Chapter 214: what must be protected

Liliana was recalling the first memory from her dreams when she felt, "My sister is strange."

"It’s mine!"

"No!"

The struggle to possess a cherished doll is no different from that of any other pair of sisters. What set it apart was when Xenovia tore off the doll’s neck with a sinister grin.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Little Liliana sobbed uncontrollably.

and her sister, Xenovia, laughed at the sight. Liliana ’s parents, who later heard the story, dismissed it as "an expression of excessive possessiveness," a characteristic of childhood.

Xenovia often hit and tormented her younger sister, and when asked why she did it, she replied, "I feel happy when I see her crying face."

It was around that time that their parents began to suspect that something was unusual about Xenovia. After consulting with several experts in neuroscience and conducting various tests based on the results of their daughter’s MRI—magnetic resonance imaging—they sought to uncover the truth behind her peculiar behavior.

"Your daughter has functional issues in her cerebral cortex. These problems can manifest as a lack of empathy and an ignorance of others’ suffering."

Xenovia was an innate psychopath.

She felt little emotion and was not only insensitive to the pain of others, but the negative emotions she should have experienced during regrettable actions remained unexpressed.

In fact, Xenovia learned of the exhilaration and excitement when she struck Liliana .

"What should I do?"

"Never deal with your daughter emotionally. It is best to establish clear principles and face her firmly."

Liliana discovered this situation later on, but at the time, she merely thought that her parents had changed since their visit to the hospital.

It began that day.

Strict discipline, curfews, and harsh punishments emerged within the household.

While raising the eldest child that way, it was only natural for the second child to be brought up strictly as well, but Liliana adapted well.

Rather, she grew up to be a beloved girl by everyone.

The same held true for Xenovia.

"The daughters of that family are truly lovely."

As the neighbors in the neighborhood often said in unison,

Xenovia and Liliana both grew up to be virtuous maidens who heeded their parents’ words, and their parents were also content with their successful education policies.

However, Liliana , who was close to her sister, knew the truth.

There was an unfulfilled darkness in Xenovia’s heart.

It was a fact that she was simply hiding for now.

"Umm..."

Liliana , who opened her eyes in the hospital, flinched.

As soon as she regained consciousness, the vivid memory of Xenovia’s attack surfaced in her mind. Even if she tried to forget, she couldn’t escape the black, piercing eyes.

and the emotionless, flat tone of her voice. It was undoubtedly Xenovia.

"Ren Asahi!"

Liliana , who suddenly sat up, was startled once more when she saw Ren watching over her bed.

"Yes? I’m here."

"You...how..."

Weren’t both of them seriously injured?

It was too vivid an experience to dismiss it as a dream. Liliana felt a strange sense of unease due to her seemingly unharmed body.

"Please lie down for now."

"What happened?"

"First and foremost, this is a private room in the Academy Hospital. One night has passed. I was anxious since you wouldn’t wake up."

As he peeled an apple, Ren Asahi recounted the events that transpired after Liliana had lost consciousness. It was difficult to believe.

"Initially, my wounds and the chairman’s were healed because a saint from another world came to our aid. That’s my ability."

"What about Xenovia? Did she just leave?"

Ren Asahi appeared somewhat hesitant, unsure of where to start his explanation.

"She couldn’t have just left. She wouldn’t have stopped until she had completely broken you."

"To put it crudely, I beat the hell out of her."

"...What?"

Ren Asahi then explained his other powers.

"The Immortal Rule"

The death collector summoned by this power displayed transcendent strength while protecting Ren Asahi. He had pummeled Xenovia, who had unleashed her full potential, like a wretched dog.

and subsequently sent her to the correctional headquarters.

The astonishing fact that a D-class academy student standing before her had accomplished the Hero Association’s long-held, five-year-old aspiration left Liliana speechless.

"I was taken to the correctional headquarters... Xenovia?"

"In the end, Master Seridwen arrived and sorted out the situation. I should’ve just transformed it into a Fleshlight."

Ren Asahi said as he handed over a beautifully sliced apple.

Liliana was captivated by the story and, absent-mindedly, bit into the apple.

"Really...? The teacher..."

Everything was resolved while she was lying down.

Liliana felt a slight sense of emptiness.

"Is it tasty?"

"...Ah."

She squeezed tightly.

Liliana gripped the clean patient blanket, and her cheeks flushed red.

No... I’m giving him too much of my heart.

"It was impressive, Chairman. Was it ’Thank you for calling me a splendid hero’?"

"...Hmph. Don’t misunderstand."

Her face was heating up.

She couldn’t even protect him properly, yet she claimed it was a heroic deed and used herself as a meat shield.

All to protect Ren Asahi!

She was so embarrassed, she couldn’t even lift her head.

"It’s just that I did what I had to do as a hero. It’s not a big deal; I would’ve done the same if it had been anyone else but you."

"Oh, tsundere."

"No, I’m not!"

"I wasn’t being sarcastic; it truly was impressive."

This guy... persistently, like a snake... keeps poking at the embarrassing aspects.

"Unsightly, isn’t it? That’s the true face of the woman hailed as the strongest S-class hero in Seoul."

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean being utterly defeated by a genuine villain."

"Is that Xenovia the ’real villain’?"

Did she not hear anything?

Impossible...

Liliana was taken aback to see Ren’s attire unchanged from yesterday.

"You didn’t go home and stay by my side all night?"

"Yes, it’s past the time for school now. Please excuse another absence."

"..."

"The reason is to provide nursing care to the person who saved my life. Oh, and Evangeline was also here, but she left before dawn due to work commitments tomorrow."

How embarrassing.

Calling me a lifesaver is far from the truth.

"Ren Asahi. Actually, you are my benefactor. I couldn’t protect you properly."

Ren Asahi remained silent.

It seemed as if he was waiting patiently for me to regain my composure.

When I was a child, whenever I cried, I felt as if I had a father who would watch over me and comfort me.

Why do I appear so composed when dealing with a troubled student who needs my care?

’If it’s Ren Asahi... I can trust him.’

"Xenovia is... my older sister."

Ren Asahi picked up another apple and began to peel it with practiced ease. Slowly.

"Diagnosed as a congenital psychopath, she is my kin... An S-class villain. The leader of the largest villain alliance in Korea."

"She was an incredibly influential figure. I heard that Korea is relatively peaceful, but she possesses a monstrous masterpiece that even surpasses the chairman."

"It’s due to the immense gravitational waves of extraordinary rank that emerge in the restricted area."

This information is not available to the public.

Everyone is merely speculating, ’Could it be?’

In truth, dungeons of S-rank or higher occur in the Seoul Geumyeok region. The Villain Alliance, lurking in the shadows of Korea’s forbidden zone,

Is a powerful force that amasses its strength by illegally collecting the unauthorized Masu River.

"The leader of the underworld, monopolizing those gravitational waves... There’s a strong possibility that it’s Xenovia."

"Sucking up all the benefits and growing stronger all alone. How cowardly. The chairman has been busy working!"

"...?"

Upon witnessing Ren Asahi’s sudden outburst, Liliana cocked her head in confusion.

’Is he trying to comfort me?’

In a desperate and disgraceful defeat,

For the sake of Korea’s representative hero’s dignity.

"...Enough. I couldn’t become a symbol of justice. I failed to protect even a single male student beside me."

"Now I understand. Why did you want to severely punish the villain? Was it because Xenovia was like family?"

"It’s hard to believe, even if there’s no connection."

He knew that one day, Xenovia would target him.

That’s why he couldn’t form any deep relationships with anyone.

Liliana had kept this secret all along.

『Symbol of Justice』

Pretending to be the impeccable hero, unafraid of anyone who might come along.

"Xenovia, the villain who killed my mother five years ago, turned the heart of Seoul into a blazing inferno. Fifty thousand casualties..."

"..."

"After that incident, people viewed me and my family as potential villains. They claimed they couldn’t tell what we were thinking behind our smiles."

Ever since that day, Liliana has fought for her family’s honor.

She never considered any other path besides becoming a hero.

That’s why she took on the position of Head of the Villain Correction Headquarters.

She sought justice.

She enforced justice.

She wore justice-like armor.

"See, I’m different from my irresponsible sister," she might have been shouting to the world.

... It was a false belief. The time for pretense and showing off in front of her juniors had come to an end. There was no such thing as a ’real hero’ after all.

The ’symbol of justice’ was nothing more than a fleeting desire.

"So, did you fight? Did you ask people to see the righteous Liliana ?"

Ren handed her a plate of neatly sliced apples.

"Yes..."

... She must have felt disappointed.

I, who even encouraged the villain to do something terrible,

Such strictness did not arise from a sense of justice. Instead, those words stemmed from my desperate struggle to show that I was different from my criminal sister. As Liliana managed to cope with her grueling work, her heart gradually calmed.

"A Hero of Justice"

"Towards a 0% Crime Rate"

"Korea’s Representative Hero"

Behind the seemingly plausible phrases that people bestowed upon me, I anxiously awaited the possibility of my sister’s heinous crime resurfacing in the news headlines. I relentlessly pursued any notable villains that crossed my path.

As if I were declaring to the world, ’If my sister appears, I will be the one to catch her,’ making excuses for my actions.

"I feel like I’ve gotten to know Liliana better."

"She must have felt betrayed, right?"

"Do you really think so?"

Ren smiled coolly. Seeing that smile, Liliana couldn’t help but wonder about the reasons behind his presence.

Why?

Why did he watch over the student council president’s hospital bed all night long, claiming to be an interested student? Why was he willing to listen to my story?

Liliana found herself pondering Ren’s motives, and as their connection deepened, so did the complexity of their relationship.

With such a tender expression...

All conjectures gravitate towards a single conclusion, yet they never reach 100% certainty.

"The idea that Ren Asahi likes me" feels too mortifying.

Let’s settle for "he might like me."

When our eyes met once more, Ren flashed a mischievous grin.

As if he had been eagerly waiting to tell me this.

"By the way, it was officially announced that the ultimate hero who defeated Xenovia, the nefarious S-class villain, was none other than our Chairman—’White Devil.’ The statement was released yesterday at 22:00."

"What!"

Liliana cried out, suddenly remembering she was in a hospital, and hastily covered her mouth.

"Didn’t you catch her?!"

"Well? I merely used my power to deal a blow. Strictly speaking, it’s borrowed strength, and no one would believe a D-class academy student was responsible for her capture."

"What about Teacher Seridwen? Why not just say they did it?"

"It was Teacher Seridwen’s idea. Let’s just go with ’White Devil’ being the one behind it."

Sir Seridwen!?

"You’re officially supposed to be in the U.S., but last night you were summoned to the Blue House for trespassing into Korean territorial waters at a speed that violated World Hunter Association regulations.

If it becomes known that it was to deal with a Korean villain, it could escalate into a diplomatic issue.

"Regardless... Are you all right with that? Ren Asahi? Your achievement has been overshadowed."

"I’m fine. Liliana is safe."

’Subtly, she calls me by my name.’

Her heart pounded.

Liliana was bewildered by these newfound emotions.

At first, she thought it was a warmth akin to a father’s embrace, but now...

It was a sensation far more intense—an uncontrollable feeling.

"From now on, don’t push yourself too hard alone; let’s do it together."

"What, exactly?"

"Xenovia has been captured, but more villains will continue to emerge. Let’s join forces with Fleshlight Man. That."

"I’m not the flawless hero of justice you think I am."

"I know."

As he spoke, Ren Asahi tenderly placed a piece of apple in Liliana ’s mouth.

"It’s not as if I’m a perfect hero. I can still date and lean on someone when I’m tired."

"...Date? With whom?"

"You didn’t ask because you didn’t know, did you?"

.......

....

...!!

I don’t know. I won’t know. I’ll pretend I don’t know!

Unable to accept her sudden change of heart, Liliana quickly turned her head, trying not to make eye contact with Ren.

"I don’t know. I don’t have time for dating or anything like that. I’ll be even busier from now on!"

"Rest. I’ll go attend the rest of the class."

Is it okay to let things continue this way?

Once the interested-student process is over, I won’t be able to talk to Ren Asahi. ’Run to me right now.’ I can’t issue ultimatums like that.

He’s no longer just a blemish on the academy.

A hero like me, a kind and dashing man who may even be stronger than I am...

After the stamp of approval is given, we won’t be able to see each other anymore.

As that thought crossed my mind, my body moved on its own accord. When I came to my senses, I had emerged from the patient’s blanket and was holding onto Ren’s sleeve tightly.

"Wait, wait."

"Liliana ?"

"..."

Liliana experienced an unprecedented rush of blood to her head. Her cheeks flushed, and she spoke in a trembling voice.

"Hero... Do you mean to continue?"

"Yes."

What kind of change of heart had occurred?

At this moment, she felt only gratitude. It was a relief not to part ways with him.

Ren tenderly covered Liliana ’s body with a blanket as she lay back down.

"There’s so much more to protect."