Chapter 8: Uncomfortable cohabitation

18

Personal Protection Program.
This system allows those without status or who’ve lost their families to register as protected persons, enabling a somewhat humane life in this harsh world.
Yet, they remain basic beneficiaries of the new century.
Only those with capable guardians live comfortably, and even those are rare.
Even protected individuals have eyes, and guardians now prioritize high-ranking heroes.
In this world, heroes above Gamma rank are like medieval nobles—sometimes above the law, sometimes the law itself.
Lathy may not care, but Kim Bingkwon, a Delta-rank hero, enjoyed immense privileges.

“This is your new identity.”

Lathy nodded twice at the bracelet-shaped ID card Kim Bingkwon handed her.
He meant for her to wear it, but she stuffed it into her leather jacket pocket.

“BlackHound, if you lose that, you’re in trouble. Put it on your arm.”

Kim Bingkwon’s warning had no effect.
At worst, she’d be a street vagrant, and Lathy wasn’t in danger.

“What if I lose it?”

Her question was blunt.
Kim Bingkwon replied, displeased.

“Even if someone kidnaps you, no one will know. If you’re injured or killed, no one will know.”

“Hmm.”

Being captured wasn’t an issue for her, but it would trouble Kim Bingkwon.
Lathy sullenly reached back into her jacket pocket.
Her arm sank impossibly deep, barely retrieving the bracelet.
As she pulled it out, several cigarette packs fell to the floor with a plop.

“Uh… magic?”

Lathy chuckled at Kim Bingkwon’s baffled expression.

“Oh, well. Something like that.”

She picked up the cigarette packs, stuffing them back into her pocket like bullets in a magazine, then put the bracelet on as instructed.
Normally, one would touch the fingerprint terminal inside, split the bracelet, and reattach it…

“…”

Another magic show unfolded.
Kim Bingkwon squinted in disbelief, then widened his eyes.
The bracelet had pierced Lathy’s wrist, perfectly fused, glowing faintly.

“Why?”

“Uh…”

Likely due to prolonged Void Energy exposure, but she seemed healthy, so he let it slide.
Some people’s bodies turned slimy from similar exposure.
Still, maybe a health check was wise?
Kim Bingkwon hesitated, then asked cautiously.

“Um… You feeling okay? Any pain?”

“Not at all.”

“Still, you were in the Void Mist for a long time. Maybe stop by the hospital run by the Younghyup Anti-VE Research Foundation, just in case?”

While speaking, Kim Bingkwon hadn’t noticed Lathy endured four hours in the Void Mist without airline water.
He’d been too focused on streaming to care.
It wouldn’t have been an issue, but the idea of researchers intrigued Lathy.
Slightly curious, she agreed readily.

“Okay, let’s go.”

But the thought of the lab reminded her of the vile bastard who destroyed her precious lab in the past.
That jerk ruined everything, leading to this situation.
Her primary goal was stopping Shin Ha-jun, but her secondary goal was punishing the two scoundrels who wrecked her lab.
Fortunately, the overwhelming helplessness in her mind calmed her anger.
Not smoking at times like this actually helped.

19

Labs often boast impressive equipment.
Some researchers act as if it’s their own ability, despite only having two hands and two feet.
If they saw Lathy modify a stick camera with just her fingers at a simple desk, they’d faint.

“Come over here and stand.”

“I’m an ordinary person.”
“…Yeah? You look like one.”

The researcher guiding Lathy was no different.
She was itching to shove Lathy into the Armstrong Cannon to measure VE radiation.

But to Lathy, it was just a simple circuit, power source, motor, and frame assembly.
The core tech? A mana lens capturing Void Energy and pseudo-sensory nerves connected to it.
Just a clunky, space-wasting single-arm robot.

Recalling the equipment she’d seen on the way in, nothing piqued her interest.
As boredom grew, Lathy suddenly craved a cigarette.

Reading the researcher’s emotions through her eyes, Lathy saw excitement in vivid red.
From experience, no one cooped up in a lab was normal.
This bespectacled female researcher was a prime example.

“Hold the two bars above your head.”
“Ordinary person. Lathy Teparon.”
“Yes, yes, got it~”
“Ordinary data, permanently delete.”
“Oh, how’d you know that?”

Lathy complied.
As Trapezo Hedron, she’d been through this equipment before.

Only villains or those contaminated by Void Energy use this device.

In other words, a specific reaction meant danger.
It could get her labeled a villain by the World Hero Network’s Hero Association.

But Lathy wasn’t worried.
Her complex mind naturally suppressed tension.
It was just tedious, repetitive, familiar.

The cylindrical machine’s ring-shaped sensor began rotating, its hum growing louder.
The gauge’s needle jerked wildly at its maximum limit, as if it might break.

— Dididick. Dididididick. Tdidididick. Didididididididick. Dididididudududuck.

The researcher, startled, reached for a communicator but put it down.
Panic. Anxiety. Unease… Acceptance.
Her face showed unreadable emotions as she transferred the data to a disposable chip and handed it to Kim Bingkwon.
The data went to him because a protected person’s belongings belonged to their guardian.
Kim Bingkwon tilted his head, slipping the chip into his phone case’s storage.

After he pocketed it, the researcher entered the machine, detached Lathy’s hands, and said,

“Lathy Teparon, you’re indeed an ordinary human.”
“Of course.”

Lathy smirked, satisfied, as if she’d succeeded in an experiment.
The researcher shot a sharp glance at Kim Bingkwon, signaling him to take her away.

As they left, the researcher hummed, “Lathy Teparon, ordinary human. Lathy Teparon, ordinary human~,” and permanently deleted her VE measurement data.

20

Men always harbor grand dreams, even if they’re far-fetched.
Dreams exist to be dreamed.

“This is your room from now on, BlackHound.”

Kim Bingkwon had prepared a space for a manager months ago, unable to shake his youthful ambitions and desires.

His friend Dio, also Delta-rank, had influenced him greatly.
Dio claimed that, except when fighting villains, his managers waited at home, scantily clad.

It was plausible.
While not all heroes were like Dio—a powerful, wealthy “Golden Sun” with 15 managers vying to be his main partner—Kim Bingkwon couldn’t live that way.
Despite being a respected Delta-rank hero, his abilities required long recharge times.
A harem life like Dio’s was a distant dream.

When hiring short-term managers, he deliberately chose timid girls to avoid them settling in.
Knowing his limits, he waited patiently for his ideal woman.

“It’s clean. Nice. Can I smoke here?”
“Uh… I’d appreciate it if you smoked outside…”

Lathy glared at him fiercely.

“Open the window, and… it’s fine, right?”

As a non-smoker, Kim Bingkwon was doomed to never close his windows.
His room’s window faced Lathy’s at a right angle.

Lathy teased him.

“Don’t worry, this doesn’t leave a smell. It’s not bad for your body… Never mind.”

But he liked this feeling.
The intense sibling-like rivalry born from high genetic compatibility, a sensation unique to this moment.
Overwhelming big-sister energy.

She’s the best. This feeling… I’ve been searching for it…

Even a normal-looking person could have bizarre fetishes.

Lathy, sensing his intense stare, snapped irritably.

“What?”
“Nothing!”

Kim Bingkwon wanted to call her “nuna” but feared being roasted like his viewers.
He held back for now.

Lathy surveyed the room, flopped onto the bed, and muttered to him.

“It’s nice, but where’s the computer?”
“Computer?”
“Yeah, for streaming. You need one, right?”
“Oh… I hadn’t thought of that.”

Ordering one was no issue.
The 25,000 Dream points from suspicious aboongis, awaiting conversion, made it possible.

“Any specific specs?”

Lathy recited, as if she’d said it countless times.

“Two 27-inch monitors, one PP-quality cam. You handle the rest.”

Surprisingly simple. Kim Bingkwon could afford it.
A PP cam, mimicking human eye resolution, needed a strong system, but BlackHound’s stream had earned a fortune.
She was a golden goose, bound to rake in more.

Over 10,000 viewers knew she’d been rescued from Incheon Airport’s eerie castle.
A joint stream with a mysterious, unhinged woman kidnapped to a Void Mist-filled area?
It was a guaranteed hit.
A well-prepared Q&A would draw insane attention.

Her black cigarette smoke began to spread.
Whatever it was made of, each inhale felt like it rotted Kim Bingkwon’s lungs.
Yet Lathy smoked all day, sometimes savoring the smoke like a meal.

Kim Bingkwon, coughing, kept his distance.

“Uh… BlackHound?”
“Don’t call me that. Use my name, Lathy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You brought me here to treat me like family, right?”

Terrifying.
How did she read his mind so well?
Family. A word that made his heart race.

Time to plan.
Tomorrow would be busy.

“Okay, Lathy. Let’s shop for clothes tomorrow.”
“No need.”

His carefully laid plan was shot down instantly.
Kim Bingkwon flushed.

“Honestly, you don’t need to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. I’m bored right now.”
“…You’re not eating?”
“If it’s something unique that catches my eye, I’ll eat. Ordinary food? Not interested.”

What did that even mean?
She’d eat if she liked it, otherwise no.
Kim Bingkwon frowned, puzzled.

“Anyway… you’re bored, right?”
“Right. The villain hunt you promised. When can I see it?”

That’s what interested her?
Kim Bingkwon closed his eyes, checking the mana in his heart.
After a moment, he spoke, troubled.

“Sorry… Gotta wait another day.”

Her expression screamed, You’re useless.
Lathy exhaled smoke like a broken engine, scolding him.

“Then let’s do a joint stream. I need to broadcast four hours a day.”

It was her sacred duty, given by her father.
After a day of legal proceedings, it was already 6 p.m.
Only six hours left.

“A joint stream? I’m not prepared.”

Kim Bingkwon protested, citing his sudden departure yesterday.

“Move. I’ll do it myself.”

Lathy grabbed a pillow, pushed him out, and strode to the computer room.
Kim Bingkwon chased her, blocking the door.

“Whoa, wait! Not that room yet!”
“Yes.”
“No…”
“Yes!”

No one could stop Lathy from fulfilling her father’s will.
Kim Bingkwon relented, letting her invade his sacred space.

“If you just… didn’t smoke here… This won’t do…”

His defeated voice faded to a whisper.

*