Ch.96Chapter 4. The Dignity of S-Class (4)

Villains have no portrait rights.

That’s why they must conceal their identities even more carefully, and if they do show their faces, they need overwhelming economic power or strength to compensate for that disadvantage.

But why did such an environment develop?

Simply because in the 21st century, electronic devices advanced alongside the ability revolution?

Because anyone with a smartphone can become a broadcasting station capable of livestreaming?

That’s right.

That’s part of it, but there’s something else that works in tandem with that.

There’s an ability user called Cheonrian.

While the name might suggest someone who can see a thousand li away—a very long distance—in reality, their function and role is more like that of a “Big Brother.”

-Even the government can’t monitor our servers!

-What if villains are exchanging information about targeting your granddaughter?

-But this is private information…

-For national security, personal freedom can be slightly infringed upon. That’s His Excellency’s position. Sir, this is Korea, not America.

-…Only for intelligence against major villains. If it’s used for political reasons, I’ll shut down the server immediately.

-Thank you for your cooperation, sir.

Whether it’s smartphones or Taegeuk Watches, data ultimately goes through cell towers and passes through telecommunication company servers.

Cheonrian monitors these servers and acts as a “Big Brother” finding information about villains.

Officially, they only collect big data on villains, but the truth is known only to Cheonrian himself, a handful of government agents, and the company lending the servers.

I’ve carefully avoided being detected by Cheonrian until now.

At least when discussing the Syndicate, I’ve thoroughly concealed myself.

But I can’t control when others record me.

Like right now.

BEEP BEEP BEEP!!

Juliana’s Taegeuk Watch started blaring with a villain detection alert.

“W-what…! I didn’t report anything!”

[I know. You were automatically reported.]

That’s why the villain alert sounds so loudly.

[Juliana, your only mistake was setting up automatic cloud updates. If you had simply saved the video, it would have ended there.]

Separate from manual reporting, Cheonrian “forcibly” triggers the alert sound when a villain is detected.

[As an American, you might not understand, but the moment data enters Korean servers, government agents start monitoring villains.]

“Th-that’s impossible…! That’s an invasion of privacy…!”

[You don’t know this country well.]

“I-I can’t believe it…! How could a hero-advanced country commit such a terrible privacy violation…!”

[That’s the difference between this country and others.]

No need to explain further.

[What will you do? Go to Yangyang, or stay here?]

“What are you… going to do?”

Juliana’s gaze shifted to the dying pillar of fire.

She slowly turned her head toward me, looking up with eyes that clearly regarded me as a “murderer.”

[I just executed a villain who was trying to kill you for my mission. Don’t look at me like that.]

“……”

[My mission is to escort you to the airport. Since you’ve kindly reported the Goblin’s appearance—]

“I didn’t report anything!!”

She immediately shouted back at my sarcasm.

I was internally justifying that ‘stealing genetic material might be villainous enough to warrant death,’ but I maintained my composure considering her age.

[That doesn’t matter. The bike is over there, so make your choice. Will you go to Yangyang Airport alone, or travel with me?]

The car exploded, but Yeongno’s bike remains.

Even if we run out of fuel, I could carry her to Yangyang Airport if necessary.

[What will you do? Choose. We don’t have time to waste.]

“……”

[I’ll give you three seconds. 3, 2, 1.]

“B-but!”

Juliana hesitated, pointing at her suitcase which she was gripping so tightly her fingers turned white.

“What did I do wrong to deserve this…!”

[Time’s up. I clearly told you to choose. You hesitated.]

“Huh?”

I kicked Juliana along with her suitcase.

She was shocked, her eyes widening at my sudden attack, but I wasn’t trying to kill her.

SWOOSH!!

A steel mass brushed between Juliana and me.

It was a rocket-powered fist that quickly curved back toward its owner.

“Behold the arrival of Taejo—!”

THUD—!

The asphalt road sank from the impact of the heavy steel landing.

It was a hero landing that even I found somewhat appealing, and as he extended his hand, the gauntlet that had attacked us reattached to his hand.

“Armored Taejo! Has arrived!”

Did he fly in from Busan?

His timing suggests he’d been flying toward Gangwon Province since the escort operation began.

“It’s been a while, Goblin!”

“Ah…!”

Juliana, sprawled on the ground, looked terrified at the sight of Taejo.

“And Juliana Faygreen. It hasn’t even been half a day since we parted, but seeing you again feels absolutely shitty.”

“Ah, th-that…!”

“Secretly taking what was thrown in the trash and sneaking away with it. Isn’t that extremely unethical?”

Under Taejo’s sharp rebuke, Juliana lowered her eyes.

There was no way a mere C-rank ability user could withstand the cold fury of an S-rank.

When I spoke to her earlier, she had her own grievances and recognized me as a security guard, but from Juliana’s perspective, Taejo was someone she couldn’t even look in the eye.

“Where’s my genetic material? Hand it over.”

“……”

“You’re not going to claim you don’t have it, are you? I know you have it.”

“…I-I don’t have it.”

Juliana’s voice trembled.

“I already sent it to the airport.”

“Really? Then I’ll have to search you myself.”

Taejo clenched his fist and tilted his head.

“We spent a pleasant night together, but the aftermath is so trashy… What?”

[Sorry, but she’s ‘still’ under my protection.]

“Is there any reason to protect her?”

[I received quite a lot of money from her grandfather.]

I blocked Juliana.

“Hey, Goblin. This is between Juliana and me.”

[October Travel hired our company. If you want to search Juliana, you’ll need a warrant.]

“A warrant? Ha! The very existence of an S-rank hero is a warrant!”

[Do you think heroes are above the law?]

“Uh, well, that’s…. Right! A villain who ignores the law shouldn’t be talking. Since when did the strongest villain become so law-abiding?”

[Valid point. I’ll concede that.]

“Yes!”

Taejo punched the air in victory.

“Nice! My debate lessons paid off!”

I let him win the argument since what he said wasn’t entirely wrong.

Getting into a verbal fight with a youngster would only tire me out.

[Still, bring a warrant. If you don’t want to break the law.]

“Ugh…!”

[I may be a villain who breaks the law, but wouldn’t it be problematic for you, one of the country’s top S-rank heroes, to break it?]

“What?”

Taejo’s voice brightened.

“Did you just say I’m in the top 5?”

[…..]

“Heh, even the Goblin acknowledges me! Yes, that’s who I am. As if I’m merely ranked 7th….”

[I never said you were in the top tier.]

“What?!”

Taejo raised his fist toward me, trembling with anger.

“Fine! A hero meets a villain—we can’t just let this pass! Goblin! I’ll subdue you and recover my genetic material from Juliana! And…!”

CLANK!

“I’ll prove it! The power of S-rank hero, Armored Taejo!”

Taejo’s full-body armor began to separate as if shedding.

[Fuzzy?]

“That’s not it! This is…!”

CLANK.

“A sword!”

The metal pieces that detached rearranged themselves, combining to form a single weapon.

WHOOSH—

A red laser began to glow along the blade of what resembled a large straight sword with an ornate pommel.

Armored Taejo.

His ability is “Metal Manipulation.”

The armor constituting his body is the culmination of modern technology, and Taejo fights by using his ability to keep each armor part attached to his body.

And….

“First, let’s disarm you, Goblin!!”

Taejo extended his hand toward me, creating a magnetic field with magical power.

“Come to me—!”

He tried to pull me using the metal on my body, but it was useless.

“Wh-what…?!”

[Just because something looks like armor doesn’t mean it’s all metal.]

The Dojirider Qiongqi form isn’t just for show.

It’s entirely made of magical power, and any metal parts are protected by the magical power surrounding me.

[Do you want to fight?]

“Of course!”

[That’s unfortunate.]

I rolled lightly across the ground, then rushed toward Armored Taejo.

[Next time, develop something like nanomachines.]

“What?!”

[Or come with better radar.]

Momentary etherealization.

“What…! This speed…?!”

[It’s not about speed.]

Taejo lost track of me and turned his head left and right, but I kept moving forward.

[Did you think you could defeat me by relying solely on machines?]

“Ugh, when…!”

[Other S-ranks can all react and counter this.]

[Solar—]

My fist had already reached Taejo’s solar plexus.

[That’s why you’re just called an S-rank detector.]

“Th-this…!”

[If you only rely on your suit, that’s as far as you’ll ever go.]

“!!!!”

Through his visor, I could see anger, shock, and a hint of bitterness in his eyes, but—

[Farewell.]

[FLARE—!!]

I released Qiongqi’s magical power concentrated in my fist.

The fiery magic exploded, sending Taejo flying backward.

[Well then.]

I immediately turned and ran toward Juliana.

[Before you hesitate again and others arrive, I’ll forcibly escort you to the airport.]

“Ah…!”

I threw the hiding Juliana over my shoulder, got on Yeongno’s abandoned bike, and hit the accelerator.

“W-wait!! At least let me ride in front, or behind!!”

[No time.]

Princess carry?

Maybe for an executive, department head, Baek Seol-hee, or Ymir.

But why would I do that for this woman?

“Aaah! My skirt, my skirt is flipping up?!”

[Shut up. You’re noisy.]

Whether or not the highway CCTV captured a woman being carried like a rice sack while desperately clutching her suitcase, I sped down the road toward Yangyang.

The sun was slowly rising.

One hour until boarding time.

[Hello? Section Chief Do? Looks like they’re waiting at the airport?]

Information came through the magical intercom.

[Two S-ranks waiting at the airport~ One of them is the Princess~]

“Confirmed.”

I gathered my magical power and drove the bike toward Yangyang Airport.