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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The S-Class Hero Apple Mango
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There's an old saying:
Even if you enter a tiger's den, if you keep your wits about you, you'll live.
If you just lie down and cry in a tiger's den, you'll simply become the tiger's lunch set.
But if you keep your wits about you and plan an escape route, there's a chance you can successfully flee.
It's the same now.
What would happen if I started sobbing because I was surrounded by three A-class heroes? I'd just get beaten up and dragged away.
However, if I keep my wits about me here, I can return alive.
The hierarchy that arises from the difference in information between us.
I decided to use that to my advantage.
I know them, but they don't know me.
This is very important. It's the power to survive.
Let's look at the current situation.
All the terrorists are dead, and their leader was easily subdued by Shadow Walker. He's stuck to the ground like a mummy, hands, feet, and mouth bound.
Looking at it this way, there's no problem, but the problem is me.
The madman who seems to have killed everyone except Monkey Wrench by himself.
Here's one interesting point.
They can't touch me recklessly.
They still don't know who I am.
They still don't know my power.
They can only roughly guess that I'm very strong by looking at the fallen terrorists. They don't know *how* strong.
And the unknown can incite fear. What if I'm much stronger than they think? What if I could snap my fingers and wipe out everyone here?
Also, there are hostages present right now.
If I mess up and suddenly try to kill the hostages, it would be a huge disaster. Especially when they don't even know if I'm a hero, a villain, or just a madman.
The conclusion is:
They can't touch me yet. They don't know my exact power, and there are hostages.
That means I can do things like this.
"Kids these days really have no manners. Back in my day, when a higher-ranked hero passed by, you'd bow at a ninety-degree angle, from the waist. That's what social life and etiquette are about. But these absolute youngsters just stare up at me with wide eyes... Honestly, it's the end of times, the end of times. Even though I'm, uh, currently active overseas, if I've revealed myself as an S-class hero, you should immediately show respect. Where do you get off using informal speech..."
"Excuse me."
As I was spouting a torrent of nonsense, Stardust, who had been listening, cut me off and spoke.
"The Association just contacted us, and they said there's no S-class hero with the name you claimed for yourself overseas... 'Afmego' or 'Apple Mango' or whatever it was? Who are you?"
Hmm, when did they connect with the Association?
Ah, they all have earphones connected directly to the Association President, don't they?
...And now that I think about it, I probably chose my hero name wrong. I just blurted out whatever came to mind on the spot, but it seems the mango fanatics tainted my brain, resulting in such a disastrous name.
Nevertheless, a first-rate villain doesn't get flustered by such things.
Is my hand moving? Yes! Now my hand is moving. If I just hold on a little longer, I'll be able to teleport.
I balled my fist and slammed it onto the armrest, then spoke. A first-rate villain must also shake the listener's mind. I went into full-blown nonsense mode again.
"Have you ever seen such rude brats? Of course you wouldn't know, since I'm operating under a hidden identity. Do you think personal information just gets leaked carelessly? Just full of suspicion... And your Association President, huh! I've, uh, eaten, drunk, and even gone to the sauna with your Association President, kid!"
The three of them made strange faces upon hearing that. Hmm, was that too far-fetched? Come to think of it, there's no way a young guy like me would go to a sauna with an old man like the Association President, is there? The Association President would deny it anyway.
It was a word-salad party, but even for that, it was too much. I quickly added to salvage the situation.
"...Oh, and do you guys know this? The Association President's name is Park Jun-ho, right? He changed it. His original name was Park Mak-chun. Our Mak-chun used to whine all the time about hating his name, then he subtly changed it, didn't he? So cute, so cute."
Stardust, who was listening to me, flinched as she heard something through her earphone. Yes, they wouldn't have known this, would they? In the original story, it was presented as the most useless TMI in the world, but I never thought I'd use it like this.
Anyway, I bought a little more time with this sudden, off-topic exposé of the Association President's former name. Good.
Just then, North Sea Ice Maiden immediately spoke.
"No, how can we trust you...? Does it even make sense to suddenly claim to be an S-class hero without any proof...? Because to me, you look like a villain..."
Her voice trailed off.
What, she actually listened to all that? She's such a kind kid. Stardust and Shadow Walker were just listening without really hearing, with a "let's see how far he goes" attitude. They were looking at me like grandfathers watching their grandchild's talent show. I know I'm going overboard, so please don't look at me like that.
And you said it well. Damn it, the end of nonsense is seriousness. Seriousness wins. It means the one who gets serious first wins.
"A villain? Me? Hahaha."
Hahahahah.
"Hahaha! Hahahahahahahahaha!"
In this place filled with silence, I suddenly laughed like a madman.
Just moments ago, I was seriously spouting nonsense, and now this, hoping it would give off an even more unsettling vibe... I was doing it expecting that.
And then, abruptly, I stopped.
My laughter suddenly ceased.
I, who had been laughing into the air, suddenly lowered my head.
Then I lifted my head again, lowered my voice, and spoke calmly, as if stating an obvious fact.
"If I were a villain."
"All of you, right here, would already be dead."
My words, delivered as if proclaiming from a high place, with my hand resting on my face. Damn it. It was a bit cringey, but I endured it.
At the sudden threat, the hostages tensed, and Stardust and North Sea Ice Maiden shifted into combat stances, ready to protect the hostages and fight. And that Shadow Walker guy... he was just staring blankly. Looks like he's not thinking about anything. Well, he doesn't die at night, so he probably isn't very nervous.
As if the previous atmosphere was a lie, the situation instantly became explosive.
Everyone swallowed, tensing their bodies in preparation for a battle that could erupt at any moment.
I suddenly let out a hearty laugh and waved my hand.
"Haha. Just kidding, just kidding. Would I really threaten my juniors? Relax."
At my suddenly shifting demeanor, the two still couldn't collect themselves. That's how you really mess with someone's head: you lift them up and then drop them down, so they can't get their bearings.
At that moment, Shadow Walker, who had been just blankly watching me, quietly whispered into his earphone.
"...Why don't we just attack? I don't think we'd lose if all three of us rushed him. Let's take him down first and think about it later. If he's a real hero, we can just apologize then."
Hey, you bastard, I can hear everything! Everything!
North Sea Ice Maiden, who heard Shadow Walker's words through her earphone, excitedly nodded, while Stardust shook her head. She's probably worried about the hostages getting caught in the crossfire. Ugh, Stardust, you really are the only one.
I desperately pretended not to hear. No, it would be a disaster if I acted like I heard that. If I just stood by after hearing something like that, my 'arrogant S-class hero in disguise' concept would crumble. But what if I got angry and fought? No, it wouldn't even be a fight. If a battle broke out because I got angry, I'd be beaten up and dragged away in five seconds. Anything but that...!
But actually, my power is slowly returning now. I've stalled for quite a long time. Good, the time to make my escape has arrived.
But before I go.
Hmm...
Since I've taken on the persona of a senior hero, should I say what I want to say before leaving?
I cleared my throat with a "hem-hem" and, seizing the moment when their attention was focused, quickly spoke my piece.
"Anyway, it was good to see you junior heroes. Although you're a bit rude... If I were to give you some advice as your senior, when you encounter a threat, don't run away; fight back. No matter how great the hardship and adversity, even if it seems insurmountable, don't back down. You are heroes. If a hero doesn't run away,"
"You will absolutely. Be victorious. Calamity? Disaster? They mean nothing. If you only have the will, if you only have the will within you. Overcoming them is an incredibly easy task."
I turned my head as I spoke, and my last words were directed at Stardust. She looked slightly surprised? Or trembling? when our eyes met. Hmm. Is she starting to suspect I might actually be a hero because of my sudden sermon? That's good. Or maybe she just thinks I'm an idiot. Tsk.
And the even better news is that my power has returned now.
Alright, it's time to say goodbye.
In other words, it's time to escape.
"Well, I've done my part. I'll be going now. Farewell. Adios."
Saying that, I gave a slight wiggle of my fingers and suddenly teleported.
When I disappeared, they seemed very flustered...? Actually, they don't seem that flustered, but maybe it's just my imagination? Regardless, I was already standing behind Seo-eun and Ms. Su-bin.
"Hup."
Then I grabbed the two of them and teleported us back to the car. I moved so fast that no one would have seen it. Probably.
"Aaaaah!"
Thud.
I barely managed to teleport us to the car.
But at the last moment, all my strength drained away, and the three of us tumbled into the car. Sorry, I used every last ounce of strength I had to get us here...
"Ugh... Oppa, are you okay?"
"No... I'm dying..."
I really am dying.
My consciousness is about to go. This is at least a week of unconsciousness. I'm screwed.
Before I collapsed, I left my last will... no, my last message.
"Ugh... Seo-eun, delete all hotel records right now. CCTV, entry logs, everything. We're screwed if we get caught..."
"Yes!"
Lying collapsed in the back seat, I handed Seo-eun the laptop I had moved earlier and spoke.
"And Ms. Su-bin... please drive quickly back to Seoul. The area is a mess because of the terror attack, so we should be able to slip away unnoticed. Quickly..."
There's no way those idiots at the Association would have thoroughly secured the perimeter.
It'd be a chaotic mess, if anything. I used to curse them for doing that when I watched anime, but it turns out to be a big help in situations like this. Thanks!
"Yes, yes!"
Ms. Su-bin fumbled for the steering wheel.
Alright, I've done my part.
My consciousness is slowly fading...
I don't have any fatigue recovery capsules or anything right now. In other words, I'm screwed.
"I'll... just... sleep now. So..."
After saying that much, my consciousness, pushed to its limit, finally cut off.
My last thought as I collapsed was:
At least I managed to get away without my identity being revealed, thanks to that bizarre 'S-class hero Apple Mango' concept.
Who knew that a crazy act I pulled just to buy time would have such an unexpected effect?
Yes, now I can sleep soundly...
***
[[Exclusive] Suspicions Spread: Self-Proclaimed S-Class Hero Apple Mango is Actually Villain Egostick... Association's Cautious Stance: 'High Probability, But Verifying Facts'... Netizens Already 'Half-Convinced'.]