episode_0035

In modern city centers, entertainment venues are often clustered in one location.

In particular, they are clustered together in high-rise buildings in the center of each region’s safe ‘area’, and this phenomenon appears similarly no matter which area you go to.

The reason is very simple.

It’s just for safety.

Monsters constantly appear all over the country, anytime and anywhere, but the number of active heroes is extremely limited.

There are only 1,500 heroes in Korea. In order to enter the area of activity of the active hero, along with the inevitable urbanization, the population has no choice but to rise up and become densely packed.

No matter how we solve farming with AI and scientific technology, the number of heroes could not be artificially increased.

The 30-year history of heroes is also a history in which science and technology have not yet explored mutations in detail.

In any case, areas are graded from A to G according to safety level.

In particular, in the safest ‘Grade A’ areas where high-ranking heroes are located, housing prices skyrocket and the wealthy upper class live there because safety is guaranteed.

By fortifying buildings more tightly, we are protecting our lives.

In other words, humanity chose to crowd together for ‘safety’.

However, there are many critical views that say that choosing this ‘safety’ does not actually make it safer.

Experts repeatedly mention that if too many people are concentrated in one place, a major disaster could occur that would lead to their extinction all at once.

Although that disaster has not occurred yet.

Moreover, even if there is criticism, since there is no alternative, it ends up being just an idle talk.

Anyway, this is why the police still exist.

Ultimately, because the number and scope of heroes are limited, the evacuation of citizens and the maintenance of basic order in dense areas are the responsibility of the police, not the mutants.

Levels 8 and 9, which can usually be handled, can be subdued by armed police, and even if they are not mutants, they can cooperate with the Hero Association to protect the safety of citizens.

However, in terms of efficiency, the heroes’ dispatch is so efficient that it is difficult to convert it into numbers.

The hero who deals with mutated monsters alone was the shield of humanity threatened by monsters.

Because of this environment, heroes gain celebrity-like popularity.

Higher grade, stronger. The structure is such that the more capable a hero is, the more recognition he receives.

“Jiwoo, hurry, hurry!”

The top of the industry shouted.

She is waving a red flower hairpin and showing her teeth clearly.

“Look, it’s a beluga!”

“Oh, it’s cute.”

“Dolphins over here!”

“Wow, you’re so agile.”

“Over there! There’s even a really big squid over there!”

“Wow, raw fish would be really delicious.”

“Right?!”

I was completely excited.

Unlike the movie theater, which took a huge hit from the start, it is the usual lean itself.

Lin has loved the natural ecosystem since she was young.

I would say I am the type of person who prefers animals over people when it comes to healing, but I also have a cat, so I like cute creatures.

I admired the swimming of sea turtles and enjoyed the tickling sensation of a small hermit crab on my palm.

On the other hand, I had this idea when I suggested it.

These thoughts dominated my mind and I stayed with Rin.

‘hmm… Isn’t the aquarium a place where you can see the cuteness of your girlfriend?’

To be honest, all I could see was Rin jumping around and looking happy.

The common knowledge that snickering dolphins, mermaid princesses swimming in the water, and squids have violent tempers and commit mass suicide when trapped did not attract much interest.

“Blue waves, really pretty… .”

Rin was much cuter and prettier.

The aquarium’s unique blue background further enhanced the beauty of the female friends who came with us.

I just want Rin to be happy, that’s all I can feel.

If you like it this much, you can’t help but want to bring it back more.

“Rin, would you like to take a picture to commemorate your first visit to the aquarium?”

“Yes, a photo?!”

When I wanted to take a picture with the aquarium in the background, Lin stood there hesitantly.

After counting, he holds out his palm and asks as if something is missing.

“Delete… Not taking pictures?”

“Oh, shall we take a picture together?”

“Since we’re already here, wouldn’t it be better to take pictures together… … ”

“Okay then, let’s take a picture together.”

“Huh… ♥”

I approached and changed to selfie mode.

“Okay then, let’s go again, one two-”

“value… Cheese!”

As Rin, dressed up as is, clumsily held out the V, our memories piled up.

I didn’t like taking pictures since I was young, but today I seemed to be in the right mood and obediently followed suit.

Kuuk!

In the photo, Lin was holding my coat tightly with her sinewy hands.

*

“Is steak for lunch?”

Rin slices vigorously with a knife and takes a bite.

“Yes, if you come back after seeing the aquarium, you can at least eat sushi.”

“Is that so?”

Even if you love animals, you still eat meat.

Well, I thought I was being considerate of marine life and dipped my french fries in ketchup.

After visiting the aquarium, we ate in the lounge.

The price was a bit high due to the view, but I was convinced so I went in, and since it was my birthday, the cafe offered to come down to the lobby on the first floor to cover the dessert.

Lin, who was eating a large parfait together, suddenly notices.

For no reason, he quietly sweetens it by breaking the chocolate top in front of him with an ice cream spoon.

“Hey Jiwoo… … ”

“Huh?”

“Do you want a birthday present?

I was trying to prepare, but I also wanted to give you what you wanted… .”

Then he tilted his head,

“If it’s a birthday present, isn’t this it? Show me a movie, buy me food… Is it already enough?”

“This is not it!

Something else! Is there anything Jiwoo wants?”

When I asked that question, I had nothing to say.

Funds were unstable for a while, but gradually stabilized. In the first place, you wouldn’t ask your friend to give you money for his birthday.

There is nothing I really want to have.

“Don’t do that, just say one thing.”

When I conveyed that sincerity, Rin grumbled.

But no matter how much I thought about it, I had no material wants.

Moreover, if it was a gift, it was already being received in real time.

“It’s okay. Spending time like this with Lin is a gift in itself.”

hmm… It may be hard to hear, but it was sincere.

Since it’s been a while since we’ve been together, I’ve completely forgotten all about the store I’ve been focusing on recently.

Together, we felt like we were back in middle school, albeit briefly.

Puk puk puk puk puk!

“Ah, ahhh… .”

When Lin heard the sincerity, she destroyed the parfait even faster.

It created enough frictional heat to melt the parfait, distracting the attention.

There was something happy in his heart, but it seemed like he was trying not to show it.

“Well, then… … ”

“Huh?”

Soon my hands were resting on my knees.

Normally, Rin would have just been scooping up ice cream and pretending to be something else, but today she showed a more unique performance due to her outfit.

“Then… … Do you want to come to my house next time?”

“At Rin’s house?”

This was my first time receiving such a suggestion, except when I was young and didn’t know anything.

When I think about it, the person I was playing with didn’t exist.

“If the time we spend together now is truly a gift, then that is… … .”

“Yes.”

“That… … … … … !”

Rin’s shyness had reached its limit.

Wooo!

But for some reason, she held onto the knees of her skirt tightly, as if she was determined to commit it today, and looked directly at me.

With moist lips covered in pink rouge, she confessed to me while waving a flower hairpin.

“Eun Ji-woo! Ramen at my house today─”

Bleep!

An air raid warning that sounds through speakers on all channels is mandatory throughout the city.

yet,

[Emergencies! Emergencies! A monster is currently attacking from the sky in Area B!]

[As a result of identifying the enemy, the monster name disaster level is a whopping level 2! It is reported that there will be bombing from the air, so please evacuate Area B citizens to a safe shelter until the heroes arrive!]

thud!

As soon as those words were spoken, a pile of concrete fell outside the cafe.

I was so shocked when I saw that that the cafe became a mess.

“… … .”

“… … .”

But Lin tried to pretend not to see it.

I pretended not to hear anything and turned my head to the other side of the cafe window.

Beep beep beep!

However, a hand signal sounds from the handbag.

He boasted that he would never do hero work like today, and it seems he brought along the in-ears provided by headquarters.

As I watched it, I couldn’t help but awkwardly recommend it.

“Lin… … There’s nothing you can do about it now, right?”

“… … .”

“There’s nothing I can do, so I’m making solving this case a birthday present─”

“Heung!”

bang!

Rin trailed off, hit the table, and stood up.

Clink!

He then throws the handbag containing the pager into the cafe window, smashing it.

Then, he tied his hair neatly into a ponytail with a hair tie from his pocket and shouted confidently.

“I also take care of what happens in front of me!”

Yes.

No matter how much he dislikes hero activities, he is ultimately a hero who serves as a shield for the citizens of Lindo.

He is not a person who abandons a crisis right in front of him because he has a warmer heart than anyone else.

“Lin, I’ll take care of you!”

I nodded and cheered.

Lin accepted this support by slightly sticking out her lips.

“… … Jiwoo, please wait here.”

With those words, Rin goes out the window.

And as if it were natural, I climbed the outer wall of the tall building and headed up to where the enemy was.

He was a hero who grumbled but did it when it was time to do it.

“Hmm… But now that the crisis is over, I can’t just sit still.”

thud! thud! thud!

-Aaaah!

-It’s dangerous, help me!

The debris from the top was being thrown to the ground, and piles of concrete were falling dangerously among the citizens.

There was a risk of casualties, so I had no choice but to leave the cafe.

In particular, he gave priority to running toward the woman who was sitting on her butt in a panic.

“Aaaagh!”

“Ha! This is just rubbish disposal!”

bang!

Smash the flying concrete with your fist.

Powdered concrete is broken into small pieces. Move around in front of citizens who have lost their movement and directly intercept them.

bang! bang! bang!

“Hey, are you okay?! Can you stand up?!”

“Ah, ahhh!”

A woman points her finger and exclaims as she protects her from behind.

When she came face to face with me while I was in a daze, her eyes widened and she let out a high-pitched sound typical of a woman.

“I know! You’re the old hero ‘Kang Punch’, right!?”

“Yes?

… … … Oh, that’s right.”

Suddenly, the woman came out of her panic and held my hand tightly.

He shouted, his eyes sparkling.

“Awesome! Really good! I’ve been a fan since I was a student!”

“Eck?”

Hero retirement is already quite a while ago.

I never thought he would still remember my face. To be honest, I was touched.

“Awesome! It’s meant to be, so please take a photo just once.”

“No, we’re not going to have a photo time now, we’re going to evacuate… … ”

“Take just one picture and I’ll run away! Because it’s hard to take a picture with a retired hero!”

“No, so now… … ”

“Look, no debris is coming down anymore.

Right now, ‘Kang Punch’ is protecting me, and if I take one picture, I’ll be gone!”

“Ugh… … … Okay, so you just take one picture and run away?”

“Yes!”

I have no choice but to allow it.

The moment when you are trying to take a photo with your face right next to a female fan who is obsessed with taking pictures in the middle of a fuss,

“Get out of the way.”

“!?”

“Wow!”

thud!

A large crow’s head falls from the sky and separates us.

I reacted hastily and pushed the citizen away, causing us to fall apart.

It was a monster crow with three legs and three heads.

And their heads were completely smashed.

Indeed, Rin was the best among S-class heroes.

It’s been a while since I started, but it looks like I finished level 2 in one go.

“Do you have any business with my group?”

“… … .”

However, even when the situation is over, he does not give up his desire to win.

He glares menacingly at his female fan with a look more terrifying than when he faced a giant monster.

The current Rin, clad in a red aura, was scarier than anyone else.

The red glow in her eyes as she easily defeated any monster was enough to make me think of this.

‘No matter what, let’s never displease Rin… .’

In fact, it was a decision I had made since my first meeting with Lin.

+++

“Aaaagh!”

“?!”

The woman who rescued her screamed louder.

His hand, which was shaking as if he had gout, barely pointed at Rin.

“S-class ‘non-polar’ Rin! Is that correct?”

“… … .”

“I’m a fan! I’ve been rooting for you two ever since you were working together!”

Then he brings the two of us together.

As part of their enthusiasm for taking pictures, they show tremendous activity.

“Come on, Lin, let’s take a picture together!”

“No, I don’t really take pictures… … ”

“I know, because I was pushing the whole time! Considering it’s a plainclothes date, it’s true, right?

You two can give each other a sweet hug, and I’ll pose in front of you!”

“… … !”

A female fan suddenly winks and even gives instructions on how to compose a photo.

“Okay, Jiwoo, please wrap your arms around her waist more so that we can look good together, and take a sweet picture like a couple!”

“Yes? No, we are like that─”

“… … ♡”

Come on!

“Lin?!”

“Uh, I can’t help it♥ I need a fan… Because there are heroes too… .”

Since when did I have such an amazing feeling… ?

Lin obviously doesn’t like having her picture taken, but she obediently followed the instructions as if she was possessed.

As if there was nothing I could do, he hugged me next to me and, following the woman’s instructions, raised his hand to the V sign.

I voluntarily left behind a photo full of elements that could be misunderstood.

“Thank you! May you both be happy in the future!”

So I walked away bravely.

Lululala, as the female fan who happened to get a good photo walks away, Lin mutters.

“He’s a good person.”

“… … Really?”

“Yes!”

When he came down from the sky, he glared at me like I was going to die, but his true feelings were completely unknown.