Ch.87The Man is a Rookie? (2)

# Hero Association Central Medical Ward

Screams and groans never ceased from each bed.

Sounds of agony echoed through the walls.

Broken bones were just the basics; some critically injured patients were unconscious, dependent on oxygen masks.

Some had their faces covered with white cloth, with the sobbing sounds of what appeared to be bereaved family members flowing beside them.

This place resembled a battlefield hospital more than an exam venue.

At the center, one hospital room.

“Ahaha… I expected it, but I’ve been eliminated after all.”

Song Hana pressed her lips firmly together and gave a bitter smile.

An IV line with a faint blue glow was connected to her arm, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

On either side of her, as if it were only natural, two people kept watch.

One was Zero, an expressionless artificial human with white hair and red eyes.

The other was Kang Janghoon, who appeared ordinary but was more extraordinary than anyone.

“There certainly are a lot of people here.”

Janghoon carefully opened his mouth.

“Just the first exam’s dropouts alone number in the hundreds of thousands. It’s to be expected.”

Zero answered, turning his head toward the window.

“I heard the entire medical ward is packed. They’re exceeding the maximum capacity per room.”

“So that’s why… The groaning never stops from everywhere.”

Song Hana tried to smile awkwardly, but her eyes held a subtle anxiety.

Suddenly, a man’s scream was heard.

“Aaaagh! My eyes! I can’t see!”

It came from the compartment right next to them.

Followed by the urgent footsteps of a nurse.

And someone’s wailing.

Song Hana bit her lip firmly.

“Was the hero exam… always this cruel?”

To her question, Zero slowly shook his head.

“No. There’s no precedent for this.”

“What?”

“In previous hero exams, injuries numbered at most in the hundreds. Deaths never exceeded one or two per exam.”

“Then… this exam…”

“It’s because the rules have changed.”

Zero spoke expressionlessly, but with a clear tone.

“From this exam onward, they’ve deliberately lowered the pass rate. Under the pretext of realistic combat preparation, they’ve applied pressure no different from an actual battlefield.”

Her gaze slowly turned to a screen hanging on one wall of the room.

The numbers displaying the dropout count and survival rate for each exam venue were coldly presented.

“Out of hundreds of thousands of examinees, only about 100 can advance to the second exam. Just in terms of survival rate, it’s 0.1%.”

“…So that’s how it is.”

Song Hana swallowed once more.

And the fact that she had survived with only this level of exhaustion was truly a ‘miracle.’

“I don’t know how you did it…”

Zero quietly turned to look at her.

“Surviving that inferno unscathed defies common sense. In my opinion…”

Zero let the words trail off.

A glance that passed over Janghoon standing before her.

That man who had blocked Marna’s rampaging sword with his bare hands, wrapped in black energy.

‘That was… definitely the power of a monster.’

Though she couldn’t say it aloud, Zero was already certain.

Quietly, but definitely.

The fact that he had contracted with a monster without the Hero Association’s consent.

“Excuse me, Mr. Janghoon.”

Just as she was about to carefully bring it up.

“Kang Janghooooon!”

“Janghoon!”

Bang!

The hospital room door burst open.

And through it, two women rushed in like a storm.

One was Carmilla, an S-class hero with flowing golden drill-shaped hair.

The other was Okami Hoshino, an S-class hero notable for her jet-black wolf ears and kimono attire.

“I heard rumors you contracted with a monster!”

“What on earth is going on?! Explain quickly!”

Both grabbed Janghoon’s shoulders and shouted simultaneously.

Song Hana watched the scene from her bed, lips sealed.

Only then did Janghoon slowly raise his head.

“Ahaha… Well, I happened to meet a ‘nice monster’ by chance…”

“A nice…”

“Monsterrr?!”

He laughed lightly, receiving their pats on his back.

And behind that gaze, the air of someone preparing a big lie was faintly visible.

***

The most heavily treated taboo in Hero City.

It was the act of forming an ‘unauthorized contract’ with a monster without the Hero Association’s permission.

Those who contracted with monsters without following proper procedures were considered not just illegal examinees, but rebels or ‘enemies’ posing a serious threat to city security.

Depending on the situation, even execution was possible.

But in extremely rare cases, these illegal contracts could be ‘overlooked.’

Specifically when the examinee demonstrated overwhelmingly exceptional abilities, or when there was a political need to ‘welcome’ them within the Association.

Indeed.

The Association’s standards were never just.

They were merely practical.

Hero Association Underground, Middle Level.

This place, too uncomfortable to even call an interrogation room, was actually closer to a torture chamber in structure.

Surrounded by thick iron walls on all sides, even the ceiling was lined with magical monitoring panels, creating a suffocating sense of pressure.

There were no windows.

A strange scent of blood mixed with disinfectant lingered faintly in the air.

Janghoon sat strangely docile in the middle of such a room.

“…They say even in a tiger’s den, you can survive if you keep your wits about you.”

Muttering as if reassuring himself, he raised his head with a forced smile.

But the problem was the identity of that tiger.

“No need to be tense. Please speak comfortably, Examinee Kang Janghoon.”

Seated across the desk was the Hero Association President.

The living pinnacle of human power.

Arcana Spear.

A true ‘living legend.’

“M-Madam President, for you to come personally… it’s an honor…”

“Not at all. This is my responsibility. This case is quite interesting.”

Arcana’s manner of speech was polite, and her expression gentle.

But Janghoon sensed it.

That this smile was like the calm wave just before something shatters.

“Then, let’s get to the point.”

She nodded without turning a single page of paper.

“Examinee Kang Janghoon. During the first exam, you used monster power that wasn’t reported to the Association. Is that correct?”

“Ah, that… Yes, that’s right.”

“Then you naturally know which nickname this monster power comes from?”

“Of course. My power comes from Siljongi.”

“Siljongi…?”

“Yes. The Monster of Disappearance, currently playing games at my home.”

“What?”

“Pardon?”

Arcana’s brow furrowed into a single line.

“What did you just say?”

“That he’s playing ranked games on my computer at home…”

“…A monster is playing games?”

“Yes. He usually likes RPGs. These days he’s running Diablo on two monitors.”

“……”

Arcana was silent.

A quiet stillness.

After a moment of silence as if the interrogation room had fallen into a ‘reality perception error,’ she finally sighed.

“Examinee Kang.”

“Yes.”

“Are you joking right now?”

“…Pardon?”

“…We do occasionally see cases like this.”

Arcana muttered in an expressionless voice, turning her head.

“People claiming their contracted monster is warm, humane, plays ball with them… shares meals… trying to hide its dangerous nature.”

“Ah, yes…”

“But such monsters do not exist.”

“…But I think mine does.”

Janghoon said carefully.

“This kid Siljongi who lives with me… eats with me, showers, and sleeps together. Well, his only flaw is walking around without underwear.”

“…?”

“Oh, but when I scold him a bit, he at least puts on something with a hole in the middle.”

Arcana remained silent.

After a moment, she raised one finger and slowly placed it on the desk.

“Examinee Kang Janghoon. I’m not trying to punish you.”

“Pardon?”

“The Association does take this situation seriously, but I’m someone who can cover it up.”

“Ah…”

“Because… you’re Makoto’s child, aren’t you?”

“Eh?”

“Okami Makoto. Though retired now, she was the last legend of the era who fought alongside me. I heard she raised you like a son.”

“Um… is that so?”

Arcana rose from her seat.

She looked down at Janghoon with still gentle eyes and said:

“So, please tell me honestly.”

“……”

“What exactly is this monster you contracted with doing right now?”

Janghoon remained silent for a moment before quietly opening his mouth.

“…Madam President.”

“Yes.”

“I’m really telling you… he’s playing games?”

“Haah…”

“Siljongi is lying in my room right now, munching on snacks and running raids.”

“…I see.”

Arcana quietly sat back in her chair.

Her gaze cooled back to composure.

“Then could you bring this game-playing monster here once?”

Janghoon nodded.

“Yes. But… he’s quite shy and really hates going to crowded places.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Arcana muttered while organizing her notes.

“Indeed, you’re quite an unusual examinee…”

And her final words as she opened the door:

“If any of what you’ve told me turns out to be a lie, then we’ll meet again in a much scarier room than this one.”