Chapter 29 - Stepping Stones

After collapsing for three days and waking up.

The first thing to greet me when I opened my eyes was Seo-eun, sobbing her heart out.

"Oppa, you're seriously insane!" she cried, hitting me repeatedly. Hey, Seo-eun—that actually hurts! Stop it!

After sitting up and calming her down a bit, I realized she'd been genuinely frightened. I suppose anyone would be worried if someone suddenly collapsed like a corpse for three whole days.

Still, I was a little touched seeing Seo-eun cry so much over me waking up from my collapse. Our time living together hadn't been for nothing—she'd even shed tears for me. All those gaming sessions really paid off!

So when Seo-eun tearfully told me to take better care of myself from now on, I gave her a bitter smile and promised I'd be more careful. Though honestly, making that promise doesn't guarantee I won't do this again.

After waking up, calming Seo-eun down, and thanking Subin for nursing me, the first thing I did was check public opinion.

What had people been saying about me?

And what about Stardus?

Well, the results showed my popularity was currently at its peak. There were numerous articles suggesting the public saw me—a villain—as more of a hero.

Hmm... Just as I thought.

The fact that I'd killed him simply because he pissed me off had somehow become a likable trait. "Refreshing," they called it.

The shocking part was that Crocodile Man—that bastard—was still alive. What, he survived the poison gas? Sure, I'd used something relatively weak just in case... but I didn't expect him to withstand even that. Then again, he was a pain to deal with in the original work too.

Apparently, he'd reverted from his crocodile form back to an ordinary man and, after treatment, was now imprisoned at the Eastern Paranormal Ability User Detention Center.

Hmm, so this followed the original storyline after all.

The Eastern Paranormal Ability User Detention Center—East Carcer, as it's called. Literally a place that gathers and incarcerates villains with superpowers.

Like the Hero Association, every country has what's known as a "Carcer." Carcer—Latin for prison. After the first paranormal ability user detention facility, "America Carcer," was established in the United States, every subsequent superhuman prison built in other countries adopted the name Carcer.

These are maximum security facilities in each nation, equipped with all sorts of devices tailored to restrict each inmate's abilities according to their unique characteristics. Built on an uninhabited island in the East Sea, it's said to be so thoroughly secured that once you enter, you can never leave. Of course, in the original work, Seo-eun just hacked in and ransacked the place.

Anyway, since that bastard was locked up there alive, he might prove useful later. He seems pretty stupid, so he'd probably be easy to manipulate. Though I'm not sure yet if that stupidity only applies to his crocodile form or if he's like that as a human too.

In any case, I spent a few more days relaxing and playing around.

I'm an ordinary citizen at heart, after all. After working this hard, burnout sets in and I need to rest a bit.

...Though it does seem like Seo-eun has been sticking closer to me than before during my downtime. What's gotten into her?

Of course, I'm not just lying around lazing about every day. Sometimes I teach Seo-eun and Subin about South Korea's hero society. Both of them had been holed up in their rooms researching computer technology, so they don't know much about current events.

"Now then, today let's learn about the reality of heroes in South Korea. Subin, what do you think the public's perception of heroes is like?"

"Um... positive? Since they're the ones who save people."

"No, that's not it. South Korea is a bit different. Let me give you an example. Say your family gets attacked by a villain. You immediately call for a hero. But before the hero arrives, the villain has already killed them and fled. Who do you think people blame?"

"Obviously they'd blame the villain, right?"

"Ah, of course they blame the villain. But they also blame the hero just as much as the villain. 'My family died because you came too late.'"

"...But that's not really the hero's fault, is it? It's not like they wanted to be late."

"Exactly. But citizens don't care about that. They just think, 'You could have come faster, but you dawdled around and that's why they died.' They resent them for it. Well, that's not all there is to it, but anyway, things like this accumulate and create distrust toward heroes. Bottom line: South Korean citizens don't really trust heroes."

My throat hurt from talking so long.

I picked up the open PET bottle next to me and took a sip.

"Don't drink straight from the bottle."

...While getting scolded by Seo-eun, no less. Hey, Seo-eun—I thought you were looking at your phone. When did you start paying attention to me?

She kept staring at me, so I eventually took my lips off the bottle to drink. Come on, you have your own water...

After wetting my throat, I continued my explanation.

"From the heroes' perspective, it's enough to drive them crazy. I mean, risking their lives for this job is already miserable enough, but getting cursed at on top of that? The truth is, South Korea doesn't have many heroes, so the structure makes it difficult for someone to immediately reach a scene when needed. Delays are inevitable. Yet they still get cursed at."

"I see..."

Subin nodded as if she finally understood. Even Seo-eun, who'd been looking at her smartphone, perked up her ears in this direction. I guess I really am a good teacher?

Actually, before I fell into this world, my dream was to become a teacher. Of course, now I have too many other things to do, and I can't do anything anyway since I don't even have an ID. Maybe after everything's over, I'll get my identity laundered and try being a teacher.

Anyway, that's not what's important. I continued speaking.

"So this creates a domino effect, a chain reaction. Heroes exhausted by public distrust quit being heroes. The number of heroes decreases. With fewer heroes, response time to crime scenes gets even slower. Which builds even more distrust toward heroes... It's a vicious cycle. There's a reason B-Rank and C-Rank heroes keep dwindling. The nation's public safety basically rests on three A-Rank heroes right now."

"It would be nice if the police could help, but by law, police aren't allowed to respond when crimes involving paranormal abilities occur. A single villain could wipe out a bunch of gun-toting cops, so sending them would be pointless anyway."

So the conclusion is this:

A complete mess.

A society where heroes are despised and villains keep multiplying.

There are far too many villains compared to the number of heroes.

This explains why Stardus runs herself ragged alone.

"...So you're eliminating villains? How very Dark Hero of you, Oppa."

Seo-eun, who'd been listening quietly, said sarcastically. Ugh, Seo-eun—you treated me decently these past few days, but now you're back to normal.

"...Not quite Dark Hero. Let's just say I'm rather concerned about South Korea's fate."

"Isn't it just that you like that woman and you're doing her work for her?"

"Now, now, Seo-eun. 'That woman'? You should speak more nicely."

Though she's right.

How did you figure it out so accurately?

But admitting that right now would be amateur hour.

I calmly deflected the situation.

"It's not that, I just don't like it..."

"From what I can see, Da-in seems extremely interested in Stardus though?"

Subin cut me off with a counterargument.

Subin interrupted me. Sweet Subin.

The innocent Subin who used to tear up in fear at a single word from me—where did she go...

I've raised a tiger cub.

Two women's gazes suddenly fixed on me.

Their eyes seemed to interrogate me, and I found myself flustered.

"N-now, now. Am I very interested? Yes, it's true I'm interested. But it doesn't mean anything special—it's just that Stardus is basically the only hero left now. And being a villain only works if there's a hero, right? So, you know, what's it called—yes, contrast structure. I've set up Stardus as my arch-enemy..."

I realized I was making excuses without even knowing why. Wait, why am I even making excuses for this?

Seo-eun still looked at me with a suspicious expression. Seo-eun, why are you being like this? I'm innocent here.

"Anyway! That's not what's important—let's start planning another terror attack soon."

When I said that, Seo-eun's attention finally shifted away from Stardus to something else.

"Terror attack? Again?"

"Yeah. Right now, how should I put it—my favorability has risen too much. Actually, it's not favorability but more like expectations? Anyway, to lower that, a large-scale terror attack is the only way."

"Ugh... When are we even going to prepare all that?"

"Don't worry. After this terror attack, I'll rest for a good while."

I smiled at Seo-eun's complaint.

"Rest? Really? Then can we go on a trip?"

"A trip?"

Seeing Seo-eun's sparkling eyes, I found myself agreeing before I knew it.

"Sure, a trip sounds good. Let's go after everything's done."

"Yes! You promised, okay?"

Then, suddenly, Seo-eun dashed off somewhere.

Wait, I said let's prepare for the terror attack... She's not going to pack for a trip right now, is she?

Subin just watched us with a quiet smile.