Chapter 109: The True Hero (4)

Chapter 109: The True Hero (4)

TL/Editor: raei

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Dice continued his activities.

No opponent capable of stopping him emerged.

He did not show mercy.

Though he didn't engage in battles as frequently as other villains, if there was a fight, the outcome was horrifying.

Those of mediocre skill couldn't even do a thing.

And accordingly, several changes occurred.

Heroes who were doing well started to retire, and the number of students aspiring to be heroes decreased.

Such was the fear that Dice instilled in heroes.

There was a guideline among them to absolutely avoid a Dice with a six.

Opinions on this phenomenon were divided.

While some voiced concerns about the instability he brought to society,

Others cautiously noted that he weeded out the frauds who were only heroes in name.

Han Yoo-jung, of course, agreed with the latter.

No matter how much the reporters vilified him as a cruel and ruthless villain,

She couldn't forget the way he had angrily defended her.

Nor could she forget the sight of him smashing Cant, who had callously taken away her beloved younger sibling and never apologized.

After that, Han Yoo-jung became enchanted with Dice, recognizing him on sight.

It wasn't hard to find articles about him.

Being a symbolic villain, there were bound to be numerous articles about Dice.

Moreover, since he didn't hide behind a mask, sightings of him were reported almost daily.

---

---

Han Yoo-jung turned 27.

It was a day with heavy snowfall.

With Cant retired, she could finally let go of Yoo-ra's matters to some extent and was continuing with her respectable job life.

-Wooong!

Suddenly, all the phones in the office rang at the same moment.

It was a disaster alert.

Dice had appeared nearby.

A few colleagues murmured with anxious voices, rubbing their chins.

"...It's too close..."

"Shouldn't we evacuate?"

"...Hmm... But he's not fighting, just taking a walk..."

Han Yoo-jung also stood up abruptly from her seat.

Dice had appeared really, really close by.

She immediately grabbed her coat and started heading outside.

"Yoo-jung! Where are you going?"

Someone called her from behind, but she didn't have the capacity to care.

Opportunities to get close to the elusive him didn't come by often.

She had to make the most of this opportunity.

---

---

Catching her breath after a brisk run, she spotted Dice walking in the distance.

Since there was no one else but Dice, it wasn't hard to spot him.

Above in the sky, a hero recording his movements was also visible.

Neither of them engaged in a fight.

Who would be the winner was all too obvious.

"....Sigh...."

Far off, Dice let out a sigh, his breath visible as white mist.

He had the same bored expression as always.

Yet, he was enjoying his walk, savoring the outdoor air.

It had been two years since the Cant incident.

Han Yoo-jung had made up her mind to approach him, but... for some reason, it wasn't as easy as she thought.

As always, she was too scared, overthinking everything.

What should she say to him?

Start with a greeting?

Or thank him?

Maybe ask for his name?

Tell him she had been watching him for two years?

But then she worried about what would come after.

How Dice would react, how the heroes would react.

Just by having a conversation with him, she could be branded as being on the same side and thrown in jail.

Or maybe he would find her weird.

Approaching him suddenly to say thanks might just put him on guard.

He was the villain the heroes most wanted to catch.

It didn't seem likely that Dice would easily trust someone.

"...Ahh...it's good that it ended here..."

The owner started cleaning up the empty skewers Dice had left behind.

Dice had not been able to pay for them.

The owner's gaze then shifted to Han Yoo-jung, who was standing frozen.

Licking his lips for a moment, he began to offer some advice.

"Miss, try to watch the news once in a while. That was Dice just now."

"...I know."

"If you know, then you shouldn't act like that! Do you even know how dangerous Dice is? There's a whole truckload of heroes he's dealt with."

Han Yoo-jung found herself making excuses unintentionally.

"But I haven't heard of any civilians getting hurt by Dice...?"

"You want to be the first?"

"..."

The owner looked in the direction Dice had gone and clicked his tongue.

"...I didn't know I'd be affected too."

"..."

Coming to her senses, Han Yoo-jung opened her wallet.

"...I'll pay for it instead."

"Huh? Why would you..."

"...Just take it. How much is it?"

"I won't refuse then. 2,000 won."

Paying on his behalf felt oddly satisfying.

It was as if the money she had been aimlessly saving had finally found its purpose.

Then, Han Yoo-jung said to the owner,

"...I'll have a bit too."

And she picked up some fish cakes.

At that moment, someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you have a moment?"

It was the hero.

Naturally, Han Yoo-jung received several questions related to Dice afterward.

It was somewhat expected.

Fortunately, they didn't detain her for long.

After all, Han Yoo-jung barely had a conversation with him at all.

---

---

Thus, Han Yoo-jung ended up chasing Dice for years.

Opportunities were rare, but every two years, she managed to run into him.

Each time, she wanted to speak to him, but chances were not as forthcoming as before.

A few eye contacts.

A conversation only once in front of that fish cake restaurant.

But even that was somewhat satisfying.

An indescribable feeling.

At night, she would sigh and search for articles related to Dice.

She knew more about Dice than most people did.

She inevitably learned that he had been donating here and there recently.

She also had a suspicion that Solace might be the reason behind it.

It was inevitable since they were archenemies... but the fact that Solace was influencing Dice somehow didn't sit well with her.

She sometimes disliked that his dice wouldn't roll over 3 when fighting Solace.

Their relationship was oddly changing.

They no longer fought as fiercely as before.

There were more instances where they just smirked at each other.

She didn't know how to describe this feeling.

Just the same every day, preparing for bed with a long sigh.

-Wooong!

But that day, an especially ominous disaster alert sounded on her phone.

Dice had appeared right next to Han Yoo-jung's lodging.

-Boom.

Simultaneously, a thunderous roar shook the ground from afar.

It wasn't hard to imagine that a battle had broken out.

But why did it feel particularly unsettling today?

Could it be because it wasn't the usual time for Dice's activities?

With the thought that something different was happening, Han Yoo-jung hurriedly turned on the TV.

Sure enough, the news was being broadcast as a breaking news segment.

The anchor spoke,

"Citizens residing in Seoul, especially in Yeongdeungpo District, this is a real situation. Do not go outside. I repeat, do not, under any circumstances, go outside."

Han Yoo-jung stared blankly at the TV.

The anchor continued in that rigid, emphatic tone.

"Currently, Shake, leading a team of six heroes, is cornering Dice."

-Boom.

Another thunderous noise.

It might have been the sound of Han Yoo-jung's heart sinking.

"...We may be witnessing the end of Dice."