Villain Hides His True Colors - Chapter 107

“Haa…There’s no end in sight.”

Gyeon Sohui sighed as she looked at the mountain of papers on her desk.

As the vice president, the position of president was handed over to her unanimously after the previous president of Hong Kong’s Hero Association was removed for mishandling the dragon incident.

It went without saying that a hole had formed in the organization due to the casualties, and with the heavy responsibility that came with being the president of the association, the pressure she had been feeling lately had become too much to describe in words.

Especially for her who had only known fighting, the paperworks was a much more daunting task than life-threatening suppression operations.

“Damn them!”

Bang–!

She angrily threw the stack of papers in her hand on the desk.

Security personnel request for ‘Ancient Artifact Exhibition.’ It was an official letter handed down directly from the Hero Association headquarters not long ago.

“There was no support when everyone was dying, and now they’re going to unload this on me?”

She wanted to immediately visit headquarters and grab them by the collar, but unfortunately, she was powerless.

“Huu…I’m really going to die of frustration…”

Recalling the recent mood of Hong Kong’s Hero Association, she sighed to let out steam.

Ever since Noah’s death, most people in Hong Kong had been deeply saddened.

As if a king of a nation had died, all festivals and concerts were canceled, and citizens refused to work due to mass depression.

After hearing the news of his death, she also had to fight the occasional sadness.

Why…He was such an amazing person…

Where everyone had given up, he was a benefactor who had helped Hong Kong at no cost.

For her, Noah was a real hero who couldn’t even be compared to those at headquarters that were just hell bent on the fight for power.

“Keuheuk…damn it!”

She had cried so much all night, but when she recalled him, she felt like tears would leak out again. The moment she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket,

Knock, knock–

There was a sudden knock. She hurriedly wiped away the evidence of her tears.

“C-come in.”

Squeak–

Between the crack, a woman with a hostile impression peeked her head inside.

“…Do you have a moment?”

“Jane?”

It was Jane Doe.

Like others from Kowloon, she was also someone saved by Noah.

At first, Gyeon Sohui was just friendly towards her because she was related to Noah. However, she had helped in many ways in stabilizing the areas around Kowloon, which had become lawless.

For this reason and the lack of manpower, she and her brother had been staying in the association’s dormitory and helping with the work.

However, she had been lying in the corner of the room with a dead face like a corpse ever since she had heard of Noah’s recent death.

Gyeon Sohui was worried and was going to check on her, but for some reason, she had come to her office on her own accord today.

She cleared her throat.

“Ahem, what brings you here?”

“Uh…That’s, actually, I’d like to ask you a favor.”

“A favor?”

Jane hesitated to speak, unlike her usual self. How serious was it for her to act like that?

“Okay. What can I do for you? I’ll try to help you as long as it’s within my power.”

“You know…Um…If you don’t mind, can you keep an eye on my brother?”

“Your brother? Ah, John. You don’t have to worry about that. John’s treatment is still going well…”

“No, no. That’s not it…Ah, fuck. How should I say this? I mean, if you can take care of him for me.”

Although Jane didn’t show it on the surface, she was someone who cared about her brother dearly. Yet she was asking someone to take care of her brother? Gyeon Sohui asked with a faint sense of uneasiness in her voice.

“…Why are you asking for such a favor? Are you going somewhere for a while?”

“Well, something like that?”

“Okay? So where are you going and for what? And how long will you be gone?”

“…I’m sorry, I can’t answer that.”

Jane’s expression was rather unusual. Like someone who was going to leave somewhere and never come back.

Gyeon Sohui had an ominous feeling.

She recalled Jane refusing to eat a few days ago, saying she would rather die.

D-don’t tell me…?

Meanwhile, Jane continued with a more somber expression.

“I know. That it’s shameless of me to ask. But it’s because you’re the only person I can trust around me. I can give you as much money as you want…so please, I beg you.”

The Jane she knew wasn’t a person who would lower her head and beg. She was someone who wasn’t good at expressing her feelings and couldn’t be honest with her heart even if she died.

It was said that people would change when they had accepted death…

A-as expected, is she…?

Gyeon Sohui, finally convinced of her thoughts, sprang up and shouted.

“Jane! Don’t give up your life easily! Even if it’s hard and painful to the point you want to die, never make such an extreme choice…”

A heartfelt cry. However, Jane grimaced as if wondering what Gyeon Sohui was talking about.

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? Did you drink while on duty?”

“Heum??”

Jane let out a short sigh when she saw Gyeon Sohui staring at her.

“I can roughly guess what you’ve imagined, but it’s not that. Why would I kill myself?”

“So what the hell are you trying to say?”

“Ha, Sohui-ssi. It’s difficult for me to say…”

Jane hesitated again, showing an uneasiness. After moving her lips for a while, she finally managed to open his mouth.

“Uh…you know. Actually, I’m going to steal some stuff. Hehe.”

“?!”

“You know the dwarf kid I introduced to you before? It turns out she’s really good at sniffing weapons and artifacts. So I’m going to go treasure hunting with her…”

Gyeon Sohui stared blankly at Jane who had proudly declared she would commit a crime in front of her.

Understanding the meaning a beat later, she frowned and rubbed her forehead as if she was having a headache.

“Huu…Wait, before that, read what it says here.”

“President of Hong Kong’s Hero Association, Gyeon Sohui. What about it?”

“Then, tell me what a hero does.”

“Isn’t it someone who beat down villains?”

“Yes, you punk!! I’m the one who beats up villains. But did you just confidently declare in front of me that you will commit a crime?”

As Gyeon Sohui agitately shouted, Jane raised her hand and shook her head with a brazen look.

“Uh, it’s a prejudice that stealing is all bad. You can borrow it for a while and do something more beneficial. Don’t you think so? Like Robin Hood.”

“What are you talking about? You said you would live a decent life for the one who saved you back then! Everything you said at the time was a lie?!”

“That hasn’t changed in my heart.”

“So why the hell are you spouting such crap? Are you going to live like that again just because he’s dead?”

Gyeon Sohui stared at Jane, trembling with betrayal. With a different serious look than before, Jane responded.

“It’s not like that. Because…Choi Noah is alive.”

“Wh-what?”

A totally unexpected answer. Gyeon Sohui raised her eyes and fiercely shouted.

“If you’re talking nonsense now…I’ll never let you go even if it’s you.”

“No. I’m sure.”

“On what grounds?”

“I don’t know if you would believe me if I say this…He told me before that I had the makings of a witch. I saw it clearly in my dream. He’s alive.”

“?!”

Gyeon Sohui stared at Jane. There was an undeniable confidence.

A witch was an existence that could touch the astral world.

They saw things that ordinary people cannot see, sometimes predicting the future, or reading great fates.

If she had really blossomed such a witch’s talent, it was highly likely that Noah was alive as she had said.

* * *

Reaper Scans

[ Translator – Yasi ]

[ Proofreader – Karane ]

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* * *

No, the truth may be that she just wanted to believe that. However, what if there was a chance he was still alive…?

She asked with a sliver of hope.

“Are you confident in that information…?”

“Confident enough to risk my life.”

“Then…where is he now?”

“I don’t know that either. But I could vaguely feel what was on his mind. That he wants to be stronger more than ever.”

“So…Is that why you’re going to steal…?”

“Yes. I want to be his strength in the way I can.”

The desire to be Noah’s strength was a reason Gyeon Sohui could fully relate to.

However, no matter the reason, theft was a serious criminal offense.

In particular, the Hero Association would immediately register you as a villain if you commit a crime using your ability. You would live your entire life as a fugitive, deprived of the rights to enjoy a normal life.

“Do you understand? Once registered as a villain, the record won’t be erased until you die. Are you really sure you’re okay with that?”

“That doesn’t matter. For him, I’ll even take on the Hero Association headquarters. That’s how much I’m indebted to him.”

“…”

As if the last few days never happened, Jane’s eyes were shining brighter than ever.

Seeing her like that, Gyeon Sohui couldn’t bring herself to stop her.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. Please take care of John from now on. I don’t want to make him worry needlessly.”

Jane turned her back as if she had finished everything she wanted to say. Gyeon Sohui watched her back for a moment before shouting.

“A-ah~ I’m just talking to myself…Did I hear that the Ancient Artifact Exhibition will be held early next year?”

“Hmm?”

“Ha~ But what should I do? Since we’re so short on manpower these days…I have a hunch we won’t be able to catch one or two thieves that day.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Startled, Jane widened her eyes and looked at Gyeon Sohui. As a result, Gyeon Sohui turned her head with an awkward expression.

“Ahem. It means you’re not the only one indebted to him.”

“Huh. Now I’ve seen everything.”

“Well, I’ve been unhappy with the guys at headquarters for a while. Huhu.”

On Gyeon Sohui’s face there was a devilish smile that resembled Jane.

* * * * * * * * * *

Southwest of the United States. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park located on an Indian Reservation.

Once a sacred land for native americans and a major source of tourism for the Navajo tribe, for quite some time had been off-limits to civilians.

An unstable portal appearing inside the park had completely changed the surrounding environment at some point.

The distorted sky was covered with mana storms all year round, and the red desert, which was once admired by tourists, was rampant with all kinds of hideous monsters from other dimensions.

A landscape where the name ‘land of death’ was appropriate.

Shirahui, carrying a large backpack on her back, was seen walking alone in such a place.

“Haak, haa…”

Her ragged breathing resonated in the silent desert as bodies of charred monsters were strewn around her.

“Huu…There’s really no end in sight. How the hell did my father navigate this place…”

She let out a tired sigh as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.

The reason she had come to such a dangerous place was because she had felt the limit of her strength.

As such, her father who had signed a contract with the Thunderbird here in the past had advised that she would be able to better control her inner power if she trained here for a while.

“I have to be stronger than I am now…”

Biting her lips tightly, she took another step forward.

She had felt it keenly after recent events. Her strength was simply unstable and insignificant.

In particular, there was nothing worse if such a weakness put a burden on Noah again.

“Haa, I miss you already…heup!”

Having inadvertently uttered her innermost thoughts, she hurriedly closed her mouth.

Although there were no humans in sight, let alone eavesdroppers, she blushed when she realized what she had unconsciously said.

“Ah, I should be more careful from now on.”

She glanced stealthily at the corner of her view.

Translucent letters that started appearing a few days ago. It was a picture of Noah and his name.

[Companion]

The new ability Noah had passed on in order to protect her.

Ever since she had acquired this ability, she had felt a sense of unity as if their souls were connected.

It felt like she was with him at all times.

In fact, using this ability they could contact each other, so it wasn’t completely wrong.

As a result, contrary to the reports that were known to the world, she was convinced that he was alive.

She kept his survival a secret from her father, thinking that he might have a plan for not coming clean about his death.

It was regrettable, but there was nothing she could do as long as his safety was at stake.

However, she really wanted to formally introduce him to her father one day. For example, a meeting with one’s parents…?

“Euhehe…”

In her head, scenes from the summit of Mount Olympus were replayed in a rather glorified sense.

After rescuing her from danger, he deeply professed his love.

She felt as if she was floating on clouds every time she recalled it.

Although he was shorter and younger than her right now, her heart was still pounding from what she had felt at that time.

Wouldn’t he definitely become the most wonderful man in a few years?

She foolishly grinned as she imagined the future to come.

After some time, she shook her head and quickly came to her senses.

“N-no. I can’t do this here.”

It wasn’t the time to daydream in a place like this. She needed to hurry a little more and reach her destination before dark.

She quickened her steps again with a sharp look.

As such, she dealt with the monsters that appeared endlessly and gradually moved forward.

Finally, her steps stopped.

“The rock resembling a temple pillar…is that it?”

A rock that looked exactly like what her father had described came into view. Without further hesitation, she took out an old trinket from her pocket.

It was a tourist bracelet that Indians had made and sold long ago.

With it, she injected mana into the rock. At some point, in front of her eyes was an entrance to a fantasy world raging with thunderstorms.

It…really exist?

She glimpsed at the landscape beyond the entrance with a surprised expression.

A space filled with all kinds of divine spirits.

Inside was dense lightning energy ordinary people wouldn’t be able withstand. On the contrary, such a harsh environment could be said to be the best place for her to train the power of Lightning Calamity.

And…if possible, it would be great to bring back a present for Noah.

According to her father, there were all kinds of spirits and cute creatures living in this fantasy world. Perhaps she could find a suitable pet for Noah.

“Huu…I’m looking forward to it.”

Noah had left for somewhere to become stronger than he was now.

They had just become a couple, so it was a shame to be apart like this. However, it couldn’t be helped.

Omnipotent Gods, mass villains, and corrupt government.

As long as such powerful existences were after Noah, he needed much more power than he had now.

“So…I have to become strong too.”

Resolving herself in a determined voice, she stepped through the entrance leading to the fantasy world raging with thunderstorms.