Chapter 20 – #Villain

Childhood friend.

Yoo Hayeon and Han Sijoon were inseparable.

Hayeon always went everywhere with Sijoon. They ate meals, slept, and traveled together. In her memories, he was always there with her. That was how she was able to forget her painful memories and was able to live on.

The birthday cake which disappeared along with the flames, her family who cried out loud about saving just her when they were trapped in the fire, she could bundle up the sad memories which wouldn’t go away with the happy memories she had with Sijoon.

He was someone who was truly precious to Hayeon.

But unable to be honest, she regretted how she was never able to express her gratitude towards him properly.

It’s okay, I can thank him later. I’ll have to tell him that I always treasure him.

She shifted the present responsibility to her future self.

Since Sijoon was always with her, she couldn’t express her honest feelings, which she promised to tell him later. She had been content with the way things were. Since she was happy with him every day, she didn’t think about the future.

Born with looks and talent…

The world always revolved around Hayeon without her putting in the effort.

Even when she didn‘t overperform, she was above others, and she had no plans on doing better in the future.

It was because Sijoon was someone who would lag behind if she advanced ahead. She intended to walk the same pace as him, grow old, and live together for the rest of their lives.

But the final ending that Hayeon was headed for was being shattered by someone she never expected.

“Si…joon…”

There was a pale-white woman sinking her fangs down in the back of the neck of her long-time childhood friend.

The wound Sijoon said he got while moving his stuff…

Hayeon came to realize that this wasn’t the first time Yoowol did this.

“Ahh… Why…?”

Yoowol saw the futile look on Hayeon’s face.

A smile spread across her lips.

“Hah…that look of utter despair. I believe I’m so fortunate to have accepted this request. To think it would be this fun…”

She pulled out her bloody teeth from Sijoon’s neck, finding the current situation very interesting.

A boy who tasted fantastic. 

And his childhood friend.

Snatching Sijoon away while an interesting relationship unfolded before her was more than enough to bring her pleasure. She had lived a long time in boredom.

“Ease up your scary face, Ms. Childhood Friend. When did I say I would kill this little boy? This child will die at some point, but his time is not today.”

“…Stop it.”

Yoowol raised her eyelid as she licked the blood flowing from Sijoon’s neck.

The female student had the most threatening presence among the students.

Her fists were clenched and shaking; she was suppressing her rage. She looked like she was about to explode.

How will you become a hero if your emotions are running high?

In a mocking tone, Yoowol made a sarcastic remark.

“You shouldn’t do that. By unveiling your emotions before a villain, they can read all your actions.”

“…What would you know?”

“I’m well aware. Since I, too, used to dream of becoming a hero.”

She was a villain now, but in the past, Han Yoowol briefly dreamed about being a hero. 

Though that memory was history now, disappearing far off into the past, she was familiar with the hero’s mindset.

Hayeon spoke as calmly as possible.

“I don’t care about your backstory, let Sijoon go. If there’s anything you want, I’ll listen to all your demands. Please, I’m begging you…”

Hayeon kept her composure at first, but it crumbled due to her impatience. In the end, she was pouring out her desperation.

What added fuel to her emotions was Pildu’s gruff voice.

“…We’re out of time. Han Yoowol. Finish the job.”

“Just a bit more. The fun is at its peak.”

What Pildu was referring to was a mission pertaining to Sijoon. It was like hell to Hayeon right now. She knew he was talking about Sijoon’s “elimination” or “abduction”.

I-I…can’t be like this… S-Sijoon… I need to save him…

It had been a while since Sijoon had left Hayeon’s hands. Even if she pulled out her innate ability, “All-Inclusive,” it wasn’t enough to kill monsters like those two with her current mana. It was highly likely they would end Sijoon if she failed in the slightest.

It was truly a dead end.

There was only one last thing Hayeon could do.

“Please…”

She knelt on the ground’s rough surface and pleaded at them.

“Please…let Sijoon live… I’ll do anything…If you want me to die, I’ll die. I’ll act for a better world…”

“…Things like this aren’t fun.”

Yoowol looked at her with an icy expression.

Just as how a bent flower was not beautiful, someone who sullied their own pride in a pathetic manner could not be considered a “hero”.

That was the moment when her interest quickly dropped.

The future looked bright for many of the students, what a shame.

Yoowol grabbed and squeezed Sijoon’s neck with her slender fingers.

“Then, let me propose one offer.”

“Offer…?”

“It’s fine to refuse. Since the responsibility will fall upon you. You may do as you please.”

Hayeon raised her head whilst kneeling down.

That was a ray of hope.

She was determined to do anything.

The woman’s red lips parted as she proposed an extreme offer.

“The students who have passed out, if you kill every single one of them, I’ll release the child. Easy, is it not?”

“Ah…”

Yoowol’s eyes crinkled into a crescent moon. The look in her eyes contained only sincerity.

Hayeon lowered her head in torment and stared at the ground.

Is what I’m doing truly the right thing?

Even when she questioned it, what came out was the wrong answer.

Without even knowing the reason why, the students had collapsed. Hayeon had friends who she shared laughs and conversations with over there, and there were some who she was close enough with to exchange phone numbers.

Na Yoona.

She was annoying but she was an important figure to the workings of the world. She was Sijoon’s new friend and the granddaughter of the renowned corporation, NAVI.

She had withstood Pildu’s first attack, but his next attack knocked her out.

There was none among the unconscious students who were guilty of a sin, and the same applied to Sijoon.

Sacrificing the many for the lesser.

No matter what era one was in, it would be the wrong answer.

What… What should I do…

Hayeon, who wanted Sijoon more than anyone else, could not open her mouth hastily at the villain’s offer. In the end, she could not reply to Yoowol’s offer for a long time.

“That’s right. if you’re a hero, you mustn’t accept a villain’s offer.”

Yoowol wore a content smile.

She briefly exchanged talks with Pildu.

“…Are you saying you won’t carry out the mission?”

“Now when did I say that? Scrap. I’m saying let us put this off momentarily. For future’s sake.”

“For future’s sake…?”

“Yes. For future’s sake. I had my doubts at first, but now I’m certain. This child possesses no magic.”

“…I’ll carry him. I’m heading back.”

As soon as he heard Yoowol’s explanation, he immediately consented. He slung the unconscious Sijoon over his shoulder, which was as broad as the Pacific ocean.

His gaze was on the holed ceiling.

Yoowol said her last farewells to Hayeon who was kneeling on the ground, blaming herself.

“Well, we may or may not cross paths in the future, but let me give you a piece of advice.”

Watch out for the Association.

They’re not always on the hero’s side.

There are righteous individuals in the association, but there are also others who are not.

A double-sided association.

Han Yoowol knew them very well.

She left those words with the devastated Hayeon, then vanished where the light streamed down from the ceiling.  

She looked forward to the day those lights vanished, and the world turned black.

The Black Dawn’s raid on the academy was brought to an end with the disappearance of a single student. And that remained the event which triggered Yoo Hayeon’s change.

…I don’t want to lose anyone ever again. I won’t lose anyone anymore. Wait for me, Sijoon.

A sense of helplessness, unable to do a thing.

Hatred towards oneself for not being able to pick a choice.

The moment her desire for revenge against the Black Dawn ignited…

The talent of the future S-Rank hero had begun to blossom.

 ***

…Where is this place?

When I opened my eyes, I could see nothing but darkness.

My mind was muddled, and I had no strength in my body.

What was the last thing that happened before I lost consciousness?

I felt dizzy as I traced back my memory.

First, I defeated the Golem. That’s right. The hidden piece. I obtained that.

I felt the Golem’s core inside my body, but it wasn’t charged; it appeared to be in an inactive state. This meant that my body wasn’t in good condition to utilize the core’s energy. Only when my body was fully in shape would the core’s energy be charged.

That’s right. Black Dawn. Han Yoowol. She bit my neck again.

Yoowol possessed abilities related to blood. In terms of her race, she was human, but she used to drink virgin’s blood to maintain her youth.

In one corner of my mind, Hayeon’s last expression crossed my mind.

What happened to Hayeon? She didn’t go after Yoowol, right? Please, just stay alive.

It was the first time in my life that I saw Hayeon make such an expression.

Panic. Grief. Regret. Rage. Jealousy.

An expression filled with a mix of emotions.

I didn’t have it in me to find the exact words for that expression.

For starters, let’s try moving my body.

It was a movement for the sake of grasping my situation.

I heard that by keeping your composure you could get out alive even after you venture into a tiger’s cave.

I couldn’t see anything because it was dark, but I tried moving my body.

Rattle.

The sound of chains.

It was coming from my leg. 

No matter how much strength I applied, it was just my leg that felt pain.

Had the core been active, I would’ve attempted breaking it. Unfortunately, my body wasn’t fully well yet.

Click.

It was the sound of a switch turning on.

At the same time, light illuminated my eyes.

So damn bright.

I must’ve been in the dark for quite some time since my eyes were stinging a lot.

W-Who…is it?

The view didn’t fully come in, but I could see the outline of a person sitting on a chair through my out of focus vision.

In my field of view, which had not returned, I could hear Yoowol’s familiar voice.

“I see that you’re up, Han Sijoon. How are you feeling?”

“…Why did you abduct me?”

“Oh my, you’re calmer than I expected. You’re not even begging for your life.”

Fortitude 8 is such an important stat after all.

Yoowol slyly avoided answering my question.

Then I heard another character’s voice.

“Vice-Captain. You’ll need to explain this properly. Handling the request in this manner does not align with our ways.”

It was the voice of a woman with a brusque tone.

When she finished speaking, I could hear the voices of unfamiliar people.

“Took the words outta my mouth. Vice-Captain, why do we have to keep this punk alive? Isn’t money better? Vice-Captain?”

“Quiet. The Vice-Captain must have her own plans. Someone like you who’s never out in the scenes will never understand even after you croak.”

“I‘m for it! Definitely for it!”

Conversation between self-assertive individuals.

It looks like I’m in deep trouble.

Seeing the way they treat Yoowol, they were by all means the members of the Black Dawn.

It was a situation where some tension lingered with the turbulent atmosphere.

As my vision almost returned, I began to make out the shapes of seven people.

Each character had strong personalities.

Cold sweat was streaming down my cheek.

...I’m screwed.

Thudump. Thudump.

I could hear the loud thump of my heartbeat.

The members of Black Dawn each had major crimes under their belts.

“So, why do we need to keep him alive?”

While I was chained up and trembling, they were giving me a death glare.

This was an unexpected situation even for a pro gamer like me.