Chapter 72: Doubt (5)
TL/Editor: Raei
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Tuesday.
Luna arrived at the hideout first, sitting at the round table.
Tapping her legs, she waited for the villains who had yet to arrive.
Today, mixed emotions filled her at the thought of finally smashing Solace to pieces.
Worry and tension.
Excitement and slight fear.
And even guilt toward Jung-gyeom.
But above all, anticipation was foremost.
Her mind was sharper than ever before.
Even as they arrived one by one and greeted her, she did not let go of that tension.
She kept thinking about Solace, who had been openly hostile upon learning of her affection for Jung-gyeom.
As if Jung-gyeom was something she owned, that brazen attitude.
Luna was without a moment of peace.
Even a gentle dog bares its teeth when someone reaches for its bone.
She wasn't malicious, just desperate.
She wanted to get rid of Solace by any means necessary.
Finally, Stella appeared last.
Has everyone arrived?
Luna lifted her head, looking at Stella with a smile.
Liquid asked her.
So, today is the day we attack Solace?
Yes, for Luna.
Liquid nodded.
Then we must help.
Luna was gradually gaining recognition from the villains.
Especially Liquid, who had significantly lowered his guard towards her after the crackdown on drug organization members.
Tryno suddenly spoke up.
But is there a reason to gather like this? I could have smashed Solace myself.
All eyes turned to him. His confidence was at an all-time high recently.
He wasn't being outdone by Shake anymore and had developed the ability to confront him one-on-one, so it was natural.
The other villains, except Luna, agreed with his opinion, looking at Stella.
...
But Stella just smiled after a moment of silence.
Tryno. We shouldn't underestimate Solace.
It's not that I underestimated her, but-
No, Tryno.
Stella sharply interrupted him.
...We need to be more cautious of Solace. She will become a tremendous monster in the future. A monster even worse than Shake.
No one dared to speak lightly after Stella's assertion.
Only Tryno looked baffled.
Still, Stella continued.
If it wasn't for Luna's wish, we would have avoided confronting Solace. Until he appears.
...He?
Anyway, it means she's a dangerous hero. So, I hope none of you take this plan lightly.
Liquid also secretly shared his opinion.
...Hmm. I acknowledge she's growing fast, but still...if Tryno and I team up, we can take down Solace...
Stella nodded.
We might still be able to do that. Solace is still growing. 'Still,' and might be crushable. That's also why we're going through with this plan.
Tryno spoke, frowning all the while.
"...Stella, that sounds like you're underestimating me."
"So, prove me wrong. Let's step on Solace once and for all."
"..."
It was clear from the start that Stella had put a lot of preparation into this simple plan.
Luna liked that, but for some reason, every time Stella acknowledged Solace, it irked her.
She didn't want to believe that Solace was such a remarkable person.
She just didn't want to.
---
---
While preparing the restaurant in the morning, I waited for Solace.
She had said she would visit the restaurant today.
After school started, she always remained on standby at school, which was very close to our restaurant.
-Ding!
The door to the restaurant rang.
I poked my head out of the kitchen and warmly welcomed Solace as she entered.
"Are you here?"
Solace smiled as she pulled down her mask.
"Yes, oppa."
She looked around and asked.
"Soo-yeon isn't here today, right?"
"Yes, she's not here. She went to a photo shoot today. Isn't that great?"
Wiping my hands, I approached her.
Then I noticed something in her hands.
"Huh? What's that?"
Solace said with a big smile.
"...This is a lunchbox."
"Did you bring something to eat? Wait a minute, I haven't prepared anything yet... I'll make something quickly, so wait."
"....Huh?"
"...Huh?"
When Solace made a slightly disappointed face, I looked at her puzzled.
"...Aren't we going to eat together...?"
She asked.
Too late, I realized what she meant.
"...Did you bring one for me too?"
She nodded.
As someone who rarely received anything from anyone, I hadn't expected Solace to have packed a lunchbox for me.
"No...Bom, when did you find the time...you've been so busy and struggling..."
A surge of deep emotion washed over me.
Placing a hand on my chest, I took a breath. The impact of this small gesture was unbelievable.
"Why are you so moved, oppa? You always make delicious food for me."
"But still..."
"Don't be like that...! Let's sit and eat, okay?"
Embarrassed, she took my hand and led me to the table.
As I continued to blink in happiness, digesting the joy, she began to unpack the lunchbox, arranging it in front of me.
One lunchbox in front of me, and one in front of her.
Solace, with a slightly reddened face, told me.
"...Open it, oppa."
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
I opened the lunchbox as she asked.
It was a bit rustic, but clearly, a lot of care had gone into the various dishes inside.
Rice, and cute Vienna sausages. Spicy pork stir-fry and-
"Ah!"
At that moment, Solace, startled, let out a loud exclamation.
Then she hurriedly grabbed the lunchbox she had handed to me.
I was surprised and looked at her.
"Bom, why?"
"That, that one was mine. Eat this one, oppa."
And then she pushed the lunchbox that was in front of her towards me.
"No, the one from before was fine too?"
"This, this is a failure. I gave it to you by mistake. Just stop talking and eat that."
"..."
I couldn't help but burst into laughter. A warm atmosphere filled the restaurant.
As she said, I opened the other lunchbox.
The rice and side dishes were clearly more neatly prepared than the other.
"Ah!"
But Solace screamed again.
Bursting into laughter, I asked.
"What's wrong this time?"
"The...the shape of the peas..."
I looked at my rice.
Green peas were scattered here and there on the white rice.
"...I like peas, you know?"
Solace muttered as she looked at me.
"That's not it...I tried to make them into hearts."
"..."
For a moment, my heart skipped a beat, and I was at a loss for words. The action was too cute to respond to.
"......"
I couldn't help but laugh, somewhat incredulously.
Was this a natural act? Or a high-level plan to win my affection?
Every action seemed charming, so such thoughts naturally occurred.
"...Well...can't be helped...let's eat, oppa."
Solace looked down dejectedly and picked up her spoon. It was surprising to see such a strong hero show this side.
Getting to know Solace, it felt like I was seeing many sides of her that she never showed.
-Bang!!!
At that moment, a thunderous roar shook the ground.
Solace and I instantly locked eyes.
This was not a sound that occurred naturally.
Clearly, it was the emergence of a villain.
And the direction of the sound came from the school.
Solace's eyes started to wander.
She looked back and forth between the lunchbox and me. Like me, she didn't want to miss this moment.
But personal and professional lives must be separated.
I understand her, but she shouldn't be wavering.
"Bom."
I quickly grabbed her wrist.
The spoon fell from her hand powerlessly.
Our eyes exchanged glances for a few seconds.
During that, another roar sounded.
-Bang!!!
Solace closed her eyes tightly. And when she opened them again, there was no more hesitation to be seen.
She stood up with determined eyes.
"Oppa, stay out of trouble."
She pulled up her mask.
"...I'll finish this quickly and come back."
Then she turned around and left the restaurant.
As soon as she stepped out, she launched into a massive burst of light, flying towards the school.
---
---
"Luna, we need to create chaos to make Solace panic."
Stella spoke through the walkie-talkie.
"Once Tryno and Liquid start causing trouble on the sports field, please control all the students. Make them cause a commotion."
Stingshot's voice came through the crackling walkie-talkie.
"I've arrived at the sniping point. I'm ready."
"Stingshot, remember, it's not just about Solace, we need to delay the reinforcements too. Got it?"
"I know."
"Luna, Tryno and Liquid are almost there. Head into the school."
Song Soo-yeon entered the familiar back door she always used for school.
None of the villains knew this was her alma mater.
Thus, Song Soo-yeon alone was immersed in odd memories.
In fact, she thought she wouldn't feel anything, having been saved by Jung-gyeom.
She thought the school was a distant memory, long forgotten.
But trauma isn't so easily forgotten.
Walking down the hallway, numerous anxiety-inducing memories resurfaced, causing her heart to race and her breath to quicken.
Memories of being shunned.
Gossip and harassment.
Boys trying to get her attention. Idiots who pretended to run ahead only to turn back and stare at her face.
Male teachers who scanned her body up and down, and female teachers who coldly ignored her suffering.
Each memory delivered a pang of sorrow to her heart.
Luna eventually arrived at the center of the school.
She extended her hand.
Ready to use her powers.
There are no fond memories here.
It was hell. A place she had always wanted to destroy.
She only regretted that her classmates had already graduated.
"......."
But why then?
It was the place she most wanted to destroy, yet she hesitated to use her powers.
Because the targets are minors?
But Song Soo-yeon was about their age.
She hadn't yet fully grasped the distinction of being a minor.
Because she owed them, unknowingly?
Definitely not.
...Or, out of guilt towards Jung-gyeom?
...Not that she wasn't guilty, but she had already committed numerous crimes.
"...Ah."
Soon, Song Soo-yeon realized the reason.
It would be the first time using her powers on ordinary citizens.
She had been so focused on destroying Solace that she forgot that fact.
Until now, she had only used her powers on gangsters or other villains.
Staying under the radar, her name hadn't even made it onto the villain rankings.
If things go according to plan, she wouldn't get caught, but it would still be a monumental moment.
When she used her powers on criminals, there was some guilt to mitigate.
But now it's different.
Now, she was truly becoming a villain.
-Bang!!!
In that moment of reflection, Tryno sent the signal.
He created a massive explosion on the sports field, causing a loud noise.
Students and teachers start screaming in panic.
No one ran out of the classrooms, but it was clear chaos was beginning.
It was time to use her powers.
But for some reason, she hesitated again.
It was like the last bit of humanity she didn't know she still had.
"........."
Why does Jung-gyeom's face keep coming to mind?
Why does his kindness and warmth resurface?
Knowing that Solace is taking all of that away, why can't she use her powers?
Then, someone running towards her suddenly fell to the ground at the sight of her villain outfit.
"EEK...!"
Luna recognized him.
He was the PE teacher.
The one who always harbored vile sexual harassment intentions inside.
"....Ha."
Suddenly, seeing him made everything easier. The hesitation disappeared instantly.
"It's been a while."
Luna muttered in a voice the PE teacher couldn't hear.
Simultaneously, her hands and eyes began to glow purple.
"Create chaos."
She commanded everyone.
---
---
Solace told me to stay away, but I couldn't possibly do that.
I quickly entered an apartment that had a view of the school's sports field.
The sound that shook the ground did not subside even as I ran up the stairs.
It was clear that an intense battle was underway.
Finally reaching the long corridor of the apartment, I looked out the window.
There was Solace, standing against Tryno and Liquid.
-Bang!!
And Stingshot, who was sniping at her from the school rooftop.
".....These bastards....!"
Seeing them, a sudden rage exploded within me.
Like fire catching oil, my emotions flared up fiercely and quickly.
"Huff.....Huff...."
But I restrained myself, testing my patience to its limits, just watching the scene unfold.
My fists were trembling as I clenched them tightly.
I couldn't use my powers.
The promise I made next to Solace as I was dying wasn't something light.
-Bang!! Bang!!!
Tryno's fists had already torn through Solace's sleeve.
If she had been a regular person, her body might have exploded too, but Solace was holding her ground.
Solace, who had made me a lunchbox, stood against the villains without backing down.
She was exactly as I had always admired.
Her physical strength might have been less than I remembered, but her spirit and determination were the same.
Eventually, I bowed my head and looked away.
I needed time to calm my heart.
I had to believe.
Just believe.
Solace wouldn't fall to them.
Frowning and gritting my teeth, I lifted my head again to look at the sports field.
I took in each villain standing on the now-destroyed sports field.
Tryno.
Liquid.
Stingshot.
I looked around.
There was talk of a teleporter... Riem.
Though I couldn't see her.
She'd probably show up the moment they tried to escape.
"...Tryno, Liquid, Stingshot..."
I repeated their names. I couldn't do anything right now, but I vowed never to forget them.
-Crash!!
At that moment, the school's windows shattered all at once, and numerous chairs were thrown out of the school.
".......?"
Like me, Solace's attention was momentarily captured by the scene.
Soon after, several students started flowing out of the school building's main entrance, fighting among themselves.
"What's happening...?"
I forgot to watch Solace's battle and stared blankly at the scene.
Two students became four, and four became eight.
Soon, the area around the sports field was in chaos with students fighting each other.
Instead of hiding or evacuating from the battle between villains and heroes, it was as if they themselves had become heroes and villains, fighting among themselves.
"...........................Huh?"
I felt a sense of dj vu.
Similarly, my heart sank.
In situations where inexplicable events unfold at the site of a battle between villains and heroes, there's always one villain behind it all.
"........Luna?"
It was a shocking scene, enough to make me forget the anger I was feeling.
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