Chapter 12

Chapter 12

The mass disappearance of villains in Ansan.

News of over fifty villains vanishing spread when the people who had been kidnapped by Bigteng, a villain organization secretly operating in Ansan, were released.

As soon as the reports came in, public service Hunters and police were dispatched to secure the scene, and Hunters belonging to the Villain Task Force joined them from Seoul.

An analyst who surveyed the site shook his head in disbelief.

"I've seen my share of scenes, but never one this clean."

The villains belonging to Bigteng had been competing against various multinational organizations based in Ansan. According to the analyst, their combat experience was so extensive that their threat level far exceeded their Level.

Each one of them was practically a catastrophe for civilians. Yet judging by the evidence left at the scene, it was clear they had been slaughtered without even putting up a proper resistance.

The names being tossed around were impressive. Berserker, Executioner, Puppeteer, Black Reaper—South Korea's most dangerous villains were all mentioned.

But considering their abilities and tendencies, none of them were the culprit.

And so a new name was born: Eraser. The emergence of a super-class villain capable of shaking the foundations of South Korea's national power.

Part of the truth behind what happened at the factory came to light when a support department Hunter with the Replay gift arrived.

"Th-this is one-sided slaughter. Aagh!"

The woman replaying the scene screamed and collapsed on the spot.

Two hours later, Replay regained consciousness, her face pale as she shouted,

"You—you must never fight him! Never!"

She revealed that she had only seen a few fragments. That alone was something only an Awakened who had reached Level 8—a realm where one commands Force—could accomplish.

Replay added one more piece of information.

Eraser was, quite literally, pure evil.

It was one-sided violence inflicted by a being of absolute power, like a child tearing the wings off a dragonfly with an innocent face and then ripping off its body.

The analyst spoke in place of Replay, who could no longer continue.

"This attack was most likely a kind of amusement for Eraser, and a warning to us. He left just enough open for Replay to see the scene. As if to say: if you keep chasing me, you'll be dealing with me."

"I'll add that to the report. Good work."

Jung Dahyun, who had been watching the scene, nodded.

She observed the inside of the factory with a stiff expression before stepping outside, where she let out a sigh.

Every day, the powerful villains grow in number.

At this rate, the villains will only grow bolder.

Wasn't that why she had left the Shinseong Guild—to eliminate villains?

Yet villains with overwhelming power were treating this world like their playground, trampling it as they pleased, laughing at those who tried to live decent lives.

"......"

Would it have been different if Choi Junho were here?

His merciless hand, his unwavering standards. Would he have ignored the warning Eraser left behind?

Maybe Choi Junho could even catch Eraser, she thought.

Jung Dahyun couldn't fathom the limits of a man who was an unofficial Level 7.

The confidence that came from overwhelming force. His own firm principles. A freedom unbound by the world's definition of justice.

That was Choi Junho's appeal.

In contrast, she was pathetic. The moment she learned the opponent was a Level 8 villain, she gave up the pursuit.

Because she couldn't push the people gathered here to their deaths.

···Or so she rationalized, using that as her excuse.

"Official."

Jung Dahyun snapped out of her thoughts at the analyst's call.

"Wrap up the investigation and search the bodies. Then start a manhunt for the villain we're calling Eraser. Gather anything that could serve as evidence against him."

"Yes."

"Also, include anything related to the Ansan Mayor in the report. That part is the most important."

During the investigation, evidence surfaced that the Ansan Deputy Mayor had been present at the scene.

"Understood."

*

Not long ago, I received my final disciplinary action. I had succeeded in arresting Wang Juyeol and wiping out the villains behind him, but the results overlapped with omitted reports, solo action, failure to secure evidence, and arresting a superior officer.

Originally, I was told the punishment could have been worse, but in the end it was a one-month pay cut.

Not that it amounted to much, piddling as my salary was.

When I arrived at work early in the morning, Jung Dahyun, who had pulled an all-nighter, greeted me with a tired face.

"Junho, did you rest well yesterday?"

"Yes, I rested plenty. What about you, Dahyun?"

"There was a callout yesterday. I couldn't even sleep properly because of the investigation."

"Then how about pine mushroom soybean paste stew for lunch?"

"Pine mushrooms are love."

These days I'd come to appreciate having someone at work with similar tastes.

When I wasn't doing fieldwork, I mostly handled paperwork linked to other departments, and processing it was incredibly easy.

In the end, reviewing documents is about judging whether something is wrong. I could use Intuition to distinguish between problematic and non-problematic ones. Occasionally a problematic document would turn up, but when there wasn't one, the work was over in an instant.

"Did you enjoy your day off yesterday?"

Midway through a delicious lunch, Jung Dahyun asked, and I answered honestly.

"Yes, it was nice seeing a friend after a long time. His younger sibling is quite ill, so I paid a visit to the hospital."

"Ah······."

"You don't need to make that face. It's a rare disease, but it seems like it'll work out."

"That's a relief."

"My friend would be comforted to know you were worried."

"Yeah."

I wondered why she'd asked, but seeing her serious expression, I didn't pry.

People are creatures who dwell on their worries. Since answers can be found in contemplation and new directions discovered, thinking is a good thing.

Anyway.

What I'd done in Ansan had grown quite large.

I'd managed to avoid leaving any traces by cleaning up all the bodies, but Eraser, of all things.

Quite a grandiose name.

South Korea was in an uproar over the possibility that a Level 8 villain had appeared.

Even around me, people were full of worry about what kind of political shift Eraser's emergence would cause.

At times like this, it was truly awkward that I couldn't reveal that I was the one who'd wiped out Bigteng.

If I could just tell them that villain is actually a public service Hunter, a normal person, this commotion would calm down a bit.

If I ended up working overtime because of this, trying to come up with countermeasures, the loss would be considerable.

But I couldn't reveal it now, either.

I decided to keep silent in order to protect my freedom to walk around in broad daylight.

*

Ever since I returned to the past and came to my senses, my family remains a source of guilt.

I want to soothe the wounds they suffered because of me and help them do better.

"Just don't cause trouble and work hard at what you're doing. Then Mom and Dad will be happy too, won't they?"

That's what Yunhee said, but I still think it's not enough. Not for my parents, and not for my younger sister, who's pretending to be fine right in front of me.

Tomorrow, Yunhee is going to take the Shinseong Guild exam.

As the largest guild in South Korea, Shinseong Guild required passing three rounds of offline screening just to sit for the exam. Having passed all of them, she takes the practical test tomorrow.

I believed she would pass.

But I didn't want to just wait for her to come back from the test. I wanted to prepare something to wish her luck.

Then I remembered something I'd seen online.

"People make chocolates for Valentine's Day, too."

Why not make a gift wishing her success on the exam?

Having made up my mind, I stopped by the mart and bought supplies when Yunhee went out for her final check-up training.

*

Exams always come with tension. When that tension is excessive, people fail to perform at their best and make mistakes.

Yet during today's final check, Choi Yunhee didn't feel even a trace of tension.

It wasn't that she felt some vague difficulty or hopelessness about the exam. Even though it was tomorrow, she felt as if she were facing a task she could solve with ease.

"Is this··· what they call composure?"

She never thought she'd be thinking this way before the Shinseong Guild exam, of all things.

She wondered several times if this was complacency, but thinking calmly, it wasn't.

Beneath it all lay the memories of being put through the wringer by her brother.

"He may be a pain, but his skill is the real deal."

He had a screw loose somewhere, but his skill was unquestionably genuine.

She still had no idea why he was working as a public service Hunter, but if he was satisfied with it, there was nothing more to say.

Anyway, it was definitely thanks to that pain of a brother that she'd gained this composure.

She wished he'd take care of himself, but saying so wouldn't get through to him. In that regard, she thought it was a relief that Jung Dahyun was by his side to look after him.

"It'd be nice if those two worked out, but I doubt it'll be easy."

Jung Dahyun was one of South Korea's greatest talents.

Her popularity had declined somewhat after she left the Shinseong Guild, but with her beauty, skill, and charm—none of it lacking—she was more popular than most idol groups.

Meanwhile, her brother with the loose screw was, well······.

Making the comparison only made her feel sorry toward Jung Dahyun.

"His skill is fine, so if he'd just get his head straight, there might be a chance."

She thought that far before realizing she was looking too far ahead and let out a soft laugh.

Her next thought was about getting out of unemployment and doing her part.

Deciding there was no point staying late, Choi Yunhee packed up and headed home.

"I'm back."

She opened the door and stepped inside, and an unfamiliar sweet smell greeted her.

"You're back?"

"Yeah. But what are you doing?"

This was··· the smell of taffy.

Approaching the dining table, she could see what her brother had prepared.

"A gift to wish you luck on your exam."

The day before her exam, Yunhee received a giant lump of taffy from her brother.

Her mood was··· strangely good.

*

After giving Yunhee her good-luck gift, I walked her to the exam site the next day and then headed to the nearby Shinseong Group headquarters.

"How may I help you?"

When I approached the front desk, a neatly dressed woman asked with a smile.

"I'm here to see General Operations Team Leader Lee Sehee."

"Do you have an appointment with the Team Leader?"

"No."

"I'm sorry, but without a prior appointment, it's difficult for us to put you through."

"Just tell her Choi Junho is here."

"I'm sorry. So many people ask for that, you see."

"I see."

"Yes, I apologize again."

I'd hit an unexpected obstacle. It wasn't that I hadn't considered asking Jung Dahyun for Lee Sehee's number, but since not every parting in this world is a beautiful one, I hadn't bothered to ask her.

Should I just go back today and find a way to get her contact information?

As I stood there deliberating, I spotted a familiar face entering the building.

"Over here."

"······!"

The person who saw me flinched and hurriedly glanced around. Then he walked quickly toward me.

He was Lee Sehee's bodyguard, the one I'd seen at the National Guard Bureau.

"What brings you here?"

"I came to see the General Operations Team Leader."

"Why?"

"It's a personal matter."

"······."

Perhaps because I hadn't revealed my business, his expression hardened to a frightening degree.

Surely he wasn't still upset about me breaking his arms that one time.

I smiled to ease his wariness, and his expression only worsened.

Feeling somewhat discouraged, I quietly waited for his response, and after some deliberation, he spoke carefully.

"···I'll report this to the Team Leader."

"Please do."

When he approached the front desk employee and explained, she picked up the intercom, and with a noticeably more deferential expression, informed me that a meeting had been arranged in thirty minutes.

I took the private elevator up and arrived at the 35th floor in an instant.

The doors opened and I stepped out, and unlike last time, Lee Sehee greeted me with modest makeup and round glasses.

"Welcome, Junho."

"Sorry for dropping by unannounced."

At my apology, Lee Sehee let out a heavy sigh.

"Please contact me in advance next time. At least give me time to prepare. I don't normally meet people looking like this."

I couldn't really tell what the difference was from usual, though?

Perhaps my thoughts showed on my face, because Lee Sehee smiled and handed me a business card.

I took it and put it in my pocket, and she was looking at me with bright, sparkling eyes.

"So, what brings you to see me? Did you suddenly feel sorry for manhandling me last time?"

"No, that's not it."

"Feel free to speak casually. I'm the same age as Dahyun."

Yet I still used formal speech with Jung Dahyun.

But since I was here to ask a favor, humoring her was the polite thing to do.

"I came to make a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"A friend's younger sibling is sick. I want to get them admitted to Shinsung Hospital."

"···Shinsung Hospital is under my father's control. It'll take some time."

"I'm not asking for it for free, obviously. I've prepared an express fee."

I pulled out the Saber Tiger heart I'd prepared in advance.

"That's······."

Lee Sehee's eyes went wide.

It was the heart of a disaster tier 6 Saber Tiger. Resembling a blue gemstone, it was a concentration of Force and a valuable energy source in itself. And being disaster tier 6, it wasn't easy to obtain.

I began injecting Force into the heart.

Bzzt! Bzzzt!

The Force that had been moving chaotically inside the heart began to surge. I unraveled the tangled threads of Force caught in my fingertips' senses and neatly reorganized them, arranging the Force coiled within the heart so it could be fully utilized.

To put it simply, I'd reorganized a meandering river's course into a single straight line.

Once the Force that had been violently seething moments before settled completely, the heart became a gem radiating blue light. It was a processing method I'd learned in my past life to make a living, back when I was a villain even more wretched than a credit delinquent.

"Let me take a look at that for a moment."

As Lee Sehee reached out with an urgent expression, I casually pulled it back.

"W-wait! How did you do that? And what do you mean, processing? Why are you pulling it back? Let me see it!"

Lee Sehee stamped her feet like a child whose candy had been snatched and clung to my arm.