NOVEL NEXT chapter 19
19 – Intermission, Kill the Hero(1)
020
Hero Association 6th floor conference room.
“As this person exterminated the monster and saved others from danger at the same time…”
A man in his mid-thirties on the podium was reciting the speech for the award ceremony.
His name was Lee Cheol-young.
He was one of the heroes in the association, a high-ranking hero known as The Indomitable Man who had defeated numerous monsters and villains with his title.
“…”
I subtly turned my head.
Next to me, Jin So-yeon, who seemed very nervous and swallowing her spit, came into view. She seemed to be not familiar with such occasions.
Shifting her gaze anxiously side to side, her eyes met mine for a moment.
“Ah.”
Jin So-yeon jumped and her shoulders trembled.
She seemed a little embarrassed, having been caught looking so nervous like a fool.
Soon, Jin So-yeon stiffened herself and raised her head to look at the podium.
Although she continued to look unnatural.
‘Other kids…’
This time, I shifted my gaze toward the children.
The other children seemed quite bored with this kind of event, as they were only half-listening to the speaker’s words.
“To be an inspiration and a role model in society…”
I rolled my eyes at the speech.
Beyond the small podium, I could see an electronic screen.
On the electronic screen, there was a single word displayed in bold letters.
[Award Ceremony]
Receiving awards.
That’s right. The six of us were here to receive awards for defeating the monster that appeared in the academy.
Of course, one might ask why we needed an award when we already had a temporary hero license since defeating monsters as a hero is considered a given.
However, considering the fact that we are still students and the issue took place at the Union Academy, it seemed that the decision to award us was made based on social factors.
In other words, it was the adults’ way of handling the situation.
…There was nothing like this in the game. Hmm. The award ceremony rehearsal had been quite bothersome this morning for no reason.
I’m really sleepy.
“…We present the award to the winner, Lee Si-woon.”
“…”
While I was lost in thought, Lee Si-woon politely bowed and received the award.
As he did, flashes burst from several cameras in the back.
A distance away, representatives from various associations, clans, and the media were watching the ceremony. This incident had attracted considerable social interest.
It was even being broadcasted.
“Yoo Seol-hyun. Same as mentioned above.”
Next up.
Yoo Seol-hyun, Seo Na-ri, Yuliya, and Jin So-yeon received their awards in that order.
Jin So-yeon received her award with a stiff, shaking hand and a serious expression. Why was she so nervous?
Given that she had experienced similar situations before.
Oh, that reminds me, she was like that in middle school too, right?
“Lee Jin-hyuk. Same as mentioned above.”
Finally, it was my turn.
I also gently took the award presented to me.
Well.
I’ve even received a commendation in my life.
I didn’t get many of these in my previous life.
“Then, with this, we will conclude the commendation ceremony.”
The presenter spoke a few more words, and the awards ceremony came to an abrupt halt.
The prize money was ten million won per person.
It was a sum that could be considered large or small.
Of course, considering the grin on Jin Soyeon’s face beside me, it seemed like a considerable amount for a student.
‘Whew. Is it all over?’
In the hallway, a crowd of people approached us. So many people, but they didn’t come to me.
Well, whatever.
I guess nobody’s really interested in me.
It makes sense, though.
The others were famous, like SL Group’s Lee Siwoon, Gaonnuri’s Yu Seolhyun, fighting prodigy Seo Nari, and Yulia, the apprentice of the great magician.
It was only natural that the relevant people would be more interested in them.
Reporters, clan members, and others surrounded them and asked questions, and Lee Siwoon and his group were effortlessly being interviewed.
Huh… It’s kind of embarrassing.
‘I feel like I’m being sidelined.’
I laughed inwardly and stealthily moved away from the crowd.
I was a little worried that people might take an interest in me, but fortunately (?), nobody did.
Well, then those watching today’s broadcast would be more interested in them than me.
I could feel a little relieved that I was somewhat removed from the attention of those psycho villains…
“Jinhyuk-ah, let’s go together!”
“Huh?”
As I was leaving the association building and moving towards the bus stop, Jin Soyeon’s voice from behind me caught my steps.
Jin Soyeon seemed to have run all the way here, as she was panting slightly.
“Ha… Ha… Why didn’t you answer the phone?”
“Ah, sorry. I had it on silent.”
I had briefly put it on silent during the commendation ceremony.
“But aren’t you doing interviews or anything like that?”
“What interview? Ugh~ I got nervous for no reason. You know I get camera sickness.”
Did such a setting really exist?
“Also, there’s no point in getting more attention now. Won’t many girls who envy my beauty leave hate comments? Ugh, that’s so exhausting.”
Although Jinsuyeon spat out words like a late-stage princess disease patient, she had once received hate comments and text attacks from countless envious girls when she was selected as the school ambassador in her middle school days.
“It’s a trouble to be too pretty, isn’t it?”
“…”
“Huh? Hey, hey! Jinhyuk, come with me!”
Glancing at Jinsuyeon with indifferent eyes and quickly moving on, she noticed and hurriedly followed.
“What’s with the ignoring and leaving?”
“You’re talking nonsense more than usual today.”
Jinsuyeon stuck to my side with her lips slightly puckered.
“That’s not nonsense! Everything I said was true.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I responded grumpily, but Jinsuyeon’s face was still filled with joy.
Judging by how she was tightly holding the commendation, it seemed that she was in a good mood due to receiving it today.
She kept giggling even in silence, so I couldn’t help but ask Jinsuyeon a question.
“Are you that happy just because you received a commendation?”
“Ah. Uh-huh.”
Jinsuyeon’s expression changed for a moment.
Her flushed face seemed slightly embarrassed.
‘No, it’s not just because I received the commendation…”
As she stole a glance at my face, Jinsuyeon soon burst into a wide smile.
“Because I feel like I’ve come one step closer to my dream.”
“Dream? Oh, becoming the greatest hero?”
She nodded vigorously while firmly holding the commendation.
“Technically speaking, not just my dream… it’s ours, right?”
“Ours?”
When I asked with a curious look, Jinsuyeon grumbled with slightly furrowed brows.
“What? Didn’t we promise to be both the best and greatest heroes? This commendation can be seen as the first step, can’t it?”
“I guess so.”
“A great hero, huh…”
Given how keenly I felt that such a thought was a vain delusion at the moment, I couldn’t help but respond with a bitter smile.
“Did you forget I’m the lowest ranked in the Union? I’d be satisfied if I could just graduate and make a living…”
“hehehe. Don’t worry. If I succeed, I’ll hire someone like you as a sidekick.”
A sidekick to Jin So-Yeon?
Well, Jin So-Yeon will become the top hero representing South Korea in the future, so it wouldn’t be bad to serve as a sidekick, provided she doesn’t have other male protagonists by her side.
“Jin-Hyeok, Jin-Hyeok.”
“What?”
“Thank you.”
“Out of the blue, for what?”
Suddenly, Jin So-Yeon stopped walking.
I too halted, looking at her.
Jin So-Yeon lifted her head with clear eyes, meeting mine directly.
“…I kind of lost it back then. If it wasn’t for you, I might not have pulled myself together.”
I remembered her face, pale from the menacing aura the monster gave off.
Facing that very sticky and ominous presence for the first time, all Jin So-Yeon could do was tremble.
Of course, it wasn’t just Jin So-Yeon.
The other kids were also gasping, unable to shake off their fear. It was a tricky situation, but I was really relieved that she quickly pulled herself together.
“To be honest, when that monster appeared at the academy, I thought I was going to die from fear. I had never seen such a strong monster without any preparation, and it was almost like my first real battle.”
Considering a slight misstep could have resulted in death, Jin So-Yeon’s reaction was natural.
“As you work as a hero later, you’ll probably experience something similar to this multiple times, right?”
Jin So-Yeon let out a bitter smile.
Clearly, she was bothered by the recent events.
Whether good or bad, it was a life-or-death battle, so the memories were bound to remain vivid.
“But still.”
Suddenly, Jin So-Yeon looked at me and said,
“I still want to become a hero.”
Clear eyes, steadfastly fixed on a distinct goal.
“Because becoming a hero… is my dream.”
“Right.”
The enemies she will face in the future will be stronger and more threatening than this time.
She might have to repeat countless experiences that could cost her life.
Each time, she would feel shaken, hesitant, and tormented… but even so, Jin So-yeon would never give up, just like today.
Right.
Because Jin So-yeon is the protagonist.
The heroine chosen by this world.
The one and only protagonist, the hero among heroes who would single-handedly defeat numerous villains, was Jin So-yeon, her destiny, and future.
***
Night.
It’s a dark night.
“I hate being a hero.”
Under the dim night sky, only illuminated by the moonlight.
In the back alley where an eerie smell and inexplicable silence linger, huddling shadows filled the space.
As the dusky clouds moved far away, a faint moonlight peeked at the back alley.
On the shabby ground of the back alley lay shards of glass, cigarette butts, used condoms, food scraps, and so on, all in a mess.
And there was a girl.
“Why do I hate being a hero?”
The girl, reminiscent of the moon, soon threw her gaze down.
“Aren’t you curious?”
Pure white hair contrasting Jin So-yeon’s black hair.
Softened eyes, resembling the moon, contrasting Jin So-yeon’s bright eyes, like the sun.
“Huh? Why no answer?”
“Grr, ugh, eeu, kchk.”
The white-haired girl trampled the bloodstained hero’s head and grinned. As if she truly enjoyed it. As if this situation was quite amusing.
And it seemed as if… she was a villain who enjoyed trampling heroes.