Ch.4747. The Day Han Somi Died

# That Day

That day, we fought against Bedivides, the third executive of the Dark Kingdom Apocamellot.

He had established a base somewhere on the African continent, and the six of us from Dragon King Sentai Draodger raided it for extermination.

“Dragons do not shed tears.”

“They only soar.”

[EXCALIBUR!]

[CLARENT!]

[—Include! REVELATION!]

His base was vast. It was a facility where they conducted biological experiments to enhance abilities by kidnapping civilians.

We split into teams to simultaneously fight and rescue, and I ended up facing Bedivides one-on-one in the final battle.

“White Plague…!”

I barely managed to defeat him by borrowing the power of Excalibur and Clarent. With my battered body, I searched the base for my comrades.

“Haa, haa. Ui-seok!”

The first person I encountered in the corridor was Kang Yerin.

She too seemed to have been isolated. She was a mess from fighting the combat units.

“Where are the other members?!”

“I don’t know! Let’s hurry and find them!”

Kang Yerin and I ran through the base.

Finally, we found the other members in the experimental area.

The situation had already unfolded.

Shin Yukyong, Ji Se-hwa, and Choi Minseo were struggling in front of some device.

It appeared to be a massive enhancement apparatus. Around it were corpses of civilians who had been sacrificed. And inside it…

“Somi!!”

Somi was being half-sucked into it.

I immediately ran to the device and pulled at Somi’s upper body, which was still protruding.

But it was useless even with War’s Red activated. The device was already consuming Somi’s body, defying the laws of physics.

“…Ui-seok.”

She seemed to have already foreseen her death at that moment. Although her expression was hidden behind her helmet.

“Don’t despair. Fight for justice.”

I could tell she was smiling.

With those final words, Somi was completely sucked in.

The device closed, and I refused to give up, forcibly opening it.

But there was nothing inside.

The enhancement device, which had never succeeded due to its flawed performance during experiments, had annihilated Somi without leaving even a corpse.

I don’t want to recall the emotions I felt then.

Later, the three told me that Somi had gotten caught while trying to rescue civilians trapped inside the device.

I thought my poor judgment had led to that outcome.

If we hadn’t split up and had moved together as six, it wouldn’t have happened.

But then.

“Answer me.”

I grabbed Choi Minseo by the hair and lifted her up, asking once more.

“Hiii, hiii.”

Bang!

I slammed Choi Minseo’s head against the wall.

She still wasn’t coming to her senses.

“What did you do to Somi?”

“No. I didn’t suggest it. It was, it was Yukyong. She said she was curious about the device.”

“What about Se-hwa?”

“She said, to try it, herself, and when Yukyong, refused, Se-hwa said, to put, someone else, in it.”

“And you?”

“N-no, brother. I’m sorry.”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t. I didn’t say anything.”

“Did you say it would be fun?”

“Ah…”

[REDACTED TEXT]

“Geo.”

Lu-a placed her hand on my shoulder.

I had momentarily lost my memory.

It seems the demerit of rage had activated.

In front of me lay Choi Minseo, covered in blood. She wasn’t dead yet.

“Bring it.”

Lu-a looked a bit frightened but faithfully carried out my order. She brought me a box filled with cherry-colored cloud powder.

I scooped up handfuls of it and shoved it all into Choi Minseo’s mouth.

“Ugh— uh… eh? Ah, eh? Ueh, ah, aaah, aggh— gggeh— gehhhhhh?ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—?!!!”

It’s Pestam, but of very low quality. I fed her this garbage that only shows the down, not the up.

The only reason she had been living in a happy dream until now was one thing.

She had only used high-purity premium products.

Now that I’ve fed her this, it’s the opposite.

The nightmares of the down state infiltrate the unconscious, confusing it with reality.

That’s the side effect of Pestam.

As the threshold increases, eventually nightmares become reality even with premium products.

She’ll have to live in hellish hallucinations for the rest of her life.

Death would be better.

“Green Nature, are you going to kill her now?”

“Soon. I still need her. Check her memories. I need to know exactly what Shin Yukyong and Ji Se-hwa did.”

That way I’ll know how much I need to pay them back a hundredfold.

But Lu-a hesitated.

“Well… I still can’t control my memories.”

“Can’t you use Dark Matter?”

“Since it’s my first time doing this with Geo, I’m not sure how.”

That was closer to an accident during the awakening process. It seems it was an ability meant to be unlocked at a higher level.

I looked down at Choi Minseo, who was trembling and writhing on the floor like an insect.

“Extract her DNA. We can use it to infiltrate the Association. We’ll be able to hijack the mecha. Keep Green Nature confined.”

“Understood.”

Not wanting to look at Choi Minseo anymore, I returned to the hideout. I checked the Pestam.

The quantity is sufficient. Although the storage condition wasn’t great, the loss is minimal.

Since Choi Minseo is no longer usable, I’ll have to find out directly from Shin Yukyong and Ji Se-hwa.

Based on the circumstances, Somi’s death was accidental.

But if the cause wasn’t my and Somi’s mistake, but these three women…

Eternal hell without even the luxury of death would be fitting.

I need to modify the plan a bit.

“Lord. There are people who wish to see you, Lord.”

A sharp fellow reported while I was thinking.

“I’ll meet them.”

When I went down to the lobby, there were familiar faces. Led by Kang Wan, the heads of villain organizations I had seen at Harbor 7 were gathered.

“Gerogius.”

“Kang Wan.”

Kang Wan approached me with his massive frame. He glared at me with fierce eyes.

Then he closed his eyes solemnly and bowed his head to me.

“I apologize for my rudeness last time. Not recognizing someone of your caliber—I was blind.”

Considering Kang Wan’s nature as a villain who belongs nowhere and runs wild, he was being quite respectful.

“I was impressed by your skill in the Cancer battle. Bull&Dozer wishes to join the villain alliance.”

Kang Wan made me an offer. The others seemed to have the same business.

From my perspective, increasing our forces is a good thing. The more pawns to use, the better, and there will be fewer losses from villains fighting each other.

But the hierarchy needs to be established.

“Wishes to? Does everything in this world happen as one wishes, Kang Wan?”

“Uh, hmm.”

“I already spared your life once at Harbor 7. I don’t recall receiving any thanks for that.”

“…I am grateful for that. I’ve prepared a token of appreciation. Weapons and bombs. Five containers worth.”

“I don’t need cheap imports.”

I glared at him.

“But the fact that you came to me instead of E.lena shows you’re not completely blind.”

“…I couldn’t believe the rumor that the boss of the Holy Tree had surrendered.”

Kang Wan broke into a cold sweat. He still seems half in doubt.

“All of you, I want only one thing.”

I bared my teeth.

“Obey me.”

At those words, the leaders exchanged glances.

Though not on Lena’s level, they too were the heads of the most influential villain organizations in this country.

Beyond pride, there were organizational issues with hastily bowing their heads.

Knowing this, I demanded it.

I plan to mercilessly crush anyone who disrupts my plans.

Finally, someone came forward and knelt first.

“…I, Kang Wan, swear allegiance to Gerogius, the boss of the villain alliance.”

As expected, it was Kang Wan.

Having directly experienced my power, his judgment was quick.

Once one started, the rest fell like dominoes, kneeling and stating their names.

“…I can’t do this.”

One who couldn’t submit left the place.

Four had knelt.

Thus, the villain alliance expanded to a combination of six organizations.

I declared:

“The goal of the villain alliance is simple. Show strength. Take responsibility for those who obey. Kill those who defy. Take everything.”

I looked at each of their faces in turn, making sure my words sank in.

“Kill heroes. Recruit independents but don’t wage war. Rule civilians. Never harm children under any circumstances. Execute any villain who disobeys, even allies. And.”

I emphasized:

“Report traitors. I’ll reward informants. I’ll tear traitors apart.”

That’s how I put the leash on them. This way, they’ll keep each other in check unless all four organizations unite.

“If you understand, move. Eliminate the interfering Galaxy Empire Raniakain immediately. The more we defeat them, the stronger we become. Understood?”

The leaders responded.

“Finally, call me Lord, not boss. Dismissed.”

As they moved, one approached and asked me:

“May I ask how you recruited E.lena?”

“I gave her what she wanted.”

“There was something that woman couldn’t get? Huh, well I’ll be.”

He shook his head and then asked:

“Gerogius. Are you a devil?”

Instead of answering, I returned a smile.

◈ ◈ ◈

…This sensation again.

The pain of a sharp knife stabbing my bones, blood vessels, and heart from within.

The pain of a thick spear severing my brain, nerves, and synapses.

The pain of a blunt dagger repeatedly slashing my mind and soul.

…Hmm?

It seems it was an illusion.

There was no pain.

Sunlight enters my eyes.

I slowly opened them.

I saw a face.

Flowing hair, sharp eyes.

“Did you sleep well? Geo.”

Lena was lying on my bed.