I'm Not Your Dad, I'm a Villain - Chapter 92
Chapter 92
The Birth of a King (2)
‘The elusive Shadow.’
Though he ascended to the second rank in Ouroboros, the most fearsome organization, little was known about him.
Among the executives of Ouroboros, whose origins and actions were obscure, he stood out as one who had concealed his existence exceptionally well.
“Come to think of it, Ceras. I heard you became an executive. Is that true?”
This grotesque being revealed his true form and spoke to her with familiarity.
“That’s fortunate. You were rewarded for your efforts in the war that day. On the other hand, I’ve just been languishing in a room since then… Haha, isn’t it a pitiful sight, even to you, Ceras?”
A demeanor so vastly different from the public perception.
Yet, Ceras couldn’t bring herself to let down her guard.
“…Still as quiet as ever.”
He had behaved similarly when they encountered each other three years ago.
After that, the overwhelming presence he exuded was beyond imagination.
“Well, a villain like me can’t be your friend, I suppose.”
Indeed, his cruel nature was accentuated by his seemingly pure demeanor.
Ceras understood that such behavior was due to him not incorporating his emotions into the situation.
Prioritizing his own feelings regardless of external circumstances, he couldn’t empathize with his victims…
The world often called such individuals ‘sociopaths.’
“…Shadow. Why are you blocking that place?”
But criminals often have such tendencies.
It was no surprise that the most fearsome assassin had such a disposition.
The important thing was why the unexpected figure was at the location where she presumed her target was.
“Sorry, I have no obligation to answer people who aren’t my friends.”
Shadow replied with a regretful smile.
“Just… let me say this. Ceras, can you quietly step back from here?”
Though his demeanor was polite, his words were essentially a threat to kill if Ceras didn’t retreat.
He hadn’t drawn his sword yet because there was no immediate reason to.
More precisely, there was something more important than killing his opponent.
“…Understood.”
In any case, it was a mercy. Ceras, having faced him before, realized this.
Facing him here meant not only risking death, but also rendering all her past efforts meaningless.
“Are you really going to step back?”
Shadow smiled gleefully at Ceras’s response.
“No.”
But what actually came was firm denial.
Her sharp eyes indicated her resolve in this situation was not light.
“My earlier words meant I understand what’s happening here.”
“…So you have no intention of stepping back.”
“Of course. I didn’t come here with a light heart either.”
Femme Fatale Familia.
In the process of investigating the whereabouts of her old colleague with that name, Ceras discovered Hell Scout, the manufacturer of Rank Up.
While reviewing the shareholders of an underground enterprise, Ceras found traces of funds from an Association executive flowing into that enterprise.
Manipulating ledgers to siphon Association funds to an underground company.
It was essentially an act of a follower of justice colluding with villains for personal gain, something that could never be forgiven.
“But to think the force colluding with an executive would be Ouroboros…”
Yes, all indications pointed to Edmund McCoy’s collaboration with Ouroboros.
Hell Scout originally belonged to Anatomy, and the hero who reported Seolhwa’s death was sponsored by McCoy.
Not only that, but exposing the disguised alibi and finding the hidden location revealed the presence of someone ranked second in that organization.
Wouldn’t it be strange not to suspect a collusion between the executive and the powers?
“Come to think of it, Seolhwa’s death was reported, but her body hasn’t been secured by the Association. If Seolhwa really was collaborating with him, it would make sense for her to fake her death while handing over her possessions.”
Femme Fatale Familia.
The suspicion starting from her betrayal led to a preposterous truth.
“Shadow, what exactly are you aiming for? What did you aim for to cause these events and fake my colleague’s death?”
It was a situation that even induced fear in Ceras.
Though they were deemed evil, Ouroboros, unlike other villain groups, was a force proud of its existence and beliefs.
They didn’t indiscriminately distribute drugs, ambush, or massacre civilians…
Moreover, concealing or distorting their intentions was never their way.
“What exactly are you hiding back there?”
If the defeat in the war three years ago shattered the ‘line’ they had maintained…
Their strength, without the control of the organization’s ideology, would threaten the continent.
Even if not their strength, the danger could far surpass the great war three years ago. This was apparent just by recalling the attack on District B initiated by Seolhwa.
“…You wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”
‘There she goes, completely misunderstanding.’
Of course, Shadow knew the whole truth.
Given that he was also against McCoy, the current suspicion felt unjust, but he didn’t bother explaining.
A villain like him wouldn’t be listened to.
Moreover, revealing Seolhwa’s location below was something that had to be avoided at all costs.
“…I suppose I must defeat you to move forward.”
Yes, regardless of the details, both had reasons they couldn’t back down.
Realizing this, Ceras took out the dagger hidden in her sleeve.
However, Shadow felt an emotion far from hostility towards her.
‘Maestro. Why are you telling me this?’
The reason he was even here.
It was because of a deal with the person who provided him with the information.
‘Because I don’t want you to kill her.’
Maestro.
For some reason, he had infiltrated the Association and was working under the person in front of him.
Coincidentally, Shadow hadn’t inquired deeply about the reason.
He only knew that his former comrade and superior was very concerned about the woman before him.
“I can’t help it. We were different from the start.”
But coincidentally, Shadow had no intention of showing mercy to her.
Having someone enter below and be discovered by a hero must be avoided.
If her resistance intensified, he would have no choice but to kill her.
“…If we were different from the start.”
The eerie smile concealed feelings of unease for Ceras.
“Does that mean you feel no qualms about committing deviation?”
Her words were a close reprimand to a villain, but Shadow felt no guilt from them.
“Haha, even back then… you speak so calmly before a villain. You…”
-Drip.
Black remnants spread from his body, swallowing everything around.
From the asphalt and debris to the building fragments.
The distorted space created by his body engulfed everything in sight.
“Ceras, you can say that because you grew up in a proper home, received love from proper parents and friends, and had the opportunity to achieve what you wanted.”
Just by passing by, everything around was swallowed by the maw.
A cold sweat trickled down Ceras’s forehead from the sense of crisis, but Shadow’s gaze remained hollow.
“But coincidentally, there are people born lacking many things. And the evil I saw was mostly born from the process of filling those gaps.”
His breath was so steady, the current phenomenon felt very familiar to him.
His body swallowed everything it touched, distorting and destroying it.
The power was so overwhelming that in his childhood, he unintentionally destroyed his home and hometown.
“…Equality advocated by society is a harsh concept.”
The massacre and destruction caused by an innocent child…
When that being grew up and came to understand the concept of good and evil, those who encountered him saw him as a monster, not a human.
The moment he was defined as evil despite his intentions.
Fleeing from such treatment, he realized the narrowness and limitations of the concept of justice.
“So don’t expect me to change my mind. Whatever happens next… just think of it as a natural disaster. Something that would happen someday, just happening before you now.”
The rules and concepts of equality everyone should follow were ultimately just a selection process that forced conformity on those who didn’t fit.
Thus, trying to change one’s inherent limitations would inevitably be deemed evil.
“…Strange. You seem even more dangerous than three years ago.”
Coincidentally, his becoming a villain was not for grand reasons like changing the world, unlike other executives.
He simply concluded that his place was alongside evil because he was born evil.
Thus, a broken idol should remain a past mentor, and in his uncertain future, he must find a new shadow to replace him.
“Are you saying what’s behind you is more important than a battle for the fate of the organization?”
Then he discovered.
From a place darker than anywhere else above ground.
A noble evil that pursued greatness despite a weak body.
“…I will say just one thing about that.”
Ginger Bread.
A man with the potential to grow into a great evil because of his weakness.
A man who had lived his life as evil saw a possibility in him.
“The birth of a king…”
Though his life may be miserable, if he continues to move forward, he will grow into a great evil.
One who would embrace all evils in this world and become a savior for evil.
“Don’t hinder my new lord’s future. Hero.”
The desire to nurture such a being with his own hands.
How could he let a mere hero’s pawn interfere?
***
And in the underground laboratory.
-Thud!
A man repeatedly slammed to the ground was finally thrown into the center of the warehouse.
Old medicine bottles and equipment left scattered shattered and spread everywhere.
“…Cough.”
The man barely endured the impact, biting his teeth and using the hammer as support to stand up.
The paper bag on his head was soaked in blood and turned black.
An ordinary person would already be incapacitated, but his gaze remained fixed.
Just a little regenerative power made his resilience remarkable.
“Weak.”
But still, he was just that.
Vanguard gritted his teeth and walked towards him with clenched fists.
“Too weak. You are…”
The pain in his body was from the injuries sustained while suppressing a riot in District D two days ago.
But such injuries didn’t matter in dealing with the man before him.
His ability, Unbreakable, was nearly impossible to break unless faced with Mantis’s ultra-vibration blade.
“…Why did you come here in that state?”
Maybe that’s why.
Vanguard felt even more anger towards him.
A man relying on E-class regenerative power dared to oppose him, who boasted the strongest defense.
“You don’t belong here…”
So he was someone he had to protect.
A hero like him should protect the weak, and he should do his rightful job in society.
“I retreated thinking you could stay by her (Spiritas) side even in that state… But why!”
-Boom!
But what came in response was a fierce hammer strike.
“…Too much talk before an enemy.”
Despite his broken body,
His eyes still held a spirit of determination.
End of Chapter
TL/N: After translating to chapter 105, I just realized that Shadow’s pronounce is female in this chapter and change it. If you found other mispronounce for Shadow. Please point out on comment or Discord (I’m more active on discord)
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