I Became a Villain's Hero

Chapter 97: If You See Me Like This (5)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri

Illustrations: Here

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On my way to meet Solace, I couldn't stop myself from looking around.

Part of me hoped to catch a glimpse of Song Soo-yeon.

I didn't want to talk to her... but maybe because the worst misunderstandings were cleared up?

I wanted to see her face from afar.

Pathetic, but I couldn't help wondering how she was doing.

-Boom!

Suddenly, a shockwave burst from the direction of my apartment.

-Crack! Sizzle! Snap!

At the same time, electronic devices exploded and broke all around, and soon the city was engulfed in a blackout.

The streetlights and the light leaking from buildings all vanished.

Darkness fell.

The moon and stars in the sky started to shine brighter.

"....Huh?"

My heart sank at the same time.

I knew all too well what this shockwave was.

I had only seen it twice before my regression...

She must have used her ability after entering my apartment.

I could only think that a villain had appeared.

Otherwise, Solace would have had no reason to use her ability.

Regardless of how they found out about my identity or where I lived, I thought this was retaliation from the villains for stirring up trouble everywhere.

Laying a trap at home would be more threatening and effective.

A surprise attack could work on anyone.

I rushed towards my apartment.

Using such significant power as a blackout meant the situation was urgent.

Soon, I could see the windows of my apartment.

It was quiet.

No sound of battle.

That made me even more anxious.

It seemed unlikely, but... if Solace had been caught in a trap because of me.

"....."

I felt like I had to fight.

I didn't want to see Solace walk into a trap because of me.

I pulled out a mask from my pocket and put it on.

...I didn't want Solace to see me using my powers.

But at the same time, I steeled myself.

I tried not to think ominous thoughts.

I leaped towards the window.

Grabbing the window frame, I peered inside feeling like I was making a gamble.

If Solace won, I could just take off the mask and greet her.

-Snap!

"Ah...!"

A sharp crack followed by a delicate groan.

At the same time, I was met with a shocking sight.

Song Soo-yeon, grimacing in pain and clutching her cheek, and Solace, lighting a cigarette and raising her hand.

"Where did oppa go... where did oppa go!!"

Solace was expressing her frustration, desperately asking.

Her worry about my disappearance was conveyed in just a few seconds.

I felt sorry and confused.

Frozen by these complex emotions, I couldn't move for a moment.

How should I take in that cigarette and Song Soo-yeon's cheek, swollen red?

I don't even understand why Song Soo-yeon is here in the first place.

It wasn't a scene of an arrest.

If Solace knew that Song Soo-yeon was Luna, she wouldn't have come alone.

The question about my whereabouts wasn't something to ask Luna either.

It meant that the two of them were talking as Min-Bom and Song Soo-yeon.

Solace, after pushing away the hand that Soo-yeon was using to cover her swollen cheek, swung her hand again.

-Slap!

My body shuddered in response.

As dark red blood flowed from the corner of Soo-yeon's mouth, strength began to gather in my grip.

During this, Soo-yeon burst into powerless laughter.

"...It's a bit unfair... I'm the only one who got caught.... Unni, you're just as unfit for him as I am..."

A voice filled with bitter regret and jealousy.

Only she and I would know what being caught meant.

My heart sank as I saw Soo-yeon mention me even in this moment.

It was the moment I realized that her claims of love were not false.

My thoughts solidified.

Solace once again blew cigarette smoke into Soo-yeon's face.

"There's no need to worry about me, just answer."

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't believe it.

Was this really Solace?

Or a villain transformed into Solace?

Before I knew it, my body had already moved.

"Sol.......ace?"

I called out to her uncertainly.

Solace's head turned in my direction.

Her eyes, shining brightly like the ember of a cigarette in the darkness.

Undoubtedly, it was Solace.

"......"

I couldn't even muster a smile.

The disconnect between this and the Solace I knew left me unable to think straight.

If the words 'just' and 'diligent' were personified, that would be Solace.

Though I usually wouldn't care if someone smoked, seeing Solace do it was somehow shocking.

I had never thought that she would hit someone who couldn't fight back.

Can't she see the blood flowing from the corner of Soo-yeon's mouth?

Doesn't she see the expression twisted in pain?

-Flash!

At that moment, Solace's body flashed and shone brightly.

My eyes went temporarily blind.

I knew then that a fight had begun.

I pushed away the confused thoughts for a moment.

Though I couldn't see, I lay back and threw myself out of the window.

Then, I felt a touch graze my mask.

It was Solace's hand, I realized.

At the same time, I pulled out a dice.

There was no escaping Solace without using my ability.

Especially with my mind this cluttered, I didn't have the confidence to be caught and have a face-to-face conversation with her.

I spun in the air and landed on the ground.

The afterimage of the light in my eyes gradually faded away.

I threw the dice in the direction I thought Solace might be.

"...Dice?"

Solace's puzzled voice came through.

Soon, I felt abilities embedding into my body.

The number on the dice was 2.

If the dice shows one, the ability to fly is activated.

With two, shadow movement is also activated.

I had to use these two abilities to escape from her.

No matter how shocking the scene I had witnessed, I didn't want to fight her.

I turned around and started to flee.

Solace was flying after me from above.

Soon, she was overpowering me with her speed, beginning to descend towards me like an eagle.

".....!"

I had no choice but to fly up into the air.

-Boom!

The asphalt ground shattered, kicking up a cloud of dust, and I looked down at Solace.

Solace looked up at me and asked.

"Who are you?"

"...."

"Why did you enter that apartment?"

"..."

"What did you do to the person living there?"

Solace was more agitated than I had ever seen her before.

Now, I wasn't sure.

Did she use force out of concern for me?

No matter the reason, Solace's methods were shockingly brutal.

That Solace could be hitting a civilian's cheek.

Of course, Song Soo-yeon isn't a civilian, but to Solace, isn't she?

Did she change like this because of me?

Or was this a side of her that was always hidden?

I didn't know which to hope for.

Solace let out a hollow laugh.

"...Ha. No one's answering today."

"..."

Solace initiated another attack.

I turned around and flew away as well.

It's been a while since I had a chase with her in the sky.

But instead of the sweetness of memories, only bitterness lingered in my mouth.

Why did I end up fighting with her again?

How many times have I told myself it shouldn't be like this?

The chase lasted a long time.

Only after we were far away from the apartment did I stop and land.

Solace landed on the ground following me.

She said.

"...I won't give up until the end. Answer me quickly. Where did the man in that room go?"

I could hear the desperation in Solace's voice.

I intended to disappear without a word... but hearing that voice made it impossible.

Impulsively, yet quietly.

I murmured in a way she couldn't recognize my voice.

"...I don't know."

Solace didn't believe my words.

"Don't lie. You wouldn't have entered that apartment for no reason."

"..."

I couldn't continue the conversation.

My mind was already too cluttered to come up with a plausible excuse.

Looking at her... I closed my eyes.

And started to enter the shadows.

-Flash!

Solace shone brightly again.

The bright light made the shadows disappear in an instant.

My body, melting into the shadows, was repelled by that bright light.

"Where do you think you're going...!"

Solace was unbelievably quick to adapt to my transformation.

She wasn't even surprised by my two abilities.

I could feel her determination to catch me.

She charged at me again.

In the end, I had no choice but to resort to a trick I had used in the past.

I took off my coat and dodged her attack.

Then, as she got closer, I gently wrapped her head with the coat.

"...Mmph..!"

When I covered her shining eyes and hair, the light briefly dimmed.

I used that moment to melt into the shadows.

I couldn't even say goodbye to her.

Not only because I was afraid my voice would give me away, but also because my mind was still too chaotic.

I needed time to process this shock.

It wasn't an opportunity that would come by again easily.

So, I quickly left her behind.

---

---

For some reason, I found myself heading back to the apartment.

Maybe, subconsciously, I had led Solace away to return here.

Was it because I was wearing a mask?

Or because the sound of Song Soo-yeon's groaning still echoed in my ears?

I returned to the apartment.

"........."

Song Soo-yeon was still there.

Even after being hit by Solace, she hadn't left.

She was hugging her knees, burying her head in her arms.

She was unaware of my entrance.

It had been a week since I last saw her.

But I don't know why it feels like it's been so much longer.

Where did the anger I felt go, and why do I now feel such pity?

The shock from Solace will take time.

I just have to accept that she was no different from other people.

Even though the shock was greater because she was like my mentor... A villain like me can't criticize rights and wrongs.

Rather, Song Soo-yeon's betrayal weighed heavier on me.

Remembering it made my heart ache painfully.

I resent her for choosing the path of a villain, despite all my effort.

It felt like she was using me, deceiving me.

All the things she had said were like lies.

But again, I couldn't detach myself from her.

The mark she left on me was too big.

Perhaps it was because I was learning that some of her words were true.

I took a step towards Song Soo-yeon.

-Crunch..

The sound of stepping on broken glass shards from the window.

Song Soo-yeon looked back at me, startled.

"..."

Now, I see things I hadn't noticed before.

My birthday cake, ruined.

The birthday present, still lying on the floor.

The torn wish bracelet.

And Song Soo-yeon, looking emaciated.

As if she hadn't moved from that day.

Dark circles under her eyes, her skin dry and flaky.

Her eyes were empty, and her lips were parched.

She looked at me, then bowed her head in resignation.

"....Dice?"

She asked.

I froze in place.

She knew my name.

She says,

"....Is it my turn now?"

"..."

Did she hear the news from the other members of the alliance?

Song Soo-yeon spoke in a dull voice, without any attachment.

"...Kill me."

I looked down at her.

"...There's no point in living anymore... It would be easier this way."

Her words deeply pierced my heart again.

I had no choice but to understand why she had changed so much.

The fact that she was still waiting for me in my apartment was enough to know.

My absence was responsible for her suffering.

It was as if she had reverted to her previous state, before we met.

The atmosphere. The empty eyes.

The attitude of having no attachment to life.

Her words weren't just bravado; she slowly closed her eyes.

And clenched her teeth, as if preparing for the death to come.

Dark red blood flowed from her mouth where Solace had hit her.

"........"

And I, without realizing, knelt on one knee.

Naturally, I placed my hand on her cheek.

Song Soo-yeon flinched and tried to push my hand away, but her frail arm couldn't sway me.

I wiped her blood away with my thumb.

My hand began to tremble.

Seeing her like this, my heart stirred.

I silently uttered a question I couldn't ask her.

'...Soo-yeon, why are you like this...'

As if she had heard my unspoken words, Song Soo-yeon's previously empty eyes widened.

Her eyebrows trembled.

Tears began to well up.

She asked in a trembling voice.

"...................Mister....?"