Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Red Hydrangea, Acacia
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Time rewound just a little, to the entrance of Sector A.
Pinned beneath Ronel's knee, Han U-sol inhaled the musty scent of earth while remaining slammed face-down on the ground.
"Stay put. You got that?"
Han U-sol closed his eyes. An alarm blared announcing the appearance of magic beasts.
From the circumstances, it was clear Ronel had betrayed them.
Seeing the private soldiers silently obeying her orders, it wasn't just Ronel's betrayal.
A powerholder capable of mobilizing so many private soldiers.
Magic beasts that had suddenly appeared in the city. And the demon, or turncoat, who summoned those magic beasts.
The few pieces of information all pointed to one thing.
Ronel, and the powerholder behind her, had betrayed humanity and sided with the demons.
How long had this betrayal been planned, and for what purpose? Nothing was known. It was natural to be clueless when it hit out of nowhere, having neither suspected nor anticipated it.
The only certainty was that something was happening inside Sector A right now.
"……"
Han U-sol felt his own powerlessness acutely.
He hadn't noticed a thing. Even though Ronel had always been right there beside him.
If only he'd spotted something off about her sooner.
No, even before that.
Or rather, before it came to this.
Countless what-ifs raced through Han U-sol's mind.
He had no time to worry about the Hero Association's sordid politics happening beyond his sight, the outraged refugees, or the poor children dying lonely deaths in back alleys.
Just fending off the magic beasts in front of him and saving his comrades right there was overwhelming enough. He was too busy keeping his head above water under the crushing weight of responsibility.
It had always been like this.
Han U-sol couldn't save everyone, couldn't know everything.
The responsibility was immense. Yet the reach of one person's hands was so small, so limited.
Despite the grandiose role of humanity's hope and future, he was just an ordinary boy. It was impossible to catch every grain of sand pouring down with just two hands.
No matter how wide he spread them, things slipped through his fingers. Those grains that fell between them grew in size unnoticed, eventually swelling into burdens too heavy for Han U-sol to bear.
"……"
He hung his head. His body was already pressed to the ground with nowhere lower to go, but self-loathing knew no bottom.
When was it? There had been a time when he'd vowed to save everyone.
He'd sworn to grow strong, stronger, to protect the one he loved.
To become a hero.
To become a hero, protect people, and safeguard her.
It was a distant memory. So far and faded that it felt irretrievable now.
Now, he wasn't a hero saving everyone—he'd fallen to being a sinner repaying a debt.
Not a protector or savior, but the culprit who'd pushed her off a cliff.
Ridiculously, it was the same cycle. Whenever something happened, it always circled back to self-blame. Everything felt like his fault. He'd reminisce about the past, chew it over, regurgitate it.
"Prez, are you crying?"
"……"
Ronel's voice came from atop his shoulder. Her tone was cautious, but there was a faint hint of disgust.
"…Um. Don't cry. Cut it out."
"……Shut up."
Han U-sol flushed and snapped back irritably at Ronel's coaxing attempts.
He wasn't crying.
...Really.
He lifted his head and looked ahead. The refugees had drawn right up to them before he knew it. Han U-sol stared at them blankly.
"……"
Were the refugees in league with Ronel? Or just being used? He couldn't even guess.
Could he shake her off? The moment he resisted and tried to stand, she'd pull the trigger. Could he block a gun fired point-blank with his barrier?
Even if he did, what about the other heroes? Reisi? Daniel? The instant he shook her off, the others would surely be gunned down by the private soldiers.
'…What should I do.'
Han U-sol's deliberations were interrupted.
――Wheeeeeen
The blaring siren,
――……
stopped.
"It's over."
Ronel said that as she got off Han U-sol. As she holstered her gun, the other private soldiers followed suit.
"What…?"
Han U-sol tilted his head, unable to follow the flow. The other heroes were just as confused.
Ronel spoke while tucking away her holstered gun.
"I told you it'd all work out."
###
The private soldiers halted the arriving refugees and persuaded them, promising places to live and improved conditions to win them over.
The refugees were bewildered. The central authorities hadn't budged an inch despite their anguished uproar, yet now, right at Sector A's doorstep, they'd flipped attitudes like a pancake.
So they grew suspicious. Voices sporadically cried out amid the crowd that they couldn't be trusted. But the violent momentum they'd maintained up to the entrance had softened somewhat.
It was simple logic. The refugees hadn't risen up for revolution or enlightenment—political or social ideals. They just needed a place to live. It was natural they'd be tempted by the soldiers' promises.
Though they'd caused big and small disturbances before, those were just disturbances, nothing like a massive riot that might get people killed.
Most refugees were ordinary folk who'd been swept up by incitement in the face of bleak reality, reluctantly taking up arms. No one wanted to fight a battle that might cost their lives.
The refugees' mood began to shift, from suspicion to giving it a try.
Of course, there were still those stirring for violence, insisting not to trust them—mostly gang members. But overturning the majority opinion was tough. Sentiment tipped quickly.
"Glad it worked out."
Ronel said, watching from a short distance away. Han U-sol silently straightened his disheveled clothes beside her.
When he didn't respond, Ronel nudged his side with her elbow and spoke again.
"Mad? You're not pissed just because I pinned you to the dirt and pointed a gun at you, right?"
"……"
"Oh, or maybe because I teased you about crying earlier…"
"I didn't cry."
Han U-sol rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve. Whether it was just an itch or wiping away faint tear tracks, Ronel kindly pretended not to notice this time.
"Even so, bringing demons into the city… that was way too dangerous."
"But it brought a lot in return."
"Still…"
"Remember what I said? Risk and return."
The private soldiers, heroes, and refugees passed the entrance and entered Sector A.
The refugees' expressions grew tenser. Han U-sol couldn't gauge why.
The refugees looked around, taking in the city's sights—marveling at the clean streets free of filth, gaping at the towering skyscrapers.
Longing and awe for the central sector they'd yearned for swirled among them, mingled with lingering suspicion in their hearts.
"Come to think of it."
Ronel suddenly said, gazing at them.
"Your life's been pretty tumultuous, Prez. Living like a protagonist even though you're not the main character. The world revolves around you because of a birth you never asked for, leaning on you like you're from a novel or movie."
"……"
If pressed to say yes or no, it was yes. Without Han U-sol's barrier, the city wouldn't hold, after all.
"But tragically, this isn't a movie or novel. And you're no protagonist."
A naive, inexperienced boy with a slightly grand dream of becoming a hero.
Just a kind-hearted, somewhat clumsy boy learning the ways of the world.
That was Han U-sol exactly.
Bumping into things headfirst, making mistakes, slipping up.
Getting scolded, reproached, moping in gloom, then quickly dusting off and standing again.
Gradually growing accustomed, maturing like others his age—crying over love, swept by fleeting emotions,
regretting choices, rejoicing in achievements, adapting to the world.
Just your average boy that age.
"That's why you keep losing your footing, getting tossed around. Because it's not a movie or novel. Because you're not the protagonist."
A role akin to a movie protagonist.
Yet a vessel far too small for it.
Unlike protagonists who knew from where and how things went wrong, forging ahead decisively.
"Honestly, it's frustrating, but it makes sense. Already suffocating under responsibility, and then irresponsible adults keep jerking you around—you can't help but get swayed."
Han U-sol had always been at others' mercy. Too young to handle and overcome everything alone. Ronel knew that, so she didn't blame his indecision.
"But from now on, it'll be different. All those pathetic adults are gone. You won't have to agonize alone anymore."
Ronel turned. The private soldiers fell in line behind her.
"From here on, we'll eliminate the noise disrupting you. We'll give you clear direction on what to do."
"……"
"Focus only on your duty from now on, Prez. Ignore everything else—just eliminate the magic beasts and drive out the demons. We'll pave the way. Got it?"
Ronel grinned boldly. Han U-sol met her gaze.
"……Yeah."
The heavy burden on his shoulders felt a bit lighter.
A little, just a little.
He could breathe easier.
"Thanks."
"Not because I like you, Prez. It's all for humanity."
He turned to look at the refugees, and his eyes met a young girl's. Why was a child her age here? It was heartbreaking.
Seeing kids dying in poverty always left him blaming himself for not saving or helping them.
But not anymore. No more dying in poverty. From now on, they'd eat their fill, feel happiness, hold hope for life. Colton and Ronel would make it so.
Han U-sol waved and smiled at the girl. Seeing his gesture, she waved back enthusiastically. He responded with a pure, innocent smile. How long since he'd smiled like this? It was hazy now.
The faint anxiety on the girl's face vanished, replaced by a bright laugh full of hope and expectation.
And then,
-Bang!
Blood sprayed from the girl's chest.
"……"
"……"
A moment of silence. All eyes converged.
"…What the hell. Who shot her."
Ronel muttered blankly into the hush. She glanced at the soldiers, but they were equally clueless about what had happened.
Han U-sol stared at the girl. His gaze stiffened, rigid, following something spraying from her.
The girl collapsed. The hope she'd held shattered, scattering beyond her chest. Han U-sol drew a sharp breath.
The metallic tang of blood, the girl's dreams.
Behind it, the foul stench of magic beasts.
And faintly drifting through, the scent of acacia.
A familiar smell,
A familiar fragrance.
"…Anis?"
The name that suddenly surfaced in his mind—a name he no longer dared utter—slipped out unbidden. Knowing she was gone, dead, yet the familiar scent reflexively brought her name to his lips.
-Thud.
The girl fell.
All watched her cooling form in silence. Heroes, soldiers, refugees, even Han U-sol himself.
"……"
"……"
"……"
The hope of so many
"Those bastards shot a kid!!!!!!!!!!!"
"We're screwed!! We got tricked!!!"
"Knew we couldn't trust them!!!"
"Grab your weapons!!!"
shattered.