I Became A Framed Villain

[TN: Use 'night mode' for the best experience.] 

 

{1 – Darkness}

 

One day, an unidentified beast appeared in the middle of the city, and the world suddenly turned upside down; a mysterious and unknown era began.

 

Various ‘concepts’ of the world were manifested in inhabitants who then began to awaken unique abilities.

 

Thanks to this, the era after that was full of chaos and darkness that lasted for years.

 

Fortunately, in modern society, where order had been restored to a certain extent by the heroes, a space was created for isolating those who used mysterious and unknown 'concepts' for crimes.

 

It was called 'Karma', and that was the same place I was imprisoned in.

 

To be honest, I never imagined I would be imprisoned here; I was always in a position to send prisoners here.

 

Well, I thought I would be able to leave soon anyway.

 

I didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding there was, but I believed that as the investigation proceeded, it would become clear that I was innocent.

 

“I give defendant Kang Ha-neul a death sentence…”

 

However, it was my mistake.

 

“He will be executed within a month.”

 

“What?”

 

I was given a death sentence even though no one was given the same sentence in nearly ten years.

 

.

.

.

.

.

 

“Prisoner number 10156, you have a visitor.”

 

What woke me up, lying dead in the cell, was the voice of the jailer who seemed a little annoyed.

 

“…”

 

“Come on, get ready.
We’ll be leaving in a minute.”

 

Sending out-of-focus eyes to the guard, I saw him frown and turn his head in another direction as if he was disgusted.

 

I found it unnatural, but in fact, it made sense; according to him, I was the fuc*er who killed the number one hero right now.

 

‘How did this happen?’

 

Of course, at first, I too strongly insisted on injustice.

 

Even if the entire operating area was under control, would it make sense to have no witnesses?

 

So I wondered when the reality of the incident would come out.
In the first place, I didn’t have the power or ability to kill Justia.

 

However, it was all in vain. 

 

Because the evidence that came out during the investigation and the few eyewitnesses who came forward all pointed to me.

 

When I realized things were going wrong, it was too late.

 

In the first place, there was nothing I could do in prison apart from denying the evidence, but surprisingly, no one even wanted to listen to me.

 

The media had already defined me as Justia's murderer and were pouring out reports.
While investigators only regarded my claim that the evidence was false as an unscrupulous villain’s nonsense.

 

Truly, the whole world seemed to be against me.

 

Who the hell did this?

 

I didn't think even for a moment that it was natural.
Something was clearly wrong.

 

But what kind of grudge someone would have to torment me so much?

 

“Hello, seonbae.”

 

The answer to that question was found in the meeting room I entered after a while.

 

“long time no see.”

 

[TN: Seonbae is the Korean equivalent of Senpai/Senior.]

 

“…tt.”

 

With my hands and feet tied, I greeted my teeth looking at the white-haired boy and my Noona who seemed to be escorting him these days.

 

 

“Lumia, if you think it’s dangerous, call us right away, okay? I'm waiting outside with others…”

 

“Don’t worry, Maru-san.
I’m also entering the Hero Academy this year, right? Now I’m a full-fledged hero.”

 

Lumia Obse, aka 'Child Of Prophecy' tried to convince Noona with a relaxed attitude as if everything was under his control.

 

“So, see you later?”

 

Looking at him helplessly, Noona, who was about to leave the room with a worried expression, suddenly glanced at me.

 

“Noona, I…”

 

“Shut up.”

 

“…Ugh.”

 

I opened my mouth with the feeling of grabbing at least a straw, but as Noona began to speak in a rather cold voice, my whole body froze as it was.

 

“You are the shame of my life.”

 

“…….”

 

“Please die quietly.”

 

Noona left me with those words as I collapsed on the floor.

 

'How is it that everyone sounds the same?'

 

Hearing the same words that I had already heard from the other two as well made me feel like my whole body was losing strength.

 

“Hey, are you okay?”

 

“…….”

 

“Stay still.
I’ll help you.”

 

After lying on the floor for such a long time, I, miserably, got up after being supported by Lumia.

 

After somehow succeeding in helping me sit again, Lumia asked while putting on a worried expression.

 

“So, how are you?”

 

Then, while waiting for my answer, he opened his bag and pulled out a laptop that had a sticker of a strange mask with its tongue sticking out.
It was the same laptop that he always carried with him.

 

“How am I…? Are you making fun of me…?”

 

I slowly opened my mouth while forcibly suppressing the boiling anger I felt at his question.

 

Not minding my answer, suddenly, Lumia changed his expression and looked at me with an eerie smile.

 

“How does it feel to have everything stolen from you?”

 

I froze.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Two days before my execution, it seemed he finally started revealing his true colors for the first time.

 

“By the way, you are not blind yet?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“It’s really strange…
Was there such a fresh time even for seonbae…”

 

“Answer me!!!”

 

At the guy who kept talking nonsense while evading my question, I couldn’t contain my anger any longer and shouted.

 

“Isn't it obvious what am I talking about?”

 

Then, Lumia opened his eyes and started speaking with a creepy smile.

 

“Even though you both were young, the childhood friend who promised to marry you,

 

The ex-girlfriend who followed you because she liked you even though she was a second-generation chaebol,

 

And even your older sister…”

 

“You!!”

 

“…They're all mine.”

 

It was only after hearing those words that I realized that the unfounded suspicions I had held for so long were true.

 

“On purpose?”

 

“And now that Justia-san has gone away… How heartbroken must you be.”

 

“All of this… did you really plan it?”

 

I asked with a bewildered expression.
To that, Lumia nodded his head with a soft smile.

 

“Manipulating information was a little more tricky than I thought.
If I didn't have a chance to prepare everything years ago, I wouldn't even have dreamed of trying.”

 

“……..”

 

“Oh, it was several times more difficult to make seonbae trust me though.”

 

Then, suddenly, he started patting my shoulder.

 

“Seonbae, you weren't delusional or anything…
Congratulations on figuring it out.”

 

“Ssss…”

 

I inhaled coldly.

 

“Seonbae himself was worried too, right? That perhaps it was just your misunderstanding, right?”

 

Yes.

 

As he said, the misfortune that came to me was not a coincidence.

 

The reason that the most precious girls suddenly betrayed me, the fact that the positions of me and Justia continued to decrease, and even that incident a few days ago, this guy was behind all of it.

 

“Why are you doing this to me?”

 

Upon realizing that fact, the tremors in my body that had been continuing for a long time began to subside.

 

“What the hell did I do wrong?”

 

It was because when my anger crossed the threshold, my head started to get cold.

 

“What do you want? What is your purpose?”

 

A maddening hatred for this bastard who, for unknown reasons, had ruined my life and stolen everything I held dear, made me cold.

 

But I didn’t want to miss this opportunity because of my hatred.

 

“As you said, I was doubting myself because of your great acting…”

 

“Yeah, it looks like it.”

 

“…Then why did you confess everything in front of me now?”

 

This was truly my last chance.

 

The last chance to dig out all the truth from him.

 

“Telling me everything now has no benefit.
It’s totally opposite from your previous style.”

 

“True.”

 

“So tell me.
What the hell is the purpose, right now…”

 

“My purpose…”

 

But despite expecting some great answer…

 

“It’s obvious.”

 

…the words that came out of his mouth were enough to shake my mind again.

 

“My purpose is you.”

 

“What?”

 

.

.

 

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

 

I looked at him with a bewildered face, and Lumia, who looked at me with a smile, started talking in a soft voice.

 

“Hey, seonbae.
What do you think makes a hero?”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t be shy, answer my question…”

 

“…”

 

“Seonbae, please answer me.”

 

I was instantly furious at those words, but Lumia’s expression looking at me was very serious.

 

“…Justice? Sacrifice? Willingness to help others?”

 

I gave a few answers that came to mind.

 

I actually wanted to leave right away, but if this conversation ended like this, I was the only one at a loss.

 

Lumia shook his head slowly as I gave a rough answer to match his rhythm.

 

“No.
No, seonbae.”

 

“Then, what is it?”

 

When I asked a question to keep him interested and to reach the bottom of the truth, Lumia slightly tilted his head to the side and opened his mouth.

 

“It is the villain who completes the hero.”

 

And again bizarre words poured out.

 

“Isn’t that right, seonbae? All famous heroes have their