Ch.84Chapter 4. How to Conquer a Hero (5)

“Let’s go, Goblin.”

Ymir climbed onto my back. She was wearing pajamas, perhaps having been about to sleep, and casually climbed onto my back, embracing me from behind.

[Hmm…]

I feel an incredible presence against my back.

She seemed awkward positioning herself, probably never having ridden a motorcycle before, but she must have seen it in movies somewhere as she wrapped her hands around my waist and pressed her upper body firmly against my back.

“What is it?”

[I feel like I’ll get an earful if I take you somewhere strange.]

“You invited a pretty girl like me for a nighttime drive date, so I assume you already have a place in mind?”

[Of course I do.]

Although I don’t know many places on Sejong Island, I do know one good spot where we can enjoy the night view and talk.

[But calling me ‘Goblin sir’ sounds a bit strange.]

“Then can I just call you Goblin? Wouldn’t that be impolite?”

[It’s better than ‘Villain Goblin’ or ‘that Goblin guy.’ Just call me Goblin.]

“Alright. Excuse me then.”

Squeeze.

Ymir pulled me closer.

Before, her hands were around my waist, but now she moved close enough to interlock her fingers across my abdomen.

“Oh…”

[What’s wrong?]

“What is this? I tried feeling your muscles, but why does it feel like…?”

Ymir fiddled with my abdomen.

I didn’t stop her actions.

Because resistance is futile against an EX-class woman?

Or am I showing off my abs?

Not at all.

If I’m showing off anything, it’s my “ability.”

“It doesn’t feel like a person, more like touching a balloon filled with air…?”

[You’re trying to feel my body by touching my muscles, but unfortunately, you can’t touch the current me.]

“Ugh… that’s disappointing. This won’t suddenly burst while we’re riding, will it? If I hold too tight?”

[You’d have to grip extremely tight for it to burst. We’re going for a drive around the outskirts of Sejong Island now. At full speed.]

I put a helmet on Ymir’s head and immediately stepped on the pedal.

[Just as you can perceive me, it would be troublesome if others could too. And that includes you as well.]

“…So it’s a secret date just between us? Ah, eek?!”

Vrooom!

With a rough engine sound, the bike runs along the top of the fence.

“No, wait, kyaa?!”

Ymir clung to my back at the sudden speed and acceleration, and I drove toward a quiet place where no patrols would be.

“Wh-what if we get caught?”

[We won’t. If I thought we would, I would have told you to transform.]

“Really? Can I trust you?”

[If we get caught, I’ll take off my mask.]

“Ugh… I’ll trust you.”

Ymir finally relaxed.

But since she just spoke that way, I felt like teasing her a bit.

[Trusting a villain, how foolish.]

“Eh…?”

[Here we go.]

I immediately changed direction and drove the bike toward people walking on the street despite the late hour.

“Eek?! Th-there are people ahead!!”

[I know.]

Perhaps worried about her identity being revealed, Ymir pressed her helmet firmly against my back.

Vrooom!

“Huh?”

But no one noticed us.

They just thought a strong wind had blown by; no one realized we were riding a bike past them.

“How is this…?”

[It’s a very special technique. Want to know about it?]

I deliberately stopped the bike.

We were in the middle of a plaza where three or four people were passing by, but no one recognized us.

“How is this possible…”

[I could teach you if you ask.]

“…I do want to know, but you won’t just tell me for free, right?”

[That’s right.]

Ymir is certainly no ordinary person.

“Goblin’s special ability… just knowing what kind of ability it is and selling that information would bring in over a hundred billion won.”

[Are you learning it to sell the information?]

“No. I want to try using it myself.”

What’s the greatest interest for ability users?

It’s the special abilities that others can do but they cannot.

“How you can escape the perception of S-class users. How to avoid people’s attention. And how you managed to escape safely for half a year without your identity being discovered.”

[Is that all?]

“Well, that’s the main thing, but I have many more questions…”

Like super-speed movement.

Or super-speed combat.

And moving without being noticed by others like this.

“You won’t tell me for free, right? You want something in return, don’t you?”

[You understand well. Want to know the price?]

“Will you tell me if I pay it?”

[If it’s a fair and reasonable deal.]

“But what I really want to know is…”

Ymir’s hand slowly moved upward.

“How much would I have to pay to learn this…?”

Her slender fingertips traced up my chest and lightly touched the chin part of my mask.

“Who is Goblin? Beyond Goblin’s abilities, I’m really curious about what kind of man Goblin is.”

[I might not be a man.]

“Oh my, not a man? But you keep your Goblin club right here?”

[I thought you’d mention my voice or physique, but you bring that up. You’re quite something.]

I never expected her to bring up the “Goblin club” here.

[Well, you also look completely like a woman after transforming.]

“I might be a woman with something extra? Or maybe a man with magical breasts?”

[What dangerous words. Are you saying I could be transgender?]

“Hehe. I’m joking. Talking with you like this is really… fun. …I think.”

Ymir whispered something quietly to herself.

I’m not sure if she meant for me to hear it, but whether she was conscious of it or not, the first part was slightly muffled so I couldn’t hear it.

Vrooom.

I drove the bike away from the plaza.

[By the way, you speak quite well despite this speed.]

“…Huh? You’re right.”

Ymir was conversing with me without any resistance despite the considerable speed.

That must be a talent too.

Usually, opening your mouth at this speed would likely result in biting your tongue.

[Anyway, I’m glad you find talking with me enjoyable. I’d like us to get closer from now on.]

“With me? Why?”

[Obviously to bring you over to our side.]

Screech.

I stopped the bike.

“This is…”

[A restricted area for civilians. Thanks to that, you can see this natural scenery well.]

Actually, this is where I escaped from the water with that Malttugi from Hwalbindang last time.

It was quite difficult to bring a bike here, but despite forcing it through, the bike remained perfectly intact without a scratch.

[It’s also perfect for having a quiet conversation between the two of us.]

I took out the Goblin club that I had placed on the bike and lightly tapped the ground facing the direction of the sea.

Pang!

A bench made of mana appeared, and I sat down at the end of it first.

“Wow. What is that thing you’re carrying around? Do you keep it in some kind of capsule?”

[It’s something I created temporarily. I can create anything out of mana, can’t I?]

“I wouldn’t think to make something like this.”

[If it’s convenient, that’s all that matters.]

I gestured to the spot beside me on the bench.

[Sit. We have plenty of time and much to talk about.]

“Alright. But…”

Ymir raised one hand high toward the sky.

“Transform.”

Flash!

Her body shimmered in rainbow colors, and she immediately took on the appearance of the Gold Magistrate that I had seen before.

“How is it? My transformation.”

[I see you’re quite conscious of others’ gazes.]

“Of course, because I’m going to walk the path of a hero.”

Rustle.

She immediately removed her hood and mask.

With only her magical girl Gold Magistrate outfit on, she sat down on the fairly wide bench—

“Excuse me.”

[That’s rude.]

“That’s why I said ‘excuse me’ first.”

Not at the end, but right next to me, pressing her hip against mine.

As a result, there was enough space beside Ymir for another person to sit comfortably.

[Don’t people usually sit separately on opposite sides of a bench?]

“Talking closely means our voices won’t carry as far, right?”

[From the moment we arrived here, no one would come even if you shouted as loudly as possible.]

“Ah, then…!”

[That doesn’t mean you should shout.]

I reached toward Ymir’s mouth, and she flinched, pursing her lips.

[That look asks how I knew. Just intuition. There’s someone around me who reacts the same way.]

“Who is it?”

[If you want to know, you’ll have to make a contract.]

Finally, the main point.

[Won’t you join the Syndicate?]

“Become a villain?”

[Even if you sincerely desire to be a hero, I’m only offering the path of a villain, not a hero.]

Making Ymir an ally of the Syndicate.

[You are strong. But you still lack imagination. Your ability is excellent, but you’re still quite deficient in how to utilize that ability. That’s why you came to Sejong Island, right?]

“……”

[You’re aware that you have an incredible ability, but the moment it becomes known to the world, tremendous attention will focus on you. Your…]

“Let me give you a quiz. If you get it right, I’ll seriously consider Goblin’s proposal.”

Ymir brought her face closer to mine.

“What is my ability? Shall we play twenty questions? Hmm, if you guess it in one try, I’ll give you a reward—”

[Theft.]

I pointed at Ymir’s abdomen.

[Your ability is to steal the abilities of others.]

“……”

How dare you.

Giving a quiz about the story setting to a reader who followed it to completion.

Although it’s a setting revealed in the latter part of the original work, I already know everything.

[You didn’t purify Ermina from demon to human. You didn’t delete Ermina’s ability either. You stole Ermina’s mana, her ability. Right?]

“……”

Ymir’s hand landed on my thigh.

“You got it right.”

Ymir brought her face closer again and whispered in my ear.

“My ability is to steal.”