Chapter 77: Can't Run Away (3)
TL/Editor: Raei
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The Villain Alliance started their meeting early in the morning.
Song Soo-yeon didn't want to be apart from Jung-gyeom, but she went to the meeting to solve what needed to be solved.
As decided yesterday, it was time to stop.
There was no regret about money.
There were already billions in the bank account.
Solace was still ruining everything, but now, she was more afraid of being caught by Jung-gyeom.
Also, there was regret.
Just as Jung-gyeom cherished the restaurant, Song Soo-yeon cherished it too.
She couldn't believe she had destroyed it with her own hands.
So, it was time to leave.
Uncertain about how everyone would receive the news, Luna entered the hideout with a nervous heart.
At the same time, loud voices echoed.
It was Tryno.
"...!....!"
Surprisingly, he wasn't as upset as he had been yesterday.
No, he actually seemed to be in a good mood.
Laughter was mixed in with his words.
Song Soo-yeon couldn't understand what was happening.
She continued to walk inside the hideout, finally reaching the meeting table.
One by one, their gazes turned to Luna.
"Luna! You're here!"
Among them, Tryno was the one who welcomed her the most.
Song Soo-yeon couldn't adapt to this situation.
Just yesterday, Tryno was enraged, destroying everything around.
The fact that he couldn't defeat Solace had driven him mad.
Most of his wishes were related to power, so not being able to defeat Solace had scratched his pride deeply.
And yet, he was like this today.
Tryno rushed to her, trying to put an arm around her shoulder.
Luna, feeling repulsed, stretched out her hand to tell him not to come closer.
After all, she was angry at Tryno.
She couldn't show it, but he had ruined her precious place.
"...Don't come near me."
She said coldly.
Tryno paused for a moment, then turned around with a generous smile.
"Right, right. That's not important. Anyway, listen, Luna. Stella has come up with a new plan!"
Song Soo-yeon looked around at Tryno's words.
As if everyone else had agreed to his plan, no one objected.
"...A new plan?"
Luna questioned Stella.
Tryno answered instead.
"It's a plan to smash Solace. It's good for you too, Luna. It was your wish, wasn't it?"
The subtle madness in his voice was palpable.
He was burning with a complete desire for revenge.
Luna, harboring a grudge, mocked slightly.
"...You couldn't win even 3 against 1 yesterday, how are you going to smash her?"
-Bang!!!
Tryno instantly smashed a nearby chair.
The atmosphere turned tense in a moment.
But Tryno, flipping his emotions like a coin, laughed again.
It was as if he had a dual personality.
"...Haha, it was just a moment of carelessness. Next time we meet, I won't lose. Just you wait."
Song Soo-yeon's eyes fixed on the broken chair.
She felt more and more that she shouldn't stay here.
Tryno snapped his fingers and pointed at Luna.
"And now, it's time for your debut, Luna...!"
"...What?"
"You've been hiding your true self until now, haven't you? But there's no need to hide anymore. Stella has decided that it would be more effective for you to step forward. In the next operation, you will stand and fight alongside us. Let's see how far your abilities can go. If they work against heroes, then Solace will be easily defeated too."
None of what Tryno was talking about made sense to Luna.
She hadn't come here to listen to such things.
She came here to announce something.
Seeing Tryno going crazy, Song Soo-yeon hastened her plans.
She thought of Jung-gyeom's tears.
She mustered up her courage and said.
"...Enough. I'm not interested. I'm quitting."
"..."
Everyone's movement froze. A heavy silence settled.
The atmosphere changed. No one took her statement well.
Song Soo-yeon had somewhat expected this. She continued her explanation.
"I've been slaving away for the past month to fulfill your dreams... but I haven't received anything in return. We couldn't take down Solace, and I couldn't even end up with the guy I liked. There's no benefit for me here, so why should I stay? You don't seem capable of fulfilling my dreams. From now on, you're on your own."
Most of it was a lie.
The reason she was quitting was the fear of being caught by Jung-gyeom, and that was it.
But she knew better than anyone that she couldn't just say that and get away, so she had no choice but to make such excuses.
"...What the hell are you talking about?"
Tryno asked, his eyes flashing.
"...I told you. I'm going to smash Solace with my own two hands. Just wait a little longer. Where do you think you're going?"
Song Soo-yeon felt fear under his pressure, but it was bearable.
It was nothing compared to being caught by Jung-gyeom.
"Cut the crap. Even an idiot can see that Solace is getting stronger. If you couldn't win yesterday, you won't win next time."
Tryno stiffened. The smile vanished from his face.
She could feel his anger quietly condensing.
Song Soo-yeon had no idea how it would explode.
But it was something that had to be said. She was tired of doing this.
"...Luna. We need you for the next plan. You know? You have to control a lot of people. Even after subduing one or two heroes, you have to control them."
Tryno quietly muttered with madness in his eyes.
Stingshot, who had been quiet all along, also spoke.
"...You can't just leave that easily, Luna. How do we know you won't betray us?"
Luna did not back down.
"So, I should continue this benefitless servitude like a slave?"
Riem also spoke.
"If you at least reveal your face, I'll let you leave. It's a form of insurance against betrayal, right?"
Riem sent a sticky gaze.
It was typical of her, someone who wants pretty female slaves.
She was targeting Song Soo-yeon.
Tryno blocked Riem's words.
"Shut up, Riem. Let her leave, my ass..."
And then he looked at Luna and said,
"You can't leave, Luna. Who gave you the right to just leave like that? Stop your whining. It's just one failure. We can just kill Solace next time."
"Kill what-"
"-Ah...!"
Tryno a gruff in irritation.
At the same time, he leaned forward.
With a crazed expression, he said,
"...I hate traitors."
Song Soo-yeon looked at him and asked,
"...Are you threatening me?"
"Threat? This isn't a threat."
Tryno stood upright.
Snickering, he said,
"...You said you have a guy you like, right?"
Song Soo-yeon's breath hitched.
"...What?"
"If you decide to leave... just know that I'll find that guy somehow."
Tryno smirked.
"...This is a threat."
Song Soo-yeon felt the situation getting twisted.
She became empathetic with Tryno's emotions.
She felt a madness-inducing rage.
And at the same time, an insane fear.
Song Soo-yeon sharpened.
Her eyes and hands began to glow purple.
"...I should just make you kill yourself."
Tryno's madness didn't fade that easily.
"Go ahead. But the moment you fail, that guy dies."
The atmosphere accelerated.
Song Soo-yeon was lost in troubled contemplation.
Should she gamble and use her abilities?
It was impossible to control Tryno.
But she couldn't just do nothing either.
The mere fact that he had set his sights on Jung-gyeom made her incredibly uneasy.
Then, Stella intervened.
"Let's all stop now."
Placing her hands on both their shoulders, she calmed the atmosphere.
"Tryno, you went too far. Luna, it's okay, calm down."
Tryno's gaze turned towards Stella.
Stella smiled at him.
Seeing Stella's face, Tryno sighed and turned away.
His madness was still apparent, but he chose to suppress his emotions for the moment.
As Tryno left, Stella grabbed Luna's wrist. She spoke in a comforting voice,
"Luna, let's have a talk, just the two of us."
---
---
Entering Stella's room, Song Soo-yeon expressed her feelings.
She thought Stella would listen to her.
"Stella. Just let me go. This place means nothing to me, no matter how I look at it."
But on this matter, Stella shook her head.
"...I'm sorry, Luna. That's not possible."
"Any benefit to me-"
"-Luna, it seems you've forgotten your dreams for a moment."
Stella interrupted her.
And then she came closer, placing her hand on Luna's shoulder.
Her hand shone brightly.
Song Soo-yeon knew better than anyone that she was bestowing a dream.
"..."
And Song Soo-yeon realized how weak she was.
She should have rejected it out of pride, but she couldn't.
Just as she had secretly feared when she was by Jung-gyeom's side yesterday, she instinctively also wanted comfort.
Song Soo-yeon did not push that hand away until the end.
Stella said,
"Once you remember your dream... your heart will revive. It's just that you're shaken right now."
Dream.
The only thing that came to mind with that word was one.
Jung-gyeom.
Having Jung-gyeom was all that mattered.
But the moment she steps wrong, it all ends.
If Jung-gyeom found out she was a villain, she didn't believe she could handle the aftermath.
"Think back to when you first accepted my offer, Luna."
"..."
"Don't forget your initial resolve. You were desperate back then. Can you leave us and fulfill your dream? If you want to crush Solace, it's better to stick with us.
I'll make sure your love comes true too. I'll give you nice dreams every day so you won't feel empty."
Of course, she had wanted to quit villainy because she was afraid.
But Stella's point made her think.
...Could she really leave and get Jung-gyeom?
Could she prevent Min-Bom from taking him away?
She was dealing with someone that she struggled against.
"...Luna. Go back today and calm your heart. If possible, have a nice meal somewhere with that man. I'll take care of the expenses."
Stella whispered.
---
---
After visiting Solace, I contacted Song Soo-yeon.
The conversation with Solace had calmed me down a lot.
Nothing was resolved, but she made me laugh a lot.
I could afford a bit more leisure.
Also, it's not good to mope around for too long.
Hadn't I drunk so much yesterday?
Song Soo-yeon isn't a villain, that's the end of it.
It will be easier if I find out the name of the controller through the date with Solace.
With that in mind, I contacted Song Soo-yeon.
To spend a fun day with her and refresh my mind.
Let's not doubt anymore.
...Doubting only makes me suffer too much.
"Yeah, Soo-yeon?"
Hearing the call connect, I started the conversation.
"Mister, what's up? Is there something wrong?"
Song Soo-yeon asked back with a worried voice.
I was moved by that casual act.
...Right.
How could she, someone so warm-hearted, be a villain?
There was no reason for it.
She may be sharp and prickly on the outside, but I came to know better than anyone that she's not a bad person.
Compared to a true demon, Song Soo-yeon was too mild.
She was good.
In the world before regression, it was the situation that made her a villain, not because she was a malicious human being.
It wasn't her, but the world that pushed her to it.
So now, there's no reason for her to become a villain.
She, who suffered from her parents, was bullied at school, and faced hostility from the people around her.
I went through a lot of trouble to separate her from her parents, stop the bullying, and provide a safe haven until she could approach the world again.
She will be okay.
Someone as kind as her couldn't have gone down the wrong path.
I said,
"Yeah. Since something a bit depressing happened yesterday, I thought we could have some fun today."
There was a moment of silence from Song Soo-yeon.
"...Soo-yeon?"
"...Where should we go...?"
"...Huh?"
"Just tell me. I'll go. Let's have fun, just like Mister said."
Her immediate willingness to agree to my spontaneous suggestion brought a smile to my face.
Before the regression, there was no one I could do this with.
Let's think positively.
Let's not doubt such a precious person.
Let's not think negatively.
This life is much better than the last.
Song Soo-yeon said,
"I'll pay for everything. Really expensive food is fine, and buying expensive clothes is okay too. I'll repay a bit of your kindness today... just tell me."
My heart, which had been light as a feather, sunk.
These were words that would have moved me to tears if it weren't for the doubts.
...But sadly,
No matter how much I tried to put aside my doubts, they didn't vanish as I wanted them to.
Doubts sprouted again at her recent words.
I hated this part of myself.
That's why I wanted to know the answer quickly.
...Did she really earn this money through modeling?
"......."
I shook my head.
The good thing about phone calls is that you don't have to manage your facial expressions.
Changing my voice to sound cheerful, I said,
"...Really? Then, I'll be in your care today. Thanks, Soo-yeon."
"...."
After a long silence, Song Soo-yeon replied.
".............Anytime, Mister."
Song Soo-yeon couldn't see, but I forced a smile.
Smiling seemed like it would make my gloomy heart feel better.
She then spoke in a slightly more serious voice.
"Just stay by my side... and I'll do anything for you."
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