At the Korean branch of the Hero Association
Several heroes, including Ji-hye, were watching CCTV footage from an illegal experiment site in the slums.
More specifically, Professor Teros's facility—the one Indigo attacked yesterday.
The footage showed Indigo defeating armed men with just one hand.
He walked casually as he faced all of them, despite there being hundreds inside.
"This is insane… he's ridiculously strong."
"Right? No wonder Miss Ji-hye struggled so much against him,"
a few heroes said.
Meanwhile, Ji-hye was lost in thought.
"Why does he never take me seriously when we fight? If he did… I'd probably be dead already."
"Ji-hye?"
the Director called out to her.
"Ah! Yes, Director? What is it?"
"What were you thinking about? I called you several times."
"Ah… I'm sorry, Director… I'm just confused. Why does Indigo never fight me seriously and always runs away after pretending to lose?"
Ji-hye held her chin, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Isn't that better? If he's not serious, you can be serious,"
the Director said.
"I… don't really get it."
"Look. If he's not serious when fighting you, isn't that a good thing? That way, you can go all out—and when he's off guard, you can catch him."
What the Director said wasn't wrong. Indigo had never shown his serious side when fighting her, yet in the CCTV footage, he clearly looked serious.
"Seriously… why is he so annoying?"
*At Yoo Jinhoo's house*
I sat comfortably on the new sofa I bought.
"Ah… this is really good,"
I muttered as I relaxed deeper into the cushions.
Suddenly, Lee Donghyun's little sister, Mira, walked in carrying a cup of coconut water.
"Boss! My sister made this in the kitchen—she told me to give it to you!"
"Ah, thank you,"
I said with a gentle smile as I patted Mira's brown hair.
Lee Mira is Lee Donghyun's younger sister.
In the webtoon, she died from hemorrhaging caused by Professor Teros's experiments.
Although both siblings escaped the facility, Mira, who had already been experimented on, only survived for two days.
After that, Lee Donghyun went insane and became a villain, creating countless technologies used to massacre civilians.
He's also highly skilled with computers—a hacker.
Because of that, Lee Donghyun, an S-class villain, was the hardest opponent for Lightnova.
It wasn't that he dodged all attacks—he manipulated Lightnova completely, from her thoughts to her actions.
He was also a master of disguise. With just one device he invented, he could transform into ten—no, a hundred—different people at will.
That's why he was the most difficult villain to defeat.
In the webtoon, it took 31 chapters to finish his arc.
And now…
Well… he's become extremely cheerful.
Because I saved them.
They've turned into good kids who follow everything I say, even though I never asked them to become my subordinates.
Lee Mira and Lee Donghyun are two years apart, which means Mira is currently 12.
And next month is her birthday.
Should I prepare her a present?
Looking at my current finances, I still have plenty of unused money.
Even though I only took a quarter of yesterday's bank robbery due to negotiations, it's still a lot for poor people—enough to buy an apartment.
I glanced at the calendar.
Turns out today is the coronation of the Princess of France.
So, I turned on the TV.
The princess was waving at the crowd.
In the webtoon, Madeleine is the current Princess of France.
And she is actually an S-rank Hero.
Not many people know that—because she hides her identity.
Her Hero name is Oceanaria.
Just like her name, she's a water-type Hero.
In the webtoon, she can control massive ocean waves—even create tsunamis.
However, she has a tragic fate.
She is destined to die after fighting the French S-rank villain, Andreo.
Her death is already fixed.
Tomorrow, when Andreo attacks Paris, a beautiful blue-haired woman will appear as the Hero Oceanaria.
And unfortunately… she will die tomorrow.
"Hm… should I help her?"
I muttered.
"Boss, what are you thinking about so seriously?"
"Huh? Oh… it's nothing,"
I replied to Mira, who was staring at me with a confused expression.
"Oh right… don't call me 'boss.' Just call me big brother. It feels weird when people call me that."
Mira nodded immediately.
*The next day, in Paris*
"Ugh!"
Oceanaria was sent flying by Andreo's attack.
"Hahahaha! Is that all the strength of the famous S-rank Hero?"
Andreo taunted, holding his spear—sharp from the tip all the way to the handle.
Because of this, Oceanaria was completely overwhelmed.
"Ugh… you… bastard!"
Oceanaria summoned her power.
Water around her swirled, gathering into a sharp spear.
She launched the water spear at Andreo.
"This water—"
Andreo slashed it with his spear, causing it to instantly disperse and melt into the ground.
"—is useless against me! Hahahahaha!!"
Of course she couldn't beat him.
Andreo possessed an anti-elemental spear—fatal for heroes with elemental powers.
In the future, he would also fight Lightnova.
Naturally, Lightnova had a hard time too, since she was also an elemental user.
*On Indigo's Side*
I stood on top of the Eiffel Tower.
From there, I watched the fierce battle between Oceanaria and Andreo.
Actually, Oceanaria was the one struggling.
She couldn't overcome the anti-elemental spear.
So, I jumped off the Eiffel Tower.
Right before hitting the ground, I teleported, avoiding the impact.
I teleported straight into the middle of their battle.
"Huh? Who are you? Stop interrupting my fight!"
Andreo shouted.
"You! Get out of here! You're going to die!"
Oceanaria yelled, panicked.
She probably thought I was a cosplayer messing around.
"Alright, alright, let's stop this fight."
"Huh!? Who do you think you are—take this!"
Andreo charged at me with his spear.
I simply pointed my index finger at his right arm.
A dark blue beam shot out, hitting his arm.
Andreo froze in shock, then collapsed, screaming as he lost his right arm.
"AGHH!!!"
Oceanaria stared at me, stunned.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Indigo Reign. I'm a Villain from Korea."
"Villain!? Shouldn't you be help—"
BOOM—
I fired another dark blue beam at Andreo's head.
It exploded instantly.
"Sorry for the interruption, Miss Oceanaria…"
Oceanaria was frozen with fear.
Seeing her nation's S-rank Hero defeated so easily—of course she was terrified.
*Beside Oceanaria*
'W-what is this… I can't move… I'm too scared.'
This Villain named Indigo… I can't stand a chance against him.
She watched as Indigo walked calmly toward her.
'N-no… don't come any closer… please…'
Oceanaria couldn't even speak—only think.
Indigo gently patted her left shoulder.
"Congratulations, you've escaped death… Miss Oceanaria. Or rather… Madeleine de Beaumont."
Oceanaria froze completely.
No one knew her identity except the Director of the French Hero Association.
"Live a long life. The world will need someone like you."
Indigo teleported away and disappeared.
After he left, Oceanaria dropped to her knees.
"H-how… how did he know…?"
*Beside Indigo*
Hah… I was actually terrified back there…
I thought that bluff wouldn't work.
But thankfully… it did.