Chapter 54. A Warm Seafood Restaurant and a Glass of Soju (2)
“Al’sel!”
“Chairman, please calm down!”
“Do I look calm right now?!”
Riga and other pesky nuisances were clinging to my body, but I dashed forward with them attached.
The only real hassle was Riga, a top-tier A-Rank monster. The others were just about as useful as dust.
“Yumil, is there anyone other than you guys? She has money and skills!”
“I don’t know, Chairman!”
I swung my fist in frustration at the cheeky response. My clean punch landed in Riga’s eye, but being a top-tier monster, he endured it and grabbed my body.
“Oh. You can take a hit, huh?”
“I might not be as strong as you, but I’m a fighter too! As long as I don’t get knocked out in one hit like last time…”
“Then let’s see how well you can take this.”
I swiftly brought my leg down, driving it into Riga’s solid muscles.
“Uagh!”
This one seemed to have some effect, as he let out a long breath and passed out.
Magical girl-style technique.
I infused mana into my foot, striking down to immobilize. Originally, this technique was used to teach martial arts practitioners how to leverage their strength, but since I use my mana like a martial artist, applying it isn’t tough.
Originally, it would be used to create a pillar to stabilize while swinging a hammer, but since it’s a technique used to create the central axis supporting a crude hammer, the impact cannot be ignored.
Anyway, having taken a direct hit from that, Riga’s eyes rolled back as he released my body.
Did I go too far?
He’s a monster, so he shouldn’t die.
The other clingy monsters were swept away by the shockwave generated from my technique, making my path clear.
Just as I was about to step into Al’sel’s office after walking a bit further…
“What’s all this racket? Is Yumil here again?!”
The octopus-headed being, blushing a bright pink, burst through the door.
He was in a black robe instead of his usual suit, holding a staff and loaded with guns on his tentacles.
Is he in combat mode?
More importantly, Yumil?
Talk about being in a bind!
“Al’sel. You just said Yumil, right?!”
“…Is that you, Haram? What brings you here?”
After quickly scanning the scene, Al’sel seems to have grasped the situation, turning his face back to a calm blue, hiding the guns dangling from his tentacles behind his massive round head, attempting to act calm…but it was already too late.
“Do you remember the incident with the gray crustaceans last time?”
“That was serious. There was a debate on whether we needed to intervene in our executive meeting. In the end, we did manage to eliminate them, though.”
Intervening means my life was extended a little.
Thank goodness.
“I caught their leader and was out cold for 13 days.”
“That must have been quite the ordeal. No wonder we couldn’t reach you.”
Al’sel’s face was turning blue again, nodding as if he didn’t have a clue, but I could see something different.
One corner of his face was turning black, and slimy mucus was dripping from his tentacles, clearly revealing a sense of fear.
Should I poke a little more?
“I woke up and turned on the TV. Apparently, something big happened.”
“Recently, a girl group disbanded. I had a fervent fanbase, so it’s disappointing.”
This guy?!
“Someone came out on TV who looked a lot like me—specifically, the face or something.”
“Seems a young child actress debuted recently. Perhaps even a drama based on Haram’s exploits is in the works?”
Why rush into hell on your own? Is it a species trait? It happens every time.
“But the child actress’s name was Yumil. Quite the coincidence, huh?”
“Indeed, the monster we created for you was also named Yumil. Truly a remarkable coincidence.”
‘Is anyone there? Help me!’
Meanwhile, having his tentacles moving to send a distress signal via radio was impressive, but why does he make it so easy to hear?
Given the situation, it feels like it will take ages to get that miserable octopus head to open its mouth. I stared intently at the swaying tentacles.
He’s not holding a gun and is moving as cautiously as possible.
The tip of one tentacle was particularly thin.
That’s it.
I lunged forward and grabbed the upper part of that tentacle tightly.
“…Haram?”
“This is important, right?”
I smiled brightly.
Gradually increasing the pressure in my grip.
“It’s not that important…”
“Really? Tentacles can regenerate, right? So it’s okay if I pull this out?”
I grinned cheerfully.
To be as magical girl-like as possible.
Like an ordinary girl.
Bright like a child holding cotton candy.
“Don’t tell me…you really won’t yank it out…”
“Well, that’s up to you. 5 seconds.”
Magical *transformation in 5 seconds.
Biologically sexless also counts as gender, so transformation is valid.
“It’s a tentacle I haven’t even used yet! Please have mercy!”
“Besides, there are no kin of yours on Earth. 3 seconds.”
If it’s something I won’t use anyway, what difference does it make if I yank it out?
The octopus head’s skin turned pitch black as its eyes darted around, and its tentacles began to dance grotesquely.
It was the most flustered I’d ever seen anything.
Not even when its main base was attacked did it move like this.
“You still don’t get it! One day, it will—”
“Yumil came barging in and swiped the equipment blocking the Association’s signal tracking! Help me!”
You should’ve said that earlier.
I released my grip on the tentacle and wiped the sticky slime on Al’sel’s black robe.
I felt an odd discomfort, but since I didn’t grab the tip directly, it shouldn’t be anything weird, right?
Looking up, I noticed Al’sel seemed pleased that his tentacle had returned, rubbing his face against it.
Damn it. That’s disgusting.
I moved as far away as possible from Al’sel.
“Let’s continue our conversation. The reason Yumil isn’t caught is due to the equipment you provided?”
“Provided? It was taken from us.”
Whether it’s provided or taken doesn’t matter.
“It wouldn’t have been taken. Yumil isn’t even a 0-Rank monster. You have some yourself.”
“Exactly. There must be some other reason.”
Finally yielding, Al’sel let his tentacles droop and opened his mouth.
“Please come in.”
He opened the door and guided me into the office.
I sank into a soft sofa like last time, waiting for his response.
“Is coffee okay to drink?”
“Is there no alcohol?”
“I have vodka to mix with coffee.”
“Then I’ll take that.”
Sighing, he started preparing coffee, soon bringing out a mix of vodka and coffee.
“Vodka is enough, you know.”
“I’ll be drinking the coffee.”
“Oh, but…”
As I tilted the bottle to pour the drink into my mouth, he seemed to be choosing his words carefully and quietly drank his coffee instead.
Al’sel’s sighs and murmured words continued, and the only sounds filling the office were us swallowing our drinks.
Eventually, the liquids in both our cups reached the bottoms.
Just how long is he going to take to choose his words?
There’s a limit to how long I can endure the sofa and vodka.
Staring blankly at my empty coffee cup, Al’sel seemed to finally make a decision and opened his mouth.
“We were simply deceived by Yumil.”
So what does that mean?
“At first, it disguised itself like Haram. Unashamedly, it would roll up its sleeves and scratch its arms.”
I quickly withdrew my hand from scratching my belly after hearing that.
The cold gaze of the octopus head fixated on me.
Wait a minute. Did you think that of me? I did scratch my belly a bit, alright.
“With a slightly odd outfit and a sense of Otherworld’s power, I figured it might be okay since I could feel the power of a Hero too.”
“No, Otherworld’s power is odd.”
Of course, Otherworld’s power can manifest, but that’s only if the clothing absorbs it, preventing the Association’s detectors from picking it up.
“If it were Haram, I might have thought she fell to corruption during the war.”
What exactly do you think of me?
Hyunseok thought I was a motorcycle destroyer yesterday too.
I feel the need to ask people how they view me.
“Anyway, Yumil swung a hammer and shouted to guide us to the warehouse. We panicked that it might become a mashed potato and obediently opened the door…”
“That’s enough. I got it. So you got robbed, is it?”
If I left it alone, it would probably paint me as some major villain.
Even a good hero has limits for framing. Of course, I do threaten often, but it’s never gone this far.
“Then how did you figure out that person was Yumil?”
In such a scenario, wouldn’t there be a higher chance that they wouldn’t know till the end?
“Before leaving, she stuck her tongue out at us, called us fools, and hopped on the motorcycle of someone who was on her side.”
I see. You’re all a bunch of idiots.
It’s like those who used to sell painkillers in wartime until they were wiped out.
“Wait, she’s on someone’s side?”
“Yes. She hopped on the back of a woman in a black motorcycle suit.”
“You didn’t see it yourself?”
“The ones who sent us off looked somewhat human. I generally don’t go aboveground. If I get caught, I’ll probably get a rock thrown at me.”
More like a bullet for sure.
By the way, another ally of Yumil. Motorcycle. Black suit.
It must be Danger Rifle.
I completely forgot until a moment ago.
Wait, Yumil was with Danger Rifle.
“I’ll ask again, is it just the equipment you lost that blocks signal tracking?”
“Yes, but they took a lot. However, we didn’t provide the signal-jamming equipment.”
So by process of elimination, it must have been provided by Danger Rifle.
Given that it was originally a mechanical Hero dealing with guns, it wouldn’t be surprising.
“Wait a second.”
I pulled out my phone, opening the contact list.
My home.
Park Hyunseok.
Octopus head.
Wild boar student.
Han Abin.
Black motorcycle suit.
After pressing the screen, the phone connected with ringing sounds almost immediately.
She must have changed her number after becoming a villain. What would I do?
“Hello. This is Danger Rifle, the weapon specialist Hero.”
“What Hero? You’re a villain.”
“Sensei?! No, I didn’t do anything wrong! Please stop with the crowbar! I live justly!”
Thanks to the scream coming from the other side, my ears rang painfully.
I pulled the phone away from my ear, waiting momentarily for her to get flustered and ramble on and say anything.
As the noise pollution from the phone began to settle down…
“I get it. Is Yumil beside you right now?”
“If it’s Yumil, she’s right next to me! Should I hand over the phone?”
“Hand over.”
I could hear the sound of the phone dropping from her ear.
Distant hints of conversation reached my ears.
“Yumil! There’s a call from Sensei!”
“Who’s Sensei?”
“Black Marauder Sensei!”
“…Tell him I’m not here.”
“You already told him you are.”
Curses began flowing from the phone.
“Shit. I changed the line.”
Even with the voice coming from the television, it felt like it wasn’t my voice at all.
They say recorded voices sound different, but it feels like there’s a fundamental mismatch.
“What the hell.”
“Skip it. Why did you call?”
“To get straight to the point. What’s the deal with the signal snatching?”
So, what excuse are you going to come up with now?
“Oh, that? It was well done, right?”
Her voice didn’t show any feeling of wrongdoing.
It felt more like she was seeking praise.
“I’m asking you why you did that without my permission.”
“No matter how you ask, the way I’m currently operating has limits, you know? For justice, I need to make a big stir.”
‘Isn’t that right?’
Her voice, tinged with giggles, came through the phone.
“To be honest, I can’t completely understand the justice you’re talking about, but I can grasp it to some degree. So I made my own judgment and set things in motion.”
Her voice showed no sign of feeling guilty. It reminds me of a memory I had before.
When I was leaning toward Linshua, I sensed the psychology of a child.
Trying to act on their own while doing something they could manage, seeking praise.
…So that’s it.
Is she still just a child?
“Alright. Good job. However, in the future, you need to discuss such major events with me.”
“Sure, whatever.”
With her response, I couldn’t be harsh.
“However, there’s one thing you did wrong.”
“What’s that? Aside from breaking the leg of a passing Hero, I haven’t done anything.”
You break limbs when you see a Hero too, huh. Wait, that’s not it.
“You robbed the storage of the Korean branch of the Coalition.”
“I borrowed it properly.”
No, that’s theft.
If she’s going to do that, she should boldly claim to be affiliated with the Coalition and rush in.
“That’s wrong, isn’t it?”
You know you did wrong.
The previous bravado in her voice had diminished.
“Right now I’m next to Al’sel. Hand the phone to him.”
“Me? Wait a moment!”
Her voice turned hollow and dazed.
Before long, Al’sel, who had drawn another cup of coffee, seemed entirely devoid of thoughts, sipping while counting the dust in the air.
“Yumil’s calling. If you want an apology, get an apology. If you have something to say, say it.”
I threw the phone towards Al’sel and quietly left the room.
I’ve become softer.
Could it be because of Linshua’s memory coming up?
Or perhaps her words were somewhat right.
Even I couldn’t figure it out.
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