NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: Doubt (1)
After finishing my morning exercise, Song Soo-yeon entered the restaurant.
"...Ah, hello."
She waved at me, her movements stiff.
I was slightly puzzled by her unusual demeanor but greeted her back.
"Have you arrived? I was just about to go take a shower."
"..."
Song Soo-yeon slowly approached me, peeked closer, and began sniffing the scent of my sweat.
Startled, I pushed her away, exclaiming,
"You're smelling me...! What are you doing?"
"...Just curious about how much you smell."
"...You've really developed a knack for teasing."
Song Soo-yeon smirked and then sat down on a chair.
She feigned distraction for a moment, then awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck and made a suggestion.
"...Mister, I was thinking of looking for a studio apartment today. Will you come with me?"
"Are you planning to find one today?"
"I need to return the room quickly."
"...Hmm...Okay. Let's go together."
I accepted her request without any hesitation.
A small smile appeared on Song Soo-yeon's face.
"Then, I'll go and take a shower. Let's leave right after that. I've been browsing a bit on the app; it seems many people use it these days."
"Okay."
Just as I was about to step outside with my phone, it started ringing.
"Hmm?"
It was Solace.
Song Soo-yeon looked at me.
I stopped and answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Gyeom oppa?"
"Yes. Bom, why did you call?"
"...Just because."
I chuckled.
At that moment, Song Soo-yeon stood up, came close to me, and spoke into the phone.
"I'm here too."
"...........So-yeon?"
"Yes. I wanted to let you know I'm here, so you don't feel like you're being eavesdropped on."
"...Thanks for the consideration. You're with oppa?"
"It's close to my house."
Song Soo-yeon leaned her cheek against my arm, persistently pulling me into the call.
I turned on the speakerphone, conscious of the sweat smell, and pushed her away from me.
At the same time, Min-Bom yawned and complained to me.
"Ah...Oppa. I'm so tired. I worked overtime yesterday."
"...Because of Mayhem?"
"...Huh? Yeah?"
"I saw it on the news. It was shocking."
I had no sympathy for Mayhem.
Even before the regression, I didn't care about his actions as long as he didn't cross the line.
However, even to my indifferent self, his death yesterday was shocking.
As much as Song Soo-yeon and I had strayed from the path of the villain, Mayhem was considered a likely candidate for the next number one villain ranking.
It was unbelievable that he died at the hands of Tryno and Liquid, villains who weren't very famous in my time.
The world before regression was indeed changing a lot.
'Maybe Tryno has grown strong enough to be number one.'
I worried about Solace.
The looming fight between her, who would continue to grow, and Tryno was a concern.
I just hoped Tryno hadn't acquired extraordinary strength.
Unaware of my worries, Min-Bom giggled.
"Didn't know you were interested in this kind of stuff, oppa?"
"...It's not really interest, just a bit of knowledge."
It was an honest answer, but for some reason, it pricked my conscience.
As a former villain, there were things I had to know, but I couldn't reveal this fact.
I shifted the conversation to hide this uncomfortable truth.
"Anyway, are you heading to work now?"
"Um... no."
"Huh?"
"...I'm just finishing up work. There's a bit left."
"What? You're not at home? You still have work at this hour...?"
Surprised by my reaction, Min-Bom fell silent for a moment and then spoke.
"Sorry, I can't tell you the reason. It's confidential."
Her apologetic tone prompted me to back off immediately.
"No need to be sorry. It makes sense if it's confidential."
Yet, various questions arose in my mind.
Why was she working until morning?
Did she uncover something?
Was there a strategy meeting?
Another incident yet to be publicized?
"..."
I shook my head.
It wasn't my place to worry.
I overheard Solace talking to someone.
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'll be right there! Oppa, I need to go now."
"...Alright. Hang in there, Bom."
Even after speaking, I realized my words might not be very encouraging.
I pondered and then added my honest thoughts.
"...I always think you're amazing."
"What?"
"The effort you put in to catch villains. Protecting the citizens. Thanks to you, many people can sleep peacefully. I respect that."
"...."
Surprised, or maybe caught off guard, Solace let out a cute, awkward laugh.
"..........Hehe."
She thanked me and ended the conversation.
"Thanks, calling you was the right decision, oppa. It's energizing. I really have to go now, bye! Soo-yeon, goodbye too."
-Click.
The call ended.
I glanced to the side.
Song Soo-yeon, sitting in a chair, was looking at me with a somewhat serious expression.
"...You were quiet?"
I remarked.
I thought she wanted to join the conversation when she intervened earlier.
Song Soo-yeon brushed off my comment.
Instead, resting her chin on her hand, she asked me.
"...Do you follow that kind of news?"
"...?"
"News about heroes... or villains."
Song Soo-yeon brought up the topic I had awkwardly avoided.
I sighed and replied.
"...I didn't use to, but now I do."
"...Why?"
"Because of Bom."
"...Do you hate villains?"
"..."
Her question was peculiar, considering she herself could have walked the path of a villain.
Did she realize this?
What would her reaction be if she knew I was once a villain?
It feels like it was only yesterday she was calling me a loser or a nerd.
Would she be disappointed to find out the seemingly harmless me was actually a ruthless criminal?
I never wanted to use my powers again, especially not to return as a villain.
The life I have now is too precious.
So, with a renewed resolve and a hope that she would never become a villain, mixed with a bit of self-loathing, I said,
"I hate them. Villains."
"....................."
Song Soo-yeon fell into an unusually long silence.
Then, looking up at me, she asked,
"...But didn't you seem a bit pleased yesterday?"
"Huh? Why?"
"...About Mayhem's death. He was one of the dangerous ones among the villains."
"He was killed by a villain, not a hero."
"Isn't it the same thing?"
I clicked my tongue, shook my head, and grimaced,
"...It just means a more vicious one survived."
"..."
Eager to change the subject, I exaggeratedly sniffed my clothes and, smiling at Song Soo-yeon, said,
"Anyway, I'm off to shower now, Soo-yeon. I smell."
Min-Bom relieved her stress by listening to Jung-gyeom's voice.
She exhaled quietly and deeply through her nose.
Then she returned to the conference room where an intense meeting was being held.
One by one, people started to return as the break time ended.
The Head of Villain Countermeasure Management, the Drug Investigation Team, the Chairman of the Hero Association, Shake, and other high-ranking officials...
All were gathered there.
Min-Bom also found her seat and rechecked the documents assigned to her.
The meeting was long, but frankly, she wasn't very interested.
All she wanted was to go home quickly.
...But, perhaps inspired by Jung-gyeom's compliment, she decided to show a bit more interest.
She wanted to be the hero he respected.
Last night, along with Mayhem's death, another incident occurred.
"...Villain Luna."
Shake murmured.
Hearing his voice, the meeting room buzzed with activity.
The Head of Management spoke,
"...We have to announce it. It's our duty to inform the public about an emerging villain. This ability to control over a hundred gang members into surrendering is no small feat."
Someone opposed to announcing Villain Luna argued,
"It's not about underestimating the threat. But we can't be manipulated by the villains. Don't you understand why this letter was sent?"
He showed a letter with the sentence written in elegant handwriting,
'Luna's gift.'
"Controlling 100 members and presenting them as a gift is a demonstration of power. Villains thrive on their reputation. We shouldn't play into their hands by publicizing a villain named Luna."
The pro-announcement side argued,
"But we can't ignore it either. Luna has emerged and will be a problem in the future. We might be facing a villain more dangerous than Tryno. We don't know the extent of this power. It might even affect heroes. Maybe Mayhem was manipulated and killed unilaterally. We need to announce it."
"We can't just hide it."
The debate continued.
"No? If they were truly that powerful, they wouldn't be under Tryno and Liquid's alliance. They would act independently. There's no need to prematurely announce Luna's emergence and cause unnecessary panic. That would just play into Luna's hands."
Shake chuckled and interjected.
"...It's not the fear of public panic, but rather the fear of having to make excuses and apologies, isn't it?"
All eyes turned towards him.
Min-Bom also looked at Shake.
Shake, raising his eyebrows, said,
"Isn't that the case? From the position of having to stop Luna... we'll just end up making excuses. Perhaps it's better to hide it."
The Head of Management asked,
"...Shake, do you also suggest hiding Luna's existence?"
"...Either way, it doesn't matter to me. Let's just wrap up the meeting quickly."
Everyone sighed at Shake's words.
The previously intense voices quieted down, and people expressed their frustration by stretching their necks or clicking their tongues.
Then, the Chairman of the Hero Association asked,
"Solace. What's your take?"
"Me?"
"You've been quiet. Let's hear your thoughts."
Min-Bom felt all eyes on her.
She harbored a peculiar feeling, different from the others.
First, the villain's name... Luna.
It felt like a name coined in opposition to her own, Solace.
Distracted by the name and somewhat disinterested, she hadn't prepared a proper response.
Min-Bom thought for a moment.
What to say to seem confident, or how to act like Solace... then Jung-gyeom's words echoed in her mind.
'The effort you put into catching villains. Protecting the citizens. Thanks to you, many people can sleep peacefully. I respect that.'
"..."
She smiled faintly behind her mask.
There was no need to think about the citizens.
What should she do for him?
"Solace? Your opinion-"
"-Hide it."
Min-Bom answered crisply, smiling with her eyes and surveying the room.
"Like someone said earlier, if they were truly powerful, they would have made themselves known. Hiding and only sending a name like this suggests they can't show themselves.
There's no reason to announce it."
"But if it endangers the citizens-"
"-To endanger the citizens, they'd have to reveal themselves first, in one way or another."
"..."
Min-Bom spoke as if making a promise.
"And when they do appear, I'll be there to catch them. Until then, let's keep it hidden."
Shake began nodding his head.
The Chairman of the Hero Association also smiled faintly.
Min-Bom continued, envisioning Jung-gyeom's smiling face.
"...Until then, there's no need for our loved ones to worry, right?"