I Became a Villain's Hero

TL/Editor: Raei

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Leaving Song Soo-yeon behind as she wept and begged, I continued to move forward with heavy steps.

It felt as if heroes were grabbing my ankles.

Walking was unbearably hard.

Yet, I moved further away from her.

Being in the same space as Song Soo-yeon was impossible.

I couldn't bear it.

Since when had she been deceiving me?

Since when had Song Soo-yeon become Luna?

I had decided not to commit crimes.

I wanted to live a life of good deeds, like Solace.

Since when had I been aiding a villain?

Thanks to my vow to save her, even Song Soo-yeon's legs were fine.

Could there be a villain more threatening than Luna, who was no longer confined to a wheelchair?

But more than that, my heart hurt so much.

It was a pain more severe than anything I had ever experienced.

Villain or whatever, it was too painful that my first friend had done this to me.

In my previous life, I never felt happiness that lasted.

It was boring, as I could have everything except friends.

Like how work makes rest sweet, and hunger makes food taste better, having everything made me bored.

Perhaps that's why I envied Solace, who was loved; she didn't seem bored or lonely.

But I realized I had come too far to live like her.

So, when the chance of regression came, I vowed to live like her.

I too could experience true happiness.

But now I understand.

As happy as one can be, one can also be sad.

The higher you are, the more places there are to fall.

Just as such happiness existed, so did this pain.

If I had known this... I wouldn't have started at all.

Not knowing this pain would have been better.

I thought I was growing closer to Song Soo-yeon... it's shameful and pathetic that I was the only one who was overjoyed.

Song Soo-yeon's pleas echoed in my head.

-I'll die without you...! Sob...I love you, f*ck...! Please, don't leave me alone...!

I closed my eyes tightly, stopped walking, and covered my face with my palms.

I want to believe her pleas.

I want to believe what she said...

But it was too hard to believe. How could I believe it?

A person who screamed misandry, now saying she loves me.

A person who said she wouldn't have a lover, suddenly saying such things.

Even past memories started to distort.

Holding hands.

Hugging.

The memories of going places together.

It all looked like an act to use me.

The words she shouted, telling me she loves me and not to go, now seem like nothing more than pleas not to hand her over to the heroes.

I hate being like this.

But there's nothing I can do.

I no longer want to believe her words.

Believing her words of love, only to find out even that was a lie...

I feel like I'd truly fall apart then.

She doesn't need to worry.

I had no intention of reporting her true identity to the heroes either.

Is it lingering foolishness, or is it because her smile won't leave my head?

I just can't bring myself to report her.

There are things I don't want to do.

Because I feel as much anger as I do sorrow.

The more I try to suppress my tears, the more fiercely the anger surges.

I needed a space to release this anger.

The anger felt so explosive, it made me feel foolish for having held back for so long.

-Before I kill that person Jung-gyeom...

The scene where Solace stopped upon hearing my name was still vivid in my mind.

And Tryno, who attacked her while she stood still.

"......"

I had clearly warned them.

Not to provoke me any further.

I've held back as much as I could.

---

---

Apart from Luna, the Villain Alliance had gathered in a cargo warehouse.

The momentary enjoyment of defeating Solace at the hideout was short-lived.

Following that monumental event, numerous criminal organizations approached the Villain Alliance.

No criminal organization wanted to go against the new era.

They all gathered in the warehouse to form alliances.

Numerous thugs and gangsters surrounded a table, with the members of the Villain Alliance on the opposite side.

Stella watched the proceedings from a step behind.

Liquid stamped the contract and said,

"Next."

Leaders of criminal organizations with various insignias bowed their heads to Tryno and Liquid as they passed by.

The next leader waiting in line took a seat and asked,

"What about Luna...?"

Liquid briefly replied,

"She had some business and couldn't make it."

The thugs were busy looking at the villains who made the news, occasionally glancing at the unfamiliar Stella and tilting their heads in curiosity.

Riem approached Stella and whispered quietly,

"It's really nice to beat the number one. So many contracts..."

"...Indeed."

"Stella, does this mean you'll buy me that island now?"

"If the money comes in."

"Hehe, good."

Stella was lost in thought.

Really, no one could dispute their firm standing now.

Even though Solace wasn't fully grown... she had managed to bring her down, the same one Dice couldn't beat.

It had been the moment she'd always longed for.

To bring down a hero.

Achieving this goal without Dice, in a way, could be seen as an even greater accomplishment.

...But why did it feel empty?

Why did she still want to know Dice's whereabouts?

Why hadn't he shown himself yet?

Could it be that he didn't exist?

In this world, he didn't exist?

Stella's expression soured.

It was something she didn't want to think about.

Even the faintest notion of it caused pain.

-Tick... Tick...

The lights in the spacious warehouse began to flicker.

Some looked up at the lights, while others paid no attention.

Stella, too, stared blankly at the floor, lost in thought.

-Thud.

"......?"

And then, a familiar dice fell in front of her.

The number was 6.

Stella looked at it and picked up the dice.

'...It fell.'

She naturally put it back into her pocket.

And soon, she was engulfed in confusion.

The dice she always carried was still safely in her pocket.

She held two dice in her hand.

Even when she took them out of her pocket, it was the same.

Stella muttered to herself as she looked back and forth between the two dice.

".....What on earth..."

At that moment, a voice echoed throughout the warehouse.

"........Found you."

Everyone's heads turned.

At the entrance of the cargo warehouse, a man wearing a mask stood.

The criminal organizations and the Villain Alliance exchanged glances.

It was quickly realized that he wasn't on anyone's side.

Only Stella froze, staring at the man in the mask.

She couldn't believe her eyes.

".........Huh?"

With his face covered, she couldn't be sure.

It was also too sudden to believe.

While she was frozen, Tryno muttered,

"....Hero?"

The masked man walked forward and said,

"...I've been too lenient. If I knew it would come to this... I wouldn't have held back..."

As he closed the distance, the criminal organizations stepped back, creating space.

There was no sign of tension among them.

They were merely curious to witness the power of the Villain Alliance.

Tryno naturally filled the space that had been cleared.

Eager to satisfy their clients, he didn't hesitate to use his powers.

Having enhanced his abilities with pills, Tryno could cause explosions from a distance without making contact.

As he swung his fist, an explosion occurred right in front of the masked man.

-Boom!!!

Black dust billowed.

From within it, the masked man emerged unharmed.

"....Vermin like you....should have been crushed on sight..."

His voice dripped with regret.

Stella muttered as she watched the man approach,

"..........Dice...?"

Riem reacted to her words.

"....You know him?"

Liquid stood up from his place. Stingshot prepared his bullets.

Tryno said,

"....Vermin?"

He let out a sneer.

Then, he let out his hidden emotions.

"....I wasn't in a good mood to begin with...this works out well."

Although it was said that they had defeated Solace, in reality, it was Luna who had done it.

Tryno, as if trying to forget the taste of defeat, began to walk straight towards the masked man.

Stingshot said from behind,

"He's an ice ability user. A pretty powerful one at that. I saw the heat from the explosion die in an instant."

Tryno also spoke.

"...I already know that."

Stella tried to stop Tryno.

"Tryno...! Just a minute-"

"-There's no one stronger than Solace but me, Stella!"

But Tryno erupted in anger.

And then, unable to contain his excitement, he charged at the masked man.

Simultaneously, the masked man extended one arm.

"You can't freeze me."

Tryno declared confidently.

He closed the distance in an instant and swung his fist.

".............?"

".......Ah."

"......What."

Tryno, Liquid, Stingshot all froze at the bizarre phenomenon that followed.

Only then did Stella become certain.

There was no mistaking it now.

Stella's legs gave way.

"D, Dice...!"

The dice that had fallen in front of her a moment ago was his.

She couldn't help but remember the number.

With a 6, he couldn't lose to anyone.

".......Telekinesis...?"

Tryno's fist stopped right in front of the masked man.

Without even touching, Tryno found his fist frozen, unable to move.

His eyes turned towards the masked man, who was supposed to be an ice ability user.

Confused, Tryno asked,

"This f*cker... why does he have two abilities?"

Dice replied with a voice trembling with rage.

"Six."

The eyes hidden beneath the mask began to glow with a red light.

"...Should've looked at the dice."

As Dice took a breath and clenched his teeth, red lasers shot out of his eyes at the same time.

Tryno, standing right in front of him, was burned by the light, offering no resistance.

"Aaargh!"

Tryno screamed in pain as he staggered backward.

Black smoke rose from his right eye.

"My...my eye..!"

As Tryno was quickly overpowered, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

The criminal organizations and the Villain Alliance began to panic.

Some tried to leave the warehouse.

Dice reacted sharply.

His gaze shifted.

And as his eyes swept over the area, everything in their path was scorched, burned, and torn apart.

Soon his gaze stopped at the entrance.

Everyone trying to leave was scorched by the laser and fell.

The bodies of those who fell blocked the entrance.

"........."

In the face of such overwhelming power, no one dared to move rashly.

The light from Dice's eyes faded.

-Shuuuu...

He spoke, trembling.

".........Don't even think about leaving."