Ch.43Chapter 2. Villains Have No Rights (2)

The term “villain” is used in many different ways in our daily lives.

Usually, it refers to those who harm society’s good customs and morals, but in this world, it naturally means “criminals who should be arrested.”

So what are the criteria for being classified as a villain?

Causing injury to someone.

Damaging someone’s property.

Committing anti-state crimes that threaten public order and citizen safety.

Villains can be defined as those who commit acts that we would clearly call “crimes” in everyday life without any hesitation.

Then.

Can someone who makes such indiscriminate noise in a public place be called a villain?

[Ahem. I’m warning you, Yuk Gi-bong. Stop immediately if you don’t want to be arrested for noise pollution.]

A powered individual in police uniform issued a warning to Yuk Gi-bong through a microphone.

“Yeah, what are you gonna do about it? You can’t arrest me, right? I’m just an ordinary citizen, right? I’m just talking loudly in a public square, right?”

[Do you know that noise pollution is also a crime?!]

“But it’s just a misdemeanor, right? I’m not guilty of anything, right? If you arrest me, you’re arresting a powered individual, right? And right now, I’m just… ‘testing my powers,’ right?”

He extends his hands to the sides, bounces his hips, and even performs an irritating dance to mock the gathered crowd.

“Too bad! The legal system of this country, the legal system of Sejong Island can’t touch me! I’m Korean, I’m a powered individual! And on top of that… I’m a minor under 17!!”

“…The triple crown.”

The three most terrible things in the world combined.

Of course, there are bright children of the new nation who are growing up normally despite having these three elements, but this “juvenile delinquent” is an exception.

The standards for juvenile offenders in this world are completely different from modern ones.

For ordinary humans, the age criteria for juvenile offenders are no different from pre-possession Korea, but powered individuals in this world receive somewhat special treatment that isn’t really special treatment.

-Powered individuals are very special people. The reason such special people go berserk is because their surrounding environment fails to embrace them. Perhaps they act out because our society still has different standards for accepting powered individuals?

According to such statements, powered individuals are treated relatively “lightly” in legal judgments until they become adults.

Unless they cause near-fatal injuries to someone.

Unless they cause property damage equivalent to half-destroying someone’s car or house.

“What can you do about it? You’re going to arrest a future B-class powered individual over this little disturbance? Yeah, go ahead and arrest me~! I’ll just emigrate!”

“Damn it….”

Other students, faculty members, and even those who came to arrest him are all hesitant to approach.

What if he makes a fuss about actually emigrating after being excessively restrained?

-I heard so-and-so provoked a powered individual and they sought asylum in Japan!

-No matter what, we should guide them within Korea rather than forcing them to emigrate through excessive restraint! Do you want to write an explanatory report?!

In the end, it’s the good people who bear the responsibility.

That’s why no one dares to subdue this villain-but-not-villain right now.

In other words.

Even if someone’s behavior makes them a villain who deserves immediate execution, legally they are not a villain.

‘If it were the Goblin, I’d crack their skull right away.’

Unfortunately, I came out while eating, and with company around, it’s a bit awkward to transform.

“This is a problem. That guy is quite cunning.”

“If he’s just showing off his suit, there’s really not enough grounds for arrest.”

Yoon Yi-seon bit her nails and gritted her teeth.

“To be honest, this level of disturbance wouldn’t even warrant a warning. It’s even less severe than ordinary people causing trouble while drunk.”

“…Because he’s a powered individual?”

“Yes. Because he’s a powered individual. Powered individuals tend to go berserk when they feel even slightly disadvantaged, saying ‘Oh? That pisses me off!'”

As I’ve said several times, powered individuals are like glass.

The problem is that these fragile-natured guys don’t stay put but wander around dangerous places, fragile places, causing accidents.

“I’m glad I came.”

“Yi-seon, what are you planning to do? Are you going to step in?”

“This is exactly when I should step in.”

Yoon Yi-seon lightly tapped her chest and pointed forward.

“Because I’m the student council president.”

“……Oh.”

While the law can’t take action against that juvenile powered individual, the student council is a different story.

“Junior Yuk Gi-bong?”

Yoon Yi-seon approaches.

“Gack, president…?!”

Yuk Gi-bong, who had been striking all sorts of poses while laughing loudly, took a step back as soon as he recognized Yoon Yi-seon.

“W-what?! What’s your problem?! I’m just ‘promoting a hero suit’ right now!”

“You call what you’re doing promotion?”

“Yeah!”

Yuk Gi-bong took off his helmet.

He had quite a fox-like face—it’s a bit rude to say about a person, but he looked rather cunning.

“I don’t think this is promotion.”

“Ha…! This is legitimate advertising! What I’m doing is just like a truck vendor turning on a loudspeaker to sell suits!”

“Is that the same as this?”

“Yes! It’s the same! I’m advertising to people to make money in the future!”

His confidence is unmatched.

“Is that so? Well, that’s unfortunate. The student council received a complaint. Someone reported that they can’t ‘study’ because of you.”

“Urgh…?!”

“No one can say much about advertising, but if it becomes ‘noise pollution,’ that’s a different story, isn’t it?”

“Who studies on a Sunday…!!”

“Watch your words. There are high school seniors among powered individuals too.”

One of the sad stories.

Powered individuals also have to take the College Scholastic Ability Test.

No matter how much the world has changed, the college entrance exam remains unchanged, so powered individuals must take it under strict surveillance.

Shortcuts don’t work.

Only accumulated study does.

“You probably don’t know because you’ve never studied on a Sunday, but for high school seniors, Sunday is just a day to study without going to school.”

“I don’t know about that! And even if it is noise pollution, I can’t stop! Haha, you can’t do anything about it now!”

Yuk Gi-bong pointed his finger in all directions and burst into laughter.

“E-everyone has to pay me money! If you don’t pay royalties for the design, I’ll file copyright complaints and sue everyone! Muhahaha!”

The way he speaks suggests he didn’t come up with this on his own.

“You….”

While Yoon Yi-seon confronts Yuk Gi-bong, I step back behind the crowd and scan the surroundings.

‘Someone must be feeding him information on site.’

There’s a garbage adult involved.

Someone who’s using Yuk Gi-bong as a promotional tool, talking about patent rights and filling his head with promises of making huge money.

They wouldn’t be watching from afar through CCTV or something.

They must be here on site.

“……Hello? Ah, Manager Ju.”

[Weren’t you going out to eat? Oh my, from the sounds of it, you’re at the scene?]

“Yes. I’m at the scene. Are you watching the news?”

The Tavern Owner immediately understood the situation when she answered my call.

“Can you investigate what’s going on?”

[I checked as soon as the news broke, but the actual name isn’t something like Gibong Rider. It’s called ‘Powered Battle Suit for Powered Individuals,’ and its official name is…’Haeguneul’.]

“…Haeguneul?”

I immediately turned my head.

[Haeguneul24], [Haeguneul Café], [Haeguneul Chinese Restaurant], [Haeguneul Telecom], [Haeguneul PC Bang].

The word “Haeguneul” is plastered all over the plaza.

From convenience stores, cafés, Chinese restaurants, telecom agencies, to PC bangs—Haeguneul is a massive conglomerate with tentacles in every industry.

The company that manufactured the Taegeuk Watch is also the same.

“No way.”

[It’s corporate tyranny. They tried to register the name ‘Haeguneul’ for copyright, and among dozens of designs, they included one that looks like your suit, Director Do.]

“I guess so. I wouldn’t have thought a young kid would draw attention on such a large scale.”

If a mega-corporation is involved, everything makes sense.

When I wondered what gave the kid such confidence, if he said, “I have Haeguneul Group behind me!” anyone, including myself, would think, “Well, that explains it.”

‘This is a bit troublesome.’

Haeguneul Group is a pure conglomerate with no connection to our Syndicate.

Rather than pure, they’re entities that run all sorts of businesses targeting powered individuals and rake in money by exploiting them.

According to rumors, they secretly contact powered individuals who have completed compulsory education or graduated high school, trying to create their own PMC.

They actually appeared as a sort of plot point later in the story.

‘What should I do.’

Should I transform and step in?

I’ve prepared plenty of ways to deal with situations after transformation, but having the Goblin pop up again in this situation….

“Junior Gi-bong. People are getting agitated. If you continue causing a disturbance in that outfit, do you think people will want to make suits like yours?”

“Ugh…!”

‘I might not need to step in.’

Fortunately, Yoon Yi-seon is trying to persuade Yuk Gi-bong with words.

“If I were you, I’d make a good impression on people by showing a virtuous image or defeating villains.”

“That’s….”

“Isn’t that what companies call image-making?”

Did Yoon Yi-seon immediately realize that Haeguneul Group was behind this?

Or is she just taking a shot in the dark?

‘Or maybe she’s just fishing.’

Whether she knew or not, Yuk Gi-bong is clearly wavering now.

“Now, Junior Yuk Gi-bong. Let’s deactivate your power and go to the ‘Academy’ for now. Before the police or adults start interrogating you, the student council will stand up for you.”

“What about my Gibong Rider suit…?”

“…The student council will do its best.”

Yoon Yi-seon extended her goodwill.

‘If he rejects her kindness, the Goblin will appear immediately. Please reject it.’

Even though he’s causing a disturbance, the student council offered to be his shield.

“Then…. I’ll stop for today. Hehehe, as expected of the student council. Working for student rights…huh?”

But.

As always, just when things seem to be going well, incidents occur.

“What’s this? How did this…? This can’t be. This is impossible.”

“…What’s wrong? What happened?”

“The patent….”

Yuk Gi-bong’s face contorted like a real goblin.

“The patent has been revoked…?! And for international plagiarism?!”

For reference.

The Syndicate, Yimemangryang, is a transnational organization.

Beep.

A text message arrived.

[Voㅅ<V]

“……As expected of the chairman.”