Chapter 444

〈 Chapter 444 〉 Part 1, Chapter 18, Scene 26

“Uwahaha! I’m about to taste some princess today!”

S-Rank Villain <Captain Kid> unleashed a barrage of bullets from his twin revolvers towards the hemispherical concrete barrier. The concrete shield deflected the magical bullets like a bunker, but Captain Kid wasn’t the only one shooting at it.

“Uoo!!”

Numerous A-Rank and lower Villains, and even Monsters were using their powers to try and break the bunker, all in an effort to unleash their desires on the lone woman inside.

“I’ll go easy on you if you come out now, Princess Aruel!”

Captain Kid held his twin revolvers horizontally. His lower body’s cannon was fully loaded, and not just his. All of his subordinates aboard the steamship were similarly riled up.

“Hahaha! You’ve used all your strength closing the Dimensional Gate! Gawein is still busy closing the gate in Norway! Come out already! This is my final warning!”

Kid reloaded his magical bullets while brandishing his pistols. He rushed forward, firing at the bunker.

Kwa—-ang!!

The magical bullets engulfed the bunker, finally shattering the hemispherical concrete. Inside stood Aruel, bloodied and kneeling on one knee, the object of their long wait.

“…I was a fool to trust villains.”

“Hahaha, why so glum? I did my best as a British citizen.”

Captain Kid stomped on the regenerating concrete with violet magic power surging from his feet, halting its regeneration. Killer intent flowed beneath his sunglasses.

“You helped close the Dimensional Gate, so you deserve a reward, don’t you?”

“…Isn’t ignoring the monsters enough of a reward?”

“Not at all! Even if you give me ten thousand gold or a noble title, I refuse such compensation. What do you think I truly desire?”

Captain Kid unfastened his belt and dropped his pants, revealing his erect cannon aimed directly at Aruel. She furrowed her brow and struck the ground.

Pajijik.

A slab of metal flew toward Captain Kid, but he easily deflected it with a reverse grip on his pistol. Aruel’s last attempt had failed.

“Hahaha, such a feisty one. You shouldn’t have wasted your magic saving people!”

“…Guess so. If I knew I’d end up like this, I wouldn’t have struggled so much.”

Aruel bitterly twisted her lips. Her torn formal wear revealed her underwear, further inflaming Captain Kid’s lust. His weapon was already leaking clear liquid.

“Hmph. Why bother saving those who are doomed to die anyway? Pluto will crash into Earth in a month. Princess, do you have the power to destroy planets? Can you escape Earth? Hmph, no, right? So how about playing with us before you die?”

“…All 300 of you?”

“Of course! Don’t worry. I’ll go first. Surrender now and I’ll be gentle.”

Captain Kid waved his weapon in front of Aruel mockingly. Aruel remained motionless, head bowed, staring at the ground. Suspicious of any hidden tricks, Captain Kid stepped back.

‘This feels off.’

Though Aruel appeared completely drained of magic and strength, she exuded an unsettling calm. Though he suspected some rapid recovery technique, Aruel merely muttered softly.

“…Sure, let’s play. In hell.”

“What?”

As Aruel suddenly looked up, Captain Kid saw her emerald eyes gleaming through her golden hair. Realizing something was amiss, he raised his hand in defense.

Squelch.

Like slicing an apple, Captain Kid’s vision flipped as he fell backward. The last thing he saw was his own white garter belt and mint green panties flying past him.

Monster Captain Kid dissolved into black mist.

* * *

“Sorry I’m late, nya.”

“No, it’s fine… Where’s the boss?”

“He’s safe, nya. Seoul has the lowest monster ratio anyway.”

“It’s been too long since I returned as a princess… Thank you for checking on me.”

Aruel took Kim Penril’s offered hand and barely managed to stand. Though her legs trembled and her magic was depleted, she remained remarkably calm after nearly being violated by the monsters.

“If it weren’t for Catseye, I would have really been in trouble.”

“Don’t joke. You were about to release your seal and fight anyway.”

“…Caught me?”

Aruel accepted the plastic cup Kim Penril handed her. The cup labeled “I” was filled with warm hot chocolate.

“Thanks for delivering this too.”

“It’s a service from the boss, nya.”

Kim Penril took out her own mint chocolate latte and inserted a straw. Despite flying from Seoul to Wales, the contents remained intact.

“…Does Catseye’s arrival mean this is the end?”

“Yes, nya. Lord Seongju is still far away, but we’ll probably have to fight soon anyway.”

Kim Penril crushed the remains of Monster Kid into black powder with her boot.

“He died right before decapitation, nya. It’s a phenomenon where subordinate monsters vanish when their superior is destroyed.”

“…Azidahaka is dead too, then.”

“Yes, nya.”

Kim Penril raised her white-gloved hand.

“Rusalka died 20 years ago, Chaos is gone, Karna became Gaechonkwang, and Hydra betrayed us, nya. Now that Azidahaka is dead, the only remaining Dark Legion commander is this body.”

“…Catseye, no, Penril. You’re not alone.”

Aruel shook her head and firmly grabbed Kim Penril’s hand.

“I’m here.”

“…Aruel.”

“Because of you, I’ve been so happy.”

Aruel buried her head in Kim Penril’s chest. Though green maid uniform was stained with red blood, Kim Penril quietly embraced Aruel.

“…When Mother left me in the middle of a Northern European forest, you found me crying in my cradle and returned me to her. Even though you were starving, you carried my cradle with your starving mouth and collapsed in front of a hotel.”

“It was just a whim, nya.”

“Because of that whim, I survived.”

Aruel looked up with tearful eyes.

“Because of you, I’ve lived such a happy life together.”

Kim Penril tightly hugged Aruel’s head.

“…Would you have anything to say to your father if you were a queen?”

“…Please tell him that in his next life, he should meet someone like Mother, live comfortably, and follow his heart.”

“If this body falls?”

“That won’t happen. Catseye, you’re my superhero. You can’t lose.”

Aruel’s voice was firm and confident. Kim Penril bitterly smiled and shook her head.

“This body will do its best, but he’ll fight to the death too, nya.”

“Heroes don’t lose to villains.”

“…Isn’t he more of a hero than me? A dark hero.”

“But look here.”

Aruel poked Penril’s chest.

“You waited 20 years without destroying the world… wasn’t it because of me?”

“…”

Kim Penril was silent. Aruel lowered her teary eyes.

“He’ll surely try to save Jeolpung instead of you. That’s his way of saving the world and himself. But I can’t lose you. You who saved me and spent your whole life with me… I wanted five more years together, but it seems that’s impossible.”

“Aruel.”

“I want to continue my hobbies, visit places I haven’t seen… Honestly, I don’t want to die. But…!”

Aruel buried her head in Kim Penril’s chest.

“I don’t want you to die…!”

“…If I fail, you might die too, nya.”

“Even if you win or lose in a fatal battle, I’ll follow you.”

Aruel’s determination was unwavering. Eventually, Kim Penril had to accept her resolve.

“That’s why they say children always win against parents. Though you’re not truly my child… These past 20 years with you have been enjoyable, nya. At the very least, meeting you in Northern Europe thanks to Phoenix that day was worthwhile, nya.”

“…Hehe.”

Aruel smiled faintly.

“Please win, my hero.”

“…Of course.”

Penril’s body dispersed into green wind. The cutting winds tore apart the steamship’s cargo hold, and part of that wind slashed Aruel’s left eye vertically.

Drip.

Blood flowed from Aruel’s vertically cut wound. However, she remained still as her hair turned emerald green and her injured eye shimmered with jade light, beginning to heal.

“…Alright. I will definitely win.”

The green woman resembling both Penril and Aruel disappeared with the wind.

Later.

The heroes dispatched to confirm the closure of the Dimensional Gate in Wales could only see the hundreds of shattered remains of the steamship.