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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Character Interpretation
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When it comes to executing a plan, understanding the characters is paramount. Having read the original webtoon dozens of times, I know the characters' personalities inside and out, and I make full use of that knowledge.
For instance, Seo Eun was consumed by a burning desire for revenge against the Han Eun Group, and I leveraged that to successfully recruit her. As for Ha Yul, I tempted her by exploiting her deep affection for her younger brother.
The same principle applies to Stardust. To be honest, I've behaved quite suspiciously around her. I've orchestrated terror attacks only to then demand Stardust save everyone, and I even took a knife to save her.
If I'd pulled those stunts on someone like Icicle—Iseol Ah, that is—my identity would likely have been exposed immediately.
...Or perhaps not. Iseol Ah probably already has a pretty good grasp of my identity even now... I'll approach her later. The crucial point is this:
Stardust, being the embodiment of justice itself, makes no compromises with evil. For instance, in my early days, when I was eliminating other villains, the public actually had a subtle liking for me. But she, I'm sure, detested me. A murderer who kills others at will. She possesses her own firm, unwavering, and unshakeable sense of justice.
So, no matter what I do, she probably won't give a damn. Of course, she did show a flicker of suspicion about my intentions last time, but I chalk that up to a momentary curiosity. Now, I have a feeling she won't even spare me a second thought. Perhaps she's already forgotten all about Egotistic? No, on a personal level, I do hope she remembers me. It'd be sad to be forgotten, wouldn't it?
Anyway, the conclusion is that I have a solid grasp of the people in this world. And I base all my actions on that understanding. Whether I'm recruiting allies or confronting enemies, knowing their personalities allows me to predict almost exactly how they'll behave in any given situation.
And it's this very approach that I'm using to recruit a new ally right now.
"....."
Choi Sehee.
Ever since she awakened her abilities as a child, her parents had strictly forbidden her from becoming a hero or ever revealing her powers to anyone. That's how she grew up.
She lived her entire life suppressing her abilities, but it was an impossible task. Like an overcharged battery, stress began to accumulate because she couldn't discharge her 100,000 volts.
This intense suppression eventually sparked a destructive instinct within her. She'd look at things like streetlights and feel an urge to blast them with electricity, and having suppressed herself for so long, her control over her impulses began to falter.
Living with constant stress, her personality gradually sharpened, growing more irritable. To outsiders who didn't know her well, she came across as something of a delinquent. In reality, it was merely the irritation stemming from her suppressed desire to use her abilities.
She continued to endure this way, and after becoming an adult, she barely managed to live by secretly releasing small bursts of the accumulated electricity in her body, always out of sight.
The first time she ever truly unleashed her abilities without guilt was likely when she encountered me. She must have felt an overwhelming sense of liberation, a profound relief.
In truth, what she did was merely launch a few electric spear-like constructs, so it's almost embarrassing to claim she 'freely' used her powers. But if that was the first time she had ever freely discharged them in decades, then that's an entirely different story.
Once you get a taste, it's hard to let go. She knows that with me, she could experience even greater pleasure.
Having tasted such sweet freedom, could she truly refuse my offer?
"Hee hee hee hee hee....."
"Oppa, why are you laughing so creepily?"
As Seo Eun stared at me with a strange look, I thought to myself.
Just you wait, Seo Eun. Your Oppa will get you a new big sister.
***
"Do you have points? Yes. Please wait a moment."
A cafe in Seoul.
Choi Sehee, working her part-time job at the cafe, found it impossible to focus today.
No, to be precise, it had been like this for the past three days.
'Care to join me in a terror attack?'
"Crazy bastard."
The co-worker beside her flinched at the words she'd mumbled unconsciously, but Choi Sehee paid them no mind.
Did he think she was some kind of terrorist? She'd certainly experienced all sorts of bizarre things in her life.
Though she scoffed,...
However, from that day on, something about her shifted.
The sheer liberation of blasting that guy with electricity.
At the time, she hadn't realized it, but she had definitely... enjoyed it.
The refreshing, exhilarating thrill of using her abilities freely, without hiding them, right in front of others.
If using her abilities a little on just one person felt like that, then how incredible would it feel to unleash them to their limits, in front of dozens, even hundreds of people?
'...Damn it. Am I actually crazy?'
She frowned unconsciously.
Nonsense. Was he suggesting she become a terrorist? And how could she possibly trust that lunatic in the first place!
'Right. I'll never become a terrorist, not even in my wildest dreams.'
***
That night.
After finishing work, she returned home and searched for Egotistic.
'This is just because I'm curious about what kind of guy he is...'
Rationalizing it to herself, she researched Egotistic online.
He was a much bigger deal than she'd imagined.
She'd only ever heard about his terror attacks through TV or internet news while working at the store, so she hadn't realized, but he was quite famous.
The number one most influential villain in South Korea, the only villain with a fan café, a villain more popular than most heroes...
The moment she typed his name online, articles and posts would flood her screen, an endless stream.
"....He was *this* big of a deal?"
Why would a guy like this approach *her*?
No, before that, how did he know she had these abilities?
Pondering these questions, she continued to read the descriptions about him.
What she learned from her research was this:
He was incredibly wealthy, possessed exceptional hacking skills... and.
The terror attacks he orchestrated had never, for any reason, resulted in a single fatality.
'.....Then... maybe it wouldn't be so bad?'
Her eyes began to waver.
In fact, ever since that day, after that one refreshing use of her abilities, the urge had grown increasingly unbearable.
Her entire body tingled, itching to just unleash electricity.
Even when she stood still, sparks would fly from her body.
"Ha... damn it..."
She sighed deeply.
'Think carefully. Haven't you always suffered greatly from not being able to reveal your abilities? With me... you won't need to hide your true instincts anymore...'
His words came to mind.
Yes, she didn't know how he knew, but she was struggling. She couldn't keep suppressing herself forever.
He was definitely still completely untrustworthy, but even so.
If he came again, she could at least listen to what he had to say.
What kind of terror attack he proposed, what conditions he might offer.
For now, she'd listen and consider.
Suppressing this impulse was becoming too difficult.
"It's been about three days now... and he said he'd come soon."
Would he come back tomorrow?
That's all she could think.
***
The next day.
He didn't come.
"..."
The impulse within her was growing stronger and stronger.
She just felt like unleashing electricity somewhere, anywhere.
She wished she could find relief by going up a mountain and discharging her power, but it didn't truly alleviate her stress unless others were watching.
There was a thrill in demonstrating her abilities for all to see. Having hidden her powers for far too long, she had developed not only a destructive urge but also a desire for exhibitionism, and without even realizing it, she was steadily walking the path of a villain.
'Tomorrow, he'll come tomorrow.'
The next day.
He still didn't come.
She slowly began to feel like something was seriously wrong.
The impulse that had begun after that day had grown to an unbearable degree.
Now, even just going to crowded places made her body itch, desperate to unleash electricity.
The thought of objects around her being destroyed because of her sent an involuntary thrill through her.
'...This can't go on.'
Egotistic. He had clearly said he would come soon.
Since when did 'soon' mean five days? Why isn't he coming?
...Surely, he didn't just give up because she rejected him so forcefully back then?
Right. She looked him up, and Egotistic was indeed an impressive figure.
Just looking at the bridge terror attack, she couldn't even begin to imagine how much money he possessed.
...Maybe he'd abandoned her in the meantime and simply gone to find other villains? When she thought about it, there must be many people hiding their abilities besides her. Perhaps he simply decided to find someone else, someone less complicated.
...Was it a mistake to blast him with electricity right from their first meeting? No, she felt unfairly treated. Anyone would react that way if someone suddenly approached them alone in a dark alley.
".....Haaah."
Now, she couldn't even think straight.
She would do as he said, if it meant relieving this suffocating frustration without harming people. Following his words seemed like the right choice.
Due to such overwhelming destructive impulses and stress, her mind was slowly drifting away from normal thought, reaching a point where she could no longer form coherent thoughts.
The next day.
The cafe.
"Sehee, are you feeling unwell? You seem a bit down today."
"..."
".....Uh, well, then, g-good luck!"
The next day.
That night.
As she quietly walked home, a man suddenly appeared before her.
"Good evening, Sehee. Have you given my offer some thought?"
"...I'll do it."
"Pardon?"
"I said I'll do it. Terror or whatever."
***
...No. I boasted that I could entice her in just a week, but she surrendered *this* easily?
I gazed at Choi Sehee, her orange hair framing the desperate expression she wore as she watched me, and a question formed in my mind.
Why was she like this after just one week?
My Mango Squad members could easily hold out for two or three months, couldn't they?
Anyway, when an opportunity presents itself, you have to seize it immediately.
"I don't know what caused this change of heart, but... Excellent. Let's proceed together."
I said, extending my hand to her.
She, without hesitation, clasped my hand.
I had actually succeeded in recruiting a new (prospective) villain in just one week.
Now that this is the case, I can carry out the terror attack sooner than expected, can't I?
Stardust, I'll be seeing her again sooner than I thought.
Two months? That's nothing.
***
'....He's not actually dead, is he?'
"Haru.... What are you thinking about now....?"