Chapter 33

Heroes must not have their identities revealed to civilians.

It was an unwritten rule that had been passed down among heroes for a long time.

“Amazing! So the singer K, who has been active for so long, was a hero!”

“Haha, looks like I’ve been found out!”

There have always been people curious about the identities of heroes.

“Son! You’re a hero?!”

“Yes, father. This foolish son has finally revealed his identity.”

These days, most cases involve stalking heroes and digging into their identities, but in the past, heroes often revealed their identities themselves.

“Kyaa! K is so cool!!”

“Look this way, J!!”

At first, they naturally attracted public attention and became popular.

Those who enjoyed the attention often debated whether to reveal their identities.

“You, what are you! What grudge do you have against me?!!”

“…Father?”

But their endings were never good.

The moment a hero’s identity was revealed, their surroundings began to crumble.

“Our child couldn’t be saved, yet you live so well…?”

“That guy looks flashy, but inside, he’s just like that. His face alone is scary lol.”

“Hehe, J~? Is that you, J~?”

From the families of victims they couldn’t save, to anonymous people jealous of them, even villains seeking fun.

Everyone belittled the heroes.

If they couldn’t touch the heroes, they persistently tormented those around them.

After several such cases, an unwritten rule naturally formed.

Never reveal your identity to civilians.

Kwoong!! Kwaang!!

“It seems chaotic outside..?”

“……”

Gang Ian with a panicked expression.

“What should we do..?”

Chise, looking at him, broke into a cold sweat.

They needed to save the civilians immediately, but they couldn’t just rush out in this chaos.

Kwaang!

“If I run out alone in this situation, it would naturally be suspicious!”

Chise racked her brains on what to do.

Glance.

“Shall I help a bit?”

Gang Ian, glancing at her, looked at Chise with a serious expression.

“Tsukino. It seems we need to escape.”

“Eh, what?”

“The loud noises, and staying here might just be dangerous.”

-Kwaaaak!!!!

Kwaaang!!!

The screams and noises grew louder.

It was clear that some unknown villain was approaching.

“..Yes, it seems better to escape.”

She also seemed to have assessed the situation, nodding at Gang Ian’s words.

“I know there’s an emergency shelter nearby. Let’s go together. Gayeon? Gayeon, come quickly.”

“Got it.”

Gang Ian’s serious expression contrasted with Gayeon’s calm demeanor.

Gang Ian worried if Chise might find it suspicious, but fortunately, Chise thought she was just young and not fully aware of the situation.

“Let’s go.”

As Gang Ian’s group stepped outside, the usually quiet street was crowded with people.

‘This is a chance.’

Gang Ian gave Chise a meaningful look.

“There are more people than expected. We might get separated.”

“Yeah, we might get separated.”

‘Doesn’t it seem like we might accidentally get separated from the group?’

Chise’s expression showed she had realized something.

It was clear from her face that ‘This is an opportunity!’

“Since we don’t know when the villain will appear, we should hurry.”

“I might get lost. Hold my hand.”

“Alright. Don’t let go and follow me closely?”

At Gayeon’s request, Gang Ian, as if it were natural even in this situation, smiled and took her hand.

Like a kind older brother taking care of a younger sister.

“……”

Chise, seeing this, seemed to see something in him but shook her head and organized her thoughts.

“Let’s go.”

Gang Ian’s group gradually merged into the crowd heading towards the shelter.

It wasn’t impossible to move, but it was sufficiently chaotic and crowded.

After walking for a while.

“Have they gone?”

“Yeah, they’re gone.”

Like putting on a mask, Maker’s serious expression turned into his usual relaxed smile.

He and she turned into an alley and caught their breath.

“No one should see us teleport here.”

“Good.”

Maker quickly created his villain outfit and put it on.

When he handed a set to Gayeon, she instantly pulled up her hood, becoming the villain Polia.

“Then. Shall we see what the Japanese hero can do?”

Maker tipped his hat and smiled.

***

“Phew..”

After breaking away from the crowd and slipping into a side street, she caught her breath.

‘Sorry, everyone..!!’

They must be worried about her disappearance by now.

Chise thought that, being good people, they surely would.

‘Instead, I’ll make sure to handle the villain properly!’

Without the help of a perception-hindering ability user, it was a bit unsettling, but there was no choice…

She had to be careful not to let the mask slip.

“Now, let’s go, everyone! (Ikimashou minna-san!)”

Uuung-

As she activated her ability, a green light enveloped her body.

***

“Kwaaaak!!!”

The street in ruins.

Kwaang! Kwaaang!

A man screaming wildly whipped a car, causing it to explode with a loud bang.

“Kwaaaak!!!”

Despite the tremendous destructive power, the man frowned as if unsatisfied.

Just as he moved to destroy more of the street.

“Stop right there!!”

A woman blocked his path.

A fluttering green frilly dress and a butterfly-shaped mask.

“A hero…?”

“Yes! Foolish villain!”

The woman smiled arrogantly at the man’s question.

She placed her hands on her hips and confidently thrust out her chest.

“Today! You will deeply regret meeting me, the B+ rank hero Phantom Luna!”

Ohohoho!!

Phantom Luna laughed strangely.

Whik-!

Pooong!!

The man watched her for a moment, then swung his whip.

With the sound of an explosion, dust rose from the street.

“Stupid…hero, stupid..”

The man sneered at Phantom Luna.

A foolish hero.

Careless and now dead.

And as foolish as she was, her voice wasn’t very pleasing either.

“Kwaaaak!!!!”

As the man screamed again and moved to destroy more.

Whoooing-!

“Villains really have no manners. How rude.”

A wind blew through the dust cloud, revealing Phantom Luna.

“Well done, Silphy.”

-Beep!

And beside her floated a small creature that hadn’t been there before.

“Now, ugly villain, shall we play?”

“Kwaaaak!!!!”

Phantom Luna chuckled.

Seeing this, the man screamed and charged at her.

***

“Pant. Pant. Pant…”

“Oh my, is it over already? You’re weaker than I thought.”

Moments later.

The man, embedded in a building wall, catching his breath, and Phantom Luna, leisurely watching him.

“You…pant…how many abilities?”

The man gritted his teeth, glaring at her.

“Oh my, a lady has many secrets. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Kwaaaak..!!!”

At Phantom Luna’s taunt, the villain, furious to the core, swung his whip indiscriminately.

“My, have you forgotten even the minimum of thought? How foolish…”

“Hic, hic…”

“?!”

As she looked at him with a pitiful expression, a child’s cry was heard nearby.

“Hic, hic. Hero. Stupid!!”

The villain twisted his mouth grotesquely.

“Danger! Bear Bear! Help!!”

-Bear..!!

Phantom Luna pursed her lips and activated her ability.

In a flash of light, a giant bear doll appeared beside her.

“Block that whip as much as you can!”

-Bear..!!!

The bear doll nodded at her request and stretched out its arms.

From its hands emerged small bear dolls.

-Beep!

-Beep!

-Beep!

The small bear dolls flew towards the whip.

“Come out!! Bear!!”

Whik-!!

Pooong! Pooong!!!

-Beep!

-Beek!!

-Beep!!

“Ugh…”

As the small bear dolls quickly exploded, she felt her magic power rapidly depleting.

‘Where is it?’

She needed to find the child before her magic ran out.

As Phantom Luna quickly scanned the area.

“Hic, hic…”

‘Found it!’

A child crying silently in the rubble of a collapsed building.

She rushed towards the child.

‘Bear Bear needs to hold out a bit longer!’

Pooong! Pooong!! Kwang!!

Due to her depleted magic, the number of small bear dolls noticeably decreased.

‘Hold on a bit longer, Bear Bear!’

Her stamina was also draining due to the lack of magic, but Phantom Luna clenched her teeth and ran.

Pooong! Kwaaang!!

‘Just a bit.’

Kwaaang! Pooong!!

‘Just a bit more…’

Kwaaang!!!

“Are you okay?!”

Finally reaching the child, Phantom Luna felt a sudden relief.

“Behind, behind..!”

But the child, in stark contrast to her, was pale with fear.

“Behind!!!”

At the child’s voice, Phantom Luna turned her head to see the whip falling from the sky.

Whooong!!

‘Ah.’

She tried to use her ability quickly, but her body wouldn’t obey, having used up all her magic.

The whip was now right in front of her.

‘I can’t block this…’

Kwaaaaaang!!!!!

A loud explosion echoed through the street.

“Stupid hero!! Finally dead!!! Finally! Finally!!”

The villain cackled at the dust cloud in front of him.

But, gradually, a figure emerged from the dust, and the villain’s face stiffened.

“Ah.”

A man lightly brushed off the dust and smiled.

The man was looking at Phantom Luna and the child, not the villain.

“Hello, hero. Nice to meet you.”

“Y-you are..?”

“Villain, Maker, at your service.”

Maker smiled at the flustered woman.

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