Villain Eaten By The Hero - Chapter 55
CHAPTER 55
“It was a truly difficult two days, but she couldn’t tell others about it.
After barely making it back to the hideout with the help of his subordinates, Belze pondered Seo’s last words over and over again, and within a day, she faced her karma.
[Hero Ravi, Private Life Photos Spread Like Wildfire…… Hero Disaster Headquarters Warns Firm Response to Rumors Foreseen]
[Suspicion of Connection with <Cheonha>’s High-Ranking Officials]
[Ethically Lacking Hero… Is this all right?]
The problem was this: their semi naked-leash-photos of private life were treated as tabloids, just like the cruise photos.
Of course, there were those who said, “What if?” but the argument that it was a hoax or the work of an evil organization, whether through the power of scary accusations by public authorities or the power of core fans, gained strength.
But then someone posted a photo of Belze and Seo in disguise shopping at a supermarket.
It was titled <Ravi Sightings> and it even included the details of their conversation, but unfortunately, it was the other Seo. Fans treated him as an impostor.
Their point was: ‘Even if our Ravi could shop with a villain, he wouldn’t engage in such a conversation’
– Comment 509: It’s probably a clone, our guy slips up on live broadcast and we have to write an apology letter, embarrassing as heck.
– Comment 1344: I work at Hero Disaster Headquarters, and Mr. Kim Seo is as cool in person as on screen. Pour him a shot, and he’ll return twice the favor.
– Comment 1459: Let’s pit a K-drama lead against Ravi.
Contrary to Seo’s worries, presuming people would prefer his sly and mature side, it seemed like most citizens were recognizing Seo’s temperament clearly.
The problem arose afterward. As everyone added their two cents, suspicions turned into a conspiracy theory. It wasn’t the photos but the history that was the problem.
They questioned the fact that Belze had run away from Seo a hundred times. That Seo couldn’t catch a villain like Belze, who wasn’t even as strong as him. Undoubtedly, they believed he was overlooking something.
The doubts that began with that question grew and grew over the course of the day that Seo went AWOL, grabbing all the headlines, until he was forced to call a live press conference at 11am.
Flashes flickered as the press conference room was filled with journalists. Seo was seated at the central table with a microphone, and the head of the Hero Disaster Headquarters stood at a nearby podium, offering greetings.
“We’ll now give Hero Ravi time to directly clarify the allegations of collusion with <Cheonha>.”
After about three minutes of talking about how Heroes are striving for order in the society, how the frontline Heroes are suffering due to the rumors, the camera turned to Seo.
He looked more worn-out and irritable than the day before. Perhaps worn out by ejaculating hundreds of times and the effort to be two people, dark circles were visible, and he seemed quite displeased with the press conference setting.
Belze, feeling anxious, hesitated as she pressed the record button, glancing nervously at Seo.
Would he deny it? Would he never be able to be nice to her again now that he’d been found out? Would they never meet again?
Of course, he’d have to deny the relationship in front of the media, which he didn’t want to do.
But if he didn’t, there was a risk of a change in responsibility, like that after effect of the cruiseship. What to do?
As Belze pondered, Seo’s face shifted in displeasure. His lips, stuck together like wax, finally moved.
“Do you think I’m funny?”
In that instant, everyone in the press conference room, even the Head of heroes department caught in the corner of the screen, held their breath.
“Do I look I’m taking it easy when seen on TV? Does Belze look easy? Does she really look easy? Then why don’t you catch her?”
This nationally broadcasted live press conference was turning into a clear quarrel, causing unease in the room.
“She’s uncatchable. She’s uncatchable, so you’re entrusting her to me. No, okay, let’s say I’ll take this responsibility and retire. Then who’s going to take over? There’s no one as responsible as me. Even on a long holiday, I can’t rest, even in my sleep, I get called. Who else would do it? Look at me.”
“Then how do you explain the abrupt disappearance of Belze when you’re on vacation? What about the sightings of you two being together, as far as eyewithness go?”
A brave journalist raised their hand and questioned. Seo then grabbed a pen and forcefully struck the table, causing a crack.
“Sometimes we negotiate face to face and behind the scenes. If I don’t get a day off, the two of us will blow up half the city.”
“Are you admitting to a collusive relationship?”
“My job is to suppress villains. Whether you call it a collusive relationship or demand my dismissal, I’m not interested, just know this.”
The gaze that was fixed on the journalist lifted, directly meeting the camera lens. Thanks to this, everyone watching the video had to suffer through the illusion that Seo was going to kill them at any moment.
“I was elected to win, not to be ethical.”
As soon as the threat to the citizens was over, the camera panned back to catch the head of heroes department in the act of defusing the situation.
Belze chuckled, gazing at the screen with affectionate eyes. Indeed, Seo was only truly Seo when he was that audacious.
<<The End of the Rumors>>
At 2:30 PM, the TV screen wavered and collapsed abruptly, emitting a metallic clang. Something made of chunks of metal caught on the flickering screen emitted a clanging sound.
“Soon, again.”
The screen was filled with snow noise, a voice more unpleasant than the crackling sound. The outer body made of iron, resembling armor and a mask.
“Through the meteor shower—.”
When the clanging ceased, an ultrasonic-like warning sound resounded very high.
The boss of <Cheonha> had announced his return.
**
Seo’s press conference, which had turned the city upside down, passed without any particular disciplinary action.
The head of the Hero Disaster Headquarters was anxious for a day, and countless people debated the right and wrong of Seo’s actions on the internet and TV. However, as news of the boss of <Cheonha>’s return surfaced, opinions on disciplinary actions quickly quieted down.
As Seo had assured, he was an actively serving hero widely recognized for his strength, a valuable talent capable of rivaling the boss of <Cheonha>.
While the public and the rules of the Hero Disaster Center demand high morals and a strong sense of ethics from heroes, but heroes aren’t selected based on ethics.
In terms of catching criminals, they may seem similar to the police, but they are not. The qualities required of heroes are primarily strength, followed by abilities, and then mental fortitude. Ethics only need to barely fit within the framework of the law; they turn a blind eye to minor non-societal crimes.
It’s because dealing effectively with villains who have gone beyond society due to their hard-to-control abilities requires strength more than ethics.
There are many people who have a sense of justice and want to dedicate themselves to the work of a hero. However, few of them have the strength to fight villains.
Being powerful doesn’t necessarily make you a hero. Many cannot endure the heavy responsibility and criticism that comes with hero work and end up running away.
As a result, there aren’t many people who can stop a villain from ransacking a city.
In such a circumstance, Seo, capable of fighting the boss of <Cheonha>, couldn’t be removed from the front lines.
Seo was arrogant, lacking humility, but he’s strong. Even if half the public criticized him, he wouldn’t yield. He was a hero no matter what anyone said.
“Ughhhhhh….”
Hence, the dilemma Belze was currently rolling around in bed with had nothing to do with Seo’s future. She had already resolved the issue by spreading the boss’s return video with her own hands.
Belze had two problems now.
“I don’t know what to do. I must be crazy. I’m going crazy! I like… Ahh! Eek!”
One thing is for sure, Seo directly said that he likes her.
Her heart was beating fast because even though he can be arrogant and tell lies, he’s the type of person who doesn’t say things he doesn’t want to say.
Belze didn’t think he’d like her as a hero, but she wasn’t sure if she was actually looking forward to it, or if she was just excited to get her hands on him and shake him.
She was trying to believe that it was the latter, but her heart kept leaning towards pure joy, causing her to feel confused. She held the small box and rolled on the bed. It was already the seventh time.
“Seo, no, Kim Seo, no, that guy, it doesn’t make sense.”
She wanted to see Seo’s face as if he was standing in front of an executioner. She wanted to ask him if he loved her one more time, hoping he would respond differently this time. Maybe he would blush angrily and turn his head away.
With that thought, Belze grabbed the box and crumpled it up.
The paper box was crumpled, but that was okay. The contents would not be damaged by the crumpling.
Belze gently lifted the lid of the broken box and examined the contents.
“What am I going to do with this….”
Inside the box was Belze’s second concern. It was a beautiful lace-covered white underwear set.
Seo kept his promise to buy her new underwear.
Strictly speaking, it was the other Seo’s clumsy promise, but in the midst of the chaotic affair, it seemed that Seo really remembered his promise.
The white lace underwear that Seo gave her wasn’t very erotic. There was cloth under the lace, so the area of the cloth wasn’t narrow, and if you forgot about the lace, the design was as neat as a swimsuit.
But even though it was a neat set of high-quality underwear, it was something he had personally chosen and given as a gift. Giving underwear as a gift is such an awkward thing to do.
And it looked just like the white slip Seo said he liked!
As soon as Belze saw the gift that arrived through her subordinates, she couldn’t lift her face because she was so embarrassed.
Her face became hot. If only her face had gotten hot, but her lower abdomen also became hot and she wanted to throw the gift away right away. But she couldn’t do that.
And so Belze kept the box of underwear that Seo had given her, agonizing over it day after day.
To wear or not to wear, that is the question.
As she carefully closed the box again, unable to come to a conclusion, an unwelcome visitor opened the door to her private room.
“Belze, wake up quickly!”
“Why why why why why! Knock before coming in.”
Belze quickly threw the box under the bed to greet Hyena. If Hyena had been just 10 seconds faster, Belze would have been caught looking at the underwear, but luckily she wasn’t.
She was so nervous that she asked why fives times, but she couldn’t get angry, for fear of looking suspicious.
Still, she couldn’t hide her excitement, and while the usual Hyena would have noticed that Belze was acting strangely, today was different. Hyena was just as excited as Belze and urged her on.
“It’s urgent! A new organization in Meteor City is broadcasting a live video!”