Ch.146Epilogue 7. There’s No Way I Could Raise a Hero’s Daughter (6)

Ji Se-hwa started explaining to me with an aggrieved tone.

“Those switches were made by extracting my and Yukyong’s abilities. They’re called Leviathan and Ogwang.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Look at this!”

Ji Se-hwa attached the transformation device to her arm, inserted the switch, and demonstrated it. A skill activated with a powerful sound.

“It doesn’t transform you, just lets you use a bit of the ability. I made it myself, like a cottage industry thing! It’s not dangerous at all!”

“You didn’t get permission.”

“W-well, about that… Can’t you let this slide? Rent for the shop and other expenses make things tight.”

“This is a prime business location. What’s so tight about it?”

Ji Se-hwa pouted and fidgeted with her fingers.

“My… my boyfriend needs to go to the racetrack. And play cards…”

“That’s sick. You’re using kids’ money for that?”

“Oh, you’re rich, so you don’t know how ordinary people live!”

“Why are you taking money from my daughter’s pocket to support your deadbeat boyfriend?”

“What? That girl from earlier is your daughter? Wow, that’s funny. She doesn’t look like you at all.”

Ji Se-hwa sneered unpleasantly.

“Isn’t that nail polish color I used to wear? Did you pick it for her? If that’s the case, you should have said so earlier.”

“I swear I’ll kill you. Where’s Kang Yerin? What are you doing instead of managing things?”

When I mentioned Kang Yerin’s name, Ji Se-hwa had a fit.

“D-don’t call Yerin! If she finds out how I’m living, I’ll be in trouble! Hayoung is off-limits too. Her lectures last at least three hours.”

“I mean Kang Yerin from Sulphur.”

“Oh, Sulphur. I don’t know about her either.”

She’s neglecting her duties. I told them to manage the heroes properly.

“I’ll hold Sulphur responsible. I’ll let it slide today, but if I catch you again, I’ll make sure neither of you can set foot in this shop or anywhere else.”

“I’m just a part-timer. I did what the boss told me to do.”

Shin Yukyong tried to avoid responsibility by herself.

She was much more shameless than the Shin Yukyong I knew.

“Ui-seok, can you lend me some money? I really live quietly and work hard. It’s all because of my boyfriend.”

“You could just break up with him.”

“How can I do that when there are feelings involved?”

“What do you like so much about him that you’re willing to sacrifice everything with your personality?”

Ji Se-hwa ridiculously twisted her shoulders at my question.

“…He reminds me of you.”

“Oh, come on.”

I was wrong to ask. I shook off Ji Se-hwa, who was clinging to my leg, and left their shop behind.

***

About a month had passed since Ra-hee and I started attending the academy.

“Mr. Recter, you’re here!”

“Hello, sir!”

Somehow, I’ve gained followers who annoy me.

I haven’t done anything particularly noticeable during this time. Since my goal was to create an environment where Ra-hee could attend without discomfort, I only did the minimum necessary to keep things in order.

Ra-hee hasn’t caused as many problems as I expected. Maybe I was worrying too much.

It’s about time to stop infiltrating the academy. I should try talking to her as a father again.

“Hey, Recter.”

“Hmm.”

Ra-hee slapped my shoulder. It’s good to see her face becoming more lively.

“We have self-training time today. Will you train with me?”

“Of course. What do you want to learn?”

“Teach me more martial arts, continuing from before.”

“Sure.”

I’ve been training with Ra-hee like a personal tutor. Since fighting recklessly could lead to injuries, I’ve been teaching her the basics, which gives me peace of mind.

After all the curriculum ended, I left the academy with Ra-hee. We usually walk part of the way home together.

“Hey, what do you do when you get home?”

I usually hang out with Lu-a or Somi. Recently, Stella has been bothering me a lot too. I want to see you too, Ra-hee, but you just go straight to your room without saying hello.

“I watch YouTube.”

“What a meaningless way to spend time. What about weekends?”

“I watch more.”

“Geez. Don’t be like that. Come outside. Let’s go shopping together.”

“Too bothersome.”

Ra-hee frowned, displeased with my answer, and grabbed my arm to stop me.

“Don’t be like that. Or since you like villains, want to go to a museum?”

“I’ve seen a lot already.”

“You’re really unsociable. I wasn’t going to suggest this, but… want to visit the Vengeance headquarters?”

“What?”

Mistakenly thinking I showed interest, Ra-hee excitedly started talking.

“I actually have some connections, you know? Don’t you want to see Dark Matter or Ursula?”

I’m planning to see them tonight anyway.

No, more importantly, what is she saying?

Bringing outsiders to the Vengeance headquarters? Ra-hee, even you shouldn’t do that. There are security procedures.

“What do you think? You’re interested, right?”

“Haha, that’s certainly an interesting story. I didn’t know they were so difficult to meet. Very surprising.”

I quickly wrapped my arm around Ra-hee’s waist and jumped back when I heard a slick voice.

Kang Yerin—Sulphur—stood right in front of us with her arms crossed, looking at me mockingly. Her blonde hair, which she hadn’t cut and now reached her knees, fluttered as it swayed.

“Who is that? Recter, do you know her?”

“Tsk.”

“Haha! Recter? How can you be so lacking in imagination? It’s hilarious. If we’re being precise, I should be the one called Recter, not you, right?”

“We switched places.”

“No need. This is between you and me.”

Kang Yerin inserted a transformation device into her arm. She forcefully pressed a pure white switch.

[MILKY WAY!]

“Oh, a hero?!”

“Ra-hee, stay back.”

I pushed Ra-hee away and immediately started running. Sulphur, transformed into a pure white suit, began chasing after me.

***

Jung Ra-hee was dumbfounded by the sudden chase between Recter and the white hero, but she instinctively ran after them.

‘I know who that is. White Sulphur. A dangerous hero who has led the S-Sentai multiple times. Why is she targeting Recter?’

Thinking the situation was serious, she immediately took out her phone to call for help, but hesitated. Her mother was out of the question, and things were awkward with her father too after the police station incident.

Still, she gathered her courage and pressed the call button for her father. But no matter how long the signal went out, he didn’t answer.

“Never there when I need you…!”

Of course. I was stupid to expect anything. Jung Ra-hee continued following them. Soon, the two entered an abandoned building.

“Haa, haa.”

They were incredibly fast. Jung Ra-hee hid herself and eavesdropped on their conversation.

“This isn’t the scheduled attack day, Sulphur. What do you want?”

“You broke the promise first. We agreed not to touch retired colleagues, right?”

“I didn’t touch anyone. I was just tracking a case and unfortunately ran into her. Ji Se-hwa was the one who did something shady first.”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. Se-hwa was supposed to live in a category unrelated to us. You meddled and made things worse. After you left, she was interrogated by the man she was living with and got beaten badly.”

“How is that my fault?”

“You know how weak and insecure she is! You shouldn’t have revealed yourself at all!”

“What nonsense. She’s not even the Ji Se-hwa I knew, and she’s done more than enough by helping the Sea Lord Sentai.”

Jung Ra-hee couldn’t follow their conversation at all.

The atmosphere and tone were like long-term lovers arguing. It was adults’ talk.

Moreover, the content was about the past S-Sentai, Sea Lord Sentai, and one of their members—something Jung Ra-hee knew a little about.

Clearly, White Sulphur was the leader of the S-Sentai back then too.

‘What does Recter have to do with that…?’

The two continued arguing.

“You’re going to be like that?”

“What else can I do? I can’t accept your unreasonable demands.”

BOOM!

With a huge explosion, a storm hit behind the wall where Jung Ra-hee was hiding. Holding her fluttering clothes, she carefully peeked out from behind the wall.

There was a red devil fighting the white hero.

“You’re always doing whatever you want, Gerogius!”

The white hero shouted.

‘…What did she say?’

The moment she heard that name and saw his appearance, Jung Ra-hee’s eyes widened.

Her concern for the boy called Recter instantly turned to hatred.

Her contempt for the hero called White Sulphur who attacked him transformed into empathy.

She had been deceived.

By Gerogius,

By Jung Ui-seok,

By her father—a sense of betrayal she couldn’t express filled her with burning shame.

He played me.

That hero is the same.

Acting as the S-Sentai for 17 years when she didn’t want to, she’s angry because my father toyed with her.

Dad is always like this.

Saying he understands, saying he wants to be close, when it’s all deception.

What does someone who already has everything in the world know?

The desperate feelings of someone struggling with nothing, no matter how much help they ask for, nothing comes back.

Jung Ra-hee ran toward Jung Ui-seok with tears in her eyes.

“You’re so freaking annoying!!”

“Ra-hee?!”

A surprised Jung Ui-seok stopped moving. Sulphur also paused her attack, intrigued by the interesting scene.

WHACK! Jung Ra-hee’s powerful roundhouse kick connected with Jung Ui-seok’s jaw.

Though Jung Ui-seok took no damage, he fell to his knees from the psychological shock and rubbed his jaw.

“You bastard, nothing but lies all this time.”

“No, wait. Ra-hee, wait. Dad was worried about you…”

“Fuck off! Fuck off! What kind of father follows his kid to school every day?!”

“Your mother…”

“Mom! Of course she would!”

Jung Ra-hee delivered consecutive knee kicks to the kneeling Jung Ui-seok. He collapsed face down.

“And I didn’t know… I just felt…”

Just before bursting into tears, a handkerchief was gently placed on Jung Ra-hee’s eyes. Kang Yerin smiled slightly and patted her back.

“Are you a hero, miss?”

“The most renowned hero there is.”

“I want to be a hero too.”

“What?! That’s not happening!”

Jung Ui-seok jumped up as if suddenly coming to his senses and tried to grab the two. But Kang Yerin twisted his incoming arm into a joint lock, creating a stalemate.

“What now, Gerogius? Your lovely daughter wants to be a hero. Shouldn’t you respect her wishes?”

“Stop talking nonsense! Heroes get shot and killed in today’s world!”

“Oh? But you just made me do it?”

Kang Yerin slightly raised the corner of her mouth and gave Jung Ui-seok a sticky kiss. Jung Ra-hee’s mouth fell open.

“Haha, first time seeing that? This is my relationship with your dad.”

“You crazy bitch!”

“I am crazy. But do you still want to come with me?”

Jung Ra-hee chuckled in disbelief and moved toward Kang Yerin without hesitation.

“Let’s go together.”

Jung Ui-seok froze in shock as he saw Jung Ra-hee looking at him with contempt.