C67: Secret Room

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A conclusion came after careful consideration.

Leaving Stardus behind, who is still panicked, I quickly scanned the surroundings.

Professional villains analyze the situation coolly without being panicked even in times of crisis.

Whats the difference? Wouldnt there be a hole to escape from somewhere?

Looking around the slope like that, I could soon find something different.

The clock hangs on the wall.

The electronic clock, which was turned on, has the lights on it to indicate the time.

[2 : 58.42]

[2 : 58.41]

[2 : 58.40]

The time keeps running on the clock.

Yes, all the secrets are solved!

O-Oh?

Stardus was still stuttering.

How can you be so panicked?

If you are a capable hero, you should look at the situation quickly, coolly, and objectively like me.

The Stardus I know didnt do this.

Shes not this weak.

.Yeah, come to think of it, it was the Stardus who rolled around and became skillful later in the original.

The current Stardus are showing a silly side, perhaps because she hasnt been through much.

But you cant be like that.

Stardus!

H-Huh?

Looking at me with a shook expression, I turned my head and pointed at the clock.

Do you see that? Seeing that time is running out, I think well be able to get out after that time. So take it easy.

Huh? Oh, oh.

Only then did Stardus look up.

Looking at the clock, she frowned and murmured.

Three hours?

Yes, we just need to stay for three hours. Well, its not that long, so lets wait. Come on.

I sat down.

We will be locked up in here for about three hours, but I cant stand it.

My legs hurt.

After sitting down, I asked Stardus to sit and wait but then

Boom-.

Stardus hit the wall again.

Hey, what are you doing?

How do you know that the door is going to open or the bomb will explode in three hours?

She kept banging her fist at the door. This place is going to collapse!

But no matter how hard she tried, the door wouldnt budge.

Eventually, she gave up.

Tsk

She rubbed her hands.

What the?

As I looked closely, blood was dripping from her fist.

Seriously, what the hell is she doing?

No, how can you hit it so foolishly? Even though, your ability is suppressed.

..

Gosh, come on. Try to stop the bleeding with this.

I took out a bandage from the bag and threw it to her.

Seo-eun and Soobin gave it to me so that I can use it if I get injured, but I guess its used for this situation.

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Stardus, who had received the bandage from me, was a little concerned. Soon, she began to cut a little and wrap it around her arm.

I wont say thank you.

Thats not a thank you?

She flinched slightly as if I had just hit the nail on the head.

I mean, I never thought shed say thank you, but I didnt expect it to come out like that.

Shes not the type to talk to villains like that. Honestly, when I threw her the bandage, I was prepared for it to fly back to my face. I was a bit surprised to hear that.

Whats happening? Is her personality getting softer around this time?

I dont think so. So shes only giving me the special treatment?

Why? I dont think theres a particular reason.

A bandage flew into my face as the thought popped up in my mind.

Thats right.

Oh! Gosh, I gave it to you because I was worried. What have I done so wrong? You just had to roll it back to me, it wouldnt be stuck though?

.

As I grumbled and glared like that, she slightly avoided my eyes. I guess she does feel sorry?

But actually, theres nothing to be sorry for a villain.

Well, lets just sit and wait. And I think it means that the door will open in 3 hours. Does your hunch tell you anything?

Hunch.

She muttered when she heard me.

Yes, hunch. Your super-sense. Its similar to the foresight

Actually, I dont know whats going to happen in three hours, so you should check it out.

After frowning for a while, she soon loosened her face.

Probably, she intuitively felt that it would open in three hours.

Phew, Im glad. Well, Starduss super-sense isnt fully developed yet, but This is probably right.

So we sat still.

Stay still.

Without moving

In a small room, by ourselves.

Without saying anything to each other, in silence.

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Wait.

This feels like hell, though?

***

So an hour passed without us saying anything to each other.

All I hear is each others silent breath.

Of course, I didnt just sit back.

I took the snack out of the bag and ate it. It was good.

Stardus flinched for a moment when I put my hand in the bag, and breathed out as if she was slightly relieved when I just took out the snack.

Why? Is she nervous that Im going to take out a gun from the inside?

At least I wont do that, so dont worry.

Or shouldnt she? If youre relieved, you dont feel threatened as a hero?

Would you like some snacks?

Youre talking nonsense.

I asked because you looked hungry, but if you dont like it, nevermind.

Since then, we have kept quiet and still. Its so awkward.

And setting aside the awkwardness, I felt this after an hour Theres a little lack of oxygen here. Im out of breath. Is this the grief of the secret room?

The lack of oxygen is a big deal. If there is a lack of oxygen, it is highly likely that the brain will not be able to work and that it will not be able to make rational judgments. In other words, words may pop out without going through the brain.

And of course, Im in big trouble. There are some secrets Im hiding.

So I decided to shut my mouth and stay still. If you dont do anything, you might just get by.

At first, I twisted my body because it was so awkward, but as time passed, I got used to this. I had the urge to take out the phone in the bag and try to use it for a while, but I endured it because my identity could have been exposed. We cant teleport here, so we cant run away.

As I got used to her soft breathing now, I was zoning out thinking, I just need to stay like this for another hour.

No, and as time goes by, the two of us are trapped in a small room, so I dont think we can breathe well. Those HanEun fuckers didnt even put an oxygen generator in the secret room? What the hell are they?

Thanks to them, my head is getting dazed. Its like Im on drugs. No, its exactly like Im drunk. Oxygen is so important.

Hey, its a relief that we were locked up for 3 hours. If we went further, we would have been in big trouble.

Suddenly, she opened her mouth.

Mapo Bridge.

What?

I stared blankly at the ceiling, and when I heard her, I lowered my head again.

Standing in a position with her knees together and her hands wrapped around her legs, she muttered, looking down without looking at me.

On Mapo Bridge, did you stop the car from falling?

She slightly murmured the question.

Youre going to ask me this all of a sudden?

Looking closely at her, her eyes were already slightly closed.

Wait, is she sleeping? I dont think so though.

Oh, maybe shes a little dizzy right now, too.

.Shes physically competent, but shes floundering since we lack oxygen.

Oh, her ability also got suppressed, right?

I was drumming and playing with my head which wasnt working, she asked me one more time.

The car, did you stop it?

The car? Why would I stop a car? If the car stops, is it a manual car?

Oh, is she talking about Mapo Bridge? The one that looks like its falling. The one I stopped a little bit?

She means that shes seen it?

I never stopped. Anyway, I didnt.

I didnt stop anything. Because Im a person who always runs forward.

What are you talking about?

She murmured the words, then asked another question.

Then why did you ask me to save the plane?

Didnt I tell you back then? To become a villain, I need a hero, an enemy who stands up to me. Im not just a villain just because Im doing terrorism. Only when I have an opponent to stop, do I become a villain. So thats why.

..

The answer got her mouth shut.

Well, in fact, thats just the reverse of what the hero says is made by the villain. I dont know, Im dizzy, so I answered it roughly.

My head is starting to hurt, so I want her to be quiet.

She opened her mouth once more.

Then, the collapse of Mapo Bridge Did you smash it down knowing that the monster was coming up this time?

Wait, even shes asking me this.

I feel like Ive heard it from almost everyone once. Oh, gosh.

Anyway, as usual, just as I was about to look at her to answer it as a coincidence.

I made eye contact with her.

She bowed her head again as soon as she met my eyes.

But I just saw it clearly.

She looked at me with sharp eyes, as if to find out all my secrets.

Come to my senses.

Are you saying that all the mumbling and murmuring words so far were acting? To keep me off guard?

Shin Haru, what a scary woman. Youre like a viper

When I regained consciousness, I swallowed my saliva.

Yeah. Now that I think about it, something was wrong.

Why did she readily accept to form an alliance with me in the first place?

Now that Ive seen it, isnt it to find out more about me, to steal information?

I got goosebumps for a moment.

Stardus, Shin Haru! How far did you draw the big picture?

Wait, what was she asking so far?

Is it me who stopped dropping the car?

Why did I ask her to save the plane?

She asked me if I smash the Mapo Bridge because I knew there was going to be a black monster.

When I reached that point, my face stiffened.

Putting together the questions she asked me.

Are you doubting me if Im a villain?

Maybe not. Its just my delusion of grandeur and maybe my misunderstanding.

I think so intuitively, but I dont have a super-sense to match the truth like Stardus.

Even so, this is a crisis.

In the first place, I was always qualified for a villains fundamental power as a person who imitates a fake villain.

My identity should not be caught.

In fact, the terrorism was all for her, and I just want to save the world

So what do I do?

Yes, this is rather an opportunity.

Since were together like this, I can totally get rid of the misunderstanding.

Makes her doubt me and recognizes me as an absolute evil villain!

To do so, rather go to the regular method.

I giggled, covering the face of the mask with my hand.

Hahahahahaha!

When I burst out laughing, she doubted.

Oh Stardus, Stardus.

A true villain shakes the opponents spirit and puts things in his hands.

In that sense, going wild can be a tactic.

Now, lets turn the table.

Im going to tell you Yes, thats right.

I smiled, looked her in the eye, and opened my mouth.

I knew in advance that the disaster would happen.

On purpose, I smashed the bridge knowing about it.

Shes shocked at my sudden confession.

Yeah. You didnt think Id be so cool about it.

Lets keep going, lets clench my teeth for this.

So what?

What do you want me to do?

So what.