Ch.144Epilogue 5. There’s No Way I Could Raise a Hero’s Daughter (4)

“You want to look younger? Huh, Lord, don’t you already not age?”

When I brought up the topic to Wrap Paper, who’s in charge of Vengeance’s mad scientist department, that was his response.

“Specifically, I need to look fourteen years old. Duration as long as needed. No side effects.”

“That’s quite demanding. I won’t ask what you’re using it for, but eliminating side effects too? My chemicals aren’t miracle workers.”

“It’s for a mission.”

“Then I’d better work hard. Give me 13 minutes.”

For someone who sounded concerned, he came back with it way too quickly. Now I was the one worried about side effects.

“Here you go. Take one every hour and avoid double dosing.”

“Good work. By the way, Wrap Paper, are you married?”

I was suddenly curious about his personal life. Standing in front of his advanced lab’s chemical mixer, he shrugged.

“Of course. I have two kids.”

“Are they ability users?”

“Just one of them. Though they say they won’t become a villain.”

“And your wife?”

“She was a pharmacist, said she was my fan, so we met through an introduction.”

“I only remember when you confessed to Deep Dive.”

“Come on, that was ages ago. I believe Deep Dive ended up in a same-sex marriage?”

“Hmm, I never received a wedding invitation.”

“Well, you’re always so busy, Lord. Everyone deliberately avoided sending them.”

“That makes me feel bad.”

“Not at all. Come visit again sometime.”

After parting with Wrap Paper, I met with the Academy’s principal. When I told him I’d be infiltrating with a disguised identity for a while, he arranged everything immediately while sweating profusely.

That’s how I smoothly completed the transfer procedures and successfully secured the seat next to Ra-hee.

Hmm.

Being among middle schoolers feels rather uncomfortable. Extremely awkward.

The class content is incredibly easy. Is today’s curriculum always this simple?

I glance sideways and make eye contact with Ra-hee. Seeing me, she seems displeased and abruptly turns her head to look out the window.

She should be focusing on the lesson. Maybe I disturbed her.

Still, her usual attitude doesn’t seem bad. That’s somewhat reassuring.

She doesn’t appear to be an outcast at the Academy either.

“Hey, Recter. Where did you transfer from?”

“Is that your real name or villain name?”

“Real name? That’s so cool! Are your parents villains too? What’s your rank?”

Rather, I found myself in an awkward situation during break time with all the attention focused on me.

The next class was ability enhancement training. Everyone practices according to their abilities.

Being a good academy, the equipment and facilities were well-prepared to train abilities of any type.

“What am I supposed to do?”

I approached Ra-hee as naturally as possible and spoke to her, but she gave me a cold side-eye.

“What did you do at your previous academy that you don’t know?”

Look at her attitude. Does she dislike me that much? Or is she like this with everyone?

She’s supposed to be a good kid… I worried about Ra-hee getting into arguments over small things like her tone.

“I came from such a rural area.”

“See those trainer dummies over there? Just use whatever ability you have on them.”

“Hmm.”

My abilities are Apocalypse and Armageddon, both of which are extremely noticeable when used. I need to transform to use them.

I’ll just say I’m undeveloped here.

“I don’t have an ability.”

“What? And you still passed the transfer exam?”

“Because I’m exceptional. Same as you, right? You must have enrolled here because you have talent.”

“…I don’t know.”

Ra-hee made an uncomfortable expression. A mischievous-looking male student who must have been eavesdropping behind me shouted:

“Hey, Ra-hee got in because of her parents’ connections! She has no abilities!”

When Ra-hee glared at him fiercely, the boy got scared and ran away.

Where does that bastard get off spreading rumors about Ra-hee? You’re dead later. I did meet with the principal when Ra-hee was admitted…

But I didn’t use any influence.

“…Well, that’s what they say. Hanging around someone like me will give you a bad reputation too.”

“No way. We’ll be the honor student club.”

I went to the dummy trainer and loosely stretched my wrists.

“The transfer student is going to the physical dummy?”

“What, is he ability-less too?”

The students whispered. I threw a moderate punch that landed squarely on the trainer’s solar plexus.

KWAAANG!!

The trainer shattered, sending mechanical pieces flying through the air.

“Wow.”

“Gasp.”

Without stopping, I continued my fighting technique. Transitioning into a flamingo step, I rotated 480 degrees counterclockwise, extending my right leg powerfully to smash a second head.

Using the torso as a springboard for momentum, I charged forward. I dove between the third and fourth dummies, landing with a stomp of my instep.

With the sound of destruction, sparks flew. Only chaos remained.

“Oh my god.”

“W-wow, he’s so strong…!”

The students’ attention focused on me. I brushed off the mechanical fragments from my clothes.

“Even the best facilities aren’t much. Jung Ra-hee.”

“H-huh?”

Ra-hee stared at me blankly.

“Rather than using these pathetic dummies, direct training would be better. Come on. I’ll be your opponent.”

“…Ha, you’re funny.”

Ra-hee snorted and put strength in her legs. Though not a textbook stance, it looked natural, as if she was familiar with it.

In an instant, Ra-hee leaped at me with a smile.

***

“Indeed, you can choose the menu but they manage the diet to prevent picky eating. The food quality is good and the cafeteria is excellent. I’m impressed.”

During lunch, Recter muttered these words while touching the kiosk buttons. Jung Ra-hee stared at his profile.

“What are you ordering?”

“Oh, me? I’ll just have… this.”

Jung Ra-hee simply ordered a bowl of soba.

“Is that all? I’m paying, so you can order plenty. You’re in your growth period, shouldn’t you eat more to grow?”

“Growth period? What do you mean?”

Jung Ra-hee glared at Recter, feeling slightly offended. She had matured mentally faster than others and hit puberty early, which meant her body developed quickly too.

Even now, she could pass for seventeen. She stood at 160cm with a bust over D-cup.

She knew that other boys picked on her as a way of showing interest. And that most of that interest was sexual.

That’s why the phrase “growth period” felt uncomfortable. It seemed like he was suggesting she eat more to make her chest bigger.

But Recter’s face showed no such impure intentions.

“You’ll probably grow to 171cm. So until then, you should eat plenty.”

“Oh… really?”

Jung Ra-hee felt awkward and added a croquette to her order.

When the food arrived, Recter had piled up two full meals plus five side dishes, preparing to eat it all.

“That’s incredible…”

“Might as well eat properly for once.”

Men do eat a lot, but he’s something else. Jung Ra-hee began eating while watching Recter stuff food into his mouth.

“Ra-hee.”

“H-huh?”

Jung Ra-hee kept getting startled whenever he called her.

“Do you have any hobbies?”

“Hobbies? Why suddenly?”

“Yes. Like arcades or something.”

“I’m not really into games… just, you know.”

“I see.”

“What about you, Recter?”

“Villains are my hobby.”

“Villains? Middle school students can’t officially participate. Even high schoolers have trouble getting permission. What, do you watch videos or something?”

“Hmm… something like that.”

“Who do you like?”

“Hmm… Deep Dive?”

“Ugh. That’s such an old-school taste. These days Geist and Valkyrie are the trend.”

“You’re quite knowledgeable.”

“Not really… I just hear things.”

Though she normally pretended to have no interest in villains due to her resentment toward Jung Ui-seok and Lena, Jung Ra-hee did keep up with the news.

But her father was the strongest active villain, and her mother was once number one. She couldn’t imagine herself doing anything comparable to them.

Especially without any abilities.

So she had already given up.

But seeing Recter, who was ability-less yet so strong with pure physical prowess, made her feel a sense of possibility.

Of course, she wasn’t thinking about becoming a villain right away. Who would accept a delinquent like her anyway?

“Hey, Jung Ra-hee. I heard you were hanging out with boys from the neighboring academy late last night?”

A group of delinquent senior boys approached Jung Ra-hee. How had the rumors been distorted this time? Jung Ra-hee sighed in annoyance.

“So why do you always reject us? Let’s go to a karaoke place together today.”

“No.”

“She’s always like this. Hey, do you hate hanging out with your seniors that much?”

Was it because of her appearance?

She always seemed to attract trouble even when she had no such intentions.

She just dressed and styled her hair this way because it looked pretty.

…Though she also hoped her mother would notice and pay attention to her.

“I said no.”

Despite Jung Ra-hee’s refusal, the boys surrounded her.

Then came a sharp sound as someone put down chopsticks in front of her.

“You guys, can’t you see we’re eating?”

Recter spoke in a low, threatening voice. The boys glared at him.

“You guys?”

“Hey, how old are you?”

“Is this the guy? The one who transferred today?”

The atmosphere instantly turned hostile. Recter continued calmly.

“Are you vagrants who can only ask a girl out by swarming her in a pack? More importantly, even dogs aren’t disturbed while eating, you less-than-dogs.”

“What did this bastard say?”

“What did you just spout!”

In an instant, the boys lit up with anger, activating their abilities as they surrounded Recter.

Jung Ra-hee was shocked. They weren’t opponents to be taken lightly enough for casual provocation.

But Recter, looking amused, kicked up the chair he was sitting on, caught it, and threw it to hit one boy’s head. He nimbly pulled his body back and grabbed two others’ heads, smashing them together. There was a resounding crack.

“Tsk, the educational standards are a mess. I’ll have to say something about this later.”

Before she knew it, all the bullies were unconscious. Recter brought a new chair and continued eating as if nothing had happened.

“Hey, you just…!”

Jung Ra-hee raised her voice out of concern for him, but Recter just shrugged as if it were nothing.

“If it’s uncomfortable, let’s change seats. Dust has settled on this excellent meal.”

Seriously, there’s a limit to showing off.

Jung Ra-hee shook her head at Recter’s middle school syndrome.