I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

This world.

Among ability users, there was one taboo you must never break.

For example, attacking someone while they were transforming.

For example, delivering a finishing blow and saying, “Did I get them?”

For example, attacking someone when they were preparing a move and announcing the name of the technique.

• “Ignoring the romance of ability users! Unforgivable!”

Anyone who disrespected the romance of an ability user would suffer a fate worse than death.

When you thought about how abilities ultimately manifested the imagination and romance of the user, disrupting that romance was like violating a sacred rule.

Screech—

However, I broke that taboo without a second thought.

Just as Yaions was about to use some wind-based technique or whatever it was called, I opened a dimensional gate right in front of him and struck his crown with my Goblin Bat.

“Urgh, guh…!”

Yaions staggered backward in shock.

His hand holding the sword trembled violently, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

“Damn…!”

But, as expected of someone stronger than the Thunder Emperor despite everything, Yaions managed to stay conscious, even after taking a direct hit to the head.

[As expected of an S-class. You don’t go down with just one strike.]

“Goblin! Why are you suddenly here…?”

[Goblins are everywhere. Didn’t you know I was already operating on Jeju Island? That’s unfortunate.]

“Why are you saying such things…?!”

“Yasuo!!”

The other Rangers rushed over to help Yasuo, supporting him.

“Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine…! Ugh, it was just a cowardly sneak attack! But more importantly, why are you here?!”

[I’m a villain, but I’m a Korean villain.]

Someone once said:

• “Wait, did we really team up against the Nazis?”

• “Shut up! I may be a villain, but I’m an American villain!”

The most notorious villain in the world said this as he pointed a gun at a Nazi villain.

[As a Korean, I can’t stand by and watch villains who betray Korea to side with Japan, of all places.]

I felt the same.

“Korean…?”

[That’s right.]

“Huh, haha…! Finally, finally, you reveal your true identity! Yeah, if you weren’t Korean, there’d be no reason for you to act like this in this country!”

Yaions, with blood dripping from his mouth, pointed his sword at me.

“Now that I know you’re Korean, I can’t hold back anymore!”

Whoosh—

Yaions’ sword was once again surrounded by wind.

“Come forth, Divine Wind! Slice through my enemy!”

The name and technique reminded me of an ability user I knew, but his fighting style was entirely different from the one I remembered.

“Kama Itachi!!”

Yaions slashed his sword from the ground upwards, sending a powerful gust of wind cutting through the earth towards me.

The speed was so fast that by the time I said “slow,” it had already reached me.

As expected of an S-class user, the speed was immense.

[Too slow.]

Behind me, a golden shield spread out, protecting me.

The blade of wind grazed the shield and scattered to the sides, splitting the ground around it.

“Platinum Sun…! Even you…!”

[With everything in chaos on Jeju Island right now, instead of cooperating, you’re making things worse. What are you doing?]

Yumir stood beside me, extending her hand toward Yaions and the other Mushi Rangers.

A red aura swirled around her wrist, and ropes extended from her hand, ready to subdue the Mushi Rangers at any moment.

[Your actions are disturbing the peace. I cannot allow this. I will subdue you.]

“Foolishness…! Are you Korean too?!”

[Before being Korean, I’m a citizen of Earth. I cannot stand by and let someone threaten the peace of this world.]

“If that’s the case, then take care of the Goblin next to you first!”

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

It was true that right now, the members of the Hero Association—the Thunder Emperor and Baridegi—were keeping their distance but still targeting both us and the Mushi Rangers from afar.

Whether you were a Japanese villain or a Korean villain, a villain was a villain.

You were only called a villain of a certain country based on where you mostly operate, but villains were universally opposed everywhere.

“Surely, you’re not going to show some nationalistic favoritism and go after those of us who are Japanese first just because we’re foreigners?”

“Ugh…!”

“If you’re a hero of Korea, you should prioritize subduing the Korean villain first!”

“You don’t get to say that, being a Japanese villain!”

The Thunder Emperor scolded Yaions, but technically, under international law, Yaions had the upper hand.

“The Goblin’s villain rank is higher than mine! Surely, you wouldn’t attack us ‘just yet,’ especially when the Goblin, who recently killed Nut Crusher, is still at large?”

“Ugh…!”

The Thunder Emperor clenched her fists, trembling with anger.

The Thunder Emperor was the one who killed Nut Crusher, but the blame was now being pinned on me.

[According to international law, priority goes to subduing the villain who has committed the most recent crime or holds the highest rank. Rather than someone who might commit a crime.]

A person who snuck in on a whale, plotting something on Jeju Island.

In contrast, I was the one who killed Nut Crusher, a Korean ability user—villain or not—and burned the body.

From a general perspective, it was obvious even to a child who the more heinous and malevolent person was.

Except, of course, if you were a Korean child, when viewed from the perspective of the rest of the world’s children.

[You’re manipulating the situation by using social norms, hero ethics, and your own code of conduct to your advantage. Typical behavior of a neo-Japanese sympathizer.]

“Shut up! You’re just a piece of trash who goes around killing people!”

[I’m merely executing those who are less than human.]

If this stalemate continued, it was clear that Yumir and I would be at a disadvantage.

“Platinum Sun! You’re no different! Acting alongside that Goblin only makes you a villain like him!”

[…]

“You claim to purify demons, but all you do is serve Korea! How absurd!”

[I don’t only show up in Korea, you know?]

“But you only appear wherever the Goblin goes! It was the same in Thailand! You’re neither a Korean hero nor a global hero! You’re just a woman who’s completely enthralled by the Goblin, body and soul!”

He struck a nerve.

[Enough with the nonsense.]

Before Yumir could react and lash out, I stepped in front of her and extended my hand to stop her.

[No matter what he says, this time, we’ll work together.]

[…Fine. Let’s clean up Jeju Island first, and then we’ll settle ‘that business.’]

There was no “business” to settle.

We were just feigning cooperation for now, as our interests happen to align in this situation.

“Hmph! Do you really think that pathetic act will fool anyone? The Thunder Emperor! Baridegi! Take care of these villains!”

“Don’t order me around! You’re villains too!”

“We may be villains, but right now, we’re just ‘refugees!’”

“That’s nonsense…!”

The Thunder Emperor glanced at me and clenched her fist again.

Technically, for the Korean Hero Association to avoid backlash later from the Japanese Hero Association or from Japan itself—such as accusations of “Does Korea protect its villains just because they’re citizens?”—they had to attack the Goblin.

If the Thunder Emperor and Baridegi didn’t attack us now, Korea could be attacked by Japan later.

[Platinum Sun. Let’s move the stage ‘there.’ Open a dimensional gate. Villains deserve an appropriate execution ground.]

[Understood.]

Paaat.

Yumir opened a dimensional gate in front of me.

I stepped up to the gate, raising my Goblin Bat and aiming it at Yaions.

[Let’s settle this one-on-one. There are some things we need to discuss.]

“Hah…! Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to?!”

[Oh, really? In that case…]

I quickly surveyed the surroundings and then began backing toward the gate.

[I was the one who killed her.]

I imbued my voice with magical power.

The sound, amplified by Yumir’s magic, reached only Yaions.

[Seon Gaeul.]

With that one phrase, I stepped through the gate.

Flash.

My vision brightened for a moment as I teleported to the rooftop where Seon Gaeul was buried.

I immediately gripped my Goblin Bat and assumed a stance.

3, 2, 1.

“Onoreeeeee!!”

Yaions burst through the gate, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he swung his sword at me.

“Dieeeeeee!!”

[You’ve become quite Japanese.]

Clang!

I blocked his attack just as the gate closed behind him.

“You

[Yes. I killed her.]

Though someone else actually did it, even if they hadn’t, I would’ve killed her myself.

[The traitorous broker, the Witch of the Rising Sun, the betrayer of the Secret Society. Seon Gaeul, it was me who killed her.]

“You

[You must have come to Jeju to retrieve her remains. And while you were at it, you probably planned to dispel her spirit and take her powers. Do you know her ability is hypnosis?]

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!!”

With each shout, Yaions swung his sword, trying to kill me.

Although it looked like wild slashing, his attacks were actually precise, aimed directly at my neck.

“I can never forgive you for killing my sister!!”

[Right. She must have whispered sweet promises to you, didn’t she? Saying that if you crossed over to Japan, you’d live together.]

“Shut upppp!!”

Yaions roared so loudly it echoed through the mountains, his rage completely overtaking him.

[She said the same thing to me.]

“What…?”

For a moment, Yaions’ eyes wavered.

“What did you say…?”

[Oh dear. Didn’t you know? You weren’t the only one she flirted with.]

I casually rested the Goblin Bat on my shoulder.

[Did you ever sleep with her?]

“Th-

[No, no. Don’t answer like a child. What I’m asking is…]

Poke poke.

I jabbed the bat into a hole in the wall.

[Did you ever do that?]

“Onoreeeeeee!!”

[Judging by the look in your eyes, I guess you got that far, huh.]

I deflected his sword strikes as I continued speaking.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[Would you like to know who took her first?]

Now.

He wouldn’t be able to leave this place.

[If you defeat me, I’ll tell you.]

“I swear, I’ll kill you!!”

It was one-on-one.

Well, not for me.

‘I never said I was her first.’

I wasn’t lying.