Chapter 24

Chapter 023

There are various ways to make the protagonist stand out.

I don't think it's necessary to talk about those methods in detail, but let me just say how to make the protagonist stand out in this world.

"Wow! A new ultimate move from the goblin!"

"Launching a cross slash from a standing position and creating a cross when it hits the enemy! Oh, could this be a motif from 'that religion'...?! It's an incredible act of sacrilege!"

"To use so much mana and not even flinch. He must be an S-rank villain...!"

Everyone is amazed by the technique I used.

Of course.

These people are more impressed and excited by the incredible superpowers than by the death of a human.

I wonder if it's because they don't consider a superpowered individual who has become a demon as human, or if they are just more excited by seeing an amazing technique.

The people in this world, especially the superpowered individuals, lack emotion.

To put it nicely, they lack humanity, and to put it bluntly, their mindset is trash.

In the midst of this.

[What have you done!]

The way to highlight the 'heroes' represented by the protagonist.

[Even if you're a villain, how can you kill people!]

A good appearance.

In front of the clear evil, the villain, and the emotionless masses, a capable and good hero who cares about humanity will naturally stand out.

Who could say a diamond is dirty when it sparkles in the muck?

[Those who sell their souls to the devil will die. They have already given up being human. Keeping them alive would only mean they would live as monsters who kill people for the rest of their lives.]

[But!]

[It would be better to use the tax money to treat the fallen people and provide compensation to the families of those killed by that devil, rather than to keep that devil alive.]

I'm not saying it has to be this way.

[Once a villain, always a villain. If their existence hurts others, it's right to atone for their sins with death. Suicide would be the best way, but since someone like that wouldn't commit suicide, I gave them death instead.]

Right now, I'm just reciting a spell to escape from here while talking.

[I hope you understand that non-lethal methods aren't always right, even if many heroes dream of them.]

Swoosh.

I lightly placed my hand on the belt, and soon I transformed back into my original form—the gentleman goblin in a black suit.

'Phew. Almost committed social suicide.'

I was unnecessarily worried that I might be exposed naked if the transformation wore off, but fortunately, that didn't happen.

[Do you want to protect even a villain? Then get stronger. Strong enough to stop me. I'm counting on you, hero.]

[Wait!!]

Sola Platina stretched out her hand toward me, but I left the scene with a light tap of my boot on the ground.

[Goblin's step.]

How?

By teleporting.

"Aah, the goblin is escaping!"

"Don't let him get away! Catch him!"

"The goblin's reputation!!"

I sprinkled black mist around, and attacks flew toward me, but they only sliced through the air.

My body was already where I was—

but no attack could reach me, no superpower could detect me, and no one could recognize me.

Another superpower that comes with the goblin's cudgel.

'Goblin's mask.'

Even in a world with a nationalistic light novel setting, I can't really wear a real mask, so I use a gentleman's top hat, but I maintain the goblin's identity by keeping the mask under the hat, covering only the lower part of my face.

If I had to use a metaphor, I'd say 'a tactical mask-wearing gentleman in a suit.'

'This form can't be exposed either.'

In the 'ghost' state, where I am in an etheric form that is not subject to physical or mana interference, no one can capture the scene of me leaving the battlefield.

The mask covering the lower part of my face also covers the nose, but the eyes and eyebrows are slightly visible under the hat.

'There are still so many books I haven't read in the library; I can't be exposed and chased away.'

If Do Ji-hwan were exposed as a goblin, it would be a nuisance to the chairman.

I can't cause trouble for everyone who put me here, including the librarian.

"Find the goblin! He can't have gone far!"

"Teleportation! He must have gone to his hideout!"

"Teleportation has its limits! He couldn't have warped from Sejong Island to Busan or Seoul!"

"He could have, if he's a goblin!"

Sure enough.

No one thinks I'm still at the scene in a 'ghost' state, immune to physical and mana interference.

No one could imagine that.

Now.

The reason I'm maintaining the ghost state and not leaving the scene.

"Hey, Golden Knight! Reveal your identity by taking off your mask!"

I had disappeared, but Sola Platina, who appeared with me, was still there.

"Never heard of a hero name like that! Unregistered superpower in Sejong Island! Everything is unknown! The Hero Association can't just let you go!"

"Your attempt to suppress 'Villain Release' is understandable, but it could also be a high-level deception! Take off your armor! Who are you?!"

"Heroes should willingly reveal their identity! If you don't, you'll be considered a villain!!"

If it weren't for me, she would have suppressed and arrested Villain Release by now, but because of me, she's in a bind.

"Three!"

The woman—probably Yu Mir—was just bowing her head, lost in thought.

"Two!!"

The moment the police heroes on the scene raised their mana and aimed their weapons at Sola Platina.

"One-"

[O Light.]

Sola Platina spread her arms as if asking for a hug, and an intense golden light burst from her body.

Beep!

It was like a flashbang went off.

I, in my etheric form, was fine, but everyone else was squinting and turning their heads, suffering from the intense flash.

'Running away.'

I quickly followed Sola Platina as she left the scene.

She didn't just leave the scene; she seemed to be picking something up near the restaurant ruins before fleeing.

'What did she pick up? Maybe something she took off before transforming?'

If so, it was probably the Taeguk Watch.

The GPS and biometric data in the Taeguk Watch could reveal that she is Yu Mir.

I'm 'special edition' and not affected by transformation, but Yu Mir would be different.

Why do I keep thinking it's Yu Mir?

I want to confirm if it's Yu Mir or not, and I also want to check other possibilities.

If it's not Yu Mir.

Where is Yu Mir now?

Did she get buried under the restaurant building or die without leaving a body while I hesitated to transform?

-If she left with a look that said, "Wait a moment!"

It wasn't because of her superpower but because of her sense of justice?

No.

I already scanned the restaurant building with my mana.

Yu Mir had vanished.

So I need to confirm even more.

If this Sola Platina is not Yu Mir, then Yu Mir is already—

Poof.

A small gap between the dormitory wall and the fence.

The Golden Knight, who squeezed her body into a space barely large enough for an air conditioner unit, shimmered as soon as she landed on the ground.

'Oh.'

I turned my eyes away as soon as I saw her.

Then I turned back to confirm what I saw.

'What do I do?'

I didn't expect.

She also suffers from the same condition (illness?).

'Oh my.'

I'm the same.

'Did she transform, prepared to face the penalty, to suppress the villain?'

I can't say it out loud.

Yu Mir, who had become completely naked, froze as she grabbed what I assumed was her room window.

"Aaah...!"

Flustered, she tried to open the window with the Taeguk Watch, which she had probably taken off before transforming and picked up when she left the scene.

"Why, why won't it open...?"

It won't open.

Of course.

Just like with the dormitory, the Taeguk Watch needs to be placed in front of the room's front door to open the window.

But would that work?

She would have to go through the dormitory entrance first, right?

"Aaah..."

[You look troubled.]

I stood in front of Yu Mir, still wearing the goblin mask.

"Kyaah..."

She covered her face with one hand and her important parts with the other, crouching down.

'Oh my.'

Sure enough, a Canadian.

No joke.

I've seen many female bodies, but she is incredibly beautiful.

'Snap out of it. She's about to be socially killed.'

Even the most powerful superpowered individual becomes a weak chick in the face of shame.

[I'll lend you this.]

I took off my suit jacket and returned it to its 'original form.'

Rustle.

The suit jacket turned into a completely opaque black robe.

[Here.]

"...Thank you..."

Yu Mir, whose ears were red, took the robe with trembling hands.

"Um, um... How did you...?"

[I just followed you. I didn't expect this.]

I turned my body, adjusting the black shirt under my suit.

[You seem to be in a difficult situation, so I'll help you now.]

I warned Yu Mir, turning my head to the side.

[If you block my way again, I'll destroy you and do my job.]

Poof.

I became a ghost and teleported to the top of the fence.

"Hmph."

Yu Mir, with a face as red as a persimmon, clutched the robe tightly and ran to the dormitory entrance.

[Tsk.]

Seeing her, I felt a bit dizzy.

[I used to be like that.]

Yu Mir.

She is a clear hero who can transform to protect someone, even at the cost of her penalty.

[Then I'll go back too.]

Where to?

...To the scene.