A man with the typical black hair of a Korean and pale skin, likely due to lack of sunlight.
Despite being bound in chains all over his body, he calmly closes his eyes.
Just by his appearance, I could tell he was the man I had been looking for.
“Former S-Class Hero, Alpha.”
Once called the strongest hero, now a disgrace to the title of hero.
A living legend was right before my eyes.
– Huh? That guy…?
But Narin voiced her doubts at my words.
Well, it was only natural.
– He looks so young?
He should’ve been well over sixty, yet he looked like a young man.
– Though his appearance is a bit rough…
Of course, his disheveled hair and unkempt beard made him look older, but it was clear he was much younger than sixty.
‘It’s definitely surprising at first glance.’
Even I, who had some prior knowledge, found it a bit fascinating.
Anyway, his age wasn’t important, so I pushed aside unnecessary thoughts and took a step closer to him.
“Alpha.”
“……”
“I know you’re awake, so stop pretending to sleep.”
At my words, Alpha’s eyebrows twitched.
He frowned slightly, then opened his eyes with an expressionless face.
“…You knew I was awake?”
“Of course I did.”
Where do you think you’re fooling anyone?
As a former top-tier S-Class Hero, his senses were far sharper than anyone else’s.
I’m not sure if it’s like sensing presence in martial arts novels, but at the very least, he must’ve known someone was coming from my footsteps.
‘And, originally, that guy hasn’t had a proper night’s sleep in 40 years due to insomnia.’
So, whether sooner or later, he had already woken up long ago because of my footsteps.
“…Who are you?”
“Does it matter who I am?”
I answered Alpha’s question with another question, smiling playfully.
Despite my demeanor, Alpha opened his dry lips with a stoic expression.
As he started speaking slowly, a hoarse voice mixed in.
“…Judging by your outfit, you’re not a prison guard. Unless they’re insane, the Association wouldn’t send a hero to me. So then… you are.”
“I am?”
“One of those lunatics from the start.”
“Bingo~ But you’re making it so hard to say ‘villain,’ old man.”
Is it because he’s old? Or has his vocabulary deteriorated from being locked up for so long?
Either way, since he got it right, I clapped and cheered for him appropriately.
“…How did you get here? Without my knowledge, Tartarus upstairs couldn’t have moved.”
“Tartarus? That place was destroyed in a villain coup ten years ago.”
“…Is that true?”
“No? Just kidding.”
“……”
Alpha stared at me expressionlessly.
I couldn’t tell if he was angry, but at least he seemed dumbfounded.
“What? Not funny? It’s high-level villain humor.”
“…That?”
Alpha remained expressionless at my joke.
Despite his appearance, maybe his sense of humor has dulled with age.
– Pfft! Kya-hahaha!
Seeing Narin burst out laughing at the situation, it was clear Alpha’s sense of humor was indeed lacking.
“Anyway, it’s a joke. Tartarus is still upstairs. I just managed to break through.”
“You’re quite bold to admit to breaking the law.”
I chuckled at his stern words.
“So? What, old man, you gonna catch me?”
Then, I deliberately struck an exaggerated pose, trying to provoke him.
“What if I’m a villain? You’re not a hero anymore, right?”
“……”
I glanced at his expression.
“Criminals bickering among themselves is like a dirty dog scolding a muddy dog.”
Still holding up, huh?
Then let’s push a bit more.
“Ah, and you’ve probably got more charges than most villains, old man.”
To dig deeper into his emotions.
“What were your charges again? Colluding with villains, tax evasion, serial murder, terrorism, and even killing your own family.”
“…Did the Association announce it like that?”
“There might’ve been more, but it’s been a while since I studied history.”
His stone-like face began to twitch.
For a moment, he stared blankly into space, as if reminiscing about the past.
“Nowadays, Koreans avoid mentioning it, but back then, there was a lot of talk. That you went insane and colluded with villains to kill your own friends and family, calling you the scum of the earth.”
He grimaced.
His expression looked like he was crying, yet also filled with anger.
“…Ha.”
Resignation and emptiness.
And the hidden rage within.
‘Bingo~’
I thought he had detached himself from everything with that expressionless face, but it seems not.
He had just been burning his emotions incompletely to avoid going completely insane.
The remnants of those emotions were still there, like ashes.
‘I was a bit worried, but glad to see it.’
Then, my role now is to reignite the extinguished flames.
“What do you want from me?”
He glared at me with heated eyes, different from before.
“You wouldn’t bring up my past without a reason.”
“That’s right.”
I smirked and walked leisurely toward him.
“I came today to make you an offer.”
Step. Step.
Not elegant, but not too casual either.
“Former S-Class Hero Alpha. A foolish hero who saved others but couldn’t be saved himself.”
Then, as I approached him,
“I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
I reached out my hand to him, who was looking up at me.
“How about we destroy those who abandoned you?”
“…I—”
“And—”
And I also proposed what he truly desired.
“……”
“…!”
“How about it? Can’t refuse now, can you?”
Despite my words, Alpha remained silent, staring blankly at me.
Seeing that, my lips naturally curled into a smile.
*
“…Are you a devil?”
“Calling me a devil is too much. I’m just a regular villain.”
After spacing out for a while, that’s what he came up with?
It was a bit absurd, but I took it as a sign that my offer was indeed tempting.
“So, are you in or out?”
“…Whether you’re a devil or a villain or whatever, it doesn’t matter. It’s none of my business now.”
The man muttered while looking at me, as if pondering.
His hollow eyes now burned brightly, fueled by emotion.
“Fine. I’ll play along with your puppet show. But keep your promise.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Shake on it.”
I waved my hand, urging him to get up and shake.
“…Sigh. You’re making me use my strength from the start.”
“You’ve got to break the chains to get out, right? And you’ve been saving up your strength, so stop whining.”
At my words, he let out a small sigh.
Whoooosh—!!
Creeeeak!!!
As Alpha activated his ability, a strange sound came from the chains.
– Ow! My ears! What’s that noise?
“It’s the sound of heating.”
– Heating?
I explained to Narin, who was shouting about her ears hurting.
– Why is that coming from there…
“That’s Alpha’s ability.”
The chains, glowing red-hot in an instant.
Even though they were specially made to hold Alpha, they were heating up rapidly but still holding strong.
Whoooosh—!!!
Moreover, as if there were sensors that went off when Alpha used his ability,
a chilling cold, reminiscent of the Arctic, began to flow toward Alpha inside the prison.
‘But that’s not enough.’
Creeeeak!!!!
Despite the cold enveloping Alpha, the chains only grew hotter, as if mocking it.
Finally.
Craaaack!!!!
Unable to withstand the cold and heat any longer, the chains exploded into pieces.
With the chains destroyed, my target was revealed.
“…It’s been a while since I moved.”
Alpha’s dark red coat caught my eye.
40 years.
Despite the passage of time, the coat remained pristine, without a single stain or sign of wear.
That was the artifact I had been aiming for.
Just wait a bit longer, coat…!
Your owner is coming to get you soon!!
I swallowed the drool threatening to spill and shook Alpha’s hand.
“Alright, let’s make some chaos.”
“…Do as you please.”
“Shall we get going?”
Whoooosh—!
Whoooosh—!
[WARNING! WARNING!]
[S-Class Prisoner Escape! S-Class Prisoner Escape! All guards, prepare for danger! S-Class Prisoner Escape! S-Class Prisoner Escape…!!]
Now, it’s time for a fun escape.
