Chapter 12

EP.12 Teleportation

A mansion as picturesque as a painting.

A grand and imposing mansion, exuding modern sophistication with its white exterior.

A place that seems to declare it will not allow access to the common folk, where only the rich gather.

...Somewhere nearby, I was hiding my body.

The target I am after now is an A-class villain, a teleporter.

His main skill is teleportation.

Unlike my flawed teleportation, his ability is much more powerful.

In other words, he is a true 'teleportation' ability user, with no side effects after teleporting. Although it seems there is some distance limitation.

In a way, this can be seen as a cheat ability. No, it is a cheat ability. This teleporter, either because he is timid or stupid, is using this level of ability merely to steal money from banks.

Yes, at least for now.

If I consider the period I am currently active in as the original manga, it would be around issue 5? It's really the very beginning. Issue 5 out of a manga with 200 issues.

Actually, that's fortunate. If I had been reincarnated in the later issues, around issue 100, it would already be a comprehensive mess. The author, unable to balance the power, has turned the once mediocre villains into beings capable of bringing about the end of the world.

For example, our Se-eun, who appeared as the final villain in the Great Depression episode, which ended around issue 150, was actually only trying to conquer Korea, but if she had wanted to, she could have collapsed the world's information and communication networks.

This teleporter. He is a really persistent guy. He ended up fighting Stardust early on. While he was being careless, Stardust managed to knock him out and send him to prison, drugged. He would escape using his teleportation as soon as he regained consciousness.

This villain, who was caught as a minor criminal early on, made a grand comeback in the 'Great Escape' episode, where all the villains escaped, and became the main enemy tormenting Stardust.

Originally, he was a villain who lived by stealing or extorting, but pursued a bit of a simple and happy life. However, after being drugged and imprisoned for years by Stardust and then escaping...

He lives with the single-minded goal of taking revenge on Stardust, the one who locked him up. He has become corrupted.

Teleportation. What a devious ability for dealing damage. In later episodes, he would suddenly appear, strike, and run away, strike and run away...

If "Stardust!" were a webtoon, there would be a lot of people saying to kill him quickly, calling him a nuisance. Since it's published as a comic, I can't see the real-time reactions, but there must have been many readers who were furious.

And that's true for me as well.

So, this guy needs to be killed when I have the chance.

Back in front of the mansion.

I parked my car nearby and waited, contacting Se-eun through the earphone in my in-ear.

Usually, I can handle things on my own without bothering Se-eun, but this time, this guy is particularly tricky.

"Se-eun, should we go in now?"

"No, you haven't gone in yet? Go in quickly."

"No, is it really correct to teleport directly into the living room? What if that guy is in the living room?"

"Ha. I've told you many times. Just throw the tracking device and shoot at the same time. He will probably use teleportation to dodge the bullet, but the tracking device, which uses a web principle, is faster than a bullet, so it will definitely stick."

"I don't understand why a web-based tracking device is faster than a bullet..."

"The bullet is factory-made, but the tracking device is made by me, so of course mine is faster. It comes out of a hole that shoots a thread, which has less physical resistance... But you, being a liberal arts person, won't understand this explanation, right? Just don't question it..."

"Hey... I can understand most of it, even as a liberal arts person. Anyway, I don't get it. In spy movies, the tracking device is naturally attached by bumping into someone on the street, right?"

"...First of all, this guy doesn't walk on the street using teleportation, and if he does, it will be caught on CCTV, which will cause more trouble. This is the most accurate way. I've studied his routine and movement patterns, so this is the best way to eliminate him now."

"Still... There might be a better way to attach the tracking device..."

"There are more reasons you don't know, so please do it this way. Ha."

Se-eun's words, said with a hint of disdain, made me feel deflated. Such a brat... I'm almost 10 years older than you, brat...

"......Okay. I understand...."

When I spoke in a strangely deflated tone, I could sense Se-eun's slight confusion.

"Oh, Oppa. Why are you so down? Don't be like that. We've already had a similar conversation before..."

While Se-eun was speaking, I heard murmurs from the side, and her words were cut off. It seemed that Su-bin, who was next to her, said something.

I heard "Yes, yes..." and then Se-eun spoke to me again.

"...Sorry. So, go in now, Oppa! There's no time to waste."

"Okay, I understand."

I wanted to tell her to decide on one form of address, as I was confused by her constantly switching between "hyung" and "oppa," but it didn't seem like the right time, so I just held back.

...And if I told her to decide, she would probably keep calling me "hyung." From the circumstances she showed me the first time we met, I suspect she has a slight fear of men, so she pretends to be a man and calls me "hyung." Is it related to the fact that all the researchers in the lab were men?

Still, it's a relief that she has improved over the past few months. She must have realized that I am harmless and is opening up a bit. Even if she didn't know the original story, she clearly looks like a woman... She seems to think that a short haircut makes her look like a man. That's kind of cute.

Actually, the best way would be to sneak in at night and eliminate him, but that's not possible because of him.

Because of 'Shadow Walker,' one of the few A-class heroes in Korea along with Stardust.

Due to his ability, if I do anything at night, I will be caught immediately.

Almost all the terrorism in Korea happens during the day because of this guy.

Bad guy. If it weren't for him, I could easily and quickly deal with the villains. It feels wrong to just eliminate him as a hero. And if I do, it will cause bigger problems, so I only operate during the day.

Hmm, as I prepare for the real thing, all sorts of thoughts are coming to mind. It's a bit like how, in school, when I sat at my desk, I would start daydreaming?

I adjusted the mask that was half covering my face.

Yes, it's time to act.

"Did you remember the plan?"

"Yes."

In this area, teleport to the living room of that guy's house.

If he's not in the living room, search quietly and eliminate him secretly.

If I get caught? Well, the tracking device will have been deployed, so we can move to Plan B.

"Let's start."

I took a deep breath and prepared to teleport.

And—start.

***

I teleported to the living room of the teleporter's house.

As soon as I teleported, what I saw was:

The face of some guy?

"Damn!"

"Ah!"

"Hyung, shoot!"

At the same time, we were both startled. I immediately shot with my right hand and threw the tracking device with my left.

-Bang!

After shooting, I saw that the guy was already out of sight.

I don't know if the bullet hit.

Damn, why was he in the living room and causing a commotion? He ran away right away.

In this situation, we move to Plan B.

"Se-eun! Did the tracking device stick?"

"Yes! Su-bin, give the location!"

"Sure! He's 500 meters to the east now!"

"Got it? Hyung, go quickly!"

"No, wait, if I keep teleporting, I'll have aftereffects..."

"Quickly!"

"Okay, I understand."

I moved quickly.

***

When I moved about 500 meters forward.

Wait, this is the city?

"Ah!"

"What, what is it?"

Suddenly teleporting to a crowded place, I was taken aback.

This is a busy area!

People were startled to see a person suddenly appear in the air, wrapped in a black robe and wearing a mask.

"Hey, who is that person..?"

"Oppa, isn't that Egoistic?"

"Really?!"

People started to recognize me.

Just as I was about to break out in a cold sweat from the shock, I heard Se-eun's voice in my ear.

"Hyung! To the right!"

To the right?

I turned to the right and saw, in the distance,

A man clutching his bleeding stomach.

Oh, there you are?

You've already been hit by the bullet?

I couldn't help but smile.

Yes, sometimes things go smoothly.

Just as I was about to teleport with my gun to that side, the guy saw me, staggered, and disappeared again.

"Alright, let's see how this goes."

Thus, an unexpected teleportation chase began in the heart of Seoul.

***

"...Yes, this is the Korean Hero Association. How can we assist you?"

"Really? Egoistic appeared in the middle of the city?"