Hero? More like a villain-Chapter 47 - 44: Fake heroes

As they walked through the crowded streets of the festival, Iris’s excitement became palpable. She was surrounded by so much life—balloons everywhere, people laughing, selling Hero magazines, and food stalls offering a range of delicacies. Game stalls beckoned with their flashing lights, and a lottery stall caught her attention with its cheerful calls. The air was thick with the scent of street food, and Iris could hear children shouting in glee as they ran between the various attractions. It felt like an adventure that had come to life.

But the real treat for Iris was the mini arena set up for Ability users. There, she could watch new heroes spar in friendly battles, showcasing their impressive powers in front of an eager crowd. Several C-Class Heroes had already arrived, as well as a large number of D-Class and lower-ranked Heroes, all blending seamlessly with the crowd, taking pictures with fans, and even engaging in conversations with the children. The atmosphere was peaceful—everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

Iris beamed as she took in all the sights. She’d never seen so many Heroes in one place before. Thanks to her father, she was able to meet some of them up close, snapping pictures with them. Her heart swelled with pride as she stood beside some of her idols, posing for photos. It felt like a dream, especially when the crowd, captivated by her and her parents’ beautiful appearances, showered them with attention. People offered them free food and trinkets, their admiration evident.

She couldn’t help but notice, though, that every once in a while, her father would be greeted by individuals in extremely expensive clothing. They would try to engage with him, offering words of politeness and often attempting to approach Iris, but Isakawa would never let them get close. He maintained a respectful distance, always keeping a protective hand on her shoulder.

It wasn’t just the rich that seemed to be respectful, though—there was a certain reverence in how people addressed him, and Iris noticed the many offers of benefits that were politely extended to her father. Isakawa, however, would always decline, walking away with a gentle but firm refusal, his eyes betraying no hint of emotion. It left Iris curious and slightly uneasy.

"Daddy, do you know them?" Iris asked, her voice filled with curiosity as she gazed up at her father.

"They’re just people from work who like to bother me," Isakawa replied with a warm smile, gently ruffling her hair.

Despite her initial curiosity, Iris quickly became absorbed in the vibrant festival. Jennifer treated her to a variety of delicious foods, and Isakawa joined in on the games, his usually stern demeanor melting into genuine laughter. The trio strolled through the lively streets, basking in the cheerful atmosphere. Iris couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun. Time seemed to blur as they moved from stall to stall, enjoying every moment together.

The sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and crimson. Iris looked up, mesmerized by the beautiful colors stretching across the horizon.

"Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhh! Everyone run!!!" A piercing scream shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

The sound of hurried footsteps and panicked cries followed as a woman stumbled, desperately trying to flee in her heels. An explosion suddenly erupted from the north side of the festival, a deafening roar that made the ground tremble. Smoke billowed upward, obscuring the view of the once bustling fair grounds.

Iris flinched at the noise, her hands instinctively clutching her father’s sleeve. Her gaze darted toward the commotion, where flames licked the air and smoke covered the skies. Several D-Class Heroes were barely holding their ground against a sudden onslaught of new people who started to attack them with abilities. A few C-Class Heroes joined the fray, but the stronger B-Class to SSS-Class Heroes were nowhere in sight.

People screamed and scattered like ants, desperate to escape. To Iris’s horror, some of the supposed "Heroes" began attacking each other. Worse, they turned on the civilians, using their powers to slaughter them. The joyous festival was now a nightmare of burning tents, dead bodies, and ash-filled air.

Iris stared at the carnage, her wide eyes reflecting the flames. "Dad..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Do we need to worry? The heroes... they’ll save us, right?"

Isakawa’s face was calm. "I hope so," he murmured, not meeting her gaze.

Jennifer stood beside them, her expression equally stoic, yet her hand clenched tightly around a small blade hidden beneath her jacket. Isakawa suddenly crouched, lifting Iris into his arms.

"Something is not right," he said, his voice low and tense. "We need to move."

He broke into a sprint, Jennifer close on his heels. Iris clung to her father’s neck, her mind racing.

’I don’t know why we’re running. The heroes will save us... won’t they?’ she thought, her heart pounding. She repeated the thought over and over, like a mantra, trying to shield herself from the horrifying reality unfolding before her.

Iris peeked over her father’s shoulder, her body trembling uncontrollably as he carried her through the streets. All around her, people were gunned down, burned alive, or mercilessly sliced apart. She clutched onto Isakawa tighter, her tiny fingers digging into his shirt.

Jennifer, running beside them, wore a troubled expression. She kept tapping at the sleek bracelet on her wrist—a special weapon she always carried for emergencies. But no matter how many times she tried to activate it, nothing happened. Her brows furrowed in frustration and growing fear. She turned her gaze toward Isakawa, intending to ask him what was going on, but then she noticed it—there was no mana emanating from him.

Her eyes widened in realization. ’This is bad. Isakawa is on his medication,’ she thought grimly, swallowing her questions and quickening her pace to match his. Now was not the time to press him; they had to focus on escaping.

As they fled, people continued to rush past them in a frenzied stampede. Iris glanced over Isakawa’s shoulder, her heart lifting slightly when she saw several heroes arriving on the scene. Some were already helping the injured, guiding them to safety. Her lips curled into a hopeful smile. ’See? The heroes will save us. They won’t abandon us!’

But before that hope could fully take root, she watched in horror as one of the heroes, a man she recognized from TV, was suddenly shot in the head by his own comrade. Blood splattered across the pavement, and the killer—another hero—stood there, grinning with a sick satisfaction.

Iris’s breath caught in her throat. ’Why... why would you kill your own companion?’ Her innocent mind struggled to make sense of the betrayal unfolding before her. The heroic figures she once idolized were now turning on each other without hesitation.

The festival was an event of global significance, meant to be heavily guarded by countless officers and high-ranking heroes. But now that she thought about it, something was wrong. ’Why weren’t there more of the heroes around?’

Despite the chaos, Isakawa and Jennifer managed to push through the fleeing crowd, finally getting far away. Their breaths were ragged, and sweat dripped down their faces as they reached what should have been a quiet road. But something was off. The parked cars that once lined the streets had vanished without a trace.

"Weird... there were cars here before," Jennifer murmured, her voice wary.

Isakawa didn’t stop. "We need to keep moving."

Nodding, Jennifer followed his lead, but their escape was cut short as they suddenly collided into something solid. It wasn’t a wall—there was nothing visible in front of them—but it was an invisible force that stopped them dead in their tracks. Isakawa staggered back, keeping a firm hold on Iris as Jennifer reached out with her hand, feeling the strange energy that pulsed against her palm.

"This barrier..." Jennifer muttered, narrowing her eyes as she traced her fingers along the unseen force.

Isakawa studied the shimmering patterns of green and red that flickered faintly across the air. His expression darkened. "An Ability-Restricting Barrier," he said grimly.

Jennifer’s eyes snapped to him in shock. "What? I thought these were banned after Ability Users were granted rights!" She clenched her fists in frustration. "No wonder we can’t use our powers!"

Iris looked between them, confusion clouding her expression. "Ability... restricting?" she echoed in a small voice. ’Then how come se other heroes could use their powers? Or is there something special that allows them to be able to...’ she thought.

Isakawa exhaled sharply, his grip on her tightening. "Yes. It suppresses all supernatural abilities within its range. We’re trapped."

Jennifer banged her fist against the barrier in frustration. "Damn it! Someone planned this... This whole thing was a setup from the start." She glanced back toward the festival, where the screams still echoed through the air. "And we walked right into it."

Iris buried her face in Isakawa’s shoulder, her young mind spinning. ’If Daddy and mummy can’t use their powers... then who’s going to save us?’

’If not for Isakawa’s medication period, this would have been easy for him to break,’ Jennifer thought, her frustration mounting as she scanned their surroundings. She sighed deeply, not noticing the brief, cold glint in Isakawa’s eyes—a fleeting expression that vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Iris, her small body shaking in Isakawa’s arms, finally found her voice. "Does this mean we can’t leave?" she asked, her voice trembling