Breaking Up with the Heroine of the Female-Oriented Game - Chapter 31

Chapter 31 – Interlude, The Dark Hero (1)

Yoo Seolhyun arrived home.

‘…So tired.’

Her eyelids felt as heavy as bars of iron. Half-closing her eyes, she nodded off, swaying like someone who hadn’t slept for days.

‘Shower, shower… right… I took one… when I stopped by the clan, didn’t I?’

Maybe she should at least change her clothes. With sleepy eyes, Yoo Seolhyun approached her wardrobe and flung it open, randomly pulling out a pair of pajamas to change into. It was a silk one-piece pajama set. She remembered buying it a while ago in an attempt to seem more grown-up.

‘Ah… sleepy.’

Eventually, Yoo Seolhyun stumbled to her bed and flopped down onto it like a waterlogged cotton ball.
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T hi s wa s c o p i e d fr o m ki n gm t l . o rg
Burrowing into the plush bed felt like reaching nirvana.

Nuzzling her face into the pillow, she slowly closed her eyes.

As her eyelids drooped fully, today’s events began to resurface vaguely in her mind.

Exploring the dungeon, battling the boss monster, rescuing people, farming items, arriving at the clan for a detailed examination and treatment, writing reports, and so on…

Looking back, a lot had happened.

‘At least the urgent fires have been put out…’

Yoo Seolhyun let out a deep sigh of relief.

She had been shocked when she first heard about the dungeon exploration failure.

Not only did the exploration fail, but people had gone missing, which had left Yoo Seolhyun unable to calm her anxious heart.

Especially since it was clear that the hyenas, ever eager to exploit Yoo Seolhyun’s weaknesses, were baring their fangs.

‘It was difficult, but… I’m glad it ended safely.’

All’s well that ends well, right?

After all, they managed to rescue the missing people, successfully overcame the dungeon, and obtained several items.

It seemed like they had smoothly overcome a major crisis.

‘Come to think of it, I almost died again.’

Not long ago, she was nearly killed by the Black Hand long-armed monkey at the academy, and now, she had nearly been killed by a half-human, half-snake woman in the dungeon.

Had it not been for Lee Jinhyuk, she might have already lost her life.

‘…’

Yoo Seolhyun bit her lip tightly.

Thinking of Lee Jinhyuk brought forth numerous doubts and questions.

‘Lee Jinhyuk, Lee Jinhyuk… Still, I don’t understand.’

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Who exactly is he?

She mulled over it but couldn’t come up with any satisfactory answer.

Especially, his actions during the fight with Kate were still incomprehensible.

How he simply cleaved through the fierce breath of fire with a mere slash of his sword.

It seemed likely that he used a superpower.

But…

‘Surely, Lee Jinhyuk’s superpower is supposed to be precognition. And his actions so far seem genuine.’

Could he possibly possess multiple superpowers? Or maybe an ability to copy others?

‘Maybe he had an artifact hidden away.’

Logically, the chance of a mere academy cadet possessing an artifact is extremely low.

Even Yoo Seolhyun, with her Gaon Nuri Clan lineage, doesn’t own one.

Artifacts are scarce, and those of any use are even rarer. It seemed unlikely that Lee Jinhyuk, with no significant backing, would have one.

‘Though, since Lee Jinhyuk has the ability for precognition, maybe he found something like an artifact somewhere?’

What exactly is he hiding?

Superpower? Swordsmanship? Artifact?

The more she thought about it, the more questions arose.

‘…Well, regardless, it doesn’t really matter.’

Yoo Seolhyun chuckled lightly.

Though what he is hiding remains unknown, the results of Lee Jinhyuk’s actions haven’t been false, have they?

Regardless of the methods, the outcomes—from injuring the long-armed monkey, sharing dungeon exploration strategies, to defeating the boss monster—Lee Jinhyuk’s contributions were indeed remarkable.

Yes, whatever Lee Jinhyuk might be hiding, what does it matter?

His competence is undeniable.

‘Lee Jinhyuk. Definitely useful.’

Perhaps even more so than Lee Siwoon.

Though Lee Siwoon had been the top scout priority, judging by the results shown so far, Lee Jinhyuk held more value.

Not just in tactical ability but also in combat prowess.

Considering everything together, Lee Jinhyuk was naturally the top priority.

Yoo Seolhyun thought as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

‘I want him.’

She didn’t want to miss out on a brilliant talent like Lee Jinhyuk.

After all, Yoo Seolhyun had a strong desire for talented individuals.

And ever since she was young, she had to have what she wanted to feel satisfied. For the first time in a while, she felt her ambitions stirring again.

***

In the silent night of a city shrouded in darkness,

A woman trembled in terror in a dim back alley, untouched by the glamorous city lights.

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No matter how hard she tried to flee, it was in vain.

After all, the man chasing her was a superpower user, a villain.

“Please, spare me… please!”

“Hehehe.”

In his mid-thirties, the villain Daeseokgang sneered menacingly as he advanced step by step toward the woman.

“What made you think wandering around here alone at night was a good idea? That’s why you end up meeting bad people like me.”

“Ah, ah.”

Having been confined, Daeseokgang hadn’t felt such a sense of freedom in a while and wanted to indulge in his hobby once more.

Luckily, he had stumbled upon her, a decently attractive prey.

Of course, from the woman’s standpoint, it was unfortunate luck.

Daeseokgang finally reached right in front of the woman, reaching out with his crude hand to gently grip her neck.

“Blame the society for releasing someone like me…”

“That’s the question. Why did they release someone like you?”

Just then, a young man’s voice pierced Daeseokgang’s ears.

Involuntarily, Daeseokgang turned to see the source of the voice—a man looking straight at him, his face half-masked and hood pulled low, not appearing to be just anyone.

The voice seemed quite young, possibly late teens to early twenties, but the covered face made him look suspicious.

Was he a villain like Daeseokgang?

Or…

“Daeseokgang. Age 36. Convicted for illegal superpower use, burglary, robbery, traffic law violation, robbery with injury, etc., with 17 prior offenses. Correct?”

The man quietly regarded Daeseokgang.

“Releasing a superpower user with 17 prior offenses. It seems like a criminal-friendly country, doesn’t it? Did they really think prison would rehabilitate you?”

“What are you doing?”

“Me? Well…”

The man nonchalantly shrugged.

“A Union Academy dropout?”

“Ha.”

Daeseokgang scoffed. Ridiculous. A dropout from Union Academy, that’s all?

“Hehe, what about you? Playing hero even after dropping out?”

“Something like that.”

The man nodded easily. Technically, without an official license, it was akin to playing hero.

Thinking it absurd to stumble upon a wannabe hero, Daeseokgang clenched his fists. He had assumed it was a full-fledged hero, but it was just an aspiring one.

“You think you’re so high and mighty because you attended Union Academy…”

Suddenly, Daeseokgang’s right arm swelled up like a balloon, then grew massively, reminiscent of a giant’s forearm.

Intimidating with his physically dominant arm, Daeseokgang inwardly mocked the man.

A Union Academy dropout?
Laughable, truly laughable.
Daeseokgang himself was from Union Academy.

Though he was expelled without graduating, he had been a promising figure, skillful in superpower use and combat.

It wasn’t for lack of ability that he was expelled but for habitual violence and drunkenness.

“…You could get knocked out in one hit, kiddo.”

Daeseokgang’s superpower was enlargement; he could make his body parts become massively large and strong.

Simple but powerful, capable of crushing a monster’s skull.

“Hm.”

The man, seemingly unfazed, casually lifted the sheath hanging on his hip.

…an empty sheath.

“What the hell are you doing? Playing around?”

“Oh, I have my reasons.”

The man smirked faintly.

“Back in the day, a friend ran off with my sword. It was an artifact.”

To be exact, the sword itself wasn’t an artifact but was considered a famous sword, a part of a set with this sheath.
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“He didn’t even know how to use it. Wonder why he took it. Well, he probably thought it was an artifact, so it was tempting.”

“Artifact my ass! Die!”

Daeseokgang swung his fist at the man, but the man easily tilted the sheath, deflecting the trajectory of the punch.

The sequence of movements was so natural that Daeseokgang couldn’t react in time, and the man swiftly lifted the sheath, striking Daeseokgang’s temple, collarbone, chin, and throat in a fluid motion.

“Uh, uh, huh?”

Daeseokgang collapsed.

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His head buzzed, vision spun, and he couldn’t help but vomit whatever was in his stomach.

Trying to stand, his legs wobbled uncontrollably.

“Dizzy? That’s because your brain and semicircular canals are shaken.”

“You, you, y-you?”
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“Your body seems sturdy but…”

After focusing mana into the sheath, the man powerfully struck Daeseokgang’s philtrum.

“Kuh, ugh, uck?!”

Two of his front teeth floated into the air. His nosebone seemed shattered, and blood trickled down.

“Not much of a challenge.”

“Wa-wait just a minute!”

“What is it?”

The man continued to assault the now-defeated Daeseokgang relentlessly.

“You, damn! A hero, doing this…!”

“I’m not a hero, told you I dropped out. What ‘hero’?”
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Daeseokgang spluttered blood, shouting, but the man simply shrugged and swung the sheath again.

Each hit with the mana-infused sheath turned Daeseokgang’s body into a ragdoll.

He was toying with him. He could end it anytime but deliberately tormented him just enough not to knock him out, as Daeseokgang clenched his teeth in realization.

‘This damn guy!’

Even using his enlargement ability to resist was futile.
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No matter the force capable of crushing boulders and bending steel, if it didn’t hit, it was pointless.

So, Daeseokgang could only be beaten.

Da, damn dropout? How is he so strong?

“Ah, you’re from Union Academy too?”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh!”

“Reminds me of old times. Used to beat up the show-off seniors like this.”

“Ugh, guh, guugh!”

Academy debates of reverse hierarchy were rife back then. Lost in nostalgia, the man shook his head.

“Stop, please stop…!”

Blows rendered him beyond recognition; he couldn’t even speak properly with several teeth missing. His nose broken, cheeks sunken, every joint ached, feeling close to death, Daeseokgang pleaded with urgency.

“I’ll turn myself in…!”

“What’s the use? You’ll just be out in a few years anyway, right?”

“Ugh…”

The man spoke indifferently.

“What’s with these human rights activists? Complaining about criminals’ rights.”

In Europe, some rights organizations claim sentencing over ten years constitutes human rights abuse, pressuring governments for parole.

Confronted with the practical limitations of overcapacity in correctional facilities, governments have released criminals under the guise of human rights.

South Korea faced a similar predicament; unless a crime was grotesquely violent, extreme sentences were rare.

Originally… South Korea does provide drunk-driving reductions, no?

“Were you mitigated for ‘impaired mental state’?”

In the past, a heinous villain brutally murdered and assaulted a child while drunk, yet claims of mental impairment granted him merely around ten years.

Even with specific laws for punishing superpower crimes, claims of mental impairment often lead to mitigation.

Petitions for the abolition of drunk-driving reductions crossed hundreds of thousands, yet silence remains.

Of course, South Korea isn’t all lenient with laws.

Truly dangerous individuals were mostly given life sentences, kept in prison.

Yet, the masses, the victims, couldn’t comprehend.
Why spare such villains?

“Has the law failed to keep up with the times? Ah, really. If you’re going to release them, why not implant a chip in their brains? Ah, but maybe that’s also a human rights issue?”

With monsters emerging and humans awakening superpowers, despite the considerable passage of time, South Korea remained in such a state.

Back in the day, even self-defense laws were so lax that beating a home invader with a laundry pole led to charges of weaponized assault.

Even if the thief ended up brain dead, how could a civilian fight back thoughtfully in such a scenario?

To the man, the law seemed particularly absurd.

“So, no need to turn yourself in.”

Therefore, the man decided to take care of things himself.
To deal with villains not afraid of the law.

“Wh, what? You can’t possibly…”

A memory suddenly crossed Daeseokgang’s mind.

There had been rumors for years of a vigilante wandering South Korea, thoroughly ravaging villains inadequately punished or released back to society, rendering them incapable of enjoying a normal life again.

Not a hero who jails them but someone who self-administers punishment, making him as monstrous as the villains themselves in another name.

Yet, people were ecstatic.

Inexorably damaging villains enjoying lenient sentences, those infamous unreprimanded criminals, leaving them crippled and in pain for life, victims had no choice but to support him.

They gave him a nickname.

Vigilante.

“You, that vigilante guy? You?”

“Although I don’t know why they call me that, well, somewhat?”

Terrified by how brutal Vigilante’s hands were rumored to be, Daeseokgang trembled.

Glancing at a woman watching in bewilderment, Vigilante advised her.
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“Maybe you should leave now? It’s going to get rather unpleasant here.”

“Th-thank you for saving me!”

“No worries.”

With shaking gratitude, the woman quickly got up and ran away.

Watching her leave, Vigilante turned back to Daeseokgang….

Shiver, shiver.

The sheath trembled softly.

Could it be?

“Did it detect the stolen sword’s location?”

The sword and the sheath were a set.

The sheath had the ability to locate the sword.

Normally, it could detect its location immediately unless it was trapped in a peculiar place like a dungeon, where detection fails.

‘I thought that guy went into a dungeon and died, but he’s alive? Or did he sell the sword?’

Regardless of the reason, it didn’t matter.

Now that the sword’s location could be determined, he had no choice but to go check it out.

‘Will it be difficult to pinpoint the exact location? Seems like I can only tell the rough direction.’

But what does it matter?

If he’s in the right direction, he will eventually reach it.

Smiling faintly, Vigilante resumed beating Daeseokgang.

It seemed there wasn’t much time left to recover the lost sword and artifact.