A storm surged with Seol Ha-yeon’s signal.

 

It was so fast that to the other villains, it appeared as nothing more than a violet vortex.

 

But to a 1st-class villain, Winterer, it was visible.

 

Charging while stirring up a storm…

 

The S-Class Rank 1, Ninomiya Aika.

 

‘Why is that woman in a Japanese outfit here in Korea?!’

 

I was shocked.

 

What was her reason for conspiring to attack Seol Ha-yeon? Was it to assess the level during the previous skirmish? She must have intuitively felt that they would have an assured victory if no other S-Class joined.

 

So, Winterer had been scared just by the news that the lowest-ranking S-Class, Bojji Kkong, was coming… But what? Ninomiya Aika? She was extraordinary even among S-Class. Beyond the realm of the heavens.

 

She was someone seriously considered for a fight against Superman.

 

I was so terrified that my body stiffened and couldn’t move.

 

“He, hee…”

 

“……”

 

‘You’re sensitive about living for a villain? I lightly checked you so you wouldn’t do anything stupid.’

 

Most of that fear was because of Aika’s killing intent. Anyway.

 

While Winterer was frozen, the strongest one stepped up.

 

-BOOOOM!!!

 

‘Why does it sound like a jet when a person moves?!’

 

A late-exploding roar. A sonic boom occurred because the sound couldn’t keep up with the movement.

 

At the disciple’s signal, Aika shot out at the speed of sound.

 

And that wasn’t enough; she subdued dozens of villains.

 

She moved everywhere as if swimming in the air. Swinging her katana in its sheath. Truly at the speed of sound.

 

‘Is that the speed of a human…?’

 

Even Winterer barely managed to follow her speed with his eyes.

 

It was so fast that it looked like her body was split into dozens.

 

All the ordinary people could see was the violet vortex drawn by the sword’s trajectory.

 

Subduing a group of mere 2nd or 3rd-class villains took only a few seconds for Aika.

 

‘How on earth did such a monster….’

 

-Clang. Paat!!

 

“Hee… ek?”

 

“Isn’t it too old an age to play ice tag (こおり鬼, 얼음땡), Prime Minister?”

 

“……!!!”

 

‘When did she come so close?!’

 

Even after all that, she had time to snatch away the hostages I had frozen in ice.

 

It was a sight that would make physicists worldwide doubt their eyes.

 

No, did she ignore air resistance? She struck at that speed and only knocked them out?

 

It was an unimaginable level by the laws of physics.

 

Of course, if you added the words ‘Ninomiya Aika,’ everyone would nod.

 

Humanity already regarded Aika’s strength as something beyond science.

 

Anyway. The monster that defied even the laws of physics stared intently at Winterer…

 

“…Tsk.”

 

-Whoosh.

 

Winterer, who had been frozen in fear, finally moved.

 

Ice bombs were set up all over Seoul to their limits.

 

The moment she cut off the magic supply, the spells would explode instantly like a pin-pulled grenade.

 

‘I almost died… No, I should just blow them up!!!’

 

-Grit.

 

Winterer gritted her teeth and drew out her magic.

 

At a glance, it seemed foolish.

 

The strongest one, whom she couldn’t handle, had come, yet she was throwing away her only bargaining chip.

 

It looked like a suicidal act.

 

But for her, it was a natural action.

 

Her goal was singular from beginning to end.

 

The downfall of Seol Ha-yeon.

 

“All dieeee!!!”

 

‘Seol Ha-yeon, you too, Korea, it’s the end!!’

 

The civilian casualties anticipated from this terror.

 

The scale of damage she predicted was roughly 10,000.

 

A tragedy that would go down in history would certainly erase Seol Ha-yeon’s standing in South Korea.

 

No matter how much the pros and cons were weighed, to those involved in the disaster, she would be seen as someone who sacrificed ten thousand lives for her own.

 

No matter what reason, it wouldn’t be accepted.

 

As she had been called long ago, she would be cursed as a monster and stoned.

 

Even in death, Winterer intended to bring her down.

 

——However,

 

-Pause.

 

‘Wait. While I was dumbly watching the monster, why didn’t Seol Ha-yeon do anything…?’

 

A sudden doubt.

 

The few seconds I was frozen in fear would have been more than enough for Seol Ha-yeon.

 

But why hadn’t she attacked me?

 

Moreover, why hadn’t Ninomiya Aika cut me down?

 

Were they wary of the large-scale explosion that would occur after my death?

 

No way. If that were the case, they wouldn’t have acted hostile in the first place.

 

Since I was holding the bomb.

 

‘It’s almost like… they think they can somehow handle the bomb, so they kept me alive.’

 

An answer flashed like lightning in my mind.

 

As long as I didn’t detonate it, they would somehow disarm it.

 

…It was an unreasonable thought.

 

Even if they tortured the villains to find out where the bombs were placed.

 

How would they stop me from detonating the bombs?

 

No matter how fast they were, disarming would take at least half a day. They couldn’t expect me to sit there sucking my thumb.

 

Her curious eyes turned back to the front…

 

-Pause.

 

“Unnie. It’s been a while.”

 

“……?!!!!”

 

Winterer realized it only then.

 

A woman had come close to her.

 

A victim of the Awakener Expansion Plan, just like her.

 

A puppet thoroughly brainwashed to the point where she couldn’t even eat alone.

 

Someone who wouldn’t open her mouth without orders, making her convenient to use.

 

Known as ‘No. 47.’

 

However,

 

‘What’s with this woman? Why does she look like….’

 

Unlike in her memories, pure emotions shone in No. 47’s pupils.

 

A soft smile of joy drew a gentle curve on her lips.

 

Her voice carried the warmth of a happy reunion.

 

Meeting ‘No. 47’ again after a few weeks, Winterer was shedding the seemingly unbreakable brainwashing.

 

“Damn, what the….”

 

Winterer was so agitated that she forgot to detonate the bombs.

 

This proved that No. 47 was that important to her…

 

It was an opening for a young man to exploit.

 

[Activating Skill ‘Complete Hypnosis’…]

 

“Hey there~ I’m the father of that child, but before you detonate the bombs, can we talk for a bit?”

 

[Despite the disparity, the target falls under ‘minor’ hypnosis!]

 

“…What?”

 

For the first time, Winterer’s eyes widened.

 

* * *

 

Rewind a bit to when we had just arrived at the scene.

 

As the Chairman went to buy some time, I…

 

[You said you had something to say to me? Let’s see….]

 

“Master, do I really have to hide under your robe?”

 

I was crouched inside the Master’s robe.

 

The pleasant scent made it a bit awkward.

 

“It would be troublesome if your identity were revealed to that person. Besides, I also need to hide my presence, so this is the best way….”

 

-Flap.

 

“Dad, breaking news. Mom candidate’s panties are white.”

 

“……!!? Don’t lift someone else’s clothes, you little rascal!!”

 

Haru’s presence added to the chaos.

 

… The outside had a serious atmosphere, but it was chaotic on our side. What am I supposed to do about Haru’s effect?

 

To change the mood, I explained the plan once more.

 

“Ahem. Haru, listen carefully to Dad. While Grandma is stalling, Alice and Shia….”

 

Explaining the operation optimized for Haru.

 

Oh no! A bad villain has hidden a bomb that goes boom! And it explodes in the blink of an eye.

 

Luckily, Shia and Alice are handling it, but…

 

Oh no. There’s not enough time.

 

No matter how much Grandma stalls with her old stories that smell like red ginseng, the villain is bound to act up before the two sisters can handle everything.

 

“So, Haru and Dad need to stall for time. After Grandma. Got it?”

 

Even I thought it was a perfect explanation.

 

Haru tapped her cheeks thoughtfully.

 

“Uh…? Haru can’t talk well with strangers. Can’t stall for time.”

 

“…….”

 

‘As expected, has she forgotten about Winterer?’

 

I had noticed from the quiet video call, but Haru had lost her memories due to regressive infantilism.

 

It seemed like she barely remembered anything about her time with Winterer.

 

All she vaguely remembered was the existence of a sister.

 

…It’s good that she forgot all the horrible things she saw while living with the villains, but this is a bit much.

 

I quickly explained.

 

“Over there, you see? That blue-haired woman.”

 

“Uh-huh. Completely flat. Pouting because there’s no food for the baby.”

 

“…Ahem. Actually, she’s your sister.”

 

“Sister!!?”

 

Haru’s eyes lit up with interest at the mention of a sister.

 

Her breathing grew louder with excitement.

 

“Come to think of it, Haru had a sister!”

 

“Yeah. She’s your sister. But she’s doing something really bad.”

 

“Sister is bad!”

 

“That’s why Haru and Dad need to stall for time together. So she can’t do bad things. Got it?”

 

“Got it. Haru will stall with Dad to stop Sister from being bad!”

 

Utilizing all the experience from my two weeks as a father, I successfully persuaded Haru.

 

Now, she would undoubtedly follow my words.

 

The only remaining issue was Master…

 

“Master, you know what to do, right? Subdue everyone except Winterer, and rescue the Prime Minister.”

 

“Don’t worry. If revealing my identity is permissible, that task is a piece of cake.”

 

“Yes. I trust you, Master.”

 

Even though it was arguably the most critical role, neither Master nor I was very tense.

 

Since Master was here, there was zero chance that Brother Suguru would die.

 

Even if Winterer went berserk and attacked, Master would respond in milliseconds to rescue him.

 

Worrying about what Master couldn’t do was the most pointless thing in the world.

 

“By the way, are you sure you can handle it? She’s quite strong for your level of hypnosis.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“I’m worried. If needed, I can break her down to pieces just before death….”

 

Master seemed more concerned about his disciple.

 

I hurriedly stopped him.

 

“Oh no, what are you planning to do in front of Haru? Absolutely not.”

 

“Haru, it’s okay….”

 

“No. Our Haru should only see good and pretty things. Protect Haru.”

 

Haru’s mental age was that of a kindergartner, despite her adult body.

 

Gore films were at least ten years too early for her.

 

“Anyway, please help with Haru’s education, Master.”

 

“……Hmm. Asking me to help educate your daughter. Hmm. Well, if you insist as my disciple? I suppose as a master, I have no choice?”

 

“Yes. Thank you in advance.”

 

I also appointed Master as an educator.

 

Even though I was a second-time hypnotist breeder, it was my first time being a dad.

 

Two heads are better than one, and it would be good to educate Haru together.

 

Anyway. As we were killing time, the Chairman’s old story was about to end.

 

Master and my expressions changed instantly.

 

“Master, it’s time.”

 

“Leave the robe with Haru. You might get caught up otherwise.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Master and I were veterans among veterans.

 

We were constantly focused even while joking around.

 

Under the looming battle atmosphere, I quickly moved Haru aside…

 

[We bought 25 minutes, Yu-jin.]

 

“……Master!!”

 

“I know!!!”

 

-BOOOOM!!!!!

 

Soon after, a strategic nuclear launch.

 

I ran with Haru without any worries. Straight towards Winterer.

 

“Haru, go ahead and say hello to your sister first!”

 

“Okay.”

 

-Swish.

 

“Sister. It’s been a while.”

 

Haru’s greeting attack! It was super effective!

 

Winterer was flustered!

 

‘As expected, to her, Haru is…!!!’

 

-Whiz.

 

I wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity.

 

I quickly ran and cast hypnosis.

 

She must have been very agitated because the hypnosis, which normally wouldn’t work, easily took hold.

 

“I’m the father of that child….”

 

“What?”

 

[The target falls under ‘minor’ hypnosis!]

 

‘First shot success.’

 

However, Winterer was still a 1st-class villain.

 

In terms of abilities, she was mid-to-high A-class.

 

She was a bit challenging for someone with my barely C-class abilities.

 

To overcome that, I pried open her ‘gap.’

 

Just as I used the ‘dad’ keyword with Haru.

 

Her gap. Using ‘Haru.’

 

‘Until Alice and Shia handle everything, I’ll stall with wind-style blabbering…!!’

 

-Lick.

 

As the journey was long, I lightly wet my lips once.

 

And then,

 

“It seems my daughter, Haru, owes you a lot. I heard you took good care of her.”

 

“Hah? Why would I care for that puppet?”

 

“———But why are you pretending to be a villain? You’re not really a villain, but you’re being mean. Right, Haru?”

 

“Yeah. Dad. Sister is mean.”

 

“……?”

 

The fantastic talk show presented by the friendly father-daughter duo.

 

The screening time would last until Shia and Alice finished all the deliveries.

 

It starts now.