I’m Not That Villain

88 – Finding the Way (3)

“Why are you here…?”

I asked, helping him to his feet. He replied in a small voice.

“I feel I should be asking *you*… why are *you* here?”

“I need something. You won’t suddenly start shouting, will you?”

“An enforcer should, perhaps… but one shouldn’t do that to a benefactor.”

He surveyed the hallway. Confirming there were no sounds of approaching footsteps, he stepped back inside the office.

“…If you’ve come to do something illegal, I must insist you understand that I can’t assist you.”

With no time to linger, I went straight to the point.

“There’s only one thing I want. The office’s video recordings. The recordings from the day the war broke out.”

“Excuse me? And why would you want that?”

“An acquaintance of mine entered the enforcer office that day and vanished.”

I poured sincerity into my words, hoping at least to avoid obstruction, if not persuade him.

“Like a little sister to me. If you can’t help, then so be it, but at least don’t stand in my way.”

“…Like a little sister…? Is that what you said?”

His expression hardened. He glanced furtively towards the hallway, then ran a hand across his face.

His contemplation ended, finally, with him standing up straighter. He gave me a fleeting look.

“…I cannot help you.”

A predictable answer.

One I’d anticipated, to a degree.

“Will you be reporting our existence to the higher-ups?”

“I saw nothing here.”

He opened the door. Stepping into the hallway, he spoke into his radio once more.

“Fourth floor. All clear.”

[Understood.]

Calmly ending the transmission, he glanced at me. His gaze still refusing to meet mine directly.

In that same detached manner, he muttered.

“…I believe the video storage devices were collected and kept on the ninth floor… I suppose I should organize them sometime. They’re all jumbled up, not in chronological order.”

He left.

I turned back to the woman who had been silent. The white-haired woman then smiled faintly.

“Luck is on our side.”

“…Indeed it is…”

From now on…

I should live a more virtuous life. Truly.

. . .

I found the storage devices on the ninth-floor rooftop. I played the videos silently, directly through my orb.

I skipped through several videos, fast-forwarding repeatedly. Endlessly searching the storage media until the desired information from the desired office appeared.

Repeatedly doing this until dawn broke, I finally managed to find the information I sought within.

“…….!”

Seol Yewon.

And there she was, facing those two.

I could make out their appearances now.

“…This person…”

“Someone you know?”

Yes. I know them.

Those two from the market before, the ones who warned me against something.

“…Just faces I barely recognize, I suppose.”

“Not someone we can’t kill?”

“I wasn’t planning on killing anyone to begin with.”

My only desire is to rescue Seol Yewon.

If she’s still alive, my sincere wish is to avoid any conflict with the Enforcement Bureau.

It was her who jumped headfirst into the Enforcement Bureau in the first place…

And it certainly appeared to be her who was involved in suspicious activities behind the scenes.

Whether it’s revenge or something else, I need to get her out of here first, then think. As such, I wanted to avoid direct combat as much as possible.

I finished watching the video. Immediately after exchanging a few words, the three of them clashed.

I couldn’t see anything after that initial confrontation. The camera’s recording abruptly cut out right after the first clash.

But that was enough.

“If I give this to the informant, they might be able to find information about what happened next, right?”

“Of course, it’s possible. But before that…”

Suddenly, the door burst open.

“Dust from morning ’til now…what is this? Who are you people?!”

“Getting out is the problem, it seems.”

I swiftly stowed the video recording device in my bag. Slinging it on immediately, I pulled the combat mask over my head.

The bio-enhancement doping coursed through me, along with narcotic painkillers that dulled the agony.

“Getting out itself is easy.”

“You sons of… Intruders afoot–!”

I kicked out the window. With her tucked under my arm, I deployed the specialized gear.

– Shatter!

Kicking out the window. Glancing back at him rushing forward…

“Close your eyes.”

I jumped from the window.

Immediately.

. . .

The Enforcement Agency was turned inside out.

“Intruder alert!”

“Currently fleeing! Passing through Alley 11-2!”

“Pursue! Now! We can’t let them think us weak any longer! We have to cut off any chance of Black Hand defecting!”

Two unknown assailants had infiltrated the newly relocated headquarters.

A swarm of Enforcers moved to chase them down.

This was no simple trespassing. The Enforcement Agency branch director ground his teeth.

“Move it, you whelps! Don’t you dare let them get away! Let them slip, and you’ll answer to me with your lives!”

Timing.

Timing is the problem.

The Execution Agency is currently being pushed back by Hundred Eyes. Their humiliating retreat from Jung-gu, Seoul, is already known throughout the government, including even the city of Seoul itself.

The Back Hand. That colossal organization that took them in, now, even they hadn’t accepted them without a mocking smile. Of course, it wasn’t the crushed pride that mattered.

The public’s trust in the government.

That’s the problem.

It’s as good as the organization representing the government being crushed head-on by a mere gang. Seoul, Seoul, branded as an isolated city-state…

Still, it’s being taught in the schools of the Republic.

Seoul is one of the government’s cities, a city that must be reclaimed from the criminals someday.

And yet, that very education is being shattered, right here and now. They’re desperately manipulating parts of the media, calling it a strategic retreat for reorganization, but…

Everyone already knows the truth. Even newborns know it, that’s how much the crazy Seoul reporters are spreading it around.

And what’s this?

The transplanted branch headquarters of the Execution Agency is being raided? By only two people?

If they don’t catch them this time, everything will truly explode.

It would be nothing more than handing The Back Hand, and several other organizations, a perfect excuse to tear them apart!

On top of that, Baek-san, someone they could trust and rely on, is gone. Cold sweat trickled down the Branch Chief’s forehead, knowing he had to bear all of this alone.

Still, the only saving grace was that there were only two of them.

Precisely because there are only two of them, they should be able to catch them, no matter what.

These are Execution Officers who have experienced war themselves now!

“Execution Team 4 is currently in pursuit…!”

“They’ve caught up!”

The briefing followed immediately from the situation room.

The Branch Manager roared.

“Capture them! Don’t kill them, grab them, no matter what! We’ll find more uses for them then…!”

A holographic map hung in the situation room.

Two points on it vanished in an instant.

“…Ex, Execution Team 4…”

Less than ten seconds after engaging the target.

“…Neutralized.”

“What?”

What kind of nonsensical drivel was this?

These men were the elite of the elite. Chosen from among ability holders, forged and honed, they were battle engines, pure and simple.

And those b*stards were subdued less than ten seconds after confronting them?

By just two people?

“Ex, Execution Team 5 neutralized!”

“Ex, Execution Team 6 also neutralized!”

“Execution Team 7 missing!”

“Execution Team 8 also…”

The briefing in the situation room began to dwindle, tapering off.

The dots that busily moved across the holographic map diminished as well, steadily shrinking.

“Ah, no, what is this…”

Then.

It’s like then.

Just like when the casualties from Black Mamba kept rapidly rising…

“I-Is Seoul…only home to monsters…? Is this…even possible…? Just the two of them…wiped out twelve teams…?”

Exactly the same as then.

To the point of feeling utterly, overwhelmingly powerless.

“What kind of…b*stards…are they…?”

. . .

The Enforcer’s pursuit continued with a wretched persistence.

Difficult to shake off, truly. But ironically, all of it was ultimately brushed aside with ease.

Thanks to her, leaning against the building wall.

“What? Smitten?”

Smitten, my foot.

It’s terrifying.

She moved as if drawing something from her back. And the moment she swung, the Enforcers’ bodies slammed against the wall.

A phenomenal physical ability, allowing no room for counterattack. But even more important was the unique power beyond that.

“…What did you use?”

“Ah. You could say it’s goodwill I’d been saving up.”

“Goodwill… you mean?”

“Yes.”

She flicked the long sword upwards with a flourish.

For a fleeting moment, it shattered, as if consumed by light, then vanished quickly.

“You see, I can accrue power based on how others perceive me. And that stored power, I can mold it into whatever kind of strength I desire.”

“What… what does that even mean?”

“A good child is always rewarded – something along those lines. Though, admittedly, I’ve used up most of it now.”

I blinked. Pondered for a moment.

“…I don’t recall you doing anything lately that could be called ‘goodwill’?”

“Why? There’s plenty.”

“Like what?”

She raised a hand to her cheek.

“With this beautiful visage, I’ve entranced the eyes of many, haven’t I? That alone is a small act of kindness. At least, that’s how I see it. Since childhood, I’ve had dozens, no, hundreds, drooling over my face.”

“… …”

A unique ability, specialized in narcissism, is it?

But really, what can I say. The more I hear, the more it sounds like a con. To gather goodwill and mold it into a desired form?

“Then what was that sword just now?”

“It’s a form I often favor. The sword was the weapon used by the person who saved me, so it naturally manifests in that shape.”

“How did you use your ability just now?”

” ‘Impact Enhancement’. Considering your… situation, I went ahead and conjured a miracle of that particular flavor, special for you. Normally, I’d just amp up the slicing power and be done with it. How’s that for thoughtful?”

She offered her hand. With a sigh, I grasped it and stood.

“I suppose I am grateful. Truly.”

“Then, shall we? Mr. Extra-Large Criminal. Oh. Right. Before we go, I had a question to ask.”

“What is it?”

She grinned playfully.

“What does it feel like to raid the very headquarters of the enforcement agency, knock out dozens of executioners, and commit a major crime in order to escape?”

“…I was already a criminal to begin with.”

“My. Did you live a more rough-and-tumble life than I imagined?”

“Anyone living in Seoul does, pretty much.”

“…Hee.”

She snickered.

“Well, what kind of life you’ve lived isn’t all that important, is it? It’s just what kind of person you are *to me* that matters most.”

“…And what kind of person am I to you?”

“Hmm… a comfort pillow?”