Ch.99. Irua Approaches Minseo of Green Nature

“Would you die in her place, Silver? Give me your life and I’ll spare twenty people.”

“……”

Shin Yukyong couldn’t answer my question.

That’s only natural.

Humans value their own lives above all else, after all.

I pressed against the hostage hero’s carotid artery without hesitation.

“Ah, ah…”

Shin Yukyong watched helplessly with despairing eyes as her crew member died.

I splashed the dying corpse’s blood across that bitch’s face.

Don’t make that face just yet.

There’s still plenty more to come.

“No, no, I don’t want to die!”

“Yukyong! Sister! Save me!”

“Shin Yukyong! Do something, you bitch! You’re S-rank!”

“Aaaaargh!!”

Heroes dying with different final screams.

When Shin Yukyong tried to close her eyes, I had my subordinate force them open.

Finally, when the job was done, corpses were piled across the deck.

“Fucking… bastards…”

Shin Yukyong barely managed to spit out a curse.

The side effects of Excalibur must have been severe. She still couldn’t control her body properly.

I covered her body with a blanket of corpses.

One should sleep warmly, after all.

“Well, we’ll be going now, Silver.”

Lee Lu-a smiled wickedly as she said goodbye.

“Where… kill… I’ll kill…”

“Let’s play again sometime.”

With Lu-a’s declaration, we jumped off the deck one by one. Lu-a’s black substance enveloped us. The massive sphere submerged into the ocean, soon disappearing from their sight.

◈ ◈ ◈

[Villain organization ‘Vengeance’ has debuted!]

[Other villains are taking notice of you!]

[Villain organization ‘Vengeance’ has leveled up!]

[Progress toward becoming the Lord of Evil]

Our first terror attack was successful.

The experience points from an S-rank hero and her 20 crew members provided excellent nourishment.

As a new organization, Vengeance needs to grow faster.

Lu-a’s stats increased significantly after defeating Shin Yukyong, but…

“Hueeegh. Urp. Hueeeegh.”

She’s been clutching the toilet and retching for quite some time since we returned.

“Hic. Sob. Urp. Hueeeegh.”

Crying, vomiting, crying again. A cycle.

After about an hour, she seemed to calm down a bit and staggered out of the bathroom, collapsing onto my sofa.

I brought her water. Lu-a seemed to have trouble drinking even that, only taking small sips.

“Was that your first time seeing corpses?”

“First time… no, not really.”

“So it’s your first time being the one doing the killing. My consideration was lacking. I’m sorry.”

Lu-a didn’t respond. Tear stains were clearly visible on her face.

She didn’t directly kill anyone during today’s operation. I don’t plan to make Lu-a carry out murders in the future if possible.

Even so, is the guilt too much for her to bear?

She’s too moral for an SSS-rank villain.

“Rest for a while. We’ll proceed with the plan slowly.”

“No. I can do it.”

Lu-a said, steadying her breathing.

“That way my revenge will come sooner too.”

“I see.”

“I feel this much pain even though I didn’t kill anyone. Did you feel the same when you first killed a monster?”

“I did.”

Because games and reality were different.

The sensation of a life like mine being extinguished by my hands was extremely unpleasant.

That sticky feeling that wouldn’t go away no matter how much I washed my hands.

“It was even more painful when I had to eat them. I cursed my own foolishness for choosing the Red Dragon just for its specs.”

“But you didn’t stop.”

“I couldn’t stop.”

“Do you feel better now? You got your payback against Shin Yukyong.”

“I liked it. It’s still far from enough, but it’s a good start. Thanks to you, Lu-a.”

Lu-a smiled lightly.

“Give me a reward.”

“What do you want? If it’s money, I can give you plenty.”

“Not that.”

Lu-a stared intently into my eyes.

“I don’t feel well. My head is dizzy, and my muscles ache. Must be the backlash from using my ability. I want to sleep comfortably tonight.”

“And?”

“Hold me until I fall asleep.”

“From the front or back? How tight? Does my breath bother you? Do you need a blanket?”

“…Not very romantic. Never mind. I’ll leave it to you.”

I went to the sofa, lay down in front of Lu-a, made a pillow with my left arm, and wrapped my right arm around her back, holding her against my chest.

Lu-a closed her eyes comfortably and buried her head.

Her hair smelled like lime.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Hey, Shin Yukyong. Are you feeling better?”

“Ah, Senior Se-hwa.”

Ji Se-hwa asked as she walked into the hospital room. Choi Minseo, who was sitting next to Shin Yukyong, greeted her.

“Jung Ui-seok used it, so why couldn’t I? Jung Ui-seok used three at once. It doesn’t make sense. There’s no way he could endure this kind of pain.”

Shin Yukyong was lying on the hospital bed, curled up toward the corner, muttering to herself.

“Seems like she’s in shock.”

“Yes… all the crew members were…”

Choi Minseo couldn’t finish her sentence and lowered her head. Ji Se-hwa clicked her tongue, feeling disgusted.

She had seen the video too. Shin Yukyong getting destroyed by Vengeance’s Dark Matter, her crew members being executed one by one.

That video had been broadcast live through the media.

The Association cut the broadcast after the second execution, but it was already too late.

“They didn’t catch those bastards?”

“No. That black substance caused radio interference, so we don’t know where they escaped to.”

“Pathetic bastards. Maybe I should have gone after them. I wouldn’t have lost them at sea.”

Ji Se-hwa looked at Shin Yukyong.

“Did I fail to surpass Jung Ui-seok? Jung Ui-seok, were you telling the truth? Did you use the Switch, Excalibur, alone for my sake…?”

“Hey, Shin Yukyong! Snap out of it!”

Ji Se-hwa grabbed Shin Yukyong’s shoulders and shook her. Shin Yukyong’s eyes trembled as she looked at Ji Se-hwa.

“Why are you looking for Jung Ui-seok? You’re much stronger than that drug addict! It’s obvious that Dark Matter pulled some trick! You were just unlucky. Let’s find Vengeance and kill them. We’ll help you.”

“Se-Se-hwa…”

Life returned to Shin Yukyong’s eyes. She grabbed Ji Se-hwa’s hand.

Kang Yerin quietly watched them from the entrance of the hospital room.

◈ ◈ ◈

Kang Yerin visited the training ground. The special room for S-rank heroes was spacious.

She wasn’t used to coming alone yet. Usually, Jung Ui-seok would be with her to teach her.

Kang Yerin pressed the Switch in her hand.

[NORZTORM!]

“Transform.”

[On your way!]

[Here comes the Dragon Lord!]

Kang Yerin transformed into Yellow Cloaker.

She applied the training settings. Machine guns appeared from all directions.

She immediately opened the power of the yellow dragon, Norztorm, and began using her ability.

Tututata—!

Machine guns firing mercilessly.

“…Phew.”

Kang Yerin created a spherical zone centered on herself. Bullets entering it began to slow down visibly.

The power to slow down time for objects within her radius.

That was Yellow Cloaker’s ability.

‘They killed him, and now that there’s a problem, they’re looking for Jung Ui-seok?’

The image of Shin Yukyong she had just seen flashed through Kang Yerin’s mind.

‘If that’s how it is, why did you kill him? Why? You took his Switch, and you can’t even use it.’

The slowed bullets began to vibrate.

‘You’re being punished. Shin Yukyong, you ungrateful bitch, you got off easy.’

Perhaps it was because of these distracting thoughts. The bullets regained their normal time. Bullets flying toward Kang Yerin.

“Ugh!”

Thousands of bullets struck Kang Yerin’s body. As an S-rank hero, she didn’t take much damage from that. But.

‘What’s this…? It seems more painful than before…?’

With her sensitive perception, she could feel the difference.

‘This kind of pain is nothing compared to what Ui-seok must have felt.’

It should be nothing.

Kang Yerin decided to stop complaining.

The next bullets fired. She activated her ability again.

Following Jung Ui-seok’s teachings.

Believing that with endless training, she could eventually break through her limits.

If she did that.

‘I miss you.’

Her time-slowing ability,

‘I want to meet you.’

Might someday become the ability to stop time,

‘I want to apologize.’

And perhaps someday, to rewind time.

“I miss you, Ui-seok…”

She couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears, collapsing to the ground.

Bullets that collided in mid-air scattered in all directions.

“I’m such a fool.”

Without even wiping away her flowing tears.

“Not just slowing down time around me, but I was so slow to notice my own feelings.”

Just staring at the floor.

“I like you. I like you, Ui-seok…”

She murmured.

But there was no one left in her world to hear it.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Is the communication sensitivity good?”

『Perfect.』

Weekend. I was staking out a building in front of a secret party venue for the next operation.

Lu-a had already infiltrated. She was disguised as Secret Service.

Limousines were arriving one after another. While examining the guests through my scope, I spotted the target.

An elegant white dress with light green decorations. Her well-styled hair was sophisticated yet maintained a modest charm.

Choi Minseo.

She arrived at the scene, escorted by guards.

“The parrot has entered the cage.”

『Roger.』

I brought up a multi-view in my sight. I synchronized Lu-a’s lens with my view.

Lu-a, waiting at the entrance of the party venue, greeted Choi Minseo politely as she entered. Her luxury items with accent points shined.

“Hello, Green Nature. I’m Secret Service agent Shin Min-ah, your dedicated escort for today.”

“Oh my, this is my first time experiencing something like this… Please take care of me.”

Choi Minseo greeted shyly.

“I’ll guide you through the party venue. Let’s start with the main hall.”

Choi Minseo and Lu-a entered the hall along an elegant corridor.

Soon they came to a sophisticated club-like space with refined music playing.

People enjoying light snacks and drinks. Everyone was well-known in the entertainment industry.

“Hey, Green Nature, nice to meet you.”

“Oh, sir!”

Everyone was accompanied by a Secret Service agent. The person who just spoke to Choi Minseo was the most famous MC in the broadcasting industry.

Despite hearing the name Green Nature, the celebrities don’t rush over. Here, she’s just one of many newcomers.

Even if they’re interested, they wait their turn. There’s no unseemly crowding.

And Choi Minseo is becoming immersed in that atmosphere.

Her usual shyness disappears with a glass of champagne, and her voice gradually gets louder.

Actors, singers, PDs, directors.

Her confidence grows with each greeting exchanged with entertainment industry figures.

“What was Dark Arthur like? Were you scared?”

“Yes. High-ranking monsters emit an energy called aura. It’s dangerous to be exposed to it, but when my Quetzalcoatl heals…”

Choi Minseo shares her heroic tales.

She must be enjoying this.

Someone who was ignored all her life and couldn’t speak up is now getting attention from such famous and important people.

Are you enjoying yourself?

How much are you enjoying it?

Enjoy it as much as you can.

I’ll enjoy it just as much.

“Whew, it’s overwhelming. I’m a bit tired.”

“Green Nature. If you’d like to rest, shall I guide you to another room? Since this party is held regularly, we have various rooms prepared for different celebrity preferences.”

Lu-a guides her kindly.

“Ah, yes please.”

Choi Minseo follows Lu-a down the corridor.

In front of one room, Lu-a opens the door for Choi Minseo.

Looking inside, Choi Minseo appears a bit confused.

“Wh-what is this place?”

Inside, there were also many celebrities.

However, they were all lying on sofas, staring into space, laughing meaninglessly, or crying.

Everyone was high on drugs.

“This is a room for pleasant dreams. It has very high customer satisfaction.”

Choi Minseo was too busy looking at Lu-a’s smile to notice.

She didn’t realize that black matter was injecting the emotion of curiosity into her mind.