Ch.12Chapter 1. To Become Stronger (4)

The movie was just an ordinary battle between good and evil.

A righteous Tyranno “Rex” resurrected from ancient times, and a cyborg Mecha Tyranno Rex created based on the original’s genetic material.

It was truly a magnificent battle of beasts, with the predator facing off against its own clone—a Mecha Tyranno armored with modern technology—in a one-on-one confrontation.

“Let’s go, Rex! Combine your mana with mine to defeat your clone!”

“ROOOOAAR!”

The Tyranno was a hero with mana powers, while the Mecha Tyranno was the villain.

“Hahaha! My hypothesis was correct—dinosaurs are made of mana! Now with this Mecha Tyranno, everything will fall under my control!”

“You evil person! How could you do this for your own selfish desires!”

“I’ll do anything to rule the world! Even if it means crushing and killing everything under my feet!!”

There’s always a villain trying to resurrect ancient beings for nefarious purposes, and the villain-controlled Mecha Tyranno was smashing everything with the power of mana.

“It’s dangerous! Perhaps due to the dinosaur’s resurrection, cosmic forces are trying to destroy Earth!”

“A meteor?!”

“Ha-hahaha! My hypothesis was right again…! The Cretaceous Period, the dinosaur era, was ended by cosmic forces meant to kill all mana-based dinosaur lifeforms! Come, will of the universe! Destroy the Earth! Hahaha! Let this worthless world perish!”

Wait, where did the meteor come from??

As a massive meteor fell from the sky and the world plunged into chaos…

“Climb on my back, Rex! Together we’ll stop the meteor.”

“ROOOOOAAAAR!”

“We failed 200 million years ago, but now we have humanity’s will on our side! Let’s go! For the future of all living beings on this planet!”

Rex climbed onto Mecha Tyranno’s back and they charged headfirst into the meteor.

BOOM!

The meteor was destroyed.

Through Mecha Tyranno’s self-destruction, the meteor was completely obliterated, and Tyranno fell from the sky, becoming a small meteorite that landed in the Pacific Ocean.

The ending credits showed a puppy-sized Tyranno being born.

“That was really fun.”

“Was it?”

I’d heard rumors, but seeing it on screen was truly overwhelming.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I came to see the movie myself, only to find that the ending was absurd and I ended up being caught by a hero and even having a meal with her.

‘This is the worst.’

Setting aside the story and visuals…

‘It was clearly propaganda meant to mock The Syndicate.’

The villain scientist was obviously a twisted version of our Syndicate.

Such an ugly and disgusting villain that halfway through I thought, ‘The Chairman might let it slide, but [Doctor] would be furious about this.’

It really seemed like the villain was modeled after [Doctor].

“Is the food not to your liking?”

“No, it’s just that I’ve rarely eaten in places like this.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I brought you to a place I’m comfortable with…”

Snow White, Baek Seol-hee, pointed around with an embarrassed smile.

“You can speak freely about me here. This place is under ‘control.'”

This was a fine dining restaurant serving course meals.

Following Baek Seol-hee’s suggestion, I ended up at this high-end restaurant that I’d never visited before or after arriving in this world.

Is it good?

Yes, it is.

“I’m paying, so please don’t feel burdened.”

“Thank you.”

Because I’m not paying for it myself, but getting it for free.

Eating at such an expensive restaurant, where a course meal costs 300,000 won (per person), is something I could never have imagined doing.

It feels like my eyes and ears, corrupted by that movie, are being purified by this feast of gourmet food.

“Let me explain. This dish is…”

“Ah, that’s okay. Maybe next time.”

“…I see. Enjoy your meal.”

Baek Seol-hee dismissed the waiter who was about to explain the food with practiced ease.

Such waiters probably have a specific English title, but I’ve never been to places like this, so I don’t know what they’re called.

“It’s scallops and clams minced and grilled like a steak. Do you dislike seafood?”

“No. It’s just been so long since I’ve had it that the taste is unfamiliar. I think I used to eat it often, but I’ve rarely had it properly recently.”

“It is a bit difficult to catch fish in the East Sea these days.”

After the meteor fell.

It wasn’t just humans who received the mana buff.

Fish also got the mana buff, and their intelligence increased to the point where they could distinguish fishing bait thrown by humans.

That’s why fish are extremely expensive.

They probably were expensive to begin with, but now we live in a world where you have to pay 10,000 won for a single mackerel.

In the end, this world has become one where it’s difficult to eat anything other than land-based meat.

The author must either hate seafood or be obsessed with meat, one of the two.

Of course.

This doesn’t apply at all to our wealthy S-rank hero.

For this woman, the atmosphere where people don’t bother her is more important than the taste of the restaurant.

“Do you come here often?”

“…I wouldn’t say often.”

“That’s surprising. I thought you would visit frequently.”

“…I come every time.”

Baek Seol-hee blushed as she cut her scallop steak with a knife.

“It’s a government-affiliated restaurant, so on weekdays it operates almost like a dining hall for heroes.”

“Then perhaps today…?”

“Not today. There isn’t just one restaurant; they’re designated by day of the week. Today I’m just here as a regular customer, so it’s fine. …Though I’ve received enough favors that I can enter without a reservation.”

“I see. Um, is my company making you uncomfortable?”

“Why?”

Baek Seol-hee tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

“Well, if you’re seen having a meal with me, wouldn’t it cause troublesome scandals?”

“Scandals…?”

“Yes. These days, paparazzi take photos and post them online just for seeing a young man and woman meeting. Especially since you’re such a prominent figure…”

“Anyone who dares publish such articles would immediately get a visit from men in sunglasses.”

Baek Seol-hee continued cutting her scallop with a bitter smile.

“The government strictly manages information about ability users under their jurisdiction. Especially me—I’m one of the people the country pays special attention to.”

“You’re one of only seven S-rank ability users in Korea. And ranked fourth among only thirty S-ranks worldwide.”

“…It’s a bit embarrassing when you put it that way, but yes.”

Baek Seol-hee placed her hand on her chest with a proud smile.

“I may not be the strongest yet, but I can say I’m the pride of Busan. I’m not an S-rank for nothing.”

“That’s admirable. Thanks to you, we can live peacefully today.”

“Thank you. But…”

Baek Seol-hee put down her utensils and looked at me.

“What’s interesting is that despite who I am, you don’t seem to view me that way at all.”

I felt a pang of nervousness.

“Even during the movie, you became immersed from the middle, and after coming here, you relaxed as soon as I placed the order. You don’t seem like an ordinary person at all.”

Could it be?

“Are you perhaps an ‘unregistered user’? Someone who awakened abilities but hasn’t registered with the government yet, with the power to conceal mana?”

“Me? Haha. I’m just an ordinary person without any mana.”

“Really?”

Her gaze is cold.

Like a dagger piercing my chest…

No, that’s not right.

I have nothing to be afraid of.

I shouldn’t back down now.

Baek Seol-hee has no certainty.

She has no evidence that I’m a Goblin.

She thinks I’m a Goblin based on intuition?

How could something so unreasonable exist in this world?

“While I’m honored and delighted to meet someone like you, your confusion about my gaze is because… you’re off duty today.”

“…?”

“You didn’t come to watch the movie as the hero ‘Snow White,’ but as Busan citizen Baek Seol-hee, right?”

“……”

“No matter how famous or heroic someone is, one shouldn’t intrude on their private life. I have no intention of making a fuss, asking for autographs, taking photos, or posting on social media that Snow White came to watch a movie alone.”

She must already be bothered by countless others, and I have no desire to add to that.

“Or would you prefer that I treat you that way?”

“…No. It’s refreshing. Thank you for saying that.”

“Surely you must have at least one or two people like me around you?”

“…I’m sorry. Looking around, I don’t see anyone like that.”

Baek Seol-hee drank her tea with a bitter smile.

“Everyone either tries to manipulate me, use me, gain my favor, or looks at me with hatred and envy.”

“If you wish, I can look at you that way.”

“No, no. This is perfect. Since we’ve met by fate, I’d like us to meet occasionally from now on.”

“…Pardon?”

Is this woman in her right mind?

“You know, about the movie we just watched.”

Baek Seol-hee’s eyes began to sparkle.

“Do you think ability users with enough mana could break through the atmosphere like Mecha Tyranno and survive in space without breathing like Tyranno?”

“……”

“What did you think of the movie? You seemed really engrossed.”

“…It was certainly engaging.”

A dinosaur riding a mecha dinosaur flying into space to self-destruct against a meteor?

“Everything is new to me. It’s all things I’ve never seen before.”

When I definitely return to Earth, I’ll create something from this—a novel, webtoon, movie, anything.

And I’ll definitely take with me all the “unfinished works” that were completed in this world.

“In this age where superpowers have become reality, my hobby is reading 21st century comics, watching movies, novels—all kinds of ‘literature.’ That’s why I decided to become a librarian.”

Adding a spoonful of plausible deniability for public explanation.

“Eventually, I want to write stories, whether as a novelist or screenplay writer.”

I will definitely return to Earth.

“I want to continue the story of a world that ended by someone else’s hand, carrying it forward into the future with my own strength.”

With all these completed series stored in my head, for all the readers eagerly waiting on Earth.