Chapter 5: Villain

“Miss, how about this design?”

“Uung…, it’s nice…. Let’s go with that….”

“Aah-! Look at it before you say that-! Honestly….”

‘She’ll do a good job on her own….’

I regret it.

I should have at least looked.

---

“This… is my hero suit…?”

“Yes! How is it!?”

“Rather…. Um, doesn’t it seem more like a villain’s side…. This suit.”

“I knew this would happen! I worked so hard on it….”

No, devil horns, a devil tail, and a black dress that matches the teal color….

It’s a complete villain outfit.

How is this a suit in any way?

All I know is spandex suits.

Ah, a dress might be better.

Still…, she said she worked hard on it….

“It’s, not bad.”

“Right! The Devil of Sloth! Miss Seri is the same kind of devil, you know~? The Devil of Lust!”

“Devil, that’s completely a villain, Seri….”

“That’s what’s good about it! Heroes live and die by their image, you know? A hero with a villain-like appearance! Isn’t that cool?”

“Ah, yeah….”

She’s so excited.

Whenever we talk about suits, she becomes so talkative….

Well…, it does look good.

“It’s hard to use, so I didn’t install it, but here, I also made devil wings that can fly!”

This is a work made in just a month, but there’s so much.

She’ll have to work even harder to make both of their suits.

“…Thank you. Good luck with the remaining two?”

“Eh? Two? I’ve already made both of their suits? I even submitted all three yesterday and got an A+!”

“……Huh?”

‘So Jia is a talent + effort type.’

‘I can’t live that diligently….’

“Amazing….”

“Ehehe, if there’s anything you want, I’ll make it for you right away! Ah, should I give you a warming pillow too? I made it because I thought you’d like it!”

I receive the warm pillow and hold it tightly in my arms.

“Wow…. I love you….”

“Hmph, Miss…, me too!”

“No, I love the pillow….”

“Aah-! You’re teasing me, right!?”

Today in the classroom, a loud noise pierces my ears while I’m sleeping.

“Everyone, did you get your cool suits?”

Judging by the reactions of the kids around, some people got them, and some who didn’t had to buy them themselves.

They said we had to prepare our suits by today.

“Tomorrow, there’s a class competition, so. That’s why I told you to prepare by today!”

-Eeeek!!??
-Why are you telling us this now!?
-Ah, I’m screwed. We’re going to be compared again. To the kids from the other classes….
-Damn it…. We should have at least made a plan.
-Seriously, why now….

“Because! The job of a hero is that you never know what might happen! You seem to have complaints. So let’s do this.”

‘Postponing the competition, or canceling it…? It’s a pain….’

“We will be playing the role of the villains.”

“Yeeeeeek!?”

Everyone reacts in unison.

It’s noisy.

“This is also why I told you one day early. The match will proceed like this. Teams will be randomly formed with 4 members each. Since we have a total of 20 people, there will be a total of 5 teams. Among them, we will choose exactly one boss. Protect the boss and smash the heroes, villains!”

It became quiet.

Well, it would be absurd to be given the role of a villain when you’re aiming to be a hero.

Especially since we’re a class of weak kids.

They’ll probably think it’s the same as being told to lose miserably.

“For the boss, we will choose between Osian and Nayun, who have never lost a match in the previous spars.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Osian next to me speaks up.

“I don’t want to do it. I think Nayun would be good.”

……You.

Osian belatedly whispers to me.

“The boss can just wait quietly in the back until the heroes come.”

“…Yeah.”

‘Good…. I can sleep.’

I nod.

“Then it’s decided on Nayun! We’ll form random teams, so come forward and draw.”

Osian approaches.

“We’re on the same team, what a coincidence.”

“…Yeah, please take care of me?”

‘This, doesn’t feel like a coincidence.’

Another girl approaches me.

“…”

“…”

Light purple hair,

She’s the girl from the bathroom who asked me what I thought a hero was.

I thought she’d be angry at me after that, but she’s become quiet.

I raise my hand to move the bangs covering my eyes to the side.

“Wait! I haven’t said anything yet, so please don’t put me to sleep…!”

“…Huh?”

‘I must have done something…. In my sleep….’

“I’m Min-kyung…, since it’s the boss team. Please take care of… me.”

“Yeah. Please take care of me.”

‘She’s become so quiet…. It makes me feel sorry….’

“N-nice to meet you…. I’m, Mina…. I’m also… in, in this team….”

Silver hair that shines like metal and silver eyes that shine like metal.

“Poison and Sword Flower.”

‘…Poison? …Scary. If she puts her mind to it, it’s assassination. What’s Sword Flower?’

“…Nayun, who didn’t see the spars, wouldn’t know. Poison, and Sword Flower. Both are good abilities. She can create poison from her body, and Sword Flower can make her own body as sharp as a sword.”

“Thanks for the explanation….”

“Alright! The teams are all set! Now, come up with a plan to protect the boss and toy with the heroes! Our class president, Sion, come forward and gather various opinions to make a plan! I’m off, the donuts I just ordered have arrived!”

The teacher leaves the room in a good mood.

‘Now I should go back to sleep….’

“Wake up~! Nayun! We’ve finished the plan. We’re all going to try on our hero suits!”

Seri shook me awake.

“Uung…? Already…? It hasn’t even been 5 minutes….”

“Hurry! I’ll change you here~! Uhuhuhu.”

“I’ll put you to sleeeep….”

“If you put me to sleep as you please again, I won’t forgive you. No, rather, put me to sleep. The moment I wake up… right away. I’ll eat you u—.”

“Let’s go to the changing room.”

‘Scary. She’s become intelligent. Still, to say you’ll eat up your friend, that’s too much.’

‘Damn it…. It’s going to be hard to put her to sleep now.’

‘It’s a pain. And it’s embarrassing. A suit like this….’

I change and come into the classroom.

Min-kyung speaks to me.

“It, suits you well. It’s perfect. Who made it for you?”

“Yeah, a friend I know named Jia. But isn’t it too villain-like?”

“That’s why it suits you well.”

‘…This.’

“Look at the reactions of the kids around. It was noisy, but as soon as you came in, they became quiet and are only looking at you.”

“Ah, yeah. I want to put them all to sleep….”

“Hic.”

‘I didn’t say I would put them to sleep….’

‘Aren’t the horns and tail really not it? They say it has a communication function, but really. Isn’t something like an earphone better? The tail moves according to your heart rate…. How did she do that? For god’s sake….’

“It suits you. Nayun.”

“…Yeah, it suits you too.”

Osian was wrapped in a cool robe over a suit that was a combination of black and red.

“Thank you. The tail? It’s cute. But it seems to be moving faster than before.”

“Yeah, don’t mind it….”

Swish, swish.

‘I think it’s broken. This tail….’

“Ta-da. Cutie, sexy. Seri~ has arrived!”

Seri, wearing sheep horns on her head, a tail on her butt, and a see-through over pink and black lingerie.

The boys around are blatantly staring at her.

“Is that…, okay…?”

“Yeah! It matches my ability, right? And you don’t have to be so embarrassed! Those guys have already seen me naked…~.”

“…”

‘Crazy b*tch…. Is her own life an adult game?’

-Perverted…. Devils….

Glare-.

-Hic!

I glare at the boy who was spouting strange words.

‘What’s the reason for including me?’

‘…Ah, …I’m sleepy.’

Swish, swish.

‘…The tail is annoying.’

---

The day of the match arrived.

The opponent is A-Class.

They say the winner here will face B-Class next.

This was decided purely by lottery.

Even the fact that we became the villains was by lottery.

Our homeroom teacher is said to have the worst luck with draws.

They say this is a match that happens every year, and he’s drawn the villain every time, or something….

While I’m thinking, a single city with various geographical features is created on a wide open space.

Is this also an ability?

There’s an ability of this scale.

‘My ability might not have much of an impact.’

‘It seems like it’s about to start, what’s the plan?’

“You just have to sleep in the base.”

“Uh…. Yeah.”

‘He said to sleep, so I should sleep…. He’ll take care of it, and wake me up when it’s dangerous.’

I go into the base located underground, lie down on a large sofa-sized chair, and close my eyes.

‘Uung, but where did our team go? Shouldn’t we all be together…. There must be a strategy….’

A long time passes.

Creeak-.

Bang.

“What, why is there no one here? Did they give up?”

“I don’t know. The boss has to be in the base, so. They might have given up. As expected of C-Class…. They have no guts.”

“Oh, look over there. A devil is sleeping?”

“Are they trying to mock us because they can’t win…. Those C-Class bastards.”

“Are they trying to be heroes or not.”

Thump, thump.

The sound of many footsteps is heard.

“Hey, wake up. Wake up and say ‘surrender’. ‘Surrender’.”

Tree branches bind me as I sleep, covering the chair.

“Uung…. Already…?”

“……You were really sleeping.”

---

“The plan is to give up the boss, Nayun.”

“Whaaaat!?”

“We’ll leave the boss and go far away.”

I explain it so that even those who don’t understand can understand.

“We’re basically not doing anything, right.”

I say to the friend who refutes my opinion.

“Then go get your ass kicked by A-Class.”

It became quiet.

“But, isn’t that cowardly?”

‘What is she talking about? Cowardly. She still doesn’t get it.’

“We’re villains. It’s the fault of the heroes who let their guard down.”

“Then why did we decide on teams?”

“Alright. Then, are there any other opinions? If not, you said you wanted to try on your suits. Let’s try them on.”

“…Look at him ignoring me.”

---

“You guys, what? Where did the kids go…?”

“Huh? You don’t know?”

“Puhahak, to betray your own classmates just because you got the villain role. How pitiful. You were betrayed.”

“……”

‘Ah, what a mess….’

At that moment, the girl with red twin tails and deep red eyes at the very back, with a slightly delicate frame, speaks.

“Betrayal…! Is it okay for a hero aspirant to do that…!? I was looking forward to it so much…! I was looking forward to the match…!!”

The ground shakes.

The ground around the twin-tailed girl cracks.

Hot flames rise from the cracked ground.

‘What’s wrong with her? I’m the one who was betrayed, but I’m not angry.’

“Hey, calm down…!! Hayeon…! We’re around here too!”

“They must be hiding somewhere…! If I destroy everything around here, they’ll all be smashed…! I’ll smash all the cowardly bastards who run away to f*cking pieces…!”

Anger can be felt in the flames.

Flames so angry they make even me angry.

But I was too lazy to be angry.

Flames that could harm her own team engulf the surroundings.

-Why isn’t this fire going out with water…! Aaaargh! What is this!
-Damn it, how do we stop her when she goes berserk…! That thing…! It’s not a hero, it’s a monster…!
-Annoying!! What is this! We could have won this match easily…! Why this…!

“…Calm down.”

“Ah….”

Thud.

I put the twin-tailed girl to sleep.

…Wrath.

‘Wrath, she looks cute, but her personality is….’

“…What, she suddenly fell asleep?”

“Phew, that’s a relief…. She’s a monster. A complete monster.”

‘What are you all relieved about? A match you could have won easily?’

“Everyone, sleep….”

Nearly 20 kids lie down on the cold floor.

Ring, ring.

The phone rings.

“…”

“It’s over. I’ll go there.”

‘Mischievous…. Really. Couldn’t you have told me….’

‘Wrath, enslavement must be the goal. If I neutralize her like this now, he’ll be able to do it no matter how low the failure rate is. What on earth is his go—.’

“…Hmph.”

‘…Blocked.’

‘I’m angry. Normally, I would have let it go.’

Creeak, bang.

The door opens and closes.

Not the classmates, but Osian alone enters.

He must have come in first under the pretext of checking.

“…At least tell me. Next time.”

“I’m sorry, you did well.”

Osian strokes my head.

‘Why doesn’t he say he understands?’

‘I’ve been feeling bad since earlier.’

“Wrath, you’re going to get her, right? …You should hurry.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Osian places his hand on Wrath’s head.

Not long after, the classmates come in.

-Wow, they’re really all sleeping….
-There’s nothing for us to do…. How do we improve our skills.
-Yeah.
-Annoying.
-The one who only sleeps all the time…, only has talent…. Damn it. What do we become.
-Did she come to C-Class to mock us?
-Why…, did she come here. She doesn’t even seem to want to be a hero.

‘…Ha.’

“Everyone, we have to tie them up too.”

“Ah, yeah. Leave the tying to me.”

Her hair grows longer and ties up the sleeping kids.

‘There are so many different abilities….’

……I thought I wouldn’t care.

The stares from those around me are sharp.

It’s not that I want to be lazy.

It’s not like I wanted to have this ability.

“When we fight against B-Class, I’m not going to use my ability….”

‘It’s enough to not care because it’s a bother. But, I’m a person too.’

‘I don’t like being hated by someone. Especially by a large group.’

‘I’m having thoughts that are not befitting of Sloth.’

I, hate being lazy.

“Until now, …I’m sorry. For being lazy.”

I, hate myself.

“Don’t, look at me… like that….”

Sloth comes with responsibility.

If you keep putting things off because it’s a bother, a backlash is bound to come.

If I hadn’t slept on the day of the entrance ceremony and been late, I would have been in A-Class.

If I had just pretended to work a little hard, they wouldn’t have been able to say anything.

I remember the saying that it’s no use regretting it later.

‘That must be why it’s one of the deadly sins.’

-Then leave….

‘Why should I…? Who are you…. I have to hear things like this because of my ability. Why do I have to receive these kinds of stares?’

‘It feels bad. You guys should experience the same situation as me. Being possessed, having various memories flow in, getting an ability you don’t want, having your personality affected and becoming lazy. You should experience how hard it is for me. Everyone should be lazy for a day. Yes…! You should feel what I fee—’

“Stop…, Nayun.”

“Why…, don’t stop me…. If they experience it once, they’ll understand me….”

“It’s already, all. They’re asleep. Calm down. It must be the influence of Wrath.”

Osian holds me in his arms like a princess.

“Sweet dreams…. Nayun.”

“…Yeah.”

At his warm words, I fall asleep.