I went all out with a killer joke, but I couldn’t fly through the roof.

All because of that stingy Jeong Ho-min.

Ruining such a cool scene.

I crawled slowly through the main gate, looking all pathetic.

“Since I’m looking pathetic, you better go bald!”

I cursed the bald guy with a 360-degree curse and hurriedly escaped the Association.

The whole Association was surrounded because of some Black Code nonsense.

“Even if that’s the case, making people crawl to enter? What’s the point?”

Even if I’m a villain, I wouldn’t come in here because it’s so annoying.

…Isn’t that a success?

Pretty clever, huh?

I came out of the main gate all alone.

No one came to greet me.

This is the reality of the Association.

And the current state of heroes, everyone!

But no one was there to listen.

“…Completely empty.”

I thought at least a few reckless people would be wandering around.

But it seems everyone’s wisely staying home.

“Seeing this, villains and monsters are completely useless—”

—Wait, no.

Even if there aren’t many people around, I should still watch my mouth.

If this gets recorded, I’d be in big trouble.

I flew off to Hanam.

But this guy’s really something.

Why is he heading to Starfield again?

Is it the criminals’ instinct to return to the scene of the crime?

Some kind of homing instinct or something?

I’ll definitely ask him if I catch him.

Anyway, it’s nostalgic.

It all started when Jo Se-hee kidnapped Lee Ha-yoon.

The hostage situation by the Great Thief Jo Se-hee, aiming for the Awakening Ring.

Ironically, the hostage, Lee Ha-yoon, was having a blast with the criminal at Starfield.

I was there too, so let’s leave it at that.

Anyway.

Jo Se-hee got beaten up by an angry Jeong Ha-yul.

Just when it seemed like the incident was beautifully wrapping up—

Fox Mask went and committed terrorism!

“…No time for nostalgia.”

As I flew, reminiscing about the past, I was already near Starfield.

So much happened at such a young age. Looking back now, it all feels like good memories.

Let’s leave it at that.

It’s time to teach Fox Mask that life is the real deal.

They say the revenge of a gentleman takes ten years, but it’s never too late.

“It’s been nine years for me, so let’s say I’m ahead of schedule.”

Fox Mask and I have had so many incidents since England.

Now it’s time to put an end to it.

I circled around Starfield, but Fox Mask was nowhere to be seen.

Could he be inside enjoying some sports monster like Lee Ha-yoon?

I raised my magic power to detect him, and a response came from a distance.

“…So that’s why he came to Starfield.”

He was staring at the ground where he fought—no, where he got beaten up by Jeong Ha-yul.

Reliving the memory of his arm being torn off.

Not a good memory, so why revisit it?

He’s a hard person to understand.

Fox Mask did a lot of incomprehensible things, but the most incomprehensible was how he mercilessly crushed that child’s bones.

Thinking about it makes my blood boil, but what’s done is done.

“Hello, Jack the Ripper.”

I greeted him outright.

He slowly turned his head to look at me.

His eyes were hazy, his pupils dull.

His empty right sleeve fluttered in the wind, making him look pitiful.

This made me feel like I was the villain.

“…What’s wrong with this guy?”

Did he do something crazy in the underground prison, piss off his fellow inmates, and get beaten up while escaping?

Even the normal Fox got beaten up by Jeong Ha-yul.

A one-armed Fox wouldn’t stand a chance against me now.

A one-armed, mentally broken Fox sat there.

It felt a bit bittersweet.

“…Who are you?”

“Wow, this bastard… oops, my bad.”

I accidentally cursed.

He made me spend most of my childhood with X-rays, and now he doesn’t even remember me?

They say perpetrators don’t remember, but I guess it’s true.

I always criticized dramas for this, but I guess I owe the writers an apology.

“I’m the Demon King’s little brother. The kid you trampled all over.”

“…You’ve grown a lot.”

Is this guy about to die?

He seems… different.

“I should’ve killed you back then… I was too young.”

But it was just my imagination.

That genuinely regretful expression.

As soon as I saw it, the word “respect for elders” melted away in my heart.

In its place, the word “elder abuse” rose up.

“Are you here to kill me?”

“All escapees from the lowest floor are to be executed on sight. So, yeah.”

“Your sister tore off my arm, and now you’re here to tear off my neck.”

“You’re the one who tore out my ribs, right?”

Who’s acting pitiful here?

I’ve lived two lives, and the first thing I experienced was full-body fractures.

I couldn’t even swallow food and had to rely on IVs.

Even now, I can’t hold a spoon properly, so Ha-yul and Eun-chae had to feed me.

I’m the one who’s pitiful, not you.

It was a time when my masculinity was at its peak…

Do you know how it feels to have an ultra-cute 20-something change your diaper?

“I’ll make it quick and painless. I’m a kind person, after all.”

“A simple death doesn’t suit me.”

Fox Mask stood up and brushed off his hands.

Is he resisting?

Not a bad feeling.

Maybe, deep down, I really wanted this revenge.

“It’s time for you to die.”

“That’s more of a villain line for you.”

“I’ll be the villain just for you. Limited edition Jeong Gyeoul, it’s rare, you know.”

“…You’ve grown up a bit weird.”

“Thanks to you.”

Fox Mask raised his sword with his left arm.

At the same time, the clouds parted, and light shone down, making it look like he was the chosen hero.

“Pfft, is the heavens watching my final moments?”

Even he found the scene amusing and couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“It’s like they’re signaling me to die quickly. The sword’s reflecting light right into my eyes.”

With nothing but despair, resentment, regret, and hatred, I should be the one dying here.

But he’s so excited. Annoying.

“Anyway… we haven’t fought yet. I might not be the one dying.”

Fox Mask smirked.

His eyes were as sharp as ever.

“An S-Class like you thinks you’re a threat? The gap between us is as clear as it was back then.”

No more words were needed.

His sword blurred.

My best technique, my specialty.

It’s a shame I couldn’t use trash talk to its fullest.

“Some days are like this, some days are like that.”

As Fox Mask’s sword approached, the atmosphere around us shook like waves.

At the same time, I moved my hand.

I stretched it upward, pointing to the sky.

The sword hadn’t even reached me yet.

Fox Mask looked puzzled by the sudden gesture, but I slashed diagonally.

Just like that.

Fox Mask stopped in his tracks.

“…What was that?”

“A new power I got from the Realm of Immortals.”

“…The Realm of Immortals? What’s that?”

“Didn’t your friend, the 12 Apostles, tell you? There are many dimensions besides this one.”

I’m not so heartless as to not answer a dying man.

“The strongest of them is the Realm of Immortals. Hmm… someone like you would get eaten by a monkey there.”

“What nonsense are you spouting at a time like this? Jokes have their place.”

I got criticized for my social skills by a villain.

My dignity as a hero is crumbling.

Getting eaten by a monkey is a real fact, though.

This is unfair.

I should’ve brought the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong.

“Thanks for the last good show.”

“…I didn’t do it for you. If you’re grateful, it’ll mess with my judgment.”

Ignoring my words, he lay down on the ground.

At the same time, his skin began to split.

From his left shoulder to his right hip, a clean diagonal cut.

Like he’d been slashed by a giant sword.

He didn’t seem to feel any pain.

Not even a groan.

Fox Mask just stared at the sky.

*

The fox lay on the cold, hard ground, losing its vitality.

For a villain lying there, it was a surprisingly complex feeling.

“…You went through so much just for this ending.”

“…But it wasn’t bad.”

“Bullshit.”

Fox Mask’s face was peaceful.

Almost like he was smiling.

The air was heavy.

The sky was dark.

Not even the sound of birds or bugs could be heard, just a deep silence.

I stared for a long time.

“Strange feeling.”

Drip— drip drip—

Raindrops began to fall, washing away the blood and dirt from Fox Mask’s body.

In the end of a villain’s story,

Only the person who killed them,

And the sky remain.

“Goodbye.”

No answer came.