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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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A week had already passed since I learned the secrets of Dominating Hands and the villains.
> Hey.
> Hey you.
> Come to my room quickly. It’s urgent.
At Pandora’s sudden summons, I rushed to her room, and Pandora, with her usual messy hair, waved from where she was squatting on a chair.
> Wanna play Tekken?
Then, she pointed at the large monitor in front of her and sent me that message.
“You said it was urgent.”
> Tekken is a serious matter. I won’t accept any objections.
I felt a tremendous sense of camaraderie from Pandora’s gaze.
‘It feels like I’m only getting close to Pandora.’
I wanted to get along with the other executives like I did with Pandora, but Heart and Diamond had left for a long-term mission a week ago.
And Spade, my second friend, had been radiating a terrifying murderous aura whenever she saw me since that day.
I was close to Dice, but no matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem like a normal friendship.
> What are you doing? Sit next to me.
“Forget Tekken, explain this.”
Anyway, there was something more important than games right now, so I took off her cat-eared headset and put my hand in my pocket.
“What is this strange button…?”
“…!!!”
I took out my smartphone and showed it to her, and Pandora suddenly froze, then quickly covered her eyes.
“What are you doing?”
> This is the cliché where the hypnosis app developer gets hypnotized. I know all about it.
“…?”
> It’s a classic trope that the first victim of hypnosis is the app developer. Did you think I wouldn’t know?
A week ago, I would have been quite troubled by Pandora’s nonsense, but fortunately, I knew what to do now.
– *Flick!*
A flick to the forehead was the cure.
> Ouch! I won’t forgive this tyranny!
Perhaps it really did hurt, because Pandora, her usually half-closed eyes now wide open, hurriedly sent a message.
“So, what’s this big heart-shaped button?”
However, I couldn’t just let it slide.
> I couldn’t accept a hypnosis app without it. And I already compromised a lot by reducing the number of functions.
“Just delete it. Make other functions.”
> What functions? I’ve already added most of the offensive functions.
“Psychological therapy functions.”
As I said so with my arms crossed, Pandora stared at me blankly.
> Psychological therapy with hypnosis…? Then what kind of hypnosis have I been…
“That’s the proper use, and what I’ve been doing is misuse.”
Hearing that, she blinked for a moment, then nodded as if it made sense.
Just how far had the image of hypnosis fallen? As a possessor of the concept of hypnosis, it was truly lamentable.
So, I had to work hard to restore the image of hypnosis from now on.
> Adding it is easy. But why do you need it?
It was a useless function for a villain. There was no reason to heal an enemy.
But this function was necessary for Pandora and the executives.
Having spent time with them, I observed that all the executives, including Pandora, had some kind of ‘trauma.’
So, my ability would be helpful. The original purpose of hypnosis was healing and rest.
“What are you two doing here?”
Just as I was wondering how to explain this to Pandora, who was waiting for my answer with a puzzled look, the door suddenly burst open.
“Come out quickly. We don’t have time.”
It was Spade who entered.
– *Shudder…*
Seeing her, Pandora flinched as if she’d seen a cucumber and hid behind me.
“…Why?”
> She’s scary. She always yells. And swears.
Was Spade her bully or something? Well, considering their personalities, they were definitely polar opposites.
“A Grotesquery appeared.”
As I was smirking at the vibrations coming from behind me, Spade’s cold voice reached my ears.
“So unfortunately, we need your power.”
It seemed like it was time to work.
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‘Finally… finally, finally.’
The first day of school at the International Academy, which reopened amidst much controversy.
‘Today’s the day.’
Lumia, wearing an old backpack and heading to school, muttered to herself with an excited expression.
‘The day I finally confront Trauma…’
“E-excuse me. Are you the freshman representative?”
Just then, a surprised voice came from beside her.
“W-we’re in the same class! Nice to meet you!”
A girl with messy auburn hair, walking briskly beside her, smiled brightly at Lumia.
“Do you live in this neighborhood?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then we’re neighbors? Ah, I’m Ariel!”
Lumia smiled kindly at the girl who introduced herself as Ariel, then quietly muttered to herself.
‘Ariel Everley. Of course, I know.’
“I look forward to getting to know you!”
‘How could I not know her, Justitia’s younger sister?’
That’s right.
She was the younger sister of the famous Justitia.
“By the way, what a coincidence. Not just living in the same neighborhood, but running into each other on our way to school…”
“Is it really a coincidence, though?”
Lumia’s lips curled into a smile.
“Huh?”
“Haha, just kidding.”
Despite saying it was a joke, Lumia knew that Ariel would pass by here.
In fact, Ariel running into Lumia was also part of her meticulous plan.
“Say, can I ask you something?”
“Me? Sure…”
As Lumia carefully asked, Ariel scratched her head and nodded.
“About the villain who appeared recently, Trauma.”
“…”
“What do you think of him?”
Lumia asked, her eyes gleaming.
“Um, well… that is…”
After pondering for a moment, Ariel scratched her head and answered.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“The internet calls him a supervillain and all… but I’m not sure if he’s really that bad.”
Then, Lumia gave a fleeting, knowing smile.
“Then, what would you do if you encountered him?”
Ariel, not seeing Lumia’s expression, chuckled wryly at the following question.
“I wouldn’t be able to fight him anyway.”
“Why?”
“My ability is… really insignificant.”
Hearing that, Lumia patted her shoulder encouragingly.
“Hey, you got into the Hero Academy. Don’t put yourself down.”
“Okay…”
“Even some famous heroes struggled during their school days.”
But she was thinking something completely different inwardly.
‘She hasn’t even awakened her ability yet, and she has no intention of confronting him. And she doesn’t even have the ability to do so.’
“Huh? What’s this?”
‘So this episode is my solo stage…’
Just then, Ariel suddenly stopped and widened her eyes.
“Something’s strange.”
Hearing that, Lumia stopped and slowly looked around.
‘It’s starting.’
She knew.
That an incident would occur at this time, on this street.
Trauma.
The one she so desperately desired would appear on this street, led by a Grotesquery.
– *Crackle…*
“What’s with this fog…?”
As the situation she had seen countless times unfolded before her eyes, Lumia’s heart began to race.
‘He’s here, he’s here.’
Now, a masked man would emerge from the fog.
Although it wasn’t the ‘white’ mask she knew, a man wearing a ‘black’ mask of the exact same shape.
The one who, despite committing the blunder of helping others during his debut, still harbored resentment towards her.
He would come for her life, radiating murderous intent.
Because she was the one who took everything from him.
‘What kind of expression will he make when he sees me?’
She wanted to fight him so badly. She wanted to be beaten to near death and choked by the broken him. She wanted to be the one he crossed the line with for the first time.
‘I can’t wait to see.’
She wanted to hear him, realizing he couldn’t kill her yet, whisper in a terrifying voice that he would kill her somehow.
And thus, become his eternal nemesis.
“…Hmm?”
Lost in those thoughts, Lumia finally saw the one she had been waiting for.
“Trauma.”
A mask with a cracked eyehole. A black cloak concealing his physique. A black cane in his hand.
“You’re Trauma, right?”
The one in the form she so desired stopped in his tracks as he saw her.
Judging by his appearance, he hadn’t expected to meet her and Ariel here.
‘Since we weren’t his target today, it’s a natural reaction.’
She smiled happily, imagining the expression hidden behind his mask, then quickly composed herself.
She knew that this scene would soon be broadcast live on the news.
She didn’t want to ruin this moment, when she would be revealed to the world as Trauma’s only nemesis, just because she couldn’t control her expression.
“Why are you here?”
So, feigning a nervous expression and voice, Lumia started speaking casually.
“What’s your purpose?”
As she finished speaking and looked at him expectantly, Trauma, who had been standing still, muttered in a low voice.
“As expected, the Insight skill is quite useful.”
“Huh?”
Lumia tilted her head slightly at his incomprehensible words.
“My nemesis.”
“…!”
Then, her eyes widened at Trauma’s words as he started walking forward again.
“I came to see the one I want to destroy so badly.”
A thrill coursed through Lumia’s body.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about, but…”
Lumia, finally hearing the words she so longed to hear from Trauma himself, quietly shuddered and drew a knife from her pocket.
“I can’t let you go any further.”
Then, she closed her eyes, waiting for his impending attack.
“I will stop you.”
An eternity of a split second passed.
“…”
A slightly longer split second passed.
“Huh?”
And when the wait was no longer a split second,
“Excuse me?”
…she finally opened her eyes and looked around blankly.
“Where are you going?”
She spotted Trauma, who was walking away, ignoring her, and raised her voice urgently.
“That’s not the way! Come back!”
But Trauma, not even glancing at her, was focused on one thing.
“Hello, Ariel.”
…Ariel, who was standing behind her, tense and sweating profusely.
“M-me?”
Ariel’s face turned pale as she saw Trauma reach out to her.
“W-wait. Trauma. No, Senior.”
Lumia, staring blankly at the scene, hurriedly tried to approach them, but
– *Crackle…*
[Skill: Defense (LV1) has been used.]
…a transparent barrier had already separated her from Trauma.
“Just what are you looking at?”
– *Thud, thud…*
“That’s… not me, Senior.”
Behind Lumia, who muttered so in a daze, her voice devoid of emotion,
…numerous citizens were approaching, hypnotized.
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Meanwhile, at that time.
“…He’s appeared.”
Great Order, blankly watching the news in her office, staggered to her feet.
[Breaking News: Villain Trauma appears on the streets of S City]
[Numerous citizens held hostage… Residents in nearby areas are advised to evacuate immediately]
“Trauma.”
Her eyes burned quietly.
“I have to meet him.”
The shredded recipe for Kang Haneul’s side dishes fluttered behind her as she walked out the door.
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