8 Hero Killer? (1)

Note: The timeline has been changed in this novel. Chizome Akaguro, aka Stendhal, never met Knuckle Duster (from the MHA: Vigilantes Spin-off) and didn't become Hero Killer, Stain, in this world.

.....

"Waahhh!"

The sudden cry of a young baby crinkled the nose of an old woman.

Hoshino Tsuzuru, a sworn mother of 47 children, was busy taking care of a sleeping baby when another baby woke up.

The constant increase in children was normal in an orphanage. Most of them were destined to never feel the love of a family but Tsuzuru tried her best to falsify that truth.

Yet having only 5 mother-like figures in the orphanage, it was a far-stretch.

'Ha~ I don't really want to call him but.....'

Having no choice, Tsuzuru decided to call her ace in the hole.

"Masato! Where are you, you brat!?"

"You called, Oba-san?"

Walking on palms, I answered her call through the open window.

The director of the orphanage looked down the window of the 3rd floor and pondered how I even heard her.

"..... What are yo-No, forget it. Just get up here and put Kiyoshi to sleep."

Long used to the strange antics, Tsuzuru just overlooked it.

I nodded at her. It was honestly a pain to act like a caretaker to others but it was either treating the kids nicely or being treated as a kid. The latter seemed like a better option if one considered pride.

'Hah! Can you even eat pride?'

If there is an another life, I would rather have my diapers changed than change another's. But just the thought of it made the unyielding decision waver.

There was always an option to ignore her orders. But death wouldn't be kind to anyone who hurt a mother-figure.

As a fanatic devotee of death, it was only natural to help Tsuzuru when she needed it.

I stood up on my feet and calculated the amount of force one would require to jump up to the 3rd floor.

Huh? Use the stairs?

'Pssh~ Noobs. Real men use the window.'

Even if that breaks bones or is illogical.

Crouching down, I tensed my glutes, calf muscles, hamstrings and quads before pushing off the ground.

- Boom!

That sound was proof that phythagoras theorem was useless when climbing up the building. 

'Damn, I used too much force.'

It was a strange thought to have while glancing at the sunset.

Soon, gravity acted and pulled me down.

- Grab!

Thankfully, there was always the option to grab the 3rd floor window while falling down.

"Ha~ Close call."

Falling on rough ground wouldn't hurt much because of the consistent training but it wasn't painless on my calf muscles either.

'Wait, isn't this the perfect moment to do some pull-ups?'

Dangling on the window made a perfect opportunity to train. Quite an incomprehensible but welcome situation.

"Waahhh!"

Sadly, babies were a curse on this blessed planet. Enemy to all. Slayers of sleep and peace. Conquerors of the coldest hearts.

"Coming~"

Answering Kiyoshi's call, I slipped in the orphanage.

A strange smell hit my heightened senses, overwhelming them all.

"Aww~ That's... I'm gonna need a truck of diapers."

'Just wait for it, you brat. I'm taking pictures! One day, someone unknown might just spread it to your girlfriend.'

If I survive that long or if you're really quick.

"Oi, Oba-san, we're out of diapers."

Using the last one, those were my words.

"Then get some!"

An loud reply came to the statement, which wasn't actually a question. It was actually just a statement, how did it even turn into a job?

It's not good to ever be an elder brother. Every work that needs to be shifted to the children, undoubtly falls on your shoulders. 

Why? Because the younger siblings will definitely mess it up. Parents aren't always partial, sometimes they are just plain smart.

"Ha~"

With a sigh, my tired feet walked me to the edge of the window.

"Use the stairs!!"

People usually say the truth. As you get older, you begin to have more demands and needs.

What ever happened to only fulfilling the 3 basic needs of food, clothing and shelter?

Downcast shoulders were a testament to my disappointment.

Thankfully, there were about 10 minutes before the sun would set, making it impossible for an average kid to return before it sets, meaning that I could pull off a mission deemed impossible as long as I went all out.

'Let's go.'

Slowly leaning forward to start the run perfectly, I smirked deviously.

- Boom!

A cloud of dust rose up while I was propelled ahead.

Using the 'Hachimon Tonkou' would make this a lot easier but to remain sincere to the wishes of the maker of that technique, I promised to use only in an dangerous situation.

Like fighting AFO.... To death.

Even without the technique and weights on, I could rival Usain Bolt. That was the level of my fitness.

"Heroes! They are fakes!"

One guy across the street was holding a banner, screaming a strange slogan in this age of heroes.

- Ding!

[You have received a Side Quest! Would you like to open it?]

That was a detestable sound. The quests seemed fun as long as you don't add the 'Immortality' penalty.

"Just open the quest!"

[Opening Quest page!]

A transparent screen with black letters floated on the wind, almost magically. 

___________________

Side Quest: You detest fakes? Then just be the real one!

Details: Someone has realized the reality of this world. Filled with fakes and imposters, he has begun to despair and is on a path of self-sacrifice. Show him the easier way and don't let him die a hated death. 

(Note: It's the guy with the banter!)

Condition: Show Chizome Akaguro a new path!

Reward: [Taekwondo; Rank E (Growth)], [???]

Penalty: Immotality

___________________________

Taekwondo, a korean martial art, is specialized in kicking techniques. It was a relatively good reward. Compared to the mystery [???] reward.

'But does the penalty always have to be immortality?'

Did the system actually realize my love for death. My death wish was always on the verge of being destroyed because of it.

"Hmm, as the plot is getting closer, the number of missions is increasing."

Anyway, Chizome Akaguro, also known as Hero Killer Stain, was pretty popular, even if he was a villain.

At least, he made a deeper impression on my mind than Toga Himiko. He seemed similar to me.

Instead of rising up to a new level, he decided to drag others down..... Just like me.

'Did I just diss myself?'

***

"Down with the fakes! They are imposters! Frauds!"

When Akaguro was screaming out for justice, a certain boy stood right before him.

"Yo, where do I have to sign, Ossan?"

Seemingly finding an associate, Akaguro was happy. He had been working hard to clear the streets as a vigilante but all of that led him nowhere.

Society was still corrupt, no matter how many villains he arrested. And heroes were the main reason behind this corruption.

'Hero', it wasn't a title anymore. It had become a job, an industry. 

When the situation demanded sacrifice, Akaguro was sure that most of them would give up and run away.

"Here. Do you also find those fakes disgusting?"

Passing on a small sheet of paper with zero signs, Akaguro tried his best at small talk. 

"Nope. Don't even know what fakes you're talking about."

Masato gave out his answer without any shame.

"Then why are you supporting me? Do you find me amusing?"

There was slight hint of hate filling that question.

"Just thought that it was cool to fight against the world all alone. Even if you were wrong."

"Wrong?"

Akaguro stared at the uninterested eyes of the boy. The victory smirk on his lips were annoying, extremely so.

"Can I have a banner too?"

Masato forgot about the diapers. After all, throwing dirt at the prevailing societal rules sounded much better.

"If it's just for your amusement, then get lost, kid!"

Grinding his teeth, Akaguro didn't hold back his words.

"World is about amusement, Ossan. Imagine a world where all you do is walk to office, do your job, return home, eat and sleep. What's the worth of life after doing all that?

Honestly, doesn't death sound better than living such a nightmare?"

Those words eerily sounded like Masato was convincing him to die.

"Brats who haven't lived even for a decade, shouldn't act like they have survived centuries!"

Akaguro was stunned by the suicidal boy before him. Though he wasn't a hero, he would try to help others if he could. That was Chizome Akaguro's way of life.

Tainted by pain and suffering, he looked upto heroes. Only to find it all to be fake. His entire world started tumbling down, crumbling into dust. His life had no meaning anymore..... Other than making sure that his dreams became a reality, even if it meant sacrificing himself and hurting others.

"Do you really think I'm joking around? Then what do you, who has never felt the warmth of this world, have the right to say about it?"

Since Akaguro wasn't giving him the banter, Masato took it himself.

"Tch!"

Having no reply, Akaguro could only click his tongue.

"Down with the fakes! Heroes are a lie!!"

Somehow, Masato was even more diligent than Akaguro. Almost slamming the banters in the face of passerbys, who badmouthed him.

'He's... an odd kid.'

Akaguro ignored Masato, who seemed to make fun of his way. No one could ever understand how life felt to him. And that was true. 

Humans couldn't truly understand each other. But do they even need to?

Just like a football game, one doesn't really care where the other players are. Just that they show up in times of need. That was all.

You didn't need to understand each other or try to get closer, you just needed to be there when they needed it. It was enough.

Soon, a hero tried to pick a fight with them, shooing them away.

"Where will you be tomorrow?"

"..... The district center."

"See you there."

It was the start of the summer vacation and first years didn't really have a lot to do so Masato could accompany the future Hero Killer conveniently.

'Right~ Wasn't I trying to change the diapers of baby? How did I join hands with the Hero Killer?'

World was getting stranger by the second.