As I step out of the truck, countless reporters and crowds welcome me.
Flash! Click click click!
I try to shield my eyes from the flashing lights, but my hands are tied behind my back.
"Pink Spear-nim, are you truly an S-grade villain?!"
"If not, please give us a statement!"
"I'm not a villain. There seems to be some misunderstanding, so I'll quickly clear it up and return to catching villains."
I answer calmly, walking proudly with my chest out.
Though my appearance and abilities have reverted to normal, everyone turns their heads upon seeing my confident demeanor.
Though wearing a loose white tee, my restrained posture emphasizes my swaying chest.
They all avert their eyes to avoid being mistaken for perverts staring at my bouncing breasts, but I easily win this battle of wills.
'I'm righteous. The hero of justice, Pink Spear, has done nothing wrong!'
I kick open the Council door with dignity.
BANG.
The Council building resembles a real-world parliament building - quite large.
"Ahem... Please slow down... This way. Not that way. Excuse me?"
The prosecutor captain tries to stop me, but can't do anything with citizens watching.
Of course, I follow his guidance straight ahead.
Numerous heroes follow me inside, guiding me directly to the emergency tribunal on the third floor.
More like a regular conference room than a courtroom, likely prepared for use during emergencies.
'As expected, this place isn't open to the public.'
Reporters and civilians are controlled at the entrance.
Still, with jurors and District 1 heroes present, about 30 people observe the proceedings.
Ellie's words come to mind, making me slightly anxious, but spilled milk can't be unspilled. I'll face this trial(?) confidently and emerge victorious.
In solemn atmosphere, I'm guided to what appears to be the defendant's seat.
'Wait, don't I get a lawyer?'
Come to think of it, do they not have Miranda rights here? Or maybe they're bypassing due process because of the emergency order.
Soon after, investigators enter,
'Huh?'
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The mysterious S-grade hero I'd only seen on screens.
Raven City's true power, the living fossil... no, legend!
S-grade hero Chroniel and her entourage enter.
'Hmm... She's pretty?'
She sits at the highest seat, flanked by a man resembling her knight guard.
I already know his identity from Ellie's intel.
District 1's other S-grade hero, Dimension Cutter.
Though not muscular, his hands show incredible fine musculature.
'Speed type.'
A solemn courtroom-like atmosphere forms as everyone quietly awaits the trial's(?) start.
Even slight tension hangs in the air.
Gulp...
Whatever the outcome, this will clearly be a city-shaking event.
All eyes turn to Chroniel.
After briefly surveying everyone, she slowly begins speaking.
"Everyone. We face great danger now. I know many of you feel puzzled. Why is an S-grade hero here? If she's truly a villain, why did she come so willingly? Could the Council have mistakenly captured a hero meant to fight villains? For you all, and for the anxious citizens, we'll transparently disclose all proceedings after this trial."
'Do they really have evidence I'm a villain...?'
Their confident handling suggests they have something.
Did I do something unknowingly? My host's memories should be fully restored, but I recall nothing.
At Chroniel's nod, a suited bespectacled man across from me stands.
"Greetings. I'm B-grade hero Samuel, leading this investigation. Pink Spear-nim will naturally get rebuttal opportunities. Worried about lacking legal counsel? Don't be - this isn't that kind of trial. Just answer my questions honestly."
He stares directly at me, eyes gleaming.
"Understood. I'll do my best to clear these false accusations."
Stay calm.
I'm not a villain.
The process seems fair - honest answers should exonerate me.
"Thank you for cooperating. Let's begin."
Holding stacked papers, he reads slowly.
"Many questions exist. Volunteering for District 5 hero duty where the S-grade villain who attacked District 1 two years ago was last seen. This District 2 attack also traces back to District 5. The immediate retaliation after Frost Emperor-nim's lawsuit announcement. Your multiple abilities. Sparing villains against orders. You being the only S-grade psychic energy signature in the city besides these two."
'What? So many?'
Each point sounds plausible.
Now I understand why they'd arrest me - it'd be negligence otherwise.
But I stay calm. These are just conjectures.
I might know why the S-grade villain's trail disappeared in District 5, but that's no definitive proof.
The investigator flips pages and continues.
"Most crucially, you alone survived the S-grade villain attack. It's confirmed that villain could've easily killed you before escaping. Yet you survived. Was this staged? You're the prime suspect. Do you admit this?"
"......I deny it. Luck saved me. Living in the same district and having S-grade power doesn't make me a villain. Circumstantial evidence alone can't convict. Where's the motive? I was a hero protecting citizens."
"Of course... These are suspicions for investigation, not conclusive evidence. Now for substantive questions."
Though numerous suspicions exist, none are definitive.
If another S-grade villain hides elsewhere, this collapses immediately.
Ellie's face flashes in my mind, but I set that aside.
'Alright, let's see if you truly seek truth or just frame me.'
But his first question shocks me.
"First question: When capturing A-grade villain Ax Murderer during the villain hideout raid. How did you find that hideout? Our investigation confirms they were indeed S-grade villain subordinates. Did you purge them for disobedience? Interrogating other villains revealed purge-related signs."
The investigator's eyes gleam.
'How did I find it? Well... Huh?'
The answer:
Vehicle kidnapping sex!
"......"
I'm speechless at this absurd question timing!
For a moment, I consider using accelerated thinking skills - it's that difficult.
But I'm a Tower-climbing pro. I don't panic, offering my prepared excuse.
"I intentionally lured them. They looked villainous, so I pretended to be kidnapped to reach their hideout. Just heroically risking myself to catch villains."
"Hmm... Understood. Second question."
'He bought that?'
"Is your sidekick Ellie also a villain? Is she your accomplice? She's gone missing... possibly fled. We can't even track her comms location. We have B-grade hackers."
"......"
'Ah, Ellie...'
Now I'm certain.
I consider shouting "That bitch is the S-grade villain!" but hesitate.
'Her feelings for me... were genuine. If acquitted, I'll tell her to stop.'
If she refuses, I'll take drastic measures. But I don't want strangers seeing Ellie die.
"I don't know. She was an excellent, capable sidekick."
"...Understood. Third question: How did you awaken secondary abilities? No, not just secondary - you have multiple. How?"
"Hoo... It just happened. But is this relevant? No core questions about S-grade villains?"
I expected sharper questions. These seem slightly off-target.
Vague questions hardly proving villainy.
But the investigator nods knowingly.
"Yes. As expected, she lied about everything!!"
"Huh?"
Jurors murmur.
"My ability distinguishes truth from lies!!! She lied to all three questions. Probably thought they were harmless lies."
A lie detection ability?
'Ah... Why didn't I consider that? No wonder the vague questions...'
I see their plan.
Only two paths exist now: justice hero or villain.
Failing to prove me villain? Doesn't matter.
Proving I'm not a justice hero automatically confirms villainy.
Simple elimination.
In real court this wouldn't fly, but this isn't official. My mere "lying" makes hero-believers doubt.
"Hehehe... You fell into my trap! You villainous wench!!"
"Hmm..."
But if his ability detects lies, I still have an out.
"How can that prove anything? I'm no S-grade villain. Try detecting this truth."
"Hmph, expected. Investigation shows S-grade villains excel at acting and deception. My ability fails against self-brainwashed believers. Hence the indirect questions - direct ones wouldn't work!"
'Cunning bastard...'
Can't admit defeat. Don't know why they frame me, but being misunderstood helps nothing.
The odds are stacked against me.
Need new strategy.
I AM justice hero Pink Spear!!
"What about you? Using sophistry to frame a justice hero as villain - aren't YOU the S-grade villain's lackey?"
"What nonsense...!! I'm a hero!"
Can't get trapped in their logic. Shift from "am I hero/villain" to new framework.
Frame HIM as possibly villainous.
"Who proves YOUR purity? My arrest records and saved citizens' testimonies dwarf yours hundreds-fold. Shall I summon District 5 heroes and citizens? Who judges whom here! If you still think I lie, make those fancy eyes sparkle."
"......"
His eyes sparkle as he bites his lip.
Momentum shifts to me.
"You have... numerous suspicions. You're the prime suspect..."
"Ha, following orders? Prove YOUR innocence first. I wonder who benefits if an S-grade hero disappears~"
"......"
Long silence follows.
He realizes most jurors side with me.
Then,
"See, I told you I'd handle this, Samuel."
A clear, calm voice rings out.
Looking up, S-grade hero Chroniel intervenes.
"What?"
'He wasn't the finale?'
Chroniel rises and approaches center stage.
Investigator Samuel bows apologetically and retreats.
Chroniel stares coldly at me,
Dropping a bombshell:
"S-grade hero Pink Spear. In the future I saw, you killed me."
Thud.
"Huh...?"
Her shocking statement causes confused murmurs.
"That alone justifies your arrest. Even if not S-grade villain... you could be their collaborator or potential traitor. I withheld this and didn't order immediate execution because I couldn't believe it myself. Hence this investigation."
'What nonsense...'
This is absurd.
Suddenly claiming I'll kill her in the future...
My "you're the villain" logic won't work - she's the 150-year legendary hero, not a villain.
But her prophecies aren't absolute.
"Wait. Could that future result FROM you framing me? Anyone would retaliate when wrongfully accused!"
What if her vision shows a future SHE created?
"And does the same future still appear if you look now?"
Or her prophecy might have altered the future?
"Sadly, my current power only glimpses fragments. It's draining - I can't use it now. But I clearly saw it. You killing me. Investigation revealed many suspicious points."
"......Couldn't that change now? I've no intention of opposing heroes."
"Of course, possibly. Hence my proposal: Complete confinement of S-grade hero Pink Spear. We'll imprison her in Council's special underground cell. The S-grade villain will eventually appear. When they do, Pink Spear's imprisonment proves innocence - we'll release her to fight together. Simple, no?"
'Confinement...'
Not ideal.
Means I can't respond if strong villains attack District 5.
But Power Fist is there.
The Power Fist I trained through rigorous sex sessions can handle most A-grade villains.
The S-grade villain MUST appear soon.
Not just speculation - this being a Tower ordeal guarantees it.
And imprisoning rather than executing me despite her vision shows significant compromise.
'Ellie, I'll wait here...'
"...I accept."
***
Council basement.
Blindfolded through maze-like passages to our destination.
Someone removes my blindfold.
My prison resembles a lab more than interrogation room - surgical mats, mysterious liquid tanks, and analysis machines replace beds.
Others have left. Only a white-coated doctor and two S-grade heroes remain.
"Ah, could you untie my arms? Can't use powers anyway..."
They look around, then drop their act completely.
"Darling... Finally, finally we caught this bitch..."
"Yes, let's start with her."
Darling...?
Wait, is Dimension Cutter Chroniel's husband?
An S-grade couple?
'Fuck, what's this situation?'
If they're married, could they have a son...?
The couple glares at me with pure hatred.
This is clear...
'Frost Emperor you motherfucker!! So THIS is your true power!!!'