Chapter 53: Greedy (1)
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri
Illustrations: Here
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After using her power on the two men, quiet days ensued.
It was as if the stormy incidents had ended, and everything calmed down like a lie.
There were no more acts of terror aimed at the restaurant.
Solace became busy and stopped visiting Jung-gyeom.
Jung-gyeom treated Song Soo-yeon as if nothing had happened.
...There were no visits from heroes due to the crimes committed by Song Soo-yeon.
In fact, her abilities were essentially risk-free from being exposed.
They were quiet and left no trace.
The people under her control lost their memory, so there was no risk of her being implicated.
Her ability wasn't about directly harming someone, but making them harm themselves.
In some ways, it was the perfect crime.
Of course, she knew it wouldn't work on strong heroes like Solace.
Yet, Song Soo-yeon could feel that her ability was more dangerous than she had imagined.
But she felt no guilt about it.
She didn't feel a shred of sympathy for the two men she had forced to fight.
They deserved it.
She didnt care if anything other than Jung-gyeom was destroyed.
Even though she had grown to like her ability, it wasn't her intention to abuse it.
She planned to use it only to protect herself.
It was just her own resolution, one that could easily be broken.
---
---
Mister, I'm here.
Song Soo-yeon came to visit Jung-gyeom again this morning.
Jung-gyeom waved at her happily, but didn't return her greeting.
He was on a call.
Song Soo-yeon froze in her place.
The only person he could be talking to, other than her, was one.
Yes, yes. Lets do that.
Solace.
As Solace became busier and couldn't visit the restaurant, the time she spent talking to Jung-gyeom increased.
...
Song Soo-yeon felt a sharp pain in her heart as she watched Jung-gyeom smiling.
But she couldnt say anything.
Especially after that incident.
She had her own sense of shame.
Or rather, it was more about being observant.
She couldn't ask Jung-gyeom to distance himself from Min-Bom.
In a way, Song Soo-yeon might be in a more vulnerable position.
Solace was a shining hero, cute, with a good personality, a sponsor, and wealthy.
Song Soo-yeon had only her once-cursed beauty and the time she had spent with Jung-gyeom.
So, a seed of anxiety was planted deep in her heart.
The seed was named insecurity.
Even though she continued to see Min-Bom as an adversary, Song Soo-yeon knew.
People like Min-Bom are rare.
Not just because shes a hero, but as a person, shes special.
Even after that incident turned everything upside down, Solace didnt say anything to Song Soo-yeon.
Considering the words she had spat out before, Min-Bom could have mocked or laughed at her, but she didnt.
And that silence from Solace made Song Soo-yeon feel even more uncomfortable.
She slowly pulled a chair next to Jung-gyeom and sat down.
A question mark appeared on Jung-gyeoms face, but he continued his call.
But are you sure it's okay? If youre going to drink, wouldnt it be better to do it when you can rest the next day?
At the mention of alcohol, Song Soo-yeon clenched her teeth secretly.
And then she made up her mind.
She nudged Jung-gyeom to get his attention.
Jung-gyeom raised his eyebrows in response.
Cautiously, Song Soo-yeon showed him the back of her hand.
...?
And then she froze in that position.
Jung-gyeom continued to look puzzled, not understanding her intention.
He cautiously continued the call, stuttering, not fully focused as before.
...Yeah... okay. Oh, meat? Yeah. Sure... this time... um. Ill do it.
Finally, he asked Solace for a moment.
...Bom, just a second?
He covered the phones microphone with one hand and leaned in to whisper to Song Soo-yeon.
Soo-yeon, whats up?
Song Soo-yeon spoke as if it were obvious.
...Hold my hand.
Jung-gyeom blinked.
...Now?
Now.
...After the call-
-Now, mister.
After a silent argument, Jung-gyeom shrugged.
He moved the hand that was covering the microphone and slowly took Song Soo-yeons hand.
Jung-gyeom lightly clasped her hand, but Song Soo-yeon intertwined her fingers between his.
Just that touch calmed her anxiety.
The sensation was precious to her.
She increasingly enjoyed this sense of security.
...
...
After exchanging glances, Jung-gyeom chuckled.
Then, continuing the call with Solace, he gently shook the hand he held.
As he lightly shook her hand, the atmosphere became somewhat playful, but Song Soo-yeon was content with that.
As she promised Jung-gyeom, Song Soo-yeon went to work her part-time job on the weekend.
She needed to prove she wasn't a burden.
Jung-gyeom never said she was a nuisance, but the anxiety inside Song Soo-yeon drove her to act.
She was fully geared today.
Covering her face with a hat and mask, she boarded the shuttle bus alone to load and unload goods, without Jung-gyeom.
The morning chill followed her to the bus, making her uncomfortable.
She wrapped herself tighter in her coat.
The discomfort was bearable when she thought of doing it for Jung-gyeom.
She opened her phone and sent a message to Jung-gyeom, saying she would be careful.
And quickly, a reply came back.
Dont get hurt.
Reading his message, the cold that had been seeping into her body miraculously receded.
People began boarding the shuttle bus, which was at a standstill.
Song Soo-yeon closed her eyes tightly.
She planned to get a bit more sleep.
And then, someone sat beside her.
Is it okay for a woman to do this kind of work?
He approached with a faade of friendliness and kindness, but Song Soo-yeon could clearly see the hidden intentions beneath.
Get lost.
She ordered reflexively, inadvertently using her power.
The man blinked for a moment and then silently moved to another seat.
...
With him gone, she felt like she could breathe again.
Song Soo-yeon looked down at her hand for a moment.
...Should she continue using her power like this?
It seems harmless enough, but doubts keep surfacing.
It was confusing having a new choice that wasn't there before.
Eventually, Song Soo-yeon closed her eyes again.
She decided not to worry about it.
Surely, nothing significant would happen from just this.
---
---
I was watching TV.
The news anchor was once again reporting on villains.
Let me repeat. Tryno has appeared in Gangseo District, Busan, causing damage.....
The anchor's urgent voice was accompanied by images of Tryno.
He stood in the middle of a wrecked street, arms spread wide, flaunting himself.
I was lost in thought.
...Hmm.
Recently, villains have been quite active.
As a result, heroes, especially Solace, have had busy schedules.
They fight villains, arrest them, sometimes let them escape, and continue to write their own history.
Though it feels like a distant past and things have changed from what I experienced.
Destroyer Tryno.
Currently the top-ranked villain.
An explosive ability user who can detonate anything he touches.
Just a few months ago, he was ranked second, but now hes the most threatening villain.
...But did he always act so boldly?
I didnt have any dealings with him before the regression, so it's surprising.
His rampage is causing a headache for the heroes.
There are many casualties, and the damage is in the scale of entire buildings.
Shake is also struggling.
And when he struggles, the other heroes can't seem to find their footing.
Of course, its understandable.
Tryno doesn't move alone.
This time, he appeared with Liquid.
Liquid.
An ability user who becomes stronger near water, currently the third-ranked villain.
His ability to appear and disappear unexpectedly makes crime scenes more chaotic.
Two troublesome villains have joined forces.
Again and again, I think the same thing, but I dont concern myself with other peoples crime scenes.
Normally, I wouldnt even follow such news.
But I cant take my eyes off the news because I know Solace is there.
Yesterday, she complained to me about being tired from all this.
She asked, in a somewhat distant tone, to hang out once everything calmed down.
Shes been showing more of her human side to me.
And there she is, struggling in that chaos.
I stroked my chin as I watched the TV.
Every time Solace appeared on the screen, I couldnt look away.
I worried about Solace before the regression too.
But back then, I only worried about her injuries.
When she got hurt fighting me, thats when I worried.
Now, it's a bit different.
Maybe because she has opened up to me.
I worry about her struggling.
Last time, she cried to me because she couldnt save a child.
I hoped she wouldnt have to go through that today.
I find myself unfairly blaming others.
When Shake appears on the screen, I mutter to myself.
...Do something.
But he continues to struggle.
Even Shake, with all his strength, couldnt handle two high-risk villains who had meticulously planned their appearance.
The broadcast showed citizens running in panic.
The heroes were rescuing them continuously, but it was impossible to save everyone in the chaos.
As the situation worsened, the news switched scenes.
They moved away from the chaotic scene in Busan to show the anchor, sweating profusely.
His expression said it all.
After struggling to find words, he sporadically relayed the live situation, then held his in-ear earphone, asking in disbelief.
....Yes?
Seemingly forgetting that he was live, he couldnt hide his panic.
...Yes....Yes...I see.
Then he looked up at the camera.
Fear was evident in the anchor's eyes.
Breaking news. Along with Tryno and Liquid, the villain Stingshot has appeared in Gangseo District, Busan. Citizens in the area are advised to follow the guidance of the heroes....
....Hmm.
I frowned.
Stingshot.
A sniper-type villain.
A master of assassination.
Many high-profile individuals and unsuspecting heroes have fallen to Stingshot.
Solace should be fine.
Stingshot wouldnt be able to harm her.
It's not her safety I'm worried about, but this... development feels ominous.
Hearing about three villains working together is new to me.
At this point, it wouldnt be surprising if a few more villains showed up.
...Could there be a villain alliance forming?
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