Iris, who only had physical attack skills and one damn skill that attacked herself, was deeply envious of Laika’s mental-type skills.
When the monsters appeared and Laika walked away without even glancing at Iris, she thought it would hurt his reputation.
But there was a reason for Laika’s behavior.
It was all thanks to that skill.
However, to obtain the skill of a high-level villain, close contact was necessary.
Otherwise, Iris would need to raise her level even higher…
For now, it was something she desperately wanted but couldn’t have.
Completely unaware that Iris was eyeing her hungrily, Laika chatted warmly with the journalists, their eyes glazed over from her skill.
There was no need to try winning people over.
With this skill, Laika could easily win their hearts.
“Ah… I see. I didn’t even think about the headline… I just acted according to my father’s teachings.”
“Your father?”
“Oh, right. If it’s Laika’s father… the one currently running for a third term in the National Assembly! Also famous for being the top sponsor of the International Peace Organization, CEO of J Corporation, Mr. Kaiser, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. Haha, I’m sure most of you already know this, but I’m his son… I didn’t mean to bring it up, but it just came to mind. My father always talked about justice, goodwill, and peace. That we must uphold them…”
“Oh my…”
Listening to Laika’s insincere words made Iris feel like her ears were rotting.
She tried to scowl but remembered the camera angle might catch her too, so she forced a smile.
‘At least put some spit in your mouth before you lie. You ditched me and ran… How unfair. If a villain has that kind of mental skill, how can we ever achieve justice?’
Rumors calling him a villain had even reached YouTube, so it seemed suspicions about Laika being a villain were spreading in the broadcast industry.
But with this interview, those rumors would die down.
Because Iris would testify to Laika’s righteousness.
‘I’ve been completely used. But I can’t just be used—I have to find a way to learn Laika’s skill no matter what…’
The mood between Laika and the broadcasting staff was nothing short of harmonious.
Rich, handsome, and now with an added layer of heroic goodwill, everyone was eager to get close to him.
The skill had completely erased the journalists’ suspicions and dislike from their minds.
Thus ended the interview with the righteous, incredibly handsome actor Laika and the bespectacled staff member—what’s-her-name—probably Iris.
The reporters from Gyodam News, who always showed up only after incidents had ended, now turned their attention to the bakery café owner who had suffered damage during the monster attack.
“Phew. This popularity of mine…”
Laika let out a satisfied sigh, then turned toward Iris.
Seeing his gaze, Iris—who had been frowning—quickly forced her lips into a shaky smile.
She was pretending the skill had worked on her to gain his favor.
“Miss Iris, thank you for all your hard work today. Seems the crew isn’t coming back, so we should wrap filming for now. But don’t worry—I’ll make sure you still get paid…”
“Hehe, Mr. Laika. By the way, do you need help? You’ll have to keep filming, right?”
“Huh? Ah…”
Iris swayed her body slightly as she asked, even acting out a silly gesture—sticking her tongue out and lightly knocking her head with a fist like she’d seen somewhere before.
‘Is this her real personality? Come to think of it, she was tossing her phone around and acting all ditzy in the waiting room too.’
Laika’s eyes wandered upward.
He had just received a message saying several staff members had quit after the monster incident out of fear.
Among them was his road manager, who usually helped with errands when Laika moved around.
Laika had already been thinking of keeping Iris close and suggesting she stay on the team.
And now she was practically begging to be nearby.
It was the perfect opportunity to offer the job without arousing suspicion.
“Alright then, Iris. Can I call you Iris? My road manager just quit. Would you like to work as my road manager?”
“Road manager? Hehe, I’d love to!”
Iris nodded so enthusiastically it seemed almost ridiculous.
Worried she had gone too far, she glanced at him—only to see Laika smiling gently and patting her head.
Startled, Iris quickly plastered on a bright smile, pretending it didn’t bother her.
And so, the hero and villain, each with their own secret motives, entered into an employer-employee relationship.
After Laika left in his black van, Iris trudged down the garden stairs of the bakery café to head home.
She was going to the nearby bus stop.
As she walked, her eyes were fixed on the steps—until a stranger’s shoe tip came into view.
Without looking up, she tried to sidestep it.
But the shoes moved to block her path again.
Go right—blocked. Go left—still blocked.
Getting annoyed, Iris finally stopped to see what was going on.
That’s when a low voice entered her ear.
“…Iris.”
“Huh? …Oh! Bread Guy… Johannes!”
Recognizing the familiar voice, she looked up to see Johannes, her acquaintance and the bakery’s regular customer.
She accidentally called him by his nickname before quickly correcting herself.
“Bread Guy” was a secret nickname she and the bakery owner had given him since he bought bread there every single day.
If Johannes didn’t show up, the owner would wonder aloud, “What’s Bread Guy up to today?”
After a while, Iris also started calling him that.
Only she and the bakery owner knew the nickname.
Watching his reaction carefully, Iris hoped he hadn’t heard it.
Luckily, he didn’t seem fazed—perhaps he hadn’t caught it.
‘What’s he doing here…? Buying bread again? Isn’t visiting our neighborhood bakery like it’s his own backyard enough—now he’s come all the way out to this café? He’s a total Bread Guy through and through.’
Johannes was also Iris’s classmate from elementary, middle, and high school.
They had spent 12 years in the same schools, but never really got close.
Johannes was always expressionless and barely spoke, so Iris could hardly remember a real conversation with him.
She wasn’t the only one.
Other girls weren’t close to him either.
He was often seen hanging out with upperclassmen rather than his own classmates.
No one knew why. Iris hadn’t cared enough to find out.
With his long bangs that almost covered his eyes and his gaze always downcast, he left no impression at all.
There were only rumors—like the prettiest new student once confessed to him, or that he had secret admirers.
But Iris had no interest.
During her school years, she had been too busy plotting her escape from the cursed city of Gyodam.
Besides…
‘Why would anyone like a gloomy guy like that? He stutters too… Honestly, people obsessed with looks are the real problem. What good is a handsome face when he acts like that? To me, he’s just… well, to put it harshly, a total loser.’
To her, he looked like nothing more than a loser.
It wasn’t easy to grow up gloomy with such a handsome face—he must be a natural-born loser.
His sharp jawline and the bright red eyes occasionally revealed between his blowing bangs were striking.
His nose looked sculpted, and his skin was flawless.
But that was it.
To Iris, his face didn’t make up for anything.
They had even been classmates several times, and she’d once tried to casually introduce herself as a fellow classmate.
But Johannes always avoided her gaze, mumbled strange things, and ran away.
Sometimes, when she got a creepy feeling and turned around, she’d find Johannes standing silently behind her, giving her a fright.
It was only natural that she saw him as a loser.
But there was one incident that truly solidified her dislike for Johannes.
Back in middle school.
It had been pouring rain that day.
After finishing her class duties, Iris was rushing down the stairs to go home when she missed a step and fell, landing awkwardly in the muddy schoolyard.
Soaked and humiliated, she sat crying, looking around desperately for someone to help.
She turned back toward the stairs—and there stood a black silhouette.
Looking up in her pathetic, drenched state, she met his eyes.
Boom!
Crack!
Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the sky.
In that instant, Iris locked eyes with Johannes—who was grinning wickedly.
A chill ran down her spine.
He was laughing at her pitiful state!
That twisted smirk, just on one side of his lips, was clearly a mocking smile.