Chapter 29

EP.29 Stepping Stones

After being unconscious for three days, I woke up.

The first thing I saw upon waking was Se-eun, who was crying profusely.

"Brother, you're really crazy!" she said, hitting me repeatedly. No, Se-eun. It really hurts! Stop it!

I got up roughly and tried to calm her down. It seemed like she was very shocked. Of course, suddenly collapsing like a corpse for three days must have been very worrying.

Still, I was a bit moved by the sight of Se-eun crying when I woke up. At least our time together wasn't in vain, and she even shed tears for me. It seems that playing games and having fun together had some effect!

So, with a bitter smile, I promised Se-eun, who was crying and telling me to take better care of myself, that I would be more careful in the future. Well, there's no guarantee that I won't do it again just because I promised.

After calming Se-eun and thanking Su-bin, who had taken care of me, the first thing I did was a public opinion survey.

What did people say about me?

And what did they say about Staderus?

Well, the results showed that my popularity was currently at its peak. Many articles suggested that the public was thinking of me, the villain, as a hero.

Hmm... as expected, it turned out this way.

The fact that I killed someone in a fit of rage actually became a point of sympathy. It felt refreshing.

And the shocking news was that Crocodile Man was still alive. What, he didn't die even after being hit with the poison gas? Of course, I used a weaker one just in case... but I didn't expect him to survive that. Well, he was a tough guy even in the original story.

Currently, he has returned to his normal human form after being in crocodile form and is now imprisoned in the Eastern Special Ability Detention Facility, also known as East Carkerris. This is a place where villains with special abilities are detained.

Just like in the original story, it seems to have gone that way.

East Carkerris is a facility where villains with special abilities are gathered and detained. Just like the Hero Association, each country has a place called "Carkerris," which means "prison" in Latin. The first special ability detention facility, "America Carkerris," was established in the United States, and since then, all special ability detention facilities in other countries are called Carkerris.

It is a high-security facility with various tools to restrict the abilities of each detainee. It is built on an uninhabited island in the East Sea, and it is said to be so secure that once you enter, you can't leave. Of course, in the original story, Se-eun hacked into it and broke it down.

Anyway, since the guy is alive and imprisoned there, I might be able to use him later. He seems a bit stupid, so he should be easy to use. However, I'm not sure if he's only that way in his crocodile form or if he's like that as a human too.

Anyway, I took a few more days to rest and play.

I'm just an ordinary citizen, after all. After working so hard, I get burned out and need to rest a bit.

...It seems that Se-eun has been sticking to me a bit more than before while I was playing. Why is she like this?

Of course, I didn't just lie around and play every day. Sometimes I would teach Se-eun and Su-bin about the hero society in Korea. Both of them were so focused on computer technology that they didn't know much about current issues.

"Okay, let's learn about the reality of heroes in Korea today. Su-bin, what do you think the public's perception of heroes is?"

"Hmm... it should be good, right? After all, they save people."

"No, no. Korea is a bit different. For example, let's say your family was attacked by a villain. You immediately called a hero, but the villain had already killed and fled before the hero arrived. Who do you think people would blame?"

"Of course, they would blame the villain, right?"

"Ah, of course, they would blame the villain. But they would also blame the hero as much as the villain. They would say, 'You were late, and that's why my family died.'"

"...But isn't that the hero's fault? They didn't want to be late, right?"

"That's true. But the citizens don't care about that. They just think, 'You could have come faster, but you didn't, so my family died.' This is how the distrust of heroes has accumulated. In conclusion, the citizens of Korea don't really trust heroes."

I talked for so long that my throat hurt.

I picked up the opened bottle of water next to me and took a sip.

"Don't drink with your mouth open."

...I heard Se-eun's scolding. Se-eun, I thought you were looking at your phone. When did you start paying so much attention to me?

Se-eun looked at me, and I ended up drinking. Well, you can drink water, right?

After clearing my throat, I continued my explanation.

"Actually, it's a crazy situation for the heroes. They risk their lives, and on top of that, they get criticized. In Korea, there are very few heroes, so it's difficult to have someone on the scene immediately in an emergency. This inevitably leads to delays. But they get criticized for it."

"Ah..."

Su-bin nodded as if she finally understood. Se-eun, who was looking at her smartphone, also seemed to be listening intently. Am I really explaining well?

Actually, before I fell into this world, my dream was to be a teacher. Of course, now I have too many other things to do, and I don't even have an ID, so I can't do anything. Maybe I'll get a new identity and become a teacher after everything is over.

Anyway, that's not the important part. I continued.

"So, this creates a domino effect. Heroes who are tired of the distrust quit. The number of heroes decreases. With fewer heroes, the response to crime scenes becomes even slower. This leads to even more distrust of heroes... It's a vicious cycle. That's why B and C-class heroes are gradually decreasing. The country's security now depends on just three A-class heroes."

"Even if the police helped, the law prohibits them from responding to crimes involving special abilities. In reality, a villain can easily sweep away armed police, so it wouldn't help even if they came."

So, the conclusion is this.

It's a mess.

Heroes are disrespected, and the number of villains is increasing.

There are too many villains compared to the number of heroes.

This explains why Staderus is struggling so much.

"...So, are you going to eliminate the villains, Brother? You're like a dark hero now?"

Se-eun, who had been listening quietly, sneered. Oh, Se-eun. You've been treating me well for a few days, but now you're back to your old self.

"...Not exactly a dark hero. I just have a lot of interest in Korea's fate."

"Is it just because you like Staderus and are doing her job for her?"

"Tsk, Se-eun. 'That woman'—you should speak more politely."

But you're right.

How did you know so accurately?

But admitting it right away in this situation would be a mistake.

I calmly deflected the question.

"It's not that, I just don't like it..."

"From what I see, you seem to have a lot of interest in Staderus, don't you?"

Su-bin interrupted my words and presented a counterargument.

Su-bin interrupted me. That sweet Su-bin.

Where did the innocent Su-bin, who used to be scared and teary-eyed at my every word, go?

I've raised a tiger cub.

The sudden attention from the two women.

Their eyes, which seemed to be interrogating me, made me flustered.

"Okay, okay. I do have a lot of interest, yes. But it doesn't have any special meaning. Now, the only hero left is Staderus. And villains only exist because there are heroes, right? So, it's a contrast. I've set Staderus as my archenemy..."

I found myself making excuses without realizing it. Why am I making excuses for this?

Se-eun still looked doubtful as she stared at me. Se-eun, why are you doing this? I feel wronged.

"Anyway! That's not the important part. Let's plan another terrorist attack."

When I said that, Se-eun's attention shifted from Staderus to something else.

"Terrorist attack? Again?"

"Yeah. Right now, my popularity is too high. Or rather, it's more like people's expectations. Anyway, to lower it, a large-scale terrorist attack is the only way."

"Ha... When are you going to prepare for it?"

"Don't worry. After this terrorist attack, we'll take a break for a while."

I said this with a smile, in response to Se-eun's whining.

"Take a break? Really? Then can we go on a trip?"

"Trip?"

Seeing Se-eun's sparkling eyes, I found myself agreeing without thinking.

"Sure, a trip, sounds good. Let's go after this is over."

"Yay! It's a promise, okay?"

Then Se-eun suddenly ran off somewhere.

No, we're supposed to prepare for the terrorist attack... Are you seriously going to prepare for a trip now?

Su-bin just smiled softly at our antics.