Chapter 341: The Gathering Madness Show (1)

Although various situations had arisen, the chaos unfolding on Jeju Island right now was still a 'manageable' situation.

The bone suckers, corpse looters, and scavengers appearing here and there weren't serious enough for the government to issue an emergency statement.

Simply block the island, strictly control the entry of civilians, and arrest anyone who shows up, except for those already registered as having entered Jeju.

With this level of control over Jeju Island, situations that were hard to explain in words had started occurring.

"No, honey. So, what I'm saying is..."

"Leaving the island shouldn't be a problem! We didn't even enter the island after the incident happened!"

"Damn it. This is driving me crazy. What should I do?"

Men and women, alarmed by the lockdown of Jeju, were gathering at the airport, anxiously pacing back and forth.

"Everyone, please follow the association's instructions for now. At this moment..."

"What, are we at war? It's not even like that!"

"You could say we're almost in a state of quasi-war..."

"Then even more so, shouldn't civilians like us be allowed to leave Jeju?"

Although the association and the government were trying their best to calm the people, the anger of the crowd showed no signs of subsiding.

'It's understandable.'

Everyone here wanted to leave the island quickly, and while their appearances and vibes were different, they all fundamentally shared the same anxiety.

"Damn! If we accidentally end up turning into demons, will you take responsibility for that?!"

And now they were flipping the blame.

It made sense. Staying here too long might inadvertently lead to someone turning into a demon.

A worker stuck on Jeju Island?

If they called their company to explain the situation, they might get a scolding, but it would likely end with them using a few days of their vacation.

A traveler stuck on Jeju Island?

Even though the lodging costs were piling up, the hotels weren't suddenly charging more because flights were canceled due to an A-class villain in the Republic of Korea.

Food supplies weren't running out.

Two S-classes were already on the scene and performing well, so there was no major safety issue.

Of course, there was fear about what the Witch of the Rising Sun might do, and in what form she might appear, but since the heroes were there, things were relatively under control.

The problem was simply not being able to return to their original locations quickly.

And they feared that this situation might leave someone emotionally scarred, which could potentially cause them to turn into a demon.

"Yeah, right. Honey, do you really think I would do that? I seriously just came to Jeju to eat black pork. With whom? Of course, with a friend I know!"

"Oppa, don't you trust me? Do you think I came to Jeju to meet random guys like this?"

There was no logic.

It was just full of lies and excuses to get out of the situation.

'Of course, that's how it is.'

Lying wasn't a crime, but staying silent without lying can be.

'My partner, my spouse went to Jeju without telling me? It would be strange not to get pissed.'

What other reason would there be to come to Jeju?

To have an affair, enjoy infidelity, or as someone crudely put it, to have a one-night stand.

'There was even an incident at Jeju Airport right now.'

The demonization of ability users.

The death of a family member or close friend was undoubtedly the biggest factor that affects their mental state, but in a situation like this, where 'infidelity of a lover' occurred, it also took a severe toll.

"It's really a mess because of infidelity, what a mess."

"It's not just that the one who committed the affair is guilty; the fact that their partner becomes a demon because of it makes it even worse. Infidelity isn't a crime, but when it leads to someone becoming a demon, that's definitely a crime."

Hyeon Se-rin, who had come to the airport to people-watch, smiled brightly while observing those caught in the chaos of infidelity.

"There are no people easier to recruit and persuade than ability users whose minds are shattered by infidelity. Hehehe."

"When the world should be providing mental care, society is offering it instead. How ironic."

From the perspective of the Secret Society, it was a golden opportunity when someone got emotionally hurt because of these cheating men and women.

"The most dangerous time is when someone is shaken by relationship issues, but approaching them in that crisis and bringing them into the fold of the society is the best."

The best recruitment method of the Secret Society was to approach a mentally shaken ability user and bring them over, especially when the situation was naturally occurring, not artificially created by the society.

"Even if it's not about romantic issues, when pushed to the edge, everyone weakens, don't they?"

"It feels so raw, hearing that from someone who's been in such a situation themselves."

"Hehe. More importantly, it seems like it's about to start...."

"Ah, just in time, there it is."

Hyeon Se-rin and I immediately triggered our magic and transformed. Soon, a man dressed like an ordinary office worker, holding a briefcase, appeared behind the crowd gathered at the airport.

He clearly looked troubled, as if he was having difficulty catching a flight, but—

[Can you hear me?]

[Yes, I'll let you hear it too.]

As Hyeon Se-rin channeled magic, the sound of the wind carried to my ears. Soon, I began to hear an eerie noise that shouldn't be heard in such a place.

Tick, tick.

The sound of a timer.

The ticking of an analog second hand, a sound you rarely hear these days, made me immediately run forward and throw my Goblin Bat.

Thunk!

The bat landed squarely on the back of the man's head.

"Aaaargh!"

As the man collapsed, people nearby screamed one after another, and I quickly sprinted forward, stepping on the man's back, grabbing the briefcase before it hit the ground.

Swish.

Hyeon Se-rin swiftly sliced the briefcase with her sword as it soared into the air.

Then.

Boom!!!

An explosion erupted in the sky.

Everyone at the airport ducked in shock.

In the meantime, I retrieved my Goblin Bat and bound the man—the bomb terrorist—with magical restraints, scanning the area quickly.

'Where is it?'

Some people were filming me, but I wasn't looking for those who pointed their Taeguk Watches at me.

Despite the bomb threat, and the fact that we acted before dozens of casualties occurred, I was searching for someone who wasn't panicking, someone who remained calm.

Correction.

Someone who was panicking.

Not because they were almost killed, but because the Goblin appeared and the suicide bombing had been thwarted.

[Found you.]

I jumped over the crowd, grabbing a woman by the back of the neck as she was about to enter the women's restroom and threw her to the ground.

Thud!

It was a bit of a rough move, and everyone around looked startled, but when they saw what spilled out of her bag, they all fell silent.

Hallabong.

It might seem odd to see a Hallabong, but what mattered was that this Hallabong had rolled out of an ultra-expensive designer bag worth millions.

[What kind of woman carries a Hallabong in her luxury bag?]

Crunch.

I extended my Goblin Bat toward the Hallabong, wrapping it in mana.

Soon, the Hallabong began to wriggle, and something abnormal started to ooze out from within.

Screeech.

It was like a bug.

It resembled a larva breaking out of an egg before turning into a demon.

[Yes. I knew you would come.]

"St-stop-"

Splat!

I swung the Goblin Bat towards the woman's head, knocking her unconscious.

If she had emitted even the slightest trace of magic, if I had sensed any trace of demonic presence, I wouldn't have hesitated to smash her head in.

'Are they trying to roll the seeds of demons inside fruit?'

A large-scale bomb terror attack.

Followed by the demonization of several people.

Humans were mentally at their weakest in extreme situations, and the easiest method was always human death.

Artificially creating that death is the method of those who are the most demonic.

'Pandemonium wouldn't miss such an opportunity.'

Demons were always seeking the chance to strike at humanity.

"Hmm, what a shame."

A red-haired woman fiddled with her tie, pouting her lips.

"I was planning to wipe out all the cheating couples and turn them into demons, but it didn't work."

She gripped the Hallabong in her hand like a baseball and tossed it into the air. As it exploded mid-air, rather than orange pulp, a thick, blood-like crimson liquid sprayed out.

"If they're going to be useless while alive, it'd be better for them to die and help the living. What a shame, what a shame."

[Stop the nonsense.]

Beep.

A low voice crackled from the wireless earphone tucked into her ear.

[Keep causing commotion so the VIP can pass through. Whether it's demons or villains, it doesn't matter. Even if Seon Ga-eul's ghost is a trap, we can still turn the trap in our favor.]

"Doesn't seem like we're handling that many people, though."

[Even if we don't handle them, as long as we kill them all, it's fine.]

Crackle.

As soon as the screen on the woman's Taeguk Watch flickered, a video began to play.

[The more S-class gather in Jeju, the better. We can wipe them all out at once.]

A threat loomed over Jeju Island.

[We will erase everything in Jeju, along with the demon fortress.]

A massive shadow began to waver in the distance.

Chapter 342: The Gathering Madness Show (2)

It had been about two weeks since I arrived on Jeju Island.

Although more time had passed than expected, the evil spirit had not been exterminated during that period.

Two weeks.

Two S-class operatives were dispatched, most of the association's agents had crossed over to Jeju Island, and even the island was sealed off from the outside world as they scoured the entire area in an effort to exterminate the evil spirit Seon Ga-eul.

The evil spirit had not been eradicated yet.

"This is troublesome."

I climbed to the roof of the abandoned house halfway up Hallasan Mountain, rolling the urn containing the remains of Seon Ga-eul with my foot, desperately waiting for someone to come.

"If this isn't resolved soon, the training might not even happen."

Maybe I hid it too well.

Or perhaps I ran away so effectively that no one could follow the movements of the evil spirit.

"Being too skilled can be a problem."

I stopped the ghostly figure resembling Seon Ga-eul, which was spinning in circles near me.

"We're so good at what we do, it's hard to even drop a clue. What do you think?"

[What do you mean, what do I think?]

Crackle, crackle.

The ghost resembling Seon Ga-eul paused midair and soon revealed its true form in front of me.

"I'm quite satisfied with the current situation."

It was Doul, Hyeon Se-rin.

Hyeon Se-rin, who was disguised as the evil spirit Seon Ga-eul, was the one responsible for all the commotion currently happening across Jeju Island.

Attacking the A-rank ability user Ji Cheon-hyang in an orchestrated ambush.

Assaulting numerous other ability users afterward.

Even attacking the henchmen of Pandemonium, who were planning to cause terror against the people.

All of this was orchestrated by the Secret Society.

Of course, the Goblin and Doul combo, that was, the members of the Secret Society, were also actively operating on Jeju Island to exterminate the evil spirit and demons.

In other words, we were stirring up trouble on one side while, on the other, we were eliminating the very cause of the disturbance.

We were doing this tedious work because the rewards for us were significant.

"Mir, how many Scavengers have been officially subdued so far?"

"According to the association's official announcement, 394."

Yumir, who was sitting on a sofa placed on the rooftop, checked her Taeguk Watch for the data and replied.

"Unofficially, the number of Scavengers whose landing we prevented is about 500. Including the overlaps, we captured around 200 Scavengers on Jeju Island. So in total, about a thousand people have crossed the sea and tried to sneak into Jeju Island in the past two weeks." РÄΝ𝖔ΒĚŠ

"A real headache."

A thousand.

Around a thousand illegal entrants tried to sneak into Jeju Island over the past two weeks, all aiming to lick Seon Ga-eul's bone-mana powder, which we're currently storing on the roof.

Since air travel was blocked, they couldn't come by plane. But people from the South Sea, Tsushima, Okinawa, Shanghai, or even from submarines passing through the nearby straits secretly swam over to Jeju Island.

"Mir, remember the data I sent you last time?"

"Yes, sir."

"You saw those red dots near Marado, right?"

"Yes."

"All of those are submarines."

"......"

Even submarines from various nations have gathered on the seabed south of Jeju, sending only their Scavengers ashore. There was no need to explain how formidable Seon Ga-eul's ability was, given how much attention it had drawn.

In short, the bait had worked well enough.

"Should we stop pretending to be the evil spirit now?"

"Huh? Weren't we doing that to keep drawing attention?"

"That was the plan, but since no one has found us, we should stop. The game of hide and seek where the seeker has been unable to catch the hider for two weeks... at this point, it's no longer hide and seek but a missing person report."

"I guess hiding too well can also be a flaw. So, should we start leaking some information to hint at our location?"

"Yeah. It's a shame that guy didn't take the bait... but wait, I need to make a call."

I excused myself from the two and moved away to take the 'video call' that had just come in.

"Yumir. Hyeon Se-rin. Once I'm done with the call, I'll be ready for combat, so you two get prepared as well."

"Is someone coming?"

"Yes. The data has been passed to Se-rin, so review it together."

"Ah... looks like information that only goes to the higher-ups."

"Yes."

I jumped down from the building to create some distance, then manipulated my Taeguk Watch to accept the incoming video call.

"Yes, I've answered the call."

[You're late.]

"I apologize, Chairman."

[Not Chairman right now.]

The person on the other end of the call.

[You have a more affectionate title you usually call me, don't you?]

"...Ahem."

They began pressuring me.

"...Honey?"

[Hehe.]

The Chairman.

The Chief.

[That's right, darling.]

My wife.

"Right now, he's on the phone with her, isn't he?"

"That's right. If it wasn't her, there'd be no reason for him to sneak off like that."

Yumir and Hyeon Se-rin glanced in the direction where the Goblin had disappeared, giggling softly.

"Hmm, what should I say? Seeing him like that, he really looks like a henpecked husband."

"He is. The reason he's working so hard for the Secret Society is entirely for the Chairwoman...or rather, the Chief."

"What about you, unnie?"

"I'm the same."

Hyeon Se-rin picked up a tangerine from the desk, splitting it into four sections with her hands.

"If it weren't for the Goblin, the executives would probably still be fighting amongst themselves over who would be the first to earn the Chief's favor. And the one who does would... thanks to the Chief's miracle, be the first to be revived."

"Would be?"

"The situation changed thanks to the Goblin."

Hyeon Se-rin tossed two sections of the tangerine to Yumir.

"Before, we thought only one out of the four could be revived, but thanks to the Goblin, we're confident that all four can be brought back to life, though the order may vary."

"Ah..."

"Last year, the competition among the executives wasn't about achievements but about being the first to resurrect. Now, the only difference is who gets to be 'unnie' first. There's no more reason to fight."

"Is it really okay to tell me all of this?"

"Of course. You're an intern, but you're also Director Do's subordinate and a loyal partner."

"It sounds a bit weird being called a 'loyal partner'... but well, I get the gist."

Yumir lightly tapped her temple with her index finger.

"I remember something you mentioned before, teacher. When a baby is born, if a human soul enters the child, that soul can reincarnate. That's how unnie can be reborn, right?"

"That's one way to put it."

"So, there's no need for the executives to fight. As long as the woman who can 'give birth' doesn't die, as long as her body remains capable of having children, the unnie can come back to life."

"It's the start of a second, no, third life, beginning from infancy. Hehe."

Hyeon Se-rin chuckled and popped a piece of tangerine into her mouth, gesturing to her now semi-transparent body.

"It's the same for you. If you die, the Chief will save your soul out of affection, and you'll be reborn later. From infancy, of course. Though there are other ways too."

Hyeon Se-rin tapped her foot lightly on the floor where the urn lay.

"You could inhabit something like a pre-made artificial human, homunculus, or spirit doll. Although still in the research and development stage, time is tight, but if you trust the Chief, everything will be resolved."

Hyeon Se-rin clasped her hands together as if she were a devout believer praying.

"Trust in the Chief. Even the dead shall rise again."

"Indeed..."

"And you should be grateful to the Chief. It's thanks to her that you're able to be with the Goblin like this."

Poke, poke, poke.

At Hyeon Se-rin's suggestive finger gestures, Yumir scratched her cheek and smiled awkwardly.

"She's someone who permits affairs? I've thought about this for a while, but... does she have a preference for that sort of thing?"

"Half of it."

"...What?"

"She has a mix of preferences, but it's pretty much as you're thinking. Your instincts are sharp, aren't they?"

Hyeon Se-rin walked up to Yumir, draping her arm over her shoulder and whispered softly.

"The Chief, in fact..."

[The bait from Japan has been taken. 'That man' will probably head to Jeju Island. 'Mr. Wanyong.']

"Are you concerned about me?"

[Of course. That crazy monster, Japan's strongest villain, is coming for my husband's head, after all.]

Despite her worried words, the Chief's eyes were full of confidence in me.

[I've also sent Chaos, so don't lose.]

"I won't lose. Even if he's Japan's strongest villain."

It was not like I'd be fighting him alone.

"If the fight seems tricky, I'll call Se-rin, Yumir, and I'll also get help from Chaos. If necessary, I'll even ask the Thunder Emperor for support."

[Ah, that's it. But just this once.]

"Yes, just this time."

[Hahaha, this is exciting. Once we get through this crisis...]

The video call screen froze.

She must have floated the camera into the air.

[You'll devour them all, right?]

"...What?"

The Chairwoman—the Chief—smiled mischievously at me.

[Yumir, Hyeon Se-rin, Chaos, and the S-rank Thunder Emperor. Make them all yours. Then film it and send it to me, okay? The process of them becoming the mothers of your children—all of it. That's what I want.]

"Wait, all of them?"

[Oh my? After impregnating me, you're going to talk like that?]

"...Well..."

[You ate something more valuable than wild ginseng, so you'll have to take responsibility, won't you?]

...

[Honey.]

Chapter 343: The Gathering Madness Show (3)

Currently, the Chief has reduced her magic power to its lowest, entering a lightweight mode.

Using the divine power to revive a dead person, which could only be done once a year, caused her considerable strain.

Naturally, turning an ability user into a spirit was not an easy task, but the Chief's abilities worked more easily when dealing with women.

Correction.

Resurrecting a man into spirit form was an exceedingly difficult task.

However, the Chief accepted my request, using immense magic power to bring Gwang Ik Gong back to life.

As a result, she needed to rest for about a year, and the appearance of her resting state was what I was facing now in this lightweight mode.

Her hair color had shifted from its original golden hue to mostly black, and her body shape differs significantly from the original form.

The only common feature, even in her minimized state, is the one aspect that hasn't changed, something adjusted to remain unaffected even in a low-power state....

"Chairman."

[Yes, Goblin.]

"I am a fraud victim."

[......Pfft.]

No matter what the Chairman said, I must make this one point clear for my honor.

"You told me you were an adult."

[I am. A Saint Chief.]

That "adult" wasn't referring to the saintly kind of adult.

"I was asking if you were considered an adult."

[Then why didn't you ask in English back then, instead of Korean?]

"No, seriously."

She never let a word slip by.

[Seriously what?]

"You told me it was legal, but now you're making me look like someone who committed a crime, which is very troubling."

[It was legal, though? By U.S. standards in 2024, the relationship between you and me was one between two consenting adults.]

"But we're not in the U.S., are we?"

[It's not the U.S., but both you and I are villains anyway. Do you think we need to follow the law?]

From the start, she never intended to lose. Even though I was deceived in other areas, she was someone who could laugh off jokes from her subordinates, yet she was exceptionally stubborn about this matter.

"Anyway, I didn't do anything wrong. Don't slander me."

[Slander? Ahaha, regardless of what you say, you know it's over once it's happened more than once, right?]

Tch.

When she said things like that, I truly had no rebuttal.

[If you did it unknowingly once, it's a mistake, but after knowing, you did it several times. You even liked it more.]

"......"

[Also, the reincarnation of the four S-class virgin ghosts depends on your mindset.]

"That has nothing to do with.... Ah, never mind."

I raised my hands toward the floating screen.

"I'm a Pedo Villain. I'll accept the Chief's judgment."

That was right.

At first, I didn't know.

But even after finding out, I continued my relationship with the Chief, and it was the same now.

When I realized it, it was already a fait accompli. That was, the most profound and certain emotional expression between a man and a woman had taken place, and an oath had been made.

I admitted it.

I was a villain.

[Goblins love novels the most, and after that, patriotism. Am I wrong?]

"No."

[Oh my, why?]

"The thing I love the most is you, Chief."

[Wrong. It's not love; you're in love with the Chief, aren't you?]

"As expected of the Chief. Everything you say is correct."

And the Chief used this aspect of my nature to urge me to continue living as a villain.

[Then go secure more living S-class women with your bat bomber. Project Jeju, keep working on the beauty tactics.]

"Why women, of all things?"

[Isn't it obvious? What effect would flirting with a male have?]

"Your logic is flawless. I cannot refute it."

[If you did refute it—]

"Then you'd ask me if I was going to go seduce men instead."

The Chief favored efficient personnel placement.

[Let's be honest, you're not going to go around seducing men, are you?]

What the Chief expected from Do Ji-hwan was to recruit S-class heroes into the Secret Society. She assigned me to places where I could recruit talent most easily and effectively.

[Of course, you can use your full strength to help a nation in crisis.]

After killing Laplace's demon in Thailand, suppressing the military coup beneath it, and creating chaos with Hesed, would I bring the A-class hero Nguyen to our cause?

[When a hero's personal beliefs are shaken, you can approach them with sweet words and lure them in.]

With about a year of Goblin-like actions, someone would feel the need for a Goblin, be inspired by the Goblin's ideals, and be drawn into the Secret Society.

[But still, the easiest way for a Goblin to persuade a hero is by using beauty tactics, isn't it?]

Or should I just infiltrate the academy, swing my bat around, and bring in female S-class heroes through illicit patriotism?

[There's no need to take the hard path when the easy one's right there. Especially when it's directly tied to your psychological stability and peace.]

In terms of difficulty, overwhelming the situation as a Goblin Bomber was by far the easiest route.

[So, go ahead and enjoy it. It's an extramarital affair, but it's not really one, as the legal wife permits it.]

Under the Chief's permission.

[Anyway, whether your firstborn will be a son or a daughter, I don't know, but that child is mine.]

"Can't you tell if it'll be a daughter or a son?"

[Oh my, that's no fun. Do you think our ancestors knew anything before having children?]

The reason I could freely form improper relationships with other women wasn't just because of the norms of this world but because I had already settled everything with the Chief.

"I understand. But please know this: no matter what you think of me, I have given you all of my firsts."

I was not sure about my previous life as Do Chang-nam, but as Do Ji-hwan, I had given the Chief everything.

"Everything about the reborn me, Do Ji-hwan."

[I know. Hehe.]

My body, my mind, and my soul.

"Even now, it feels like enough, but if I involve more people...."

[Mr. Do? If there's an overwhelmingly strong being, what's the easiest way to beat them?]

"If you can't fight alone, you fight together with many."

[Exactly. The same goes for me. You just have to convert your magic power into stamina. Like how heroes gather a party to challenge the Demon King.]

So that was it.

Was I the Demon King?

[You're the Demon King of the bed. A terrifying patriotism demon swinging the cursed Goblin Bat. And the heroes gathering to face that demon? That's us. Hehehe.]

"Usually, the hero's party is wiped out by the Demon King."

[But if the hero party has about 10 members, it's a different story, right? If you gather more heroes besides the summoner who holds your soul, that is. Hehehe.]

"Do the summoner's summons count among those 10?"

[They might, or they might not.]

"Sigh. Got it. But—"

There was one thing I have to say.

"I didn't know."

[Oh, come on. That excuse doesn't work anymore.]

"Why not?"

[You know how it is. If you unknowingly snort bone powder the first time, you get leniency. But if you knowingly snort it several times after that, even Goblins execute that enemy. It's the same logic.]

"......"

I was a villain.

[Hehe. Don't be too hard on yourself. Just think of it like this.]

The Chief smiled brightly at me and pointed her index finger toward me.

[I told you, didn't I? You ate ginseng, but it was me who fed it to you.]

"......"

[Wasn't it delicious?]

"Yes."

It was a taste I had never experienced before.

Because it was my first time.

"But you keep calling it ginseng...."

[I was talking about medium-sized ginseng.]

"......Is that so?"

[Yes. Oh, of course.]

Smirk.

[I'm 17 years old right now, though.]

"......"

I was a Goblin of the Society.

I was someone who cannot betray the Society.

After finishing the call with the Chief.

"What did the Chairman say?"

"She told me to recruit every S-class woman I could find into the Society without question."

I relayed the Chief's words as they were, and both Hyeon Se-rin and Yumir pointed at their Taegeuk watches with puzzled expressions.

"The video?"

"She said to take pictures or videos and send them."

"The directive hasn't changed."

"There is a change."

I spread both hands in front of them, flexing all ten fingers before closing them again.

"She said the more heroes there are to defeat the Demon King, the better."

"Is the teacher the Demon King?"

"She called me the Patriot Demon King."

"Ah, that makes sense. The Demon King of the bed, swinging the fallen holy sword like a club."

"......"

Yumir's words made my head throb for a moment, but since she wasn't wrong, I just smiled and let it pass.

"Anyway, now that we've heard the Chief's orders, all that's left is to break the board that was set up through Seon Ga-eul."

"And while you're at it, are you planning to recruit some S-class women?"

"Not necessarily, but if the opportunity arises, why not?"

Currently, there are two S-class female heroes on Jeju Island.

"Thunder Emperor Kim Yoon-ji and Baridegi Tae Irin. One of them has agreed to join the Society, but the deal hasn't been sealed yet. This time, I'll make sure to get the final stamp."

I would make sure to secure one of them on our side.

"We'll overcome the trial together and recruit them through our patriotic affair."

It was a perfect plan.

And fortunately, the trial was already crossing the sea toward us.

"A traitor who fled to Japan, an S-class villain, is swimming over to Jeju Island."

The S-class villain, who was hypnotized by Seon Ga-eul, betrayed the nation and fled to Japan. Now, he was coming to Jeju to retrieve Seon Ga-eul's bone powder.

His name?

Okamoto Yasuo.

Chapter 344: The Gathering Madness Show (4)

At that moment, at Seongsan Ilchulbong.

"Seriously, this is driving me crazy."

Two women, Baridegi and the Thunder Emperor, stood atop Seongsan Ilchulbong, sighing as they watched a dark shadow slithering beneath the water's surface at sunrise.

"Those lunatics."

"Sis, don't curse. They might hear you."

"I'm saying it so they can hear. Does this even make any sense?"

The Thunder Emperor growled in frustration as she watched things slowly rising from the water's surface.

Swooosh.

Something was rising, cutting through the water.

It was clearly, as everyone's common sense dictated, a whale.

Pwooosh.

With a sharp spout of water, the strange whales aimed to dock between the peaks of Seongsan Ilchulbong and settle on the beach.

It was clearly not the behavior of ordinary whales.

"What, what is this? Why are they coming this way?!"

"They're not normal! Damn it, what's the navy doing that they're not stopping the whales?!"

"Because they're whales!"

"Argh!"

The ability users of the association, who had been setting up barricades on the beach, screamed and fled as the herd of whales crashed straight into their defenses.

"Damn those bastards...!"

"Sis! No! If they really are just whales, you'll get in trouble!"

"Do you expect me to just sit here when it's obvious what's inside?!"

As Baridegi held back the Thunder Emperor, who was preparing to fire lightning at the whales, the whales, their bodies covered in scars, thrashed their tails left and right as they crashed headfirst into the sandy beach. ṚÅΝǑ𝐁Ɛȿ

Swooosh!

The whales slid onto the beach, their heads crashing into the sand as they plowed forward.

Unless humans intervened or the tide reached their mouths to sweep them back into the sea, there was no way they could return to the ocean.

It wasn't a natural occurrence unless they were deliberately committing mass suicide on land.

Although whale suicides were not unheard of, a herd sliding ashore like this on Jeju Island was a rare sight.

This was, of course, not a natural phenomenon, but the work of humans.

Screeech!

The head of one whale split open.

Like a clean cut from a sharp blade, the whale's head split in two, and a man leisurely stepped out from inside.

"That bastard!"

The Thunder Emperor cursed as she landed in front of the man.

As she fell, she unleashed her lightning upon the man, but he easily deflected it with a swing of the typical katana at his waist.

"Tsk, tsk. What are you trying to do now?"

"Shut up, you traitor!"

"A traitor? I merely naturalized to Japan for the sake of my love."

The man, dressed in a black suit with slitted eyes, arrogantly rested his katana on his shoulder.

"Domo, Thunder Emperor-san. I am Yasuo."

"If you're in Korea, speak Korean!"

"You understood my introduction, didn't you?"

"You...!"

"Oh, come now. You're not seriously going to attack a 'refugee swallowed by a whale,' are you?"

The young man shrugged, and soon, ability users began emerging from holes in the whales all around.

"You see, we were just boating off Okinawa when, lo and behold, these whales swallowed us up."

They were all dressed in traditional Japanese attire and looked like typical Japanese people.

"Next thing we knew, oh my! We'd arrived in Jeju. As refugees, you'll let us stay, right?"

"Stop spouting nonsense."

Baridegi leapt from the peak and landed on the beach in an instant.

"My, my, I-rin! It's been a while."

"Shut your mouth. Don't call my name so casually."

"How cold. You used to follow me around so eagerly."

"If you don't want to die, show some respect. S-class villain, Okamoto Yasuo. Or should I call you by your real name, Lee Jae-min?"

"Oh dear, oh dear. You're being so harsh on someone who's only here to retrieve my dear friend's remains. And to exorcise a ghost, of course."

"Weren't you just saying you got swallowed by a whale?"

"Well, that's just the official story. I-rin, if you don't stand aside quietly, there won't be a violent clash, will there?"

"Hmph...! International villain or not! Even if you brought your entire team, the justification is on our side! Everyone, prepare for battle!!"

At the Thunder Emperor's command, everyone on the coast picked up their weapons and readied themselves for battle.

"How disappointing."

"What should we do, boss? Kill them all?"

"Whoa, hold on. We can't kill them. If we do, Gwang Ik Gong from Busan will fly over and wipe us all out."

Yasuo chuckled wickedly as he rested his sword on his shoulder.

"Let's just play nice and meet at our respective destinations. Now, everyone..."

Click.

"Set them free!!"

Yasuo and five other ability users assumed the same pose and got into position.

"""""Transformation!! Mushi Ranger, on!!"""""

[Is that the Super Ranger from the mainland?]

[This is so embarrassing.]

Under the pretext of a field trip with Yumir, we had come to catch the biggest bait related to the Seon Ga-eul case, only to witness an utterly cringeworthy scene.

[Mushi Rangers? What the hell is that? Are they all bugs or something?]

[Each ability user's ego is unique. Let me teach you something more.]

I pointed to the five Super Rangers, each glowing in red, blue, yellow, green, and pink.

[When someone is consumed by their concept, it means their ego is clear and distinct.]

[So, does that make their abilities stronger?]

[Of course.]

In this world, the stronger one's ego, the more powerful their abilities become.

It was often described as "the ability to impose one's will on the world," and those guys were currently making their presence known.

[But science is still science.]

"Yasuo, Iza Mairuuu!"

Swinging a katana around like the wind, the Red Ranger, Yaions, was charging at the Korean Hero Association agents, slashing at them wildly.

"Kraaaah!"

"Sung-hyun! You traitor!"

"Heh, heh, keep cursing me! More, more!!"

Yaions laughed louder as he kicked one of the agents in the chest.

"Curse me all you want! Hahaha!"

"You piece of trash...!"

"And what are you going to do about it?!"

The Thunder Emperor swung her lightning-covered spear at Yaions, but he deflected it with his katana.

"I'll live however I want, so what's it to you?!"

"Do you have no conscience?! Are you even human?!"

"Would you rather I be a demon or a monster?!"

He shot back at the Thunder Emperor, not letting her get the last word.

[He's really irritating. Does he want to be cursed at that badly...?]

Yumir shook her head as she watched Yaions.

[They said he's an S-class villain, but that guy's not a hero, right?]

[Technically, he's a villain affiliated with Japan. Do you know about the Yakuza?]

[Japanese mafia?]

[Something like that. They act like Super Rangers, but in reality, they're Yakuza members playing the role of Japan's enforcers. And their leader is that guy, Yaions. He became an S-class villain by enhancing his powers through treason.]

[Treason...?]

Boom, boom, KABOOM!

Explosions echoed around us.

The fight between the Thunder Emperor and Yaions had turned into a full-fledged one-on-one, but the villains that had come with Yaions weren't just ordinary ones.

[All five of those people were originally Korean.]

[I don't get it. Why did they defect to Japan? With their strength, if they stayed in Korea, they'd be as popular as two S-class heroes.]

Bang!

Baridegi fired her enchanted bullets, sniping at the remaining treasonous Rangers.

Though they struggled to close the distance with her, Baridegi was alone, and there were four of them.

"You cowardly people!"

"Angry? So what are you going to do about it?"

"If you're so mad, why don't you try stopping us!"

As two S-class Rangers distracted Baridegi, the remaining two A-class Rangers methodically took down the Hero Association agents, one by one.

"Are you insane?! Do you really think you'll get away with this?!"

"We wouldn't be doing this if we thought we wouldn't!"

They weren't interested in talking.

They were only provoking further anger from their opponents.

[They really know how to get under people's skin.]

[That's their strength.]

[Huh?]

[Their ego is based on treason.]

These people gained power from the anger of Koreans.

[Their joy, their pride, and the enhancement of their abilities all come from enraging others. Naturally, betraying Korea and antagonizing Koreans only makes them stronger.]

An ability user would do anything to become stronger.

Even if it meant defecting to Japan, changing their name to a Japanese one, and making themselves objects of Korean hatred, all for the sake of growing stronger.

[Yumir, you gain strength from the desire to purify and save corrupted souls. I gain power from my resolve to execute the wicked.]

[Wait, no way...]

[That's right. They gain power from making others angry.]

That was how they thought.

[And that's why they're villains.]

They were sadomasochists of sorts.

And for them, their betrayal of Korea manifested as this "patriotic traitor" act.

[Technically, the Secret Society wouldn't normally get involved. But these guys are one of the Society's dirty little secrets.]

[What do you mean?]

[It was a villain from the Secret Society that created these traitors.]

Through hypnosis and gaslighting, a single S-class villain and four A-class villains were brainwashed into abandoning their Korean nationality and defecting to Japan.

[We realized too late that continuous hypnosis could turn potential heroes into treasonous villains. By the time we figured it out, they had already crossed over to Japan.]

Seon Ga-eul manipulated them into defecting.

That was why she was called the Witch of the Rising Sun.

She committed patriotic gaslighting, causing Korea to lose valuable resources—two S-class and three A-class talents—to Japan.

-I sent them to Japan so the Secret Society could more easily control Korea!!

A treasonous legacy left by a woman who acted on her own, without the Chief's orders.

[Time for me to step in.]

I donned my goblin scholar attire, rather than my usual gentleman outfit.

[As the Executioner of Villains.]

[Are you going to kill them?]

[If they do something worthy of death, I might.]

However,

[If their crimes aren't that bad, I'll spare them.]

I pressed my mask firmly with my hand, then leapt forward.

Flash.

As soon as I passed through the golden dimensional gate, I saw Yaions swinging his sword, as if he were about to unleash some kind of ultimate move.

"Wind slic—huh?"

SMASH!

Before he could react, I brought my Goblin Bat down with all my strength.

Chapter 345: The Gathering Madness Show (5)

This world.

Among ability users, there was one taboo you must never break.

For example, attacking someone while they were transforming.

For example, delivering a finishing blow and saying, "Did I get them?"

For example, attacking someone when they were preparing a move and announcing the name of the technique.

"Ignoring the romance of ability users! Unforgivable!"

Anyone who disrespected the romance of an ability user would suffer a fate worse than death.

When you thought about how abilities ultimately manifested the imagination and romance of the user, disrupting that romance was like violating a sacred rule.

Screech—

However, I broke that taboo without a second thought.

Just as Yaions was about to use some wind-based technique or whatever it was called, I opened a dimensional gate right in front of him and struck his crown with my Goblin Bat.

"Urgh, guh...!"

Yaions staggered backward in shock.

His hand holding the sword trembled violently, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

"Damn...!"

But, as expected of someone stronger than the Thunder Emperor despite everything, Yaions managed to stay conscious, even after taking a direct hit to the head.

[As expected of an S-class. You don't go down with just one strike.]

"Goblin! Why are you suddenly here...?"

[Goblins are everywhere. Didn't you know I was already operating on Jeju Island? That's unfortunate.]

"Why are you saying such things...?!"

"Yasuo!!"

The other Rangers rushed over to help Yasuo, supporting him.

"Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine...! Ugh, it was just a cowardly sneak attack! But more importantly, why are you here?!"

[I'm a villain, but I'm a Korean villain.]

Someone once said:

"Wait, did we really team up against the Nazis?"

"Shut up! I may be a villain, but I'm an American villain!"

The most notorious villain in the world said this as he pointed a gun at a Nazi villain.

[As a Korean, I can't stand by and watch villains who betray Korea to side with Japan, of all places.]

I felt the same.

"Korean...?"

[That's right.]

"Huh, haha...! Finally, finally, you reveal your true identity! Yeah, if you weren't Korean, there'd be no reason for you to act like this in this country!" ṝＡNỘΒΕⱾ

Yaions, with blood dripping from his mouth, pointed his sword at me.

"Now that I know you're Korean, I can't hold back anymore!"

Whoosh—

Yaions' sword was once again surrounded by wind.

"Come forth, Divine Wind! Slice through my enemy!"

The name and technique reminded me of an ability user I knew, but his fighting style was entirely different from the one I remembered.

"Kama Itachi!!"

Yaions slashed his sword from the ground upwards, sending a powerful gust of wind cutting through the earth towards me.

The speed was so fast that by the time I said "slow," it had already reached me.

As expected of an S-class user, the speed was immense.

[Too slow.]

Behind me, a golden shield spread out, protecting me.

The blade of wind grazed the shield and scattered to the sides, splitting the ground around it.

"Platinum Sun...! Even you...!"

[With everything in chaos on Jeju Island right now, instead of cooperating, you're making things worse. What are you doing?]

Yumir stood beside me, extending her hand toward Yaions and the other Mushi Rangers.

A red aura swirled around her wrist, and ropes extended from her hand, ready to subdue the Mushi Rangers at any moment.

[Your actions are disturbing the peace. I cannot allow this. I will subdue you.]

"Foolishness...! Are you Korean too?!"

[Before being Korean, I'm a citizen of Earth. I cannot stand by and let someone threaten the peace of this world.]

"If that's the case, then take care of the Goblin next to you first!"

Well, he wasn't wrong.

It was true that right now, the members of the Hero Association—the Thunder Emperor and Baridegi—were keeping their distance but still targeting both us and the Mushi Rangers from afar.

Whether you were a Japanese villain or a Korean villain, a villain was a villain.

You were only called a villain of a certain country based on where you mostly operate, but villains were universally opposed everywhere.

"Surely, you're not going to show some nationalistic favoritism and go after those of us who are Japanese first just because we're foreigners?"

"Ugh...!"

"If you're a hero of Korea, you should prioritize subduing the Korean villain first!"

"You don't get to say that, being a Japanese villain!"

The Thunder Emperor scolded Yaions, but technically, under international law, Yaions had the upper hand.

"The Goblin's villain rank is higher than mine! Surely, you wouldn't attack us 'just yet,' especially when the Goblin, who recently killed Nut Crusher, is still at large?"

"Ugh...!"

The Thunder Emperor clenched her fists, trembling with anger.

The Thunder Emperor was the one who killed Nut Crusher, but the blame was now being pinned on me.

[According to international law, priority goes to subduing the villain who has committed the most recent crime or holds the highest rank. Rather than someone who might commit a crime.]

A person who snuck in on a whale, plotting something on Jeju Island.

In contrast, I was the one who killed Nut Crusher, a Korean ability user—villain or not—and burned the body.

From a general perspective, it was obvious even to a child who the more heinous and malevolent person was.

Except, of course, if you were a Korean child, when viewed from the perspective of the rest of the world's children.

[You're manipulating the situation by using social norms, hero ethics, and your own code of conduct to your advantage. Typical behavior of a neo-Japanese sympathizer.]

"Shut up! You're just a piece of trash who goes around killing people!"

[I'm merely executing those who are less than human.]

If this stalemate continued, it was clear that Yumir and I would be at a disadvantage.

"Platinum Sun! You're no different! Acting alongside that Goblin only makes you a villain like him!"

[...]

"You claim to purify demons, but all you do is serve Korea! How absurd!"

[I don't only show up in Korea, you know?]

"But you only appear wherever the Goblin goes! It was the same in Thailand! You're neither a Korean hero nor a global hero! You're just a woman who's completely enthralled by the Goblin, body and soul!"

He struck a nerve.

[Enough with the nonsense.]

Before Yumir could react and lash out, I stepped in front of her and extended my hand to stop her.

[No matter what he says, this time, we'll work together.]

[...Fine. Let's clean up Jeju Island first, and then we'll settle 'that business.']

There was no "business" to settle.

We were just feigning cooperation for now, as our interests happen to align in this situation.

"Hmph! Do you really think that pathetic act will fool anyone? The Thunder Emperor! Baridegi! Take care of these villains!"

"Don't order me around! You're villains too!"

"We may be villains, but right now, we're just 'refugees!'"

"That's nonsense...!"

The Thunder Emperor glanced at me and clenched her fist again.

Technically, for the Korean Hero Association to avoid backlash later from the Japanese Hero Association or from Japan itself—such as accusations of "Does Korea protect its villains just because they're citizens?"—they had to attack the Goblin.

If the Thunder Emperor and Baridegi didn't attack us now, Korea could be attacked by Japan later.

[Platinum Sun. Let's move the stage 'there.' Open a dimensional gate. Villains deserve an appropriate execution ground.]

[Understood.]

Paaat.

Yumir opened a dimensional gate in front of me.

I stepped up to the gate, raising my Goblin Bat and aiming it at Yaions.

[Let's settle this one-on-one. There are some things we need to discuss.]

"Hah...! Do you think I don't know what you're up to?!"

[Oh, really? In that case...]

I quickly surveyed the surroundings and then began backing toward the gate.

[I was the one who killed her.]

I imbued my voice with magical power.

The sound, amplified by Yumir's magic, reached only Yaions.

[Seon Gaeul.]

With that one phrase, I stepped through the gate.

Flash.

My vision brightened for a moment as I teleported to the rooftop where Seon Gaeul was buried.

I immediately gripped my Goblin Bat and assumed a stance.

3, 2, 1.

"Onoreeeeee!!"

Yaions burst through the gate, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he swung his sword at me.

"Dieeeeeee!!"

[You've become quite Japanese.]

Clang!

I blocked his attack just as the gate closed behind him.

"You... you...!"

[Yes. I killed her.]

Though someone else actually did it, even if they hadn't, I would've killed her myself.

[The traitorous broker, the Witch of the Rising Sun, the betrayer of the Secret Society. Seon Gaeul, it was me who killed her.]

"You... you...!"

[You must have come to Jeju to retrieve her remains. And while you were at it, you probably planned to dispel her spirit and take her powers. Do you know her ability is hypnosis?]

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!!"

With each shout, Yaions swung his sword, trying to kill me.

Although it looked like wild slashing, his attacks were actually precise, aimed directly at my neck.

"I can never forgive you for killing my sister!!"

[Right. She must have whispered sweet promises to you, didn't she? Saying that if you crossed over to Japan, you'd live together.]

"Shut upppp!!"

Yaions roared so loudly it echoed through the mountains, his rage completely overtaking him.

[She said the same thing to me.]

"What...?"

For a moment, Yaions' eyes wavered.

"What did you say...?"

[Oh dear. Didn't you know? You weren't the only one she flirted with.]

I casually rested the Goblin Bat on my shoulder.

[Did you ever sleep with her?]

"Th-that's—"

[No, no. Don't answer like a child. What I'm asking is...]

Poke poke.

I jabbed the bat into a hole in the wall.

[Did you ever do that?]

"Onoreeeeeee!!"

[Judging by the look in your eyes, I guess you got that far, huh.]

I deflected his sword strikes as I continued speaking.

[Would you like to know who took her first?]

Now.

He wouldn't be able to leave this place.

[If you defeat me, I'll tell you.]

"I swear, I'll kill you!!"

It was one-on-one.

Well, not for me.

'I never said I was her first.'

I wasn't lying.

Chapter 346: The Gathering Madness Show (6)

Paaat!

The golden dimensional gate closed.

The two S-class villains, Goblin and Yaions, disappeared without a trace inside.

"W-what...!"

"Where did you send our leader?"

[Who knows.]

The Mushi Rangers erupted in anger at the actions of Platinum Sun, who had closed the dimensional gate. However, Platinum Sun nonchalantly pointed at the empty space where the gate had vanished.

[It's somewhere on Earth, I suppose.]

"You bastard...!"

"How dare you send our leader...!"

Paaat!

The Mushi Rangers charged at Platinum Sun all at once, but Platinum Sun easily dodged their attacks, creating distance between them.

[If you want to find them, go ahead. I still need to finish getting rid of the evil spirits in Jeju Island.]

"What...?"

[You're looking for something, right? I know where it is.]

Everyone's attention was now on Platinum Sun.

"You know where Seon Ga-eul's remains are?"

[Yes, I found them. I was going to destroy them, but as soon as I found out you were coming, I came straight here.]

"If you know where the remains are, tell us! Now!"

Baridegi stepped forward, approaching Platinum Sun.

"You're not like Goblin, are you?"

[I'm not. I don't want to become a villain.]

Surprisingly, Platinum Sun didn't avoid Baridegi's approach.

Baridegi came so close, almost within one meter, close enough that if she stretched out her hands and feet, she could grab Platinum Sun's wrist. But even then, Platinum Sun didn't move from her spot. ṛἈŊỐＢË𝙨

[But I'm not sure about you either. Just like I don't trust those Mushi Rangers trying to steal the remains, I'm not confident about what the Hero Association would do if they got their hands on them.]

"Of course we would-"

[The Goblin said he would destroy the remains.]

"!!!"

Baridegi's hand stopped for a moment.

She now had an idea why this woman was temporarily aligned with Goblin.

"Do you plan to destroy Seon Ga-eul's remains?"

[Of course. I believe they shouldn't exist.]

"Why?"

[If someone were to use that ability and hypnotize someone to 'become a demon,' there's a chance they would.]

"A hypnosis that turns people into demons... No one would do such a thing...!"

[Are you absolutely sure?]

At Platinum Sun's words, Baridegi bit her lower lip.

It was hard for her to say with certainty that such a thing would never happen, based on what she had seen and heard.

[There are abilities in this world that are helpful, and others that are more dangerous. I think hypnotic abilities fall into the latter category. So, I can't just sit back and let that be.]

"Platinum Sun. I have just one question."

The Thunder Emperor stepped up beside Baridegi, standing protectively next to her, and confronted Platinum Sun.

"Are you on the same side as Goblin?"

[For now, yes. At least when it comes to destroying Seon Ga-eul's remains.]

"...I see."

Crackle.

"If you're on Goblin's side, that makes you an enemy of the Association, at least for now."

[...]

"But our current mission is to stabilize Jeju Island. My top priority as Thunder Emperor Kim Yoon-ji is to restore peace to Jeju Island, not chasing after you."

"Sister Yoon-ji!"

"Irin."

The Thunder Emperor placed a hand on Baridegi's shoulder and pointed toward the sea. Baridegi closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, turning her gaze to the remaining four Mushi Rangers.

"...I will arrest the villains who illegally entered Jeju Island."

"What about that woman?! She's just as much of a-"

Whoosh.

Suddenly, a dimensional gate opened in the air, and Platinum Sun slipped through it.

"Chase-"

The gate closed before they could chase her.

"Wow. Her speed is incredible, even I couldn't follow her. As expected, Platinum Sun is amazing."

The Thunder Emperor scratched her head, feeling a bit awkward as she pulled her hand back from the now-closed gate.

"Ah, headquarters. This is Thunder Emperor. We've lost Goblin and Platinum Sun. But I'll arrest the remaining Mushi Rangers immediately."

"You, you scum...! Acting so obvious..."

"You're the ones who acted obvious. You secretly landed on Jeju Island, hiding from the navy by controlling an innocent whale."

Crackle.

The Thunder Emperor gathered electricity around her body once again as she stood in front of them.

"Protect Jeju Island. That is our duty as heroes."

Boom!

"You damn villains."

From the sky, blue lightning fell.

Sometimes, when I provoked an opponent to shake their mentality, I wondered.

'What if this turns them into a demon?'

Shaking someone's mental state meant increasing their chances of becoming a demon.

Even those with strong mental fortitude could become demons if their most sensitive nerve was hit.

That was how it was for Yaions too.

"I'll definitely kill you!!"

[If you kill me, you won't get the answers you want.]

"I'll make you talk first, then kill you!!"

Every time Yaions swung his killing sword at me, his murderous intent brushed against my skin.

The blade's wind scraped my entire body, cutting my robe with every pass.

"I'll definitely kill the one who killed my noona!"

His rage fueled his murderous intent.

His fury amplified his magic power, and the clear intent to kill me became his most powerful weapon.

Clang!

Engaging him directly wasn't favorable.

Even though our weapon skills were evenly matched, each clash sent sparks flying, and the blade wind attacked my entire body.

"Kama Itachi!"

Once again, Yaions slammed his sword into the ground.

At the same time, he slashed upward, and three sharp waves shot out from his blade.

[Too bad.]

I struck the ground with my goblin bat, summoning my magic.

A massive concrete pillar rose before me, and the slash waves vanished as they collided with the pillar.

"What the...! Are you controlling concrete?!"

[It's just an ability.]

I merely created a shield in the form of a pillar using my magic.

Whether it was because it was dark or because the form was too realistic, Yaions didn't realize the pillar was just a magical creation.

With just the Goblin Bat, I created a massive pillar that rose from the ground.

[Do you not know that the woman you cherish so much has been seducing other men?]

"Shut up!"

[If you didn't know, now you do. And if you knew, remember it again. The woman who whispered love into your ear and suggested crossing over to Japan was nothing more than a queen bee, a femme fatale.]

"!!"

Yaions's eyes filled with bloodshot rage.

"That, that can't be...!"

[But you know, don't you? One of the people who went to Japan with you had also traveled with Seon Ga-eul to Jeju Island.]

"S-shut up!"

[Seon Ga-eul even went to Ulleungdo with another man, though she told you she was going on a trip to Seoul with friends.]

"Stop it! Don't insult her!"

[It's not an insult; it's reality. Even if you charge me with defamation, it would still be factual defamation.]

In denial of the truth, Yaions shook his head furiously and aimed his blade at me.

"She's not some tramp!!"

[No, she is. That woman even tried to hypnotize me and manipulate me with her body. That's why I killed her.]

"N-no! Shut up! That can't be true!"

[Do you really believe that? Do you think she was pure?]

He was wavering.

And that wavering revealed Yaions's true feelings.

[You know it. You weren't her first.]

Because he knew.

Because deep down, he believed that what I was saying wastrue.'

[She wasn't just experienced with men; she was still seeing other men even while she was with you, not just ability users, but older men too.]

"Ugh, argh...!!"

That man, he was not turning into a demon right now.

Despite shaking his mental state this much, there was no sign of demonization, which meant he was aware of what I was saying.

[I simply took care of a villain who was using her body to disrupt world peace by seducing men.]

Because he knew that what I was saying was the truth.

[Let's end this soon.]

And then.

[Also, if you're going to use that name and title, don't use such techniques.]

Whoosh.

The wind blew.

In an instant, Yaions staggered, his gaze shifting to the ground.

"What...?!"

[You're stepping on remains.]

"!!"

Yaions's eyes trembled.

In the middle of the rooftop, the ground had cracked slightly due to the battle, revealing an old piece of cloth between the broken concrete.

That clothing was undeniably familiar to Yaions, something Seon Ga-eul had worn when she was alive.

[You stepped on a grave.]

"You...!"

His eyes, his magical power, trembled with fury and confusion.

The trust Yaions had in Seon Ga-eul, who had guided him until now, wavered as he learned about her past actions. That unease and wavering shook the magical power that strengthened his body.

[On the grave of the femme fatale who tried to use you.]

And using that wavering, I broke the will of the brainwashed man before me.

[Let me finish this, to clear your mind.]

Whoosh.

As soon as I gave the signal, a gust of wind roared from the grave.

"!!"

Caught off guard by the sudden tornado, Yaions stumbled backward, trying to escape.

And from the ground beneath Yaions, a glowing green magical power circled out like a magic array.

"What...?!"

[Cyclone.]

Whoosh!

The green wind swirled up from below, launching Yaions high into the sky.

[Now, let me show you true science.]

Gripping my Goblin Bat tightly, I leaped forward.

[Remember this, you who were bitten by a femme fatale.]

The green wind beneath my feet served as a springboard, propelling me forward.

[Your name deserves a matching fighting style.]

Whoosh.

Guided by the wind, I arrived.

"Damn you!"

Slash.

Even as Yaions was hurled into the air by the cyclone, mentally shaken, he still swung his sword at me with a single-minded intent to defeat me.

"I got him—!"

[Too bad.]

I had arrived.

The one that Yaions slashed wasn't the real me, but a clone. The real me had already arrived.

[There is no victory for someone who wanted to be the protagonist of a femme fatale's story.]

As Yaions raised his sword, still staring in the direction where he thought I was running from, I stood behind him.

[Look at this, this is true science.]

Yaions was now floating in midair.

At some point, the Goblin Bat in my hand had transformed into a sword.

"You... you...!"

I unleashed three consecutive strikes.

[Final Breath.]

With three swift slashes, I cut Yaions down.

[This is the class of a master.]

Chapter 347: The Gathering Madness Show (7)

After swinging the final breath.

Yaions knelt.

His body bore the marks of blades swung from three directions, and blood was streaming from his wounds.

"......."

Like a samurai about to commit seppuku, Yaions closed his eyes.

As an S-class, he realized that no matter what he did, he couldn't defeat me.

And at the same time, the will to resist was broken.

There was no longer a reason to run wild to obtain Seon Ga-eul's remains.

"Kill me. I've lost."

He admitted his defeat in our one-on-one duel and humbly accepted death.

There was the death of a superpowered being, but also the death of a fool in love, which he accepted at my hands.

"You are strong, Goblin. It is truly unfortunate that such power is used for this country."

[I'm not using it for this country. I'm using it for the nation the Society will rule.]

"What? Ha, haha. You say amusing things. Well... there's nothing more for a defeated dog to say here."

The man, who had renamed himself Okamoto Yasuo, spread his arms wide and looked up at the sky.

"Dawn is approaching. With my death, dawn will come to this land. A fine day to die."

[Who said I would kill you?]

"What?"

[I'm not going to kill you. I won't.]

Yaions's expression twisted.

But I was not someone who killed recklessly.

[You may be a villain, an S-class villain from Japan, but you're also a victim of Seon Ga-eul.]

"......."

[If I had intended to kill you, you wouldn't have lived to see 2025.]

I didn't summon him here, where Seon Ga-eul's urn was, with the intent to execute him.

If I wanted to execute him, I would have crossed into Japan earlier, raided his base in Okinawa, and crushed his skull.

[The man I would kill is the fool lost in nostalgia for Seon Ga-eul.]

Yaions shut his eyes tightly without saying a word.

[You betrayed your country and sided with Japan because you were under her hypnosis.]

I pulled out the urn from the shattered ground.

"That is..."

[It's all over now. At best, this is just rotten bone powder, no good even for your health.]

The thermos's end was split by the blade of the wind, and the white powder inside spilled into the winds of Jeju Island.

The powder, carried by the wind, ascended into the sky, as if achieving enlightenment, scattering into the dawn sky.

[The evil spirit is already gone.]

"Ah...."

[Before you arrived, we had already dealt with Seon Ga-eul. The witch of the Rising Sun will not reappear in this land.]

"Is she really dead? If only I had come sooner... could I have met her?"

[Who knows? I can't say for sure.]

While Yaions immersed himself in his thoughts, I glanced toward the distant gaze that watched me.

'They're probably thinking I'm lying about Seon Ga-eul's death.'

The two women watching from afar looked bewildered.

Their eyes practically said, "Stop lying, already."

'It's not a lie, though.'

As I always said, I only lied when necessary.

This time was no exception.

"How did Ga-eul noona die?"

[She kept gaslighting me until the end. Telling me we should live together forever. That if we teamed up, we could aim for an executive position in the Society. That we could conquer this country together.] 𝙧𝖆𝐍ỒᛒĘş

That was what she said.

Not in June of 2025, but in late autumn of 2024.

[Doesn't that sound familiar?]

"...She whispered the same to me. Even as an evil spirit, I bet she said those things. She was always someone looking out for her own survival."

Yaions had a skewed view of Seon Ga-eul.

"But still, I loved her. Damn it."

It was Seon Ga-eul who tinted his vision with rose-colored glasses, hypnotizing him into thinking only of her.

[Are you coming to your senses now?]

"...Was my love for her a lie?"

[You should know the answer better than anyone. Let me ask you this.]

I pointed the Goblin's bat toward Yaions's chest.

[When you think of Seon Ga-eul, does your heart race?]

"......!"

[When you love someone, even after death, thinking of them should make your heart ache and race. You revisit memories, reliving those cherished times, savoring the love.]

No one was as blind as a superpowered being in love.

[Love is the most powerful emotion for a superpowered being.]

Even if it was with a villain or an illicit lover, love could drive a hero to the brink of scandalous retirement. Love was that powerful—for anyone, not just superpowered beings.

[You gave Seon Ga-eul that fiery moment of love.]

At one point, this man fell in love with Seon Ga-eul.

He thought her sweet whispers were love.

Though they were merely words meant to use him.

[But does your heart burn as intensely now as it did when you decided to betray your country, change your name, and become Japan's dog?]

"I... I don't know."

[Compare your past self with who you are now. You were Lee Jae-min, who decided to immigrate to Japan following Seon Ga-eul's proposal. Now, you are Okamoto Yasuo, married to a Japanese woman and an S-class villain among the Okinawan yakuza. How does your love for her feel now?]

"......."

[Let me drive the nail in for good. Do you still love Seon Ga-eul?]

"......I don't love her."

With great difficulty, Yaions opened his mouth to speak.

[Why can't you love her anymore?]

"Because I discovered who she really is."

[Exactly. Once her hypnosis broke after her death, and you saw her true self, your love faded.]

His love faded, regressed, and began to be forgotten as he gradually realized the truth behind Seon Ga-eul once the hypnosis broke.

[If you could still love her, even after seeing her flirt with other men and brainwash them, if you chose to stay by her side regardless, you might have been considered the ultimate romantic. But isn't your heart now directed toward someone else?]

"......."

On Yaions's left ring finger, a ring shimmered.

It was a simple silver couple's ring, but it looked cheap, unlike the typical wedding bands often seen in Korea.

[Under hypnosis, you became Japanese. Water that's been spilled can't be retrieved. The moment you abandoned your nationality for love, you had no choice but to live as a Japanese citizen. And while I could execute a villain of Japan...]

I withdrew the Goblin's Bat.

[I can't treat you differently from the others. If you'd killed a soldier or civilians while landing on Jeju Island, you and your comrades—those "Mushi Rangers"—would have been killed on the spot. The Goblin's Bat has no mercy for murderers.]

"......."

[While landing on Jeju, you killed no people but did kill whales.]

The question was: Had Yaions and the Mushi Rangers committed atrocities severe enough to warrant execution?

They hadn't.

They weren't demons, nor had they done anything unforgivable.

[Therefore, I will pass a suitable judgment on you. Now, confess your sins.]

"What?"

[What do you think your sins are?]

"......."

Slowly, Yaions got up from his kneeling position.

He wasn't going to fight, but like a condemned man standing on the gallows, he steadied his breath and answered.

"Being deceived by a femme fatale into giving up my nationality. Illegally entering Jeju Island. And... allowing hatred and contempt for my homeland to become the source of my strength."

[You know well. But you left out the most serious sin.]

"...Wanting to hear just one thing from the woman who never truly loved me."

[What was that?]

"I wanted to ask her if she loved me."

A feeling of pity arose, and I let out a sigh.

Even now, as we talk, remnants of his longing for Seon Ga-eul linger.

[It seems your head is still not entirely cleared.]

"Calling it a head instead of a brain... How crude."

[If a beast like you, completely obsessed with a woman who tried to manipulate him, stands before me, should I call that a human head or a beast's skull?]

"...So, I'm nothing more than a pitiful beast still clinging to a woman."

[Exactly.]

Finally, Yaions realized the ugliness of his own actions.

[Now do you understand what you must do?]

There was a reason I was sparing this man.

[I'm a busy person. I don't have the time to swing my bat at every love-struck fool still mesmerized by someone like Seon Ga-eul.]

"Are you telling me to do that?"

[Exactly. Go and enlighten those who are still fixated on her. Reveal the truth about Seon Ga-eul to them.]

I pointed the Goblin's Bat in the direction of Japan.

[Tell those buffalo fools still dreaming that they were Seon Ga-eul's first, to wake up and face reality.]

"...That's the reason you're sparing me."

[Of course.]

I despised troublesome tasks.

After all, I had an important mission: to recruit S-class talents on Jeju Island for the sake of my nation.

[Let them know that the woman they loved, the one they thought was so special, was nothing more than a queen bee who toyed with hundreds of drones.]

Chapter 348: The Gathering Madness Show (8)

Yaions was tasked with dealing with the men still fixated on Seon Ga-eul, those who couldn't forget her.

This time, he truly understood his feelings, and since he learned the truth about Seon Ga-eul, he wouldn't act out because of her anymore.

[Then, disappear.]

Paaaah—

As soon as I signaled, a golden magic circle unfolded behind Yaions, and a gust of wind blew him beyond the magic circle.

"Whew."

I took off my mask and reverted from my transformation.

Even though I wasn't naked since I was still dressed in my clothes—unlike the scholar Goblin with his fluttering hanbok—I converted my magic power and adjusted my breathing, now in my usual suit attire.

"Good job. Thanks again for becoming the one who 'killed' Seon Ga-eul out of the blue."

"Don't mention it."

I high-fived Hyeon Se-rin, who was approaching.

The gust of wind that lifted Yaions into the air wasn't from my power, but from Hyeon Se-rin's, and Yaions never realized she was here.

Even if he had, it wouldn't have mattered.

The issue wasn't who killed Seon Ga-eul, but why Seon Ga-eul had to die.

"Teacher. As you instructed, I threw him back to the place from before. Are you sure that's fine? Do we really not need to check?"

"Of course. There's no enemy easier to subdue than one who doesn't use their sword."

Yaions's will had already been broken.

He would leave Jeju Island with Mushi Rangers or order his subordinates to surrender and peacefully allow the association to detain him.

"It's not shameful to be captured by Korea's two S-ranks. They'll act according to international law."

"...International law."

Yumir furrowed her brow as she mulled over the words 'international law.'

"Teacher. According to international law, if a superpowered individual illegally invaded another country, the capturing nation can detain them for a week, right?"

"Yes. From the moment of capture."

One of the international laws.

If a hero from one nation invaded the territory of another or committed a crime, the capturing country could detain the individual for only a week—168 hours—before releasing them back to their homeland. ŗ𝘼ɴȎᛒÊŠ

It was ridiculous. It defied common sense, and you'd want to scream that it didn't make any sense, but this was one of the core laws of this world.

'A law designed to irritate the protagonist.'

Even if a superpowered individual from Country A rampaged in Country B, because they belonged to Country A, Country B could only detain them for a week of investigation.

Did it seem nonsensical?

It was.

In this world, everything illogical or twisted existed to present challenges to the protagonist, a device of the author.

'It's going to cause a big headache later on.'

Even based on the original plot and the current state of this world, it was just as much of a headache.

Just look at the people flocking to Jeju Island, eager to gnaw on Seon Ga-eul's bones—they could create all the havoc they wanted in Korea and be released in a week.

The risk was worth it, considering the immense return.

"Well... since we've taken care of the biggest nuisance, shall we finish up the rest?"

This show was over.

With Yaions dealt with, once Seon Ga-eul's complete death was announced, all issues regarding the hypnosis ability would be resolved.

"Teacher, how do you plan to handle it? Are you going to announce it to the media that the Goblin killed Seon Ga-eul?"

"There's no need for that. We don't have to step forward. As long as one person regains their senses, everything will be resolved."

To announce that the evil spirit was exorcised, all you needed was for the one tormented by the spirit to wake up.

"All we need to do is wake the princess of the tangerine fields from her slumber."

At that moment, near Seongsan Ilchulbong.

"Kyaaaah!!"

The Mushi Rangers collapsed one by one in agony, and finally, the last of them knelt.

"Space-flow Sword Technique—"

"Shut up."

Crack!

A bolt of lightning from the sky struck the man wielding the long sword, forcing him to one knee.

"Kugh, as expected of the Thunder Emperor...! But defeating us won't be the end! Our leader, 'Yaions,' will soon defeat the Goblin and return!"

"We'll see."

Crackle!

The Thunder Emperor directed another bolt of lightning at the ranting Mushi Rangers. They convulsed as if having a seizure, then collapsed limply on the ground.

"Everyone, restrain them. I'll personally take them to Jeju City."

"No, unnie. You rest. I'll take them to Busan. You need to rest. You've used a lot of magic."

Beads of sweat formed on the Thunder Emperor's forehead, and Baridegi wiped the sweat away with her sleeve, speaking with concern.

"I'll go. You fought against one S-rank and three A-ranks at the same time."

"You helped me fight too."

"Didn't you tell me to stay in the rear and not intervene? It was 1 vs. 4. Got it?"

"I can't ask a healer to step forward and fight. One injured person is enough. Besides... I didn't even get hurt."

Crackle.

The Thunder Emperor pointed at her wrist, where a flicker of lightning shone, smiling.

"Look, the spot where I was cut. No wound at all, right?"

"...It's more than that. The cut part seems to have disappeared entirely."

"Haha, what are you saying? That's not it. Don't worry—"

Crackle.

Magic power flickered.

It wasn't from the Thunder Emperor's lightning; a golden magic circle spread in the air, and sparks of magic shimmered.

"Platinum Sun?! No way—"

Thud!

A blood-covered man collapsed headfirst onto the ground from within the dimensional gate.

He fell unconscious, and it wasn't necessary to say that this person was the S-rank traitor and the very Yaions they had been searching for.

"Combat re—"

"We're going back."

The Mushi Rangers, who had slowly started to rise, gaped in shock at their leader, Yaions's words.

"N-no! Captain, what are you saying?! Going back?!"

"...What we were looking for isn't here. All that's left is something that's been turned into a rag after passing through many hands."

"W-what did you say...?"

"Seon Ga-eul's remains have already been removed."

"!!"

Everyone realized the situation.

"Could it be the Goblin...?!"

"......."

"Did the Goblin kill her?! Damn it, that bastard Goblin...!"

"Stop! There's no point in fighting any longer... tch."

Ssssss.

A breeze began to blow.

Toward Seongsan Ilchulbong, a wind carrying the scent of tangerines started to blow inland, at a time when the sea breeze should have been stirring.

"This scent... no way!"

"Unni!! We've got a message from the association!"

Baridegi opened a hologram through her Taeguk Watch.

On the screen was a somewhat pale-looking woman, her eyes wide open, with her hair and eyes now tinged with the color of tangerines, clenching her fist forward.

["The curse has been lifted. Now, Jeju Island is once again under my control."]

"Ji Cheon-hyang...!"

Swooooosh.

Toward the sea, although it was close to dawn, the dark sky was now covered with ominous clouds.

Something wriggled and started to fill the sky, approaching the battlefield, and the Mushi Rangers, seeing 'it' in the sky, lost their will to fight.

"W-what, wh-what the hell...!"

"N-no, this can't be...! I mean, we knew, but isn't this a bit too much?!"

From the sky.

Massive clumps of tangerines, like jumbo jets, were flying through the air.

Instead of jet fuel, they were oozing juice, and the clustered tangerines seemed ready to fire something toward the ground.

"Aaaah! I-I don't want to die like this! Thunder Emperor, just strike me down with your lightning!"

"I-I'd rather die than be taken down by that—"

Puhwaaaaaa!!

The tangerines exploded in mid-air, and a rain of juice began to fall from the sky.

["Rain of Mandarin."]

Had it not been tangerines, had it been fire or ice, it would've been a breathtaking spectacle to behold.

But.

It was tangerines.

The juice of organic Jeju tangerines, grown on this land, began to burst and rain down on the villains.

And the moment the villains were hit by the tangerine rain, they all closed their eyes and bowed their heads.

Though they were just tangerines, tangerines imbued with magic power became 'magic bullets' in the shape of tangerines.

"...It's just tangerine-shaped grenades falling."

Krrraaaang!!

"...Or maybe it's an airplane."

Thunder Emperor, holding Baridegi, swiftly moved back as the jumbo jet of tangerines calmly descended upon the Mushi Rangers.

"It's going off all over. Hallabong claymores, all across Jeju Island."

I felt a chill down my spine at the magical reactions I sensed from all over Jeju Island.

"If you're a superpowered individual, you'd want to go down fighting gloriously, even if you lose. But what if tangerines come into play?"

"Tan...."

"Gerines...!"

Vrrr.

As the tangerine helicopter floated across the sky, I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.

"Well, it seems that regional specialty ability users are indeed quite impressive."

Ability, terrain, and the people's trust in heroes.

The result of that perfect combination was Ji Cheon-hyang, who had awoken from her deep slumber, using her powers to fill Jeju Island with the scent of tangerines, burying all those who had come to gnaw on Seon Ga-eul's bones.

"Yumir, listen carefully. In this world, any ability, no matter how absurd, can be realized as long as there's enough imagination and magic power."

"Haa. Yes, that's really true. Ha, haha. How is controlling all the tangerines on the island more unreal than teleportation...?"

Yumir posed a fundamental question about the workings of this world, but since this was a world where superpowers were created by materials from outer space, there was no helping it.

Later on, someone else would appear, not with tangerines, but with something else as their specialty.

"Wiki... It's a relief. Thanks to the breadcrumbs I scattered in advance, everyone is recognizing Ji Cheon-hyang's awakening as 'the curse of Seon Ga-eul being lifted.'"

Ji Cheon-hyang had resurrected.

The curse was lifted.

The power of the evil spirit had weakened.

The evil spirit... was dead.

"Teacher. But how is that possible? Look, over there, those tangerines are clumped together and running across the ground like horses."

"Just don't think of them as tangerines, think of them as metal or ice. It's easier that way."

"But they're tangerines."

"So what if they're tangerines?"

I peeled a Hallabong and offered Yumir a piece.

"Whether it's tangerines or whatever, as long as we defeat villains and protect the citizens, it's all good, isn't it?"

"To hear such a reasonable statement from an S-rank villain."

"That's because it's true."

Yumir took a big bite of the Hallabong, chewing thoughtfully.

"Should I try something like that? Not with tangerines, but with something else. Maybe watermelons or melons."

"Nothing's stopping you."

If she dropped watermelons instead of meteors, I was all for it.

"But it won't work just like that. You need that."

"That? What's that?"

"Of course."

I pointed my thumb toward my chest.

"It's love."

Chapter 349: The Gathering Madness Show (9)

"Uwaaaah!!"

Ji Cheon-hyang stretched and threw herself onto the bed.

Even though she was an ability user, when her magic power was limited, her body naturally stiffened from lying in the hospital bed for a long time. However, before her body could loosen up, she had used her ability to the fullest to subdue the illegal intruders.

Her ability: controlling tangerines.

The maximum range of her ability covered the entire island of Jeju.

To be precise, her power extended across the whole island of Jeju and even some parts of the surrounding sea. In Jeju, a place famous for tangerine production, her ability was practically on the level of an S-class god.

Now, that god has returned.

Beep.

Ji Cheon-hyang turned on the TV with her Taegeuk watch.

After adjusting her posture, worried that someone might come in through the balcony window again, she carefully listened to the news anchors to understand the situation.

[...the 'attempted island infiltrators' who were captured in Jeju and transferred to Busan are currently locked in the iron cell created by Armored Taejo, but after a week, there have been more attempts to sneak into Jeju....]

"Damn national citizen protection law."

On channel A, heroes from the Hero Association, including Thunder Emperor and Baridegi, were condemning the so-called 'Bone Suckers'—illegal Jeju infiltrators captured by them.

[Their goal is to obtain the remains of Seon Ga-eul, the 'Transfer Train' ability user, and secure her power. Although her ability is called 'Victory Support,' considering she's an A-class user....]

"Support? More like brainwashing. Tsk. Only those who know the real story would call it support. It's true, though. Support, hypnosis. Anyway... confirmed that no additional information about Seon Ga-eul has been leaked."

Even during her time lying in the hospital, she had cross-checked several times with the people who entered the room. The public still knew only the basic information about Seon Ga-eul.

An A-class ability user.

A hero, though not very active in hero activities.

A woman who often met men.

About seven months ago, she suddenly disappeared.

People speculated she was dead, and in fact, she appeared as an evil spirit in Jeju.

She even cursed Ji Cheon-hyang, but Ji Cheon-hyang broke the curse and awoke from a long sleep.

Ssssh.

As she turned the Taeguk Watch, the channel changed.

[...some rumors suggest that Hwalbindang or the Secret Society might be involved, but the Hero Association maintains its original stance of not collaborating with villains unless the world is truly on the verge of destruction....] Ɍà₦ổᛒΕṣ

"The involvement of Hwalbindang and the Secret Society is just rumors. Confirmed."

Ji Cheon-hyang browsed the internet to confirm the information.

-Still, even though Seon Ga-eul went missing and those nasty rumors spread, since she was a Korean hero, Hwalbindang should step in, right?

ㄴNasty rumors? If having three-digit male friends makes her nasty, then celebrities must be out of control. ^^

ㄴHow do you even know that? It's not like all the men she slept with certified it.

ㄴGa...!

ㄴNext, please. Even ability users don't wear out like normal people. ^^

ㄴ...Ping!

"Rumors about Seon Ga-eul still floating around, confirmed. Nothing about her exile to Japan or the hero defection being revealed yet. Confirmed."

Seon Ga-eul remained just an ordinary A-class ability user.

The only odd thing was that people often saw her dining or having tea with men or being alone with them.

-Oh, maybe she was just trying to get married? What's so strange about an A-class woman looking for a spouse? Wasn't she 24 years old? That's the prime age for marriage.

-Is 24 the prime age for marriage?

-She's an ability user! Back in my day, by 24, people already had five kids!

-This isn't the farming era anymore; it's the age of ability users....

-You fool! If you started having kids at 16, you'd have ten before you hit 25!

-Wisdom of the elders, indeed!

"The 'nasty rumor' is still viewed as people's misunderstanding of her trying to get married while being a single woman. Confirmed."

Nothing more, nothing less.

"Ah, Seon Ga-eul... She was quite something."

Ji Cheon-hyang shook her head and rose from the bed.

"Testing all those men, then seeing that Goblin was about to ascend to S-class, she tried to cozy up to him by playing the childhood friend card. Ugh, an opportunist. She died well, died really well... If I had known she was buried in Jeju, I would have planted a ton of rotten tangerines around her grave."

Crackle, crack.

Ji Cheon-hyang walked to the kitchen, turned on the stove, and poured water into a pot.

"Now that Seon Ga-eul is dead, the men who were bewitched by her will come to their senses, and since I'm free from the curse, people will know she's dead...."

[...Yes, that's right! There's suspicion that this chaos was caused by a villain organization's evil plot involving Seon Ga-eul's spirit. Though their true motives remain unknown, they are likely targeting the tangerine empress of Jeju, Ji Cheon-hyang....]

"My title is Ji Cheon-hyang, and Tangerine Empress isn't my hero name. It's just what people call me."

Hearing the reporter on channel C refer to her as the Tangerine Empress didn't bother her too much.

"Is that guy my fan? Hmph."

Feeling pleased, she placed the ramen she quickly cooked on the kitchen table and clasped her hands together.

"I wish Jeju would grow even bigger. That way, people would expect even more from my exploits."

The sight of the tangerine jets falling toward the beach in front of Seongsan Ilchulbong was nothing short of magnificent.

No one knew who filmed that dramatic moment, but it ended up inspiring both hope and despair in others due to her tangerine bombardment.

-Uwaaah! What should we do? Without Ji Cheon-hyang, how will we handle all these rotten tangerines?

-Is that really the issue? Isn't there something more important?

-Ah, right! The villains! Ugh, I haven't seen a villain in Jeju for a while, but now that Ji Cheon-hyang has fallen, we realize how important she was. Only after the flower has withered... Woah! Look, the tangerines are flying in the sky! Ji Cheon-hyang is alive!

To the people of Jeju, the tangerines left in front of their homes and the trees on the streets had become even more reliable protectors than the police.

-Damn it, what's happening?!

-The Tangerine Empress has been revived! It seems the curse has been lifted!

-Tch, damn useless evil spirit! Damn it, retreat! Even though it's an A-class corpse, with the Tangerine Empress awake, stealing the remains is impossible! If you don't want a tangerine bomb exploding in your face, run away now!!

Villains who had secretly infiltrated Jeju Island now faced despair as they realized that a being capable of monitoring and responding from every corner of the island had returned.

With Ji Cheon-hyang's revival, peace returned to Jeju Island, just as it had before.

"Hmph, so... have I dealt with everything? Can I finally rest now?"

[Not a chance.]

Whoosh.

Even though she was sure the balcony window was locked, a masked man was sitting on the living room sofa.

[The Jeju Project isn't over yet.]

"......."

[In fact, it's just beginning.]

I came to say a word of thanks to Ji Cheon-hyang for her hard work, but as soon as I arrived, her expression twisted—she had just started to cook ramen.

[Don't worry, I'm not here to put you to work. You can just relax and eat your ramen while you listen.]

"Ah, really?"

[Of course.]

"Wow, thank you! Oh, would you like to have some ramen before you go?"

[.......]

At Ji Cheon-hyang's forbidden question, I shook my head, and her innocent expression soured slightly as she clicked her tongue in disappointment.

"If I ask you again later, will it be too late?"

[I have no idea what you're talking about.]

"Heheh. I have eyes and ears all over Jeju, you know. There's nothing I don't know."

[Except for places without tangerines. Isn't that right?]

"...Ugh."

Even on Jeju Island, there were places without tangerines.

Whether they removed the tangerines or erected a barrier, there were plenty of ways to avoid Ji Cheon-hyang's watchful gaze.

[Just keep doing what you normally do. The incident with Seon Ga-eul's evil spirit was only a prelude to the large-scale crisis coming in July.]

"How big are we talking?"

[As you already know, more than ten S-class individuals will gather here on Jeju Island. And they'll be fighting a war over something.]

"Seon Ga-eul's remains?"

No. Not Seon Ga-eul's remains, but something just as valuable and expensive. And, unlike Seon Ga-eul's remains, it's not hidden away in some remote mountain—it's something that will legally draw people here.]

What that was, Ji Cheon-hyang would find out when the summer semester officially began.

[But the situation will unfold similarly to the one with Seon Ga-eul's remains. More people will start vying for it, and all you have to do is bomb the villains who cross the line with your tangerines.]

"Even the Secret Society?"

[Of course. What we want is for you to maintain your image as a hero.]

The Secret Society never puts heroes in a position where working with them would cause problems.

[If you feel someone has done something unforgivable, you can detonate the tangerines right in front of me.]

"Not that it'd hurt you anyway...."

[It's not about hurting me. What matters is the fact that you attacked the Goblin.]

"Got it. But what exactly do you mean by 'unforgivable'?"

[For example.]

I pointed to Ji Cheon-hyang's hand, which was holding chopsticks as she took a bite of ramen.

[Eating a tangerine right after finishing your ramen.]

"......."

Chewing a tangerine, Ji Cheon-hyang pouted and grumbled.

"That's still better than eating mint chocolate...."

[Wait. What did you say?]

"I said, eating tangerines with ramen is better than eating toothpaste."

[.......]

At times.

An ability user's strong ego manifested in ways that others couldn't easily accept.

[Do you seriously eat tangerines as a side dish?]

"I mix them into my rice, you know?"

[.......]

"It's way better than putting pineapple on pizza, so why are you making that face?"

An unyielding, powerful ego.