I’m Not That Villain - Chapter 73



72 – Omen (3)

Choi Yeseo tossed a lemon candy into her mouth.

Normally, she would suck on it. But now, she savored the sour taste by crunching it.

BOOM!!

With a loud noise, the building collapsed. One side of the high-rise flew off, and debris scattered in all directions.

The streets were already filled with gunshots and the screams of people who couldn’t escape in time. And most of those screams were probably from ordinary people, not those with abilities.

An ambush carried out despite the set date.

And the ignorant method that completely disregarded the civilian casualties it caused.

“The government b*stards are worse than criminals.”

“…Is this really the right thing to do?”

“Welllll…”

He draws out the end of his sentence.

Because he doesn’t think so either.

A solver is a solver. Sometimes called a hero, either sarcastically or out of pure respect.

But is that name truly fitting? Is there someone who takes pride in the job of a solver and just selflessly helps people?

…Once upon a time

I think I chased such ideals too…

The world wasn’t as forgiving as I thought.

Even after helping, many demanded more.

A solver is, after all, just a person.

And people, after all, are bound to lose to the world.

The days of chasing clumsy ideals are long gone. Long gone indeed. How did I earn the title of a veteran? Only after letting go of all ideals and rewards.

It’s rare for goodwill to return as goodwill.

I’ve seen many cases where not giving was more beneficial than giving.

Knowing that is how I’ve survived until now.

…Still.

The essence of a person is.

“Minjun.”

“It’s Han Dojun, sister.”

“If you have time, I’m thinking of joining a civilian relief mission… What do you think?”

“…….”

Han Do-jun smiled.

“That’s a good idea.”

“…I really need to fix this meddlesome nature of mine. Seriously. Going out of my way to do something troublesome…I must be crazy…crazy…”

Choi Ye-seo grumbled as she stood up. Despite the noisy situation outside, she moved to check the scheduled appointment.

The person who had been lured out under the pretext of a contract killing. She seemed to have belatedly realized the situation outside and was waiting at the meeting place.

“What is this…?”

The phone could be seen being hurriedly tapped. Choi Ye-seo put a lollipop in her mouth.

“Ma-tan?”

“…….?”

She turned her head. Confirming her face, Choi Ye-seo sighed.

“Where’s your partner?”

“…Client?”

“I asked, where’s your partner.”

“……”

The woman’s face hardened. She slowly reached for her waist.

Choi Ye-seo rolled the lollipop with her tongue.

“Looks like we can’t settle this nicely, huh?”

. . .

Teresa changed into a nun’s outfit for the battle.

Kidnapping a mere civilian. It shouldn’t be difficult. But even so, it was better not to let her guard down.

She crosses the noisy place. Beyond the boundary, she arrives at the place where ‘Renata Lyudmila’ is…

She was there.

The important thing was that she wasn’t alone.

“…Hmm?”

Theresa narrowed her eyes. She stared blankly at the young girl who was somehow squeezed into a place where she should have been alone.

Small. Very small. It was honestly amazing that she was shining despite her pale complexion.

A child as pretty as a doll.

But even so…

From noble mtl dot com

She’s not the target.

“Wh-who are you?”

Renata Lyudmila asked, looking at her. Theresa, who had entered through the creaking door, quietly locked it behind her.

“Hello, Miss Renata.”

“Y-yes?”

She looked into her frightened eyes. Was she originally timid, or was she just pretending to be?

To look into a person, you had to see their eyes. Theresa was silent for a moment to find out what was beyond those eyes.

According to the information obtained, Theresa was a non-ability user.

A pure civilian with no special abilities.

And to speak of what she felt now after seeing her in person…

There were no peculiarities. Certainly.

Teresa smiled faintly.

“I have a few questions to ask, do you have a moment?”

“W-what are you talking about, suddenly barging in like this…?”

“It’s a simple story. A very simple story. I ask questions, and you just answer. As long as you do that, nothing will happen here.”

Sensing something strange, Renata’s face turned pale. She took a step back, clearly terrified.

“P-please leave! I’m asking you to leave!”

“Let’s talk rationally, Ms. Renata. Raising your voice won’t change anything. Just answer my questions. If I get the answers I want, I’ll leave quietly.”

Teresa asked.

“Where is the Black Mirror?”

“…….?!”

“I know everything. That you disappear somewhere regularly. And that the timing coincides with the delivery time of the Black Mirror. Fabrica Trading Company. A place that provides materials that every craftsman must procure. Even if you try to hide it, there are things that can’t be hidden. I should have come a bit earlier, but I had other things to do, so I’m here late. Now, Ms. Renata. Tell me. When I ask ‘verbally’.”

Teresa placed her hand on the longsword at her waist.

“Where is the Black Mirror?”

“Not a very maid-like visit.”

“……?”

Clink.

The child, who had been quietly drinking tea, put down the teacup. Teresa, unconsciously captivated by the series of elegant movements, frowned.

Something…

Something is strange.

The child is too composed. In this situation, wouldn’t it be normal to be scared and cautious?

Acting like an adult. It could just be a mature child, but…

Instinct warns.

Not just a simple child.

“…Come to think of it, I haven’t asked. Who are you?”

“Does it matter?”

“It does. Depending on the situation.”

The girl quietly looks at herself.

There seemed to be no emotion in her deep eyes. As if she was used to such things.

“Ms. Renata. It seems like it was a very good idea to stop by on your way back. Don’t you think?”

“Li, Lily… You seem like a dangerous person… Wh, what should I do…”

“Hide in the corner. That’s how you can help me.”

Renata moves to the corner of the room as if fleeing. The girl called ‘Lily’ moves along with her.

…Wait.

Lily?

“…Lily Bennetwater?”

Lily looks at this side blankly.

Still, there is no sign of agitation in her eyes.

“Do you know me?”

With that one word, all the discomfort shatters.

“…Ha! How could I not know the masterpiece of the bakery! Of course, I know! You were once one of the recruitment targets! I heard you were sold to the black market… Why are you here?”

“You seem to know me, but I don’t know you.”

“Well. You should know me too, right? Even if not my appearance…”

Teresa licked her lips.

“Because you know the name Teresa.”

Revealing one’s identity is something only a fool would do. But even so, the woman in front of her deserved to know.

The murderous doll of the bakery. Once a target for recruitment by Noise, she had massacred a large number of Noise’s personnel who approached her, then disappeared without a trace.

“…….”

For a moment, a crack appeared in Lily Bennettwater’s expression. For the first time, there was agitation beyond her usual blank face.

“…Followers of Bad Sector…Noise?”

“You remember.”

“If that right arm is looking for the Black Mirror…”

Lily Bennettwater frowned.

“How much do you know?”

“That the Black Market and Viper are connected. That the Black Mirror is the same person as the escaped Lee Seo-jun, right?”

“…….”

“Even so, I didn’t expect that the famous maid would be involved in this. Ah. Since you’re the one Bad Sector is targeting… it seems you’re highly valued even within the Black Market?”

“Are you the only one who knows this?”

“Why? Are you going to kill me? The limewater of London. The murderous doll of the bakery.”

Teresa slowly grasped the longsword she had raised.

“Can you do it?”

“That’s not a very maid-like question.”

Lily Bennettwater put her hand into her bosom.

“If the answer is already decided, what’s the point of the question?”

. . .

“Boss! The enemy…!”

One of the bodyguards brought along was mercilessly torn apart by the pouring bullets.

It wasn’t a one-sided barrage. It was a large-caliber machine gun mounted on a vehicle, designed to counter ability users.

A few shots might be fine, but the moment you’re hit dozens of times, your body gets shredded like a rag. Even if your body isn’t pierced, it’s like an ordinary person getting hit countless times by a professional boxer.

Of course, it’s easy to find a blind spot.

If it weren’t for such an overwhelming amount of firepower.

“…Damn it…!”

Hundred Eye’s boss, Black Mamba, ground his teeth. An ambush far beyond the scheduled date.

And that ambush happened during his inspection. Just when he was about to assess the condition of the surrounding buildings…

The enforcers swarmed in.

Along with numerous armed police.

They kept pushing and pushing. Explosives, bullets, and all sorts of abilities were threatening his life indiscriminately.

Aren’t they practically insane? With an attack of this scale, there are bound to be civilian casualties…

And they proceed with this without caring about that?

They’re crazier than we are?!

“Boss! I’ll clear a path for retreat!”

A few of the bodyguards who always accompanied him moved. Even amidst the concentrated fire, they pushed forward, breaking through the path.

Black Mamba hurriedly followed behind them. Spatial predation by ability. It would be fine to activate it, but…

Ability is still just that, an ability.

The more you use it, the more exhausted you become.

In this situation, it must be conserved as much as possible. To focus solely on breaking through and returning to the headquarters of Hundred Eyes, Black Mamba hurriedly ran through the shadows of the buildings without using his ability.

But there were many enemies along the way. As if numerous enforcers had already infiltrated the interior, people poured out from every alley.

“There he is!”

“Capture him alive!”

He immediately blew off the upper bodies of the two enforcers rushing at him. But he was horrified by the overwhelming numbers pouring in and changed direction.

The path to the headquarters was completely blocked. Considering the safety of that building, it might not be immediately dangerous, but…

If he didn’t go, Hundred Eyes would collapse.

No, I might die first before that happens.

“You b*stards…!”

In the end, he inevitably revealed his ability to forcibly break through. Although he couldn’t fully reveal his ability due to leaving behind his specialized equipment…

Even so, the black snake he wielded wildly devoured the surrounding terrain completely.

“Uweeeek!!”

Countless corpses and building fragments. The ability that swallowed objects couldn’t digest them and regurgitated. Black Mamba, having vomited profusely, leaned against the alley.

No.

The path won’t open.

These crazy b*stards are literally throwing everything they’ve got.

Before he knew it, the bodyguards were nowhere to be seen. As if their own lives were more important, they had all disappeared on their own while he was distracted.

Damn it.

You can’t trust people.

Black Mamba wiped his mouth, dirty with vomit. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.

I have to live. But where to? How…

“Come out! Black Mamba! If you surrender, we will spare your life!”

The amplified voice echoed. It sounded the same from every direction.

A terrible sound that resonated through every building he hid in. Black Mamba, now on the run, staggered, leaning against the wall as he moved.

No.

There are enemies everywhere. Unless the ground suddenly swallows me up, I’ll definitely be caught…!

Clunk.

“……?!”

Suddenly, his body was yanked. What he thought was solid ground had given way, swallowing him up before he realized it.

“What the…?!”

“Shh.”

His mouth was covered. The assailant who had mounted him glanced upwards.

Waiting for the sound of countless pursuing footsteps to fade away.

As the footsteps finally disappeared, the assailant sighed. Slowly, he removed his hand from Black Mamba’s mouth.