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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Public Opinion and Future Plans
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After waking up from being unconscious for three days.
The first thing that greeted me upon waking was Seoeun, crying her eyes out.
"Oppa, you're absolutely crazy!" Seoeun said, hitting me repeatedly.
No, Seoeun. That really hurts! Stop it!
As I slowly got up and tried to calm her down, I realized she must have been really scared. After all, I had been lying unconscious like a corpse for three days, so she must have been incredibly worried.
Still, I was a little touched to see Seoeun crying so much because I had woken up after collapsing. It seemed the time we spent together hadn't been in vain; she was even shedding tears for me. Playing games and hanging out with her really paid off!
So, I gave a wry smile to Seoeun, who was tearfully telling me to take better care of myself from now on, and promised I would be more careful. Of course, a promise doesn't guarantee it won't happen again.
After waking up, calming Seoeun down, and thanking Ms. Soobin for taking care of me, the first thing I did was check public opinion.
What were people saying about me?
And what about Stardust?
Well, the results showed that my popularity was currently at its peak. There were many articles suggesting that the public seemed to view me, a villain, as a hero instead.
Hmm... So this is how it turned out.
The fact that I just killed him because he annoyed me actually became a point of appeal. They said it was 'refreshing'.
And the shocking thing was that Crocodile Man was still alive. What, he didn't die even after being hit by the poison gas? Of course, I used a slightly weaker version just in case... but I never expected him to withstand it. Then again, he was a tough one to deal with even in the original story.
He had apparently reverted from his crocodile form back to a normal man and was incarcerated in the Eastern Paranormal Abilities Detention Center after treatment.
Hmm, this seems to have gone according to the original story.
The Eastern Paranormal Abilities Detention Center. It's called East Carceris. Literally, a place where villains with superpowers are gathered and imprisoned.
Similar to the Hero Association, each country has places known as 'Carceris'. Carceris, Latin for 'prison'. After the first detention facility exclusively for paranormal ability users, 'America Carceris', was established in the United States, all subsequent prisons for paranormal ability users built in other countries adopted the name Carceris.
These are the highest security facilities in each country, equipped with all sorts of tools to restrict the abilities of inmates according to their individual characteristics. East Carceris, located on an uninhabited island in the East Sea, is guarded with such thorough security that it's said once you go in, you can never come out. Of course, in the original story, Seoeun just hacked her way in and broke it open.
Anyway, since that guy is alive and locked up there, I might be able to use him later. He's a bit simple-minded, so he might be easy to manipulate. Though I'm not sure if that's only when he's in his crocodile form or if it applies when he's human too.
Anyway, I spent a few more days relaxing and doing nothing.
I'm just an ordinary citizen, after all. After working so hard, I get burned out and need some rest.
...Though, it feels like Seoeun has been sticking to my side a bit more often than before while I've been relaxing. What's up with her?
Of course, I didn't just lie around all day doing nothing. Sometimes, I would educate Seoeun and Ms. Soobin about the hero society in South Korea. Both of them seemed to have been cooped up in their rooms, only researching computer technology, as they were quite ignorant about current affairs.
"Alright, today we're going to learn about the reality of heroes in South Korea. Ms. Soobin, what do you think the public's perception of heroes is like?"
"Hmm... good, I'd imagine? Since they're the ones who save people."
"No, that's not right. South Korea is a bit different. Let's take an example. A family is attacked by a villain. So they immediately call a hero. But before the hero even arrives, the villain has already killed them and fled. Do you know who people blame then?"
"Wouldn't they obviously blame the villain?"
"Ah, of course, they blame the villain. They blame the villain, but they blame the hero just as much. They say, 'Our family died because you were late.'"
"...But isn't that not the hero's fault? They wouldn't have been late on purpose, would they?"
"Exactly. But citizens don't care about that. They just think, 'You could have arrived faster, but you dragged your feet, and they died.' That's how they blame them. Well, that's not all of it, but anyway, similar incidents like these accumulate and lead to distrust in heroes. In conclusion, the people of South Korea don't really trust heroes."
My throat hurt from talking for so long.
I picked up the opened plastic bottle next to me and took a sip.
"Don't drink directly from the bottle."
...Seoeun chided me. No, Seoeun. I thought you were looking at your phone, when did you start paying so much attention to me again?
With Seoeun staring, I eventually took the bottle away from my lips and drank. No, you just drink your own water...
Having quenched my thirst, I continued my explanation.
"Honestly, from the heroes' perspective, it's enough to drive them crazy. I mean, it's bad enough they're risking their lives, but they also get cursed at. The truth is, there aren't many heroes in South Korea, so it's difficult for someone to respond immediately to an emergency. As a result, delays are inevitable. Yet, they get blamed for it, you see."
"Ah, I see..."
Ms. Soobin nodded as if she finally understood. Even Seoeun, who had been looking at her smartphone, was now perking up her ears in my direction. Was I really that good at explaining?
Actually, before I fell into this world, my dream was to be a teacher. Of course, right now I have too many other things to do, and I don't even have an ID, so there's nothing I can really do. Maybe after everything is over, I'll get a new identity and try being a teacher.
Anyway, that's not what's important right now. I continued speaking.
"So this creates a domino effect, you see. Heroes, exhausted by public distrust, quit being heroes. The number of heroes decreases. With fewer heroes, the response time to crime scenes becomes even slower. Then, distrust in heroes builds even further... It's a vicious cycle. There's a real reason why B and C-grade heroes are dwindling. The nation's security basically rests on the shoulders of just three A-grade heroes right now."
"It would be good if even the police could help, but by law, police are prohibited from responding to crimes involving paranormal abilities. Effectively, a single villain can wipe out armed police, so going there wouldn't be of any help."
So the conclusion is this:
A complete mess.
A society where heroes are despised and villains are growing in number.
The number of villains far outstrips the number of heroes.
This is why Stardust is struggling so much on her own.
"...So, you're saying you're going to eliminate villains? Quite the dark hero, aren't we?"
Seoeun, who had been listening quietly, sneered. Ugh, Seoeun. You were treating me so well for the past few days, but you're back to your old self again.
"...Not quite a dark hero. You could say I'm just very interested in the fate of South Korea."
"Isn't it just that Oppa likes Stardust and is doing her work for her?"
"Hey now, Seoeun. 'That woman,' you say. You should use nicer words."
But she was right.
How did she know so precisely?
However, admitting something like that right away in this situation would be amateurish. I calmly steered the conversation away.
"It's not that; it's just that I didn't like him..."
"From my perspective, Dain-ssi seems to have a lot of interest in Stardust, though?"
Ms. Soobin cut me off and presented a counter-argument. Ms. Soobin cut me off. That kind Ms. Soobin. Where had the naive Ms. Soobin gone, who used to tear up in fear at my every word...? I've raised a tiger cub, it seems.
The sudden gazes of the two women.
Under their suddenly inquisitive stares, I found myself flustered.
"Now, now. Me, having a lot of interest? Yes, it's true I have a lot of interest. But that doesn't mean anything special; it's just that Stardust is practically the only hero left. And a villain, you see, can only exist if there's a hero, right? So, what's it called? Yes, a contrasting structure. I've just set Stardust up as my archenemy..."
I found myself making excuses without even realizing it. No, why am I even defending myself?
Seoeun was still looking at me with a suspicious expression. No, Seoeun, why are you like this? I'm being unfairly accused here.
"Anyway! That's not what's important. Now, let's start planning another terror attack."
As soon as I said that, Seoeun's attention finally shifted away from Stardust to something else.
"Terror attack? Again?"
"Yes. Right now, what should I say? My public approval has risen too high. More accurately, it's not approval, but anticipation, perhaps? Anyway, the only way to bring that back down is a large-scale terror attack."
"Haa... When are we going to prepare for that again?"
"Don't worry. After this terror attack, we'll take a break for a while."
I said, chuckling at Seoeun's grumbling.
"A break? Really? So we can go on a trip?"
"A trip?"
Seeing the sparkle in Seoeun's eyes, I found myself agreeing without thinking.
"Yes, a trip sounds good. Let's go after this is over."
"Yay! You promised, okay?"
Then Seoeun suddenly dashed off somewhere. No, I said let's prepare for the terror attack... She's not actually going to prepare for a trip now, is she?
Ms. Soobin simply chuckled softly, watching us.