Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Vongrak.
Izumi POV.
"Are you... arresting me?" I asked, almost amused by the situation. My words seemed to snap the others out of their trance. I saw the Korean Hunters looking surprised by the situation.
"Wait, what?!" "I'm sure this is a mistake." "What's going on?" "Chairwoman Go, this must be a mistake." They said at the same time as they took a step forward. I just chuckled.
"By the way, before you arrest me, I have a question… what exactly do you think I did?" I asked, genuinely curious, while looking at Chairwoman Go. "I mean, I have a pretty long list, and I'd like to know which ones you discovered. Well, most of it wasn't on Korean soil, but—"
"You're not under arrest, idiot." I heard a tired sigh and recognized the voice immediately. I glanced over at Chairwoman Go, who had an amused expression on her face, and saw Aizawa approaching with Nezu over his shoulder, who was grinning widely.
"Aizawa-sensei! Principal Nezu!" I said cheerfully before stopping. "How did you get here so fast?" I asked, confused.
"Oboro was kind enough to bring us here after everything that happened," Principal Nezu said gently, glancing to the side. I looked over and saw Oboro standing a little ways away from everyone, her head made of gray mist staring at me. She nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Oh, yeah, that explains it," I said, shrugging. "So, I'm not under arrest?" I asked curiously as I approached them. I could see the guards who had come closer tense up slightly.
"You brought the equivalent of a bomb to the heart of Korea, young Miyamura. I can understand why you did it, but still, precautions will be taken regarding that... mutant ant within your shadows. We don't yet know if young Taylor is capable of effectively controlling it, so until she awakens, you will be under preventive custody and in confinement along with the mutant ant." Nezu said matter-of-factly. My eyes widened slightly.
"Yeah... that makes sense." I shrugged once again. "But shouldn't the mutant ant be locked up? Why am I being put in confinement too? " I asked dryly, raising an eyebrow. Nezu just stared at me, terrifyingly, before smiling broadly.
"While the idea to try and control the ant monster was entirely young Taylor's, it's true that you allowed and facilitated it. And then you decided to place it in your shadows and bring it here. In case it gets out of control, it's your responsibility to stop it before any incident occurs. And even though the hunters Sung Il-Hwan and Sung Jinwoo are here as a precaution, the least you could do is take responsibility, don't you think?" Nezu asked playfully, though it didn't sound funny at all, just very tense and very dangerous. What he had said sounded less like a suggestion and more like an order. I shuddered and felt my body tense up. I could only manage a crooked, shaky smile.
"O-of course. Principal Nezu, I was planning to do this from the beginning." I said immediately without hesitation. Nezu just laughed amusedly. Aizawa beside him just sighed wearily.
"Really. I thought I'd have to worry about you causing some trouble, you menace. I mistakenly believed the other Miyamura was more sensible. I see you've corrupted her more than I thought," Aizawa said dryly. I just smiled wider and more genuinely at his comment.
"Although I'd like to take all the credit, she was already like that," I said proudly. Aizawa just glared at me. Chairwoman Go finally cleared her throat, and we all looked at her as she stepped forward.
"Mr. Izumi, if you follow us, we'll guide you to the infirmary so you can drop off Miss Skitter," Chairwoman Go said matter-of-factly.
"Go with them, we'll take care of the rest," Principal Nezu said, agreeing. I glanced at Nezu out of the corner of my eye. Chairwoman Go had spoken Korean, but it didn't surprise me at all that Nezu understood it. I'm sure that rat was more than capable of speaking a dozen languages—I'd even bet on all of them. Still, putting that aside, I grimaced.
"Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea," I said immediately. They looked at me curiously. "It's... a theory. I can't really say for sure. In normal situations, Taylor's quirk remains active even when she's asleep or unconscious, although it enters a state of automatic commands, usually the last ones Taylor was able to give them. I don't know what happened to Taylor and the mutant ant, but the fact that they both fainted, especially the ant, might be due to the influence of Taylor's quirk."
"I don't know what her range is for controlling the mutant ant since she practically had to headbutt it, but separating them might awaken the ant," I said cautiously. Principal Nezu and Chairwoman Go paused slightly and frowned. Nezu nodded first.
"Very well," Nezu said, nodding. "Chairwoman Go, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be able to move the medical team to the isolation room so we can treat young Taylor? Young Miyamura will make sure the medical staff doesn't come to any harm," Nezu asked politely. Chairwoman Go nodded without hesitation.
"It will be done immediately," Chairwoman Go said before glancing to her side and nodding at a blonde woman. I looked at her curiously; she was… Woo Jinchul, or whatever her name was now that she was a woman. She nodded in Chairwoman Go's direction and reached for a communicator, beginning to speak rapidly. I just sighed before noticing Nezu beckoning me, and I approached him. To my surprise, the others made space between us.
"First of all, well done, young Miyamura," Principal Nezu said with a huge smile. My eyes widened slightly. "Don't look so surprised. You splendidly fulfilled all the objectives of your mission by helping to clear the S-rank dungeon on Jeju Island," Nezu said with a broad grin as he looked intently at me. He definitely wasn't just talking about the monsters. "Therefore, it's a great victory for both Korea and Japan."
"There's nothing to criticize. The incident with the mutant ant under Taylor's control is... minor. You don't need to worry. Let me handle everything." Principal Nezu said matter-of-factly. I just sighed before smiling.
"Thank you," I said easily. Principal Nezu laughed cheerfully. "By the way, I have something for you guys hidden in my clothes," I told Aizawa. I was too busy holding Taylor to move. He just nodded and reached into the folds of my clothing. I let a couple of items emerge from my shadows for Aizawa to take.
"I know I already streamed most of it, but it's my scroll and a cute transmitter I found in Jeju." I muttered under my breath, amused. Principal Nezu's eyes sparkled, and he smiled broadly.
"Thank you for your help, Miyamura," said Principal Nezu, letting out a laugh. "Now, go, stay close to Taylor, let me handle the rest," Nezu said. I just nodded in relief.
"Mai?" I asked easily. Mai had still been on my hip, glowing slightly before becoming human. She was wearing her hero costume, or rather, the costume that matched mine. A simple priestess outfit, white and red.
"I'll go with you," Mai said immediately. "If that thing wakes up, I'll be there," she said easily. I just nodded.
"Very well," I said to Mai warmly. Then I finally started smiling excitedly. "Now, let's go. I've always wanted to get arrested," I said excitedly. "I have some prison songs I can sing, and there's no better time than now!" I added quickly while trying not to bounce with excitement. I could hear Aizawa sigh.
"Please don't drive the staff crazy, especially the doctors who will be treating your wife." Aizawa grunted dryly. I chuckled.
"I'm not promising anything." I winked at Aizawa. Then I looked at Chairwoman Go. Woo Jinchul stepped forward.
"This way," she said immediately. I nodded and started walking, then I lowered my gaze solemnly and began to sing.
(Les Misérables - Look Down)
♫Look down, look down
♫Don't look ' em in the eye
♫Look down, look down
♫You're here until you die
♫No God above
♫And Hell alone below
Mai just sighed as she hit the back of my neck hard while everyone else stared at me strangely. I laughed before continuing to sing.
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Nezu POV.
"It seems young Miyamura is doing well in the raid," Toshinori said, sounding genuinely relieved as he looked at the screen displaying the Jeju raid. It showed only the main raid group: the Korean team along with Taylor Miyamura.
It had been… somewhat worrying to see young Taylor join the main group, especially since it was more than obvious what Goto was trying to achieve by including her. But that anxiety had visibly subsided. Not enough to let their guard down and continue worrying, but enough to watch the broadcast with more composure.
"Of course she's doing well, insects are her forte," Nemuri said amusedly. "It's adorable to see her babble about ants and get distracted every time," she laughed.
"That's interesting data," I said with a smile. "Young Taylor is possibly the best person to compare the distribution, creation, and condition of an anthill created by monster ants with normal anthills."
"Even though she doesn't realize it, she's actually doing a great job with the broadcast. Most of the people watching are ordinary folks who know nothing about monsters or ants. Her comments and babble are filling in the gaps in the general public's knowledge, making the experience more enjoyable than just watching S-Rank hunters killing monsters," I said with a hum.
"And it's giving her more visibility. Even though she's the weakest in the group, she's the one who's spoken the most so far, the one who's attracting the most attention. She's the one leading an S-Rank group on a key, internationally televised raid while explaining everything. It's good for her reputation." Shota hummed. I nodded.
"It's perfect for her reputation. Especially because of how well she gets along with the Korean group," I said, agreeing. "Giving orders to the group is one thing, integrating and getting along is another. Young Taylor has managed to join the Korean group with ease; that will also attract attention," I said with a hum.
We kept watching the screen until the conversation shifted to Izumi Miyamura and Taylor herself. Taylor answered honestly. I burst out laughing at the faces of the S-rank hunters when she said she'd only been training for a little over a year and a half.
"That'll make her sound arrogant, or they'll label her a liar," Shota said with a sigh. I chuckled.
"There will be those who think that, yes. But those who don't will be eagerly awaiting what young Taylor will become in the future," I said playfully.
"Wow... she's really been training for such a short time?" Hizashi asked incredulously, adjusting her glasses. I nodded.
"She is. She's been honest in her interviews during the entrance exams. Her quirk helps her a lot. She's able to replicate any movement by placing insects on a person. It doesn't help her completely master a fighting style, but it does help her learn it at a terrifying speed. And she herself is a hard worker, constantly working hard—a truly terrifying combination." I said honestly. I could hear Hizashi whistle in amazement. We continued watching until I finally heard my scroll click. "Just in time, it's young Izumi," I said cheerfully.
"So they did it?" Aizawa asked, frowning.
"What's going on?" Toshinori asked, frowning. I could see the other teachers, besides Shota, looking confused. I just typed and started playing what had been sent.
Matsumoto's and Goto's voices began to echo in the room. The more they spoke, the more solemn our expressions became. I could see some of the teachers turn pale in disbelief.
"Well, something good came of this. Our ultimate goal, the annihilation of Korea's S-Rank hunters, has been achieved. Withdraw." Matsumoto's voice ended coldly before the conversation was over.
"What did they do?!" Toshinori exclaimed furiously as he stood up.
"Relax, Toshinori," I said calmly, only able to see the furious and incredulous looks of the other teachers. "Everything was planned. We already knew about the attack. Young Izumi will take care of everything," I said simply, looking at the screen. They all just stared at me before growling.
"You sent a student to prevent an assassination plot?" asked Toshinori, the only one who was still looking at me.
"I sent Izumi Miyamura to stop her. Yes," I said honestly, looking at him intently. "If it had been anyone else, I would have stopped him, wouldn't have even allowed him to set foot on Jeju, and would have warned the Koreans about the attack. But young Izumi can handle this." I said, still looking at him. "I'll explain everything you need to know later. For now... the broadcast continues." I said simply before looking at the screen. I could see Toshinori conflicted before he sat down, completely tense. I just sighed.
We all kept staring at the screen until… the anomaly that young Izumi had warned us about appeared. So it really was real. I clenched my paws tightly as I watched the anomalous monster easily defeat the Korean group and Taylor. The teachers stood up, completely worried, as they watched the scene.
I could only let out a sigh of relief when the anomalous monster moved away from them, leaving them injured, but still completely alive.
"We have to go immediately!" All Might said with determination.
"It's not necessary." I said almost calmly, my legs were tense.
"It's not necessary!? That monster just easily defeated half a dozen S-ranks! They're in danger!" All Might exclaimed, and I nodded.
"And it's not necessary yet," I said calmly. The teachers looked at me incredulously. "Young Miyamura will take care of it," I said gently, which seemed to make them look even more incredulous. I could only sigh. "Oboro. Is everything ready? " I asked Oboro Shirakuma. She just nodded.
"Everything's ready, Principal Nezu. I can go to Jeju anytime," Oboro said calmly. I nodded.
"As you can see, if the situation worsens... we'll rescue them immediately," I told them without hesitation. The teachers, especially All Might, seemed about to argue, but finally nodded bitterly and continued watching the broadcast, which still hadn't stopped.
The next few minutes were truly tense. The meeting between the Korean group and the Korean group, the ensuing conversation, and the revelation of Goto's defeat only heightened the tension. Then the anomalous monster appeared, and young Izumi stepped forward to confront it.
The next fight was enlightening. That monster was definitely stronger than S-ranks, but young Izumi seemed capable of fighting and stopping him, so most of my anxiety subsided. Until young Taylor intervened.
"What... what is she planning?" Nemuri asked, worried. I could only frown. "She... she's not trying to control it, is she?"
… well, it turns out that she is.
"The rest of the school year in detention, and lectures on personal safety, and not doing anything stupid." Aizawa grunted. I could see him tap his foot worriedly on the ground. I couldn't help but smirk. Still, I watched how it all unfolded, especially when young Taylor seemed to throw away any worries and started headbutting the anomalous ant. Which… to everyone's surprise… actually worked.
My mind started working rapidly and I quickly smiled broadly and sadistically.
Well… young Taylor will definitely be punished for that reckless trick, but… she's also given me one of the unmissable opportunities, so I'd be… lenient with her.
"Shota, Oboro. Come on, we have to take a trip." I said to both of them, standing up.
"Are we going to Korea?" Shota asked without hesitation. I could see the concern on the other teachers' faces. I just smiled broadly.
"Eventually. Before that... we have things to do," I said with a sadistic smile. "Oboro, do you remember the coordinates I gave you?" I asked calmly. Oboro finally nodded.
"Of course, Principal, I can reach them at any time," Oboro said without hesitation. I laughed happily.
"Then... take us to Chairwoman Matsumoto's office. We have... a lot to discuss and very little time," I said jovially before looking at the other teachers. "Keep everything quiet for the time being and maintain order. I might be out of Japan for several days, so take care of everything," I said simply before looking at Oboro and nodding.
None of the teachers were able to interrupt us when we were swallowed by the black fog of Oboro and teleported away.
"Wh-who?! Nezu?!" I heard Matsumoto's voice before I could see her. Once the fog cleared, I smiled broadly and happily.
"Chairwoman Matsumoto, I've come to bargain!" I said cheerfully. Or rather, I've come to make this despicable, useless human obey my orders. My smile grew wider and more sadistic. Nothing is more fun than making humans kneel and squirm for a change.