Chapter 101: Confrontation

I stepped out of the training hall entrance, and So-hee stood there.

Clutching a case as big as her thigh, she wore a worried look.

“…Do you really have to go?”

She was the only one who knew the full context of my situation—and what I was about to do.

Though she followed my orders, knowing my next steps filled her with dread.

Unfazed by her concern, I was firm.

“Gotta go.”

No one else could do this—it was my job.

“Where’s the gear?”

She handed me a small pouch.

Driving would be too slow.

This was my ace, prepared long ago.

“Coordinates are set.”

Opening it, I found a few nail-sized beads.

Without hesitation, I scattered them on the ground.

The beads glowed blue, vibrating faintly, resonating.

Spatial movement Trait beads.

Astronomical cost, one-use, strict conditions, short shelf life.

But the real reason they weren’t commercialized was simple.

Even before the gate formed, intense pressure and resistance hit.

Seeing it for the first time, I gave a stunned laugh.

“What is this, a blender?”

Without S-rank regeneration or revival, you’d be shredded.

For me, catching the Organization’s boss was worth the risk—no, I had to take it.

“Looks like it’ll take a bit to fully form.”

Catalog said five to ten minutes, depending on distance.

At this rate, ten minutes is easy.

I glanced at the case So-hee held.

“That’s it, right? From the forge.”

“Yes.”

“Said a month, but it took long enough.”

Luckily it arrived today.

Muttering, I grabbed the case’s handle.

Grip—

“Hm?”

I pulled, but So-hee clung to it, not letting go.

“What’re you doing? Let it—”

I stopped, seeing her face.

Her anxiety, tension, worry—all for me.

Clutching the case, she muttered.

“You said she’s really strong. Dangerous.”

I was strong, no doubt.

But the boss was different from enemies I’d easily crushed.

My first equal foe, and the situation was stacked against me.

She’d tried to stay calm, but thinking of me going alone—she couldn’t bear it.

Her voice trembled, spilling her heart.

“What if it’s a trap? What if she’s got S-ranks or A-ranks waiting to ambush?”

We only had vague coordinates, no clue where the gate led.

“Just… don’t go. Please?”

She held the case with one hand, grabbing my arm with the other.

“Or take another hero!”

“Thanks for worrying.”

I smiled lightly, freeing my arm.

“You know this is my job. No one else.”

She clamped her mouth shut like a clam.

If only she didn’t know.

Being close to me so long, she understood my mindset too well.

No amount of pleading would sway me.

“Promise one thing. Don’t get hurt.”

“Absolutely. Not a scratch.”

“…Liar.”

No Trait needed to see through that.

I scratched my head, chuckling awkwardly.

“I’ll try.”

She finally let go.

I took the case, setting it down.

Click—

Unlocking it, I opened the lid.

Inside, a sword was secured.

Plain black scabbard—I didn’t care much about it.

I’d requested the same specs as my old one, so it’d be fine.

The real check was the Purple Glass Sword itself, sent per the forge’s request.

I drew it slowly.

Heavy weight in my grip, cold metallic gleam.

Extra materials, multiple refinements, yet the weight, handle’s feel, balance—same as before.

Only one change.

“Much deeper.”

The reinforced blade’s purple hue was richer, no longer translucent.

Purple Crystal Swords fit better than Purple Glass Swords.

A note lay beside it—forge’s specs, probably.

As expected, it detailed the enhanced performance.

No new functions, but doubled durability, shock absorption capacity, and a self-repair feature for post-battle damage.

The last one was my favorite.

I’d always used the Purple Glass Sword because its shock absorption matched my Trait.

I stared at my reflection in the blade.

The old me—worst criminal, symbol of blood and violence, untouchable outlaw.

After a turning point, I’d put down the sword, vowing no more blood, changing my path.

I thought I’d kept that vow well.

But my current beliefs, morals, justice—they weren’t fully mine.

Borrowed justice, someone else’s.

What’s more fragile than that?

I was worried.

Wielding a weapon again, would I revert to that monster?

Chasing only the fastest, most efficient path?

As the thought hit, the blade’s tip trembled.

Not a vibration function—my hand was shaking.

I laughed bitterly.

Never trembled killing my first man, but just holding a sword again?

How weak I’d become.

Despite my self-mockery, the trembling grew.

So-hee, watching silently, approached.

She placed her hand over mine on the sword.

The trembling stopped.

A bit startled, I smiled lightly.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

I sheathed the sword, securing it to my waist.

As I steadied my breath, the beads’ faint light threads formed a gate.

A small gate, barely person-sized, with a rippling blue film.

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay.”

At the gate, I added.

“If anyone asks, cover for me. Didn’t tell a soul.”

“Huh?”

That’s too reckless!

Ignoring her cry, I stepped through.

* * *

Crunch—

Forcing through a shredding spatial storm, I emerged.

Instantly, I drew my sword, ready for battle.

An unknown space, no intel—likely a trap.

No room for carelessness.

But then, my face twisted in confusion.

“Here…”

A cemetery.

Tombs surrounded me, starting right beside.

Untouched for years, they were filthy—crumbling headstones, overgrown weeds, moss-covered rocks, eerie.

Not just an abandoned cemetery that shocked me.

“Why here… No, this is…”

This cemetery was built by my Organization, under my orders, during my villain days.

Even with my harsh blood rules, I couldn’t just dump dead subordinates.

It was for minimal dignity.

Only one presence nearby.

Trap or not, no choice.

Questions lingering, I moved slowly.

In a secluded corner, one tomb stood out.

No weeds, headstone polished—regularly tended, untouched by time.

Before it, someone stood back to me.

“Sneaking like a rat. Cocky. Think I wouldn’t notice?”

Muttering menacingly, the Organization’s boss turned.

Seeing me, her eyes widened, stepping back in shock.

“H-How?”

Her surprise faded fast.

Red thorned vines—swish—spread around her.

“How dare you.”

Her raw displeasure sharpened the vines’ thorns.

No joy in seeing me.

Logically, I shouldn’t be here.

A mental manipulation illusion made more sense.

If so, it was the enemy's doing.

“How dare you pull this. I’ll crush your limbs, gouge your eyes, leave you neither alive nor dead.”

Despite her hostility, I stayed calm.

Her reaction suggested no trap.

If it was an act, why be a villain?

I drove my Purple Sword into the ground.

A gesture of no intent to fight—her brow narrowed.

I sat on a nearby stump.

“Let’s talk first.”

Something was off.

Not just an illusion—the vibe, the unique feel, was too real.

No way.

Thinking it absurd, she asked slowly.

“…Is this real?”

“What’s fake?”

“But… how?”

As she faltered, I answered lightly,

“Those breads you took at night—think they were free? Had trackers.”

“I know.”

She nodded, unfazed.

My bread—she’d have eaten it even if poisoned.

A tracker?

Nothing.

She pulled a small pouch from her pocket.

“I kept them all.”

Not just anything—my first gift to her.

A treasure.

“But the trackers should’ve been disabled.”

I gave a wry look but shook my head.

“Rookie move.”

Association’s cheap trick, but it worked, especially on green villains.

Strength and experience were separate.

“The bread trackers were decoys. Real ones were in the stickers.”

She pulled out her phone.

Character stickers plastered its back.

She gave a bitter smile.

Who’d guess they were there?

But her expression held no anger or displeasure.

Don’t meet, but want to meet.

Her daily torment of conflicting emotions was resolved by my coming—almost a relief.

“You’re amazing, Sir. Then and now.”

My experience, where she lacked, was vast.

If I were by her side, this wouldn’t have happened.

I want you with me.

Satisfaction from seeing me afar grew into a darker, stickier desire.

“You came alone?”

“Yeah.”

She couldn’t grasp it.

If the bread was a trap to pinpoint her, shouldn’t heroes swarm now?

I stayed calm.

“Said I came to talk.”

My softer tone sparked a possibility.

“Do you… remember me?”

“Vaguely.”

She clasped her hands, covering her mouth.

Tears welled in her eyes.

Not just too vast for that word.

The ground seemed to melt, like she could fly.

He remembers.

I sighed, seeing her.

A question became certain.

“And that tomb. Coming here, I remembered. Your friend, right?”

“Yes. My precious friend.”

Wiping her eyes with a curled finger, she stroked the headstone.

“They didn’t die human, but here, they were. I remember what you said, burying them. It saved us both. All thanks to you.”

I sighed.

Ten years ago, a similar moment.

One question answered, more arose.

I started with the lightest.

“I erased your memory.”

Hands behind her back, she tilted her head side to side.

“My brain’s partly damaged—Manipulation Traits don’t work well.”

I sighed.

Fair—after those mad scientists’ experiments, an odd constitution wasn’t surprising.

“Then why do this?”

She looked shocked, as if unprepared for the question.

Then she smiled lightly.

Tilting her head, red hair swaying, she said.

“You asked what my dream was, what I wanted. This is for that.”

Her vague answer was a polite refusal to elaborate.

“You’re not right in the head.”

I stood, grabbing the Purple Sword.

I wouldn’t call it my fault for not erasing her memory properly.

But as an educator now.

“Disciplining wayward kids is an adult’s job.”

“Gonna scold me?”

Her cheeks flushed.

“Then scold me by my side. I’ll serve you well.”

I can’t hold back.

I’ll take you.

Her vines writhed menacingly, matching her emotions.

“Forever. By my side.”

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