Ch.659Chapter 25. Let it Unfold (9)

Short hair, kimono, judo, Japanese.

Can a human become stronger just by having these light novel attributes?

Not at all.

If that were possible, every powered individual in America would be wearing a mark with an ‘S’ on their chest.

There’s only one reason why Nadeshiko became stronger by cutting her hair short:

‘As a physical enhancement type, my hair keeps flying around when I move vigorously.’

No one would have dared point out her long straight hair that reached down to her buttocks.

Being S-class, carelessly commenting on her hair length could cause serious problems.

And since she herself never found any “inconvenient reason” for it, there hadn’t been any major issues until now.

But here’s a question:

Why do kendo girls and similar female fighters tie their hair in ponytails?

-Because they can’t cut it short, but they hate their hair flying around!

Hair that wildly flies from side to side during intense movement can unconsciously interfere with human movement.

Nadeshiko didn’t particularly care because she was S-class, but if she had been C-class or D-class level, her hair would have obstructed her vision when using her abilities.

Do you sacrifice style for convenience?

Or do you defend your hair, which could be considered a woman’s pride?

For female powered individuals facing this dilemma, there is one answer:

‘Absolutely no short cuts.’

There was once a female character.

Born as the daughter of the world’s greatest martial artist, she was interested in martial arts from a young age and developed skills comparable to any adult.

When she met a young martial artist who appeared innocent on the outside but actually burned with a sense of justice, punishing evildoers with his martial arts…

She asked him to become her master, and to show how strong her determination was to become stronger—

She cut her hair short like a man’s.

Ah!

What tremendous sorrow!

If such a thing happened in reality, any man would be unable to contain his dismay.

Therefore.

Even if it meant forcibly changing her hairstyle a bit, I decided to style it as a bob cut rather than making it completely short.

Thanks to that.

[You’re finally keeping up.]

“I’m just following you!!”

Led by Nadeshiko, those who received advice from the instructors pressured me more actively than before.

“I won’t let you escape!”

“I’ll definitely catch you!”

Some fired magical arrows with time delays, others set traps to prevent me from running with time acceleration, and some barely managed to keep up with my accelerated speed.

Rather than moving as a team, it felt more like they were improvising and coordinating on the spot, but compared to before the instruction, the sparring became so intense that even I had to take the fight somewhat seriously.

No, this is combat.

If the S-class villain Goblin were to appear in a World Cup stadium, heroes would probably attack me like this.

‘I should get some help too.’

Ka-ang!

Blocking Nadeshiko’s fist with my Goblin Club, I learn their magical patterns.

They probably don’t realize it, but there’s only one reason why I deliberately swing my Goblin Club to parry attacks during this sparring:

‘I’ll use this later when I need to neutralize them.’

Learning their magical wavelengths.

If they ever betray the Syndicate, I’m memorizing their magical patterns so I can deliver a killing blow that penetrates their shields without any difficulty.

“Got you!!”

[That’s just an afterimage.]

“This…! You tricked me again!”

[It’s your fault for being tricked.]

While I’m pretending to spar, they would probably refuse even this if they knew what I was doing.

No one knows.

Because they are…

[At this rate, you all might be able to stand with me on the battlefield, but…]

Not deeply connected to me.

[Sharing a bed would be impossible.]

[Hyper—!!]

Whoosh!!

* * *

“What was that at the end?”

“…I don’t know.”

Was it because they were all women in their early twenties?

Did they develop a sense of camaraderie while facing a powerful opponent?

Or was it because they were all collaborators of the Syndicate, in similar situations despite being from different countries?

“I don’t know what it was, but he definitely moved much faster than before.”

After the battle and a shower, Nadeshiko shared her thoughts with the gathered collaborators.

“He said ‘Hyper,’ right? It means he moved faster than before.”

“But isn’t using technique names to cheat the Goblin’s specialty?”

“Ugh.”

“I think it was that thing, you know.”

One collaborator stood up and struck a strange pose.

“Time Stop—!”

“I don’t think even the Goblin can stop time.”

“Maybe not stopping time, but creating an effect similar to time stop? Like, temporarily petrifying or paralyzing all of us.”

“Against this many S-class at once? That’s impossible. We all felt the impact on our awakening marks.”

The clues are too few.

The Goblin disappeared with a ‘flash’ as soon as the word ‘HYPER’ was heard.

There was a dull impact on their awakening marks.

And when they regained consciousness, several minutes had passed, with their memories of that time gone as if they had lost consciousness.

“…Is this our homework?”

The collaborators lamented the answer that wouldn’t come no matter how hard they thought.

“If we can’t break through that, it would be impossible to deal with the Goblin, right?”

“Probably. …So, can Baek Seol-hee and those women do it?”

“Who knows. Baek Seol-hee could just freeze the entire space, and the other two could surround the whole area with fire and electricity before he uses that.”

“Isn’t that similar?”

“…It’s like a difference in timing? Hmm, I’ll have to research that.”

While discussing, the Syndicate collaborators objectively examined their abilities, quite satisfied with their power improvement and enhanced thinking.

“Hey, Nadeshiko. Did you know a night with the Goblin—I mean Patriotic Hero Do Ji-hwan—would go like this?”

“Not at all.”

Nadeshiko declared firmly.

“I received support from the Goblin in Japan before, but it was never like this.”

“Then?”

“…He just did this every night with the women he brought.”

Poke, poke poke.

Nadeshiko made a circle with her fingers and repeatedly poked through it.

“Oh, did you do it too, Nadeshiko?”

“I didn’t. Would he do it if I asked? Look how sharp he is.”

“Hmm….”

“Besides, I want someone who only looks at me, not someone who looks at different women like that.”

“But what if the Goblin became a man who only looked at you?”

“…….”

Nadeshiko briefly imagined such a future.

With her S-class quick thinking, she even imagined her grandson Haruto and granddaughter Himiko becoming Japan’s top S-class heroes, twin pillars protecting Kanto and Kansai, while she and Do Ji-hwan watched them on an old 40-inch TV in a quiet countryside village.

“…No matter how I think about it, there would be other women around him.”

Behind that house’s wall, she kept imagining a white-haired woman whose hair had turned white since youth, and a blue-eyed woman with flowing blonde hair and a smile as bright as the sun, sneaking into their home.

“I’d rather find a man who only looks at me and gives me peace of mind.”

“Then, why not ask the Company to make one? Like a Do Ji-hwan clone.”

“One Goblin per household. Sounds good. He’s not bad except for the ability coaching.”

“…What are you all talking about?”

Nadeshiko couldn’t help but laugh at the collaborators who were seriously making plans.

“Are you all really going for him?”

“What’s wrong with that? All his advice was beneficial.”

“His delivery might be harsh, but everything he said was helpful. If he speaks so firmly, I’m sure that thing will be firm too.”

“…….”

Nadeshiko felt a chill down her spine at the S-class individuals’ strong determination.

Perhaps it was because they had set one goal in their hearts.

“Goblin, we’ll definitely defeat you.”

What would happen after they win?

“…Hmm.”

Nadeshiko licked her lips, hiding her true feelings.

Whatever else might happen, she would never allow other women to defeat the Goblin before she did.

* * *

The sparring was over.

Everyone was tired, but being S-class, they weren’t completely exhausted. I gathered them all in one place.

“What is this…?”

“A club? What’s going on?”

“…A tavern?”

The seminar room where they had gathered for lectures had suddenly transformed, and instead of a podium, I greeted them in front of a large jar.

“Just because it’s a yacht doesn’t mean the interior has to be Hollywood style. Welcome to Do Ji-hwan’s tavern.”

“What’s this all about…?”

“After benefiting from ability training, we need to create some photo evidence of your ‘intense night’ with the Patriotic Hero.”

In other words, creating an alibi.

“This is artisanal soju directly imported from Andong. We need to upload to SNS by dawn, so…”

I took a sip from a cup I was holding while putting my arm around Thunder Empress Kim Yoon-ji, who was wearing only a thin robe.

“Everyone, get soaked.”

In the morning.

Photos of Patriotic Hero Do Ji-hwan’s awakening party with 18 S-class individuals leaked online.

Along with clear awakening marks engraved on the bodies of the S-class individuals who had collapsed as if unconscious.