Ch.56Haven’t I Seen You Before? – 5

Some people say they like certain things.

Among them, there are three types I absolutely cannot understand.

Those who say studying is fun. Those who claim mint chocolate is the best.

And those who say they enjoy exercise.

“Huff, huff…”

My combat skills automatically improve each time I engage in battle.

But in contrast, my stamina only reaches the limit my body can handle.

If I try to push beyond that, my body probably won’t be able to endure it.

In other words, I need to continue conducting evaluations while separately building up my stamina.

Thanks to that, post-work exercise has become an essential routine.

“Kuh, huk. Heuk…”

How long have I been running? About an hour?

My heart feels like it’s going to burst. I think I taste blood in my throat.

I’ve never run this long before.

I’ve only recently started exercising, but perhaps I overdid it.

I take off my cap, run my hand through my hair, and try to steady my breathing.

‘Damn… if I’d known it would be like this, I would have exercised more beforehand.’

I regret it now, but how could I have known things would turn out this way?

I thought I’d just continue being a civil servant and live that way until I died again.

I never dreamed I’d get caught up in such an absurd situation.

After catching my breath, I slowly straightened my back.

Still, as a superpowered individual, my physical condition is better than the average person’s.

My breathing is already returning to normal, isn’t it?

I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy exercise.

But it seems I must do it, if only to survive.

There’s no choice. Even superpowered individuals are essentially physical workers.

Not taking care of your body in that state is no different from choosing death.

‘Just 30 more minutes, let’s run for 30 more minutes before going home.’

After doing some light stretching, just as I was about to turn the corner and pick up speed again.

THUD—

“Kyeeng!”

“Ugh!”

Something crashes into my chest, and then bounces backward.

I wasn’t completely unaffected either, as the cap I was wearing fell off.

For a moment I thought, ‘A villain?!’ but there was no stinging sensation on my skin.

And if it had really been a villain, I would have had a knife in my stomach by now.

It seems that while turning the corner, neither I nor the other person saw each other.

But since my build is much larger, the other person ended up falling on their backside.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“Ah… yes. I’m fine. Are you okay too?”

“Yes. I think I turned without checking. I’m really sorry.”

“No, I did the same thing.”

Though they were wearing a hood, I could immediately tell the other person was a woman.

From her build and slender limbs.

…But why was she speaking in such a strange voice?

As if she was disguising her real voice, afraid someone might recognize it.

“Oh.”

Having apologized and confirmed there were no injuries,

I was about to go on my way when the other person shouted “Wait!” and then.

“Wait a moment. Could it be? It is you! It is!”

“Pardon?”

“The man who took a photo with Rina Lee during the gate incident!”

“Uh. Um… that’s…”

“And also the one who recently went on a rampage against those villains!”

I did fight against multiple opponents, but it was hardly a rampage.

I only remember taking down one or two of them.

And it was Soohyun Kim who slashed the villain at the end, not me.

Of course, our journalists didn’t care about such details.

They were only busy writing sensational and flashy articles.

“It’s you, right? Right?”

“Well, that… yes, that’s correct.”

“Really? Wow! If it’s not too rude, may I take a photo with you?”

What is this all about, interrupting my workout?

A photo? Isn’t that something only celebrities do?

I’m not even a streamer, so why would anyone…

No, thinking about it, it makes sense.

In this world, superpowered individuals are a kind of hero.

And heroes enjoy popularity beyond that of celebrities.

Suddenly calling me a hero? When you think about it, it’s only natural.

Those who fight monsters to save people and defeat villains to protect peace.

So calling them real-life heroes isn’t wrong at all.

And when I think about it, my recent actions fit both of those criteria.

I consider myself just a civil servant or a grade evaluator.

But to ordinary people, I might be seen as a rising star.

“One, two, three! Yap!”

The other person takes a selfie with somewhat exaggerated movements.

Then, after checking the photo, she immediately bows her head.

“It was probably a very rude request, I’m really sorry. And thank you so much!”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I didn’t think it was a difficult request or something rude at all.

After all, my face has been exposed everywhere due to various incidents.

Meanwhile, the woman examining the photo from different angles breaks into a smile. “Hehe!”

“It came out well! I think you look even better in person than in photos!”

That line never changes no matter who it’s directed at.

Of course, my face isn’t so unfortunate that such flattery would be necessary.

The only thing I like about being possessed by Seojin Baek is his appearance.

“You’re Seojin Baek, right?”

“Yes, that’s right, but the ‘sir’ sounds a bit strange.”

“Why? You fought monsters during the gate incident, and you fought villains too! Of course you deserve respect! And I heard you already have several fans, did you know that?”

“Fans? Well, this is completely news to me.”

“Yes! And there’s also talk that thanks to you, people are seeing civil servants differently!”

That’s… some welcome news. Yes, definitely welcome news.

Always getting cursed at, being told they don’t do anything and should have their salaries cut.

But civil servants all have their jobs. Especially those at the bottom have even more.

Just handling official duties? That would be fortunate. There are so many miscellaneous tasks besides official duties.

Carrying and stacking goods when they arrive, working when it rains or snows.

If there’s a shortage of people, you have to give up your weekends to work. How frustrating is that.

And when you hear complaints on top of that, you’re really tempted to throw a punch.

“That’s good. I’ve been concerned about how terribly civil servants are treated these days.”

“Right? That’s why it’s even more appropriate to call you ‘sir’ Seojin Baek!”

While looking at the other person, I unconsciously asked a question.

“Are you perhaps a broadcaster?”

“What? Oh, ah, no?! I’m not! Why would you suddenly ask that…?”

“The way you speak seems peculiarly lively. Broadcasters tend to talk like that.”

“Really? I do hear that sometimes!”

But she insisted she really wasn’t a broadcaster.

She wore an extremely awkward smile that anyone could see through.

“Well, I should get going now. I look forward to seeing more of you, Seojin Baek sir!”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, I mean, keep up the good work. Don’t get hurt, teach those bad villains a lesson! Make lots of money defeating monsters too! Fighting!! And keep exercising hard!”

Really, I’ve never met someone so bubbly before.

Isn’t she a broadcaster? That’s exactly how broadcasters talk.

Though I hardly watch broadcasts, so I don’t really know who she might be.

“Thank you. You keep exercising hard too.”

After exchanging brief greetings, I turned away.

It was a bit sudden, but I didn’t feel bad about it.

Rather, I felt a little, how should I put it, proud.

This might be why superpowered individuals fight so fiercely.

Those who fight for something beyond money or fame.

At first, I couldn’t understand it well, but now I think I do a little.

‘I should live more diligently.’

I put strength back into my legs that were starting to relax.

And I make a resolution. To work harder than I am now.

Since things have come to this, let’s really do it properly.

The evaluations I’m in charge of, the exercise I’m doing now, and…

‘I’ll just play one game before going to bed.’

*

Tadadatat—!

With her hood hastily pulled over her head, Eunsol Seo ran hard.

It was surprising enough to suddenly encounter Seojin Baek, but to be asked if she was a broadcaster?

‘What? Does he know me? Is he perhaps a viewer of my broadcasts?’

After running and running for a long time, until she was completely out of breath.

Eunsol Seo, also known as “Madcat,” finally came to a stop.

“Haa, haa…”

It’s exhausting. Her chest feels like it’s going to burst. She hadn’t planned to run so frantically.

She doesn’t even understand why she reacted that way.

“…”

After catching her breath for a while, she carefully took out her phone.

And quietly examined the selfie she had taken earlier.

“…He looks much better in person.”

The photo is plenty handsome. It’s handsome, but something is missing.

He looked much more handsome when she saw him directly with her own eyes.

‘Hero. A hero.’

In the past, she was almost killed by a monster but was saved by superpowered individuals.

That’s when she realized. They were great heroes who would save the world.

Heroes she had only seen in movies had really appeared in the world.

And the hero she met this time was like someone straight out of a movie.

Not arrogant, kind, seemingly ordinary, yet truly impressive.

“The photo came out well. I can share this story on my broadcast today.”

Of course, she has no intention of showing the photo.

There are portrait rights issues, but also she wants to keep it just for herself.

It would be the height of disrespect if she posted it somewhere and those vulture reporters pounced on it.

With a very cheerful step, Eunsol Seo entered her home.

After lightly stretching her body, she turned on her game again.

‘Today I will definitely, definitely reach Silver!’

She thought broadcasting might be distracting her.

So today, she decided to try without streaming.

Her current promotion series stands at 1 win and 2 losses. One more loss and she’ll drop down again.

She must win. She needs to make it 2 wins and 2 losses.

And the remaining match should be shown on tomorrow’s broadcast.

‘Please, today let there be humans on my team, not beasts!’

Eunsol Seo prayed earnestly to the heavens.

But there was one fact she overlooked.

“KYAAAAAAANG!!”

– Defeat! –

Even if there are no beasts on her team, only humans,

There might be beings on the enemy team that even those humans cannot handle.

– PleaseSilverPlease

That was the ID of the player who had once again destroyed the game.