Chapter 83: Cops and Robbers (2)

"Since I really went all out this time, you'll do it properly right? You promise?"

[Huff, just trust in me.]

"Yeah, yeah."

Dark Bitchelf's alluring voice echoed in my ear through the Magic Gear.

Honestly, I could do this alone, but after getting hit, I felt annoyed.

I've got my own pride, so I want to get my revenge.

So Reina needs to do her job properly.

But wait, she can snipe from the Song-do Penthouse? I was thinking of meeting as close to Song-do as possible, but still.

Whatever, let's just move.

All I need to do is drive out Yoo Jin-seok.

"If Yoo Jin-seok is moving, he should be around Yeonsu-dong by now."

I can sense it perfectly.

I could actually feel him in Yeonsu-dong. To withstand the Demonic Power of the Corrosion Zone, he was spreading overwhelming Magic Power around him.

A powerful wave of Magic Power that anyone would recognize as distinctly Yoo Jin-seok.

As a former Divine Sword User, he began purifying the surrounding Demonic Power by fully unleashing his body that contained enough Magic Power to qualify for using the Divine Sword.

Of course, just because he purifies the area doesn't mean the whole surrounding area gets purified. He can only move forward while purifying a certain range.

That's the same for other Hunters too. But his Magic Power, righteous and powerful enough to receive the Divine Sword, purified a wide area around him.

Still, there are limits, so it's impossible to both expand the range further and permanently purify it.

He probably figured it wouldn't be hard to find Baekhwa at least.

His method is different from my Creative Economy style of turning Demonic Power into Magic Stones.

"Looks like it'll be hard to find? Should we just go on a date instead?"

A familiar voice comes from the next building over.

It's Firebat Kim Ji-hye.

When Kim Ji-hye acts like this, trying to seduce Yoo Jin-seok into a date somehow, she looks like she'll end up an Old Maid soon.

"Let's do the job properly, Ji-hye. You're not smart because you only think about playing around."

"Do you really have to say that even at this age?"

How old does she think she is anyway.

"Anyway, the Hunter Association's image is at stake and I'm personally curious. Just how amazing this Baekhwa woman is."

"Do you like her or something?"

That woman Kim Ji-hye is subtly threatening him while pulling out her Firebat even at this moment. I get that she's jealous, but this is why Yoo Jin-seok doesn't like her.

If you date and marry a woman like that, you'll be constantly anxious about getting hit with a Firebat whenever anything happens.

"It's not like that. We've been to Quarantine Zones many times before. But we've never seen a powerhouse like Baekhwa."

"That's true."

Yoo Jin-seok hit quite a sensitive point.

In the original work, there were many Villains in the Quarantine Zone even after the barrier was installed.

Originally at that time, Ha Jeong-seok had some authority and suggested abandoning areas where Demonic Power corruption was severe, which naturally created an environment where monster Villains could increase.

"The power dynamics in the Quarantine Zone might have changed while we were gone."

"Like new Mutants?"

"Yeah. Honestly, I suspect Baekhwa is a Mutant. Others don't seem to notice, but the techniques Baekhwa uses only felt like pure malice."

As expected of a Divine Sword User.

But still. Malice? Taking out Villains is justice either way. I just enjoyed it while doing it.

"Then."

"Right. It seemed like she enjoyed killing for its own sake, not for justice. In other words, that Baekhwa woman might be a Mutant."

Nice, Oppa. You've figured it out perfectly.

"A woman who shouldn't be saved? Then can I use my Firebat?"

The Firebat attacks were famous from the original work.

Just hit first with the bat without thinking.

"That's one way to think about it, but we can't just assume all Mutants are bad, so. That's why I agreed to bringing in Baekhwa too. I at least want to confirm."

"Then there's no choice."

Even years after the original timeline, Yoo Jin-seok was still very protagonist-like.

Meeting Baekhwa first even if she's a Mutant. And if Baekhwa stands for justice, trying to reach a compromise.

Given Yoo Jin-seok's personality, he wouldn't just take Choi Cheol-sik's words at face value.

Yoo Jin-seok will probably either leave Baekhwa alone after checking her ideology or negotiate appropriately to avoid damaging the Hunter Association's image.

But oh well. I have no intention of meeting.

I can talk a bit. But that noisy Firebat is next to him. That woman is a loose cannon that even Yoo Jin-seok can't control.

Even at Hanseong, she had absolutely no qualifications as an Instructor.

This isn't a joke, I'm serious.

Unlike in novels, Kim Ji-hye's style in reality is just a cancer if not chosen by the protagonist. She doesn't deserve to be called a Heroine.

Well, shall I turn on my broadcast too?

I'm guessing they've probably noticed me by now.

I'm right in Yoo Jin-seok's purification zone after all, so they must know. That's why it's been quiet for a while.

Kim Ji-hye probably knows too? Then it's time to start acting.

"Hello everyone~ This is Baekhwa from Baekhwa TV!"

A big smile after a while. You can't see it because of the mask anyway but I wave while smiling and the viewers greet back.

-Baekhwa

-Why so long? Almost died holding my breath.

-Guy above must be S-Rank at breath holding.

-But it's quiet today?

Since I either eliminated the Villains in Yeonsu-dong or accepted them as Song-do residents. This neighborhood is now just a Corrosion Zone with only Demonic Power remaining.

"Today's content is a Quarantine Zone tour! Viewers are curious too right?"

-Ah, now that you mention it, I want to see.

-fr only saw you beating up Villains but never saw what we're most curious about.

Since even Hunters don't know much about the Quarantine Zone beyond the barrier.

"Here we are in Yeonsu-dong~"

-Wow completely destroyed.

-Exploring ruins like that would be fun.

Certainly this kind of apocalyptic zone didn't exist in the world where I lived as an office worker.

Looking just at the Corrosion Zones, this world definitely has no dreams or hope.

"Sometimes Monsters appear so regular people can't come in okay?"

When I wag my finger at the Drone like warning children not to touch something, the Chat Window fills with messages saying what nonsense.

-Why limit viewers to Hunters and say that bs

-fr lol

"Well then, today will be almost like a horror experience. For example."

"You're Baekhwa right?"

Right. Like these uninvited guests.

-What, there are special guests too?

-But they don't seem to know Baekhwa? Villains?

Well, not Villains. Not sure if they're trying to hide it, but with that Hood, you can tell who they are even with faces covered.

"Ahaha. No point trying to hide right? Mr. Yoo Jin-seok, Ms. Kim Ji-hye."

"As expected, you're no ordinary person."

Ordinary my ass. Any low-ranking Hunter would recognize those faces visible under the Hood up close.

"We didn't come to fight you. We just want you to join Seoul, along with the Survivors."

"Survivors? Baby Baekhwa doesn't know about that~"

"Wow, this cute little bitch. Just come quietly while we're asking nicely?"

Kim Ji-hye held her Firebat with flames.

Right now I can only use mental manipulation and a bit of physical abilities.

-Is Yoo Jin-seok for real? Kim Ji-hye too?

-Guess the rumors about the Association looking for Baekhwa were true.

-What will Baekhwa's answer be?

Answer? Is there even anything to answer?

"Fuck you."

I gave them the middle finger. And at that moment, Dark Bitchelf's Corrosion Arrow fell between me and Yoo Jin-seok's group.

BOOM!

It was the moment the game of Cops and Robbers began between Baekhwa, who would later be called an SS-Rank Villain, and humanity's strongest.

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BOOM!

When the cops Yoo Jin-seok and Kim Ji-hye were chasing me the thief, Dark Bitchelf's Corrosion Arrows were reliable support for me.

No, for arrows fired from the Song-do Penthouse to attack Yeonsu-dong at this level, those are practically Missiles.

Moreover, when the arrows explode, Demonic Power bursts out blocking vision. With perfect accuracy, they keep interfering whenever Yoo Jin-seok is about to catch up to me.

"Where and who is attacking from? Should I block it?"

"Don't block. Seems Baekhwa has excellent Mutant comrades. Then the probability of Baekhwa being a Mutant is high."

"What about those mere arrows. Should I track the direction?"

I could hear Yoo Jin-seok and Kim Ji-hye chattering behind me.

If these two abandon me now, finding Dark Bitchelf's location would probably be easy.

But there's a city with Demonic Power that even Yoo Jin-seok's power can't purify, so it's over if they chase Reina instead of me.

"No. I know which direction they're coming from now but can't tell the distance or where they're being fired from."

"You can't tell?"

"It means they're a Mutant using mythical level weapons."

Do they have time to chat right now?

Should I provoke them a bit?

"Do you have time to chat?"

"That damn bitch! I'll definitely catch you and shove this Firebat in that mouth!"

"Yeah, meaningless if you can't catch me right? Simple-minded right? Old Maid right?"

"I can't take it anymore. I'm gonna kill her. A mid-20s calling me an Old Maid."

Seeing her fall for this level of provocation at that age tells me everything.

That bitch will be easy to play with using that simple personality.

-? Baekhwa had other comrades besides X-Slaves?

-What comrade? Those arrows are insane.

-Fuck. That's not what's important. Demonic Power spreads every time those explode. Baekhwa's comrade is a Mutant.

-Then maybe Teacher Baekhwa is also?

Hmm, harder to deceive viewers now.

Then it's about time to reveal it right?

"Huff! If you're curious about my identity, it's only right to answer! I'm a 17-year-old Dark Lady who awakened with an SS-Class Core!"

-Fuck she was a Mutant.

-Then she's a Villain. A Villain.

-Isn't it embarrassing to call yourself Dark Lady?

"Just because someone's a Mutant doesn't mean they're all terrible right? Where else can you find a Mutant as pretty and nice and helpful as me?"

-Don't know if you're pretty since we can't see your face.

-Well seeing her running from the first Divine Sword User, Baekhwa is definitely different.

-Stop bullshitting. Show your face then.

"I'll do an explanation broadcast everyone!"

-Sudden explanation what's this?

Had no choice but decided to change appearance a bit using Demonic Power.

Red eyes with a Smile Mask covering half the face and Nun's Clothing, anyone would see it as a weird bitch.

"Actually! This is my true form! The half mask appeared when I awakened as a Mutant so I can't take it off!"

-Totally possible

-fr joining Baekhwa's side.

-You crazy bastards getting hard for a Villain bitch?

"Oh my, aren't I cute enough? I'm good Baekhwa!"

Honestly if I were a viewer, I wouldn't care if she's a Villain or Mutant or whatever as long as she's pretty. After all, as long as she's female, a female, what's down there is a Hole not a Stick.

-How'd you become a Mutant?

"That's a secret~"

Now's not the time to chat. Need to run hard.

Planning to just run around this area enough to tire out Yoo Jin-seok, enough to drain his stamina.

After running for a while like that. It's oddly quiet behind. Was I watching the chat too much?

-Not chasing? Hiding somewhere?

-Teacher suspicious quick run.

Creeeeak

The buildings on both sides are collapsing towards me.

Moreover, they're burning buildings. Shows clear intent to kill me.

"Die regretting calling me an Old Maid!"

"Oh. This is pretty intense. Isn't this too much against a girl?"

"Don't act weak just because you're a Mutant!"

This is getting annoying.

I dove into the falling buildings and stood on the wall to ambush the careless Kim Ji-hye from behind.

"Looks like I need to punish this crude Firebat."

"Huh? Where..."

"Right here, Ms. Firebat♥"

I grabbed her head, turned it and planted a deep kiss on her lips.

Chook

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