I was able to submit my resignation more easily than I’d expected.
Given the nature of the Hero Association, I didn’t think they’d let go of someone like me so easily, considering my track record.
Well, that works out.
Whatever the case may have been, I figured as long as things had gone smoothly, that was enough. And as I walked out of the Hero Association building—
There was a man standing at the entrance, holding up his phone like he was waiting for someone…
“Hello, Miss Mobia.”
He spoke to me, and at the same time—
Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap
He began clapping as if to congratulate me on my resignation.
“You’ve worked hard all this time.”
Being seen off like this might have felt nice under normal circumstances.
From that Association?
But thanks to Min-hyuk oppa, I had already become aware of many of the dark truths lurking beneath the Hero Association’s surface.
So I couldn’t help but suspect that this man’s behavior was just another scheme.
“Thank you.”
I began using my telekinesis to intermittently block my sight and hearing.
As a result…
Clap-clap-clap-clap.
At some point, after he’d finished clapping, I heard him slowly raise his phone and report something.
And when I heard his voice, I realized what was happening.
“Vice President. Puppet production is complete.”
Of course.
The Hero Association was rotten to its core.
“How can they keep doing this… even to the very end…”
“…Huh?”
Craack—
Without hesitation, I twisted the man’s neck in front of me.
The corpse, with its head spun a full 360 degrees, collapsed to the ground. I picked up the phone still clutched in his lifeless hand and answered the call in his place.
“Hello, go ahead, Vice President.”
– .…..
“So, you were trying to make a puppet?”
– .….
“No response? Should I come find you and hear your answer in person?”
– L-Let’s talk this out…
Now I finally understood.
Why Min-hyuk oppa had wanted to become a villain.
Why Min-hyuk oppa had chosen not to become a hero.
– Mobia… Wait… Just wait…!
Without a moment’s hesitation, I turned on my heel and walked into the Hero Association.
And at that moment—
“Please wait right there.”
– We can talk…! Let’s handle this with words! H-how about money? If it’s money…!
Just before heading to the Vice President’s office, I began walking toward the security room, which handled all the Association’s internal security.
A short while later—
“Miss Mobia? What’s going on?”
The security staff, unaware that I had resigned, looked confused as I entered the office.
“Starting now, you should run.”
“…What?”
“I’m not going to hold back today.”
With that quiet warning to the staff—
Press— Press— Rattle—
In an instant, I activated the electromagnetic pulse button that disabled all electronic devices in the Hero Association.
This system had been designed as a last-resort measure, to be used in the event that a large number of electromagnetic bombs, ones the Association couldn’t neutralize, were installed.
But I had decided to use it as a way to ensure the CCTV wouldn’t leave any evidence behind.
Bzzzzt—
Though my entire body felt as if it were vibrating from the massive electromagnetic pulse spreading outward like an explosion from this very room,
I had shielded myself with telekinesis, so it didn’t cause me any real harm.
“I told you to run.”
Leaving behind the two security guards who had taken the full brunt of the pulse at close range and passed out,
I began making my way to the Vice President’s office, the man who had tried to control me.
“Vice President, I’m on my way now.”
They’re all unconscious.
As I continued toward the office, I took in the sight of every electronic device in the Association broken,
And every person here knocked out by the sudden shock of the EMP.
“Hmm?”
But then, I saw one person standing unaffected in front of the Vice President’s office.
…Why now, of all times?
I knew who she was.
A psychic and the personal secretary to the President of the Hero Association.
The problem was… no one knew what kind of powers she had.
Her name, age…none of it was publicly known.
She was known only as the “Sword of the Association”.
….I’m sure nothing will happen.
And so, keeping my focus on the woman known as the Sword of the Association, I slowly floated into the air and approached the Vice President’s office.
“I’ve heard the news. Congratulations on your resignation, Miss Mobia.”
“…Thank you.”
It had been less than five minutes since I submitted my resignation, and yet, the President had already heard about it.
Where in the world did he get his information?
“So, may I ask you to turn back for today?”
I had always wondered.
What was it about the secretary with the Japanese sword that even the Vice President was wary of her?
Also…
I had always wondered whether my ability was inferior to hers.
“I won’t kill him. I’ll just break one of his limbs and leave.”
I had no intention of killing the Vice President.
Even if he were to die, I wanted Min-hyuk oppa to be the one to do it with his own hands.
I simply wanted to exact a small revenge for what had happened today by leaving him half-crippled.
“I will strike him down.”
“…What?”
“Rather than just breaking an arm or a leg, I’ll cut more deeply. So, would you please consider turning back now?”
“…I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve lost all faith in the Association.”
And yet… in such a situation, the woman who stood in front of the Vice President’s office placed her hand on her Japanese sword as if to protect him.
“Is this your decision, Miss Mobia?”
When I used telekinesis to freeze the woman known as the Sword of the Association in place so she couldn’t move—
“Miss Mobia.”
“Yes.”
“If I wish to cut something, I can cut anything.”
“…Is that so?”
Shhh…
“?”
She should have been completely immobilized by my telekinesis.
But suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my hand. When I looked down…
“…Ha…”
A long, deep cut ran along my hand, with red blood streaming down from it.
“It would be best for you to get to a hospital right away.”
In that moment… I understood.
“……”
“I also promise you this. Tonight, you’ll hear on the news that one of the Vice President’s limbs was severed.”
No matter what I did, I couldn’t defeat that woman.
The cut on my hand was merely a warning. A message that next time, it would be my neck.
In the end…
“…Haah, thank you. I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Truly, thank you for everything you’ve done for the Association, Miss Mobia. The President himself is deeply regretful about your resignation.”
“I’ve never met the President, so I wouldn’t really know.”
“You’ll meet him one day, I’m sure.”
“Such words for someone who just quit… I’m honored.”
Turning away, I began flying toward the nearest hospital.
…
With a faint sense of hope, I kept waiting.
There was no guarantee that brainwashed Seo-yoon would ever return home…
But this was all I could do, so I stayed in her apartment and waited for her.
“…….”
How many hours had passed like that?
Beep—beep—beep… beep
Finally, I heard the sound of someone entering the passcode.
“…….”
I held my breath, quietly hiding behind the wall to conceal my presence…
Bee-beep
Beep—beep—beep… beep
Bee-beep
Beep—beep—beep—beep
Bee-beep
“?”
Whoever was entering the passcode had failed three times in a row.
…She’s so brainwashed she can’t even remember the password properly…
At that moment, if that person really was Seo-yoon… then I could be certain she had been brainwashed.
Beep—beep—beep—beep—
On the fourth try, she finally entered the correct passcode, and through the vanity mirror, I saw Seo-yoon coming in.
She’s here.
I waited until the homeowner stepped fully into the room.
Knock her out and take her.
I made up my mind to return to our hideout with Seo-yoon unconscious, and with the help of the gem-type psychic, break her brainwashing.
Just hang on a little longer, Seo-yoon..!
The moment she entered the master bedroom—
Whoosh—
I reached out to cover her eyes and, at the same time, grabbed the back of her neck to cut off the blood flow and knock her out—
Bang!
“?”
Bang! Bang! Thud—
By the time I came to my senses, I was already being held midair, slammed into the ceiling and floor.
“Ugh…!”
Stunned by the incomprehensible situation, I instinctively raised both hands, taking a defensive stance.
“?”
Seo-yoon, who had been about to slam me down again, held me frozen in midair.
“…Min-hyuk oppa?”
She had recognized me as the intruder.
“Seo-yoon?”
“…Why are you here?”
…Weren’t you brainwashed?
Why… why do you seem completely normal?
No, saying it like that sounded weird…
…Huh?
“Uh… that is…”
At last, the words finally came to me.
Pyro Bomber had said that the Hero Association attempted to manipulate Seo-yoon’s personality, but never that they had succeeded.
“…Ah.”
They always said you should listen until the end.
It was the moment I realized how foolish I had been to rush over here the moment I heard that Mobia had been brainwashed.
In the end…
“Well… my teammate said you’d been brainwashed…”
“Oh, so that’s why… you attacked me…”
“I only meant to knock you out… I was going to take you back to our base and get you treated.”
“Hehe… You were trying to help me, weren’t you? I thought… I thought maybe you suddenly started to hate me.”
“How could I ever do that…”
As our conversation went on and I confirmed Seo-yoon’s mind was fully intact,
I was slowly lowered to the ground.
“By the way… when exactly did you find out I was the Villain Hunter?”
If Mobia hadn’t been Seo-yoon, I could clearly imagine that the Villain Hunter would’ve been torn apart and killed from their very first encounter.
“…Why do you ask?”
“If I’d fought the real Mobia, there’s no way I could’ve won… It’s a miracle I’ve managed to escape all this time.”
“Ah, that… um… uuuum…”
“…From the beginning?”
“Yes…”
“…You could’ve just told me.”
“Well… uh, uhmm…”
Even though I had covered her eyes with my hand…
Using telekinesis, she twisted my hand in an instant, locked onto my body with her eyes, and completely turned the situation around…
“You… you’re really strong, huh…?”
“…Thank you, oppa.”
“……”
“…Oppa?”
“……”
“I-I’m okay…! You’re, um… the first person to escape from Mobia…!”
“Don’t try to comfort me… that just makes it worse…”
“Uh… uh…”
An indescribable emotion washed over me.
It felt like I’d just lost a real fight against a much younger little sister.
Leave a Reply