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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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“Hey, I was wrong, so let me go.”
“Die. Just die.”
She tightened the yo-yo string wrapped tightly around my neck.
“Just die already, dammit.”
“Kuh, *gasp*…”
It hurt a little, but this was nothing.
I’d been through worse when I was younger.
By the way, it seemed like Spade was talking to someone just now. Was it my imagination?
“…Are you a pervert?”
As I endured the attacks with a smile, she released the string, frowned, and asked.
“Maybe.”
“What?”
I was a little surprised by my own impulsive answer.
The being in front of me was Spade, the strongest villain of Dominating Hands.
Seven top-ranking heroes brutally murdered by her.
The number of heroes killed by her so far is immeasurable.
A terrifying villain, even dubbed the ‘Killing Machine’ by the media due to her cruel and vicious methods.
“…”
Even without prior information, the murderous aura and the smell of blood emanating from her were overwhelming.
But why?
I wasn’t afraid of her at all.
“Why so serious? Lighten up.”
“…Huh?”
I unwrapped the yo-yo string binding me, smiled, and placed my hand on Spade’s shoulder.
“There’s no need to be so angry just because we saw each other naked, right?”
As I patted her shoulder and said so, Spade stared at me blankly for a moment, then looked down at her own chest.
‘…Why am I doing this?’
I chuckled at the sight, then quickly came to my senses, removed my hand from her shoulder, and muttered to myself.
‘Did my mind go haywire from going through too much?’
It was strange.
The murderous aura emanating from her was enough to make my knees tremble.
But why did I keep wanting to tease her?
“Hey.”
“…”
After pondering for a long time, I cautiously spoke to Spade, who was still staring blankly at her chest.
“Have we met before?”
“What?”
Then, she raised her eyebrows and glared at me.
“You seem so familiar.”
“What…”
“Are you from an orphanage by any chance?”
I carefully tested the waters, but she simply looked puzzled.
“Forget it. Nice to meet you anyway.”
– *Whoosh…*
“Let’s be friends, since we’re both guys.”
Quietly smacking my lips, I offered her a handshake, and with a grin, I said so to Spade, who reflexively took my hand.
– *Bang…!!!*
“…*Gasp*!?”
The next moment, I was slammed against the training room wall, being choked by her.
“Why don’t you cut it out?”
“*Gasp*… ugh…”
“I’m not going to play along with your jokes.”
I might actually die.
Should I beg for my life now?
Those thoughts flashed through my mind.
However, what came out of my mouth was completely different.
“I don’t know what your relationship with Dice is, but I…”
“Get down.”
Silence.
“When you’re on the verge of death, you really don’t care…”
Spade, staring at me with a dumbfounded look, started putting more force into the hand choking my neck. Then,
“…Huh?”
It was at that moment that something strange happened to her.
“Ugh?”
She stumbled for a moment, then suddenly knelt down.
Then, her neatly folded hands touched the floor.
“W-what? What did you do to me…?”
Just like that, she was completely prostrated.
“That’s odd.”
I blinked, looking down at Spade, then scratched my head and asked.
“Why are you already hypnotized?”
“…What?”
For some reason, she was already under my control.
“What… what do you mean…?”
“Hmm.”
I didn’t quite understand what was going on.
Had I really met her before?
Was it related to the inexplicable familiarity I’d been feeling?
But no matter how hard I tried to recall, nothing came to mind, so I shook my head and decided to focus on the situation at hand.
“First, let’s start with one hundred push-ups.”
“…”
It was time for revenge for being choked just now.
“You… I’ll kill…”
“Two hundred more.”
“Fucking… bastard…”
“One hundred squats too.”
“…”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Stop… dammit…”
“Hmm.”
“I won’t kill you… so please stop…”
“Hmm.”
The struggle between me and Spade continued for a long time.
“…Please.”
“Alright. Take a break now.”
“Ugh.”
Finally, after a few hours, I managed to completely subdue Spade and collapse her on the floor.
“Good girl, Spade.”
“Ugh…”
Spade, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, flinched at my touch, then gritted her teeth.
“You’re the worst… really.”
I suddenly snapped out of it.
‘Why am I using honorifics? No, what am I even doing right now?’
Using hypnosis to control others was something I had vowed never to do as a hero.
But what was I doing now?
This wasn’t like a hero, but a villain…
‘But I am a villain, right?’
Come to think of it, I was indeed a villain.
So why should I act like a hero?
In fact, wasn’t what I just did a rather commendable act for a villain?
‘…Is it?’
Even though I thought so logically, the slight lingering discomfort must have been from some residual resistance. It was only natural, as it had only been a few days since I switched from hero to villain. Well, I would have to get rid of that resistance from now on.
I had no intention of clinging to my beliefs and missing my chance to avenge Justitia.
“What happened today is a secret between us.”
“…*Grit*.”
“Alright?”
After quietly organizing my thoughts, I gently grabbed Spade’s chin, who was still lying down, and whispered in a low voice.
“Having the number one as a slave feels good.”
“F-fuck…”
“But slave is a bit much… let’s just be friends. What do you say?”
And so, I made my second friend after becoming a villain.
“Let’s grab a drink sometime. You can buy a newbie a drink, right?”
“Get lost… dammit…”
“Huh? What was that?”
“…Goodbye.”
We’re friends, right?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
‘This is… a little strange.’
Leaving Spade’s training room and heading towards the lobby where Dice was, I suddenly frowned and started thinking to myself.
‘Why did the hypnosis work?’
My ‘Hypnosis’ ability doesn’t work on complete strangers. For it to be effective, I need to know at least a little about the person, or they have to willingly accept the hypnosis.
However, Spade was the only person in ‘Dominating Hands’ with absolutely no information available.
She had evaded the International Hero Association’s investigation, the Secret Service’s investigation, and even the tracking of an ability user with the ‘Investigation’ concept.
<Insight (LV2)>
◆ Name: [Redacted]
◆ Sex: Female ([Redacted])
◆ Inherent Concept: [Redacted]
◆ Special Notes
– [Redacted]
– [Redacted]
– [Redacted]
I couldn’t even get her information with the ‘Insight’ skill, which had recently leveled up.
Then how was I able to control her with hypnosis?
Had she really been conditioned by me unknowingly in the past?
If not, then could it be…
‘…Is this Villainization?’
The most plausible explanation was ‘Villainization.’
A kind of growing pain that all villains experience at the point of corruption.
Those who experience it undergo changes in their abilities or personalities. It’s a story with so little credibility that it’s treated as a ghost story even in mainstream academia.
But I clearly saw it.
The penalty clause stating that Villainization would trigger when I awakened the ‘Villain’s Path’ system.
‘Come to think of it, I unconsciously used honorifics earlier.’
I didn’t usually use honorifics.
I used them with adults, but not so much with peers.
But while dealing with Spade, honorifics naturally slipped out.
Was that also the effect of Villainization?
‘…Well, does it matter?’
It didn’t really matter what happened now.
Thanks to my ‘Hypnosis’ concept, my mind wouldn’t be reversed or broken by Villainization.
If the side effects helped with my revenge, it was more than welcome.
“Hey, Dice. I’ve finished greeting everyone.”
Arriving at the lobby after organizing my thoughts, I spoke to Dice, who was still sitting on the sofa.
“Say, Haneul.”
“Yes?”
Her expression as she looked at me was unusual.
“Did anything… come back to you?”
“…?”
Memories coming back? What was she talking about?
“Doesn’t anything come to mind when you see me? Anything at all?”
“Hmm… well. Mystical? Something like that?”
After briefly pondering how to answer, I scratched my head and replied, and
“…No, nothing.”
She chuckled, shook her head, and muttered.
“Could you… use honorifics with me?”
Then, Dice suddenly made that request.
“…Like this?”
“Pfft.”
Since it wasn’t a big deal, I said so with an awkward expression, and she finally burst out laughing, hiding her face.
“No, it’s fine.”
“I can do it if you want.”
It was only for a moment, but I could clearly read it.
“Just do whatever you’re comfortable with.”
Her nostalgic gaze as she smiled at me.
“Well, then I won’t hold back.”
Since using honorifics felt awkward for some reason, I was glad and sat down on the sofa she pointed to.
‘…Is she giving me a hard time because she knows what happened in the training room?’
Breaking out in a cold sweat, I decided to go easy on Spade next time.
“Now, let’s get down to business.”
“…About the first mission?”
“Right. It’s tomorrow. It will probably be your debut.”
As I smiled awkwardly, Dice, who had completely returned to her usual poker face, snapped her fingers and looked behind me.
“Ah, but before we start… there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Someone to meet…?”
I unconsciously turned my head, following her gaze.
– *Click, clack…*
“Huh?”
At that moment, my eyes widened as I saw someone coming up from downstairs.
“Hiya, it’s been a while since I’ve been to the executive floor.”
“W-why are you… here?”
A familiar face I never expected to see here was approaching me.
“Ta-da! Surprised?”
The current vice president of the academy student council and a rookie black ops agent of the Hero Association.
“By the way, you’ve moved up in the world, haven’t you, brother? Becoming an executive overnight.”
“Kim Ira?”
Kim Ira, who was also my sidekick, waved with a welcoming smile, wearing a white coat.
“I’m quite high up, you know? I’m ‘Jack’ of Dominating Hands, in charge of infiltration operations and support tool development.”
“…‘Self-proclaimed’ Jack, you mean.”
“Tsk.”
It felt like I’d been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
She was a villain,
…and a member of Dominating Hands?
How long had she been deceiving me?
“Huh? What’s wrong? A hug of reunion? That’s nice, but we’re busy, so I’ll have to decline…”
I stared blankly at her for a moment, my thoughts frozen, then quietly stood up and walked towards her.
“O-ow! Ow, ow, ow! What are you doing?!”
“…”
I grabbed her ear and twisted it with all my might.
“Do you know how worried I was?”
“Ouch! Ouch!”
“Doing such dangerous things?”
“Oww! It hurts! It hurts!!”
She was like a younger sister to me.
I was so worried about whether something had happened to her, what would become of her future.
And to think she would do this to me.
“When did you become a villain?”
“…W-when brother was sentenced to death. I was scouted.”
“So, you infiltrated on orders too?”
“No… that was my own initiative. Hehe.”
She said so and scratched her head, giggling.
“Hmm.”
I didn’t sense any lies. It seemed she hadn’t deceived me and Justitia.
“…That’s a relief. I was going to take responsibility.”
“Huh? What?”
Feeling slightly better, I sighed, let go of her ear, and muttered.
“Responsibility? What do you…”
“Hey, sorry, but we need to start the briefing.”
I was contemplating flicking Ira’s forehead as she blinked and pressed me for details, but Dice’s slightly sharp voice cut in.
“Ah, right. I’m busy too, so let’s get to the main point.”
“…Okay.”
And so began the briefing for the first mission.
“The mission is simple.”
Dice snapped her fingers, and the large monitor in the lobby began to display a location.
“That’s…”
It was a place quite familiar to me.
“The International Hero Academy?”
“It’s where only the best students among aspiring heroes from all over the world gather.”
The place where I spent three years as the vice president of the student council, the place where I first formed a bond with Justitia.
How could I forget that place?
“Our objective is only one.”
As I reminisced, looking at the academy scenery, Dice’s eyes gleamed as she declared in a low voice.
“We’re going to infiltrate the freshman entrance ceremony tomorrow and kidnap a student.”
“…Hmm.”
Hearing that, I was momentarily stunned. Even for ‘Dominating Hands,’ would that be possible?
“I understand that the Rank 1, 2, and 3 heroes will all be attending that day.”
“Why, do you think we can’t do it?”
“…I’ll do as I’m told.”
I hesitated for a moment, but then nodded in agreement.
This wasn’t a social gathering for ability users, but the Villain League.
“The executives will handle the staff. Your mission is to disguise yourself as the homeroom teacher for the academy’s first years and kidnap the target.”
“Me?”
“Among us, the one with the most suitable ability for kidnapping is none other than you.”
She wasn’t wrong.
However, there were still a few questions I had before I could comply.
“That’s all well and good, but how can I infiltrate with my face being known? I can’t even wear a mask.”
“That’s why I brought the ‘self-proclaimed’ Jack.”
At my question, Dice pointed to Ira, who was lounging on the sofa.
“I’ll disguise you perfectly!”
“…Wait, you? How? You can only use your transformation ability on yourself, right?”
“You can be so naive sometimes, brother.”
She said so and whispered with a mischievous expression.
“Hiding or disguising one’s true ability is a basic skill for both heroes and villains.”
“You… you could transform other people too.”
“Unlike transforming myself, there’s a time limit!”
Finally understanding the plan to some extent, I shifted my gaze back to Dice.
“So, who am I disguising as?”
“Ah, about that.”
Dice quietly gestured to her subordinates wearing black masks, who were waiting in the distance.
“Mmm, mmm! Mmm…!!!”
A moment later, a gagged man was dragged into the lobby, bound.
“Mmmph!! Mmm! Ugh…”
– *Whoosh…!!!*
Dice stared blankly at the man for a moment, then flicked a card with a casual gesture.
“…”
“The new professor who was supposed to be in charge of Class 1, Year 1 just died.”
Dice, looking impassively at the man who had instantly died with his throat pierced by a card, gestured to her subordinates to remove the body and continued.
“*Munch, munch*…”
“…”
I glanced at Ira next to me, but she was just swinging her legs and eating potato chips.
Judging by that, it seemed like a common occurrence.
“I was originally going to disguise you as him, but as you can see, he’s too ugly. I don’t think he would gain the target’s trust.”
“…”
“So, I created a fake identity. A temporary professor who will be in charge of the students for a while, replacing the missing new professor.”
Thinking I’d gradually get used to it, I continued to listen to Dice.
“Ta-da.”
“Huh?”
I frowned slightly as I saw the fake ID on the monitor.
“Is that…?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s your face, aged about ten years, with some unnatural features corrected.”
“…It’s good that I’m not becoming a completely different person, but isn’t there a risk of getting caught?”
Hearing that, Kim Ira opened her mouth with a slightly dejected expression.
“Actually, there’s a side effect where the time limit becomes too short if I completely transform someone into another person.”
“…Is that so?”
“The time limit is a bit longer if I modify the face based on the target’s face. Well, I’ll change your fingerprints and body type too, so you don’t have to worry about getting caught.”
I nodded silently at her sufficiently convincing explanation, paused for a moment, and then asked Dice my last question.
“So, what do I gain by completing this mission?”
She tilted her head slightly.
“The reason I joined this organization is to take revenge on everyone who put Justitia and me in this situation.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’ll follow orders as long as I’m a member, but… shouldn’t there be some benefit for me?”
After I finished explaining, Dice, who was flicking a bloodstained card she had summoned, fixed her gaze on me and spoke.
“Didn’t I tell you about our target?”
“…Don’t tell me.”
“Lumia Obse. The Child of Prophecy. He’s our target.”
Hearing that name, I felt a fire ignite within my chest.
“And I recently found out something. He and the academy’s vice principal have a deep, collusive relationship.”
“…”
“There’s even evidence that he helped manipulate your academy records.”
She handed me a file.
“Even Justitia’s expulsion incident seems to have been influenced by the vice principal.”
I wanted to ask how she found out this information.
“No one would complain if I said I slipped away for a moment during the chaos to take care of him.”
But now, there was something more important to do.
“That’s enough.”
“Yes, win-win.”
“From now on, the rewards will be information like this… hmm?”
So, giving up on asking questions and requesting cooperation, I suddenly fixed my gaze on the corpse being carried away.
“What’s wrong?”
“…”
I thought I saw something twitching in the corpse just now.
‘…Was it my imagination?’
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but there was nothing.
It seemed I was still fatigued.
“Did you see a ghost or something?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Thinking I should go back to my room and get some sleep for tomorrow, I stood up.
“Then, I look forward to working with you.”
“Likewise.”
I hoped there would be no unexpected variables.
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“…No way.”
The next morning, at the International Academy.
“This is insane.”
I successfully infiltrated the academy, but soon I couldn’t help but close my eyes tightly.
“H-h-hello!”
‘Why are you… here?’
Because I saw a girl I was all too familiar with, a girl I never expected to see here.
“It’s really nice to meet you, Professor!”
‘Why would you enroll in the Hero Academy…’
Justitia, my sore spot.
Her younger sister was greeting me with a voice and appearance that I missed so much.
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