Ch.77Ah, I Want to Be a Hero (1)

When I defeated the cockroach monster, there was no one around to witness it.

Perhaps everyone except Ms. Song Hana and Zero had fled from the shelter area.

After everything was over, the credit for saving C City went to numerous heroes and soldiers, including Zero and Carmilla.

At least, that’s how it was reported to the public.

“Every TV channel is talking about either Zero or Carmilla…”

“Well, it was a major incident after all.”

“True… I heard it’s causing quite a stir in the National Assembly too.”

I was on my way to visit Carmilla in the hospital, riding in a limousine with Miss Hoshino.

Originally, I was supposed to go alone, but apparently if a man enters a VIP ward where a woman is alone, he becomes a father or something like that.

Anyway, that’s why Miss Hoshino decided to accompany me.

We were having a light conversation about everything that had happened during the week since the cockroach incident in C City.

“The number of dead soldiers and heroes combined exceeds three digits, yet the city is practically in a festive mood.”

“That’s because of the record of zero civilian casualties, right?”

“Yes. This is the first time in Hero City’s history that a monster with a danger level of 1 or higher appeared without causing any civilian casualties.”

The National Assembly was praising the newly reorganized S-class heroes for this achievement.

Especially the Progressive Party’s representative who had established the hero-related bill.

Congresswoman Avanka once again spread her reputation throughout the city as an “enlightened politician.”

“I’m fine even in the rain. After all, I’m not made of sugar.”

…she said while paying respects in front of the tombstones of the fallen.

Thanks to this, her Progressive Party’s approval rating had risen from the 70% range to the mid-80% range.

“Congresswoman Avanka… she’s no ordinary genius.”

“Yeah. She deliberately chose a rainy day, went alone, and saluted in front of each tombstone? Honestly, it looks like nothing but a ‘show’ to me.”

“But for an ambiguous politician, maybe. Since it’s Congresswoman Avanka, people will only see it as sincere consolation from a good person.”

“Right. After meeting Zero, I got curious and did some background research on Congresswoman Avanka… that woman’s popularity is no joke.”

Even broadcasting stations that are biased against the Progressive Party don’t publish any notable articles about Congresswoman Avanka.

The reason is that she’s essentially another hero fighting on humanity’s frontlines with pen and paper.

They know exactly what kind of backlash they’d face from the public if they messed with someone called ‘the war hero at the desk.’

“From her volunteer work to everything else known about her, she’s truly an angel! An angel.”

“…Is she really that impressive?”

“Oh, you have no idea. The more I investigated, she’s like a living Buddha. Normal politicians would have at least some dirt on them, but she’s too clean! Honestly, if it weren’t for how she treats Zero, she would have been my complete role model.”

“Hmm…”

Come to think of it, Miss Hoshino became an S-class hero thanks to Congresswoman Avanka, right?

When I first met her at the previous S-class roundtable, Miss Hoshino seemed to like Congresswoman Avanka.

But after reconciling with Master Makoto and noticing the strange feelings between her and Zero, she doesn’t seem to like her as much anymore.

Well, I also felt uncomfortable about Congresswoman Avanka for various reasons, so I shared Miss Hoshino’s sentiments.

“By the way, I’m an S-class hero. My mom said that if your mother is an S-class hero, you should take an interest in politics, so I studied it reluctantly… Janghoon, were you interested in this kind of stuff too? That’s unexpected.”

“What?! Haha… Well, as an adult citizen, one should naturally take an interest in politics. For the presidential election at least…”

“Presidential? We have a parliamentary cabinet system though?”

“Ah, yes! I misspoke. For the members of parliament…!”

“Hmm.”

Anyway, it would be strange to keep pressing the issue.

I had asked in case it might help with the changed flow of the original story, but Miss Hoshino didn’t seem to know much either.

Congresswoman Avanka.

From creating Zero, a homunculus that didn’t exist in the original story, to having barely any presence up until the 5th anniversary when I was actively playing the game.

There was still a lot I wanted to know about her, but I decided to leave it at that for now.

Besides, I had more important matters to attend to.

“Miss Hoshino. Just to make sure, you didn’t throw away the box of Bacchus I brought for Carmilla, did you?”

“W-who do you think I am! No matter how much I dislike Carmilla, I wouldn’t do something that childish!”

“…So I don’t need to check inside the box, right?”

“……Sorry, I actually drank one on the way here.”

“Sigh…”

I was anxious even before the hospital visit.

Miss Hoshino and Carmilla were officially recognized rivals in Hero City, beyond just my speculation.

Like water and oil.

Not WWE, but UFC.

They were two people who avoided meeting each other whenever possible, knowing that just being together would make the atmosphere tense.

Yet now, because of me, these two were about to be in the same place.

“Carmilla… I’ve come to visit.”

“Ah! Janghoon! Welcome-sawa…”

“…Tch.”

“……yo.”

Following the nurse’s guidance, we finally arrived at the VIP room on the top floor of the university hospital.

There was my only childhood friend, fully recovered after a week since the incident.

I had been extremely worried when she was first found in a life-or-death situation, but now Carmilla was happily waving at me, having already changed out of her patient gown.

A few seconds later.

That is, until she saw Miss Hoshino entering behind me.

“I’m pretty sure I only invited Janghoon?”

“I came along because I’m his owner. Is that a problem?”

“Yes-sawa! This was a soundproof room for once, but it’s all ruined because of you!”

“Aha! I knew it! You perverted woman with nothing but indecent thoughts in your head! You act like a proper lady in front of others, but my eyes don’t lie!”

“Hmph! You’re one to talk! Didn’t you play up that ‘I don’t know how babies are made’ concept on TV before?”

“Idiot. Of course I don’t know because I’ve never done it!”

“…Is that so?”

What do you mean, “Is that so?” Hey.

It was already chaotic just one minute after arriving for the hospital visit.

But if I got swept up in their atmosphere, the hospital room would be destroyed in no time.

So I gathered my strength and focused.

And to clear this damp atmosphere as much as possible.

“Oh? By the way, Carmilla. Isn’t that outfit a qipao?”

“Ah, yes! That’s right-sawa! It’s a qipao, famous as a traditional martial arts outfit-sawa!”

While hurriedly looking for something to divert attention to.

Unusually, Carmilla was wearing traditional Chinese clothing, which particularly caught my eye.

“Why the sudden qipao?”

“Well…”

Meanwhile, is she not wearing panties…?

No, Miss Hoshino never wears them so that’s expected, but Carmilla has never been like this before.

It was quite stimulating.

Regardless, she answered with a seductive smile while showing her dangerously bare legs.

“After being defeated by the cockroach monster, I realized my shortcomings!”

“Shortcomings?”

“Yes! I basically fight from a distance. Because of that, I’m inevitably much weaker in close combat compared to other S-class heroes.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Carmilla’s ability was to summon monster-specific firearms all around her and overwhelm with firepower from a distance.

She called it a lower version of the ‘creation of all things’ ability.

She said she didn’t fully understand this innate ability herself, but what was certain was that with her current usage, she was bound to struggle in close combat.

“So while I was pondering this, I met a ‘master’ who could cover my weakness.”

“A master?”

“Yes! An acquaintance of my mother’s. Was it two days ago? They came to find me, suddenly shouted ‘You have talent!’ and gave me this outfit before disappearing.”

“…? What’s that about…”

It’s not like some martial arts version of “Do you know the Way?” or something.

“They also added that I could inherit the 4,000-year-old martial art of their dojo, whose lineage was about to end!”

“4,000 years?”

“Yes! Since they’re my mother’s acquaintance, I thought I’d casually learn some self-defense techniques.”

Wait, even the history of Hero City has just passed 1,000 years.

To me, who knew the setting of this world to some extent, these words sounded like nothing but a ‘scam.’

As a friend, I felt I should stop her.

But then.

Swoosh!

“How is it, Janghoon? My leg extends really high, doesn’t it?”

Yeah, it does.

If she extends it just a bit more, I think I’ll be able to see everything underneath.

Miss Hoshino always comes to find me naked anyway.

Thanks to that, I thought I wouldn’t even blink at this level of exposure.

But maybe it’s because the subject changed from Miss Hoshino to my childhood friend?

I felt a bit sorry for Carmilla, but I wanted to see more of that qipao outfit with no underwear.

It must be because of the ‘instinct’ that all men have.

So after thinking positively, for the sake of my friend’s experience!

Yes, for Carmilla’s sake, I decided to pretend not to notice.

Swoosh!

“The other leg goes all the way up to the ceiling!”

“Yeah, looks good…”

“…Janghoon. I was satisfied with just your underwear during my last heat cycle. But honestly, it wasn’t enough. Can I release that frustration here?”

“?! No. That’s absolutely not allowed…”