Chapter 49 - Somehow

When I heard the news that a gang had attacked Ha-yul's house, I rushed over in a hurry.

Damn it! Why the hell are they starting shit already?!

Running frantically, hitching rides, even teleporting—I barely managed to arrive at Ha-yul's house.

In the pitch-black night, noise was spilling out from inside the dilapidated shack standing alone and forlorn.

"Huff... huff..."

After catching my breath a bit, I pressed my ear to the door. Wait, did these idiots not even post a lookout? Well, I guess who'd come to a shack in the middle of the night? Even a thief would take one look at this crumbling place and just leave.

Anyway, when I listened closely, I could hear sounds coming from inside.

[P-please... please spare me...]

Hmm, looks like I timed this well.

Good thing they're not dead yet. Would've been a real disaster if they were.

Now I just need to find the right moment to burst in.

So I waited by the door for a bit.

After a short wait, the moment finally came—when this bastard was about to finish off Ha-yul's younger brother.

Yeah, now's the time.

I pulled out the bomb I'd prepared in advance.

Ego-style Bomb Type 4.

A flash bang.

BOOOOOOM.

The door exploded with a tremendous roar.

Of course, if I'd used a real bomb on a shack like this, it wouldn't just blow the door away—it'd take everything with it, so I'd adjusted the power appropriately.

"What the fuck!!!"

Curses came from inside.

Where do these rude bastards get off swearing at someone they just met?

I'd say these are friends who need a little education.

"Boss, I'll go check it out!"

I heard someone shouting loudly from inside.

Hmm, the first sacrifice?

Adios, buddy.

"Who the fuck are you!"

How sad that those are his last words.

I offered a moment of silence for him and put a bullet in his head. They say a bullet to the head is good for your health. Probably?

"Shit!!!"

"Everyone get your guns out! The youngest got hit!"

Hmm, so the real fight begins now.

Then let's start this thing.

First, I used telekinesis to cut the power to the fluorescent lights in the house. Atmosphere is important, after all.

...And since this was my first time fighting at night, I wanted to do it in a darker setting. I'd never worked evenings because of that damn Shadow Walker. Fighting during the day doesn't set the mood. You need nighttime to create a sense of intimidation.

So I cut the power.

I could feel the tension from the guys inside. Actually, I didn't just feel it—I could see it. The mask I'm wearing has built-in night vision goggles. I feel like my mask is becoming more and more a pinnacle of cutting-edge technology, but that's probably just my imagination.

Anyway, to play peekaboo with these bastards, I approached from inside. The moment I made footsteps—thud, thud—a hysterical voice rang out. 'Fire!!!'

And bullets started flying toward me like crazy. Oh, how scary. But here's the thing.

I haven't used my telekinesis at all for three months, you know?

Of course, that doesn't mean I've gotten that much stronger, but I can at least deflect the bullets these punks are using.

So I quietly deflected all the bullets.

When I deflected them all, the bullets hit the shack walls and dust began to billow up thickly.

I held my breath and stayed still.

Unable to see an inch ahead through the combination of darkness and dust, one of them quietly muttered.

"Did we get him?"

Did you get me?

I briefly released my telekinetic hold on the fluorescent light.

In this place that had regained its light, what they saw was—peekaboo!—me standing there.

"Fire!!!"

They shouted.

So instead, I fired and mowed them down.

At the end, the guy who seemed to be the leader pulled some pathetic stunt by taking Ha-yul's younger brother hostage...

I just handled it simply with a telekinesis feint.

Wait, has he never seen me on the news? Doesn't he know I have telekinesis?

Hmm... I'm still this unknown? I need to work harder.

Anyway, I barely managed to prevent Ha-yul's younger brother's death event just in time.

And now, in the present.

The house had become blood-soaked. It was like a gore horror movie level. If I filmed this and sold it as a movie, it'd instantly get slapped with a rating prohibiting viewers under nineteen. That kind of scene.

And watching this scene were two kids both under nineteen. Ah.

Ha-yul herself, bound thoroughly at hands, feet, and even mouth, looking at me with terror-stricken eyes.

Hmm, I feel like the first impression is the worst.

She's probably seeing me as a murderer who just suddenly killed five people. I was only trying to help you guys...!!

Her younger brother, who still looks like an elementary schooler, wouldn't be strange if he'd fainted. Of course, he hasn't fainted, but... seeing him looking at me with trembling eyes, he seems scared of me too. Ah, damn it... first impressions are the most important.

What do I do now? Should I just go full fear mode? Just as I was pondering.

From the front, Ha-yul's younger brother opened his mouth.

"Man, Mangostick..?"

Honestly, hearing that made my brain short-circuit a bit.

Huh?

I was expecting to hear "please spare me," but suddenly this?

Looking at the kid again, I saw him looking at me with sparkling eyes.

Yeah, that's when I realized it.

This might actually work out.

***

Back to the present.

I untied Ha-yul and her younger brother.

Ha-yul seemed like she was going to resist or something, but her younger brother was faster.

"Ma-Mangostick, I-I'm really a fan!"

The kid stared at me with sparkling eyes.

Ugh, stop it.

Seeing a young child's pure, innocent gaze suddenly makes me feel a bit... weird!

...But wait, there's literally a sea of blood behind me right now—how can he look so bright?

Ha-yul, what kind of education did you give him?

Her older sister, Lee Ha-yul, was already hugging her younger brother in a defensive stance... Hey, your brother already seems totally smitten with me, you know?

"Did you come to rescue us?"

The kid asked, eyes sparkling.

Yeah, that's right. It is, but... if I say that here, it'll get a bit awkward.

"Ahem, well... no. Actually, your noona pickpocketed my wallet, so I came to catch her."

At those words, Lee Ha-yul's face instantly turned white.

I quickly continued.

"But when I got here, some punks were causing trouble. I don't like guys like that. You know what I mean, right?"

At that, the kid nodded his head like crazy. Does he really? I don't even know what I'm saying.

"Anyway, one thing led to another and... this happened..."

I looked around and sighed.

Then, shrugging my shoulders, I continued.

"Kids, you're going to have to follow me for now. It's nighttime, and with those gunshots earlier, if anyone comes and sees this carnage, I'll be in trouble."

At my words, Lee Ha-yul finally spoke for the first time.

"Why should we trust you and follow you?"

She was clearly wary of me.

Right, Lee Ha-yul had developed a fundamental distrust of humans because of the orphanage director—she had no choice but to react this way. Or rather, would it be even stranger to follow a murderer who just killed five people you met for the first time?

Anyway, when she reacts like that, I have nothing to say.

At best, I could threaten that they'd be in trouble if they don't follow?

Of course, if I threaten them, there's a high chance my favorability will plummet. In other words, it would be extremely negative for long-term relationship development.

This is why I wanted to do some build-up with the wallet thing earlier.

So normally, this would be a very difficult situation, but...

Hey, there was one variable here. A very positive variable.

"Noona, what are you talking about? Egostic is such an amazing person!"

Her younger brother suddenly burst out with that.

Then he started giving an impromptu speech to his noona about how amazing I am, right in front of me.

About 80 percent of the content seemed to be a mix of exaggeration and fabrication... but whatever, good is good, so I decided to stay quiet. Though there was the problem of being severely embarrassed listening to my own praise right in front of me.

After his Tripitaka Koreana ended.

Lee Ha-yul looked extremely troubled.

"Cha-yoon... Still, why would we trust and follow someone we just met?"

"He's not someone we just met! Mangostick—I mean, Egostic is a hero!"

That's not true. I'm not a hero, dude.

Anyway, no matter how I think about it, Lee Ha-yul's younger brother—this kid is definitely part of the Mango Squad.

And this is a huge opportunity...!

Lee Ha-yul's weakness—she's obviously super weak to her younger brother.

Just look at her now. Her expression, which until just moments ago was filled with firm resistance, asking what they should trust to follow me, had become extremely troubled at her younger brother's words. A truly dramatic change!

And now, with her younger brother rebelling and her being flustered, was the optimal opportunity.

"Kids, follow me quickly. If we stay any longer, whether it's Shadow Walker or the police, whoever comes and sees these corpses will make it a total mess, right?"

"That's right, Noona! Let's hurry and follow Egostic!"

As I brought up the police and her younger brother supported me from the side, her expression grew increasingly confused.

Finally, she spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

"...If you do anything to us, I won't let it slide..."

As soon as she said that, I answered promptly.

"What would I do to you guys? I won't do anything, so just follow me. Take my hand."

As I held out my hand, her younger brother immediately grabbed it.

With her brother taking the initiative like that, she had no choice but to grab my hand with her trembling one.

Good.

And so, I teleported all of us together to my underground base.

Alright. Somehow things are going according to plan...?