Chapter 53 - A Change in Perspective

* * *

“That nasty sneer won't do, you know.”

Hyeonyul answered the Poison King without the slightest change in expression.

“I thought what you said was rather stupid, and I slipped.”

It was typical of the Poison King. No, perhaps it was better to call it typical of a villain. He was proving that the only good villain was a dead villain.

“Stupid?”

“Yes.”

As he answered, Hyeonyul looked at Haeryeon. She was wavering.

“Team Leader, don't let him shake you. He can kill millions? If he could, he would have done so immediately.”

Villains weren't fools. If they could do something but hadn't, there was a reason for it.

“Think about why the Black Eagles were created. That should make it clear.”

Hyeonyul watched the Poison King's face contort. Rather than use the military, the Empire had created a group called the Black Eagles and entrusted them with capturing villains. Why had it done that?

“I can't speak for the Poison King personally, but most villains don't want the military involved. In other words, they don't want the situation to escalate into war.”

Once the military mobilized, war would no longer be merely a figure of speech. That would mark the start of a real war. Strangely, however, the villains seemed not to want that, keeping their influence and strength below the level that would let the Empire bring in its military.

Of course, all of this could have been his own misconception. But villains were poisonous flowers, and the longer time passed, the thicker and longer the roots they drove into the Empire would grow. Anyone could see that taking things as far as war would hurt the villains.

“Many will die if the poison spreads. But not as many as he claims. What he wants may be to plant fear deep in people's hearts. He may want us to agonize over the fear that something worse will come if we don't release him, and act on it.”

Internal chaos. People's fear. The Black Eagles' dilemma. A scheme like this was a quick way to obtain all of them.

“He wants to hold us by the throat and get what he wants. Isn't that right?”

“You really are quick on the uptake. A former villain, through and through.”

The Poison King clapped his hands lightly.

“But you got exactly two things wrong. We're avoiding war? Nonsense. It's the Empire avoiding war, not us.”

“Is that so?”

Hyeonyul smiled quietly. Information had slipped out of that tightly sealed mouth. An Empire that didn't want war. Why? He wanted to rummage through that head and see whether the Empire truly didn't want it.

'This makes killing him feel like more and more of a waste.'

“Which means I wasn't lying when I said I could kill millions.”

The Poison King's boast did nothing to change Hyeonyul's expression.

“But you didn't.”

He could have, yet he hadn't. The Poison King must also know how much hinged on that fact.

“So your words are full of contradictions.”

Hyeonyul turned away from the speechless Poison King and looked at Haeryeon. Unlike him, she seemed deeply shaken.

“Team Leader.”

“...”

Even then, Haeryeon kept looking at the Poison King.

She felt she was being drawn into his game, but she couldn't help it. Despite what Hyeonyul had said, countless doubts plagued her. This wasn't some trivial matter; people's lives were at stake. She had to think about how to keep the deaths to a minimum.

“You don't have to let him sway you.”

Only when Hyeonyul quietly approached and spoke did Haeryeon look at him. This was different from confidence. He was calm, as though this truly were nothing at all. What could she call it?

“I can handle this.”

The certainty in Hyeonyul's voice settled her doubts. It felt as though he really would. Haeryeon clenched her fist.

“Wait.”

Leaving like this would be unfair. She had taken several blows; she ought to land at least one herself. That was only right.

“You gave me a present. I can't just leave without giving you one too.”

Haeryeon pulled back her coat and took out several vials. She believed the Poison King's confidence came from the fact that they couldn't stop this poison. That was laughable.

“Oh? What are you going to give me?”

The Poison King watched expectantly. What could she do with vials the size of a single joint of a little finger?

“Watch.”

Haeryeon drank the contents of one vial. Her eyes turned blue.

SNAP

As she snapped her fingers, several vials floated into the air. When she raised a finger, the solutions in two of them rose out.

The blue and yellow solutions mixed, changing color, and an unknown entity formed. It looked rather like what was commonly called a slime. Hyeonyul focused on the curious-looking creature. As though obeying Haeryeon's instructions, it spread its body wide, clinging thickly to the tank walls and the melted room around it.

Though the action seemed unremarkable, the look in the Poison King's eyes changed. It felt as though his poison had been blocked from escaping.

“... What are you doing?”

“Restoration.”

No sooner had Haeryeon spoken than she let a drop of liquid from another vial fall onto the creature. A flash of light appeared, and then the entire area underwent a tremendous change.

“...?”

Even Hyeonyul's eyes widened. He didn't know what this place had originally looked like, but the whole area had been all but literally restored. There was no trace of the melted damage, and even the erased magic had been inscribed anew.

Hyeonyul looked at the Poison King. His lips seemed to tremble with the futility washing over him. Understandably so, since all his efforts had been erased in an instant.

“Well? Feeling a little annoyed?”

Haeryeon taunted him. Alchemists worked miracles. She had simply performed one such miracle.

“If not, so be it.”

Haeryeon drew the last remaining liquid into her hand and toyed with it. What had looked like ordinary water gradually took shape as she handled it.

“Try escaping as much as you like. This little thing will put everything back to square one each time.”

Haeryeon attached the curled-up, round thing to the wall. It sprouted feet and slowly moved.

“... You. Youuu.”

“I hope that little surprise really hurts. Let's go.”

With that, Haeryeon turned away.

“Yes.”

Hyeonyul followed her. Only then did the Poison King's desperate shouting reach them.

“Stop right there! Stooop...!”

* * *

“... Hyeonyul.”

Haeryeon called to him as soon as they came out. Her expression was still stiff.

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“I'll take care of everything here. Go on ahead.”

“Understood.”

“... Hyeonyul.”

Unlike before, this time her voice was anxious.

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“You can do it, right? No, this time... you have to.”

Despite the blow she had dealt the Poison King, the live updates showed the situation heading toward disaster. The death toll kept rising. Under these circumstances, she could only rely on Hyeonyul, who had captured the Poison King. Hadn't he even destroyed the new weapon? Yet regardless of those facts, Haeryeon felt her throat tighten. How much pressure must he be under?

“I can do it. It's not time to clock out yet, so you needn't worry.”

Hyeonyul answered matter-of-factly, but Haeryeon finally smiled. Was he making a joke? She couldn't help thinking so.

“An eagle will take you there once you go outside.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Be careful. There may be other villains.”

“I don't think they would be there.”

Withstanding the poison wasn't easy. It would take someone on Haeryeon's level.

“No, Hyeonyul. We're not certain yet, but a new villain has appeared. The poison may not work on them.”

'The poison doesn't work?'

The look in Hyeonyul's eyes changed a little. Who besides the Poison King could be like that?

“In that case, I'll be careful.”

Hyeonyul bowed his head lightly and set off. The corners of his mouth slowly rose. Regardless of the unfolding situation, today had yielded quite a harvest. Who would have thought the Poison King could be this useful?

'Good thing I didn't kill him.'

Satisfied, Hyeonyul quickened his pace.

Unlike the Poison King's holding area, this place had security cameras. At the very least, he needed to be recorded leaving.

* * *

「*Incident Onset

―People began suddenly collapsing, starting in a park in metropolitan Area T―11.

*Incident Progress

―The group is presumed to have died from poisoning.

―Large numbers of firefighters and police officers attempting to rescue them also died from the poison.

―While the site was being designated a terrorist attack zone, a similar incident occurred at another apartment complex.

―The poison continues to spread.

*Precautions

―Equipment that protects the body from poison is mandatory.

―The poison's faint color makes it difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.

―The poison must be eliminated.」

That was the summary of this mission. Despite the urgency, it was quite well summarized. Hyeonyul surveyed the scene. Magical barriers were visible here and there. There appeared to be more than ten, all marking places where the poison had spread. The response seemed swift. It was noisy, though.

He didn't know why the people were screaming so much when they were being guided to safety. The ones who should be screaming now weren't the civilians, but the Black Eagles who had to approach the poison knowing they would die.

'... How should I do this?'

Removing the poison wasn't difficult. However, unless he visibly took action, they wouldn't know it had disappeared, so he would have to act in person.

'I don't want to do anything conspicuous.'

The mere fact that he belonged to Team Three would already put all of them on edge.

“Bro...!”

Just then, he heard Jihwan's voice. Hyeonyul turned his head, and Jihwan came running, permed curls flying.

“I've been looking for you since the Team Leader contacted me. Did they call you in too, Bro? You...?”

He had merely arrived, yet Jihwan's face was full of concern.

“Yes. I was called in.”

“Where's the Team Leader? Didn't you come together?”

“I came ahead because of some business at the special prison for criminals.”

“This is his doing too, isn't it?”

The Poison King. Jihwan mouthed the name silently.

“That's right.”

“I knew it. Who else could it be? ... Oh, what are you here for, Bro? A rescue mission?”

“No. I'm here to get rid of that.”

“... What?”

“I'm here to eliminate the poison. I have to eliminate it.”

“B-Bro? You? Why?”

“I'm the one who caught him, aren't I?”

Hyeonyul kept his answer brief. He didn't particularly want to explain how he could remove it. He was simply looking for a way not to stand out.

“Hey. Where are you going? You need to stay in formation.”

At the words of another Black Eagle who had followed, Jihwan turned with a broad smile.

“What am I to do, Team Seven? My assignment is support, and from now on I need to support my bro.”

The Team Seven Black Eagle looked at Hyeonyul. Team Three. Their eyes immediately narrowed at the sight.

“What brings you here? Are you a mage?”

“I'm here to eliminate the poison.”

As the Team Seven Black Eagle froze at Hyeonyul's answer, Jihwan spoke up.

“It's true. My bro caught the Poison King.”

“...?”

Hyeonyul looked at Jihwan at the sudden remark. Jihwan was preening as though it were a personal achievement.

“... So...”

The Team Seven Black Eagle hesitated.

Team Three had one member who knew everyone, and word had spread through that person that the new recruit had captured the Poison King. No one believed it. This Black Eagle hadn't believed it either. How could a new recruit capture that Poison King?

[“It's true. Treat him as a Black Eagle when you see him. You know me, right? I won't stand for childish attempts to pick fights.”]

But their Team Leader, Juhyeon, had confirmed it. They had no choice but to believe it.

“I just heard that support was coming to eliminate the poison. Was that... you, the Team Three recruit?”

“Yes. That's me.”

After answering, Hyeonyul fiddled with his helmet. He was glad he'd worn it.

“Please come this way.”

The Team Seven Black Eagle began to lead the way.

“No, I'll show him the way.”

Jihwan stepped in. This would be more comfortable for him. Jihwan had also experienced today how unfriendly the looks directed at Team Three could be.

“Would you, then?”

The Team Seven Black Eagle responded as though that suited them perfectly.

“Yes. Don't worry. Oh, could you just let them know that the support came from Team Three?”

“... Understood.”

With a reluctant expression, the Team Seven Black Eagle dipped their head, then quickly turned away.

'That must be pretty confusing, right?'

Jihwan judged this while watching the retreating Black Eagle.

They might all take it as a lie. No matter how much Nayun spread the word, everything was overshadowed by Hyeonyul's background.

'What hypocrites.'

Once the Team Seven Black Eagle was gone, Jihwan quietly asked Hyeonyul a question.

“You don't want to stand out, right, Bro?”

“How did you know?”

“I can tell just by looking. Anyway, how are you going to absorb the poison?”

“I'll draw it in with my power.”

Hyeonyul extended a hand.

“Your palm has that power?”

Jihwan stared intently at his palm. Apart from being covered in scars, there was nothing remarkable about it.

“Yes.”

Hyeonyul answered. It wasn't exactly wrong. Every part of him was darkness and shadow, after all.

“Can you do it while holding something?”

“I can.”

“Then take this.”

Jihwan handed Hyeonyul a staff.

“Is it all right to just give this to me? It won't interfere with your magic?”

“I only use it now and then to look impressive. I'd like you to use it this time, Bro.”

“Thank you.”

“Bro. You absolutely mustn't push yourself.”

“I won't.”

“I know very well what was in your heart when you caught the Poison King. ... It's your last flame, isn't it?”

Hyeonyul wasn't in good condition. Jihwan had discreetly asked Nayun, who had met Jeongmin—essentially Hyeonyul's attending physician—and learned that he couldn't last even a day without his medicine. The mere thought made Jihwan's nose sting.

'What does that mean?'

Taking Jihwan's staff, Hyeonyul frowned slightly. Didn't a last flame usually mean a flare before death? Applied to his situation, it seemed to refer to his uncertainty about how long he could keep working as a Black Eagle.

'Did the Team Leader tell him about the Poison King?'

Giving it only cursory thought, Hyeonyul nodded.

Just as Jihwan thought. Jihwan squeezed both eyes shut, then opened them.

“Bro. I'll support you, so wipe out that poison.”

No one would be allowed to interfere with Hyeonyul. Jihwan made that firm resolve.