They stood outside a tall light-brown building. Many inmates in prison uniforms were entering and leaving the building.
Light's Current Dread Index had already climbed to 15% in a single day, showing just how much Index S-classes could gain from even a little fame.
He could already feel his level nearing an increase.
Still, he suspected the number was a bit too high even for S-classes. That kind of growth was only possible if someone had been broadcast across the news immediately after awakening.
He had concluded that the case here was the SSS-class of his system.
Coupled with the fact that the authority had been strictly suppressing the rumours of his appearance.
Light looked up and saw a classroom through a long window several stories above. It was filled with Prison-schoolers of both genders, and at the front stood a woman in a black suit demonstrating something to the students.
'She must be quite strong… facing so many hostile gazes without flinching.'
Light followed behind Bodoo, who was far more familiar with the surroundings.
They stopped in front of a classroom door with number 105.
Light raised his arm and shoved it open.
A strict female voice immediately greeted him, sharp enough to nearly make him flinch.
"Go back outside. Close the door behind you and knock this time."
Light's expression twisted instantly. He stared daggers at the lean, curved woman with a full chest sitting atop a student desk with her legs crossed, calmly holding a book in the otherwise empty classroom.
He cursed under his breath.
'Fucking bitch.'
"Don't slam the door as you're leaving…"
She switched her crossed legs.
"I hate noises."
Light stared at her intensely, trying to check her rank.
{System Notification}
{Spotted opposition's rank too high for host's rank}
Light hesitated before stepping back outside with a clenched jaw.
He then noticed Bodoo still standing outside with his arm raised, frozen in a knocking gesture. A bead of sweat slid slowly down his forehead.
Light closed the door and knocked.
A moment later, they were permitted to enter.
Light and Bodoo sat down, facing the woman in front of them.
She wore a tight black leather skirt and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing more of her chest than Light was comfortable looking at.
Light glanced at Bodoo and found him sitting like an obedient child about to receive a lecture from a parent.
The woman finally spoke, her eyes still glued to the book in her hand.
"What made you a villain?"
Light tilted his head slightly, replying with genuine confusion.
"The villain system chose me."
She peeked over the top of the book and studied him briefly.
"You're a clueless one, aren't you."
She sighed softly before adding suddenly,
"You're unusually silent today, Bodoo."
Bodoo flinched almost imperceptibly before forcing himself to smile.
"Yeah, ma'am… uh, I mean… I'm a bit hungry, you see. So I ran out of things to say."
"So would you become a hero if the government promised you an unlimited food supply?"
Bodoo's eyes twitched as he searched for a response.
"Food isn't really the main issue for me… even I haven't figured out what keeps me on the villain path."
She ignored him and returned her attention to Light.
"Back to you, Lightless boy. How did your parents feel when they found out… about your path?"
"They will never find out," he replied in a hardened voice.
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what makes you so confident?"
"They're dead."
"Oh… so your case is the absence of home training after all. No wonder you neglected something as simple as knocking on a door."
'Who even knocks before entering a classroom? I know I'm uneducated, but it's still weird.'
"The newest S-class hero in the country would disagree."
Light rolled his eyes, feeling slightly stung.
"Yeah, I heard she's an orphan too… I bet her Current Admiration Index is already at sixty percent or more after just one day."
"The media is already spreading the news. She should be nearing Level Three Acolyte by now."
She peeked over the book again to observe Light's expression.
"What do you think? You could climb even higher if you reformed now. The news that a third S-class hero appeared would break the internet."
"I could climb higher if I were out there," Light replied calmly. "The world created fairness, and you all tampered with it by gluing the back of a coin to your palm just to make sure only the front is seen and admired."
The woman hesitated.
Slowly, she lowered the book and looked fully at him.
"How old are you again?"
"I awakened yesterday, ma'am," Light replied, tilting his head in confusion.
Bodoo stared between the two of them in shock.
He never imagined anyone could match Hero Wasp's persuasiveness in a conversation.
"You know gluing that coin to a palm is necessary, right?"
Light shook his head without hesitation.
"No, I don't. Please explain."
Hero Wasp closed her book and dropped it onto the desk before placing both hands on the surface and pushing herself slightly upright.
Her third button threatened to snap as her chests bushed forward. The bra lines became so visible Light wondered how convenient it was for the lady to dress so offensively.
"What was the new S-class hero's name again?..."
Bodoo answered immediately, clearly enjoying the exchange between the two.
"It's Lyra… Lyra Smith."
Wasp's glare forced him to sink deeper into his chair with an apologetic grin.
"Let's assume you were allowed to roam the world freely like Lyra. Do you think you could go a single day without killing someone or committing some other terrible crime?"
She leaned slightly forward.
"Listen carefully, Lightless. You're here because this is the only place capable of redeeming your path. Since your villain system is restricted here along with you, its only focus becomes this place.
And because nearly every official here is stronger than you, your system avoids pushing you into full villain mode.
Understand?"
Light tilted his head again.
"Isn't there something you're neglecting?"
Wasp raised an eyebrow. She thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"The systems aren't as wise as humans. They're sentient, but not truly intelligent. You could trick it into believing you killed someone, and it might still reward you."
"You just awakened yesterday," Wasp added with mild amusement.
"I experimented more in a single day than most people do in their entire lives."
Light didn't budge.
Wasp's expression slowly shifted from amusement to seriousness.
"This is honestly getting annoying."
She grabbed the book beside her and threw it toward him.
Light caught it easily.
He looked down at the title before scratching his head.
"I can barely read a few sentences without biting my tongue."
Hero Wasp didn't seem to mind.
She stepped down elegantly from the desk and began walking toward the door.
"That's why you were paired with Bodoo. He'll teach you everything you need to know."
"Don't be tricked into giving him your food for information. He's already been promised extra rations. Teaching you is basically his job."
"I'll ask questions about it during our next class."
"Just make sure you understand the content."
Light looked down at the thick red book in his hands.
He could actually read the basics, but admitting that would probably cause the woman to fill his room with books.
The title on the cover read in bold letters:
"The Essence of Heroism"
By Convert Wasp