Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

“So, how did your status window change?”

 

Inside the Association building. The rest area and shared office on the top floor. It was a space where Hero Association employees could freely come and go. Among them, the three shared offices located in the inner area could only be used by heroes above a certain rank.

 

But for the SH squad, there was no place they couldn’t enter.

 

Ha Cheongwon was dressed neatly as usual, but he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, and judging by his gaunt appearance, he seemed to have gone through quite an ordeal.

 

As soon as he swiped his card and entered, Hwashin immediately asked him about the status window.

 

“Status window?”

 

“Haven’t you checked? If it were me, I would have checked first to see if my rank had gone up.”

 

It updated automatically based on the flow of mana.

 

Hwashin shrugged, thinking it was pretty funny how he spoke so confidently about the status window that he couldn’t see.

 

Only then did Ha Cheongwon sit down on one of the sofas in the center of the office and bring up his status window.

 

[ Name: Ha Cheongwon

 

Overall Rank: B (subject to change)

 

Basic Physical Strength: B (subject to change)

 

Possessed Skill: Foresight (S-rank) (Can see the future. The scope and aftereffects vary depending on the severity of the events.) (Promotion potential exists)

 

Secondary Skill: Mental Defense (A-rank)

 

※ Caution: Proficiency in handling abilities is lacking. Precognition is a mental ability and its activation conditions and range can change with the user’s growth, so regular check-ups are necessary.

 

※ Recently updated. Results are reflected in the Korean and global servers.

 

※ This ability did not exist in previous data. It is registered as an additional ability.

 

※ Please undergo another examination to reflect overall growth.]

 

“How is it?”

 

People couldn’t see someone else’s status window. Therefore, the awakened had to describe their status windows themselves, and the listener couldn’t tell if the awakened was lying or not unless they directly pulled up the records.

 

“I have S-rank foresight and A-rank mental defense.”

 

“…S-Rank? The progress is faster than I thought.”

 

Hwashin, hiding his surprise, nodded as if he understood.

 

But he was genuinely astonished.

 

Clearly, in the novel, Ha Cheongwon was still an A-rank by the end. Did his intervention raise the rank to a level he couldn’t achieve before?

 

Hwashin, seated comfortably opposite Cheongwon, continued.

 

“What about the dream? It would be good if you could describe it in detail.”

 

Ha Cheongwon rubbed his face dry and then began to speak with his hands clasped together.

 

“….It’s two days from now. The reason I judged so is because that day is when my little sister would be moving to a different floor’s hospital room, and in the dream, it happened during the process of moving rooms.”

 

His clasped hands were trembling. Despite calmly explaining the dream, Ha Cheongwon still couldn’t meet Hwashin’s gaze.

 

“On that day, a gate opens. It seems to be located around the 6th floor. As for the rank… I’m not sure. But I estimate it to be at least A-rank or S-rank.”

 

“Why do you think so?”

 

“…The form of the gate was different from what we’ve seen so far. Such a significant difference suggests the involvement of a new kind of power. Also, the monsters themselves were different from before. They weren’t just about brute strength or size.”

 

Ha Cheongwon bit his lip hard.

 

“In that dream, did any heroes appear?”

 

Hwashin threw out the final question. According to the novel, heroes only appeared after dozens of people have died. Then what was the point of the SH Unit’s existence?

 

‘If we weren’t there, more would have died.’

 

The gate emergence was entirely unexpected, and critically ill patients couldn’t move from their spots. Moreover, the hospital ceiling started to collapse, making the situation incomparably more dangerous.

 

If the SH Unit wasn’t there and they had misjudged the gate’s rank, more people would have died.

 

Moreover, these monsters were indeed unusual. As Ha Cheongwon said, one of the monsters from the gate that opened in the hospital used superpowers just like awakened individuals.

 

“…Well, my dream only showed a part of it, so it’s hard to describe the full situation. But near the end of the situation, a hero did appear. Judging by the burns, it was probably Unit 1.”

 

Blood dripped from his tightly bitten lips.

 

“But many people had already died. …Among the corpses, I also found her.”

 

He didn’t finish his sentence. Hwashin didn’t add anything, already knowing what would come next.

 

As if signaling it was time to wrap up, Hwashin’s watch vibrated. It was a gate warning alarm, indicating he needed to leave.

 

“…I need to go now. Ah, right, Mr. Ha Cheongwon.”

 

Swiping his card again, Hwashin opened the automatic door of the shared office and spoke.

 

“Would you like to come with me?”

 

***

 

“Who is that guy?”

 

“Hn, this is Mr. Ha Cheongwon.”

 

Hwashin smiled nonchalantly as he adjusted the new watch on his wrist.

 

“Do you think I’m asking because I don’t know his name? Why did you bring an outsider to the scene?”

 

The gate warning had gone off right in the middle of a downtown intersection.

 

All vehicles had already been barred from entering the area, and the public was also kept out. Different alarms had been sent to buildings within a 200-meter radius, depending on their distance from the site.

 

On either side of the yellow tape, soldiers sent by the military were on standby, along with ambulances ready for any potential injuries.

 

Having an outsider in such an urgent situation?

 

“He’s with the Association, so he’s not a complete outsider, is he?”

 

“If he’s not essential for this situation, he’s an outsider.”

 

“Then he’s not really an outsider. He’s useful and needed.”

 

It wasn’t just Cha Jaeha who found it ridiculous to see Ha Cheongwon at the scene.

 

Ha Cheongwon, who had been dragged along and was being scolded together, was also a victim of Hwashin’s whims. Suddenly being brought here, what was he supposed to do?

 

“Recently, Mr. Ha Cheongwon awakened to an A-rank, no, S-rank. I thought we could work together just once.”

 

Cha Jaeha’s eyes, which had only been filled with irritation, now showed a different light. That gaze was directed straight at Ha Cheongwon.

 

Flinch.

 

Honestly, Ha Cheongwon felt intimidated. After all, Cha Jaeha was said to be the strongest among S-rank.

 

“You awakened? Really?”

 

“…Yes? Yes, that’s right.”

 

“You’re not lying, are you?”

 

“What would be the point of lying?”

 

Ha Cheongwon wasn’t one to back down just because he was intimidated.

 

‘Wow~ it’s so interesting to see them together.’

 

Inwardly shouting ‘This is exciting, this is fun!’, Hwashin looked back and forth between the two with an innocent face.

 

Why did he bring Ha Cheongwon to the scene?

 

There were various reasons. He wanted to test Ha Cheongwon’s S-rank foresight, see what he was capable of. But the biggest reason was simply that he wanted to see them together.

 

Just that. Watching the two clash was one of the fun parts of the novel, and it was better to see it sooner rather than later!

 

That was the extent of his reason, with some embellishment.

 

Why act so whimsically?

 

He had always lived his life that way. People’s actions weren’t always right or reasonable. Sometimes, living for interest was just fine.

 

While Hwashin was simply watching them, the conversation between the two was progressing.

 

“Your ability is foresight, right? Did you awaken with that?”

 

“Yes. I awakened with S-rank foresight and an additional mental defense skill.”

 

“So did you see the gate that’s about to open here?”

 

Ha Cheongwon clamped his mouth shut at Cha Jaeha’s question.

 

‘…No, I didn’t know anything.’

 

He was just dragged here in the first place. On one side, someone was panting with excitement, not knowing what to expect, and on the other side, someone was glaring at him with a murderous expression.

 

Zzzzt-

 

As Ha Cheongwon sighed, he heard a crackling sound in his ear, as if the screen was changing along with the noise.

 

His body staggered. With his head dropped and vision lowered, rough scenes like those from an old broken TV flashed by.

 

Then he heard a narration from somewhere.

 

« …When the gate opened, what appeared was a mermaid. Although it had a bizarre form, with fins below and a human shape above, it was no different from the mermaids seen in books. She, or he. That being of indeterminate gender appeared with a massive tidal wave and instantly submerged everything in the area. »

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Huff—”

 

Back in reality, Hwashin had his head poked under his, looking up at him.

 

“What did you see?”

 

It was said that S-ranks could use their abilities as naturally as breathing. They could start and stop them at will.

 

However, Ha Cheongwon had just awakened yesterday. It might still be difficult for him to control properly. But they didn’t have the patience to wait that long.

 

So if a gate was about to open right in front of him. Wouldn’t Ha Cheongwon naturally be able to use his foresight ability then?

 

Hwashin, who had been watching Ha Cheongwon’s reactions, grinned.

 

“You saw something, didn’t you?”

 

Hwashin had expected this scene from the start, so he naturally put his arm around Ha Cheongwon’s shoulders and called the others.

 

“Alright, everyone, attention~ Our soldiers too, please look here.”

 

Everyone’s eyes quickly focused on them. Among them were some discontented looks.

 

“Our S-rank hero, Mr. Ha Cheongwon, seems to have seen something. So he’s going to share it with you all. Mr. Cheongwon, what should we do?”

 

What an unreasonable man. Just how unreasonable could he be?

 

Sigh.

 

Finally, Ha Cheongwon adjusted his glasses with his middle finger, gave Hwashin a quick glance, and then turned his gaze to the crowd.

 

He was scared. He couldn’t be sure if what he saw was true. Normally, he wouldn’t report it yet. He needed evidence, certainty, and a reason to persuade people.

 

But this man didn’t give him the chance. Ha Cheongwon let out a bitter laugh.

 

Even in this infuriating situation created by this man, Ha Cheongwon had to do his job. As a member of the Association, he had to take responsibility for his role.

 

“I’m Hero Ha Cheongwon from the Management Department. First, I won’t apologize for his rudeness, so please get your apologies directly from him.”

 

“Haha!”

 

Those starting words were just like him.

 

“My ability is foresight, and I awakened to S-rank yesterday.”

 

The eyes of those watching him changed in an instant.

 

S-rank foresight…?

 

“A monster with the form of a mermaid will emerge from the gate opening in about 20 minutes. Unlike typical monsters, which interfere with our daily lives with their size and strength, this one is different. The mermaid will appear with a massive wave. It has the ability to manipulate water, and the tanks and military weapons we have deployed, as well as the ambulances, will be swept away by it.”

 

His tone and manner of speaking were calm but emphasized important points. And his serious expression was enough to overwhelm the audience.

 

Before long, everyone was holding their breath, listening to Ha Cheongwon’s story. Unlike Hwashin, who was smugly snorting behind him as if looking at a disciple he had raised.

 

“From this moment on, remove all vehicles that have been deployed. The same goes for people. The only ones who will remain here are me and the members of Unit 1. All civilians, please leave now.”

 

“Then what about the ambulances—”

 

“No exceptions. The plan I’m presenting is the best way to minimize casualties. Also, extend the warning range from 200 meters to 300 meters and send the alerts again. …Mr. Hwashin and I will take full responsibility. Please act quickly.”

 

Bow. With a brief bow of thanks, his speech concluded.

 

A moment of silence followed.

 

But then.

 

“Start implementing Mr. Ha Cheongwon’s instructions immediately!”

 

“Changing the range? We’ll deal with the authorization later! Just do it now!”

 

“Who’s driving the tank? Pull it back.”

 

“The ambulances will return to their original positions.”

 

After the silence came the commotion. Ha Cheongwon quietly observed the scene that changed with just his words.

 

He had always watched everything from behind the scenes. Although he was B-rank, he just roamed the offices within the Management Department, unable to act directly.

 

Now, it was completely different. With this power, maybe… just maybe. Could he change his sister’s future in two days?

 

“So, what should we do? Our Mr. Jaeha is on standby.”

 

“…Sigh.”

 

And this carefree man was the one who gave him this power. Despite the urgency and fear, he couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.