Chapter 98

〈Chapter 97〉 Section 4. The Dignity of S-Class

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Villains don't have the right to privacy.

That's why they must hide their identities even more, and if they reveal their faces, they need to have overwhelming economic power or strength to overcome that weakness.

But why did such an environment come about?

Simply because in the 21st century, electronic devices developed alongside the revolution of abilities?

Because anyone with a smartphone can become a broadcasting station by live-streaming on the internet?

Yes.

That's true, but there's something else that goes hand in hand with it.

There is an ability user called Cheonri-an.

It might seem like this ability allows one to see very far distances, but in reality, its function and role are more like 'Big Brother.'

­Even the government can't monitor our servers!

­If a villain appears and tries to harm your granddaughter, wouldn't you want to exchange that information?

­But this is personal information...

­For national security, a slight infringement on personal freedom is acceptable. Sir, this is not America but Korea.

­...It's only for monitoring villains. If it's used for political reasons, I'll shut down the server immediately.

­Thank you for your cooperation, sir.

Ultimately, whether it's a smartphone or a Taeguk Watch, the data always heads to the base station, and the information passes through the communication company's server.

Cheonri-an is the 'Big Brother' who monitors these servers to find information about villains.

On the surface, it's said that only big data about villains is collected, but in reality, only Cheonri-an, a few government agents, and the company lending the server know the truth.

I have always avoided being detected by Cheonri-an.

At least when discussing matters related to the alliance, I have thoroughly hidden myself.

But I can't control others taking pictures of me.

Just like now.

Beep beep beep!!

A loud alert started ringing on Yuliana's Taeguk Watch, signaling the detection of a villain.

"This, why...! I didn't report it!"

[I know. You were reported automatically.]

The reason the alarm rings loudly when a villain is reported is this.

[The only mistake you made, Yuliana, was setting up automatic cloud updates. If you had just saved the video, it would have ended there.]

Separate from the automatic reporting, when Cheonri-an detects a villain, the alarm is set to ring 'forcibly.'

[You might not understand this well, being American, but the moment data enters Korean servers, government agents start monitoring villains.]

"That's...! That's a violation of privacy...!"

[You don't understand this country.]

"How can such a terrible violation of personal information happen in a hero-advanced country like this...!"

[That's the difference between this country and others.]

There's no need to explain it in detail.

[What will you do? Will you go to Yangyang alone, or will you move with me?]

The car exploded, but the bike Youngno rode in on is still here.

Even if the bike runs out of gas on the way, it's not impossible to carry you to Yangyang Airport.

[What will you do? Choose. There's no time to waste.]

"......."

[I'll give you three seconds. 3, 2, 1.]

"Th, that's it!"

Yuliana hesitated, pointing at her suitcase, which she was gripping so tightly her fingers turned white.

"What did I do to deserve this...!"

[That's it. I clearly told you to choose. You hesitated.]

"Huh?"

I kicked Yuliana, suitcase and all.

Yuliana's eyes widened in shock, thinking I was attacking her, but I wasn't trying to kill her.

Squeak!!

A chunk of steel passed between Yuliana and me.

It was a rocket-fisted glove, and the steel fist quickly turned and flew back to its owner.

"Procession of the Taizu!"

Boom!!

The heavy steel landed with such force that the asphalt road sank.

It was a hero landing that even I wanted to imitate once, and as the guy extended his hand, the gauntlet that had attacked us reattached to his hand.

"Armored Taizu! Here I am!"

He must have flown from Busan.

The fact that he arrived at this moment means he had been flying to Gangwon Province since the start of the protection operation.

"Long time no see, Goblin!"

"Ah...!"

Yuliana, who was rolling on the ground, looked at Taizu in fear.

"And Yuliana Feagrin. It's been less than a day since we parted, but meeting you again feels like shit."

"Ah, t, that's...!"

"Taking something I threw in the trash and secretly carrying it off. Isn't that a bit unethical?"

Taizu's sharp words made Yuliana look down.

A mere C-class ability user couldn't possibly withstand the cold anger of an S-class.

At least when I confronted her, she felt wronged and thought I was a bodyguard, but to Yuliana, Taizu was an existence she couldn't face.

"Where is my gene? Hand it over."

"......."

"You're not going to say you don't have it, right? I know you have it."

"...I, I don't have it."

Yuliana's voice trembled.

"I already sent it to the airport."

"Is that so? Then I'll have to search you myself."

Taizu clenched his fist and nodded.

"After a pleasant night, the aftermath is too shabby... What?"

[Sorry, but she's still 'under protection'.]

"Why should I protect her?"

[Her grandfather gave her a lot of money.]

I stood in front of Yuliana.

"Hey, Goblin. This is between Yuliana and me."

[October Travel commissioned us. If you want to search Yuliana, you need a warrant.]

"Warrant? Ha! The existence of an S-class hero is the warrant itself!"

[Do you think heroes are above the law?]

"W, well, that... Yeah! A villain who ignores the law shouldn't be talking. When did the strongest villain become so law-abiding?"

[You make a good point. I'll admit it.]

"Yay!"

Taizu punched the air, expressing his victory.

"Nice! It's worth learning how to write essays!"

I let him win the argument slightly, but he wasn't entirely wrong, so I decided to let it go.

It's tiring to argue with Jammin.

[Still, get a warrant. If you don't want to break the law.]

"Ugh...!"

[Breaking the law is what I, a villain, do, but it's a problem if you, one of the top S-class heroes in this country, break the law.]

"What?"

Taizu's voice brightened.

"Did you just say I'm in the top 5?"

[......]

"Ugh, a man even the Goblin acknowledges! Yeah, that's me. How can I be ranked 7th...?"

[I never said you were in the top 5.]

"What?!"

Taizu trembled, raising his fist at me.

"Fine! Since a hero and a villain have met, I can't just let it go! Goblin! I'll subdue you and get my gene back from Yuliana! And...!"

Clank!

"Let's see the power of S-class hero, Armored Taizu!"

The armor on Taizu's body began to peel off as if shedding its skin.

[Peeling off?]

"It's not that! This is...!"

Clank.

"A sword!"

The chunks of steel that came out reassembled, forming a weapon.

Bwoom~

A red laser began to flash on the blade of the straight sword, similar to a halberd.

Armored Taizu.

His ability is 'Metal Manipulation.'

The armor that composes his body is the pinnacle of modern technology, and Taizu maintains the state of each armor part attached to his body through his ability while fighting.

And...

"Let's start with disarming, Goblin!!"

Taizu extended one hand toward me, creating a magnetic field with magic power.

"Come here—!"

He tried to pull me using the metal chunks in my body, but it was useless.

"W, what...?!"

[Just because it looks like armor doesn't mean it's all metal.]

The Dojirider Gunggi form isn't just for show.

It's entirely made of magic power, and the metal parts are protected by the magic power surrounding my exterior.

[Do you want to fight?]

"I have to!"

[Unfortunately.]

I rolled lightly on the ground and charged at Armored Taizu.

[Next time, bring something like nanomachines.]

"What?!"

[Or at least a better radar.]

Instant Spirit Body.

"What...! This speed...?!"

[It's not about speed.]

Taizu turned his head left and right, having lost sight of me, but I kept running forward.

[Do you think you can beat me, relying only on machines?]

"Gr, when...!"

[Other S-classes all react to this and counter it.]

[Solar—]

My fist had already reached Taizu's chest.

[So you hear the S-class detector sound.]

"Th, this...!"

[If you rely only on the suit, that's where you end.]

"!!!!"

Behind the visor, I could see anger, shock, and a hint of bitterness in his eyes, but—

[Goodbye.]

[FLARE—!!]

I released the magic power stored in my fist.

The magic power of fire exploded, and Taizu was sent flying backward with the explosion.

[Alright.]

I immediately turned and ran toward Yuliana.

[Before you hesitate again and other villains arrive, I'll take you to the airport by force.]

"Ah...!"

I forcibly slung Yuliana over my shoulder and got on the bike Youngno left behind, revving the engine.

"Wait, just a moment!! At least put me in front, or at least behind!!"

[No time.]

Princess carry?

Maybe for a CEO, a senior officer, Baek Seul-hee, or Yumir.

Why would I do that for this woman?

"Ah! My skirt, my skirt is flipping up?!"

[Shut up. You're being noisy.]

Whether or not the woman clinging to her suitcase like a rice sack was captured on the national road CCTV, I sped toward Yangyang.

The sun was slowly rising.

One hour until boarding time.

[Ah, can you hear me? Director Do. It seems they are waiting at the airport.]

The information came through the magic-powered intercom.

[Two S-classes are waiting at the airport~ One of them is the Princess~]

"Understood."

I gathered my magic power and drove the bike toward Yangyang Airport.

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