The Villain's Sister - Chapter 99

Hostage situation, Black Cloak.

For an antihero trying to protect an active officer and Giselle, those were words that could easily provoke him.

The camera zoomed in on the building’s glass windows. Inside, hostages were kneeling and crying.

A reporter on the scene spoke:

— Police attempted to breach the interior twice but failed both times. Ah, a wizard from the Central Army has just arrived!

Giselle’s face twisted as she watched the situation unfold.

Seeing both men’s hardened expressions, she tore into her fried egg and said, “Go.”

“Your safety comes first.”

“Who’s even going to come here? At most, maybe someone weird asking for another signature. Though with this house’s reputation, no one will bother.”

“Will you be okay alone?”

“Just leave me one gun.”

Tristan drew a gun from his waistband and set it on the table.

“Don’t hesitate in the face of danger. When you have to shoot, shoot.”

“I know that much.”

When Giselle took the gun, Tristan stood up hastily.

Moments later, Johan followed after him.

***

After stopping by Tristan’s house, they arrived at an alley near the Contate Building five minutes later.

“I saw on TV earlier that Sunshine’s carrying a gas tank of his drugs. If he releases it, we’re screwed. Let’s end this quickly,” Black Pistols said. “You take the front. I’ll go around the back.”

“You think you can handle him?”

“Hell. I’ve handled you for years. You draw his attention, I’ll move in. And if you kill anyone… I’ll make sure your name hits every headline in the country.”

Black Pistols threatened, waving his gun.

“You handle the hostages. I’ll take care of Black Cloak.”

“Wizards. You all deal with your kind.”

Red Shadow’s form vanished. In the next instant, he appeared before the thirteenth-floor window where Black Cloak was.

At a flick of Black Cloak’s hand, invisible blades shattered the glass and flew toward Red Shadow.

“Kyaaah!”

“Ahhh!”

The terrified hostages screamed.

The shards raining downward suddenly halted midair before Red Shadow, forming a large shield.

Black Cloak’s blade collided with the glass barrier.

Immediately, the shards, now wrapped in mana, shot back toward Black Cloak.

He crushed them all into fine dust.

“So you’re the one who turned back time?”

“How’d you know? Don’t tell me you’ve found the ‘rift.’”

“Interesting. I didn’t think a wizard like you would have that kind of power. But it seems you can’t do it twice.”

Innate wizards learned and used magic through natural-born talent.

But acquired wizards used magic with unclear boundaries.

They didn’t even know what spells they could cast or how far their powers extended—awakened mages with limitless potential.

The long black hood sweeping to the floor rippled.

“How arrogant for someone who knows nothing.”

The distorted voice was heavy with rage.

Red Shadow smirked, and tiny explosions sparked around him, each no bigger than a fingernail.

A silent warning: he was ready to fight.

But Black Cloak was different.

“It’s time.”

Boom, boom, boom!

From the rooftop, something that looked like a plastic-bottle rocket made by a grade-schooler plummeted down.

The moment it hit the ground, it burst apart, releasing gas in all directions.

“Sunshine’s here too….”

Just as Red Shadow was about to lunge at Black Cloak, a thick fog engulfed the building.

When the mana dispersed the fog, Black Cloak was gone.

***

The day Johan went to Tristan’s house and bought a TV, I ran out of the apartment to use a pay phone.

After a few rings, a hazy, sluggish voice came through.

— Finally decided to call. So you’re the one who healed Tristan?

“I only made sure he didn’t die. Is he recovering well in Paradise Hill City?”

— You’re still lying. We already confirmed he’s not there.

“Really? You’re smarter than I thought.”

Sunshine let out a mocking laugh.

I checked my wristwatch.

If I stayed on the line more than three minutes, they could trace my location.

“Let me meet Raphael. If he says he wants to escape, I’ll do whatever you want.”

— And why should I believe you?

“They said a prayer of faith can bring salvation. So believe and pray. I’m not God, but my power can become your god, can’t it?”

What Sunshine wanted was the power of White Hands.

It was the essential element needed to create the perfect drug he dreamed of.

From the other end came a mad scientist’s laugh.

He seemed to find my nonsense amusing.

— I’ll give you the signal tomorrow.

“Cause some chaos. Enough to make it on TV. But make sure no innocent people get hurt or killed. The pickup spot is….”

I gave him the address of a road a little ways from the apartment.

The telephone cord twisted around my finger was frozen earlier than the season.

At my demand, which sounded more like an order, Sunshine replied:

— As my god desires.

That was yesterday.

The ‘signal’ Sunshine mentioned was the hostage incident, and the one who came to meet me was—

“You’re my stalker, aren’t you?”

It was the Black Cloak.

There was a faint smell of gunpowder on him.

He must have come straight from the building where he’d taken hostages.

The hem of his cloak rippled. The hooded hand reached toward my face.

Tap!

I slapped his hand away and shot a glare beneath the hood.

“Do what you came to do.”

A sigh escaped from under the hood, and fog wrapped around me.

When I blinked, I was standing in Raphael’s solitary cell.

“Deva?”

“…Raphael!”

He was so gaunt his muscles seemed to have melted away. His patchy beard and dark circles made his face look shadowed.

I couldn’t bring myself to approach him easily, feeling too guilty for shooting him, so I just stood there, staring at him.

Then Raphael came up first and hugged me tightly.

My eyes stung. I wiped my nose quietly so he wouldn’t notice.

“Why are you so thin?”

“Because of you.”

“Ugh. Fine. Blame me for everything.”

Raphael let out a small groan and tried to lighten the mood.

“Why are you here? How did you make contact with that guy?”

“You don’t need to know.”

Before I could say anything else, I grabbed the hem of his prison clothes tightly. Even if there was nowhere to run in this tiny cell, I still had to hold onto him.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“What?”

“Promise me you’ll leave with me. Far away. Then I’ll get you out. I’ve prepared everything.”

The eyes that looked just like mine darted wildly over my face.

I pleaded desperately, “Don’t say no. Just listen to me.”

If he refused again, I’d have no choice but to send him to prison for real this time.

So that when I was left alone, I could tell myself I’d done everything I could.

So that when I lived a life without Raphael, I wouldn’t regret it.

This was my last, last, last offer to him.

“To somewhere with no organization, no anything… just the three of us with Liam, okay?”

Raphael frowned. The Black Cloak twitched slightly.

I pulled Raphael toward me as he tried to step back.

“If you go to prison, I’ll never see you again. Don’t talk about breaking out or whatever. Even if you do, you’ll end up living the same way. The Principality of Chemelhofen, or anywhere, it doesn’t matter.”

I could feel a hot lump rising in my throat.

I begged in a trembling voice, “Please, Raphael….”

I’ll repent for betraying you, for trying to throw you in prison, for all the choices I made to protect you.

So please, don’t turn your back on me like this.

Please choose me.

Not the organization, not safety, not anything else. Just me.

Your sister….

“Deva. Listen carefully.”

Raphael grabbed my shoulders, turned me sharply, and pushed me into the corner.

He was trying to make sure the Black Cloak couldn’t hear us.

“You don’t know it yet, but… there’s too much tangled up in this.”

“Raphael!”

He brought his lips close to my ear and whispered softly.

“When you get out, run away from the Black Cloak. Wherever you go, I’ll find you. I’ll follow after you, so don’t worry.”

Drip. Drop. Drop.

Tears streamed down my face.

I could taste blood on my bitten lip.

Heat surged to my head.

“Why don’t you ever listen to me? Why, why….”

“This will be the last time.”

When Raphael spread his arms to hug me in apology, I pounded on his chest instead.

“You always think only about yourself! This isn’t what I wanted! If you really wanted to protect me, you’d have at least tried to understand how I felt!”

Would it have been different if Oscar had been here?

In the distance, the sound of the guards’ hurried footsteps echoed.

The Black Cloak reached for my shoulder.

“Get lost! Rot forever in that underground prison!”

My cry was swallowed by the alley and never reached Raphael.

I sank to the ground, buried my face in my hands, and swallowed my sobs.

After barely calming down, I said to the Black Cloak, “Tell Sunshine I’m ready to run. He can use me whenever he wants. Because I’m leaving this damned city.”

The day Raphael is transferred, I’ll disappear from Mist Island too.