READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 230
“If Blanca was raised by Heros Company…”
There might be some ominous vibes in the air.
– – – –
What’s gotten this Hero so upset that they’re clinging to my pant leg, writhing like a sad little worm? They know begging won’t save them.
If begging would solve anything, I wouldn’t have even bothered to show up. So why are they being so pitiful?
I stared down at the dying Hero casually.
“P-please! I-I’ll do better! I won’t deal with Villains anymore, I won’t turn a blind eye… So please, just spare my life… please, I have a child…”
Charges: breach of confidentiality, dereliction of duty, negligence, bribery, corruption, resulting in unspeakable pain and suffering for countless citizens, loss of life.
This person was no better than a Villain. No, you could say they’re worse than a Villain, really.
A breed of human that would be more beneficial to society dead than alive. In fact, it would probably be better if they kicked the bucket for the sake of the child they’re now playing the sympathy card with.
If they were to die by my hands, they’d at least be remembered as a ‘Hero.’
Heros Company has this pitiful courtesy of leaving Heroes who are ‘executed’ remembered as Heroes. So, suffer as much as you can while dying.
At the very least at the moment of death, shouldn’t it be of some help to either me or someone else?
I crushed the blood-soaked hands gripping me beneath my shoe, laughing.
Even as they did this, the Hero tried to hold on for dear life, and after about three minutes, they finally kicked the bucket. Cause of death: multiple organ failure due to poison gas.
In the public eye, they’ll be remembered as a Hero who heroically sacrificed themselves fighting a poison-type Abilities User. Hero, Hero, Hero…
…The true heroes who deserve adoration remain unknown or forgotten, while the likes of this trash are praised as heroes only after they’re executed.
Now that’s funny.
With the dagger pulled out for the sake of planting evidence, I made swift cuts across the Hero’s body, then sent out a transmission to indicate the situation was complete.
“Target neutralized. Surroundings and evidence manipulation ongoing. Should be completed in about 10 minutes. Reporting signed off.”
– Well done again. Good. I’ll send follow-up measures your way. Just make sure to slip away and return to headquarters. We’ll issue the next mission from there.
“Understood.”
While half-listening to the old man’s voice over the radio, I stashed the dagger and remaining gear inside my briefcase and tidied up the scene.
Making it look like a Villain had invaded and killed the Hero, naturally.
I wouldn’t say my skills are excellent, but after doing it enough times, I’ve gotten at least somewhat better. Well, most of the follow-up is still handled by the cleanup team anyway.
I thoroughly erased fingerprints and checked if I’d missed anything, but I hadn’t, so I quietly left the scene and grabbed a bite at a nearby fast-food joint.
Even a human butcher gets hungry.
I could manage to gather energy from eating nothing but plastic litter on the roadside, but still, tasty food is the best.
Eating after sending someone to the afterlife has become part of my routine.
There was no way I’d get caught, but thinking about potential complications, I hurried through my meal. Document preparations, formal reporting, and getting ready for the next mission, etc.
There was still a mountain of things to do.
– – – –
Today, I was working collaboratively with the New Drug Development Department, as always.
While I was synthesizing substances according to the molecular structures shown by the researchers without a word, one researcher spoke to me.
“Oh, by the way, Blanca. How old are you?”
“I’m 17 this year.”
Not really understanding their intent, I replied honestly, and the researcher said something that was either a compliment or an insult, depending on tone—it seemed I looked over twenty just from my face.
“So, why did you ask?”
“Oh, right! The Academy’s entrance exams are happening soon, right? I heard some really interesting new students are coming this time. I was watching the footage earlier and thought of asking.”
They added that if Blanca hadn’t joined as a special recruit, she might well be taking the exams at the Academy by now, and apologized for breaking focus.
“No, well, that’s fine.”
As the researcher mentioned, the time for the Academy entrance exams was indeed coming.
Not your average, run-of-the-mill Academy entrance exam, but rather, it was the entrance exam for the Academy where the protagonist had applied.
Having worked hard and been recognized by the higher-ups all this time, I almost forgot. Right, right. This is a world straight out of a novel.
“The Academy…”
“Are you going to watch it, Blanca?”
“If you offer, I’d gladly do so.”
So I put my work down for a bit and watched the footage, where various applicants were seen passing through obstacle courses.
And… among them was a standout black-haired applicant racing ahead of the others.
The protagonist of this world, Minho.
“Well, it might be too easy of a course for you, Blanca. But isn’t it amazing? How can an applicant breeze through the course like they designed it themselves?”
Well, that’s because they already know it all.
They know everything… huh?
Then, maybe… could this brat help me with my revenge?
As that thought crossed my mind, a tiny Spark ignited within me. Perhaps, if just maybe…
“Blanca? Do you have something on your mind?”
“…No, not really, but if there’s nothing else to do, may I take my leave?”
“Ah, yes. You’ve gathered everything you need, so you can go. Good work, Blanca.”
Making my escape from the New Drug Development Division, I sought out my superior and enemy.
Sitting in the office, engrossed in some documents, I could only assume they were contemplating who to kill next or if they were trying to create yet another someone in a similar predicament as mine.
Either way, it had nothing to do with me, and I had no reason to be courteous to the old man, so I jumped straight to the point.
The old man stared blankly for a while, then seemed to finally realize I was there, responding two beats too late.
“…I was wondering why the executioner came without being summoned, and then you say that right off the bat?”
Whether they were bothered or perplexed, the old man gave me looks as if to say what kind of girl talks like that without a greeting.
Not that I needed to care about the old man’s feelings, so I shamelessly answered, “That’s right.”
There was only one reason I could be this shameless to him. I’m the only one.
No one else knows as much about the old man’s plans as I do, no one else has worked with him for as long as I have, and no one else is entangled with him to this extent.
Since I’m the only one in the world.
Then, it would make sense to expose everything right now, wouldn’t it? But… unfortunately, that’s not the case. The old man is quite clever; he has put a system in place that ensures his dreams continue even after he’s gone.
Regrettably, I haven’t found a way to break it yet, so for the time being, I had no choice but to work under him until I could figure it out.
Concealing my true intentions and disguising my desires.
“I’ve been working here for a long time. And I want to at least experience school education.”
The old man opened his mouth without a hint of hesitation.
“You’re not going to become a Hero or Hunter, are you?”
“I’m just saying I want to go to school.”
Pressing my case for wanting to attend school, the old man seemed to have a modicum of conscience left, and admitted he could see that.
“Do you want to enter as a special admission, or do you want to take the entrance exam like everyone else?”
“I’d like to take the entrance exam.”
“Then I’ll prepare everything you need. I’ll have it ready by the deadline, so you can head off now. I’m busy right now, you see.”
Yeah, right. I can’t imagine how busy you are, deciding who to kill and who to save. You must be quite busy preparing your ‘great work’ for the future.
Human evolution or whatever—go ahead and rant about it.
…But before that, I’ll be shoving a dagger right into your neck.
– – – –
As expected, a bit tight. The moment I tried on the school uniform, that was my first thought.
But oddly enough, I felt no excitement. I had no need to care about what others thought of me.
Since I had asked the old man to arrange for me to be placed near where the protagonist lives, I decided to head out a bit early and see if the protagonist would pass by.
Having seen the original work, I had a rough idea of what kind of person they were, but I wondered if seeing it with my own eyes would feel different.
And sure enough, seeing them in person felt quite different.
I had envisioned someone a bit more vibrant and overflowing with enthusiasm.
But they seemed strangely derpy, yet there was a fire of determination in their eyes… not a bad look at all.
“Oh, are you also an Academy freshman?”
Casually approaching, I broke the ice, and the protagonist appeared slightly flustered.
That’s only natural, given I popped up unexpectedly, something not in the original.
“Uh… then you are too?”
“Yep! Funny coincidence, right? Running into each other on the very first day!”
The protagonist seemed to recognize me but not in a way that felt antagonistic. They maintained casual conversation while slowly warming up.
“…Then, I look forward to working with you, Minho.”
With that parting line, I left, but the protagonist called after me, asking where they’d heard that name before.
“Oh, right! By the way, my name’s Blanca. Make sure to remember it.”
That was our first encounter.