Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

[…I headed towards the S-rank gate, where Heroes Cha Jaeha and Jeong Mueum were present. (Omitted) … At that moment, Yoo Hwashin appeared and saved everyone. It was amazing. I’m not sure what his ability is, but I intend to check his status window and database entry later when they become available…]

 

‘Ah… I really don’t want to write this report.’

 

Sitting in a swivel chair, Yoo Jian spun around once. She didn’t even know what to write, so there wasn’t much of a report to speak of. Let alone a draft, all she had was just a few scribbled sentences.

 

She had used some force but the monster ended up being chased away by an F-rank. Of course, the news reported that three S-rank heroes, including herself, had rescued 12 citizens and dealt with the monster, but all three present knew there was someone else who had actually made a difference. No, should the 12 citizens be included as well?

 

“Sigh.”

 

The office door burst open without warning, and a familiar face appeared. Jeong Mueum asked in his distinct voice.

 

“Noona, are you ready? … Why are you hanging on the chair backrest? Weren’t you supposed to be writing a report?”

 

“…I don’t want to write the report.”

 

“How much have you written?”

 

Jeong Mueum, who had somehow approached right next to her, casually clicked the laptop mouse. Unlike last time when he wore a school uniform, this time he was in a neat S-rank hero official uniform. He wore a casual button-down collared shirt underneath, and the uniform was a typical black suit that at first glance could be mistaken for a school uniform.

 

The only difference was the hibiscus badge on the left side of his chest.

 

“Noona. Is this what you call writing a report?”

 

“No, isn’t it too inefficient in the first place? This time, three S-ranks went to an S-rank gate, so only one person needed to write it. I’m just not talented at this kind of thing.”

 

She complained as she spun around with her stomach pressed against the backrest and her legs stretched out.

 

Jeong Mueum grabbed Yoo Jian’s limp arms and pulled her up.

 

Yoo Jian, who stood up with a groan while still holding onto Jeong Mueum’s arms, was also dressed neatly in a uniform. Her tall, slender figure suited the straight-cut pants very well. With her disheveled hair tied back, Yoo Jian followed Mueum into the elevator.

 

Jeong Mueum, having pressed the button for the 10th floor, stepped back and spoke.

 

“Is this briefing about the SH unit organization again?”

 

“Probably.”

 

Yoo Jian yawned widely and rotated her neck. Spending five minutes on the report seemed to have stiffened her muscles.

 

“I heard they’re forming units 1 through 3, and it looks like units 2 and 3 have already been decided after the last briefing. Seems like they’re all filled with S-rank heroes. Well, the selection competition itself was just for show. They could have just filled it with all S-ranks from the beginning. Why did they bother with such a thing?”

 

“As you said, it’s just for show. There were lots of news stories connecting it to the Hongdae Gate incident. … So, does this mean we’ll be on the same team as Cha Jaeha?”

 

“Maybe? We were at the scene together, and there were no casualties. Hey, you’re not still sulking about that, are you? Don’t be like that. Cha Jaeha didn’t pair up with anyone at that time. It’s not like he refused because it was you.”

 

Jeong Mueum pouted as if her words hit the nail on the head and responded with a curt “I know.” Yoo Jian giggled and mimicked him.

 

“I know~.”

 

“Don’t copy me.”

 

“I~ know~.”

 

“…Sigh.”

 

Right, this was just like her. Jeong Mueum sighed deeply and looked up at the changing numbers. The red digital numbers had already passed 7 and were heading toward 10.

 

The briefing was held in the large conference room on the 10th floor.

 

In the end, the SH unit selection competition wasn’t resumed. However, the SH unit project wasn’t canceled; it was strengthened.

 

Due to this recent incident, it was confirmed that higher-risk gates could open in urban areas. Additionally, with the possibility of higher-ranked monsters appearing, there was a majority opinion to reinforce the SH Unit. Even the high-ranking officials who initially opposed it seemed to have completely reversed their opinions.

 

So how would the SH unit personnel be decided?

 

In fact, rather than the outcome of the competition, wouldn’t it be more important to see who was the most active in the field?

 

The high-ranking officials, having finally realized this obvious point, completely changed their evaluation criteria.

 

They decided to form the squad around the heroes who performed best among the S-rank and A-rank heroes dispatched to the gate that opened during the match. Naturally, most of those with high achievements were S-ranks.

 

The number 10 appeared on the screen, and with a ‘ding’ sound, the elevator stopped.

 

“Oh, right. Have you heard about this? They say a weasel has been spotted in the association building lately.”

 

It’s a white weasel apparently, Yoo Jian said as she stepped out through the opening doors.

 

“A white weasel?”

 

“Yes. I didn’t know because I often went out to the field after the S-rank gate incident, but they say it’s often seen in the safety control room hallway. I heard it’s really cute.”

 

Jeong Mueum, uninterested, snorted and walked ahead.

 

“Does it have an owner? Shouldn’t it be protected?”

 

“That’s what I mean. But I heard it eats something unusual. Something it shouldn’t be eating.”

 

Yoo Jian put a finger on her chin and thought hard. What was it again? There were rumors it was eating french fries.

 

Jeong Mueum frowned, finding it absurd.

 

“What kind of rumor is that? It must be a hoax.”

 

“Pii!”

 

They stopped in front of a large decorative pot in the corridor leading to the main conference room. It contained a Brugmansia, an ornamental plant also known as Angel’s Trumpet.

 

From behind the large leaves of the Brugmansia, a cute little creature appeared. The white creature was staring intently at them with round eyes, its paws clasped together. They could see its tiny nose twitching.

 

“….Looks like it’s not a hoax.”

 

“…I guess so.”

 

“Oh my gosh, it’s so cute. I want to raise it. What should I do? How can something be this cute? I’ve never seen anything this cute in my life. I didn’t know something alive could be this adorable.”

 

Yoo Jian’s words burst out like rapid-fire rap. She slowly took out her phone from her pocket, afraid the white ferret might run away. She even held her breath to avoid making any noise.

 

“Pii.”

 

“Pii?”

 

“Come here.”

 

A soft, gentle voice spread through the corridor. It was a voice that was half air, half sound, that could make you feel drowsy if you heard it casually.

 

At that voice, the weasel scurried over, climbed up the man’s hand that touched the floor, and wrapped around his neck. The gaze of the two people, who had been following the weasel’s trail, naturally landed on that man.

 

“Huh? Yoo Hwashin?”

 

“Hyung?”

 

Hwashin, now wearing the weasel as a scarf, waved his hand as if pleased to see them.

 

***

 

“Should I sign it here?”

 

“Not in the middle, but a little higher. In the left corner, yes.”

 

In the waiting area in front of the conference room where the briefing was to be held, three heroes sat side by side on a sofa.

 

Yoo Jian, with the cap of the marker in her mouth, skillfully signed the transparent phone case Hwashin handed her.

 

‘What the hell is going on?’

 

Jeong Mueum stared blankly at the scene. Not only had a man come to the association building, and to the briefing no less, with a weasel around his neck, but now he was asking noona for an autograph on a phone case. It all seemed unreal.

 

“Mueum, too. Here, lower right.”

 

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

 

Yet he was helplessly drawn into the atmosphere as if familiar with it. Holding the case Hwashin had given him and the marker his sister had handed him, Mueum’s hand paused momentarily.

 

He wanted to sign it stylishly, but.

 

‘I… don’t have one.’

 

Now that he thought about it, he didn’t have a proper signature. Jian, sitting next to Mueum who had a serious expression, asked Hwashin.

 

“You said you were called for the briefing too, right, Mr. Hwashin?”

 

“Yes.”

 

He patted the weasel sitting on his lap.

 

“It seems they called me after seeing the report submitted this time. They might do another ability measurement today.”

 

“Looking at the report, your ability isn’t F-rank but on par with S-rank, isn’t it? Could it even be SS-rank or something? This won’t do, let’s have a match someday. I’m up for it anytime.”

 

“What? I’d die. I’d fly away with just one punch from you.”

 

“Come on, I’ll control my strength when I hit you!”

 

Oh dear, how boisterous.

 

Yoo Jian showed off her sturdy wrist and fist in front of Hwashin. Her trademark was said to be a mischievous smile that made her look like she was frowning, and that description was spot on. It was a refreshingly addictive smile.

 

Ding-.

 

One minute before the briefing started.

 

As the elevator door opened, the three of them looked in one direction.

 

“Wow.”

 

A silhouette that naturally elicited admiration,

 

The man who walked out was also dressed sharply in an S-rank hero uniform. His steady stride down the center of the hallway resembled a model on a runway.

 

The description in the books about S-rank heroes having many fans made sense. Both Jeong Mueum and Yoo Jian had an undeniable charm that made them stand out as more than ordinary people.

 

And as for the protagonist, Cha Jaeha, there was nothing more to say.

 

‘That’s how a protagonist should be.’

 

His pomade-styled hair exposed his cool forehead, giving him a colder impression than with his hair down, but it suited the briefing’s serious atmosphere today.

 

“Haa.”

 

Jeong Mueum sighed, not loud enough for Cha Jaeha to hear. Cha Jaeha stopped diagonally next to the three. He gave a short, silent bow towards the opposite wall.

 

“Hello.”

 

Hwashin greeted him cheerfully first, and the weasel also raised its small paw in response.

 

“Pii!”

 

“….So cute.”

 

Yoo Jian also gave a short greeting to Cha Jaeha, then extended her finger towards the ferret. Jeong Mueum eventually nodded with a slight pout.

 

Not long after Cha Jaeha’s arrival, the double doors of the closed conference room opened from both sides.

 

The secretary from the Gate Safety Management Department, commonly known as the Hero Association, stepped out. She began with a mechanical smile and a kind tone.

 

“Hello, I’m Seosan, a secretary from the Association. Hero Cha Jaeha, Hero Yoo Jian, Hero Jeong Mueum… and Hero Yoo Hwashin, correct?”

 

After receiving affirmative responses from all four, she opened the door wide and stood right in front of it. Her posture was perfect, not a hint of a hunchback.

 

“Thank you for confirming. With these four, we will now begin the S-rank Gate briefing and the SH Unit meeting. Please come in.”