After informing Yumir of the plan to become Gwang Ik Gong's punch:

-Then, I'll start the production right away.

-We just need to keep the wheels turning.

-I'll do my best to make it look like a proper train.

-Good. Platinum Sun, with Taejo, head to the gold mine. In the meantime, I'll make other preparations.

Yumir returned to Shinuiju's gold mine with Taejo and began the production of the golden train.

Since there was enough time before leaving with the agents who came with Taejo, I took the opportunity to find another room to remove another source of anxiety.

Creaaak.

As soon as I opened the door and entered, the room was filled with the rich aroma of Pu'er tea.

[Quite different from Rasputin's attitude.]

"A grade-S should have dignity."

Cheonma Lee Yerin.

She was not restrained in any way and was calmly sitting in a chair, sipping tea.

"Without any restraints, there's nothing more shameful than getting caught again after causing a commotion, right?"

[You seem to know well.]

Unlike the fierce resistance of Rasputin, Cheonma calmly acknowledged her defeat.

"So, Mr. Hesed."

[It's Goblin now.]

"Mr. Goblin, who deceives the world as Hesed. What are you going to do with me now?"

[What do you think I'll do?]

"......."

When I answered her question with another question, Cheonma calmly adjusted her posture.

"...Hmph. Kill me."

[I didn't expect to hear that line here.]

"What?"

[No, it's nothing.]

It was a bit ridiculous to hear Cheonma uttering a line that a knight captured by a group of orcs in a fantasy would say.

[Why are you asking me to kill you?]

"After subduing me like this, you'll erase my memory and turn me into a factory for mass-producing ability users, right?"

That's odd.

There were fewer subversive books in this world to maintain the mental stability of many, yet Cheonma seemed strangely knowledgeable about such matters.

[A factory for mass-producing ability users?]

"Yes. Just like what happened in Thailand, you'll imprison me somewhere, cut off my limbs, and turn me into someone who produces an ability user every ten months. You'll erase my memory, put something over my head, and make sure I live in eternal happiness without ever waking up to reality!"

[Why would we do such a devilish thing? The Society doesn't engage in such actions.]

"......."

She didn't seem to believe me at all.

She wasn't brainwashed, but given that she took her family and defected to China because she thought Korea was a mess, one could say she had a flexible mindset. Yet, it's suspicious how her mind was filled with only demonic thoughts.

"Then, are you planning to sell me to the Korean government? Who's the buyer? Tusin? Cheok Jun-kyeong? Or maybe Taejo? Or all three?"

[Do you have a lust demon in your head?]

"It's not a lust demon, it's just reality."

Cheonma, with a face full of resignation but also brimming with internal resentment, gritted her teeth at me.

"If a woman is an ability user, isn't Korea the place where they'll try to get her pregnant no matter what?"

[If you only look at the bad sides, that's all you'll see. Isn't it the same with China, the country you defected to?]

"......."

Cheonma bit her lower lip.

For the first time, she seemed genuinely upset by my remark and lowered her head.

[There's a saying. There's no paradise where you flee. You left for China for your family, but you probably saw similar things there as well.]

"......."

[Are you giving me information with the things you just said?]

"......!"

Cheonma raised her head.

Her brown eyes began to tremble seriously, and her pupils started to fill with shock.

"W-what are you talking about?"

[That's how I see it. Humans can commit actions more heinous than demons. There were real demons in Thailand, but humans can act like those demons.]

"......."

[Demons are everywhere. What happened in Korea could happen in China too. Well, anywhere humans live is the same, right?]

I was convinced.

This woman was shaking right now.

[You've got the money, so you have to live up to it, but every time you enjoy that money, it weighs on you.]

"What weighs?"

[The last remaining conscience.]

"......."

It's not just about her defeat; the root of her defeat lied in the anxiety of not knowing where she was headed.

[If you start to think that the enormous amount of money you've received is sucking someone's blood, it becomes hard to use that money easily. But when you see your family enjoying happiness, living blissfully ignorant because of that money, you're likely to turn a blind eye.]

"......."

[You seem to have a lot of worries. Your eyes were clear when fighting, but now that you're not, they've become clouded.]

"Shut up. Don't meddle in someone else's life if you're not going to solve their problems."

[If I had a solution to clear your 500 trillion won debt and shed your traitor image, would you join the Society?]

Flinch.

Cheonma's finger twitched for a moment.

[I know you well, Lee Yerin. After your family was nearly killed by the Korean government, you fled to China with them, only to realize that China is no different from Korea.]

"...The Society's intelligence is impressive. So, knowing that, are you just sitting back and doing nothing?"

[We're not doing nothing. The Society always does its best, but priorities exist.]

"...In the past, I would've argued immediately. How can there be priorities when people are dying right now?"

Cheonma was , surprisingly, hot-tempered.

But she was also a cold, calculating woman.

"It's because of that 'Pandemonium' demon or whatever, right?"

[Yes.]

Apparently, having witnessed what happened in Thailand, Cheonma seemed to have her own understanding of the Society's actions.

[With a chronic shortage of manpower, we prioritize eliminating demons over humans.]

Why couldn't we intervene in East Asia's affairs immediately?

Considering the events with Duoexini in Thailand, the conclusion that it was more 'reasonable' to subdue demons before humans made sense.

[The Society's top priority for elimination is demons. Next are humans who act like demons. But the Society is always plagued by a chronic manpower shortage.]

"That's because you guys are converting people into heroes."

[If you know that much, this conversation will be easier.]

I placed two pills in front of Cheonma, one on the left and one on the right.

"Red pill, blue pill?"

[I'm giving you a choice.]

"What is this, Goblintrix? You're telling me to choose?"

[...You know about that? That's quite a classic.]

"It's famous."

Cheonma reached out her hand toward the red and blue pills.

"So, Mr. Dofius. Why are you treating me like this?"

Cheonma started staring intently at me.

"You guys could erase my personality, change my nationality, and turn me into a loyal servant for Korea. But instead, you seem to want me, as I am, to willingly change my mind."

[Because if you move on your own, it's easier to bring everything down naturally.]

"...I don't know what your target is, but."

Cheonma grabbed the blue pill in her hand.

"At least, rather than becoming a brainwashed soldier controlled by someone without a self, I'll live, even if it's disgraceful."

She crushed the blue pill with her grip and put the red pill in her mouth.

"...Candy?"

[It's strawberry-flavored. By the way, the other one is blueberry-flavored.]

"Wasn't this supposed to awaken my consciousness, open my mind to a new world, or something like that?"

[Too bad. This world isn't a cyber realm; it's reality.]

Even though this world was created based on a nationalist light novel, it was still very much reality.

[Since you took the red pill, I'll tell you. The path that you're most concerned with, the path that will allow you to cover all your actions as 'patriotism.']

"......."

[Ultimately, the Society intends to overturn this country as well. Just like America, it will be transformed into a place ruled under the Society's control and order. There are some obstacles, and it will take time, but eventually, we will lead the world to peace.]

Even if that method was extreme, twisted, or involved deceiving the masses.

[The world doesn't know why you abandoned Korea and defected.]

"Are you going to reveal that? ...No. If that happens, my parents will collapse again."

Cheonma's face turned pale.

"If they found out their only daughter did something like that...."

[Don't worry. That will never be revealed. You just need to perform as a 'hero' like everyone else.]

"...What exactly are you planning?"

[To put it simply, you'll be an internal whistleblower.]

I lightly tapped the spot where the red pill had been placed.

[You'll actually be a dark hero who volunteered to cover yourself in filth for justice.]

"...Explain in detail."

[You'll become a hero in China and expose China's flaws one by one. When the Society eventually overturns China, Cheonma will boldly stand at the forefront. As a 'hero.']

"......."

[Even if you have to bear filth for a few years, there is a path to reclaim your honor and become a hero once again. That's if you join hands with the Society.]

I extended my fist toward Cheonma.

[You, join me in this mission.]

Ah.

Was I setting myself up to die and letting Cheonma blend into it?

"So, what is this mission exactly?"

[...Ahem. Well.]

The operation name.

An unimaginable identity.

[...A collaborator with pro-Japanese forces who turns out to be a secret independence fighter.]

Betrayal was washed away by patriotism.

[=Chapter 310: Cheonma Lee Yerin (2)=]

Everything depended on the outcome.

If there was evidence, a witness, and belief, anything was possible.

Indeed, in such cases, it would be truly moving. But sometimes, things were created to suit human needs.

What was it?

A good story.

Just like how some of the viewer stories broadcasted on the radio were creations by certain writers, if Cheonma cooperated with our society, we could create as many good stories for her as needed.

[The fact that she went to China was actually to destabilize China from within, investigating all sorts of abnormal and unethical actions occurring there. After safely relocating her family, she reveals all the facts. There's no better way to clear her name than this.]

"...Have you already put several people through the wash?"

[In some cases, we've done it for real, and in others, we've run simulations.]

Our society was filled with experts from all walks of life.

The scenarios they created together became reality as long as Cheonma decided to cooperate with the society, or at least collaborated with it.

[How about it? Rasputin was an irredeemable trash villain, but you're different. Though the world has thrown trash at you, you're someone who can wipe it off and be reborn in a new form.]

"......Ha."

Cheonma covered her face with one hand.

"Even if everything ends completely, I won't live in Korea."

[Wherever you choose to live is up to you. If you decide to live in the United States, our society will help set that up. Of course, you'll have to contribute labor to cover some of the financial aspects.]

"If it's something like that, I can accept it. ...Hoo, fine. Since I've already made my decision, I guess I have to walk this path. Let's keep talking about this 'washing'."

The person who had been anxious just moments ago was gone, and now Cheonma had regained her composure.

"So, what exactly do I need to do?"

[Nothing else. Just continue as you are. Of course, since you've had a major failure this time, the authorities won't be calling you in for a while. And you do have a valid reason.]

Beep.

I projected a screen into the air with my Taeguk Watch.

[National Competition. If you say you're going into seclusion to train for the Ability Users' World Cup in October, no one will be able to criticize you. After all, China spent 500 trillion to bring you in just to try to win this competition.]

"You're telling me to disappear under the pretext of training until the National Competition?"

[Yes.]

"And if I hold out until then, will anything change?"

[Many things will change. And even if you don't win the National Competition, as long as you achieve a respectable result, the authorities won't be able to criticize you directly.]

They brought her in for 500 trillion to win.

But even if she didn't achieve a result, they couldn't ask her to return the 500 trillion.

[As long as you don't get eliminated in the group stage, entering the quarterfinals or semifinals should be enough to justify the 500 trillion. For example, if there are 7 Koreans and 1 Cheonma in the quarterfinals.]

"...After Korea, China. Even just that would mean I've fulfilled my role?"

[Yes.]

In a nationalistic world, Korea always took first place, so even taking second place would mean Cheonma has fulfilled her role.

[From now until the National Competition, just focus on your training for ability enhancement and keep a low profile while monitoring the situation. When the time comes for our society, or anyone else, to make China shine the brightest, that's when you'll step forward and act like a 'hero'.]

I drew a large circle with my finger, then sliced it into several small pieces.

[That will be the time when your reevaluation and the 'washing' truly begin.]

"...Interesting. Well, if you need me that much and are considerate, I don't see why I shouldn't do it. But, there's a condition."

Cheonma tapped the table twice with her hand and stood up.

"I want my past to be buried, and I want all those who committed heinous acts against me to be punished."

[That's entirely possible. We can resolve it through our society's judgment, not through legal means. However, for that to happen, we need to know exactly who did what.]

I had a rough idea.

There were documents about what she went through that I roughly understood.

Some information the society had gathered, and some from the original novel.

[There can't be any errors in our society's judgment. If you accuse someone who is innocent, we will eliminate you.]

"What if they are guilty?"

[Then, naturally, they'll be dealt with according to our society's methods, depending on the severity.]

"...Alright. First, take off your Taeguk Watch."

[You want to keep this completely secret? Fine.]

I removed my Taeguk Watch and placed it outside the room, then put my goblin bat on the floor and released my magic power.

[I've created something like a barrier. A soundproofing field is up, so no one will be able to hear what we discuss inside. It'll be a conversation known only to you and me.]

"...Alright. That's good. It's not a good thing to reveal one's weaknesses to others."

Cheonma sat back down with a noticeably more relaxed expression.

"Still, since you're a goblin, I think I can talk more comfortably."

[Doesn't it bother you that I'm a man?]

"...? What does that matter?"

Cheonma tilted her head in confusion.

I also frowned momentarily in puzzlement.

Although my expression was hidden behind the mask, Cheonma looked me up and down, half-closing her eyes.

"Do you really know what happened to me?"

[If there's any error in the information I have, wouldn't it be better for you to correct it?]

"Alright. Let's see just how far your society's information network reaches."

Cheonma gestured provocatively at me, and I recalled the information, settings, and dialogues regarding her as the heroine of the original novel.

[Let's be blunt. You're not a virgin.]

Cheonma could not ride a unicorn.

Because she's not a virgin.

[This stems from the actions taken in Korea to forcibly impregnate S-class women. You ascended to S-class, but it was a rather ambiguous S-class. That's who you were.]

"......."

[Your family was burdened with debt, driven to bankruptcy, and all the weight was placed on your shoulders. If you, as an S-rank, didn't bear a child, not only you but your entire family would suffer.]

Someone threatened to kill her family if she didn't become pregnant.

"Do you really think it's possible to threaten an S-rank, no matter how insane the person is?"

[If they thought they could handle an S-rank, then yes, they would consider it possible.]

I held up three fingers.

[Public opinion. Family taken hostage. Patriotism. A disaster born from the mindset of an old fool who believed that for the sake of the nation, for the sake of family, one could make a personal sacrifice.]

"That's right."

Cheonma twisted the corner of her mouth as if the mere thought made her feel disgusted and irritated.

"I was told to bear an S-rank for the country. When I refused to listen, they threatened my family, and eventually, the woman who exploded fled to China, something they never imagined."

They thought she would choose the country over myself because she was Korean.

They thought she would never defect to another country because she was an S-rank.

They thought she wouldn't run away to another country alone because her family was in Korea.

She left with her family.

[You chose China because it was the only country that could protect you when you defected and, at the same time, deliver the biggest blow to Korea. Isn't that right?]

"Yes."

[And now you're encouraging other Korean ability users to leave Korea.]

"...Rather than using the term 'escape,' could you call it 'defection'? 'Escape' feels a bit off."

Cheonma crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

"I've been through too much with this country, so I've been telling the other S-ranks to do the same. Does that count as a crime too?"

[That would depend on the extent of what you've been through. Whether it can be excused or not would hinge on that.]

"So what I went through was being forced to bear a child because I'm an S-rank female ability user?"

[It didn't end with coercion. Weren't you also forced?]

"......."

Cheonma straightened her posture.

"Yes. I was forced."

She uncrossed her arms, leaned forward, and lowered her voice, placing a hand next to her mouth.

"But you, you're a bit creepy, aren't you?"

[......What?]

"When you say 'forced,' were you thinking of something like this?"

Cheonma made a circle with her fingers and repeatedly pushed her other hand through the loop.

"Like this?"

[...Weren't you forced in the name of patriotism?]

"I was. Coerced. But what you're thinking of is quite different. If I had really gone through something like that, I would have become a demon who killed every man in sight."

[.......]

I felt slightly dizzy.

[I was talking about a case that commonly occurs elsewhere, but it seems your case is quite beyond my understanding.]

From what I knew, to be blunt, this woman was not a virgin.

She was forcibly coerced by Korean politicians to bear a child, was threatened, her family was held hostage, and she attempted to defect.

[Let's clear up any confusion. Excuse me, but let me ask. Weren't you raped by a man?]

"You're really blunt."

Fortunately, Cheonma didn't show a strong aversion to my question.

"I was raped."

[.......]

"But it wasn't by a man."

[......?]

"It was by a woman."

Cheonma shook her head in disgust.

"My first experience involved a cold lump of silicone."

[=Chapter 311: Cheonma Lee Yerin (3)=]

My head hurts.

It seemed like I was experiencing a gestalt collapse.

For a superhuman, when the brain stopped, it was like their abilities momentarily stopped as well. I almost involuntarily reverted to my original form.

[What?]

"It's exactly as I said. You seem to have some deep-seated prejudices. Just because someone was violated, does it always have to be a woman by a man?"

Even while talking about herself, Cheonma shrugged her shoulders, as if she found my reaction amusing.

"Sexual assault isn't just about a strong man committing it against a delicate woman; that's a societal prejudice. A man can assault another man, right? Likewise, a woman can assault another woman."

[......Were you, perhaps, attacked by Rasputin?]

"It wasn't Rasputin. But it was something similar to Rasputin. It wasn't even a superhuman. Just an ordinary woman with a bit of power."

Cheonma tapped the table with her fingers, revealing her disgust.

"So keep it a secret. If my parents find out, they'll be shocked and might even collapse. Even just knowing that it happened to me at the hands of a man would be shocking enough."

[Wasn't there a threat made to make you have a child?]

"All that matters is the birth, right? A child doesn't necessarily have to be born through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman."

[So, did they perhaps use a superhuman who could make two women have a child together?]

"What? Haha, your imagination is really vivid this time. There are test tubes, you know, test tubes. They could just grab any man and perform artificial insemination."

[......That seems more likely.]

It was far more realistic, scientific, and logical than the idea of combining two XX chromosomes.

But when all of this came together, it just filled me with confusion and fear.

[So you were attacked by a woman, and that was the trigger for you to take your family to China?]

"It wasn't exactly a trigger. It was something I could endure, as unpleasant and disgusting as it was. It was something that could be resolved if I just endured it."

[...Then what was it?]

"That crazy woman started targeting my family."

Ah.

She was a devoted daughter.

Of course.

When I think about it, even in the original story, she approached the male protagonist without much hesitation as a heroine.

She never showed signs of hating men, and there was never a mention of her dating or being with a man before.

Of course.

There was one possibility.

This woman could be lying.

But my gut feeling told me that what she said wasn't a lie.

It's just a feeling, but my intuition told me that Cheonma wouldn't lie about this.

She had told me the whole truth and sincerely shared her past with me.

Just as Black Taejo once told me his old story, this woman was doing the same.

[...Well, fine. I won't ask for specific details about how that woman attacked you. Is what you want the removal of that woman?]

"She's dead, so even if I wanted to, I couldn't remove her. What I want to remove are the people who directly harassed my family, not that woman."

[And you?]

"If I could, if I could find her grave, I'd dig up her corpse and twist her neck, maybe even make a campfire with it."

If you could?

[Are you saying it's impossible because this woman is hard to reach? No, wait. You said she's dead, didn't you?]

"Yes. She's a woman whose corpse can't even be found. Even if I wanted to find it, I couldn't. So if I were to seek revenge, it would only be against the henchmen who tried to kidnap my family and the assassins who tried to kill them."

[.......]

She couldn't even take revenge on the woman who did such terrible things to her.

What kind of...

"Shall we stop with the depressing talk now? I think I've told you enough of my story. Oh, do you have any other questions?"

[...Just a personal question.]

I was not particularly curious, but I wanted to be sure, so I could leave a 7,800-character comment asking the author how they could create such a cruel setting when I returned to the original world.

[With a man-]

"Never done it. I'm not really into that. Geez, Goblin, men are all the same. Were you curious about that?"

[For now. If I ever face the god who created your destiny, I'll ask how they could create such a fate.]

"Thanks for that. ...Hmm, so, do you want to know who else violated me? Should I tell you?"

[Just say who. If it's not human, like a demon or a machine, I'll break them with my Goblin bat until there's nothing left.]

"Oh, that won't work."

Cheonma raised both hands above her head, crossing her index and middle fingers as she wiggled them like a rabbit toward me.

"If this breaks, it'll be hard for me to make a living."

[.......]

"I'd love to see the face behind your mask. Maybe I've already hit the Goblin?"

[.......]

I wanted to kill the author.

A while later.

[Cheonma agreed to cooperate.]

After sending Taejo to Sinuiju Station, I introduced Cheonma to Yumir.

[We've decided to form a cooperative relationship with the society. The price is to turn the treacherous traitor into a patriot.]

"Nice to meet you, Platinum Sun. Could we have a sparring match sometime?"

"......How many S-classes are you charming in a single day?"

Yumir puffed out her cheeks and gently nudged my chest with her fists.

"If they're an S-class beauty, you just have to flirt with them, right? Huh?"

[That's not it.]

"Did you perhaps use the Goblin bat to persuade them? Hmm, though it doesn't seem like you did...."

[Just because I talked with a beautiful woman, don't always assume it's like that.]

"Mmph."

Since I couldn't share the details about Cheonma with Yumir, I covered her mouth with both hands to stop her from saying anything further.

"You don't need to worry about that. More importantly, Platinum Sun, rest assured that I have no interest in the Goblin's bat. I'm not the shameless type who steals other people's men."

"Really?"

"Of course. I have no intention of ruining the relationship with the consultant who's kindly helping to clean up my image over some sexual issue."

Cheonma drew her own line, reassuring Yumir in her way.

"And besides, such matters would also be an insult to the Goblin. If word got out that the Goblin was involved with a traitorous woman, it would seriously damage his image, don't you think? It would be different if it were a patriotic woman."

"So you're saying that after you change your image to that of a patriot, you might target him?"

"Well, we'll see when the time comes."

Cheonma kept teasing Yumir with a playful smile.

I wondered if she disliked women, but considering that she once attempted a gold heist with Rasputin, it seemed Cheonma was very particular about how she judges people.

"Well then... shall we get ready?"

Viiing.

Cheonma started making various gestures with her hands.

"Cheonma Divine Fist."

In a manner reminiscent of using ninjutsu, she prepared some sort of ritual with her hands and then took a deep breath before thrusting her fist downward.

"I'm all set. How about you?"

[We'll start as soon as the time comes. ...But let's make one thing clear.]

With the Goblin bat slung over my shoulder, I approached Cheonma and placed my hand on her shoulder.

[Goblins despise those who lie. Everything that has happened here and every word spoken is based on my trust in you. If you ever speak carelessly, I'll be the one to execute you.]

"......That's quite a terrifying threat."

The fact that Hesed was the Goblin.

That the society was currently helping Taejo.

There's plenty more that needed to be kept hidden, and more would likely come to light, but if Cheonma ever leaked information, I'd execute her immediately.

[I trust you, Cheonma. Don't betray that trust.]

"Of course. You should know that betraying me wouldn't be fun for you either."

No matter what her past was, breaking the promises made with the society or violating the contract with the Goblin would be a crime unrelated to her past.

[It seems it's about time-]

Kwaaaang!!

An explosion rang out.

The ground started to tremble along with the sound.

[It's time.]

3:49 AM.

Though it was slightly earlier than the scheduled detonation time, it wouldn't be wrong to assume that the blast was set off a minute early to ensure total collapse.

Paaaah!

A golden light flashed from the direction of Sinuiju Station, cutting through the darkness, and I immediately turned my gaze back to Cheonma.

[Then.]

Saaaa.

Concealing my form through astral projection, I quickly left the scene.

Soon after, Cheonma brushed her hands lightly downward and dashed into the explosion.

And then-

Whoooosh!

Leaping back as if she had sprung from the ground, Cheonma landed where I had been standing.

"...It seems the voice won't carry to the satellite, so let me ask you this. What are the odds of 'defeating' me?"

Despite being fine just moments ago, Cheonma, now covered in dirt, looked toward the smoke and asked the air—asked me.

"You didn't even tell me the most important part. Is Taejo planning to blow me away with something like gold or-"

Flutter.

A pair of golden wings emerged from the dust.

Draped in a white robe, a figure with fluttering golden wings began to slowly ascend into the sky.

"......Ah, is that it? There's no shame in losing to someone stronger."

Humpphh.

Cheonma pushed off the ground and leaped.

Running through the air, she stretched her fist towards the golden wings hidden in the dust.

And then.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

An indescribable, golden barrage of magic power swallowed Cheonma whole.

The trajectory, the bombardment, crossed the air and flew far to the north.

Along with Cheonma.

One strike.

With just one strike of magical bombardment, Cheonma became a star in the night sky.