Ch.79Ah, I Want to Be a Hero (3)

From the moment I was possessed into this game world, the original story was already off track.

Even if I knew every development, no scene would unfold as it did in the original anymore.

Plus, I’m a monster.

Even when I went out to protect people, all I got in return were screams and bullets.

So I made a decision.

In this twisted game called <Monster Front>, there was only one way to protect everyone.

That was…

For me to become a hero myself.

‘If the original story is already broken, it shouldn’t matter if I interfere.’

When I thought about it, it was quite simple.

If I could show up at the main story’s starting point as a qualified hero?

I could intervene early in events that were already deviating from the original and completely pulverize all the bad monsters.

In theory, it was a perfect plan.

At least, until that evening.

“No way!”

“Absolutely not!”

In the clan head’s room at the Okami household.

Right after I declared I would take the hero exam at Carmilla’s hospital room.

I suddenly found myself surrounded by the fox mother and daughter, treated like a criminal.

“Janghoon. Do you think the hero exam is just some ordinary certification test?”

“Well, no…”

“If you understand that, what on earth are you thinking, attempting something so dangerous!”

Clan Head Makoto, sitting formally in the middle of the tatami room, shook her head with a deep sigh as if her insides were burning.

“I won’t tell you to stay put and behave. But I absolutely cannot allow this idea of yours.”

“Clan Head…”

“Until the day I die, your hero exam is ab-so-lutely out of the question.”

“That’s right, Janghoon. I agree with Mom.”

Miss Hoshino, who had been sitting quietly beside me, chimed in.

With her fox ears perked up.

With a resolute expression.

“The hero exam causes casualties every year! It’s dangerous!”

“I know that much.”

“No, you don’t!”

What’s evaluated in the hero exam isn’t just knowledge or reflexes.

What’s needed is credibility, character, and power.

Specifically, “overwhelming combat ability” that can defeat any enemy no matter what.

That’s why the hero exam presented real-life challenges every year, and people got seriously injured or even died.

‘There were such descriptions in the original story too. It’s not unreasonable for them to worry.’

Besides, these two don’t know that I’m the horned mask monster with an unknown name.

So when an ordinary college boy suddenly announces he’s taking the hero exam, of course they’d be shocked.

“Anyway, it’s not happening!”

“Absolutely not! And you know the exam is in a week, right?!”

“Yes, I know. It’s next Tuesday, and I just need to reserve a spot by this Friday, according to what was written.”

“Written? Don’t tell me… you’ve already applied?!”

“Yes.”

“”You’ve! Already! Applied?!!””

I applied yesterday in advance.

Because I knew they would oppose like this.

The hero exam was easy to enter. Anyone could register just by paying the fee.

And upon hearing the news of my independent action, the two of them—

Princess Hoshino and Clan Head Makoto were now truly angry, even baring their fox fangs.

“I will cancel it immediately.”

“Mom, I’ll contact the Hero Association.”

“No. The problem is the structure itself.”

“…What?”

“I’ll take this opportunity to completely revise the participation requirements for the hero exam.”

“Wait a minute?! Isn’t that going too far?”

The strength of hero society lies in its “openness”—that anyone can dream of becoming one.

Even if they are two S-rank heroes, they can’t change that… or can they really?

Besides, Clan Head Makoto is S-rank No. 3 in the association.

She carried the weight of being No. 3.

‘At this rate, my plan is ruined from the start!’

So I played my final card.

“Clan Head Makoto…”

“Whatever you say won’t work!”

“…Then, I’ll run away from home because I’m upset.”

“…Huh?”

“What…!”

Although she was the one who took in orphaned me and raised me with utmost care and devotion…

Right now, I had no choice.

I needed to channel my inner fire-attribute filial son and somehow find a compromise.

“Being a hero was my dream… if I can’t even try… I might go down the wrong path.”

“W-wrong path…?”

“Y-you’re joking, right? Janghoon?”

“No. I might really go astray… and end up being sold to some brothel.”

“T-that, that…”

“That must never happen!!”

***

Thanks to taking myself hostage, we were able to reach the ultimate compromise.

Clan Head Makoto and Miss Hoshino reluctantly allowed me to take the hero exam.

…Of course.

“If there’s even the slightest danger, we’ll fail you without hesitation as exam judges!”

…with that terrifying condition attached.

As a result, my chances of passing the exam decreased even further.

But well, just being able to participate was half the battle won.

Besides, I was the horned mask monster who survived a fight with that special-grade monster, the “Weapon Monster.”

How could someone like me fail an exam to become a mere E-rank hero, even in human form?

…I now regret my past arrogance.

Right after finishing a quick breakfast, I headed into the mountains.

Far from the city, this place was dense with trees and the air was so humid that sweat formed quickly.

‘This should be secluded enough.’

A place I would never visit normally.

But today, the absence of people was important.

“Ha! Haah!”

“…”

“Huaaah!”

“…”

Among the trees, in front of a moss-covered rock, I began my monsterization training, moving my entire body.

It was my first attempt at “partial monsterization” training.

I was trying to transform just parts of my body, like arms or hands, to use my power while remaining in human form.

But the results were minimal.

“Why won’t it work?!”

“…Master Janghoon. Why did you suddenly come into the mountains? What are you doing?”

“I’m training! I decided to take the hero exam to become a hero. But I’m trying to use my monster power in human form before the exam, and it’s not working…”

“H-hero?! You, a monster, want to become a hero?”

I was trying to draw out just a “portion” of my monster power from somewhere inside my body by punching or kicking.

However, it wasn’t working at all.

It was already Friday, the last day for exam applications, and I was still in my ordinary human state.

“Why can’t I just bring out a little bit?”

When I yelled in frustration, I could only achieve complete monsterization with no human parts remaining.

My current state was either a hideous horned mask monster or a pathetic human man A.

I wanted to somehow become a monster user with human appearance, but it just wasn’t happening.

“By the way, why does Master Janghoon want to become a hero? You’re already super strong! …Don’t tell me you’re planning to betray us monsters by siding with humans?!”

“Betrayal? I was never on the monsters’ side to begin with.”

“R-really?!”

“Yes. And you, Siljongi, haven’t been on the monsters’ side since you were betrayed by the Mosquito Monster.”

“…Ah! Come to think of it, that’s true.”

I was throwing punches into the air by the stream.

Next to me, Siljongi was crouched on a rock, playing games on the gamepad he had brought.

While practicing, I suddenly became curious and turned toward our pink-colored subordinate.

“By the way, Siljongi. Why did you follow me today?”

“W-what?”

“I mean, shouldn’t you be grinding ranked matches in my room right about now?”

Siljongi always thought our Horned Mask Monster master couldn’t possibly lose at anything, so he would stay behind in my room wearing just a dress shirt and play games.

I was curious why such a person had followed me all the way to the mountains today.

So I asked.

“Ahaha…”

After laughing awkwardly for a moment.

“Actually… lately, people from the Okami clan have been frequently invading Master Janghoon’s room.”

“My room?”

“Yes! Whenever you’re out, servants or that fox princess sneak in, thoroughly search your room, and then leave.”

“Huh… really?”

I had no idea!

It seems they were secretly entering my room because they were worried I might be up to something strange after announcing I would take the hero exam.

And because of these continuous visits from strangers, Siljongi couldn’t freely play games in my room anymore, so he had no choice but to follow me…

“I had to abandon ranked matches three times in one day because of them!”

“R-really?”

“Yes! *Sob*… Especially that fox princess! The other servants just check for traces of blood or something like that, but that princess even turns on the computer I was using!”

“Huh? Miss Hoshino uses the computer?”

She barely even uses her phone except for training and hero activities when she wakes up in the morning.

The fact that such a person was using my computer in my room… it was an interesting topic.

But I had something else I needed to do right now.

I’d taken a short break while chatting with Siljongi.

Just as I was about to resume practicing “partial monsterization”—

“By the way, Master Janghoon. What exactly are you doing?”

“Hmm? Oh, this… I’m training to release just a small portion of my power.”

“Just a small portion?”

“Yes. I’ve only shown you my complete form, but actually, I can only be either in horned mask form or in this human form.”

So it was all or nothing.

I could either live as an ordinary human in the city or become a monster that destroys the entire city.

And to become a hero, I needed to be something in between.

“So what Master Janghoon is trying to do is…”

“…?”

Pop.

“!?”

“Something like this, right?”

While I was explaining…

Siljongi put down his game pad and came down from the rock.

Standing in front of me, he created an energy ball of maximum size in one hand and a much smaller, marble-sized energy ball in the other.

That was exactly the power control I wanted to achieve with partial monsterization.

“This is super easy. Why can’t you do it?”

“…! Siljongi.”

“?! M-Master Janghoon?”

I have been waiting for a ‘master’ like you for a long time.

Whoosh.

“Come here!”

“Kyaaaah?!”