Ch.225Chapter 9. S-Class Reader (10)

The match was decided.

Yoon Yi-seon had won, and Tae Jo had lost.

The first S-class hero of 2025!

At Sejong Academy, she served students as student council president, won the A-class finals at the sports festival, and achieved victory against the S-class detector Armored Taejo.

It was truly the ideal emergence of an S-class hero.

A student who received good evaluations from a national educational institution, who developed a spirit of service by caring for others rather than just herself, and who ascended to become one of only eight S-class heroes in Korea.

And by awakening during battle, no less!

“Congratulations, Ms. Yoon Yi-seon. I’m…”

“My sincere congratulations. We met at the academy graduation ceremony two years ago, right? I’m…”

Yi-seon, invited to the celebration, was overwhelmed by greetings from countless adults.

“Haha, I always believed you would become S-class. Last year, while leading the student council…”

“I heard you led students from Ulleungdo during the Dueoksini incident? Impressive. Was that perhaps the catalyst?”

“You were just an ordinary flame mage until last year, but you adopted the gumiho concept early this year. Heh, our traditional things are indeed the best. You became S-class through the power of our heritage! Hahaha…”

Since their congratulatory remarks consisted only of information that could be found on Hero Wiki in five minutes, Yi-seon responded with soulless “Yes, yes” replies while scanning her surroundings.

As expected, everyone looked awkward.

Looking at the attendees, there were an excessive number of government officials.

They must be bewildered since the protagonist of this reception had changed.

“…Hmph.”

No one had predicted Yi-seon’s victory.

The placard had “Yoon Yi-seon” hastily printed and attached separately, with traces suggesting that “Tae Jo” had been written behind it.

This made Yi-seon even more excited.

It felt like she had thrown cold water on their expectations.

She had shown the underdog’s victory directly to those who thought Armored Taejo would naturally win.

-Yes, yes. I’m sorry. I’ve failed to meet your expectations.

-But what can we do? Armored Taejo l.o.s.t.

The thrill of victory came not just from defeating Taejo, but even more from observing the ambiguous gazes of those who thought she couldn’t win.

‘Is this what they call betting against the odds?’

She’d heard that when looking at Hero Toto betting, some people would cheer and rejoice when hundred-to-one odds paid off, sometimes even going into cardiac arrest. Those who had bet on her victory must now be happily raising their glasses to their increased assets.

“Haha. Ms. Yoon Yi-seon. Do you know? My son is your fan. He told me to bet on Hero Toto that you would win.”

“Oh, really? Did you make some money?”

“Of course! Hahaha. I’ll put the money you earned for me to good use. Is the student council short on budget by any chance?”

“Wow. Thank you for your consideration.”

It was slightly unpleasant that someone would use her hard-fought victory for gambling, but thinking differently, these were people who believed in her victory, which made her feel good.

Having someone cheer for you really gives you strength.

-It’s okay. You will win no matter what. If your faith wavers, believe in me. I would bet my entire fortune on your victory.

-What if I lose?

-If there’s even a 1% chance of defeat, you’ll just have to train again until you win. It’s okay to lose. But if I have a personal wish, I’d like you to win decisively this time.

-That’s making it impossible for me to lose.

“…Sigh.”

Just as he had believed in her.

Thanks to the encouragement of her idol who had believed in and supported her since before her awakening, she was able to win.

Murmurs rose.

While she was lost in thought, people began to stir.

“…Oh.”

Yi-seon was momentarily speechless as a young man in a white suit with blonde hair approached from the entrance.

“Oh, Tae Jo…?”

“Congratulations, senior.”

Armored Taejo, the man defeated by Yoon Yi-seon, appeared at the reception.

Despite facing the woman who had defeated him, he smiled casually and raised his glass.

“You may have become S-class, but in terms of S-class seniority, I’m still your senior, you know?”

“…Suddenly speaking formally?”

“If you were weaker than me, that would be one thing, but since you’re stronger and older, it’s only natural that I speak formally.”

“……”

Could this really be the same young man who had spoken down to everyone with his Iron Blood King, shouting at everyone?

Yi-seon couldn’t tell whether he was in shock from defeat or if manners had been instilled in him.

“Well, I thought I was doing a proper job as an S-class gatekeeper. I never imagined I’d be broken through like this. Haha.”

“……”

“Why are you like that? You can hold your head higher. You won, after all.”

“Um, Tae Jo?”

“I’m fine. Rather relieved, actually.”

Taejo spread his hands upward and shrugged his shoulders.

Making exaggerated gestures for something that could have been done subtly, he just kept smiling.

“Now that I know my shortcomings, I won’t lose next time. Ah, are you worried that I might be angry or offended? Don’t worry. That’s not the case. However.”

Smirk.

“If there are any A-class heroes who think they’re great because I lost and want to challenge me, they’re going to have a liiiittle bit of trouble.”

“Keep that up and you might drop to 9th or 10th place.”

“…Gasp.”

Taejo’s expression hardened at the voice of the woman who appeared behind him.

“S-Seolhee noona? Why are you here…?”

“What? Am I not allowed to come here?”

“N-no. It’s just that you don’t usually like these kinds of gatherings.”

“I should congratulate when congratulations are due. A new S-class has emerged.”

Baek Seol-hee raised her glass toward Yoon Yi-seon and winked.

“Sincere congratulations. And let me warn you in advance, don’t pay attention to what others say.”

“Pardon?”

“That you only have momentary firepower, or that you’re only S-class when transformed. Those are all words of jealousy. I might sound like a nag giving this advice right after congratulating you, but it’s all for your sake.”

“…I understand.”

Yi-seon nodded heavily at Baek Seol-hee’s words.

Even here, there were people whispering about her behind her back.

“It’s okay. I’ve experienced all sorts of things while serving on the student council.”

“That’s good then. Oh, by the way. Someone I know asked me to tell you.”

Baek Seol-hee’s expression hardened briefly, then she smiled brightly again and clinked her glass against Yi-seon’s before speaking.

“They said your awakening was very beautiful.”

“…Someone you know?”

“Yes. A really meddlesome tsundere.”

“…Ah.”

She seemed to know who it was.

To the extent that Yi-seon had some understanding about Ymir, she immediately recognized who Baek Seol-hee was referring to.

“I’m grateful.”

“It’s nothing. I’m more thankful. Can I call you comfortably? You can call me unni too.”

“Yes, unni.”

“Good. Then…”

Baek Seol-hee’s smile deepened.

“Surely, you don’t plan to just stay at 7th place, right?”

“……”

Somewhere.

Yi-seon began to feel something like a swishing tail behind Baek Seol-hee’s back.

It must be her imagination.

“Strong S-class colleagues are always welcome. I’d like you to become stronger. Hehehe.”

“……”

Yi-seon genuinely got goosebumps from Baek Seol-hee’s smile.

There were many in this reception hall who wanted to use her, but this was the first time she felt someone trying to use her so purely and without malice.

Perhaps she was aiming for retirement due to pregnancy.

The thought briefly crossed her mind, but Yi-seon shook her head inwardly and smiled.

“Of course. I will become stronger. Please help me a lot, unni.”

Because pregnancy retirement belongs to Platinum Sun, to Ymir.

* * *

[Teacher, please contact me if anything happens. I’ll come running right away.]

“I’m overseas. And if what you call ‘anything’ happens, it would be troublesome if you came.”

[…..]

“I appreciate your concern, but what’s not possible is not possible.”

Ymir called me with a worried voice, but I declined his goodwill.

“You transferring some of your magical power to me is enough… it’s almost been three minutes. Mir.”

[Yes, teacher.]

“Take good care of the house while I’m gone.”

[Of course. Please travel safely.]

Click.

The call ended.

I took off my Taegeuk Watch and tossed it into the basket on the desk.

And then.

“It’s been a while. This heavy sensation.”

I put on an analog wristwatch instead of the Taegeuk Watch.

“……”

Something I didn’t wear, couldn’t wear, when appearing as Do Ji-hwan the librarian.

A wristwatch from the highest brand that still holds its ultra-high-end position even after the Great Cataclysm.

“…It feels new to wear a Nautilus after so long.”

“Probably because you’ve gotten used to it. You’ll feel like before when we get to Phuket?”

“Aren’t you going to change into formal attire?”

“Hmm, that feels even more awkward? It’s better to just be as usual. Try talking as if you’re wearing a mask.”

Qiongqi, Yoon Hye-ra smiled as she pulled at my suit tie.

It seems that Yoon Hye-ra has properly set the date, as she’s coming with me to Phuket this time.

“I came out in hanbok, so it’s a bit…”

“What? Are you being considerate because I’m a lady in hanbok? Is that the concept?”

Yoon Hye-ra giggled and moved one hand to her face.

“So while we’re in Phuket, my Jihwan will be my knight?”

“I think it would be better to treat me like before.”

“Hmm… then what should I call you? Jihwan-ssi? Or Manager Do? Isn’t that too much like how I usually call you?”

“We’re not going as newlyweds anyway.”

“Aren’t we? We’re definitely going with a newlywed concept.”

“…No. What Korean couple goes to Phuket for their honeymoon? They’d go to Ulleungdo or Jeju Island.”

“It’s different if we’re talking about 14 nights and 15 days in Phuket instead of 1 night and 2 days in Ulleungdo or Jeju Island.”

Yoon Hye-ra’s eyes flashed red.

“Since the chairman has officially designated me as your partner, I won’t leave you alone for those 15 days. Oppa.”