Ch.200Chapter 8. A Toast to Your Patriotism (1)

Evening.

“Teacher, I’m here. What would you like for dinner? Soup and rice? Platinum Sun? Ymir? Or all three?”

“Tteokbokki.”

“Eh? Today at best it would be cream tteokbokki…? You’d have to add that too, ow!”

“Don’t say weird things, just eat what you’re given. I’ll make it for you today.”

“Oh, really? What should I make for a side dish?”

“No need.”

As soon as I got home from work, Ymir barged into my room. While preparing and eating dinner, I brought up what happened during the day and about the sports festival.

“Yi-seon said she’d like the Goblin to appear.”

“You specifically, teacher? Isn’t it beneath your level to come out just to deal with a 17-year-old high school girl?”

“It’s not about level, but Yi-seon was talking about the Goblin’s beliefs. She said there’s no point in the Goblin appearing if he’s not coming to defeat a demon.”

“She has a point there. So what did you tell her?”

“I said it wouldn’t be bad to ask the Goblin directly. If she had a way to reach out. Ah, right.”

While telling Yoon Yi-seon that she should try asking the Goblin once, a thought occurred to me.

“Ymir. I think Yi-seon might have figured out my identity.”

“Oh my, really? Teacher, Yi-seon has no reason to suspect you, so why do you think that?”

“Because of you.”

“What?”

I had a feeling that Yoon Yi-seon might know I’m the Goblin, and that my identity was probably exposed because of Ymir.

“You’re saying my fault that your identity as the Goblin was revealed? I don’t think Yi-seon is that perceptive…”

“It’s not about perception, it’s because of you, I’m telling you.”

It has to be.

Otherwise, there’s no reason why she would approach me with concerns about the Goblin after the teaching practice.

“No, why would it be because of me that you were exposed?”

“Well, you don’t have any friends.”

“……”

Ymir’s expression hardened.

“W-what did you just say?”

“You failed your teaching practice, you don’t socialize with anyone, and the only person you meet is someone who shouldn’t have any connection to you? Even with minimal thought, it’s bound to raise suspicion.”

“So the problem is that my social circle is too limited?”

“Yes.”

I’ve been worried about this for a while.

The closer I get to Ymir, the more connections with Ymir will increase, and anyone who suspects Ymir will naturally suspect me as well.

1. Ymir is Platinum Sun.

2. Ymir has a fairly deep relationship with Do Ji-hwan.

3. Platinum Sun has a fairly deep relationship with the Goblin.

4. Therefore?

“Deducing that Do Ji-hwan is the Goblin is very easy. Just put Ymir in the middle.”

“Hmph. Trying to pressure me like that won’t work.”

As soon as I snapped at her, Ymir snorted and shrugged her shoulders.

“You can say that I’m the reason your identity was revealed, but wasn’t that something you were prepared for to some extent?”

“Prepared?”

“You were planning to reveal your identity as the Goblin to Yi-seon to some degree. No, weren’t you planning to gradually spread information about yourself to one or two people at a time, whether through me or through Seol-hee?”

“…I didn’t think you’d catch on.”

No matter how perceptive she is, I didn’t expect her to figure out this plan.

“You’re right. From the moment I helped Yi-seon deal with Dueoksini, I was planning to reveal my identity to her to some extent.”

“Do you trust Yi-seon?”

“I do.”

She’s the original heroine, and as the original heroine, she kept quiet about the protagonist’s secret, and I confirmed that behavior myself.

Yoon Yi-seon didn’t say a word about the Dueoksini incident.

She didn’t tell anyone around her that she fought alongside the Goblin, or that Ymir is Platinum Sun.

If she had been a loose-lipped girl, I might have considered sending her somewhere else by now.

Not killing her, just letting her take a year-long break somewhere far away from Sejong Island.

“What’s this about? Why are you talking like you’re blaming me then?”

“Just because.”

“You were just making fun of me for not having friends, weren’t you?”

“I’m not that cruel.”

I was just teasing her.

“I’m joking. Anyway, tomorrow, try dropping a hint to Yi-seon. Don’t you think Yi-seon would need you to talk to her first before she can call for the Goblin?”

“You mean Yi-seon would ask the Goblin through me? Why would she go through me again instead of asking you directly?”

“Because you’re the confirmed route. She might just suspect me, but she wouldn’t know for sure if I’m really the Goblin.”

“Hmm, so you’re saying she might think you’re just a collaborator with the Syndicate, or someone who can connect with the Goblin. I understand. I can certainly act as an intermediary for that…”

“But?”

“Are you really going to show up?”

Ymir displayed a video.

[Come out, Goblin! Let’s see who the true Rider is, let’s compete in Sejong Island!]

“Are you really going to accept Hayabusa’s challenge?”

It was a direct challenge posted online by the S-class hero, Hayabusa.

[This isn’t about fighting as hero versus villain! It’s just to determine who the real Rider is! If I win, I’ll do my best to help you avoid being caught by others!]

“His aggro is no joke, but I don’t think you have any reason to respond to this guy’s provocation.”

“I have a reason to respond.”

“Why?”

“Because the world is viewing this issue as a ‘Korea vs Japan’ match.”

I had thought about it myself, but internet users were already arguing about which country’s Rider was the real one.

“Strictly speaking, the Rider is originally Japanese. The original is Kamen Rider 1.”

“Oh my, you’re admitting it?”

“Of course. I should acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. The motif for my Rider transformation came from a Korean special effects show, but if you ask where that Korean show got its influence from, it’s obviously Super Rangers or Kamen Rider. However.”

I took out my mask and placed it over my face.

“Even if this started in Japan, wouldn’t it be a different story if it became a completely new form of Rider?”

There are no Riders after the Great Cataclysm.

The motif for my Rider transformation isn’t based on Riders after the Great Cataclysm, but on Riders from a time when the Great Cataclysm never happened.

“You’re going to show your own originality?”

“Rather than my own originality, the issue of who is ‘real’ that they’re talking about isn’t very important. This applies to superpowers too.”

While it’s being represented under the name ‘Rider,’ this issue can be applied to the superpowers used in this world.

“Even if someone’s superpower is the original, what if someone else takes it and makes it completely their own? What if it becomes a new form that has evolved from the original?”

“Are you talking about plagiarism?”

“Plagiarism… not quite. No, actually, if we’re speaking plainly, plagiarism would be the right term.”

I pointed to various videos circulating on the internet, including new ones uploaded by superhumans from other countries.

“After the appearance of Doji Rider, the number of people creating costumes in the Rider style has increased tremendously. Look at this. In foreign countries, they’ve even made a burning skeleton in the style of a Rider.”

“…Skeleton Rider?”

“They’re taking gimmicks from old content. This might have started from American comics, but which country’s person is now wearing a helmet shaped like a skull with their body on fire?”

“It’s French?”

“Right. Culture tends to spread. And culture doesn’t particularly have borders. The same goes for superpowers. When someone starts using superpowers with a Rider concept, someone else will inevitably follow that Rider concept.”

I’m not trying to argue about who’s the original.

Since this concept was taken from pre-Cataclysm culture anyway, I don’t particularly care about who’s the original or who’s real.

But.

I want to show them.

To the people of this world, to the people of this era where culture has been completely overturned by the Great Cataclysm and the emergence of superpowers.

I want to show them directly the culture they should have enjoyed if superpowers hadn’t existed.

‘This is my repayment for letting me enjoy the stories in this world.’

Since I got to read the unfinished novel, I want to show the people of this world a glimpse of the culture that was never born in this world as repayment.

So that they can enjoy and appreciate a different culture a little bit by seeing my transformation.

In that sense, I will show Hayabusa.

“Even if it’s a cultural content that started in Japan, how you sublimate and use it as a superpower is a separate matter. To argue about what’s real and what’s fake over that? It’s meaningless. Especially since Doji Rider isn’t just a direct copy of existing Riders.”

“…So in conclusion, it’s like this.”

Ymir pointed at me with a sour face.

“You want to prove that Doji Rider’s appearance isn’t plagiarism?”

“Well, you can think of it that way.”

At least in this world, the appearance of the Goblin Rider I transformed into isn’t plagiarism.

Because in this world, the Kamen Rider was never born.

“And I need to emphasize to them that ‘the Goblin is in Sejong Island.'”

“Them…? You mean Pandemonium?”

“Yes. By emphasizing that I’m here, someone from Pandemonium will reveal themselves in Sejong Island. That’s who I’m targeting.”

I don’t know who it will be, but.

“I need to show Pandemonium. That the Goblin is still going strong.”

In fact, even more vigorous than before.

“It’s also a perfect chance to show a new form.”