I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

Everything depended on the outcome.

If there was evidence, a witness, and belief, anything was possible.

Indeed, in such cases, it would be truly moving. But sometimes, things were created to suit human needs.

What was it?

A good story.

Just like how some of the viewer stories broadcasted on the radio were creations by certain writers, if Cheonma cooperated with our society, we could create as many good stories for her as needed.

[The fact that she went to China was actually to destabilize China from within, investigating all sorts of abnormal and unethical actions occurring there. After safely relocating her family, she reveals all the facts. There’s no better way to clear her name than this.]

“…Have you already put several people through the wash?”

[In some cases, we’ve done it for real, and in others, we’ve run simulations.]

The scenarios they created together became reality as long as Cheonma decided to cooperate with the society, or at least collaborated with it.

[How about it? Rasputin was an irredeemable trash villain, but you’re different. Though the world has thrown trash at you, you’re someone who can wipe it off and be reborn in a new form.]

“……Ha.”

Cheonma covered her face with one hand.

“Even if everything ends completely, I won’t live in Korea.”

[Wherever you choose to live is up to you. If you decide to live in the United States, our society will help set that up. Of course, you’ll have to contribute labor to cover some of the financial aspects.]

“If it’s something like that, I can accept it. …Hoo, fine. Since I’ve already made my decision, I guess I have to walk this path. Let’s keep talking about this ‘washing’.”

The person who had been anxious just moments ago was gone, and now Cheonma had regained her composure.

“So, what exactly do I need to do?”

[Nothing else. Just continue as you are. Of course, since you’ve had a major failure this time, the authorities won’t be calling you in for a while. And you do have a valid reason.]

Beep.

I projected a screen into the air with my Taeguk Watch.

[National Competition. If you say you’re going into seclusion to train for the Ability Users’ World Cup in October, no one will be able to criticize you. After all, China spent 500 trillion to bring you in just to try to win this competition.]

“You’re telling me to disappear under the pretext of training until the National Competition?”

[Yes.]

“And if I hold out until then, will anything change?”

[Many things will change. And even if you don’t win the National Competition, as long as you achieve a respectable result, the authorities won’t be able to criticize you directly.]

They brought her in for 500 trillion to win.

But even if she didn’t achieve a result, they couldn’t ask her to return the 500 trillion.

[As long as you don’t get eliminated in the group stage, entering the quarterfinals or semifinals should be enough to justify the 500 trillion. For example, if there are 7 Koreans and 1 Cheonma in the quarterfinals.]

“…After Korea, China. Even just that would mean I’ve fulfilled my role?”

[Yes.]

In a nationalistic world, Korea always took first place, so even taking second place would mean Cheonma has fulfilled her role.

[From now until the National Competition, just focus on your training for ability enhancement and keep a low profile while monitoring the situation. When the time comes for our society, or anyone else, to make China shine the brightest, that’s when you’ll step forward and act like a ‘hero’.]

I drew a large circle with my finger, then sliced it into several small pieces.

[That will be the time when your reevaluation and the ‘washing’ truly begin.]

“…Interesting. Well, if you need me that much and are considerate, I don’t see why I shouldn’t do it. But, there’s a condition.”

Cheonma tapped the table twice with her hand and stood up.

“I want my past to be buried, and I want all those who committed heinous acts against me to be punished.”

[That’s entirely possible. We can resolve it through our society’s judgment, not through legal means. However, for that to happen, we need to know exactly who did what.]

I had a rough idea.

There were documents about what she went through that I roughly understood.

Some information the society had gathered, and some from the original novel.

[There can’t be any errors in our society’s judgment. If you accuse someone who is innocent, we will eliminate you.]

“What if they are guilty?”

[Then, naturally, they’ll be dealt with according to our society’s methods, depending on the severity.]

“…Alright. First, take off your Taeguk Watch.”

[You want to keep this completely secret? Fine.]

I removed my Taeguk Watch and placed it outside the room, then put my goblin bat on the floor and released my magic power.

[I’ve created something like a barrier. A soundproofing field is up, so no one will be able to hear what we discuss inside. It’ll be a conversation known only to you and me.]

“…Alright. That’s good. It’s not a good thing to reveal one’s weaknesses to others.”

Cheonma sat back down with a noticeably more relaxed expression.

“Still, since you’re a goblin, I think I can talk more comfortably.”

[Doesn’t it bother you that I’m a man?]

“…? What does that matter?”

Cheonma tilted her head in confusion.

I also frowned momentarily in puzzlement.

Although my expression was hidden behind the mask, Cheonma looked me up and down, half-closing her eyes.

“Do you really know what happened to me?”

[If there’s any error in the information I have, wouldn’t it be better for you to correct it?]

“Alright. Let’s see just how far your society’s information network reaches.”

Cheonma gestured provocatively at me, and I recalled the information, settings, and dialogues regarding her as the heroine of the original novel.

[Let’s be blunt. You’re not a virgin.]

Cheonma could not ride a unicorn.

Because she’s not a virgin.

[This stems from the actions taken in Korea to forcibly impregnate S-class women. You ascended to S-class, but it was a rather ambiguous S-class. That’s who you were.]

“…….”

[Your family was burdened with debt, driven to bankruptcy, and all the weight was placed on your shoulders. If you, as an S-rank, didn’t bear a child, not only you but your entire family would suffer.]

Someone threatened to kill her family if she didn’t become pregnant.

“Do you really think it’s possible to threaten an S-rank, no matter how insane the person is?”

[If they thought they could handle an S-rank, then yes, they would consider it possible.]

I held up three fingers.

[Public opinion. Family taken hostage. Patriotism. A disaster born from the mindset of an old fool who believed that for the sake of the nation, for the sake of family, one could make a personal sacrifice.]

“That’s right.”

Cheonma twisted the corner of her mouth as if the mere thought made her feel disgusted and irritated.

“I was told to bear an S-rank for the country. When I refused to listen, they threatened my family, and eventually, the woman who exploded fled to China, something they never imagined.”

They thought she would choose the country over myself because she was Korean.

They thought she would never defect to another country because she was an S-rank.

They thought she wouldn’t run away to another country alone because her family was in Korea.

She left with her family.

[You chose China because it was the only country that could protect you when you defected and, at the same time, deliver the biggest blow to Korea. Isn’t that right?]

“Yes.”

[And now you’re encouraging other Korean ability users to leave Korea.]

“…Rather than using the term ‘escape,’ could you call it ‘defection’? ‘Escape’ feels a bit off.”

Cheonma crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

“I’ve been through too much with this country, so I’ve been telling the other S-ranks to do the same. Does that count as a crime too?”

[That would depend on the extent of what you’ve been through. Whether it can be excused or not would hinge on that.]

“So what I went through was being forced to bear a child because I’m an S-rank female ability user?”

[It didn’t end with coercion. Weren’t you also forced?]

“…….”

Cheonma straightened her posture.

“Yes. I was forced.”

She uncrossed her arms, leaned forward, and lowered her voice, placing a hand next to her mouth.

“But you, you’re a bit creepy, aren’t you?”

[……What?]

“When you say ‘forced,’ were you thinking of something like this?”

Cheonma made a circle with her fingers and repeatedly pushed her other hand through the loop.

“Like this?”

[…Weren’t you forced in the name of patriotism?]

“I was. Coerced. But what you’re thinking of is quite different. If I had really gone through something like that, I would have become a demon who killed every man in sight.”

[…….]

I felt slightly dizzy.

[I was talking about a case that commonly occurs elsewhere, but it seems your case is quite beyond my understanding.]

From what I knew, to be blunt, this woman was not a virgin.

She was forcibly coerced by Korean politicians to bear a child, was threatened, her family was held hostage, and she attempted to defect.

[Let’s clear up any confusion. Excuse me, but let me ask. Weren’t you raped by a man?]

“You’re really blunt.”

Fortunately, Cheonma didn’t show a strong aversion to my question.

“I was raped.”

[…….]

“But it wasn’t by a man.”

[……?]

“It was by a woman.”

Cheonma shook her head in disgust.

“My first experience involved a cold lump of silicone.”