Surviving as a Brainwashing Villain in a Hero World

Chapter 56

After defeating the Executioner, two days passed.

Si-yoon and the three females had been driving around for over two days in a rented car, visiting many places.

From the outskirts of S City, which was their base and the headquarters of the alliance,

to their first destination, Y City, a marine city, and then to B City, where the airport was located.

They searched all the hideouts that Chaeryeong remembered.

However, most were either abandoned or showed signs of use by others, and only a few places had signs of recent visits, but there was no trace of the leader.

Despite their hectic search, they had no significant results, so Si-yoon and the three females returned to their base, exhausted.

“We’ve searched this much, yet… there’s nothing in the end.”

“Seems like the leader knows something.”

To comfort their weary minds and bodies, they sat together on the sofa, enjoying the cool air from the AC,

eating cold bingsu topped with rice cakes and fruits, while pondering their next move.

“So, we’ve checked all the places Chaeryeong knows?”

“Meow! If it’s not those five places… then they must be somewhere else.”

After taking a bite of bingsu, appearing dizzy with her eyes wide and meowing,

Chaeryeong shook her head in response to Si-yoon’s question.

“Chaeryeong must have realized she was captured by the heroes or was in such a dangerous situation. If so… finding the leader might be something for later.”

“Was there any other way to contact the leader or other executives?”

“Meow… They did use an overseas-based social network.

But I was always with the leader, so there was no need to use it.”

The Hero Alliance, though not under the government but an independent organization, maintains a close cooperative relationship with the government and the police.

Therefore, using conventional communication methods could lead to quick tracking, so villain organizations often employed various methods.

From physical methods like using drones or sending messages through subordinates,

to using overseas-based messengers like Dark Knights.

It was rumored that larger organizations with significant capital might have established their own communication networks,

but Dark Knights were not that kind of large-scale organization with such resources and foundation.

“It looks like it’s going to be tough to find him on our own now…

I didn’t think he’d let us track him easily.”

As Dohwa said, even using all the information and methods Chaeryeong had, they couldn’t find him.

“I’ve got something prepared just in case.”

“Ice Queen! You mean the ice hero with sky-blue hair?”

“Yeah. If I hadn’t knocked her out in one hit back then, it would have been tougher… but it’s good.”

Si-yoon had successfully contacted Lumi while subduing the Executioner at the rest area,

and fortunately, he hadn’t exposed his information to civilians or agents.

Lumi was carrying out a large-scale operation to deal with the remaining executives of Dark Knights,

which might actually provide more accurate, up-to-date information.

“That Ice Queen hero, she seemed totally smitten with you, master!”

“It wasn’t intentional…”

Jiwoo had seen Lumi’s expression.

It was like the look of a girl who fell in love with a prince on a white horse.

“She was so stiff and cold like a machine…

Maybe she realized how amazing you are, master?”

Dohwa’s memories of Lumi from their joint operation included her being extremely rational and emotionless.

Of course, when she failed to capture Chaeryeong, her expression looked very sad.

“She definitely said to come to the alliance if there’s anything I can help with.”

Meanwhile, in a café located in the Hero Alliance headquarters building:

“Si-yoon… what kind of person is he, and what does he do?”

Even while enjoying her sweet vacation days after subduing the Executioner,

She couldn’t stop thinking about Si-yoon.

She tried to ask around in the alliance to find him, but with just his name and vague descriptions, it was challenging.

“If I keep thinking about him like this… it might affect my work after the vacation ends.”

For nearly three days, she pondered alone, thinking only about him,

and comforted herself as she had after returning from subduing the Executioner.

But no matter how much she rubbed her sensitive spots or experienced light climaxes, her longing only grew.

‘Okay. I have to forget him… I’m going to forget him.

This isn’t like me.

Lumi, you became a hero to find your sister.

You shouldn’t be swayed by personal memories and feelings.’

After gulping down an ice-cold Americano that made her tongue numb,

she slapped her now reddened cheek hard to whip herself into shape.

‘…But I can’t forget him…!’

“I’m going crazy, really…”

Normally, one thought of self-control would suffice, but

the heart of a girl in love is hard to conceal with anything.

The more she tried to forget, the more her heart fluttered.

Ringing sound-

“Yah?!”

Lumi was startled by the sudden alert from her hero device.

Someone had called her.

“…Yes, this is Ice Queen.”

“Ah, Ice Queen! Someone came looking for you.

They said you’d know if I mentioned the name Si-yoon… Are they acquaintances?”

“Who… Who is it? Did you just say Si-yoon?”

“Yes…? Yes! They came to the counseling management office looking for you…”

“I’ll… I’ll be right there!”

The call from the counseling management office informing her that Si-yoon was looking for her.

Lumi rushed to the counseling management office faster than anyone else after hearing that call.

“Huff… huff!”

For Lumi to seek someone out with such a desperate heart was a first in her life.

Within the alliance, due to her hero name ‘Ice Queen,’ she was known as the Ice Queen, embodying a cold and composed image.

Seeing her, who usually maintained that image, running with a flushed face and panting, was enough to become a major topic among the alliance staff.

Squeak –

“I… I’m here…!”

After running without a break, she arrived at the counseling management office.

Opening the door cautiously, she was greeted by the office worker, smiling brightly.

“Ah! You’re here. It seems you’re meeting someone very dear!”

Turning her head, she saw Si-yoon inside the reception room, drinking coffee.

“Si… Si-yoon…?”

“Ah. You’re here. Nice to see you.”

Lumi rushed over to Si-yoon and tightly grabbed both of his hands, which were holding the coffee.

“Finally… you’ve finally come…!”

“Ahaha… quite an enthusiastic welcome.”

“Oh…! S-sorry. I was just so happy…”

Seeing Si-yoon somewhat taken aback by her intense greeting, Lumi was startled and kept apologizing with her head bowed.

“There’s no need for such apologies. It’s nice to feel welcomed.”

“I… I’m glad if you think so…”

Lumi couldn’t even look directly at Si-yoon’s face; she just stared at the brown mixed coffee in a hundred-won paper cup.

“Are you feeling unwell? Your face is very red…”

“Oh… no! It’s just… a bit hot, that’s all.”

Despite the cool air conditioning blowing vigorously in both the reception room and the counseling management office,

Si-yoon chose not to point that out.

“It’s not about anything else… I was wondering if we could have a meal together.”

Coincidentally, the time Si-yoon came looking for Lumi was just around an early lunch.

The counseling management office staff were also heading out for lunch.

“A meal… I’ll treat you!”

“I didn’t come for a free meal, but if you’re offering, I’ll gratefully accept.”

When Lumi gathered her courage to look at Si-yoon and offered to treat him to a meal,

Si-yoon smiled brightly and stood up from his seat.

“I don’t know this area well since I don’t live around here,

but do you know any good places near the alliance headquarters?”

As they walked out of the office, naturally starting a conversation,

Lumi couldn’t control her racing heartbeat.

“I… I’m not very familiar either, but… I heard the Japanese restaurant in the building across is good.”

“Oh! I love Japanese food. Tonkatsu, sushi, and the like.

Do you like them too, Ice Queen?”

With Si-yoon’s continuous questions, Lumi’s head started to spin,

and beads of sweat trickled down her reddened face.

‘I haven’t done anything. Am I really that affected by him…?’

Si-yoon momentarily wondered if he was having that much of an effect,

but he decided that if something good was happening, there was no need to question why.

“Are you talking about that place over there with the wooden sign, Ice Queen?”

“Lu… Lumi. Please, call me by my name.”

Lumi told Si-yoon her name since he was using her hero name.

Of course, Si-yoon knew her name from the engraved badge,

but he was careful not to act suspiciously since a hero’s personal information was strictly confidential.

“It’s a pretty name, Lumi.”

“Huh…!”

When Si-yoon called her by her name, Lumi was even more beside herself,

and Si-yoon found this endearing as they slowly walked towards the Japanese restaurant.