I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Resilience within Frailty

***

Ouroboros is known as the largest evil organization in Pangea’s history…

While that’s the common perception, in reality, its size was not that significant compared to other groups.

Beneath the Boss were six executives, and below them, only a few hundred minions were assigned.

Yet it was called the largest organization because it included external cooperators and groups or companies that hoped to be subsidiaries.

Among them, Hell Scout was ruled by Anatomy, the third-ranking executive of Ouroboros.

The chief of the research team responsible for creating bio-weapons and mutants within the organization.

“A company led by a guy like that could certainly produce something like this…”

I took my eyes off the syringe in my hand and surveyed my surroundings.

The hall was already a mess.

The chaos was not caused by villains with bounties like in Hero Land, but by ‘heroes’ who had infiltrated the hall.

As soon as the Heroine Contest began, they injected themselves with drugs, using their enhanced strength to indiscriminately kill those around them.

I was outside the contest area, looking for someone, but the situation there was likely no different.

“…Could Anatomy be involved in this incident?”

The answer to that question was negative.

The Anatomy I knew only dealt with ‘volunteers’ for body modification or drug consumption.

Even if he performed bizarre surgeries on people, distributing drugs indiscriminately wasn’t his style.

If I had to guess, after the organization fell and he disappeared, the remaining company members might have started such illicit activities for profit…

“If I hadn’t found that person, I would have just let it go.”

If another executive, who retrieved those remnants, had stepped into this hall and was the mastermind behind the chaos…

“Oh, there’s a survivor here?”

Continuing my thoughts, a voice came from behind.

Turning around, I saw a blond man in a tailcoat.

Likely a hero.

Despite that, I couldn’t help but feel hostility towards him.

He held kukris in both hands, their blades stained with blood.

“Are you the one who dealt with the guy down there?”

The man asked nonchalantly, as if he felt no guilt for his actions.

“…What if I am?”

But that was mutual.

I had no reason to feel guilt for smashing the head of someone who had killed everyone in the hall.

“What else? I have to eliminate you.”

The man, seemingly anticipating resistance, casually raised his kukris.

The eerie aura emanating from them indicated they were enhanced with superpower.

“Quick to act. You seem like a former hero too.”

“I have no choice. It’s part of the contract.”

“No choice, my ass. What’s so great about causing all this trouble over a bit of drugs?”

The drugs they used seemed to greatly enhance one’s superpower.

The increase was substantial.

Even a rough estimate suggested a rank up, or even more.

Considering how difficult it is to rank up a Gift even with a lifetime of training, it wasn’t surprising that anyone would be tempted.

“Hmm.”

The hero… No, the villain, who had benefited from the drugs, stopped and began scrutinizing me.

“…Why are you staring?”

“Just wondering if you’re like me.”

“What?”

“That paper bag on your head.”

The man pointed his kukri handle at me.

Not pointing the blade suggested he didn’t see me as an enemy. The paper bag on my head seemed to trigger something in him.

“In an age overflowing with heroes, you have to stand out to get noticed. I used to catch petty criminals in a costume too, so I understand.”

He was thoroughly mistaken.

I picked up the bag lying around to hide my face.

Probably something the waiters used to carry supplies… Damn, I didn’t want to get involved with a hero like this.

“Aren’t you tired of obsessing over individuality?”

The guy, who had been in a standoff, asked in a friendly voice.

In stark contrast to the blood covering his body.

“…What do you mean?”

“Just that no one notices us when we try to work purely.”

“….”

“As you know, a C-Class hero has no work and is often tasked with catching petty thieves. When trying to get promoted, they demand results, and if you join higher-ranked heroes as a sidekick, you’re stuck with errands.”

Wow. How relatable, even from a hero’s perspective.

Indeed, low-ranking members are always miserable. I couldn’t help but sympathize, having been a perpetual minion myself.

“At first, I doubted if I should do such things with a hero badge. But upon thinking, it seemed better to go rogue than live ignored.”

If his body weren’t covered in blood, I might have offered some comfort.

Clicking my tongue, I asked him back.

“So, what do you want?”

“Interested in joining us?”

“Haha, do you even know who I am?”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a lousy superhuman. This drug can elevate your rank. Even I, a lifetime C-Class, became B-Class with it…”

“Sorry, but I’m immune to drugs.”

It wasn’t a lie.

My ability kept my body in a constant state. While it affected nutrients necessary for life, it neutralized rapid changes from drugs or poisons.

Though I didn’t need medicine due to immunity from sickness and injury, using drugs for benefits was impossible.

“Haha, that’s unfortunate.”

“If it’s that unfortunate, just leave.”

“I can’t do that.”

-Swish!

A curt reply.

In the next instant, his blurred form passed me.

“The supply of the drug depends on how many people you kill.”

Limbs were severed in a flash.

My body collapsed to the ground.

Even if the blade was enhanced with superpower, his technique was flawless.

He must have honed his skills before using the drug.

“Sorry. I thought we’d get along well…”

It’s fine. No need to apologize.

-Crack!!

I won’t die from something like this anyway.

“Argh!”

The man took an axe to the back of his head from my fallen position.

Caught off guard, he couldn’t defend himself with superpower.

As he fell, I straightened my regenerating body, lifting my severed arm with the other hand.

“Phew, it’s been a while since I was chopped up alive.”

“Wh-what…?”

“Why? Is this your first time seeing a regenerating superhuman?”

His eyes rolled in his split skull. Thinking straight would be difficult.

Though I wasn’t at my best either. Unlike high-level regenerators who are always in perfect condition, I could only maintain a ‘barely functional’ state.

But it was just a difference in healing quantity.

Nerves, cartilage in joints, muscle fibers… Small but delicate parts regenerated first, so I could still move and exert force despite severe injuries.

Though it was agonizingly painful.

“Even regenerators feel pain…”

-Squelch!!

“Aaaaaah!!”

I slammed the axe into his back again.

Not aiming for a vital spot, he wouldn’t die.

Even if I had superhuman strength, an E-Class axe wouldn’t cut through his waist.

“Why aren’t you resisting? You’ve got all your limbs. Don’t you have some guts after causing all this?”

“Aaaah! Aah!”

Good grief, look at him scream.

He must have tried hard, but a rookie is still a rookie.

“Sure, you might think you’ll succeed after gaining power overnight. But I’ve seen too many who failed that way, so I can’t join you.”

“W-wait…”

“Don’t be upset.”

I aimed the axe at him again.

“It’s the path you chose.”

-Squelch!!

The axe struck his spasming body.

His open mouth made choking sounds, unable to scream anymore.

I aimed the axe at him again.

“Don’t expect sympathy. Once you betray society, no one will understand or save you.”

-Squelch, squelch.

His body trembled with each strike.

But he had long stopped breathing.

It was just post-mortem spasms. Laughing bitterly, I turned my back on his mangled corpse.

“…Well, what’s the point of lecturing a dead guy?”

The dead are dead, and I’m no saint.

Even offering condolences felt like a luxury to someone who couldn’t feel sympathy.

So, covered in blood, I tried to leave the scene.

“Oh, look who’s here?”

Taking down one guy drew out more faces.

Three of them this time. From the commotion, there were more inside.

If I went this way, I’d have to fight several more times.

“Skid’s down.”

“He’s just one. We can overpower him with numbers.”

Ha, seriously.

How widely was that drug distributed among heroes?

Seems like things have been a mess since the Association got halved three years ago.

Not just Hero Land, but even here with industry leaders.

“Damn. Heroes always gang up first.”

But I’ll figure that out later.

I hoisted the blood-stained axe on my shoulder and walked toward them.

And then…

***

“P-please spare me…”

-Squelch!!

Splitting the head of the sobbing guy.

By then, the axe handle had split in half, making it unusable.

Considering I had swung it hundreds of times, it was inevitable.

“Damn, I wasted too much time.”

Even after killing over ten guys, I couldn’t relax.

Some missions are decided by seconds.

For those, my useless ability wasn’t helpful in combat.

Damn, I didn’t want to waste time like this, not knowing how many more enemies were ahead… Isn’t there a way?

“A SAY ONE PUNCH!!!!!!”

A loud shout echoed from the path ahead.

-Boom!!

A fierce storm surged where I was headed, and something smashed into the wall.

Men, bloodied and groaning.

Behind them was a muscular man in a red cap.

“You wretched scum!! Did you think mere drug-fueled muscles could defeat a Marine spirit like mine!?”

Though he wore a black suit typical of a bodyguard, his swollen muscles distorted its shape.

His distinctive loud voice and aura made him instantly recognizable.

Former A-Class hero, now head of the bodyguard team at Spirit Entertainment, Choi Gi-yeol.

“Wearing a hero’s name but seeking easy paths without effort or will… Scum like you aren’t worth living! I’ll personally punish you!!”

“Excuse me.”

Annoyed by the drugged traitors, he seemed like a good ally in this urgent situation. Approaching him, he glared at me with bloodshot eyes, ready to punch.

“Uh, uh? That paper bag?”

Seeing my paper-covered face, Choi Gi-yeol seemed to recall something and hesitated.

Thankful he didn’t attack immediately, I sighed in relief as he clapped his hands and exclaimed.

“Ah, you’re Suzuki’s boyfriend?”

“No, I’m not.”

What the hell is this musclehead saying?

Even if I’m bound for hell, turning my remaining days into hell isn’t part of the plan.

End of Chapter