Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

Hello, everyone.

 

This is Elric.

 

I am the Grand Mage, over 200 years old and stopped counting, who could manipulate karma. I have possessed a character in the novel <Your Hero is Here>.

 

The body I’ve possessed belonged to someone named Yoo Hwashin, whom I didn’t even know. He’s a new civil servant who has only been at the job for a month, and he’s an E-rank low-ranking hero who only handles documents at the association.

 

That’s right. I’m currently slacking off, scribbling this text in Word.

 

You might be surprised at my adaptability, but when you’ve lived for over 200 years and experienced all sorts of things, you tend to take things in stride. (If you want to argue, try living for 200 years first^^). Additionally, Yoo Hwashin’s memories have flowed into me, so adapting to the culture and environment here was easy. Of course, there are some confusing things, but I’ll adapt to them in time.

 

How did I end up possessing a character in a novel?

 

Well, when dimensional dragons die, they return to other dimensions. It seems the dragon sent me to this world at that time.

 

It’s not that I dislike the possession the dragon gave me. Living for a long time was boring, so I didn’t have any lingering attachment to that world. To express it in the words of this world, I’m quite happy to be in the place where my ‘favorite’ lives. I get to see Cha Jaeha in person, as well as his companions.

 

…It would be nice if everything were that great, but the problem is that this world is eventually doomed to destruction. Furthermore, my bias, Cha Jaeha, dies to prevent that destruction.

 

He dies.

 

Does he really die?

 

Yes, he really dies.

 

<Your Hero is Here> is a hero novel where the protagonist Cha Jaeha dies, his colleagues die, and the world ends.

 

So, since I’ve possessed a character, I’m planning to stick by my favorite and try to prevent his death. If my favorite dies, the world will lose its meaning to exist. Well, it would still exist, but it would be better to live together with my favorite, right?

 

Anyway, to do that, I’ll need to join the SH1 unit that the protagonist will enter. I have things to do there, and it seems more interesting than this Civil Affairs Department, at least.

 

***

 

With Hwashin’s memories, Elric quickly adapted to the world he possessed, South Korea.

 

After about a week of working non-stop, he realized:

 

‘Being an office worker is more boring than being a mage.’

 

As Yoo Hwashin was yawning and scribbling past stories in Word, a man spoke over his shoulder.

 

“Hwashin, shall we go eat lunch now?”

 

“Oh, yes, Chief.”

 

Following his senior, Hwashin headed to the cafeteria. The ‘Gate Safety Management Department’, commonly known as the Hero Association, had been around for about five years and used a newly built glass building. Despite being a part of the government, it was convenient to be in the center of the city due to the gate’s characteristics.

 

Hwashin was assigned to the lowest of the low, the Civil Affairs Department. It seemed Hwashin originally wanted to join the Hero Management Department, not Civil Affairs, but there was no way an E-rank could enter the Management Department.

 

Originally, Yoo Hwashin was an extra who was supposed to die in the terrible incident a week ago. And that accident was the ‘Hongdae Gate Incident’ which served as the foundation for creating the SH (Special Hero) unit that the protagonist would join.

 

“I’m glad you seem to be doing better than expected.”

 

The senior playfully patted Hwashin’s arm.

 

“I heard monsters suddenly poured out of the Gate. Well, they say the new Gate tracking system was just being set up. It’s been a long time since a Gate appeared in the city center. Lots of civilians got caught up in it too, it was all over the news, quite a mess, wasn’t it?”

 

“Haha, that’s right. I was really shocked too. I almost died.”

 

Almost died? He actually did die.

 

Hwashin made a dramatic gesture of grabbing his neck and pretending to collapse. His senior laughed heartily, pleased with his junior’s playful response.

 

“Yeah! It’s good to have a young person with such a strong mentality. It seems that a new hero unit that can respond quickly has been created because of this incident. What do you think, Hwashin? Even though you’re E-rank, are you interested in that?”

 

“Ah, of course.”

 

The SH Hero unit was initially intended to be composed only of S-rank and A-rank heroes. Some even said that the ‘S’ in SH stood for ‘S-rank’.

 

They did accept applications from lower-ranked heroes, but it was probably just for show.

 

<Your Hero is Here>, or ‘YHH’ for short, began with the story after the SH unit was formed. So at this point, before the unit was created, Cha Jaeha in the book was a government-affiliated hero who worked alone.

 

To be able to join the SH unit with the protagonist from the beginning. That meant being with Cha Jaeha in his earlier days. Hwashin’s heart raced. To calm his excitement, he shifted his gaze to his superior’s face.

 

Good. He calmed down quickly.

 

Anyway, asking an E-rank rookie if he would apply for the SH unit was somewhat close to mockery.

 

His superior must also know that Yoo Hwashin originally applied for the Management Department, not the Civil Affairs Department.

 

Hwashin shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth.

 

“Well, sunbae and I probably couldn’t get in even if we were reborn. But I’m still young, so I’m going to try.”

 

At his response, the senior looked at him with a puzzled expression but quickly reverted it to a normal expression.

 

“Alright, I’ll cheer you on! But don’t get your hopes too high, our E-rank rookie.”

 

“Hahaha, yes. Thank you for the support, sunbae. I’ll definitely escape the Civil Affairs Department.”

 

Yoo Hwashin struck a fighting pose with a nonchalant expression.

 

“….Sure, sure. This year’s Civil Affairs rookie is overflowing with spirit.”

 

The senior thought, ‘What a crazy rookie we’ve got,’ as he turned his gaze towards the menu.

 

***

 

After finishing his afternoon duties, Hwashin headed straight to the Hero Management Department, which was in charge of recruiting for the SH unit. Located on the third floor, the Management Department was much cleaner and more modern than the Civil Affairs Department, with a white-toned interior.

 

“Hello. I’m Yoo Hwashin from the Gate Civil Affairs Department.”

 

“Yes, how may I help you?”

 

The counter staff’s eyes immediately went to Hwashin’s ID card. Everyone working in hero-related departments had to display their hero rank on their ID card. Upon seeing that Hwashin was E-rank, the staff’s expression turned sour.

 

“For your information, any matters from the Civil Affairs Department are not handled by our Management Department—”

 

“It’s not about that. I’m here to apply for the SH unit.”

 

Hwashin waved the application form he had brought. The staff’s glasses glinted as he squinted, as if doubting what he had just seen, then checked Hwashin’s ID again.

 

…He was indeed an E-rank, but SH unit?

 

He asked again.

 

“Where?”

 

“It’s the SH unit.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Me.”

 

“You?”

 

“Yes, me, not someone else.”

 

The staff frowned at Hwashin’s light-hearted tone.

 

What was this guy up to?

 

An E-rank hero, cheerfully saying he wanted to join the SH unit. It was hard to accept logically. Barely stifling a cough, the staff continued.

 

“Of course, we are accepting applications from E-class heroes for the unit… Have you had a recent change in your rank? If there’s been a change after checking your status window, you need to report it to us first.”

 

Hwashin shook his head.

 

“Oh no, no change. I’m still an E-rank.”

 

In fact, Hwashin had no way of knowing whether he was still E-rank or had risen to S-rank. After all, he couldn’t even see or access the status window.

 

Status window and hero rank.

 

To manage heroes who defeat monsters from Gates and protect their countries, the world established official standards. And through an AI program, they measured comprehensive scores according to these standards and assigned ranks based on the results.

 

The status window accurately displayed these rankings and abilities.

 

Unfortunately, Yoo Hwashin couldn’t see the status window. Probably because the abilities Elric’s soul used weren’t originally from this world.

 

When Elric entered Hwashin’s body, he repaired the damaged physique and confirmed he could use magic by manipulating karma. He planned to figure out the detailed usage conditions later.

 

The staff, hearing that there was no change, asked again.

 

“And you’re still applying for the SH unit?”

 

“Yes.”

 

At that innocent smile and reply, the staff let out a deep sigh.

 

A troublesome guy had come. He was someone who, after reading too many comics, got deluded with the fantasy of ‘I’ll protect the world!’.

 

The staff, saying ‘just a moment’, made a phone call. After a brief explanation, he turned back to Hwashin.

 

“Although the SH unit’s recruitment guidelines state that we accept all applicants, you are the first E-class applicant. To avoid any issues later, we would need to measure your abilities again. Is that okay?”

 

“Sure. That’s fine by me.”

 

Since he couldn’t check anyway, it would benefit him. When Hwashin readily agreed, the staff frowned deeply and pulled out some documents from under the desk.

 

If he had been promoted, the staff would have to process the unnecessary paperwork and approval procedures himself. Where did this annoying little brat come from?

 

“Then, please follow me to the measurement room.”

 

The expression on the staff’s face as he told him to go to the measuring room was similar to the rage of a monster that had rushed at him to kill him. It would be nice if he could just do the job with a smile.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

Hwashin tapped the man’s shoulder and leaned in. When he turned around, their faces were only about a hand’s breadth apart.

 

The staff frowned in displeasure at the too-close distance.

 

“…What is it?”

 

Hwashin’s eyes curved into a smile.

 

“Are you always this gruff?”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Just curious.”

 

“….There’s no need to smile unnecessarily while working.”

 

The flow of karma rippled before his eyes.

 

Hwashin’s voice changed the flow after confirming the amount of karma needed.

 

“「I think your face would look much brighter if you smiled. Come on, smile all the way to the measurement room. Okay?」”

 

As Hwashin made a gesture of lifting the corners of his mouth with his fingers, the man’s lips began to curl up involuntarily.

 

‘W-What? What’s happening?’

 

Even if he was flustered, he couldn’t make a flustered expression. Only questions bloomed in his mind.

 

Hwashin lightly put his arm around the man’s shoulders. Hmm. Now that was a more pleasant expression. Hwashin smiled brightly in turn.

 

“Alright! Let’s head to the measurement room.”

 

Their steps were light in the cheerful atmosphere. At least, Hwashin thought so.