The Villain's Sister - Chapter 9

Tristan ate enough for three people by himself and still wasn’t satisfied, buying all kinds of snacks at a café afterward. Even on the way back, he stopped at a store to buy various things to eat, stacking them in the back seat.

Other men might fear Raphael but still want to look cool in front of me, going out of their way to do so. But this man treats me like an old friend he’s known for years, without any effort.

Maybe instead of trying to be his lover, it would be better to settle for being a close friend.

While I was having such thoughts, I saw my familiar neighborhood.

“Drop me off here.”

“Do you live here?”

“Yes.”

“Alone?”

“Why do you ask?”

“The next neighborhood over is Death Adder’s territory. Those guys have been going crazy lately, so even if you live a bit away, it’s still dangerous. I’ll take you to your front door.”

“It’s fine. I can go alone.”

“I’ve thought this before, but you’re really too careless. Do you think underground organizations are a joke? If you run into some of their lackeys, can you handle it alone?”

His tone was casual, but what he was saying was reasonable.

Anyone living on Mist Island knows how reckless it is to be out after dark. No matter how bright the streetlights and neon signs shine, they can’t stop evil from emerging under the cover of night.

Robbers roam every alley, and criminals soaked in alcohol and drugs rule this city.

In a place like this, a woman walking alone is simply out of the question.

“It’s just up ahead. You can see it, right? That apartment building. That’s my place.”

Tristan carefully examined the apartment I pointed to.

“It’s only a five-minute walk.”

“Five minutes is enough to run into trouble. It’s dangerous, so let me walk you.”

“…I have a brother. He’s really strict, and if he sees me with a man, he’ll freak out.”

“I’m not just any man; I’m a police officer.”

“You’re not on duty right now.”

“Just because it’s the weekend doesn’t mean I’m not a cop. Stop making me worry.”

Goodness, why is he so persistent?

I squeezed my eyes shut.

If the next neighborhood is Death Adder territory, that means there could be members of the organization here too. They are all Raphael’s eyes and ears, and this man is both a police officer and a hero.

If they recognize each other and a confrontation occurs, my plan will fall apart.

And if Raphael’s true identity as the real boss of Death Adder is exposed because of me…

‘It has to come out only after Tristan is close enough to help Raphael, even if it’s just for my sake.’

As the second-in-command, Raphael could break out of any prison they put him in, but if he’s identified as Anti-Venom, the leader of Death Adder, he’ll end up in the central government’s underground prison, sixty-six floors down.

I don’t want Raphael to die, but the thought of him in a villain-only prison from which escape is impossible is just as horrifying.

“Then how about meeting my brother? I said hello to your mother; it’s only fair that you meet my brother too.”

Tristan’s eyes widened.

Before he could respond, I quickly opened the car door and got out.

Before closing the door, I informed him, “Wednesday at six, at the café in front of the police station. If you’re late, I’ll confess to you publicly.”

I left Tristan there, chuckling incredulously, and hurried away.

***

After visiting Tristan and Linda, I stayed at Maria’s house.

I woke up late and watched Maria getting ready for work.

“I won’t be able to hang out much for a while since I have a lot of performances.”

“I’m glad I visited before you got busier. Next time, I’ll bring a cherry pie. I learned a great recipe while volunteering at the homeless meal service.”

“You’re still going there? Didn’t Raphael say anything?”

“I haven’t been going lately. The city’s too dangerous now.”

“Yeah, things are crazy lately. There was a gas attack in District 4 East today too.”

“I know, right? Look at the time; it’s already eight. I need to get home before it gets any darker.”

Staying another night at Maria’s wouldn’t have been bad, but home is still best.

“Maria, make sure you don’t just lock the door but also cover the windows with blinds or curtains. You know you need to be extra careful living alone, right?”

“Yes, Mom. I’m tired of your nagging, so hurry home safely.”

I kept nagging Maria until the end before finally heading home.

Click.

As I closed the front gate, I saw a blood-covered figure under the dim light in the yard.

“What the hell…”

Death Adder’s main business is illegal weapons trafficking.

Since there’s no need to handle things within our territory, Death Adder’s base is much safer than the strongholds of other underground groups.

Of course, this is a relative statement—the comparison being with groups like Two Star, which deals in human trafficking, and Lucky Ginger, whose main business is drug dealing.

Despite that, living under Raphael’s shadow is still safer than living alone in another supposedly safe neighborhood.

Mist Island is the city with the highest rate of violent crime in the country, but thanks to Raphael’s influence, our home was quite safe.

So then…

‘…What is going on here?’

There’s no reason for Red Shadow to be collapsed, bloodied, in our front yard.

Completely confused, I took a step back without realizing it.

***

Black Pistols wears a black leather jacket and covers his face with a modified motorcycle helmet.

He rides a motorcycle and uses a gun, acting as a hero.

On the other hand, Red Shadow wears a luxurious three-piece suit with formal shoes.

He hides his identity beneath a white mask and uses various weapons like guns and knives, but at his core, he is a “wizard.”

Their appearances and fighting styles are different, and as heroes, they have very distinct identities.

Black Pistols runs hot. He values good and justice and draws a clear line of moral values.

That’s why, while I may want to punch him sometimes, as a hero, he comes very close to being a true “hero.”

But Red Shadow is different. He’s cold, calm, rational, and logical. He cares more about results than morals or ideals, which led him to become a fallen hero. To pursue his own form of justice, Red Shadow can become more brutal than any villain.

That’s why he’s called an “anti-hero.”

Black Pistols and Red Shadow clash constantly because of this.

‘What are you up to…’

Red Shadow will do anything to catch a villain.

He could take a villain’s innocent family hostage or falsely accuse someone to put them in prison.

He crosses the line between good and evil, pursuing justice, making him a man capable of great cunning.

Lies, threats, torture… He will do whatever it takes, making his presence in my front yard highly suspicious. Especially in normal clothes, not his suit.

“Hey.”

I called out to him from a distance.

Even in the faint streetlight shining beyond the yard, I could see the grass soaked with blood.

Could that blood be fake? And when I get close, will he grab me by the neck and use me as leverage against Raphael?

“…Are you okay?”

Unlike Tristan, who lives as an ordinary citizen when not a hero, Red Shadow is a famous figure whose face can easily be recognized by anyone on Mist Island.

That’s why, as soon as I realized this world was like the original work, I looked up this man’s face.

No matter how many times I look, this man is definitely Red Shadow.

‘If these are real wounds, I need to treat them quickly. If I don’t, he’ll die…’

I bit my lip hard.

I steadied my trembling hands and cautiously approached him.

One hand slipped into my bag. With one hand tightly clutching pepper spray, I used the other to shake him.

Up close, I could see his white shirt soaked in blood. He must have been stabbed in the stomach.

“H-Hey… wake up…”

Through the torn shirt, I could see the gaping wound.

Not long ago, Raphael had a wound just like this. He got it when he captured the leader of Lucky Ginger and tried to send him to the central government’s underground prison, sixty-six floors down.

If left untreated, he would surely develop tetanus. Before that, he might get a fever from an infection and die.

Damn it…

“…I’m an idiot.”

I grabbed the man by the ankle and dragged him into the house.

I had to grit my teeth because I couldn’t even understand my own actions.

What am I doing? For Raphael to survive, Red Shadow has to die…

Knowing that, I still couldn’t ignore him, simply because I couldn’t help but empathize with someone suffering a severe wound.

Groaning, I moved him to the living room.

Thanks to Raphael, we had everything from antiseptics and bandages to anesthetics stocked up.

I undid his buttons and pulled his shirt aside. More than his firm body, the terrible wound caught my eye.

I immediately poured antiseptic on the wound.

“I’m sorry. But I can’t take you to a doctor.”

If he went to a hospital, the police would come, and I’d have to answer all kinds of questions.

If they found out this man collapsed in the home of escaped convict Raphael Moltke, things would definitely get complicated.

I would take care of him so he wouldn’t die, but I wasn’t willing to risk anything beyond that. That was the most compassion I could offer.

‘Maybe if I were still as clueless as when I was a child.’

The first person I ever healed was a soldier who had lost his sight in battle.

I remember I had just awakened my powers and healed him impulsively, thinking of Raphael.

‘Luckily, he was sensible and didn’t reveal I had healed him.’

After finishing the treatment, I went to the bathroom to wash my bloodstained hands.

Diluted blood spread like crimson water, staining the white sink.

Rationality returned, replacing compassion.

What had I done? Did I just save that man?

Fear drained the strength from my legs.

Sssss—

The sound of water flowed in the sink.

My body trembled with my racing heartbeat.

‘It might actually be for the best.’

If Red Shadow was truly injured, then making him owe me a favor wasn’t a bad move.