Chapter 71

*Scribble scribble…*

“Why is she here?”

The cold air seeping through the broken door made me break into a cold sweat. I knew the exchange event was ending soon and she’d be returning to Korea, but I didn’t expect to run into her during a terrorist attack.

“…Haha.”

Ice Queen was smiling brighter than I’d ever seen before. If it weren’t for the boiling rage underneath, it would’ve been a pleasant sight.

Hmm.

Maybe I should greet her first.

“Long time no see, Ice Queen…”

*Ping-!*

I barely managed to block the ice spear that flew at me in an instant.

The force was so strong that the spear pierced through my shield and stuck there.

“Tsk.”

“…That’s a rough greeting.”

Was she trying to kill me…?

Remembering how the attack was aimed precisely at my head sent shivers down my spine.

“Do you know how much I’ve missed you, Maker?”

“Your smile is beautiful, but it’s a bit scary.”

I’d rather she just frowned or stayed expressionless… The pressure radiating from her smile was overwhelming.

“Judging by how long you’ve been gone, it seems like you were on some kind of mission. But if you missed me that much, I don’t know how to respond.”

I hid my true feelings and smirked at her.

“Did you miss the tentacles that much?”

“…You’re dead.”

Her face stiffened at my joke, and Ice Queen began charging at me, her abilities flaring up.

***

*Ping-!*

Another ice spear came flying. I managed to block it again with my shield.

*Whoosh-*

As Ice Queen flicked her hand, the ice spear began to melt and spread. Seeing the spear gradually covering my shield, I quickly threw it away.

“You need more practice with remote control!”

She froze the floor around her and slid toward me.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!!*

I quickly created a gun to counter, but the ice walls she summoned only slowed her down slightly. It wasn’t very effective.

Ice Queen was closing in faster and faster. Just as I tried to move my legs to create distance…

“Who needs more practice, huh?”

“…You’ve gotten sharper.”

*Scribble.*

Before I knew it, the ice from my shield had extended and bound my feet.

“You need to take a hit first, Maker.”

Ice Queen slid toward me, clenched her fist, and charged. But…

*Crash!!*

“Sorry, but I’m kind of a precious person.”

“You can’t touch Oppa.”

Polia teleported to my side, and her ability caused sharp spikes to rise from the ground, forcing Ice Queen to stop and retreat.

“Tch.”

Ice Queen clicked her tongue, looking disappointed.

“You’ve gotten a lot more vicious since I last saw you.”

Her expression and tone aside, what I really wanted to comment on was her actions. She’s become… unrestrained.

Before, she only focused on subduing, but now she’s mixing in attacks that could be dangerous if they hit.

‘If I had to compare, before she’d just knock me down to subdue me, but now it feels like she’s willing to break an arm or two to do it.’

Thinking back to when we first met, when she couldn’t even use her abilities properly, this is a huge improvement.

“…You have no idea how much I’ve suffered.”

“Is this because of this?”

*Squirm~?*

I smirked and summoned my tentacles, wiggling them as if to say hello.

“Yes!!”

‘…Oops.’

Ice Queen trembled and then exploded in anger. She was so mad that she dropped all formalities.

“Hey, why so mad? Weren’t we good together?”

*Squirm~!*

“Good together?! What’s good about it?!”

“Ah, sorry about broadcasting it. We should’ve kept it between us.”

“Gasp!”

“What, what…!! If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll freeze your head!”

Phantom Luna covered her mouth, eyes wide, while Ice Queen’s face turned red.

‘Just a joke, but the reaction’s better than I expected.’

Maybe she’s surprisingly weak to this kind of thing?

I mentally noted this new info about Ice Queen and smiled meaningfully at her.

“…Because of those damn tentacles, I’ve suffered so much.”

She hung her head and began muttering. The way she spoke, as if holding back, made it clear she was really angry.

“That video spread, and the Hero Association treated me like a joke. When I walked by, people would whisper…”

“…Hmm.”

“The video got parodied and sold on adult sites, my acquaintances found out, and the fans loved it…”

*Scribble scribble…*

“Then I finally went to the exchange event, and the villains there went crazy. Rumors spread that I liked that kind of thing, and all sorts of perverts clung to me, trying to recreate tentacle play, and even weird challenges became popular, with villains going on about tentacles, tentacles, tentacles…!!”

Even from a distance, I could feel the chilling cold.

“Ha, haha…! Hahahaha!! Hahaha!!!”

Ice Queen burst into laughter amidst the icy storm created by her own abilities.

‘Ah.’

What do I do?

Ice Queen’s gone mad.

“Hahahahaha!!..Haha..!..Ha…”

After laughing for a while, Ice Queen suddenly stopped.

“So, I’m going to catch you.”

She glared at me with a hardened expression.

*Scribble scribble scribble!!*

Ice spikes formed all around her.

‘…This is bad.’

“Danger.”

*Crash!!*

Polia barely managed to block it by raising the ground.

“…I thought we ended things on a fun note.”

“…It wasn’t fun at all.”

Thinking back to her reaction at the time, she seemed to enjoy it a lot.

Well, considering that her… preferences spread worldwide and a hero was humiliated by villains, it’s understandable she’d want to keep it hidden.

Or maybe she just didn’t realize it.

Anyway.

“I understand you’ve had a tough few months, Queen… but why is it my fault?”

“What??”

Think about it.

Honestly, I didn’t do anything wrong in the parts where she suffered.

It’s not like I made the tentacle video.

I didn’t spread it either.

It was just the villains going crazy over tentacles.

‘How am I even involved?’

…

Wait, actually.

Now that I think about it, Narin did all of it.

I compared my earlier thoughts.

I didn’t make the tentacle video. – Turns out Narin made the video.

I didn’t spread it. – Narin made the Maker Gallery and shared it.

It was just villains going crazy over tentacles. – Narin spread the Maker Challenge.

I didn’t do it directly, but my subordinate did.

…

“Anyway, I’m not at fault!”

It’s not like I did it directly, right?

And back then, when the tentacle video spread, it was right before I recruited her as an ally!

“The one who started it is the worst! You trash!!”

Unaware of my thoughts, Ice Queen yelled at me angrily.

*Scribble. Scratch.*

Ice spikes formed again. The sharp, glinting spikes looked terrifying.

“To begin with, if only you hadn’t…!”

“…Holding onto the past too much isn’t good. How about forgiving and forgetting old grudges?”

“That past hasn’t been forgotten yet!”

Well, that’s true.

I have no logical comeback.

Then, maybe I should appeal to her emotions.

“Right now, there are hostages locked in cages behind me. If you make a wrong move, they might get hurt. Are you okay with that?”

Even if she’s become more violent because of me, Ice Queen isn’t the type to abandon people just to catch me.

“If you don’t put away those dangerous ice spikes, the citizens might…”

“The citizens are fine!!!”

That wasn’t Ice Queen speaking.

A voice from behind me.

It came from exactly where the hostages were.

“…Your pet caused some trouble.”

“Ohohoho! Who’s a pet?! Dummy!! I already freed all the hostages!”

Phantom Luna stuck out her tongue cutely, still laughing in that unsettling way.

“Pretending to be a pet! And acting all gloomy! It was all an act to safely free the hostages!”

“Seemed pretty genuine to me.”

She’s still wearing the collar, and her eyes are clearly red. What’s she talking about?

“Sh-shut up! I’ll always fulfill my duty as a hero, no matter the situation!”

Honestly, such an insincere lady.

Well, it’s not a complete victory, but I’ll take it for today.

*Ping-!*

*Crash!!*

“You’ve learned to do sneak attacks now.”

“I’ve always known how to do sneak attacks.”

Ice Queen shot an ice arrow while I was distracted.

Polia blocked the arrow, which was much faster than the spears.

“Sorry…”

I spaced out…

Polia hung her head, looking a bit down. I patted her head to reassure her and adjusted the hood she was wearing.

“So, what’s your plan now, Maker?”

Ice Queen, having regained her composure, spoke formally.

“The hostages are free, so you have no way to threaten me. And there are two heroes to deal with.”

“Hmm.”

I’m definitely in a tight spot.

Two top-tier heroes are after me, and I have no hostages to hold over them.

‘Even with Polia here, it’s still too much for her to handle an A-rank and a B+ rank at the same time.’

“Then, Polia.”

There’s only one way.

“Let’s run.”

*Thud, roll roll roll…*

*Whoosh-!*

“Hey! Stop right there, Maker!!”

Running is the only answer!!

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