Hero Hack: Reversing Heroes and Raising Harem-Chapter 109: Collars and Copycats

Zain moved through the upper-level BB-1 shopping center.

He spotted Velra almost immediately.

Still in civilian wear.

Black jacket draped over a slim, high-necked top.

Tight black pants hugging her long legs.

She was browsing a rack of dark designer dresses.

To others, she looked like just another stylish woman with expensive taste.

But to Zain, she glowed.

He activated Quiet Step, then layered it with Quick Step.

He quickly moved around and appeared behind her. Silently.

He added Fading in the Dark, vanishing from public view.

He leaned forward slightly, voice low in her ear.

"You’re picking out clothes in the middle of a city you just terrorized?"

Velra froze for a moment, then turned her head slightly.

A wide smirk curled on her lips.

"Master... What a surprise."

He stepped closer, still hidden from the crowd.

"Don’t play with me."

Velra gave a playful shrug.

"I’m not. You caught me. Shopping."

Zain’s eyes narrowed.

"You weren’t alone the other night."

Velra tilted her head.

"Is that what you came to ask?"

Zain nodded slightly.

"Who are the others?"

Velra smiled faintly.

"They were just my preys."

Zain’s expression didn’t change.

"Preys?"

She nodded. "Three B-Rank heroes."

Her fingers traced along her neck.

"They died slow. Shocked. Poisoned."

"Blade traces around their necks."

Zain’s brows furrowed. "You mean..."

"...the ones I hunted last night."

"...the ones I hunted two nights ago," Velra said with a light smile.

"I left them as a warning."

Zain stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"No. I’m not talking about the ones you killed."

He leaned in, his tone sharpened.

"I’m talking about the others that were with you."

Velra blinked. "With me?"

"The Association has footage," Zain said.

"Masked figures. Moving with you."

"Not attacking you. It looked coordinated."

Velra’s brow lowered slightly.

Her playful expression faded into something more focused.

"A group that helped me?" she repeated.

Zain nodded. "So? Is it true?"

Velra turned away and stared at a dark mirror across the boutique.

"...I don’t have a group, Master."

Zain frowned. "You sure?"

She turned back to him.

"If anyone else showed up, I didn’t invite them."

Zain narrowed his eyes.

"They wore masks. Moved like trained fighters."

"Then maybe," Velra said quietly.

"They’re imitators."

Zain crossed his arms. "What?"

Velra stepped a little closer.

"If the Velvet Demon name is spreading..."

"Maybe others are trying to wear it."

She tilted her head again, watching his face carefully.

"I never told anyone to follow me. I don’t share the stage."

Zain held her gaze for a long moment.

"...And you’re not lying to me?"

Velra smirked slightly.

"Why would I lie to the one who owns me?"

Zain’s stare softened just a little.

"Tch. You’re more trouble than I thought."

"I aim to please, Master," she said.

She bowed her head slightly, the glow of her collar faintly pulsing.

Zain turned slightly.

He looked out the boutique window into the clean BB-1 streets.

"Then it means someone else is stirring the pot."

Velra nodded.

"Shall I find them?" she asked, her voice almost sweet.

Zain gave a half-smirk.

"Not yet."

He stepped back toward the shadows again.

Fading in the Dark reactivated as he disappeared.

"But if anyone pretends to be my Velvet Demon again..."

His voice echoed quietly as he vanished.

"Break them."

Velra smiled slowly.

"Yes, Master."

---

Zain stepped into the sleek new apartment.

Everything inside was spotless and modern.

Complete with polished floors, soft lighting, and a panoramic view of BB-1’s skyline.

The furniture looked custom. The air smelled faintly like citrus and fresh linen.

He tossed his coat onto the couch.

"I still can’t believe she just gave us this."

Savra had simply handed him the keys before his mission

She just smirked. "Don’t trash it."

He scratched his head, staring at the glass dining table that looked too expensive to touch.

"Just who the hell is she, anyway?"

Footsteps approached from the hallway.

Zelia appeared in oversized pajamas, her hair messy from sleep.

"Oh, you’re back," she said with a yawn, then looked around.

"Still wondering about the apartment?"

Zain nodded.

"Yeah. I knew Savra was tough."

"But I didn’t think she was rich enough to hand out penthouses like snacks."

Zelia smirked.

"Maybe she’s secretly some rich noble’s daughter?"

Zain raised her eyebrow. "That’d explain the attitude."

Zelia giggled. "She scares you, huh?"

Zain looked out the window, then shrugged.

"She doesn’t scare me."

He paused.

"She just... worries me."

And that was the truth.

---

The night was cold, the streets quiet.

Perfect for a hunt.

Velra moved silently across BB-1’s higher rooftops.

Her expression behind the mask was unreadable.

But her voice in her head was sharp.

No one copies me.

She had tracked the reports. Hints. Whispers.

A group. Three masked figures.

Moving like her. Killing like her.

Pretending to be me.

Now she crouched at the edge of a building.

Eyes locked on a lower alley.

There they were.

Three figures, all standing around a fresh corpse.

Their bodysuits were sleek, high-gloss, and cyber-enhanced.

The design?

Far too similar to hers.

Pink. Black. The same sleek heels. Same mask shape.

The leader? Taller and confident.

She wore pink and black, like her.

The other two?

They wore black and yellow.

Velra’s fingers twitched.

Her eyes locked on their collars.

Advanced. High-tech. Probably expensive.

But not hers.

Not Zain’s.

She stood tall now, no longer hiding.

Her voice cut across the alley like a blade.

"Let’s see," she said coldly.

"Who the hell are you?"

The three masked girls turned at once.

The leader in black and pink met her gaze first.

Then the two flanking her exchanged a glance.

Without a word... they dropped to one knee.

In perfect sync.

Heads bowed. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Their voices rang out together.

"Welcome, Velvet Demon."

Velra stopped in her tracks, visibly taken aback.

"...What the—?"

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing behind the mask.

"You’re... kneeling?"

The leader raised her head slightly, the mask hiding her expression.

"We were waiting."

"To meet the one who began it."