Gertie.
An S-class hero organization belonging to the Association and heroes with formidable popularity.
Each member possesses outstanding skills, and their coordination is also excellent. They are one of the Association’s top representatives, in name and reality.
That day too, they were receiving citizens’ praises after exterminating a demon.
Thanks to the Association covering up their dirty past, it had already been washed away. They were playing the role of heroes without any worries.
Number 1.
The leader of Gertie was in a pretty good mood.
Overflowing with money and fame, no one knows about his dirty past.
Living a life where he can do whatever he wants freely—Isn’t this just the best!
“…Hmm?”
“Excuse me.”
“You…?”
“I have no grudge, but it’s time for you to disappear.”
That feeling of his being shattered took only an instant.
The black tentacles that wriggled around reached out and cast their shadow over his life.
“Aaaa…”
“Do, run away!”
Voices cheering them turned into screams filled with fear.
Beyond Number 1’s devil mask, a man could be seen.
He was floating in mid-air using the tentacles.
“Consider this your past karma.”
Past karma?
“Ugh…Aaaah…!!”
Number 3, caught by the tentacles, screamed.
Could it be…
No one at the scene expected what the Kraken would do.
After all, he was known as a villain who knew some sense of propriety.
It’s a funny thing to say, but he belonged to the better side among villains.
Though he stalked magical girls like a pervert, he had almost never attacked civilians, and always knocked out heroes instead of killing them.
“Aaah…!!!”
What a joke.
Better side? Minimum decency? Just knocking out?
Number 1 suddenly remembered a movie he saw long ago.
A slimy alien popped out and wiped out all the humans inside a spaceship.
There was a scene exactly like this moment in that movie.
A person whose leg was grabbed by a black tentacle and hung upside down, and eyes staring blankly at him.
And soon…
Chaac—
“Kuaaaaaah!!! Shit!! Are you crazy??”
It began bending the joints of the human body.
He realized for the first time that it was possible to fold a person like a box.
“Hold on. Eventually, it will end.”
“Guh…Aaaah…!”
“…No, to make it irreparable…”
Rustle.
The tentacle moved.
It entered the body and started tearing it apart from within, and eventually pulled out a small crystal.
The villain quietly stared at the essence.
“How filthy.”
The villain picked up the essence with the tentacle and absorbed it into his body.
After completing the absorption, the villain sighed.
“What a nauseating taste. Just how dirty are you guys?”
Only after seeing Number 3 rolling helplessly on the ground did Numbers 1 and 2 realize.
This villain was seriously trying to destroy them.
“…What’s this about a decent villain?! Suddenly attacking us like this!”
“The only good villain is a dead villain. Don’t blame us when you die…!”
Numbers 2 and 3 clenched their teeth and charged at the Kraken attacking them.
Looking back, that action was a huge mistake.
Pang! The sound of feet pushing off the ground and slicing through the air echoed simultaneously.
Gertie was a team of three members working together with excellent coordination. The two planned to launch a coordinated attack as if they were one body.
Everyone has a plausible plan until they get hit.
Number 2’s eyes wavered, but it was already too late.
A solid tentacle grabbed his leg. Even his great speed was useless against this restraint.
The tentacle was heavy like shackles, and the sudden stop strained his tendons.
With a “Chug!” sound, Number 2 rolled on the ground. His costume, reminiscent of a ranger from a tokusatsu show, was now covered in dust.
The Kraken wouldn’t miss this opportunity. The other tentacles were already fully prepared.
He swung the tentacles.
Like a giant elephant stomping its foot on the ground, it began mincing Number 2 into tiny pieces.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
The sound of sturdy bones breaking.
Number 1 had no choice but to admit it.
That was the most terrifying sound he had ever heard in his life.
Number 2 looked like a mole. His body crumpled and was buried into the ground.
Similarly, the Kraken extracted the essence from his body.
“Now there’s only one left.”
“…Guh…”
“Don’t blame me. In the end, we fight for what we believe in and want.”
Number 1 gritted his teeth and stood up. He then let out a loud roar, his momentum seeming like he was about to decapitate the Kraken.
But that was all.
He only roared in anger.
It posed no threat to the Kraken.
“What…Why…Why are you doing this!”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you doing this!”
It was a scream close to despair.
Number 1 felt a sticky fear. His jaw clenched as he stared at the Kraken.
The Kraken quietly held his breath and stood still. A heavy silence pressed down on the two men.
It was then that Number 1 realized. The Kraken was hesitating about all these actions.
With that hesitation, Number 1 decided to bet everything on it. Honestly, he didn’t think he could win alone. They lost even when they both attacked; how could he possibly fight alone?
“…Will you stop?”
“…”
“…You don’t seem to like doing this either.”
The Kraken sighed.
That heavy sigh made Number 1 hastily charge at the Kraken…but he was slammed onto the ground, breaking his nose.
At that sight, the Kraken spoke frankly.
“What can I do? This is the only way to save someone precious.”
Shaking his head, the Kraken shot out his tentacles. Number 1, completely bound, struggled but to no avail.
“You’ll get hurt when I extract the essence if you move.”
The tentacle sharpened and slowly approached Number 1, gradually crushing his body.
His legs were crushed so he couldn’t move, his arms broken so he couldn’t resist.
By the time it got to that point, Number 1’s eyes rolled back and he fainted.
Perhaps fainting was a blessing in disguise.
“Extract it.”
The tentacle slowly approached and pulled out his essence. After finishing his task, the Kraken disappeared into a dark alley.
+++++
“…Phew.”
My stomach churned.
The red blood made my vision blurry.
I hated doing such violent things.
The smell of blood still vibrated in my nose even after taking off the gas mask and de-transforming.
I had never shattered someone so cruelly in my life.
“No matter how much bastards they were…this leaves a bitter taste.”
I checked the news on my phone.
The image of the Gertie members beaten to a pulp by the S-class villain Kraken was pixelated and uploaded.
On some extreme communities, the scene of Kraken folding people was uploaded in vivid detail.
“It’s really over now.”
At my words, Kkomkmu tapped my shoulder with a tentacle.
“Hang in there. If you’re free, why not visit young Noah?”
“Yeah, I should. I need to see her.”
Slowly standing up, I headed towards the portal created by him. It was disposable but very convenient.
I returned to the place beyond dimensions.
There, Iris was undergoing an experiment.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Ah, Uncle.”
“Yunseo. How’s the kid’s body?”
“We’re investigating. But…yes, it might be possible, though we need a large amount of essence. An essence that can change the nature of the body.”
Essence needed…
“The Demon King…?”
The essence of the Demon King might work.
However, there was one problem.
We hadn’t tried separating the essence of the Demon King.
Because if we separated it, our enemies’ power would significantly decrease, and if we absorbed it, we could use it well.
The issue was that it was impossible due to the contract and restrictions with the Rabbit.
“In the end, it means I have to break that Rabbit’s head.”
If I defeat him, everything will be resolved.
“…Simple enough.”
The final boss has changed, but the tasks are similar. Find and eliminate.
“Easy.”
I need to plan.
While thinking about it, someone tapped my shoulder.
It was Iris’ hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“Is this you, Uncle?”
She must have seen the news showing Kraken turning Gertie into minced meat.
“…Am I okay? Am I not overdoing it?”
“Maybe…a little.”
I gave a weak smile.
“…Thank you. For doing all this for me.”
Noah bowed deeply to express gratitude. There was no need to go to such lengths.
“…Noah, do you know why I chose to live as a villain?”
“Why?”
“For you. I came to this path prepared for everything.”
“…”
“That’s why don’t feel sorry. In the end, I’m helping you on my own terms. Understand?”
Washing away the metallic taste with dry saliva, I patted Noah’s head.
“All you need to worry about is how you can live healthily.”
“Why… Why does Uncle have to do such dirty and tough jobs as a villain?”
Noah’s question.
Actually, it was a valid question. I could have chosen to be a hero from the start. But if I had, would I have been able to easily counter the dirty hands targeting Noah?
Most likely not.
In the end, heroes are beings that must live cleanly in the sunlight. There are too many restrictions.
Ultimately, someone has to take care of the dirty work.
And that dirty work…
“I’m an adult. Dirty work is something I have to do. Children don’t have to get involved yet.”
“…”
“The same goes for you. Someday, stop being a magical girl. Go to school, find your career, worry a lot. That’s how you should live.”
“…”
“I want you to live such a life because of me. Understand? From now on, I’ll handle these kinds of things. You just stay bright and spirited as a student.”
One day, Noah may have to cross the line.
But that’s a problem for the future. The Noah of the future, the properly grown-up Noah, will consider and derive the right answer himself.
Until then, I have to help.
“…Tch, Uncle acts so mature. You’re barely five years older than me.”
“Five years makes a difference.”
“Alright. I’ll grow up to be a woman of Uncle’s taste.”
“That wasn’t what I meant…but, whatever.”
The Noah of the future will surely handle things well.
“So, there’s a place I need to visit. How about coming along?”
I’m doing my best with what I can do now.
To do that…
“It’s time to prepare for the climax.”
“Climax?”
Climax, preparation for a grand boss battle.
“Noah, do you have a lot of free time during winter vacation?”
It would begin sooner than expected.
