NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49 - The Slum's Hero...?
Several weeks later.
“Yaawn…”
“You seem really tired, Boss.”
“…Just tell me what you want to eat already.”
After receiving the mission from Astra, I began patrolling the slums nightly to gather information.
“I’ll have the usual, Boss!”
“Iced Americano and a hot chocolate to go?”
“Yup!”
‘Of course, there’s been no progress so far.’
Most of the drug addicts were already completely deranged lunatics.
So I’ve been lying in wait, trying to apprehend a dealer, but…
“Here you go.”
“Thanks, Boss!”
The actual drug dealers have been nowhere to be seen.
‘Did I somehow miss them, or what?’
Since this wasn’t covered in the original storyline, I lacked any relevant foreknowledge on how to proceed.
I had thought it would end with just stopping Blue Scorp, but apparently not.
At any rate, despite exhaustively scouring the area, the lack of any visible dealers implies it’s not simply my oversight.
‘Or could my disguise be the issue?’
I looked down at my current outfit.
Black cargo pants, a white hoodie, and a blue jacket – overall, comfortable for activity while still maintaining a fashionable vibe.
‘It’s definitely distinct from Maker’s usual look.’
One could argue it’s too conspicuous, but not necessarily.
The slums weren’t solely populated by the utterly destitute, with villains occasionally passing through to lay low.
So this outfit didn’t seem particularly out of place.
‘If that’s not the problem, then what am I missing…?’
As I pondered while strolling down the street, a woman’s piercing scream suddenly rang out.
“Kyaaaaah!!”
“Hehehe! Hehehe! Hehehe!!”
Looking toward the alleyway, I spotted two figures.
“Hehehe! Hehehe!!”
“Kyaaaaahh!!”
A woman, seemingly the source of those screams, was being menaced by a man drooling profusely.
“Hehehe! Mate! Mate!! Mate!!!”
“Kyaaaaahhhh!!! Get away!!”
The man’s condition clearly appeared rather abnormal.
‘Grotesquely bulging muscles, speaking only in disjointed words rather than sentences, and that unhinged, maniacal laughter…’
“You too! You too! Eat this! Feel good! Feel good together! Together! Together!”
Seeing the white powder he tried forcing into the woman’s mouth, it was undoubtedly the drug.
“Hmm…”
How should I approach this?
For now, I had concealed myself against the wall.
I could certainly intervene and assist, but there was no obligation to do so either.
‘But to simply abandon that man while he’s still somewhat coherent would be a shame…’
Among the addicts I had observed over these past few weeks, he seemed the most lucid.
If there was a chance to apprehend him, I should seize it.
‘A few well-placed gunshot wounds to his limbs should suffice for restraining him.’
Alright, let’s subdue him first.
Having decided, I crafted a gun and slowly approached the alleyway entrance.
“Uwooohh…waaack!!”
“Such a waste of the drug!! Why spit it out!! Waste!!”
The man ranted furiously, thrashing about wildly.
“G,get away!!”
Just as the man’s tantrum reached its crescendo and I prepared to open fire, suddenly:
“That’s enough!!!”
A voice rang out.
And standing before the woman, glaring at the man, was an unexpected figure.
“You scoundrel!”
The abruptly appeared figure wore a white traditional mask and bamboo hat, along with a fluttering hanbok robe.
“Ahem, in this age of peace, what depraved conduct is this?!”
“Eeek!”
Striding boldly toward the man, the figure raised his voice.
And:
“I, the monk Uchi, shall be the one to stop yo…!!”
“Out of my way!!!”
WHACK!!
With a ferocious swing, the man sent Uchi tumbling backward to crash against the wall.
‘…Who is this guy?’
It was rather perplexing.
Wouldn’t a proper hero easily subdue such an opponent?
“Kughh!! Dammit! Quite strong!!”
While I was lost in thought, Uchi had already scrambled back to his feet.
Rushing forward once more at incredible speed, he interposed himself between the addict and the woman.
“However! You too shall fall before my secret technique! Here I come! Secret Technique-”
BAAAAAM!!!
And he was promptly sent flying again.
‘…Just what is this guy doing?’
I stared at the figure rolling about on the ground in utter bewilderment.
Some time later.
The scuffle between the drug-addled man and the masked individual still raged on.
“Eeek!! Out of my way!”
“But as a true man, I cannot simply ignore a woman’s screams for help.”
The man indiscriminately swung his fists with a scrunched, furious expression.
Meanwhile, the one calling himself Uchi had now:
“Hyah!”
Fwish-!
“Hah!”
Swooosh-!!
“Cha-!”
…begun deftly evading the incoming strikes.
Quite an improvement, considering he had initially taken every blow without dodging a single one.
“Muahaha! Such feeble attacks are easily evaded by me! I am Uchi himself~”
Uchi seemed to realize this too, shoulders swelling with pride as he let out a mocking chuckle.
“Aaahh! Coward!!”
“A coward’s accusation from the lips of the defeated~”
With a self-satisfied smirk, Uchi taunted the increasingly enraged man whose face had turned beet red.
From an outside perspective, Uchi undoubtedly held the upper hand.
‘He’s quite the blowhard, isn’t he?’
However, observing from afar, I could tell Uchi’s legs were trembling unsteadily.
‘I’ve seen enough, might as well intervene now.’
Click.
I aimed my gun toward the addict.
Bang-!
And promptly opened fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
“Gwaaaaaahh!!!”
Now sporting fresh holes in his elbows and knees, I confirmed my handiwork before casually approaching them.
“Wh,who goes there?”
Uchi regarded me warily in a defensive stance.
“While I appreciate the assistance, if your intentions are ill! Uchi shall surely obstruct you!”
“You can rest assured, I harbor no ill will.”
Lowering my voice, I met Uchi’s gaze with an impassive expression.
“Is that so? Well then, all is well!”
‘How gullible.’
Instantly dropping his guard at my words, Uchi let out a hearty laugh of relief.
To let down one’s guard so completely just from a simple reassurance – how careless.
Just as I was inwardly scoffing at his naivete, Uchi extended his hand toward me in a gesture to shake.
“I am Uchi! And your name would be?”
“I have no reason to tell you.”
My apologies, but I have more pressing matters to attend to.
Ignoring his query, I began treating the addict’s wounds to stop the bleeding.
“My, how curt you are.”
Grumbling indignantly, Uchi brushed off the dust from his robes.
In the midst of this, he happened to make eye contact with the woman who had been trying to slip away unnoticed.
“Ah, miss! Are you unharmed?”
“Y,yes…th,thank you…”
“Heheh! Think nothing of it! This area shall be secured by myself and this companion, so return home safely!”
Oh, thank you!
No need for thanks!
B,but still!
I’m truly grateful!
After an extended exchange of gratitude and self-effacement, the woman finally took her leave.
“Farewell, miss!”
Meanwhile, even as Uchi continued his oblivious prattling, I remained focused on staunching the addict’s bleeding.
While the bleeding had been staunched successfully…
“……”
“Tch, too late…”
The man had already lapsed into an unresponsive, comatose state.
Clicking my tongue in dissatisfaction, I rose to my feet.
“Are your tasks complete, then?”
Waiting for me to finish, Uchi greeted me with an ingratiating smile.
This one was still hanging around, huh?
Ignoring his query, I posed my own question instead.
“…Are you a hero?”
“Me? Hah! I am one unfettered by such trifling labels!”
So, not a hero then.
“Yet you too wear a mask and hat in concealment, much like myself, do you not?”
“I’d prefer you don’t lump us together.”
“My, so prickly~”
Haah…
Disregarding Uchi’s chatter, I resumed my patrol through the slums.
Step step step.
Shuffle shuffle shuffle.
“……”
Step.
Shuffle!
“Why are you following me?”
To discourage him, I shot Uchi an annoyed glare.
“Hahah! Is it not fate that brought us together?”
“So what of it?”
“Your demeanor appeals to me! Become my fellow guardian of these slums, will you no…”
“Not interested.”
I’m already busy enough searching for the drugs without such distractions.
I declined outright and continued onward, ignoring Uchi once more.