Ch.104Chapter 4. Digging is a Hero’s Basics (2)

A short while later, at the Korean Hero Association’s Gangneung branch.

“Now then, I will begin the briefing on the ‘Juliana Gene Theft’ incident.”

Three S-class heroes gathered at the Hero Association headquarters in Gangneung, along with association and government officials, meeting in a darkened conference room to discuss the situation that had been somewhat contained.

“Regarding this incident, first, we’ll hear from Armored Taejo…”

The Gangneung branch director began speaking, but Baek Seol-hee couldn’t properly focus on the meeting.

Do Ji-hwan is a married man.

She had heard him talking directly to his wife when they were on Ulleungdo, and had even received his wife’s permission, though it wasn’t really permission.

But that was more like a warning: “Oh, yes, go ahead and try if you want. Haha.”

What woman in the world would permit and tolerate her husband fooling around with another woman?

The kings of the Joseon Dynasty could embrace numerous women only because it was forbidden by national law for the queen and concubines to be jealous of each other, but in reality, there were all sorts of secret feuds among the women.

What woman would tolerate her man playing around with another woman?

Even Baek Seol-hee herself would express considerable displeasure if a new woman appeared by Do Ji-hwan’s side after she had established that kind of relationship with him.

But.

The problem was that she was now in the position of that “new woman.”

Whether she had decided she could handle even that, or had unconsciously forgotten that she was in such a position.

Baek Seol-hee had made advances toward Do Ji-hwan.

Without even realizing that she had made a move on a married man, she only became aware of her position after making a huge mistake.

-Sure! Is being an S-class hero everything? I told you to go ahead and you actually did?! Let’s both die! Oh my, everyone around the world!! Snow White is a homewrecker!!

A morning drama unfolds in her mind.

Love and War plays out in her head.

Baek Seol-hee can’t fight back against Do Ji-hwan’s wife’s attack as she throws food brought for PPL at her.

‘If I were the kind of woman who could steal another woman’s man and be fine with it, if I were that evil, I wouldn’t even be in this country.’

If.

If Baek Seol-hee were the type of person who could be shameless about such things, she would have considered emigrating long ago rather than continuing as a hero in this country.

‘But that’s not who I am.’

Because she’s not that kind of person, Baek Seol-hee continues to serve as an S-class hero in this country.

‘Chasing after a married man is definitely wrong.’

However.

That’s just her mindset as a hero, not as a woman.

‘So are you going to give up?’

As a woman.

If she were a normal woman, she should cleanly put aside her feelings, but.

‘She’s the one who gave permission. If she said to fight, then I should fight. That’s what a hero does… isn’t it?’

The triangle in Baek Seol-hee’s heart is gradually being whittled away through self-brainwashing and self-justification, becoming increasingly rounded.

‘Baek Seol-hee. Are you going to throw away your pride and give up? When she’s acting all high and mighty saying “try to take him if you can,” when the goalkeeper is lying in front of the goal, are you not going to kick the ball?’

On the outside of that triangle, words like “affair” or “nuisance” or “NTR” were clearly written, but as Baek Seol-hee’s thought process accelerated, those parts with the words written on them were being shaved away.

“…In conclusion, I hope you will consider my shortcomings.”

Clap, clap, clap.

While Baek Seol-hee was lost in thought, Armored Taejo finished his speech with a 90-degree bow, apologizing to everyone.

“I hope Taejo’s mistake will become an opportunity for great growth. Now, let’s discuss how to deal with Juliana Faygreen.”

“Phew.”

Taejo seemed proud, as if he thought he had spoken really well.

His words would certainly remain in the video records.

Unless someone specifically looked for it, Taejo’s remorse would probably just remain as data stored somewhere.

“Sister, how was it?”

“…It was somewhat acceptable. What do you think, Seol-hee?”

“……Yeah.”

“What’s with that? That tone like you weren’t listening. This is the first time he’s shown such remorse.”

“You’re right. I’m surprised. It’s impressive.”

Baek Seol-hee needed time to organize her thoughts more than anything else.

“Ahem. So, let’s discuss whether to send Juliana Faygreen to Uruguay. Juliana tried to steal Taejo’s genes and flee to America. Since Taejo is an interested party and might find it difficult to make an objective judgment, I would like to hear the opinions of you two S-class heroes.”

The Gangneung branch director’s eyes turned to Baek Seol-hee and Tae Yi-rin.

“I’ll speak first. I think such a woman should be forcibly confined in Uruguay’s ability user detention center. A woman who messes with another woman’s man.”

Twinge.

“It’s true that Taejo made a mistake, but Juliana approached him knowing he had a girlfriend. A woman who was essentially engaged to him.”

“Ahem. I already said I’d kneel down and apologize again when we get back to Busan… I explained the situation and apologized via video call too.”

“You shouldn’t have created a situation requiring an apology in the first place. You fell for a blonde girl’s seduction? When you have a fiancée? You should have clearly cut it off, saying this isn’t right.”

“Well, it’s partly my fault, but isn’t it worse that she approached me knowing I had a fiancée…?”

“Sigh. Men, really. Unnie. What do you think?”

It was like sitting on a bed of thorns.

“Um, what if.”

Baek Seol-hee carefully opened her mouth with a serious face.

“Let’s say Taejo was married, and Juliana approached him knowing that and did such a thing… what should be done?”

“She should be killed.”

“……I see.”

Baek Seol-hee closed her eyes at Tae Yi-rin’s extreme words.

“Well…. we could consider it as something that can happen between men and women, like youthful passion.”

“Unnie?”

“Wow, are you understanding me?”

“That’s not exactly it, but clearly there is something bad.”

Baek Seol-hee took a deep breath.

“Stealing genes is definitely wrong.”

At least she hadn’t done that.

Anyway.

* * *

What is the starting point for a hero to fall into villainy?

It’s compromising with reality.

Only by maintaining an upright heart to uphold justice and maintain peace can one truly be called a hero, and once that heart bends or starts down the wrong path even once, the road to becoming a villain opens up.

I wanted to be free from such constraints, so I became a villain.

I didn’t hesitate to escort people for huge sums of money according to contracts, or to confront heroes in the process.

“Has the money been deposited?”

“Yes. It seems like I’m healing just by seeing the deposit amount.”

2.6 billion.

Deposited directly into my account.

It came through several rounds via paper companies and also as cryptocurrency, but 2.6 billion for about 4 hours of work from dawn to morning is quite a lucrative business.

“What will Chairman Desmond do now?”

“Are you concerned?”

“He sent this much money, so I should be concerned.”

Qiongqi didn’t have a separate contract regarding the Goblin’s participation, but Desmond Faygreen paid me a “bonus” in addition to the originally agreed contract amount.

“Oh right. Chairman Desmond said he was your fan. He wanted your autograph.”

“What if my handwriting gets me caught?”

“That’s why I got a text message from him. He asked me to deliver it directly. He said thank you for protecting October Travel.”

“What about Juliana?”

“That one sentence contains everything.”

He chose his company over his granddaughter who had caused a major incident.

He probably made that choice after seeing Sterne’s case.

“I wonder how he would have handled it if she were B-class or A-class.”

“She’s C-class. On the chairman’s scale, the company outweighed his granddaughter. How many people depend on him?”

“Capitalists sometimes need to be ruthless.”

“If she hadn’t made such a big mistake first, this wouldn’t have happened. In the end, it’s all Juliana’s fault.”

“…Sigh.”

Juliana Faygreen did something that made her grandfather Desmond cut ties with his powered granddaughter.

“What will happen to her? Will she be exiled to Ganghwa Island?”

“No. They’re thinking of sending her to the opposite side of the earth, not just somewhere in Korea. Uruguay.”

“If they put her in as an international criminal, some information about the incident will spread.”

“Only those who need to know will know. Compared to accidents happening in other countries, this much is nothing, right?”

“…I hope she doesn’t become a demon in Uruguay. With October Travel’s resources, they’ll probably deposit enough money for her to live relatively well there.”

The retribution for her actions ended with her being confined in Uruguay.

I just sincerely hope she doesn’t become a demon.

If she becomes a demon, I will have to kill her.

“More importantly, Mr. Do, shouldn’t you check your Taeguk Watch?”

“…I’ve been afraid to check it on purpose.”

“Face it like a man. Fighting!”

With Qiongqi’s encouragement, I cautiously checked my Taeguk Watch and smartphone.

Missed calls, 7.

Unread messages, 20.

All calls and texts from midnight to morning.

From just three people.

“…One message is from the chairman, and Ymir sent one.”

“The Gold Budo Master? What did she send?”

“Just one text. ‘Teacher, I have a question, please contact me when you have time~ H.'”

“That single ‘H’ probably carries a lot of meaning. Then the rest are….”

“Baek Seol-hee.”

7 phone calls. 18 text messages.

Scary.

“I’ll call her now.”

I gathered my courage and made the call.

Ring ring.

“Hello?”

The call was disconnected.

She seemed to have hung up hastily, and while I was wondering what happened, she called back.

“Um, Seol-hee? I’m sorry I couldn’t answer last night. You see-“

[Oh, p-perhaps!]

Baek Seol-hee’s voice was mixed with apology, urgency, and embarrassment.

[…Were you being patriotic with your wife?]

“…….”

Ah.

This woman, is she possibly…?

“Um.”

I took a deep breath as I watched Qiongqi enter the shower.

“…She just went in to take a shower.”