I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Cooperating with the Enemy (2)

***

“H-Huh? Why is this…?”

“Hey.”

A chilling voice.

Along with it, through the cracked hammer, he saw eyes filled with extreme killing intent directed at him.

“Did you do this?”

“W-Wait…”

-Swoosh!

Accompanied by a fierce rushing sound, the woman’s fist headed straight for Morning Star’s face.

No, was that really a fist?

It may have looked like a small fist, but the force behind it was anything but small.

Yes, it was like a tiny meteor breaking through the atmosphere.

-BOOM!!

Like a meteor strike, the blow smashed into the villain’s face, and blood sprayed across the stage.

And then…

***

“You there with the bread bag. Are you a villain too?”

“…”

Without a word.

In the silence that followed her appearance, I took another moment to scrutinize the unexpected intruder.

A pink dress adorned with star-like accessories. Even her contact lenses had star shapes on them.

An unforgettable appearance.

Though I had never met her directly, the hero who had recently been making waves in the news and media was unmistakable.

‘Star Girl Spiritas.’

A new S-Class hero, touted as a candidate for the next generation of hope following Justice’s death.

Her outfit might seem targeted at young girls, but considering the circumstances, it was clear she was responsible for the state of the villain lying on the ground.

“…How do I look to you?”

Yes, she’s someone I must not become an enemy of in the current situation.

I grasped that fact immediately and replied tensely, as she began to appraise me from head to toe.

“Surrounded by villains, you don’t seem like a villain.”

Then, her gaze flickered to the three bodies on the ground.

“But you took down some C-Class criminals, so you must have a Gift. If you have a Gift, you should’ve reported it, so you’re not a civilian. And you’re not dressed in a hero suit or mask, just a bread bag…”

Gulp.

I swallowed and tried to stay calm for a few seconds.

Finally, she seemed to reach a conclusion, snapping her fingers and pointing at me.

“Are you a sidekick?”

…Hah.

She’s way off the mark.

As a villain to my core, there’s no way I’d play second fiddle to a hero.

“I was indeed requested by a hero to come to this amusement park.”

However, I decided to go along with her assumption.

After all, I was here not as a villain but on a request from a hero like her.

This excuse would prevent any unnecessary conflict as long as my identity remained concealed.

“That’s good enough.”

She didn’t prolong the questioning either.

After all, the place was surrounded by enemies.

“Hey, you there, lady!”

One of the surrounding villains, perhaps having finished assessing the situation, shouted at Spiritas.

Though momentarily startled by her intrusion, their objective was slaughter and destruction in Hero Land, so it was inevitable that they’d target someone they presumed to be a hero.

“Where do you get off chatting casually in front of us!?”

“And what’s with that outfit!? Are you here for a performance!?”

“If you think we’ll go easy on you because you’re a woman, you’re wrong~ Haha!”

“Kuhahaha! I wonder what kind of scream that woman will make when her arm is cut off?”

“A fun new toy has arrived!”

“That head is mine!!”

Nasty and crude remarks filled the air.

They weren’t words to say to another human being, but these were scum who had abandoned humanity and morality.

“Wow~ The faces I’ve seen on wanted posters are all here. Are you villains having a meetup?”

Spiritas didn’t waste words.

Understanding that these were heinous criminals was enough for her.

“Hey, you with the bread bag.”

Keeping her eyes on them, she clasped her hands together.

“If you’re a superhuman, you can protect yourself, right? I’m going to sweep all these guys away, so stay out of the way.”

“…What?”

Sweep them away? How?

-Crack.

While I wondered, the sound of her bones creaking echoed.

Along with it, a faint heat haze began to rise from her body.

A Gift that emits heat?

-No, this isn’t from a Gift.

To be precise, it’s the power derived from ‘super strength,’ which is the root of all Gifts.

Pure super strength usually only enhances physical strength, jumping power using explosive bursts, or the impact force.

While it can exert physical power on its own, it’s generally only supplementary.

But the super strength she was enveloped in not only created a characteristic vibrating sound but also distorted the light around her.

Super strength that creates heat haze….

It’s generally impossible. Only two types of individuals could cause such an abnormal phenomenon, as far as I remember.

Heroes who were considered the strongest in history, like Justice. And those who reached a similar level, both heroes and villains.

Yes, this woman.

She’s at least on par with Ouroboros’ executives.

“Even if she’s a hero, she’s alone! Attack!!”

The mobs charged at her like a pack of wild dogs, oblivious to this fact.

In response, I instinctively crouched down as much as possible.

The line between life and death was decided from there.

-BOOM!!

As soon as her foot hit the ground, the immense power within her spread through the ground and radiated outwards.

The thick concrete floor instantly crumbled and scattered.

Even the debris couldn’t withstand the force, turning to dust and rising into the air.

“Kyaaaah! Aaaahhh!!”

The ones who couldn’t brace themselves were flung into the air.

The moment the ground was upturned with just a single stomp.

But she aimed for the next move.

“What the hell is she!?”

About half of them were airborne.

The remaining half barely maintained their balance, but only a few were ready to face her.

And Spiritas’ gaze was already fixed on them.

-BOOM!!

With a leap, she swung her fist, and the villain hit by her punch was instantly turned into an afterimage.

Crash, boom, crack!

Bouncing off the ground repeatedly, rolling madly, and finally lodging into the rubble.

An effect hard to believe came from a single punch, and the villains’ faces began to fill with shock.

-Boom, pop!!

But she had no time to respond to their shock.

Stomping on the crumbled ground, she leaped repeatedly.

Everything she touched with her hands and feet twisted their bodies and scattered them.

-Crash!

After a brief rampage, the bodies that had been flung around began to land one by one.

By then, most of those who had withstood the initial impact were annihilated.

The few who barely retained consciousness had faces etched with pure terror.

“What, what is she…?”

“A monster. She’s a monster.”

Yes, this time, I agree.

To have such power at such a young age. Where did this monster come from?

“Move aside! I’ll handle her!”

But even so, she was still a rookie hero.

After wiping out a large number of enemies, a new group emerged, led by someone who confidently faced Spiritas.

Standing at about 2.5 meters tall, his entire body was covered in steel plates, not armor but an exoskeleton generated by his ability.

“Kuhahaha! I came here for some fun, but I didn’t expect to meet an S-Class hero.”

I know this guy.

Villain—Metallica. Even when I was in the organization, he was somewhat notorious in the underworld, with a danger level of A-Class assigned by the Hero Association.

And the association’s danger levels are based on facing five heroes of the same rank.

An A-Class villain is as strong as five A-Class heroes… Though a step below Ouroboros’ executives, he’s still considered strong in the underworld.

“But an S-Class hero who’s just a rookie? You handled the small fry easily, but the power you’ve shown won’t break my armor.”

Even if there’s a big difference between S-Class and A-Class, if Metallica takes the front lines, it won’t be easy to break his defense.

As he draws attention, other villains will attack, making it hard for her to survive…

-BOOM!!

…What?

“Gu, urgh…”

One punch as soon as she charged in.

That strike shattered his exoskeleton, leaving a fist mark on his chest as he coughed up blood and collapsed.

What the hell?

An A-Class villain known for his durability went down that easily? Am I dreaming?

“Next.”

But Spiritas seemed indifferent, merely flicking her fingers.

Her deadly gaze caused the previously confident villains to swallow nervously and hesitate.

“Anyone else want to try?”

“Ugh…”

Though she taunted them, no one responded.

They seemed ready to flee, their hands trembling on their weapons, none of them had any fighting spirit left.

At least not for a ‘frontal assault.’

“That’s impossible… How are we supposed to beat that monster…”

“Impossible, my ass!”

But villains are those who abandon humanity for their goals.

At that moment, a villain emerged from the rubble.

Spiritas quickly took a combat stance, but she didn’t immediately strike.

“Hahaha! You’re powerless when holding a hostage!”

In his grasp was a child, buried in the rubble and crying.

The villain held a dagger to the child’s face, using him to threaten Spiritas.

A classic and clichéd tactic.

But the surest way to pressure someone with a sense of justice.

“Damn bastards…”

Taking an innocent civilian hostage is the most effective way to weaken a hero’s power.

Prioritizing rescue over fighting evil, or risking sacrifices to eliminate the villain.

Preventing such situations is the association’s role, but this mess happened because they failed.

To think a rookie of Ouroboros’ caliber would face such a situation. It’s an ironic twist.

“Khuk!!”

But this distraction made it easier for me to act.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

I swiftly approached from behind and struck the villain’s neck.

The shock made his eyes roll back, and I kicked him away, retrieving the child and creating distance from the approaching villains.

“Waaaah…!”

“Stay still.”

I understand how you feel, but now is not the time to cry.

Villains rushed at us, a bit late but predictable.

“Who the hell do you think you are, interfering! If you want to die…”

-BOOM!!!

A powerful shockwave hit the villains from behind.

Their bodies turned to afterimages, then stars in the sky.

Yes, without a hostage, she could act without restraint.

“You…”

She looked at me with surprise.

I set the girl on the ground and spoke.

“No need to thank me. I’m helping you because I have something I want too.”

“Something you want…?”

Yes, I’m a villain.

Though I don’t harm the weak and civilians to uphold the organization’s beliefs, I’m not obligated to save them either.

At best, I’m an ‘observer’ when it comes to civilians.

“I’ll back you up, so clear a path for me.”

Yet, I had a reason to save this child.

End of Chapter