Ch.86Chapter 4. How to Conquer a Hero (7)

“Please kill me if I become a villain.”

Those words filled me with an inexplicable bitterness and sense of distance.

‘So she’s saying she’ll walk the hero’s path no matter how difficult or painful it gets.’

Though physically we were very close right now, there was a clear emotional distance from her.

I am a villain.

And Ymir wishes to be a hero.

[Don’t you want to become a villain?]

“No. I don’t want to kill people. Even if people who lost their abilities because of me eventually chose death within days or suffered fates worse than death, I have no desire to deliberately take someone’s life by my own will.”

How protagonist-like.

“I’m lacking in many ways right now, but I’ll definitely grow stronger. That’s why I came to Korea.”

[What about The Syndicate?]

“The Syndicate…”

Because she has the most righteous mindset, she’s the protagonist, and that’s why I wanted to draw Ymir deeper into The Syndicate.

[Even if you join The Syndicate and become a villain, you don’t necessarily have to kill people. Just having you with us would be enough.]

“But someday, won’t there come a day when I’d have to kill someone? Or stand by and watch while others kill?”

[I can’t deny that.]

The Syndicate is an organization that decisively eliminates anything that interferes with its goal of world domination.

And “killing” is naturally included among our methods.

“The Syndicate isn’t a place where I belong. I want to help people, not dominate them with power.”

[To say such things while having enough power to dominate.]

“Having power and how you use that power are different for each person. Perhaps this power was given to me not to dominate people, but as a divine gift to purify those who have become demons and return them to human life.”

[A divine gift, you say.]

In other words, it could be called the author’s setting, the protagonist’s destiny.

“Yes. At its core, it’s about taking something from others, but if it’s taking from those who’ve become demons… can’t we think of it in a slightly better light?”

Because the author created this world, and Ymir is the protagonist of this world.

[It will be difficult.]

“Difficult, but I have to try. This is just the beginning, and I can’t give up just because it’s hard from the start. I’m not that weak-willed.”

[Your thoughts might change after seeing some unspeakable things over the next year.]

For instance, if someone tries to destroy Earth by dropping a meteor from the sky.

“It’s okay. If I work hard, someone will appear to help me. Even if there’s no one right now.”

[It’s a shame God didn’t assign you a helper. Heroes should have sidekicks.]

“I’m fine without a sidekick because there’s already someone who can help me.”

[Who? The person who helped you come to Korea?]

“…Who could it be?”

Ymir just smiled at me.

[I have no intention of helping you.]

“Oh my. I wasn’t thinking of the Goblin. Did you think I meant you?”

[Then who?]

“I don’t feel like telling the Goblin.”

Ymir stuck her tongue out at me.

It was such a classic gesture, but also so amusing that I was dumbfounded.

[This person must be quite reliable, seeing how you’re protecting them.]

“Yes. He’s incredibly handsome, has excellent manners, and gives me insights whenever he speaks to me. He’s the only person on this stifling island with whom I can breathe freely and talk.”

While it felt good to hear, I deliberately didn’t show any reaction to keep my identity hidden.

[I see. Since you said he’s handsome, he must be a man, but be careful.]

“Careful of what?”

[All men are wolves.]

“What? Puhah!”

I was being serious, but Ymir held her stomach and laughed.

[If he’s trying to befriend Ymir, an E-rank ability user, rather than Gold Budo Officer Platinum Sun, he might have sinister intentions toward ability users. Are you certain there’s no such possibility?]

I’m putting myself down, but I have no other way to dispel suspicions about me.

“Really? I don’t particularly mind.”

[What? You don’t mind if that man does something inappropriate to you?]

“Hmm… yes. If he does something inappropriate, if he goes all the way, I think that man would have to take care of me for the rest of his life…”

Ymir leaned her upper body toward me.

“If it were you, speaking not as hero and villain but as woman and man, how do you feel? Do you want to do something to me?”

[What nonsense.]

“Hehe. I’m just joking. I know you’re not the type to do such things, so I’m just teasing.”

[…..]

This woman.

Could it be?

[Then what do you think that man would do? From what you sense, what do you think he really wants to do with you?]

“Hmm… well, I wish he would do something?”

[You seem quite smitten with that man.]

“I am. He showed me kindness when I came here, he’s helped me a lot, he’s still helping me, and also…”

Ymir raised one hand toward the sky.

“He made me remember the goal I had been thinking about.”

[To return those who became demons back to humans?]

“Yes. To use my abilities to their fullest where I can. Not to take abilities from someone, but to help those who have fallen into demonhood find their human form again. And to help them not live a desolate life. That’s what I want to do.”

[The Syndicate can help you with that.]

“Wow, you’re persistent. Do you want to make me join your side that badly?”

[Of course. Now that I know the nature of your ability, why would I give up?]

I stood up from the bench and stood beside Ymir.

[Do you know how many children are abandoned in this country each year?]

“…Why bring that up suddenly?”

[To show you there’s a world you haven’t seen yet. I’ve seen couples who had children as their last lottery ticket in life, then abandoned them on the roadside and jumped to their deaths when the children turned out not to be ability users.]

“……”

Ymir’s face instantly turned pale.

[The Syndicate protects and safeguards such children. We create environments where children can grow well—so they don’t starve after being abandoned, so they aren’t sent somewhere to be brainwashed from a young age in the name of national devotion, and so they don’t become subjects of human experimentation for ability user research.]

“That’s…”

[Yes. It’s a completely different field from what you’re thinking about. But consider this: The Syndicate can help you achieve your goal. We can create facilities to care for those who were demons and then underwent Zenros. We can create social safety nets so they don’t commit suicide, don’t go berserk, and can live as humans even after losing their abilities.]

“That’s a tempting offer.”

Ymir answered with a smile but firmly shook her head.

“But I’ll politely decline. Whether others acknowledge it or not, I’ll walk the hero’s path as I see it.”

[…I understand. But I’ll continue to recruit you. Whenever you waver, whenever you need strength, I’ll invite you to join The Syndicate.]

“You’re persistent. Do you sell insurance?”

[I’m recommending this with even more desperation than an insurance salesman. Well then… that seems best for now.]

I extended my hand to Ymir.

[I’ll check your vicinity whenever I have time. And if there’s a demon nearby, I’ll give you enough time to purify that demon.]

“Don’t villains get executed immediately? Grand Cross?”

[…Immediate execution is my principle, but I can change my approach a bit if it means recruiting the magical girl Gold Budo Officer.]

“How about not killing them at all?”

[That’s a principle I can’t change.]

Demons left alive create other demons.

The same goes for villains, which is why they must be killed.

If a villain I spare later becomes a demon and escapes from prison, or becomes experimental material for demonization research, a clean death would be better.

[I promise. If there’s someone near you who creates demons, I’ll deal with them.]

“That… what was it again?”

[Oni.]

“Ah, right. …Wasn’t it a different name?”

[An oni is an oni.]

Self-proclaimed Dueoksini.

[You walk the path of a hero who purifies demons. I’ll continue walking the path of a villain who kills those who turn people into demons. And if you ever get tired and weary, come to The Syndicate. The Syndicate will do everything for you.]

“Hmm… How about you walk the hero’s path with me? Become my partner.”

[I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’ve sworn loyalty to The Syndicate and am bound to it.]

“…What, does The Syndicate have your heart or something?”

[You could say that.]

The leader has it.

[Anyway, I look forward to it. If you join The Syndicate, I’ll take off my mask and properly greet you.]

“…I’ll look forward to that. Hehe.”

Ymir just smiled meaningfully.

What’s this?

Does she perhaps know who I am…?

* * *

Behind the Goblin walking toward his motorcycle, Ymir made her fingers into a camera shape.

And as she captured the Goblin’s back in her eyes, she searched through her memories.

“Hmm…”

Ymir couldn’t help but smile.

“That guy doesn’t even realize he’s talking about himself.”

Though he seemed to have caught on slightly when she dropped hints, he didn’t seem certain.

“No. Maybe he knows but is pretending not to. Like me.”

That’s normal.

No one would think someone could identify the Goblin’s identity from something like this.

And it’s just a hunch, not concrete evidence.

“…He probably thinks I’m a pervert.”

Speaking softly, as if it didn’t matter whether the Goblin heard or not, she whispered:

“But that hip line and back build are exactly like Ji-hwan oppa’s.”

Watching the Goblin mount his motorcycle, Ymir licked her lips.