Ep.164 Arrogance
Korean Portrait Ability Association, also known as the Hero Association.
The headquarters located in the center of Seoul.
“No way, an S-class hero is coming. What the hell is going on?”
Chaos has erupted.
“As I said. They suddenly dispatched an S-class hero, saying they will catch Egostic from the United States…”
The president of the association wiped his forehead and explained.
Lee Seola frowned as if she couldn’t understand his words.
“No…forget all this stuff. Why did they suddenly come? Moreover, Egostic hasn’t caused any terror for the past few months?”
“I don’t know either. What can we do if that’s the decision made by the International Committee?”
Sigh
Lee Seola pressed her forehead with her fingers as if she had a headache.
As for Egostic and Da-in, her colleagues on the same boat, their crisis was also her crisis, so she was only filled with anxiety.
And, next to her.
“I can’t understand it.”
Shadow Walker, Kim Ja-hyun murmured.
He had been dragged out of his sleep due to the sudden situation.
So he looked tired, but as a man he had acknowledged, he also had a sharp gaze.
“It seems reasonable that it’s because of the collaboration between Egostic and the North Atlantic organization, Lattice… but why now?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Lee Seola nodded in agreement with his words.
They had already had a deep conversation about Egostic, the hero who protects South Korea from behind, when they met last time.
In other words, it was a situation where they could only have a rejection reaction to the news that an S-class hero from the United States was coming to catch Egostic.
And they were not the only ones who had a rejection reaction.
“….”
Stardus, Shin Haru.
Her expression had been frozen since she heard the news.
To be exact, she was in a bad mood. Why is the United States suddenly after Egostic?
Even though she was making such an impression, she felt a contradiction within herself. The feeling of a righteous hero within herself screaming out to ask what the problem was.
Actually, if you think about it… it’s not a bad thing to have an S-class hero from a faraway country come to catch a villain in South Korea. It’s even an advantage that the International Association sent them without claiming any expenses from Korea.
In other words, it’s something to be praised as an ally country catching a terrorist in another country.
But why does it feel so bad?
When Stardus was feeling so confused.
Lee Seola stood up, slamming her desk and confronted the head of the association.
“This is definitely a problem. No, when did we ask for their help? Stardus and we can handle it well enough, so this is disrespecting South Korea.”
“Right. If they suddenly announce it on the same day like this… it’s a diplomatic breach, to be precise.”
Shadow Walker nodded in agreement next to him.
“No, why are you guys saying that to me…”
As the two heroes directed their gaze toward him, the association president wiped his forehead with a handkerchief as if he had a headache.
Stardust also nodded unconsciously as she listened to their words.
… Yeah. It’s natural to feel upset. I wasn’t the odd one out.
That was Stardust’s conclusion as she looked at Iceicle and Shadow Walker, both of whom seemed a little angry. Yeah, why would they not be angry in this situation? They aren’t on the same side as Egostic. Everyone gets upset in this situation.
As Stardust rationalized, she also thought without realizing it.
…Anyway, Egostic is her responsibility. Egostic is the only hero she considers her opponent and vice versa. Who is going to interfere with us?
After all, Egostic is her specialty.
Stardust’s eyes became darker as she thought. At that moment, Isla, who turned to look at Stardust, noticed her state and became slightly worried.
The door of the conference room suddenly opened, and an association employee rushed in.
“Hero Metel has arrived from the United States!”
“Oh, really? Did she just arrive at the airport?”
“No. She has just arrived at our building.”
“?”
At that moment, the team and the association president were stunned.
The sound of high heels clacking in the hallway could be heard.
Soon, the door of the conference room opened abruptly.
“Hello, Korean heroes.”
A confident woman walked into the conference room.
It was Metel, the S-class hero from the United States, who had arrived at the Korean association.
***
Long gray hair.
Snow-white skin.
Sharp-looking eyes.
She hangs her jacket behind her and confidently puts her arms around, the American S-class hero, Metel.
She is currently leaning on the sofa in the Association President’s office, crossing her legs and sipping on her tea.
“….You arrived early though?”
“Yeah, I flew here.”
Although she is speaking in English, Metel gives off a nonchalant tone.
Well, the Association President knows that some of the overseas S-class heroes are quite conceited, so he just let it go.
“The reason I came here is to capture some Egostical villain or something.”
“…Is that the only reason you came?”
“Yeah. They told me to do it from up top. So, I came to stretch my muscles while I’m at it.”
She says with a smirk.
“…Anyway, it’s just an A-class villain, right? I looked through his terror records, and there’s nothing special about him. He’s just a big-mouthed fool. I can handle him alone. It’s weird that he hasn’t been caught yet.”
She blatantly disrespects the Egostical villain, making Ishela momentarily flinch. However, she knows that getting involved will only make things worse, so she bites her lip and remains quiet.
Instead, she observes Metel.
With long gray hair and military-like attire that’s darker than her hair, Metel has a striking appearance. Even if she were a villain, her face is trustworthy enough to believe she’s a hero. Her ability is supposed to be rock-based.
Furthermore, her tone and behavior exude a characteristic arrogance of a thug. As an S-class hero, particularly one known as the Heavenly Dragon in America, her pride was evident.
The Association President sitting at his desk didn’t seem to care, but Ishela, who was facing her, quickly realized that S-class heroes aren’t easy to deal with. If a kinder hero had come, she could have controlled the situation better. But seeing this obviously tough character, her head began to throb.
And to make matters worse, Haru, who was sitting next to her, remained quiet.
And then…
Metel, who sips her tea and hangs her head back to the car her employee followed, muttered with a smirk.
“And… I mean, seriously. It’s been 2 or 3 years, and they haven’t caught that big-mouthed fool. What the hell has the Association been doing? Well, I understand that there’s only an A-class hero in this country. Haha.”
“Now, Metel is blatantly provoking me.”
Upon hearing this, Lee Seola decided she couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up.
“Excuse me.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“…So, do you know that there have been zero casualties from that villain’s terror attacks so far? Do you know how difficult it is to maintain this record without any hostages in any terrorist attack, even from an international perspective?”
Lee Seola spoke almost angrily towards the end.
Actually, she didn’t plan to be so harsh, but she somehow ended up speaking too aggressively.
Well, she had made her judgment after looking at her own situation and her followers.
And as expected, Metel looked at Lee Seola and smirked, then put her hand to her chin and said.
“Haha…yeah. Hostages. You’re right, there haven’t been any casualties.”
Looking at Lee Seola, or rather, looking at Shin Haru, she opened her mouth.
“…But sometimes, sacrifices need to be made for the greater good. For the greater good… you know? But if he knew that, he wouldn’t have been such a loser that he couldn’t even beat those bugs.”
After finishing her words, she stood up and looked down, saying.
“Sometimes, for the greater good, we need to be willing to sacrifice even hostages. Even if a few people die in the process, catching the villain in the end will produce a better result, won’t it?”
After saying that, Metel walked towards the door, clicking her heels.
As she opened the door and stopped for a moment, looking back at the association president, she said.
“Association President, thanks for the tea. And next time Egostic tries to commit an act of terror, I’ll be there. Don’t act recklessly. I can handle that guy alone. I’ll just keep him half-dead here. I’ll take care of it. Bye.”
With that cool statement, clicking her heels, she stepped outside.
Once her high heels could no longer be heard, Lee Seola finally lost her temper.
“What’s wrong with that woman? Does she think this is her own room? She’s unbelievable.”
As she spoke, Lee Seola glanced at Shin Haru, who had not said a word since earlier.
Since Metel left, Shin Haru had been standing in front of the desk with her arms folded, her face cold and contemplating something.
And then, with a slightly subdued voice, Haru muttered quietly.
“….As expected. Should I post?”
“What, what did you say?”
“….”
Watching Haru’s dark expression, Lee Seola sweated nervously.
Well, let’s just say I didn’t hear anything.
***
Ego Base.
After receiving a message from Lee Seola, I looked up the record of S-class metahuman Metel, who had come all the way from the United States to Korea to catch me. Her dazzling career was laid out before me.
“How do you feel, Da-in?”
I answered briefly, as if feeling uneasy about it, to Seo-eun’s question.
“It won’t work. I’ll just have to avoid her.”
“Really?”
Seo-eun seemed taken aback by my decision.
Anyway, I had already made up my mind.
Yeah, that’s better. After thinking about it for a long time, it’s just better to physically avoid her.
With those words, I began to make plans for the future.
So, under the same sky…
The hero and villain, without even realizing it, were thinking the same thing.
