I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Those Who Know Love (2)

“M-Mama. You’re strong!”

A powerful attack, and the villain sent flying.

Watching with wide eyes, Spiritas patted Isri’s head and walked out of the building.

“Isri, go around the city and help people who couldn’t evacuate. Avoid fighting the villains as much as possible.”

“A-Ah! If there’s fighting, Isri will help!”

“Helping people is helping me.”

A gentle gaze looked down at the girl.

As she turned away, a determined resolve began to sharpen in her eyes.

“From now on, I won’t hold back, so it’ll be troublesome if anyone gets caught up.”

-Thud thud thud!

Villains from Pandemonia began to gather, having noticed her presence.

Judging by their numbers, there seemed to be forces drawn by Pandemonia’s infamous reputation.

However, to her eyes, anyone below A-rank was just a rabble.

“If I deal with the strongest ones first, the small fry will scatter.”

Yes, to resolve the situation, she needed to take out the ‘leaders’ who were driving the chaos.

Eventually, a man in a black hood and skull mask emerged from their midst.

The large scythe on his back was an emblematic weapon of a certain villain.

“This looks like it could be quite entertaining.”

S-rank villain – Black Reaper Chronos.

As his bone-chilling mutter flowed, the scythe on his back gleamed, slicing through the surroundings.

And then…

***

-Bam!

On the outskirts of the city, vehicles stalled on the collapsed road, and honking filled the air.

Cars that were trying to flee the city had crashed, causing a traffic jam.

“What are they doing up front? Can’t they see there are people behind them?”

“Move! What if the villains catch up to us…”

“You think I don’t want to go!?”

Arguments and fistfights broke out among those who got out of their cars.

As more people became helpless, some even abandoned their cars and fled.

Rationally, leaving the vehicles behind in a traffic jam was a wise decision.

However, most of the evacuees couldn’t bring themselves to abandon their hastily gathered belongings and valuables.

“Damn it, they said everything would be fine!”

“What are the Association and heroes doing with our taxes? Where is the protection they promised?”

There were plenty of opportunities to evacuate, but even now, there was no sign of regret.

They had lived in one of the wealthiest places on the continent.

The government had made every effort to develop the area, and the Association constantly advertised it as safe.

The idea that such a place could fall in an instant was beyond their comprehension.

‘If something goes wrong, it must be because someone betrayed their trust.’

As the escape routes closed, distrust and hatred began to grow in the crowd’s hearts.

-Boom!

But that was just a way to comfort themselves.

Irrational decisions wouldn’t help resolve the situation.

“Eek! V-Villains!”

“The villains are here!”

Villains arrived at the rear of the stalled traffic.

Wielding weapons, they began to slaughter everything in sight and hunt down those hiding in cars and buildings.

Their ruthless attacks showed no mercy.

The powerless citizens could only beg for their lives in the face of the murderous rampage.

“Please, spare me. I’ll give you money…”

“Listen to this guy. Why should I spare you when I can kill you and take it?”

“Aaah! Spare me!!”

Pandemonia was a group of villains driven by destruction and slaughter.

Their collective cruelty amplified their lack of basic humanity, turning them into monsters in human form.

-Swish!

But this also meant that those who punished them had no need for mercy.

“What the hell is this!?”

Chains swung between the villains attacking the evacuees.

By the time they noticed, they were already bound and restrained by the chains.

“Who are you!? Let us go right now!”

“You’d better not resist.”

A woman in a black hood appeared among them.

Attached to her and controlled by her power, the chains and blades were special weapons.

Controlling the chains, she spoke to the villains.

“My blades are quite temperamental. They react immediately to any provocation.”

“Cut the crap! I’ll just cut through these…”

-Slice!

A blade decapitated the villain who resisted.

As the headless body fell, the faces of the other chained villains turned pale.

“What the hell is that?”

“It cut so cleanly…”

Usually, superhuman strength could deflect blades.

Even if the opponent had a Gift, this attack was too smooth.

“Idiots. They didn’t understand the warning.”

Ignoring their reactions, the woman muttered and swung her arm.

The blades at the ends of the chains followed her will, slashing through the villains.

-Slash!

As the headless bodies fell, the woman stared indifferently, recovering the chains connected to her cloak.

“Well, only an idiot would become a villain in the first place.”

Her poised actions and voice exuded confidence.

Those who watched her felt a strong sense of reassurance.

“A hero?”

“A hero has come…!”

After dealing with the villains, the evacuees’ attention focused on her.

Their terror-stricken faces gradually softened with relief as the villains were vanquished.

Indeed, this was the moment when all the spotlight was focused on her.

Revealing herself to the public, the woman raised her chained hand and shouted.

“There’s no need to worry anymore. I, Remy of the Chain Scythe, have dealt with all the villains threatening you!”

Remy of the Chain Scythe.

One of the four S-rank heroes who volunteered for the defense of District B, and the first to take action in the emergency.

Having saved the citizens in danger, she was the most notable hero in the current moment.

But…

“Remy of the Chain Scythe?”

“Who is that?”

-Flinch.

Remy recoiled at the citizens’ lack of recognition.

But her shock meant nothing to the public.

Outside of crises, heroes were admired figures, but in situations like this, they were seen as incompetent for letting things escalate.

Especially if they were ‘unknown heroes.’

“Just clear the road and do something! What if more villains come?”

“Don’t worry, everyone. Other heroes are also here. I must go to another site now!”

Despite their rude attitude, Remy responded politely and turned away.

Even as she heard jeers behind her, she disappeared from their sight without looking back.

And then…

“Aaaargh, damn it, damn it!!”

Once the eyes were off her, she burst into tears.

Pulling her hair in frustration, a reaction she had never shown against any villain.

Yes, the citizens’ reactions had been that humiliating.

“What the hell!? Clear the road!? Is that what you tell someone who saved you!? Do they even know who I am!?”

Grade C, filled with nobodies, Grade B, with decent evaluations, and Grade A, recognized as top performers…

Among them, only 26 were selected as S-rank heroes, the best of the best.

Out of billions in Pangea, she was chosen as one of the top heroes.

‘So why doesn’t anyone recognize me yet…!?’

Though she had recently been promoted to S-rank and had not had much public exposure, still…

As an S-rank hero, at least one person should remember her.

Instead, she was told to clear the road by those she saved. It was infuriating.

-Remy, can you hear me?

But the situation wasn’t good enough to dwell on emotions.

Recovering, Remy touched the earpiece and received the signal.

“Yes, go ahead, Claire.”

Claire Patra. An operator from the Association who provides instructions and information to heroes.

Her voice was urgent.

-The Association has issued orders. According to satellite imagery, Pandemonia’s forces are converging in the city center. If you can, head there.

“If I can, huh?”

-The situation is dire, so even a little help would be appreciated.

She felt it too.

The view from the rooftop alone showed the city engulfed in flames.

People were trembling with fear or being subjected to the villains’ cruelty in unseen places.

And it all began with the sudden fall of massive boulders from the surrounding hills.

Not just figuratively, but like a real meteor shower.

‘Pandemonia… Despite having several S-rank villains, this was a ridiculous act.’

There was no way to respond.

Even if the Association tried to detect it, how could they foresee and stop boulders that could devastate a city?

More dangerous than the failed defense was the severe lack of personnel for cleanup.

‘The Association brought in everyone they could, but only four S-rank heroes, including me, volunteered for this operation.’

S-rank heroes are critical enough to protect an entire continent.

Summoning them requires caution, but seeing the city in ruins made the caution seem excessive.

In terms of cruelty and destruction, even Ouroboros wasn’t this bad.

Having participated in the Great War three years ago as a sidekick to an S-rank hero, Remy felt it firsthand.

‘But this might be my chance.’

Despite everything, she smiled.

A large-scale incident was an opportunity to boost her recognition.

‘Yes, no one knows me because I haven’t done much. But if I make a name for myself, everyone will acknowledge me.’

What if her name wasn’t prominent?

Though she had not gained much attention as a sidekick, the top brass of the Association recognized her skills and promoted her to S-rank.

Gaining fame was just a matter of time.

She saw this operation as the perfect opportunity to achieve her goal, and the current situation only reinforced that belief.

“…A suitable opponent has appeared.”

As she moved towards the city center, she spotted a shadow lingering on the road.

Feeling confident, Remy smiled broadly.

-Did you find something?

“Yes, I’ve found an S-rank villain.”

-A-An S-rank villain!? W-Wait, Remy! If it’s an S-rank villain, you should approach carefully…

“No, getting support is difficult, so I’ll cut the communication now.”

She had to focus on the fight, not on conversation.

Ending the call abruptly, Remy jumped from the building and blocked the man’s path on the road.

“Villain Bykontrast, right?”

S-rank villain, Demon of Speed Bykontrast.

As he recognized Remy, he raised his head.

“…A woman?”

“Not just a woman but a hero.”

-Swish!

Chains responded to her power, soaring in all directions.

Gripping one of the scythes at the ends, Remy aimed its blade at Bykontrast.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Remy of the Chain Scythe, an S-rank hero here to take you down.”

A polite introduction.

But villains didn’t care for such formalities.

-Vrrmm.

The sound of a horse’s snort came from beneath his horse-shaped mask.

Latex underwear covered his lower body, revealing a physique like a bodybuilder’s…

A composite of a half-naked man with a horse’s head. That was the essence of Bykontrast.

“You…”

Judging an opponent by appearance is unwise, but that only applies to those in the light.

The opponent was a notorious S-rank villain.

Expecting moral conduct was unrealistic.

“Are you a virgin?”

“…What?”

“I asked if you’re a virgin.”

“…”

Yes.

Like his appearance, expecting common sense and courtesy from him was a mistake.

End of Chapter