Ch.187Chapter 7. What’s Wrong Is Wrong, No Matter Who Sees It (1)

I had achieved the core of my plan, or at least my minimum goal.

-Securing the Wijungcheoksa spies.

The best outcome would have been confirming the location of the laboratory on Sejong Island, but even in the worst case, I’d still identify those targeting Zenros on the ferry.

I hadn’t achieved the best outcome, but I’d gotten results that couldn’t be considered the worst either.

The rest was just a matter of Qiongqi’s agents extracting information from the Wijungcheoksa spies who had infiltrated—or betrayed—the Hero Association.

Ymir’s plan assumed we would “cause a scene,” meaning we would need to resort to force.

For example, if someone innocent who came to the lounge for a smoke was murdered during our investigation, Ymir suggested we immediately start a riot.

Right.

A situation had emerged where Jam Minpuff Girl could shine.

-That won’t work.

I was relieved and expected Jam Minpuff Girl to step up, but the objection came from an unexpected source.

-Rather than doing something like Jam Minpuff Girl, I think Manager Do taking action would be most effective.

-Chairman?

-Manager Do? Let’s save Jam Minpuff Girl for situations where we’re “defeating villains.” It wouldn’t make sense for a righteous hero to get involved in something like this.

While Ymir had simply planned to change identities, the Chairman added one more element to the setup.

-Let’s have Jam Minpuff Girl appear when a giant demon shows up later. For situations like this where we’re targeting Wijungcheoksa, it would be better to have a completely different third party step in.

-No.

-We pretend not to be The Syndicate. We can’t pretend to be Wijungcheoksa either. We need to create an entirely different organization. The answer is to create a new organization that others will find difficult to understand.

The Chairman said:

If The Syndicate isn’t going to act openly, make sure people don’t even realize The Syndicate is involved.

With that in mind, I transformed into a completely different appearance before people’s eyes.

So that no one would think I was the Goblin.

“Hmph. You seem too shocked to speak.”

“…State your affiliation and identity.”

Lee Jun-young tried to hide his confusion as he clenched his fist.

“I already told you, didn’t I? I am ‘The Dark Charisma.'”

“Your affiliation?”

“I have no affiliation. I am a guardian of patriotism, an awakened one of supernatural powers, a protector of children’s dreams and hopes, a messenger of peace, and you could say, a passing traveler.”

I spout whatever nonsense comes to mind while catching my breath.

“But if you insist on naming an organization, well, call it ‘Black Sephirot.'”

“Black…Sephirot…?”

His eyes say, “What is that?”

Unless someone is particularly interested in complex settings or emotionally evocative concepts, the term “Sephirot” would naturally be unfamiliar.

And those who do know it would wonder, “Why would an organization use that name?”

It doesn’t matter.

Names have no meaning, after all.

-The goal is just to confuse people, so don’t worry too much about it. Heheheh.

It’s an organization name the Chairman personally created.

The only member is me, The Dark Charisma.

No one else.

“What’s your purpose? Where did you take those people?!”

“Hmph! I’ve only come to save the weak!”

He took the bait.

From now on, I need to pull one of the pre-planned scenarios from my head and recite the lines.

“Rehabilitation of the weak who have fallen to demonic temptation! Power loss? Hahaha! Don’t make me laugh!!”

Swoosh.

I unnecessarily flutter my cape and make grand gestures with my hands.

“Once a power user, always a power user! Zenros? Power loss? That’s just the surface appearance!”

Any entity trying to present something to people needs a purpose and principle behind their actions.

“They didn’t lose their powers because of someone called Platinum Sun! It’s because their will is weak! I cannot acknowledge such weak individuals as power users like myself!”

If someone appears and causes trouble during a prisoner transport of power-loss victims with 30 naval ships mobilized by the government, what kind of logic could such a being present?

“I will personally correct their rotten minds! As a true power user, I will help them rearm their spirits and regain their powers! With full force!”

“You…you alone will revive their powers…?”

“I’m not the one reviving their powers! Resurrection of dead powers! That’s something they must create themselves! It’s not something others can make happen!”

This is the ideology and logic of a committed madman.

“Interesting opinion. You think willpower alone can help regain powers?”

Heavenly Demon approached me as I floated in the air.

“Do you really think willpower alone makes everything possible?”

“Hmph! A power user’s will is the measure of their strength! Those with weak will can never become strong!”

I’m committing world-class setting spoilers in front of a global audience, but I wonder how many people will be inspired by these words.

“Power users of the world! Without an iron will, you’re nothing but defeated dogs!”

For reference.

The Goblin would never say such things.

He’d spend that time killing one more demon instead.

“With a weak mind, you can accomplish nothing! Especially if you’re a mediocrity who turns away from truth and imposes your ego on the world!”

I deliberately turned my gaze toward the sea.

Naturally, everyone followed my line of sight, and there was Susanoo.

“A foolish power user who turns away from reality! Nothing but a disgrace to S-rank!”

[What did you say!!]

Susanoo began charging toward me.

Thunder Empress tried to stop him but stepped aside at Susanoo’s momentum.

Looking at Thunder Empress’s eyes, she had probably figured out something about my identity through the Taeguk Watch.

Otherwise, she’d be wondering why someone as impressive as me was talking like this here and now.

What madman would make people disappear secretly at a place where four S-ranks are fighting?

She’ll likely try to measure my power through Susanoo, judging me as dangerous.

[You weird pervert in a mask!!]

I don’t react.

Just a little more, when he gets a little closer.

[I’ve always said people who hide their faces behind masks are either lunatics or perverts!]

“Hmph! Foolish one!”

I summoned my magical power.

Unlike the Goblin’s usual color, I released a turbid mixture of various colors behind my body.

“A power user proves their existence through their power and ability!!”

[……!!]

Susanoo’s feet hesitated momentarily.

“I’ve already proven myself with my power, so what more is there to hide!”

It wasn’t because he heard my shout, but he stopped walking with an expression suggesting he’d realized something from my words.

“I’ll show you! The pinnacle of power! The strongest force on earth! An invincible power that shakes heaven and earth, incomparable to anything else!”

[I, I…! Susanoo will never lose!!]

He charges at me while referring to himself in the third person.

Clenching his fist and pulling it behind his shoulder, his stance was nothing like a fighter’s.

Rumble.

A massive circle spread behind me.

Others wouldn’t know, but using the Goblin’s club to mix Qiongqi and Taowu’s powers, along with Ymir’s magic, a brilliant yellow giant figure appeared, shining brightly.

[A, a summoned creature…!]

“Not a summoned creature!!”

With the promised line:

“A god!!”

Flash!

Black lines spread across the golden giant’s body.

Originally it should have been yellow lines on a black background, but most of the magical power forming that giant wasn’t mine but Ymir’s.

“Mana energy, maximum!!”

That’s right.

All that magical power belongs to Ymir, Qiongqi, and Taowu.

-Rather than something like Jam Minpuff Girl, let’s go with something that can demonstrate power more definitively. How about something like a giant of light?

The ultimate weapon enhanced by the Chairman’s opinion.

“I’ll show you! The power of Black Sephirot’s divine giant!! The power of will!!”

I stretch one arm forward.

The most important thing when using such power is that the movements of the caster and the magical construct must never be synchronized.

Rumble.

With golden light shimmering in both hands, the light giant bends at the waist and pulls its right arm back.

In a stance clearly different from Susanoo’s amateur posture—a perfect stance that martial artists would record and practice.

“God, Hand Crusherrrr!”

The giant swung its fist of light downward toward Susanoo.

Naturally, it was impossible for Susanoo to withstand an attack containing the magical power of three S-ranks pushed to the extreme.

WHAM!!

Susanoo’s head was crushed.

The giant’s fist smashed into Susanoo’s head, driving into the center and making it concave.

Whoosh.

Susanoo’s body dissipated into mist.

The boy who was Susanoo’s true form, located near the solar plexus, fell toward the sea with a blank expression.

“This is…will…!”

Splash!

Susanoo fell backward into the sea and shattered like mist.

“Applaud! Strong, invincible! Power that no one can approach!”

The light giant also faded away, becoming particles of light.

Unlike Susanoo who collapsed backward with his head crushed, the giant systematically disappeared from the bottom up, illuminating the surroundings.

“Uwahahahahahahahaha!”

With a meaningless victory roar.

“Hmph.”

I savored the victory.

…As The Dark Charisma.

* * *

“…….”

Baek Seol-hee couldn’t say anything as she watched the unidentified man bursting into maniacal laughter on TV.

“Wow, unnie. He seems crazy. What on earth is that?”

“…I don’t know.”

How could she know?

No power user like that had ever appeared in this world before.

“……Thank goodness.”

She could only say it was fortunate.

‘Ji-hwan isn’t that kind of person.’

Do Ji-hwan wouldn’t do something like that.

“Unnie. Doesn’t that person seem like he’s relieving stress?”

“I don’t know.”

Baek Seol-hee didn’t want to think about such an eccentric lunatic.

“All I care about is whether the people he supposedly kidnapped are safe. But still.”

Baek Seol-hee felt somehow sorry for him.

“…He must have been under a lot of stress normally.”