Ch.35The One with the Loudest Voice

# Chapter Translation

A thud, and the poisonous liquid gurgling from the tips of her embedded claws rapidly injected into Yu Anna’s heart.

After Yu Anna reflexively swung her arm, Gu Seo-ryong dodged, withdrew her hand, and jumped back, wiggling her fingers provocatively.

“Quite impressive~! How about it? Want to work at Kowloon Walled City?”

“Ahahahaha! Great! Work! Work!”

“I’ll pay for you! How much? Starlight!”

“Ugh…!”

Yu Anna staggered, feeling dizzy from the poison spreading throughout her body. Gu Seo-ryong didn’t miss the opportunity and snapped her fingers.

Feeling the ground ripple beneath her and sensing something approaching, Yu Anna wrapped herself in her high-temperature ability.

“Kyaaaah! Help me!”

“Aaaaargh! Hot, it’s hot!”

At that moment, screams filled the air along with the smell of burning skin that stung Yu Anna’s nose.

Startled, she suppressed her ability—and in that instant, Gu Seo-ryong’s fingertips pierced her neck.

“Huk…! Ugh, haaa…!”

The screaming people and the smell of burning skin vanished.

In her worsening dizziness, Yu Anna felt Gu Seo-ryong’s hands, which had split into many, slowly crawling up her body.

As Gu Seo-ryong stabbed her legs, toes, hands, stomach, and neck, injecting poison throughout Yu Anna’s body, another Gu Seo-ryong caressed her chin.

“Hero, aren’t you revealing your weakness too easily?”

“Get lost…!”

“Not wanting to hurt civilians at any cost—that’s too easy, isn’t it?”

“You!”

“Ahng, not there, here, here.”

“Ugh, ah…!”

When Yu Anna swung her flame-covered hand toward the voice on her right, poison was injected directly into her left ear and brain, causing her mind to black out momentarily.

“Oh my? Perhaps it’s because you’re S-rank? You’re not responding properly? What a shame, I was hoping you’d lose consciousness.”

“Kuh, aaaah!”

“Ah~! You’ll regret flying now!”

Bang! Yu Anna leaped up to avoid Gu Seo-ryong’s hands, creating a hot wind around her, but then fell in an arc, smashing her head against the ground.

The comical sight made everyone—villains and civilians alike—burst into laughter, mocking her.

“See? I told you you’d regret it! It’s too late to run, Starlight!”

“An S-rank hero running away! Ahahahaha!”

“Give up~ With that much poison in you, even someone like you will take a long time to recover!”

“Haa… haa… haa…!”

“I told you, not there~!”

“Ahahahaha!”

Thwack! In her confused state from the ability and poison, Yu Anna swung her fist, only for Gu Seo-ryong to inject more poison from behind.

When she swung her fist, it melted away; when she shot flames, it disappeared like sand.

Each time, Gu Seo-ryong stabbed her body with more poison. As Yu Anna knelt down and clenched her fists, Gu Seo-ryong leaned in and whispered like a devil:

“Even now, if you unleash your ability with enough force to melt everyone, you could escape♥”

“Kugh…!”

It was true. If Yu Anna fully unleashed her ability as she would against monsters, she could certainly escape this situation.

Whether her senses were confused and she couldn’t fly properly, or she crashed into something—she could melt everything in her path and escape, giving herself time to recover. Or rather, she wouldn’t even need to recover.

But the moment she did that, many people would die from her ability.

As Yu Anna remained still, doing nothing, Gu Seo-ryong scratched her neck with her fingertips and said:

“You’re so frustrating~ You might really get hurt at this rate?”

“Ha, this much is… nothing…”

“I may not be able to kill you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you go! I can break you to the point where death would be preferable.”

Gu Seo-ryong, who no longer seemed interested in fighting properly, pulled Yu Anna’s hair with a voice full of amusement:

“If I start marinating you in drugs from today, you’ll become a truly special product! People will come looking for you from not just W City but from every city. Even if you’re not in your right mind, Kowloon Walled City will be the only place where people can embrace an S-rank hero if they pay enough.”

“You…!”

“Hahahaha! Look at the state of this S-rank hero!”

At these humiliating words, Yu Anna shook her head and kicked out, but Gu Seo-ryong dodged and flipped the ground, causing Yu Anna to fall.

As Yu Anna rolled on the ground, the villains held their stomachs laughing and mocking her.

With each attack, her dizziness worsened. Yu Anna stopped moving and wrapped herself in flames.

In a complete defensive posture, crouching with one hand on the ground and the other clenched, Yu Anna blinked inside her flame barrier and stared at the flickering image of Gu Seo-ryong.

“What… are you exactly? That body, this poison…?”

“Hmm~ This body? Pretty, isn’t it? My subordinates call it dragonization.”

“Sister is special! That’s why she awakened a second ability!”

“Starlight! Not much for an S-rank! Gu Seo-ryong is the strongest!”

“Double awakening…? Huff, ptui!”

Yu Anna spat out the sticky saliva pooled in her mouth and examined Gu Seo-ryong carefully.

Unlike other villains who used their abilities from a distance to avoid Yu Anna’s flames, Gu Seo-ryong engaged in direct combat, touching the flames yet remaining unharmed. Just looking at her undamaged hands and feet, it was clear this was no ordinary ability.

Dragonization—perhaps a body transformation ability? Even without the sensory confusion that was known to be Gu Seo-ryong’s ability, her physical strength was enough to qualify as an A-rank superhuman.

To think that a villain, and such a troublesome one at that, would have the rare double awakening, and such a powerful ability at that.

Two abilities, close combat skills different from her reported information, body enhancement from double awakening, durability that could withstand Yu Anna’s ability even briefly, regeneration ability? Or just hallucinations?

This wasn’t just two abilities—how could one ability called dragonization grant so many powers?

But Yu Anna couldn’t deny it, as she herself used her single ability to achieve effects similar to multiple abilities.

“Double awakening, and yet… huff, doing villain work…”

“Becoming an S-rank superhuman, yet being a slave to citizens~ how ironic.”

Yu Anna gave a bitter smile at the situation that was completely out of her control.

Too many variables… Gu Seo-ryong’s ability was supposed to be sensory confusion—if that had been all, she could have gradually burned away the remaining villains with her ability no matter what they did.

But the villains were working together systematically like heroes, the citizens were high on drugs watching the fight instead of running away, military-grade weapons and explosives had been diverted here in large quantities, and the villains’ attacks were unexpectedly effective. And for some reason, neither the police nor the government was sending reinforcements.

She had made the decision to come here rather than waste time preparing, and seeing how well-prepared they were, she was glad she’d come to cut this off now.

At the same time, she felt resentful about having to handle all this alone.

“Ha, this is really annoying…”

Still, it had to be done.

Because she was a hero.

This job never allowed for an easy path.

Yu Anna continued talking to Gu Seo-ryong to buy time to recover.

“Huff… huff… why do you villains, after gaining power, live by harming others?”

“Hmm~? The strong exploiting the weak is the law of nature? We’re predators. Have you ever seen a lion worry about its prey? What about you? Why do you use your power to help those without strength? How stupid.”

“Because someone has to do it.”

“Hmm?”

“If something has to be done, then the person with enough power to do it should be the one to do it.”

Hearing this, Gu Seo-ryong and the villains denied Yu Anna’s words with mocking laughter.

“That just sounds like powerless people trying to put a leash on the powerful because they’re jealous?”

“If something has to be done, the powerless should be the ones ordered to do it! Why should the powerful do it!”

“We’re special beings! Chosen! Winners!”

Well, that’s villains for you… Yu Anna exhaled heavily and closed her eyes to minimize unnecessary sensations.

Like listening for insects in a dark room, she sensed something approaching and reached out. Gu Seo-ryong, whose arm was caught, opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“Got you…!”

“Oh my, caught me?”

And the surprised Gu Seo-ryong melted away, while another Gu Seo-ryong appeared from behind and drove her fingertips under Yu Anna’s chin.

“Kuh, aaah…!”

“If you get that close saying ‘I’ll bite you!’, of course I’ll be cautious~!”

In that moment, feeling the searing heat reaching her brain, Yu Anna bit her lower lip and half-opened her closed eyes, stretching out both hands with a tremor.

Crack! Yu Anna grasped at empty air and fell to the ground, staggering as she planted both hands on the floor.

“Wow, like a baby deer, how cute~ Are you okay?”

“Hahahaha! She’s cute! Starlight! I’ll be nice to you if you quit being a hero and work for me!”

“Hahahahahahaha!”

“Hello~? Can you hear me? Are you too high on the drug? Your focus is gone!”

“Hahahahahahahahahahaha!”

“Huk, huk, huk…”

Amid the echoing laughter, the sound of fingers snapping like a metronome—tick, tick—continued without pause.

Through her increasingly distorted senses, Yu Anna heard a voice from her memory.

[That’s idealistic, not realistic. If you try to do that, even a superhuman’s body will be torn apart.]

A conversation she had with Cage after a Disaster-rank monster attack.

Cage’s judgment that sometimes they should agree to sacrifice some lives to a monster if it could prevent greater damage clashed with Yu Anna’s belief that they should be able to eliminate all casualties.

[Instead, more people survive. Superhumans recover quickly even if they’re torn apart.]

[Abandon things like a sense of duty, you fool.]

[What’s wrong with a hero having a sense of duty?]

[Do you not know the meaning of the word ‘duty’? It’s a responsibility that uses one’s own life. If a hero dies because of that, even greater damage occurs. The value of one hero is worth hundreds of those who are culled, or more.]

[Don’t talk like that.]

[Value your life, Yu Anna. If you die like that, it’s a dog’s death.]

The image of Cage’s back as he walked down the corridor away from Yu Anna. The poison coursing through her brain dug up even older memories.

[…Even at the cost of civilian casualties, we should have eliminated it right there and then.]

[No one could have thought the monster would evolve at that moment. It was impossible.]

[No! Everyone knew! Monsters get stronger the more humans they eat! Once you let them escape, they come back stronger! So why couldn’t we exterminate it on the spot? Emergency escort? High-ranking government officials? Just to save those 20 pieces of trash, senior! An A-rank hero died!]

[Jeong Ho-young…]

[3,800 civilian casualties! 34 superhumans died! The stupid citizens call the dead superhumans incompetent and don’t even know how to be grateful! Senior’s honor was tarnished! This is the price of saving those 20 pieces of trash! If we had sacrificed those worthless people, we could have saved everyone! If it weren’t for those who use heroes as their tools! If it weren’t for superhumans who bow their heads to such people!]

If it’s certain that the sacrifice of a few can prevent harm to many, then the few must be sacrificed.

Even if they are civilians, sometimes even fellow superhumans.

It can’t be helped.

Superhumans are not gods.

So, they must choose.

“Haa…”

The ground beneath Yu Anna’s feet gradually melted.

Not an illusion, but the vitrification of the ground due to her high-temperature ability.

Just as she was about to unleash her suppressed ability to its limit, the boiling poison in her brain dug up an even more distant, blurry memory.

[I’m sorry, because of our child, I’m truly sorry.]

A white hospital room, a shaking view through tears, sunlight distorted by tears. A man sitting on the bed waves his hands dismissively.

[No, no, on the contrary, I’m glad. Is your daughter okay?]

A feeling of being lifted up, climbing onto the bed where a man covered in bandages smiles broadly and reaches out.

Under the man’s hand stroking her head, a voice naturally comes out sobbing.

[Are you okay…?]

[Yes, I’m fine.]

[But, ugh… ugh…]

[Dad!]

Almost chased out by the man’s family entering the room, standing at the entrance. Because her parents had briefly stepped out, she was able to overhear the conversation inside.

[You’ve already retired, haven’t you? Even if it wasn’t you, someone would have come to help if we’d waited. Why did you go in with just your body?]

[It wasn’t just my body, I was soaked with water when I went in.]

[Please, don’t ever do this again. Just leave it to someone else.]

[That child would have already been dead if I had.]

[After retiring for that reason, you still want to help people?!]

No words exchanged in the hospital room, only the man’s voice drifting through the silence.

[Someone had to do it, so the person who could do it should do it.]

[If you get hurt like this again without any equipment!]

[I just get hurt, that’s all.]

[Honey!]

[Hey, I didn’t die, right? Aack! I’m a patient!]

The sound of a slap on his back, and then her parents returned to the room with the hospital bill.

As the memory faded again, Yu Anna opened her eyes, looked ahead, and laughed.

“Huhu…”

As if heroes would make such choices.

The option to sacrifice citizens to defeat villains doesn’t exist for heroes.

Even if it means taking the harder, longer path, they do their best to save everyone.

Yu Anna lowered her head and gradually suppressed her ability.

Seeing this, Gu Seo-ryong frowned and snapped her fingers.

“What’s this? Are you too high on the drug, or have you lost your mind? Why are you suppressing your ability?”

If I weren’t crazy, I wouldn’t be a hero.

With a hollow laugh, Yu Anna drove her fist into the face of the approaching Gu Seo-ryong.

A melting face—as Yu Anna expected—she followed up by swinging her hand to cut off Gu Seo-ryong’s wrist.

Once more, bang! With a punch that blew away half of Gu Seo-ryong’s upper body, the villain frowned, returned to normal, and picked up her severed wrist with her tail.

Now Yu Anna couldn’t tell if the impact was an illusion or reality.

“Kuk…”

“At this rate, you’re worse than a B-rank hero!”

Though puzzled, Gu Seo-ryong didn’t miss the opportunity and drove her severed wrist’s fingertips into Yu Anna’s stomach.

Then into her neck, continuously injecting poison, but Yu Anna only twitched and didn’t counterattack, causing Gu Seo-ryong to gradually lower her guard.

As Yu Anna went limp and leaned against Gu Seo-ryong, the villains and audience cheered.

“Sister’s victory! We won!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Gu Seo-ryong! Gu Seo-ryong! Gu Seo-ryong!”

“Sister! As promised, Yu Anna will be our shared property!”

“Boss! When does the auction start!”

“Fuck! I should’ve skipped the casino today!”

“…Ugh.”

Gu Seo-ryong smiled at her noisy subordinates but remained tense, continuing to inject poison into Yu Anna’s body.

It didn’t make sense for an S-rank hero to be this subdued so easily.

Playing dead? Waiting for people to leave Kowloon Walled City or collapse from drug-induced pleasure?

Planning to pretend to be unconscious while burning away the poison with her ability?

“What are you thinking, Starlight?”

Starlight was a beast—a monster who could instantly eliminate all the villains here if not for the leash of protecting citizens.

Despite pushing her into a meticulously prepared trap, Yu Anna’s body remained unwounded.

Of course—she was the despair of monsters, an S-rank hero.

So the goal wasn’t the impossible task of killing Yu Anna, but to push her mentally.

Heroes are ultimately human; no matter how strong, their minds are weak.

Gu Seo-ryong used her ability to create an illusion of stabbing Yu Anna.

Yu Anna, who had already been injected with a lethal dose of poison, twitched with unfocused eyes.

Even in this situation, a faint but fierce killing intent remained. She was clearly planning something, but not moving.

Gu Seo-ryong wasn’t letting her guard down.

Even if Yu Anna pretended to be unconscious, neither the ability nor the poison would stop.

If she couldn’t break Starlight’s spirit now using every means available, there wouldn’t be another chance.

Let’s see how long she can endure if she has something else in mind?

With a raised corner of her mouth, Gu Seo-ryong flicked her long tongue and spoke loudly enough for the entire Kowloon Walled City to hear:

“Anyone who wants to take Starlight, shout out! The loudest one goes first!”

“Woaaaaaaah! Me! Me! Me!”

“Meeeee! Meeeeee!”

“Building 102, Room 304! Building 102, Room 304!”

Thunderous cheers erupted, with men’s shouts echoing throughout Kowloon Walled City.

Of course, she had no intention of handing Yu Anna over to anyone until she was completely marinated in drugs.

As a special service, Gu Seo-ryong put her claw against Yu Anna’s hero suit.

“Shout louder~!”

“Wooooooh!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

Could a hero who was humiliated by the citizens she was supposed to protect still protect them to the end?

Smiling, Gu Seo-ryong slowly began to tear the suit—when suddenly:

[OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!]

An enormous roar overpowered all the shouting in Kowloon Walled City, followed by an intense shockwave.

The infrasonic wave that stimulated human fear made everyone who had been shouting freeze.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the source of the shockwave, focusing on a black silhouette sitting on an apartment rooftop with the moon at its back.

“B-Black Cat…?”

“Grrrrrr…”

Yu Anna looked up at Black Cat with a weak voice.

Amid the blaring monster alarm, Black Cat opened its mouth.

Seeing the intense energy gathering in its mouth, Gu Seo-ryong’s expression hardened.

“Wait… w-wait…!”

Ping—a thin beam shot toward Gu Seo-ryong, then whoosh, expanded into a brilliant white light.

KWAAANG! A white explosion struck down in the form of a pillar.