Ch.9191. The Last Remaining Hero

“I’d like both of you to become romantically involved with Ui-seok.”

Lee Lu-a doubted her ears at Han Somi’s matter-of-fact statement. She shook her head and asked again.

“Wait, what are you saying? Weren’t you and Jeo in a deep relationship?”

“Of course we were… but I don’t think I can fully embrace Ui-seok anymore.”

Han Somi’s expression turned bitter as she lowered her gaze.

“I don’t think it’s wrong that Ui-seok became a villain. It was an unavoidable situation and the best choice. But I don’t think it was the optimal outcome. When Ui-seok was a hero, he was more…”

Han Somi hesitated before continuing.

“And the responsibility lies with me. Ui-seok denied it, but my words had too much influence on him. I don’t think that’s a healthy relationship anymore. Above all…”

Han Somi took a deep breath.

“I’m not human.”

“Jeo acknowledged you as human.”

“What’s the definition of a human, Lu-a? At the very least, I can’t accept myself as the monster who committed those atrocities. Moreover, not even a speck of my original self remains in this body.”

“Even so, if we’re assuming that…”

“Setting aside theoretical discussions, there’s a practical problem.”

“Lena?”

Lena, who had joined the conversation, calmly pointed out the blind spot.

“Right now, Somi can’t increase Jeo’s sin gauge. Unless she intends to be devoured to satisfy his gluttony.”

“Is that so?”

“If that were possible, fighting monsters alone would have accumulated his wrath gauge. Even if Jeo continues his relationship with Somi, he can’t fulfill his avarice and lust.”

“That’s correct.”

Han Somi agreed with Lena’s words.

“Even if we have time until the next enemy appears, this is a problem that needs to be solved diligently. Having obtained the Armageddon form but being unable to use it would be a loss, wouldn’t it? Until now, Jeo has been maintaining just enough lust and sloth to function. From now on, we need to fill up these sins like ammunition.”

“Well, if that’s the case, instead of me, Lena could…”

“Hmm?”

Lena looked down at Lu-a teasingly.

“Lu-a, have you forgotten? I don’t have the right to use this body freely.”

“…Huh?”

Lu-a looked back and forth between them as she understood Lena’s words.

“Wait, then the person who can fill Jeo’s lust gauge is…”

“Only Lu-a.”

“Only Lu-a.”

“No way!!”

Lu-a jumped to her feet.

“Ugh, I-I mean, I always think about Jeo, but I don’t want to be pushed into this! I want Jeo to properly see me, like me, and then… what are you making me say!”

“My, I didn’t make you say anything.”

“It’s strange to ask other women to date your boyfriend in the first place! What’s wrong with you? Do you have an NTR fetish or something?!”

Lu-a lashed out at Han Somi, who slightly furrowed her brow.

“Goodness, who in the world actually has such a fetish? I came to this conclusion after much deliberation. I have a responsibility to Ui-seok, and to the world…”

“That was unnecessary talk.”

Lena cut off Han Somi’s words. She stared at Han Somi with a wicked smile, as if mocking her.

Han Somi seemed overwhelmed by Lena’s gaze and swallowed nervously.

“Hehe, heroes are so rigid in their thinking. They don’t understand how foolish it is to assume that what’s theirs will always remain theirs—peace, goodness. That’s why they became heroes.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I’m saying you can discard your sense of responsibility whenever you don’t like it. And as for me…”

Lena leaned forward, bringing her face close to Han Somi’s.

She gently stroked Han Somi’s chin with her fingertip.

“Whether you permit it or not, I intended to take Ui-seok from the beginning. Your concern was unnecessary.”

“…Ugh.”

“You’d better adapt. To the rules of villains.”

Han Somi was somewhat taken aback by the lack of pretense in Lena’s words.

The declaration from a villain at the top carried considerable impact.

“…Says the one who’s also full of responsibility.”

Lu-a muttered. Lena, who hadn’t missed her words, responded.

“Isn’t it an advantage of villains that logic isn’t necessary? If things don’t make sense, you can just shoot someone in the head and be done with it.”

“Oh, do you have something to shoot? Where?”

“Not now. Anyway, I’ll handle my relationship with Jeo myself.”

Lu-a pushed Boksil away as she concluded.

“Of course. I’m sure you’ll manage well. After living together for 8 months without even being recognized as a woman, I’m sure you’ll do great.”

When Lena mocked her, Lu-a fell silent, lost in thought, before finally asking in a small voice.

“…How can I make Jeo fall for me?”

***

After playing pool for a while, it seemed the women had finished their conversation.

There was a strange tension among Somi, Lu-a, and Lena as they came out of the office. Boksil, as usual, was oblivious.

Lu-a approached me and reported their conclusion.

“Jeo, now that the Galaxy Empire arc is over, let’s go on vacation.”

“Is that why you made me leave? To plan this?”

“Yes. I also want to clearly establish the hierarchy in Vengeance. I’ve neglected it because we’ve been so busy, but I’m the second-in-command of the evil sentai, right?”

“That’s right.”

“We’re going to a resort in Guam. We’ll leave in three days, so let’s just handle urgent matters quickly.”

Lu-a’s attitude seemed strangely composed.

It might suit her position now that Vengeance has become a large organization.

“Alright.”

As Lu-a was about to turn away, she stopped and looked back at me.

“Oh, and congratulations on defeating Recter.”

“Thanks. You worked hard too.”

Lu-a smiled brightly and walked lightly toward Lena.

Lu-a seemed to be sighing in relief, and Lena patted her back, while Somi whispered something, but I still couldn’t figure out what was going on.

As villains came to rule the world, certain problems definitely emerged.

One issue I needed to address was eradicating drugs.

Many villain organizations used drugs as their main source of income, so this would clearly be a lengthy process.

Until now, I lacked justification because we had to deal with Pestam, but now that the Galaxy Empire arc was over, drugs were no longer necessary in this world.

With villain organizations spreading, there was concern that drugs would spread indiscriminately across the globe.

However, suddenly cutting off the funding source for small organizations would naturally cause backlash, so I plan to first prohibit highly addictive and dangerous drugs.

Naturally, Pestam will disappear from this planet.

If anyone objects, I’ll simply crush them with force.

Weapons trading will be allowed but limited to conflicts between powered organizations and crimes among villains, establishing a system that maintains peace for civilians.

It’s not an easy task.

I’ve realized that having a clear adversarial structure of heroes versus villains makes maintaining a system much easier.

“Lord, there’s a report that came in. How would you like to handle it?”

A sharp subordinate came to ask for my opinion. While I can’t personally attend to every minor issue, if this person is asking, it must be a personal matter.

“Hmm.”

Looking at the content, it was indeed a personal matter.

I headed to the location mentioned in the report.

It wasn’t far.

My current office is in Seoul, using the Holy Tree’s hideout.

I arrived at Gwanghwamun Square.

It was the exact place where statues of the six Dragon King Sentai members stood.

The approximately 9-meter-tall statues were still striking their finishing poses impressively.

My statue, Red Dragon, had once been torn down by citizens, but it seemed to have been restored.

Perhaps Kang Yerin had arranged it.

All six of them could be considered dead now.

I died and was reborn as a villain.

Somi was killed by Choi Minseo and became a different being.

I suppose the two of us are better off since we’re still continuing our lives.

I beheaded Shin Yukyong and killed her.

He was a man without clear beliefs or ideology.

For Yukyong, strength was a kind of pleasure. He constantly pursued greater heights until he crossed the line. He deserved to die.

I trapped Choi Minseo’s mind and then destroyed her.

Not seeing through her true nature was my greatest mistake. I knew she could see souls with her ability, but could she manipulate them too?

One thing I’ve learned in this world is that a system’s good or evil orientation isn’t an absolute standard that determines a person’s actions. Who would set such standards anyway?

Choi Minseo was weak and evil because she was Choi Minseo.

I thoroughly repaid her for betraying me and everyone else.

I’m satisfied.

I killed Ji Se-hwa by piercing her heart.

Based on the circumstances, she seems to have lived a bit longer afterward. She apparently cut off Choi Minseo’s arm and crushed it.

In fact, if it weren’t for Choi Minseo’s arm that Ji Se-hwa cut off, I might have had difficulty overwhelming and defeating Choi Minseo then.

In the end, as Somi said, perhaps everything exists now thanks to all those people and events.

From that perspective, Ji Se-hwa ended up helping me in the end.

Not that I feel grateful.

…Well, things might have been different if we had talked more.

Her attitude clearly changed after returning from the past.

But it couldn’t be helped.

I couldn’t trust them because they didn’t trust me in the past.

I had trusted them.

They were all disciples I had chosen, heroes, and comrades.

I think what twisted between me and Ji Se-hwa was beyond repair.

Finally, Kang Yerin.

Although I didn’t directly see Kang Yerin die, given the state of the spaceship, I judge that she couldn’t have survived.

Actually, unlike the other Dragon King Sentai members, I had considered forgiving Kang Yerin.

She bears almost no responsibility for betraying me or Somi’s first death.

She accelerated the Civil War and ruined many things, but in a way, these were problems that arose because she was excessively talented.

Above all, she defeated Eridanus through sheer determination.

She would have been useful as a subordinate.

There are many useful talents.

The issue is always trustworthiness.

The reason I couldn’t trust Kang Yerin is simple.

Even now, I don’t understand her principles of action.

I don’t know if she wanted money, honor, or power. I can’t understand her motives.

I think she developed some sense of goodness in her heart after becoming a hero at my recommendation.

But what motivated Kang Yerin’s actions afterward…

It’s true that I was wary of a kind of madness I saw in her.

Well, any thought of forgiveness disappeared when she killed Somi.

Looking at each one individually, they were certainly people with a lot to talk about and unique personalities.

The ending wasn’t good, but not all memories are bad.

My revenge is over.

There’s no meaning in hating them any further.

“Lord, what should we do?”

I ordered the sharp subordinate.

“Don’t tear them down. Leave them as they are.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

At night, a hooded figure stood in front of the Dragon King Sentai statues, beautifully illuminated by lights, looking up at them.

“…You didn’t tear them down, Ui-seok.”

She seemed lost in memories as she gazed at the statues for a long time, then responded to an explosion sound in the distance and began to run.

“Transform.”

[MILKY WAY]

Kang Yerin soared into the night sky.

She intended to keep soaring forever.

Even if she became the last hero left in this world.