episode_0559

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Ah, I want to quit being a hero.

In one corner of the café located on the first floor of ‘Will-o’-the-Wisp,’ one of the hero agencies, the same melancholic muttering as usual drifted out.

It had already been three years since such complaints started echoing from this dim corner, to the point where it could practically be considered white noise now.

In fact, the sidekicks and employees of the same agency had long since made it a daily habit to pretend not to hear that gloomy voice.

If this had been an academy packed with aspiring heroes, someone might have scolded her for dampening the mood…

But here, no one could reprimand her.

Not because everyone was a mature adult, but because the owner of that voice was none other than the head of this very agency.

“…Should’ve quit a long time ago. Another year wasted just dragging my feet…”

Her name was Park Jiwon.

A woman ranked fairly high even among A-rank heroes, bearing the codename ‘Will-o’-the-Wisp,’ much like the agency’s name.

The fact that she had participated in numerous operations or that she had built a reputation through her achievements—none of that mattered right now.

If anyone dared to offer words of encouragement to lift Park Jiwon’s spirits, a brief silence would follow before pale blue flames erupted over her suit.

It had been one of the agency’s regular events over the past three years.

Thus, the sidekicks and employees stationed here had grown accustomed to ignoring whatever Park Jiwon muttered in the corner.

There was, in fact, a rather trivial reason why she had been stuck in this burnout-like state for years.

“Ah…, goddammit…”

Park Jiwon.

A woman who graduated as the runner-up from Miren Academy just 500 meters away and quickly rose to prominence.

Before long, she became known as the strongest flame mage among A-ranks.

And this year, she turned 30.

“Welcome. How may I help you with your order—”

“No, no, I’m just here to pick up the director…”

Too busy with studies, training, and work to even think about marriage—let alone have any meaningful dating experience—by this age.

At most, she was occupied with raising a pure white cat at home.

“Um, Director?”

“…What?”

“Sorry to bother you when you’re busy, but there’s something I wanted to ask.”

“Spit it out. Don’t drag it out.”

“Ah, right. About the trainees who were supposed to come this time—how should we handle them?”

“…Are they here now?”

“Well… They’ll be here in about 20 minutes, so I had them sit in the chairs for a bit, but they started looking restless, so I gave them cookies and came down…”

“Sigh… I guess I’ll have to go… Yeah…”

It really was a trivial reason.

559

But work was work.

It wasn’t like she had any special plans even if she quit right now.

Might as well earn some money while she could.

Park Jiwon’s “I want to quit being a hero” almost always ended the same way—200% of the time.

While it was undeniably true that her hero work left no time for romance, the risks of actually quitting were far too great.

“Two of them, right? The ones coming this time.”

“Yes. The one who came during summer break and a new one this time…”

“The top-ranked first-year at Miren Academy, was it? Or the runner-up? Whatever. The magic-type one.”

“Yep, that’s right. The top-ranked one.”

“Tch… Of course, the top spot goes to a magic-type. Figures.”

Honestly, with grades like that, she’d have much more to learn—and find more appealing—at the agency run by that senior in Daegu.

But I guess they chose here because it’s right next to Miren Academy.

A high-achieving student who didn’t move to Seoul because it was too far from home.

Park Jiwon, getting that exact vibe, let out a disinterested sigh and started walking.

After all, it was true that they had extended the invitation first.

Hero rankings could flip at any moment, so it was just common sense to network with exceptional talents whenever possible.

Even if they didn’t choose this place for training now, laying the groundwork for future connections—”Oh my, I’ve had my eye on you since your student days~”—was the right move.

But she never actually expected them to come…

Good thing the agency is right next to Miren Academy. Hmph.

Maybe some crumbs will fall my way later?

“The other one—we saw her during summer break too, right? That second-year from last time?”

“Yes. The one you considered taking along for the commercial shoot. Specializes in footwork, I believe…”

“Ahh. Now that you mention it, I remember. In the end, we dropped the idea since she wasn’t staff, just a trainee.”

Still, she definitely remembers one thing—that the girl was pretty.

So much so that she once half-murdered some male employees for gossiping about her behind her back.

Heck, even the women started talking, so she had to smooth things over nicely.

No idea if the student herself ever heard about it, though…

“Sigh…”

…But if she’s 21 now, she’s probably had her fill of boyfriends…

Guys around her age, early twenties…

Holding hands, hugging, kissing…

Probably having sex every single day, too…

And only with the hottest, fittest guys…

Like, all night long…

Until she passes out, dazed and exhausted…

A brief fantasy, cut short.

Park Jiwon suppressed the hysteria creeping up and focused on fixing her expression.

Chatting while walking, she soon found herself right outside the top-floor office.

“I’ll call you if I need anything later. Go back down for now. We’ve got a new trainee, so I’ll start with an agency introduction. And make sure the staff don’t start any weird rumors again.”

“Understood.”

I mean, I do get cosmetic commercials sometimes.

Never had any complaints about my looks.

Is it really just my age?

Or my personality?

…Nah. What’s wrong with my personality?

So it’s my age, then?

Suppressing her irritation—or so she thought—Park Jiwon repeated smile-smile in her head and twisted the doorknob.

What unfolded before her was a spacious reception area, designed to flaunt her capabilities.

On a sofa in one corner sat a familiar-faced student, demure as ever.

“Huh? Just one? Anyway, nice to see you. We’re meeting again after last time, right?”

“Ah, yes. I was here during summer break too… Hello, sunbaenim.”

“No need to be so stiff. Think of me as just a neighborhood noona! You’ll be joining our industry soon enough anyway~”

“Ahaha…”

It was definitely the same student from before.

Reddish hair, undeniably pretty.

Somehow, she looked even prettier than last time.

According to the records, her name was Seol Dabin.

…Did she change her makeup or something?

Even for someone in their early twenties, how is her skin that flawless?

And her vibe feels more mature than before, too…

Maybe I should casually ask under the guise of small talk later? Hmm…

“So, is the other one somewhere else? The restroom?”

“Yeah. She left about a minute or two ago to use the bathroom.”

“Ah~ I see… Would’ve been nice to greet them together, but oh well.”

At any rate, Seol Dabin was just a high-ranking second-year.

Rather than Park Jiwon being able to recruit her, the odds were higher that she’d be snatched up by someone else.

If the student worked hard and luck was on her side, she might reach the upper echelons of A-rank.

The real one to watch was the new top-ranked first-year.

Lee Jiyoon.

For someone who’d likely soar near the top rankings, what was the best way to leave a good impression without being obvious?

As she absentmindedly brushed off her ivory-colored suit, the door behind her creaked open without so much as a knock.

“Oh my, who—”

Honestly, she already knew it had to be Lee Jiyoon.

No one else in her agency would dare act like this.

Thus, instead of her usual “What kind of ill-mannered brat—”, the words that left Park Jiwon’s mouth were a gentle, feminine combination.

And before her eyes, a girl with snow-white hair cautiously revealed herself.

“Um… H-Hello? Director…? Or…”

“Just call her ‘Director.’ Jiyoon-ah.”

“…….”

Gasp. Adorable.

The thought was fleeting.

Staring blankly at Jiyoon, Park Jiwon cleared her throat to regain composure before looking at her again.

Sure, the photos showed she was pretty, but in a country where even ID photos get Photoshopped, that was whatever.

But in person, Lee Jiyoon was slightly taller than Park Jiwon expected—

And so breathtakingly pretty.

And cute.

Something about her felt… catlike.

Aloof yet deeply affectionate, the type who’d talk a lot once close, but whose smiles would take time to earn…

Lost in her own delusions, she barely managed to squeeze out a word.

“N-Nice to meet you, Lee Jiyoon. I heard you’re the top first-year…”

“…Just got lucky. The second-place is stronger, but she’s not as good at studying…”

Gasp. Adorable.

She instinctively reached for a handshake, but Jiyoon hesitated, guarded—yet also aware her reaction might offend, so she reluctantly took the hand anyway.

This behavior.

And the way she made excuses when praised, flustered.

Even her actions around strangers resembled Park Jiwon’s ideal image of a “perfect cat.”

If Jiyoon had smoothly shaken her hand with a bright smile, it would’ve felt off…

But how is every single thing she does this cute…?

“…….”

A girl like this would probably kick away any flirtatious advances from guys in disgust.

A flower on a cliff—cliché, but that’s the vibe.

Has she even held hands with a guy, let alone had a proper conversation with one?

Unlike when she faced the strikingly beautiful Seol Dabin earlier…

For slightly different reasons, Park Jiwon felt a spark of camaraderie and was delighted.

As she walked with Jiyoon toward the sofa, she casually slipped in a question.

“Are you two acquainted? You seemed kinda close earlier.”

“Ah, she’s my friend’s younger sister. We’ve met a few times.”

“…Yeah. My unnie’s friend.”

“Ahh~ Friend’s younger sister… Unnie’s friend…”

“Haha…”

“…….”

“Well, anyway. I should introduce myself first, right? I’m Park Jiwon, codename ‘Will-o’-the-Wisp,’ currently heading this agency…”

It wasn’t like it had anything to do with her anyway.

She brushed it off—just like that.