Chapter 4: Help Me, Hero! (4)

The attention of the four schoolgirls in the alleyway shifted to me.

Caught in a wrong-doing, the three schoolgirls bullying Song Soo-yeon momentarily flinched but quickly regained their composure.

One of the schoolgirls released Song Soo-yeon's hair and said to me,

"We're just playing like friends. You should leave."

No one would believe such a statement.

If Song Soo-yeon reached her breaking point while they continued to 'play', it would result in a catastrophe.

Song Soo-yeon's ability is 'Control'.

Her stunning beauty matches her ability perfectly.

With this power, she managed to reach second in the villain danger ranking, even while seated in a wheelchair, like a queen.

Her ability, one that doesn't discriminate between genders, enables her to manipulate those with weak or weakened mental strength.

Even the strongest heroes could fall under Luna's control at the slightest mental break.

She didn't need to meticulously control each individual affected by her power like marionettes.

They moved proactively at her mere command, like cult members.

In some aspects, it could be likened to hypnosis, but since the ability's duration wasn't infinite and it couldn't implant specific thoughts, it was known as 'Control' rather than hypnosis.

The effective duration of her ability was approximately 12 hours.

Despite this, its threatening nature was undeniable.

In her past life, she controlled numerous people, forming an army.

Most victims were innocent civilians, and heroes, unable to interfere with those under her influence, were rendered powerless.

Moreover, on days when she controlled a hero with weakened mental strength, other heroes were left completely immobilized.

The moment a comrade turned into an adversary, heroes were paralyzed with hesitation.

These complex factors combined, Luna claimed the second spot in the villain danger ranking in her previous life.

"Stop and leave, before anyone gets hurt."

I approach the schoolgirls and say.

They scrutinize me from head to toe and snort disdainfully.

"If you want to scare us, take off that apron first."

I feel a flush of embarrassment trying to control the situation.

"...I'm not trying to scare you. I'm genuinely concerned you might get hurt."

Yet, I don't stop advancing towards them.

I position myself between them and Song Soo-yeon, preventing her from using her ability on these girls.

I felt somewhat heroic, appearing at this critical moment to rescue her from these three schoolgirls.

If Solace could see me now, she'd be proud.

"You're concerned we might get hurt... Do you have powers?"

Ignorant of everything, they boastfully display their powers, now pressuring me too.

I steal a glance at Song Soo-yeon behind me.

For some reason, she seemed to still be concealing her ability from them.

Since she hadn't revealed it, I had no choice but to try and gently persuade them.

"Just stop and go back."

I didn't really have any ill feelings towards these three schoolgirls.

After all, as the former number one villain, who was I to judge them?

Setting aside the fact that they could get hurt, I intervened because I knew the aftermath of their actions could leave a bitter taste for Song Sooyeon as well.

...And part of me wanted to help her.

"Do you know that girl behind you?"

"Huh?"

I glanced back at Song Soo-yeon.

Her expression was even more rigid than before.

I said,

"No? She's a stranger to me."

Saying I knew her would only cause trouble for Song Soo-yeon.

Song Soo-yeon flinched.

At the same time, as if a dam had burst, the schoolgirls exclaimed.

"Do you want to get hurt for someone you don't even know?"

"Wow... Soo-yeon is so pretty, she gets this kind of attention. I'm jealous..."

Ignoring their remarks, I scratched my head.

"Girls, why are you doing this?"

One of the schoolgirls shrugged their shoulders.

"We're doing this because Soo-yeon hasn't repaid our money."

"Money?"

Song Soo-yeon quietly replied.

"I never borrowed any money."

But for me, everything became simpler.

Having had more than enough money, I no longer placed much value on it.

If it could be solved with money, nothing could be simpler.

"How much?"

I asked, pulling out my wallet.

I could feel Song Soo-yeon clenching her fist behind me.

The three schoolgirls in front exchanged glances and then smiled.

"Maybe about 100,000 won?"

The way they said 'maybe' suggested that if Song Soo-yeon had really borrowed money, they wouldn't have been so vague.

They should have said, 'It's 100,000 won.'

Clearly, Song Soo-yeon was innocent.

Regardless of who was in danger, it was evident who was in the wrong.

"Here, take it."

I took out the money and gave it to them.

My bank account wasn't overflowing, but to me, it was just small change.

I didn't mind giving it away at all.

Money had lost its meaning to me long ago.

"So, you have no more issues with this student, right?"

I asked, pointing to Song Soo-yeon.

The three schoolgirls fiddled with the easily gained money, exchanged glances, and smirked.

One of them then said,

"...Ah, Mister. Now that I think about it, Soo-yeon borrowed another 100,000 won."

"....."

Their shamelessness sparked a moment of anger in my chest.

I could give any amount of money.

As I've said, it's meaningless to me.

But their attitude was troubling.

Especially after handing over the money, when I had perfectly understood who was lying and who was at fault, their misdeeds didn't sit well with me.

I had tried to end things peacefully, first verbally and then financially, but if they kept pushing like this, I had my own ways to respond.

"...You said it was 100,000 won earlier."

"But now I remember, we loaned her more."

"...You'll regret this."

I said quietly.

They didn't budge.

"...Wow, we'll regret it, huh? So, why don't you just pay off more of Soo-yeon's debt?"

"One last time, I ask. Just leave."

The schoolgirl standing in front of me glanced back and forth at her friends, then said to me with a smile,

"No thanks."

"...I see."

I took a deep breath.

They readied themselves for my reaction, preparing to use their powers.

I yelled out.

"Help me!!! Heroes, please help!!!"

"...What?"

As everyone else panicked, my voice echoed through every corner of the alley.

"I'm being robbed!! Please help!!"

Neither Song Soo-yeon nor the three schoolgirls could figure out how to respond to my actions.

As a former villain, I knew that calling heroes is the most difficult situation for villains.

Students often make the mistake of taking crime too lightly.

They have this vague expectation that public authorities won't intervene in their wrongdoings.

They usually think they can get away with it through a teacher's scolding or intervention from their parents.

But that's not the case.

Threatening and extorting money is robbery.

You've become villains now, and where there are villains, heroes can intervene.

In this field, I'm an expert.

There was something amusing about being a former villain calling for heroes first.

"Help me!! Please, help me!!"

I continued shouting, almost enjoying it.

Which hero would come?

Someone I know, perhaps?

But before my curiosity was satisfied, the three schoolgirls, unable to stay put any longer, began to flee.

"Damn it...!"

"Hey, Soo-yeon! Be at school tomorrow!"

"Mister! Be careful on your way home tonight, okay?!"

Song Soo-yeon and I just stood there, watching them leave.

"..."

"...Ah, they're gone?"

I turned to Song Soo-yeon.

Now, all that was left was to return to the restaurant.

She was still frozen, and I said to her,

"Come on, I'll make you something tasty today- Ouch!"

Song Soo-yeon punched me in the chest.

".....Who asked for your help?"

The look on Song Soo-yeon's face held more emotion than I had ever seen from her in either her past or present life.

Among her emotions, anger and resentment stood out the most.

"...Calling a hero... what good would that do...!"

I was puzzled.

Why not heroes?

Could it be that Song Soo-yeon had already become a villain?

Was that why she was uncomfortable facing heroes?

"...Is it wrong to call heroes?"

"....Ah, seriously..."

Looking closely, it didn't seem like she was acting this way because she was a villain.

Right, it wasn't yet time for her to become a villain.

Her legs were fine.

Could she have been enduring it intentionally for some reason unknown to me?

It made sense if Song Soo-yeon had been purposefully tolerating the abuse if she had a motive.

I asked her.

"...Were you enduring this on purpose?"

"...Why would I willingly endure such things?"

"You don't like me calling heroes... and you werent resisting either..."

"How could I resist? Didn't you see them using their powers?"

"....."

As I frowned and tilted my head, she said,

"I'm a non-ability user."

"..."

Ah.

Another fact I learned on my own.

She must be an Awakener.

Ability users are either born with powers or manifest them later in life.

And the latter are called Awakeners.

Her inaction earlier was likely because she genuinely had no ability to do anything.

My mind grew even more complicated.

"Then all the more reason you should have called heroes. If not heroes, who else in such a situation?"

"Are you an idiot?"

I blinked.

Did I hear her right?

"What did you say?"

"You think it's over just for today? Damn it, nothing's going to happen tomorrow?"

".....Uh.."

"Now, because of you, things have gotten worse. They'll harass me even more..."

"....."

"I could have just endured and passed it quietly...! What am I supposed to do tomorrow!!"

"....."

"Why did you interfere? Did I ask for your help? So damn annoying...!"

She yelled at me, using the coarse language typical of high school students.

It was a continuous shock.

Not because of the swearing.

That Luna, scared of tomorrow, yelling at me?

It felt like just yesterday she was leading armies and defeating heroes.

Still unaccustomed to this change, I was speechless.

To me, it seemed like a trivial issue.

Clearly, perspectives change with age.

"What? You're going to solve everything till the end? No, you won't. Why are you sacrificing me just for your moral superiority!"

I eventually responded, feeling as if I was being pushed into a corner.

"...I... I'll solve it for you....."

"What did you say?"

"I... I'll solve it for you."

Song Soo-yeon blinked for a long time at my response, then, as if mocking me again, sighed with a contemptuous look in her eyes.

"....Ha. If only you could speak properly... A weirdo who stutters, full of nothing but pride... Solve it, what are you going to solve-"

-Grrrrrrrrrrr....

Her words were cut off by a sound.

"..."

"..."

It was the sound of her stomach growling.

The heavy atmosphere suddenly lightened.

However, Song Soo-yeon reacted differently.

"...Ah... damn... really..."

She cursed and then, with a mix of indignation and embarrassment on her face, finally slumped down.

And then, she began to cry.

It seemed she was embarrassed by the untimely noise that disrupted the tense mood.

"....Uh...."

Faced with a crying schoolgirl, I suddenly felt like I had become a villain again.