Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

Cha Jaeha looked down at the floor covered with shattered stems.

 

Was what he was seeing real?

 

He couldn’t believe it. This was the plant that had three S-rank heroes struggling. While its inherent strength was formidable, the real problem was its endless numbers. No matter how much Yoo Jian tore them apart or Cha Jaeha burned them, there seemed to be no end to it.

 

Of course, he could still see stems trying to cross over through the windows. But for now, they had a brief reprieve. And the one who created this reprieve was none other than that person.

 

“Hyung, why are you here?”

 

“Hahaha.”

 

“Mueum, your hyung is awesome!”

 

“No, noona. How does this make any sense?”

 

Unlike Yoo Jian, who was laughing heartily, Jeong Mueum was shaking Yoo Hwasin by the arms. Hwashin swayed around like paper in response.

 

“Well, when I heard you were coming this way, I got curious and came to see.”

 

“No, does it make sense to come to a place like this just out of curiosity? You could have died!”

 

“Hahahaha.”

 

Hwashin looked around. Excluding the SH1 unit members, there were about 12 people gathered here. He didn’t sense any living people on the way up, so this must be everyone. Hwashin’s carefree smile met Cha Jaeha’s cold gaze.

 

“…Haah–”

 

In the end, Jeong Mueum let go of Hwashin and brushed back his disheveled bangs. Before he could ask a question with his bloodstained lips, Cha Jaeha spoke first, almost snatching the words from him.

 

“What happened?”

 

Cha Jaeha wasn’t going to let it slide this time. Not only had this person nullified his ability, but he had also eliminated the monster.

 

“I won’t let it go this time.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Mr. Yoo Hwasin, please explain your ability properly.”

 

Hwasin shrugged. He answered with a subtle expression, one eyebrow raised and the other lowered.

 

“I don’t know either.”

 

Seeing Cha Jaeha’s expression turn grim, Hwashin waved his hand.

 

“Ah, don’t make that face. Would I lie? I’m a big fan of yours, Mr. Cha Jaeha.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s true that I’m an F-rank. But after the Hongdae Gate incident, I seem to have developed a new ability. I’m still getting used to it, but it’s hard to explain because it’s quite unique.”

 

He hadn’t intended to reveal it right now. Hwashin scratched the back of his neck with an ambiguous expression.

 

“It seems I can manipulate the magic imbued in gates to some extent. I’m still figuring out the limits as the amount and quality of manipulation put a strain on my body.”

 

“…That’s—”

 

“Wow! That’s amazing! So you can get rid of all the plants here?”

 

Yoo Jian’s eyes sparkled. She grabbed Hwashin’s hands with a grip that seemed like it would crush his fingers.

 

“That hurts, Miss Jian.”

 

“Oh, sorry. I can’t control my strength when I’m surprised or excited.”

 

“It’s okay. Hmm, I wonder if I can? But probably not, because my physical strength is weak.”

 

In fact, he could. …Yeah, if it were in the past. Sigh, he really needed to adapt to this body quickly. That way, he could help the kids more.

 

“Excuse me…”

 

One of the civilians, who had been listening quietly from behind, approached them. Her eyes were filled with fear and dread, but there was a faint glimmer of hope.

 

– This is the end for us all.

 

There was a moment when they thought so. Even though three famous S-rank heroes had gathered, they seemed to be losing. But when an unknown man appeared, the atmosphere changed. Encouraged by the suddenly more cheerful atmosphere, she mustered the courage to speak.

 

“Um, can we escape from here?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Yoo Hwashin was the first to respond.

 

“Look at who’s here.”

 

Cha Jaeha, Yoo Jian, and Jeong Mueum. These three would later become world-ranking heroes. Of course, they were still a bit green now, since the SH unit hadn’t even been formed yet.

 

Hearing his answer, she burst into tears of relief. A small child ran up and hugged her back that was trembling. She looked to be just entering her early 30s.

 

“I’m sorry for making you anxious.”

 

Yoo Jian gently knelt down and hugged her tightly.

 

‘Now, what should we do?’

 

S-rank plant-type monster. As mentioned earlier, the only way to eliminate it was to ‘burn it all.’ Actually, it was fortunate that Cha Jaeha had good compatibility with it, otherwise, it would be a real headache.

 

– As you get closer to the main body, its nature becomes more violent, making it hard to predict the direction of the stems. It even entangles the plants it creates to make puppets. If Mr. Cha hadn’t burned them all, we would have ordered a full evacuation. If this monster had covered not just a building but an entire city, there would have been no solution.

 

That was what Ha Cheongwon had said.

 

Well then, he supposed the protagonist would have to solve this.

 

Hwashin clapped his hands and said.

 

“I think we should first use this opportunity to evacuate the civilians.”

 

That would make it easier for Cha Jaeha to move as well.

 

“Jian and Mueum, please take these people and escape the building. The attacks will decrease as you go down, so the two of you should be enough.”

 

“…Then what about the monster?”

 

“A plant-type monster is difficult for both you and Jian to handle. Mueum, it’s not that you or Jian are weak, it’s just that your abilities don’t match up well. For monsters like this, burning the main body in one go is the answer. So, Mr. Cha Jaeha needs to go up.”

 

Once the non-awakened and other heroes all evacuated, he would only have to attack the monster, so the current Cha Jaeha should be more than capable of handling that.

 

“What about you, hyung?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“What are you going to do?”

 

“I’m going up too. I should be able to control the stems with my ability.”

 

A strong look of opposition came from Cha Jaeha’s direction, but Hwashin ignored it.

 

Actually, all this talk about controlling was just an excuse. He just wanted to see Cha Jaeha fight up close. He was even thinking about secretly filming the protagonist showcasing his charm on his phone.

 

Just don’t get caught, don’t get caught.

 

“….Hyung, are you really F-rank?”

 

In response to Mueum’s question, tinged heavily with suspicion, Hwashin narrowed his eyes into a smile. With a smile so benevolent it made one wonder if someone could truly be this kind, he lied.

 

“Of course I am.”

 

Since he was technically F-rank right now, it was not a complete lie, was it?

 

– Oh, boy.

 

He could almost hear the dragon’s sigh.

 

***

 

Is there ever a protagonist in books who isn’t frustrating? Those who didn’t move according to his thoughts were bound to have some frustrating aspects.

 

The protagonist in <Today, I’m a Grand Mage Too>  that he read about 130 years ago was like that,

 

And so was the hero in <The Past Diary of a Grieving Warrior> that he read about 90 years ago.

 

Cha Jaeha was like that in the beginning too. He was soooo frustrating.

 

He extremely avoided people despite being a hero. Of course, it was understandable at first. Gates rarely appeared in crowded urban areas.

 

But as the SH unit was formed, the situation gradually changed. The locations of gate appearances shifted to city centers, movie theaters, someone’s home, and so on. Disasters didn’t discriminate by time or place. People had to change to adapt to these disasters.

 

They had to.

 

Cha Jaeha became stronger. Strong enough to take out a few monsters in one shot even with people nearby.

 

He had to.

 

But this current Cha Jaeha was still before he became that strong. And yet,

 

“Ah, he fights so well~”

 

He fought better than expected.

 

Hwashin and Jaeha turned toward the emergency exit stairs. They were the only ones left, and it was easier to move quickly in the stairwell without windows. Occasionally, stems that had somehow squeezed through, or giant flowers clinging to the walls would open their mouths wide, but as soon as Cha Jaeha snapped his fingers, they would burst into flames.

 

Hwashin blocked the burning stems that tried to spread to other areas.

 

“Can I record a video of you fighting?”

 

“Stop joking around.”

 

“Eh, I’m not joking though.”

 

A cold voice. Even though he couldn’t see the face of the person walking ahead, he could almost imagine the expression Cha Jaeha was making.

 

“Seems like you missed your chance to mature when growing up.”

 

“And yet I come here with you now?”

 

“….Let’s just go.”

 

“Hahaha, shall we?”

 

At the top of the stairs was a door leading to the rooftop.

 

“It’s locked.”

 

The door was locked. Jaeha easily broke the doorknob with a flick, and the door crashed open with a loud bang.

 

“Wow.”

 

At the astonishing sight, an exclamation of admiration escaped his lips. No wonder Ha Cheongwon hated this monster.

 

Ha Cheongwon was a rational guy. When a man like that mentioned an ‘evacuation order’, there was definitely a good reason.

 

– The terrifying thing about that monster is that it’s endless. It keeps producing plants from its body until the main body is destroyed. Since most of these plants are unknown, we’re at a loss on how to deal with them.

 

‘Ha Cheongwon really never says anything wrong.’

 

A cheerful laugh bubbled up. The rooftop was full of plant-human forms. Thin stems intertwined to create shapes that moved at their own will. As soon as the door dropped, all their heads turned this way simultaneously.

 

“Stay here.”

 

“You don’t need my help?”

 

Hwashin pointed at his face. Despite his bright, cheerful smile, Cha Jaeha’s expression didn’t change at all.

 

“Yes.”

 

He dashed forward. The main body was on top of a rectangular concrete warehouse building. That monster was different from the puppets it created or the vines as thick as pillars. As evident from the eyes that followed their movements and the panting core that heaved with each breath, it clearly had some form.

 

As Cha Jaeha started running, dozens of plant humans leaped at him. With a burning fist, Cha Jaeha struck the belly of a plant that came right up to his face. Whoosh! The plant in human form burst into flames.

 

Through the hole in its stomach, Cha Jaeha inserted his arm and snapped his fingers. Then he murmured softly.

 

“Area explosion.”

 

Suddenly, everything around him erupted in flames.

 

The place turned into a fiery hell. Walls made of fire rose endlessly. The plants running towards him burned up like moths to a flame. The sight of black forms turning to ash was painted in the air. A beautiful and brilliant ability, but one with great risk.

 

Cha Jaeha, who became a hero to protect,

 

Was strongest in places where there was no one to protect.

 

“Wow.”

 

An exclamation of admiration involuntarily escaped Hwashin’s mouth. Cha Jaeha’s face was occasionally visible through the flames and the wind swirling around them. A picturesque scene and a picturesque face.

 

He could understand why the government specifically chose Cha Jaeha as the main character for their hero promotion videos.

 

“Huh?”

 

Hwashin’s gaze, which had been recording Cha Jaeha, halted at a specific point. It was the warehouse where the monster was located.

 

Come to think of it, was there any need to lock the door to a rooftop with a storage building? Moreover, it didn’t align with the regulations related to gates in Yoo Hwasihn’s residual memories.

 

– Due to the risk of gate occurrence, doors to rooftops, emergency exits, and basements, where people can evacuate, should not be locked unless in unavoidable circumstances.

 

Given all these conditions, the rooftop door of this large mart shouldn’t have been locked. It shouldn’t be.

 

So someone had locked this door. But who?

 

Was there really no one who had sneaked onto the open rooftop in the first place?

 

If someone on the rooftop saw the huge vine climbing up from below, wouldn’t they have been terrified and locked the door?

 

“This is bad.”

 

Beyond the wall of the building, he sensed a small life. There was a child. Right below the monster, directly behind the building.