Riser
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34-15
🕑 Added 2025-07-06 00:59:45 +0000 UTCChapter 15
Superpowered Emergency Response Association
Top floor.
Here, all data on awakened individuals was collected and managed.
[...Next is the discussion on how to handle the superpowered individual ‘Lee Jinwoo.’]
“Heh... Is there anything to discuss? We lost two valuable agents over here...”
And they played quite important roles, too...
Unofficial Rank 4, Ice Master
“The old man’s right. Lee Jinwoo’s power is mind control. He’s too dangerous to leave unchecked.”
Unofficial Rank 6, Fist King
“But... even after I used [Release], nothing changed...?”
Unofficial Rank 11, no nickname
“Hm... Then that means Lee Jinwoo is stronger than you... tch tch.”
“What, what did you say?!”
“You have to understand. You’re support-type, after all.”
Unofficial Rank 7, Iron Woman
“Y-yeah, but...”
“Tch tch, I still don’t get why a ‘weak’ ability user like you is even here...”
“Let’s refrain from getting too off-topic,”
Unofficial Rank 1, Sword Saint
“Right, we should listen to the top ranker.”
“Still stuck on that? Clinging to a ranking made by someone you’ve never even seen.”
“Heh... True, Fist King is just too competitive for his own good...”
Bang!
“Hey, old man!! Aren’t you the one picking a fight with the kid?!”
Glare
“Ugh, fine...!”
Damn, I’m always the bad guy...
Phew
Sword Saint sighed lightly and continued the meeting.
“So, is this man a villain or not? If he is, what class do you think he should be... I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
“I think he should be classified as a villain; his ability is just too dangerous.”
“...I agree with the old man. That hypnosis power could overthrow a nation.”
“Wait! If it’s a mental ability, my [Release] should have worked! Those people were completely normal!”
“Hmph, maybe that’s because Lee Jinwoo is stronger than you?”
“Ha, do you think there’s another healer in Korea stronger than me?”
“You’re the best in the country, sure. But there’s no guarantee Lee Jinwoo is weaker than you. Maybe not even weaker than me.”
“.......”
Hard to argue with that...
“So, he could even be stronger than Sword Saint.”
“...That’s a fair point.”
Sword Saint was rational enough not to rule out the possibility that Lee Jinwoo was stronger than herself.
What worried her was the suspected mind control aspect of Lee Jinwoo’s ability.
His entire following, except for Lee Jinwoo himself, was female. If his power worked on her too...
‘I wouldn’t be able to join the operation to subdue him...’
[It seems it’s decided: Lee Jinwoo will be classified as a villain. Does anyone object?]
Silence
“No.”
[Understood. Then, how dangerous do you think he is?]
“...As much as possible.”
As much as possible. Lee Jinwoo’s power transforms women into grotesque forms and mind-controls them to become his loyal subordinates. That alone warrants S-class, or even higher...
“Yeah, I agree.”
Iron Woman, as her nickname suggests, was not actually made of iron, but had a physical ability.
Her stamina was unmatched, though she lacked martial arts or magical skills.
“...That guy’s power is just too unpleasant.”
Nod
[Understood. Next is the issue of how to handle Lee Jinwoo. Should we ‘subdue’ or ‘eliminate’ him?]
“I think we should kill him...”
“Hmph, old man. What about the victims under his mind control if he dies?”
“...Wouldn’t the spell break automatically if the caster dies?”
“How can you be so sure? You don’t know that.”
“Yeah, killing him is a bit hasty.”
“...Sword Saint, what do you think?”
“.......”
Throb
Sword Saint started to get a headache. In truth, she preferred emptying her mind and training her body to using her brain.
“...We lack information on Lee Jinwoo.”
What the Association knew about Lee Jinwoo:
He can somehow control women.
Controlled women change appearance and follow him blindly.
Lee Jinwoo’s troubled past.
‘There must be some condition for controlling women.’
The Association didn’t know the condition yet. They’d sent two female agents to find out, but lost them both.
One had the [Clone] ability.
‘I thought using powers on a clone wouldn’t affect the original...’
A clone is, by definition, not the original but a separate entity controlled by the original.
If a clone gets stabbed in the belly, it would be unfair if the original felt it too.
But Lee Jinwoo’s power didn’t care he corrupted the original by using the clone.
This was unexpected.
‘...By the way, this Lee Jinwoo isn’t that Lee Jinwoo, is he?’
“We’re talking about killing or subduing him, but... do we even know where he is?”
“.......”
“He’s probably at the Ja-Ae Cult, right?”
“...First, we need more information on Lee Jinwoo. And if we all team up and still can’t beat him... then what?”
“Come on, as if...”
Silence filled the room. Assuming female members can’t participate in combat, their fighting strength drops by 50% right away.
And to go to war, they’d have to get through 20,000 followers to kill Lee Jinwoo. They can’t subdue or kill all 20,000.
The Association, which stands for justice, could never massacre 20,000 people.
There were just too many.
But if left alone, it was clear the group would spread like cancer...!
“...It’s a dilemma.”
The discussion about Lee Jinwoo continued for a long time.
**
“Ah, ah...”
Achoo!
“...Should I turn up the heat in here?”
“No, I just sneezed suddenly...”
Is someone talking about me..?
Beep
Han Ji-young showed a video on the screen.
We were watching a real-time video uploaded by an on-site reporter(?).
“The Hyehwa Station protest is going as planned. We’re promoting the cult too.”
“Hmmm...”
It was our first time doing such a big public activity, so I was a bit nervous, but thankfully there were no problems.
“You really are something. Works like a charm!”
“...Excuse me?”
“Oh, just kidding.”
“.......”
I only realized I had this kind of personality after meeting Han Ji-young. I’d never had anyone I could call a close friend, so I’d never made such silly jokes before.
‘It just means I’m comfortable with Han Ji-young now.’
“Oh, and lately, the Association seems to be moving to keep us in check.”
They must be worried about the cult’s rapid growth. And Jinwoo-nim’s power... is invincible against women. No woman can resist such a vicious and wicked power.
It’s a miracle we’ve grown this much without interference. All thanks to Jinwoo-nim’s grace.
‘.......’
...Isn’t she a bit too deep into the role, at this point?
“But there’s no need to worry too much.”
“You really are something!”
“.......”
Awaken! Awaken!
Even without being there, I could feel the heat of the protest.
Most were ordinary women, with cult followers scattered throughout. Occasionally, there were men.
“The host is good. Who was that again?”
“Oh, that’s Kim Minji. One of the people I’m keeping an eye on.”
So young, but like a recreation instructor, she drew attention and got everyone to participate. Maybe that’s her talent.
‘There are so many now, I can’t remember all their names.’
Even assuming three-letter names, with over ten thousand people, that’s 30,000 syllables. Most followers have only had sex with me once. Now, even that is done by my clones.
‘Am I turning into a terrible person?’
I’m the cult leader, but this is why automation is scary. I used to enjoy personally “saving” followers, but now it’s all my clones...
Flinch
[Greetings.]
What? Why a man’s voice all of a sudden?
“...Jinwoo-nim, this way.”
The video on the screen didn’t change, but the voice suddenly did.
[I am Bertor of the Villain Union.]
The Villain Union a group of people designated as villains by the Association.
‘Bertor... I’ve heard of him.’
Han Ji-young had once given me a list of people to watch out for.
Bertor of Collapse, a male superpowered villain with the [Collapse] trait. He supposedly destroyed world heritage sites and buried all visitors alive using his power.
‘He should be locked up in the “Great Prison” deep under the sea by now...’
[You’re wondering why I’m here. Let me explain.]
[You are invited to the Villain Union. You may not know, but you were just officially recognized as a ‘villain.’ That makes you eligible to join us.]
“.......”
A villain, huh...
‘I expected this.’
No one could understand my actions by normal standards.
[I’ll leave the invitation here. If you wish to join, I recommend coming in person.]
We hate being deceived, you see.
With that, Bertor disappeared. The protest video’s sound resumed.
Awaken! Awaken!
‘...So they knew.’
About my power.
Thud
A letter appeared in midair, all black.
“...Jinwoo-nim, I’ll stand by you no matter what you decide.”
“Hmph, don’t lump me in with those criminals.”
“Sorry, that was careless...”
“Don’t forget, nuna... What we’re doing is a noble cause, the salvation of humanity.”
We’re nothing like those terrorist villains.
Fwoosh
With that, I burned the letter.
