Chapter 9
Chapter 9
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Echoes of Heroism
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crash!
A familiar sound rang out. It was the sound of glass shattering.
Green shards of glass were scattered across the floor. My father had slammed an empty soju bottle down. It wasn't a pleasant situation, but the fact that it had hit the wooden floor instead of my head was a small mercy.
Slap! My cheek stung as my head snapped to the side.
My father couldn't forget my mother, who died giving birth to me, and he hated me for it. That hatred snowballed into loathing, and it often manifested as abuse.
That's why I hated it when my father drank. A little while after he started, he'd burst through the door and start beating me.
Abuse can't be justified in any way—that's what someone once said. But not for my father. To him, drunk as he was, he was a righteous executioner carrying out justice, and I was nothing but a vile demon who had killed his wife.
When my father, deep in his cups, suddenly flipped the table and started smashing things, only a few phrases would echo through the room.
Lately, I'd been dealing with a new worry.
Theory classes were dwindling, replaced by more practical sessions.
Not that they were real classes—they were basically training to develop our abilities. Students sought advice from teachers or trained on their own.
Naturally, that meant more chatter among the students.
"U-sol, can you take a look at my swordsmanship?"
"Sure."
"Na-rin, your ability is fire, right?"
"Yeah."
"So why are you learning water magic? Isn't it the opposite element?"
"Gotta put out the flames if they catch my clothes during training."
Han U-sol and Yoon Na-rin. Born with natural charisma, these kids were already mingling actively with the others, building their circles.
"..."
Me? As you can see...
I was just swinging weapons at a training dummy in the corner. So lonely.
What if Yoon Na-rin and Han U-sol stop hanging out with me? I don't want that.
In my previous life, I'd lived my whole life without a single friend, and here I was, feeling lonely after just a short silence. It was kinda funny.
'Feels like I've become a dark templar again after so long...'
Why was I so bad at socializing? As I swung my weapon, lost in thought—
"Hey."
"...?"
"I saw you using that dagger the other day. You seemed pretty good. Mind teaching me? I've only been using daggers for a bit."
"Uh... sure."
She was a silver-haired bob-cut girl with a delinquent vibe. Reisi, I think? Her tough look triggered some school trauma, but I gave a positive response anyway. Hesitate even a second, and you'd get a straight punch to the gut.
"And Han U-sol said you're good with all melee weapons?"
"Uh... yeah."
"Impressive. I'm more reliant on my ability..."
She reminded me a bit of the older girls who used to shake me down in back alleys as a kid, so I was a little intimidated. But she was nicer than expected.
"...What's your ability?"
"Smoke."
Reisi puffed white smoke from her fingertip. It oddly smelled like cigarettes, dredging up more memories of getting beat by delinquents.
"Smoke ability, and you use daggers?"
"Yeah. I envelop them in smoke to blind them, then assassinate with the dagger."
...Wouldn't ranged weapons be better for that? I muttered absentmindedly.
"Assassinating from range is no fun."
"...!!"
A shock ran through me like electricity.
She was right. Blind them with smoke, close in, and strike with the dagger. Less efficient than ranged, sure—but full of romance.
'Reisi...! You're a romantic too...!'
Yes. Reisi and I were kindred spirits...!
I felt ashamed for judging her by her delinquent looks. How could I think such rude things about this enlightened soul?
"You get it!!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Don't worry! I'll teach you properly!!"
"Th-thanks...?"
"Cowardly ranged assassinations? No way! Fair and square with daggers...!"
"Wait, blinding with smoke and dagger-stabbing doesn't seem all that fair..."
"From now on, we'll team up and drive out those vile ranged users...!"
"Uh, okay..."
Excited to find a like-minded comrade after so long, I taught Reisi passionately—from basic grips to striking vital points.
"Like this!?"
"Exactly! Good job, Reisi!!"
"Ooooh!!"
Reisi seemed thrown off by my sudden energy at first, but she adapted quickly.
Matching my hype, she challenged Yoon Na-rin to a spar.
"We'll give those ranged cowards a taste of their own medicine, Reisi!!"
"You got it! Trust me! Take my blade, you sneaky ranged scum!!"
Reisi rushed in, shrouding Yoon Na-rin in smoke.
"...When did you two get so chummy?"
Yoon Na-rin sighed in disbelief, scattering flames around her to turn the area into a sea of fire.
"Hot, hot!!"
Reisi forfeited as her clothes nearly caught fire.
The training time disguised as class ended, and theory class began. Buoyed by my new friend Reisi, I listened eagerly.
"Heroes fight magic beasts and villains."
A middle-aged male teacher said.
"But don't lose sight of the goal."
"Our purpose isn't fighting magic beasts or villains—it's protecting people."
The students nodded as if it were obvious.
"Of course, you all probably know that already."
"So, would you trade your life for theirs?"
The room fell silent.
"True heroes have always sacrificed their lives to save others."
"I'm not forcing you to do the same. It doesn't work that way."
"I just want you to think seriously about it."
The teacher took a breath, his voice low and steady.
"Being a hero isn't as glamorous as you think. It's brutal. Heavy."
"Reflect deeply. Did flashy titles lure you here?"
"Or do you truly want to save people?"
The classroom grew quiet as students pondered.
'...'
My father's old words resurfaced.
He'd said that when I, in elementary school, shared my dream career.
Empty ramblings from an alcoholic, meaningless. But now, it was trauma. Words could plant trauma even if they meant nothing.
But...
Here, maybe.
In this new life...
Maybe I could save someone too.
The thought slipped out unbidden.
On my way back to the dorm, a child's cry echoed from afar.
I hated children's cries. They were noisy, full of heartbreaking sorrow like the world was ending.
I walked toward the sound. A kid was sobbing, staring at a balloon caught in a tree.
"You okay?"
"My balloon..."
Thwack!
I kicked off the tree trunk, snatched the balloon from the branch, and landed.
"Here."
"W-whoa...! You're the best, sis!!"
"Thank you, sis!"
"No problem. Be careful, no running."
The kid stopped crying, beaming with a bright smile and thanks. Seeing it lifted my spirits.
Yeah.
Kids suit smiles.
That age fits innocent laughter better than tearful sobs.
I'd stopped the tears and brought back a smile. Felt heroic, even if it was just a balloon. Good deed's a good deed.
Still just an aspiring hero, but my chest swelled like I'd already made it.
'Today's been a good day.'
New friend, small act of kindness.
Maybe I could be a hero after all.
I turned to watch the kid leave, clutching the balloon. Words were written on it.
"..."
My elation sank cold.
This phrase always popped up whenever I got too upbeat.
Like a warning not to get too immersed in the story.
You're not from this world. This isn't your place.
It felt like it was saying I had no room here. It made me a little sad.
Back at the dorm, I ate the delivered dinner, lay in bed, and an update alert chimed.
In the novel, Han U-sol, Yoon Na-rin, and Reisi were chatting.
I wasn't there.
"..."
...I turned off my phone and went to sleep.