space. It was a laboratory-like place surrounded by steel.

“Whew, that was intense. Take it easy. When you hit me, it lasts for a week.”

Jung Ui-seok questioned Sulphur, who was speaking flippantly.

“Why did you undo your transformation?”

“I should ask you the same. Why are you in your bare body? I never undid my transformation…”

Sulphur stopped speaking. She realized her voice modulator wasn’t working.

Both Jung Ui-seok and Sulphur sensed something was wrong and looked up at the ceiling they had fallen through.

Somehow, the hole they had made had been repaired and was now completely sealed.

“What the hell.”

Sulphur took out the Milky Way switch and pressed the left side. Click, click. It didn’t work. She jumped and struck the ceiling, but not even a scratch appeared.

“Our abilities have been nullified. We’ve fallen into a strange space.”

“How can that be? Does such technology even exist? This is an emergency!”

Sulphur panicked. Jung Ui-seok, showing no particular emotional disturbance, looked around and began walking.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to find a way out. It’s not like sitting still will give us any bright ideas.”

“Good grief.”

Sulphur clicked her tongue and followed behind Jung Ui-seok.

After walking for about 30 minutes, Jung Ui-seok realized something.

“There’s curvature. We might be continuously going deeper underground. Or maybe we’re just going in circles.”

“This is maddening.”

“Dummy data… It feels like an Easter egg or bug materialized in reality. Well, there have been urban legends like this. The Backrooms, for instance.”

“You mean that rumor where if you accidentally step into a spatial gap while walking, you’ll wander in a null space forever? That’s horror material.”

“And that’s what we’re experiencing right now.”

“Don’t joke around.”

“I wish this was a joke.”

Jung Ui-seok clicked his tongue. Sulphur saw it too. A large space appeared before their eyes, filled with monsters.

“Turn back.”

“Damn it.”

The monsters spotted Jung Ui-seok and Sulphur and began charging toward them. The two ran at full speed.

In a situation where they couldn’t use their abilities, facing hundreds of monsters head-on would be tantamount to suicide.

“Was there a door earlier too?”

“What?”

Jung Ui-seok grabbed Sulphur’s wrist and pulled her. Sulphur’s heart sank for a moment. Jung Ui-seok opened a door that had appeared in the corridor, pushed Sulphur inside, and then hid himself.

BANG!

He urgently closed the door. From the other side, the sound of monsters scratching at the door could be heard.

Sulphur swallowed nervously.

Scratch, scratch.

Scratch…

…

Fortunately, after a while, it became quiet. Sulphur quietly sighed and looked around.

“Damn. What is this place?”

It was a sealed room. A small space of about two and a half pyeong. There was barely enough light to identify objects.

“We’re trapped. A bad move.”

“What now?”

“We’ll have to wait it out. Until those things outside leave. They were the same kind of monsters as the ones on the surface. That means there’s an exit somewhere. Let’s rest in the meantime.”

Jung Ui-seok leaned against the wall and sat down casually. Sulphur couldn’t help but laugh at his thick nerves.

“Hey, aren’t you at all nervous about being locked in a room with a hero who wants to kill you?”

“Are we going to fight now? That’s fine too. You’ll definitely die here.”

“Tsk.”

Though she knew his words were somewhat bluffing, Sulphur also decided to rest for now.

It was obvious if you thought about it.

There was no reason to fight him when no one was watching.

Silence continued.

Sulphur realized she felt a bit stuffy. This room wasn’t ventilating properly.

She was starting to feel a bit dazed, perhaps because oxygen was becoming scarce.

“Sulphur.”

“What? Don’t make me talk.”

“How is it being a hero?”

“It’s shit.”

“Haha, I bet. How are the other sentai members?”

“Why, are you planning how to kill them next?”

“What if I am?”

“Go ahead and try. I’ll split your body in two first.”

“I’m quite hated, aren’t I?”

Her expression made Sulphur’s stomach burn a little.

“That’s not what I was curious about. I just wanted to know how they were doing since I knew them somewhat.”

Seeing Jung Ui-seok’s attitude, which didn’t show much hostility, Sulphur also lowered her guard slightly.

“…Well, if you’re that curious.”

Sulphur began to talk.