Ch.56Fake Human (2)

The Hero Association Headquarters located in City A.

That place, known as humanity’s strongest and last line of defense, was originally an autonomous district that strictly prohibited civilian entry.

As I was still just a college student aspiring to be a hero, I shouldn’t have been able to enter through official channels.

But I suppose this is what it means to be part of the Okami family with its 1,000-year history.

“Hey. I’m bringing my attendant in with me, okay?”

“O-Of course! Princess.”

“Certainly. Hahaha…”

Passing through security guards who stepped aside like we had a free pass at an airport, we soon arrived at the association lobby.

If it had just been the first floor, which was partially open for children’s field trips, that would have been one thing.

But led by the young lady’s hand, I took the elevator down to what was clearly a large simulation room where civilians definitely shouldn’t be allowed.

“Miss Hoshino… um, is it really okay for me to be here?”

“Huh? Why? Haven’t you been here a few times before anyway?”

“Well… yes, but at least then I was dragged here, not coming of my own accord.”

“Oh, come on! It’s basically the same thing. If anyone gives you trouble, just tell me. Got it?”

Basically saying I’m allowed to be here!

…while she kept shooting sharp glances around at everyone nearby.

With her acting like that, would anyone actually dare to challenge us?

It was an uncomfortable situation in many ways, but since I was already here, I decided to quietly follow along.

“So this is the simulation room.”

“Yeah, that’s right. But Janghun, do you know what this place is?”

“Yes. I’ve heard it’s a facility where heroes train before fighting monsters.”

Commonly known as an experience dungeon.

I remember it as a place where you could earn cultivation items about twice a day, and if you paid a monthly fee, you could run it up to five more times.

‘When I played the game, I just clicked the skip button without paying much attention, but it’s actually quite a large space.’

Inside the white space, I could see a few administrators in white coats and heroes sparring with punching machines.

The simulation room was divided into three levels—lower, middle, and upper—just as I had seen in the game.

Among them, I followed Miss Hoshino to the upper-level room.

As soon as we entered, I began to see familiar silhouettes of important figures.

Even though I recognized their faces, perhaps because of the setting, I felt nervous and greeted them first.

“Master Makoto. And Teacher Yoon Ha-eun, you’re here too.”

“Janghun? …It seems Hoshino brought you along.”

“Oh my! Janghun, it’s been so long~.”

Waiting for us in the upper-level simulation room were Master Makoto and Yoon Ha-eun, whom Miss Hoshino had contacted in advance.

Master Makoto, unlike Miss Hoshino, seemed to know that this was a place where I shouldn’t be, as she kept shooting sharp glances at her daughter.

And then—

Rub rub.

“My goodness~. How did this child grow up so well?”

Yoon Ha-eun looked up at me, now taller than her, and pulled my face into her ample bosom.

In the past, after I proved I wasn’t a horned mask monster, our relationship had been awkward for a while.

But thanks to her taking extra care of me afterward, my relationship with Yoon Ha-eun had become this close.

“Aah?! Get those dirty fat things away from my Janghun!”

Slap.

“Ugh?! H-Hoshino… what if you leave a slap mark on teacher’s chest…”

“Ugh, how long are you going to act like a teacher! We’ve already graduated from elementary school and are in college now!”

Although Miss Hoshino was now an adult.

She seemed to have a complex about not being able to match Yoon Ha-eun’s “heart size.”

“Hoshino. I understand how you feel, but Miss Yoon Ha-eun here is one of the S-class heroes representing Hero City. Don’t be too disrespectful to someone like her.”

“Ugh… M-Mother…”

But even that was quickly subdued by the Master’s even more substantial warning.

“Your A-class rank 2 position is largely due to the influence of our Okami family name.”

“W-Well, that’s true…”

“In reality, your skills are far below that. Just look at Carmilla, who’s in the same cohort as you. She’s currently ranked higher than her own mother, isn’t she?”

“Uuugh…”

“Don’t lose confidence, but don’t be too arrogant either. Remember that.”

“I understand…”

If Miss Hoshino was a fox, then Master Makoto was a wolf with blood on her muzzle.

Perhaps wanting to pass the position of family head to her daughter who had recently become an adult?

Lately, whenever the two were in the same space, they often created a heavy atmosphere like this.

The air became so heavy that even Yoon Ha-eun, who had just been quietly taking slaps to her chest, started to feel awkward.

But isn’t this exactly why I’m here?

“Master! By the way, why did you suddenly call Miss Hoshino to the Hero Association?”

I naturally inserted myself between the mother and daughter, breaking the flow.

Master Makoto sighed lightly and, seeming to notice my intention, changed the subject.

“I don’t know either. Honestly, we were also ‘summoned’ here.”

“Mother… an S-class hero was summoned?”

“That’s right, that’s right. By the way, teacher is here for the same reason. I think all five S-class heroes, including us, have been called.”

“You mean… all the S-class heroes have been summoned?”

I was surprised to see two S-class heroes together, but when I heard the full story, I was simply dumbfounded.

‘This development wasn’t even in the original work…?’

It wasn’t just unusual.

S-class heroes, who were supposedly so rare that it was hard to see even one, were gathering in one place—all five of them.

This surely meant something momentous was about to happen.

Now I understood why Master Makoto had been looking at me with concern.

While Miss Hoshino, as an A-class rank 2 hero, might be acceptable,

I, just a college student in a hero-related department, shouldn’t have been here in the first place.

This was strictly for authorized personnel only.

“Should I leave now?”

“…No. Since you’re already here, just stay and listen.”

“W-What?! Is that really okay…?”

“Sure~. You’re going to work at the association later anyway, right Janghun? Just think of it as intern training before you start.”

No, Teacher Yoon Ha-eun.

What company in the world exposes top-secret information to interns before they’re even hired?

The two of them were saying it was fine, but from my perspective, it was anything but.

Therefore.

“Um, I’ll just leave.”

I need to be considerate.

With that thought, I turned to leave quickly…

Thud.

“…Oof?”

“Oh my.”

As I was trying to sneak away quietly,

I suddenly lost my balance as if I’d hit an invisible wall, and was gracefully caught by a princess.

“Monsieur, are you hurt? Young master.”

“Young… master?”

A term of endearment for addressing a young man.

When I stood up with her help and faced her, I saw eyes that shone like rubies with beastly pupils.

Her elaborate rose-patterned dress evoked Western royalty.

Above it, her sunny golden hair was as bright as a sunflower growing on fertile land.

Elegantly curling up the corners of her mouth, she was the very embodiment of a modern princess.

Her smile directed at me contained a bewitching quality that made a man’s heart race.

“Please be careful next time. Young master.”

“Ah, yes…”

For a moment, I had the illusion that the white simulation room had transformed into a noble mansion.

That’s how much influence she exerted on her surroundings—she was one of the S-class heroes I had hoped to avoid meeting.

S-class Rank 4.

Princess – Roselia Ardret.

In the past, she was one of the gacha characters I had maxed out, even breaking my savings to do so.

“Janghun, are you okay?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine, Miss Hoshino.”

“Why are you trying to leave? Just stay here.”

“Haha… honestly, all the S-class heroes are gathering, and as a civilian, I can’t possibly intrude.”

“Ah… I’m sorry… I didn’t know it would be such a serious meeting… I think I’ve done something unnecessary…”

Meanwhile, Miss Hoshino, who had rushed over concerned about me, now looked crestfallen.

She seemed dejected from the guilt of bringing me somewhere unnecessary and her recent discord with the Master.

As I was stroking her drooping fox ears, trying to encourage her as usual.

“By the way, including me, everyone gathered here is the complete S-class roster.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“What?”

“…What did you say?”

Roselia, who had been listening to our conversation, informed everyone that she was the last to arrive.

“I heard that ranks 1 and 2 are ‘exploring’ outside Hero City and couldn’t come.”

“I-Is that true? Senior Roselia.”

“Yes, it’s true. So if there’s an important meeting, we’ll have to handle it ourselves.”

“Hmm… I can understand rank 1, but rank 2 is absent again? …That doesn’t look good.”

Everyone seemed disappointed, but I felt differently.

Being half-monster, I personally found it uncomfortable to have more contact with S-class heroes than necessary.

Anyway, since everyone seemed to have gathered, I was thinking about withdrawing.

While you Hero Association folks diligently discuss humanity’s survival, I’ll do my best in my own way!

As if in response to my thoughts.

“Since everyone seems to be here, let’s begin the S-class meeting.”

I found myself sitting at a round table with five thrones, having been asked to fill a seat on a whim.

“…I understand Princess Hoshino being here, but who is this gentleman?”

Exactly.

Who is this nobody and why is he here?

My plan to remain as inconspicuous as possible seemed to have fallen apart from the very beginning.