Chapter 25: Debut ④

In a tracksuit with a hood, shadows resting under her eyes.

Her breathing was erratic, as if the weight of the darkness was weighing on her.

But her blue eyes remained calmly fixed on me.

[You really came.]

Yu Hyesun’s tone was one of surprise. After all, she had looked truly serious back home.

She must have thought it wouldn’t be strange to ignore this.

On the other hand, I was certain. She would definitely come here and stand in my way.

It wasn’t because Seoran was amazing, a hero, or a thought that came from a younger sibling’s perspective.

It was an analysis from the standpoint of a reader of the original work.

‘Gwangmyeong Reminis is not just your sister’s.’

[What do you mean by that?]

Gwangmyeong Reminis.

The original bearer of this name was our aunt. She had turned down the military’s offers and chose the safety of the citizens over wealth and fame as a volunteer.

A so-called hero.

Inspired by her actions, capable individuals began to gather and form a vigilante group, which eventually became the foundation of the Hero Association.

A symbol of justice. It wasn’t just a simple phrase of praise—it was real.

‘My sister was originally a powerless person.’

[What?]

Our mother was a colleague of my aunt, and a big fan of Gwangmyeong Reminis.

Having spent most of her childhood with our mother, Seoran grew up listening to stories about her and developed an admiration for heroes.

Despite facing the reality of being powerless, she even considered becoming a police officer to support heroes, such was her obsession with them.

‘That girl inherited Reminis’s name.’

For Seoran, keeping the beliefs that Reminis had upheld her whole life was not a choice.

It would be practically impossible for Seoran to tarnish Reminis’s name. If she had ignored it, she would have been left with no choice but to take extreme measures—but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“Nice to meet you, Reminis.”

I raised my tension, bending forward and pretending to scan her face thoroughly.

“So this is what a hero looks like? You seem more gloomy than I expected?”

I spoke cheerfully, intentionally altering my usual tone.

[It seems all those acting lessons were worth it.]

Right now, I was playing the role of the unpredictable psychopath villain, Lan.

This persona serves two purposes.

To hide my true identity. And to relieve the mental stress I carry.

Because the things I do are not things anyone in their right mind would do.

“……”

Seoran remained silent, her hollow, corpse-like eyes simply staring at me.

…It’s been two years, and she’s still like this?

“I am Lan. A villain with no affiliation.”

I grabbed my skirt as if to adjust it, then placed my other hand on my chest, slightly bowing my head.

“Lan…?”

Seoran’s brow furrowed just a little. But then, her expression returned to neutrality as she extended a hand. A glowing orb of light appeared in her palm.

Her voice came out, devoid of any inflection or emotion.

“Surrender.”

A single request for surrender before battle. Just like the original Gwangmyeong Reminis.

The atmosphere among the students, which had been uncertain, changed in an instant.

• Is that really Reminis?

• She’s alive!

I welcomed this change with joy.

[The main player. The young one started too. We can’t afford any more delays.]

I glanced out the window—Darkblack Owen and other heroes were blocking the entrance.

Over the past two years, Owen had grown both mentally and physically, but he still couldn’t handle an elite hero.

I made a decision.

‘Let’s run.’

Today, providing a catalyst was enough.

The fact that Gwangmyeong Reminis was standing up against villains while spreading the light was a significant achievement in itself.

Though it didn’t seem like she had fully regained her power, it was something we could gradually build on.

I took a few steps backward toward the window.

“Hiik!”

At that moment, my eyes met with the crying female teacher.

“Hu-huh! Please save me, mama… Huhu.”

She was crying as if the heavens were about to fall. Her throat under her chin was red and swollen.

‘I guess I won’t be going to heaven either.’

Her reputation for being unexpectedly soft-hearted was dangerous, but I had scared her… I had done some terrible things. But I wouldn’t apologize for it right now.

“……Huh!”

As I backed away with the sound of my shoes clicking, the teacher stopped crying abruptly. Fear quickly returned to her face.

She was positioned next to the window. I guess she had misinterpreted my approach toward the window as a threat.

‘I could take her as a hostage.’

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

For a brief moment, such a thought crossed my mind, but I shook my head and dismissed it.

Reminis would never compromise in a hostage situation, and I didn’t want to torment an innocent teacher any further.

Click, clack.

Ignoring the trembling teacher, I moved past her.

‘I can still escape.’

Seoran didn’t recklessly charge at me. It was the right judgment. She had struggled to dispel the darkness contained in a single orb, showing signs of difficulty—right now, she couldn’t match me.

I gazed into Seoran’s eyes, reminiscent of the deep ocean, and smiled gently. She bit her lower lip.

Today, I only came to make my existence known.

Once I deliver my declaration of war and leave, it will be over. From now on, I’ll gradually escalate the intensity of the crisis, and she will rise easily.

Just as I turned around…

“Stop!”

A desperate voice. Reminis was alternately looking at me and the teacher with heavy eyes.

“Non-combatants… are innocent.”

She must have thought I was about to harm the teacher.

I didn’t bother to correct her assumption and tried to flee, but then something unbelievable happened.

“Please stop.”

Thud.

My brain stopped functioning. I paused for a moment, seriously considering whether I was having a vivid dream.

“Just kill me instead.”

Reminis’s knees touched the ground. She was kneeling in front of a villain, without any resistance.

Some might praise this act as noble, saying, “She’s a hero.”

But anyone familiar with Gwangmyeong Reminis would know how absurd this situation was.

One of Reminis’s principles:
She would never surrender to a villain, no matter what.

Even if it meant sacrificing a hostage, justice should never bow to evil.

The realization hit me late, and I could feel my face stiffening with fear.

“What are you doing?” “If you called me out specifically, you must have a grudge against me. Settle it now. I’ll give you my life.” “…Is it really that easy to do this?”

Reminis calmly answered my question.

“I’m no longer a hero.” “…….”

I lowered my head. The teacher, her eyes wide, stared at me.

“My life no longer holds any value.” “……Really?”

I took a deep breath.

No longer valuable, she says?

[My lord, you must calm yourself.]

No longer a hero…?

[My lord!]

Yu Hyesun’s voice echoed distantly. Suddenly, an unforgettable memory flashed before my eyes.

• Lan, would you not want to be Reminis?

• Wh-what are you saying…?

• …I think you’d fit it better than my sister.

What was the conversation we had back then…?

My hands were trembling uncontrollably.

Calm down. I need to calm down.

Right now, I am villain Lan.
There’s no reason to waver because of her words.

Seoran, perhaps interpreting my stillness as refusal, moved again.

“I’ll do whatever you ask, so please.”

She lowered her head and touched her forehead to the ground.

Seoran was bowing to me.
Gwangmyeong Reminis, bowing to a villain.

Is there any better visual representation of a broken justice?

The shocked crowd started murmuring.

‘What is she doing?’

The thread that had been holding my sanity snapped.

‘Reminis can’t be this weak.’

Reason began to waver.

‘I can’t break my promise to my aunt.’

A thick malice gathered on top of the crumbling reason.

‘I can’t let her die, not for my sake.’

The pitch-black malice raised its head.

“I understand.”

I raised my head and smiled brightly.

One step, then another, I walked toward Reminis.
Toward that pitiful would-be suicide.

“No!”

A few brave students stepped forward to block my way.

‘If I tear them apart in front of me, will there be any reaction?’

As my gaze darkened ominously, someone rushed from behind. The teacher.

She collided with the students.

“Teacher! Let go! If this goes on!” “Stay still!!” “……!”

The teacher growled, causing the children to freeze, as though they were paralyzed.

I slipped past them.

Soon, I reached Reminis.

She was still lying on the ground.

I crouched down in front of her.

“Is it really that hard?”

Seoran slowly lifted her head. Her empty sky-blue eyes.

It was a misunderstanding. She had appeared so confidently while dispelling my power that, for a moment, I had hoped.

She had solidified her belief.
If I just nurtured it, she would return to the Seoran I once knew.

It was all just my delusion.

Reminis was still dead.

That was just an empty shell. A shell from which the soul had departed.

A living corpse, alive only because there was no reason for it to die.

Then, perhaps all I needed to do was give her a reason to live.

“Your little sister, you said she was dead?”

The corners of Reminis’s eyes twitched.

The sound of teeth grinding echoed, and her sharp gaze pierced through me.

Much better.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
She seemed much more alive now.

“Iran?”
“……”
“We have the same name, don’t we? Quite the coincidence, isn’t it?”
“What are you trying to say?”

She’s coming back to life.
The candle I thought was extinguished is now rekindling.

I asked the question in a deliberately annoying way.

“What do you think my talent is?”
“……”
“A power that brings darkness to the surroundings. Did you think it was that?”

I extended my finger.
The darkness swirled like smoke and took shape.

A sword the size of my finger.

“……!”

Reminis’s pupils expanded.

The darkness continued to shift its form.

Smoke, spheres, shields, miniature black holes…

“How…?”
“My ability is to control darkness. I’m a natural-born power user.”

“……”

There is only one known natural-born darkness user in this world.

The corners of my mouth curled upward in a sly smile.

“Quite the amusing coincidence, isn’t it?”

Her widened eyes, blown past their limits, seemed like they could fall off her face with a tap.

Her bloodshot eyes stared at me fiercely, as though she could kill me with just her gaze.

Blood trickled from the tightly clenched fist.

I casually threw some fuel onto the fire.

“Could it be a coincidence?”

What sort of thoughts were running through her beautiful head?
Her slightly parted lips panted heavily.

“…What’s your relation to Iran?”
“Well, maybe you don’t know? I am Iran.”
“Shut up!”

In a rage, Reminis lunged at me. She pushed my shoulder, and I let it pass.

After climbing on top of me, she tried to strangle me with the intent to kill.

“You trash should never speak that name!”
“…Trash, huh? That’s harsh.”

Oddly enough, I was genuinely hurt.

I had no rebuttal, so it stung even more.

I carefully read Seoran’s facial expressions, silently analyzing them.

Would this level of provocation revive the flame?

…No, not yet.

[My lord───]

Still, it wasn’t enough.

I grabbed Seoran’s hand, which was choking me.

With just a bit of force, her grip loosened.

This was proof.

This weak physical enhancement was the evidence that Reminis had failed to revive.

I took control of her, allowing myself a sneaky, vile smile.

“Do you miss your little sister?”

Well, I’ll show you.