Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: When a Subordinate Messes Up, the Boss Suffers
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"Senior."
Han U-sol, who had just left Aselrika's office and was heading back to his room, stopped in his tracks at the voice calling his name.
"...Ronel."
Ahead of him stood someone he wasn't particularly fond of, leaning against the wall with a smile on her face.
"Coming back from seeing the boss?"
"...Yeah."
"Aww, our senior looks totally deflated. Did the boss chew you out for once?"
Ronel tilted her head playfully as she spoke. Her braided bob haircut swayed slightly.
"...Cut it with the 'senior' stuff already. We're not that far apart in age."
Han U-sol frowned slightly at Ronel's attitude.
"Well, it's true, isn't it? I've only been here since switching posts, and even stretching it, that's just a year. You've been working here longer than that, so you're my senior."
"......Do whatever you want."
Han U-sol muttered that and walked past her. Despite the clear vibe that he didn't want to talk, Ronel followed right behind him.
"So, what's the disciplinary action looking like?"
"They'll decide after a meeting at the Hero Association."
"I see. My guess? They'll slap you with a transfer to another sector as 'discipline.' The Association wants to keep you as far from the front lines as possible."
"......... "
"Or maybe they'll even send you to Central? Nah, probably not."
Han U-sol narrowed his eyes at Ronel's words. Since she'd said it outright, there was a high chance the discipline would play out just like she described.
Why? Because she was his monitor, dispatched by the Hero Association.
She was casually letting him in on the disciplinary measures currently being discussed at the Association.
"You should've just toned it down a bit. I have my own position to think about, you know. You think the Association hasn't been riding my ass? 'What were you doing letting him run off like that?' Like, how am I supposed to stop a superhuman when they decide to bolt?"
"......Sorry about that."
"It's fine. Not like it's the first time things have blown up."
Ronel brushed off Han U-sol's apology like it was nothing.
"Those slowpokes who drag their feet on everything snap to attention the second something they care about is on the line."
"Didn't expect to hear that from someone at the Association."
"Yeah, well."
Ronel shrugged nonchalantly before speaking more quietly.
"Honestly, I think you should be out on the front lines. No one clears out magic beasts faster than you, and with demons potentially scheming anywhere at any time, sweeps need to happen quick."
Of course, rushing into danger to save others is a hard no. Ronel added mentally.
"The problem is you and the Association have no middle ground. One side acts like the protagonist in some shonen manga, trying to shoulder all the risk and responsibility, while the other just wants everything ultra-safe."
Mix the two halves and it'd be perfect. Ronel giggled as she said it.
Her cheeky, teasing demeanor and the way her words subtly grated on the nerves—yet never straying too far from the truth. That's why Han U-sol found her uncomfortable.
"Anyway, discipline's coming down soon. And even if you get reassigned somewhere else, don't worry—we won't be separated! We're soul partners, buddies for life~"
Monitors and their marks always had to stay a fixed distance apart, or something about handsome guys and pretty girls being bound by the law of perfect couple preservation—Ronel rattled on with such nonsense for a while before waving goodbye and vanishing.
"Haa..."
Han U-sol sighed once and resumed walking. Ever since the Hero Association's interference in his life had intensified, his sighs had become more frequent.
The Association wanted to restrict every aspect of him.
Aselrika had kept him in the rear guard lately, but even she utilized him when firepower was needed.
Unlike her, though, the Association wanted to bar him from even nearing the battlefield. They'd made multiple attempts to pull him out of W Sector entirely.
On top of that, they'd grown covetous of the weapons he created, eventually demanding he produce them to bolster their private forces and ship them to Central.
Until recently, Yeriel had shielded him from this pressure, deliberately hiding his existence from the Association and keeping him free from meddling.
But after spotting the sudden barrier over X Sector, the Association grew suspicious and uncovered Han U-sol's presence. To make matters worse, Yeriel's declining health left her unable to fend off the interference directed at him.
The Association no longer trusted Yeriel for concealing him. About a year ago, they assigned a monitor to him and began full-scale control attempts.
And that monitor was Ronel, the one he'd just spoken to.
Ronel seemed to harbor some resentment toward the current Association herself, but as one of their own, Han U-sol couldn't help finding her off-putting.
He recalled the disciplinary details she'd hinted at.
'Reassigned to another sector...'
No way it'd be Central.
"Haa."
Back in his room, Han U-sol flopped onto the bed.
The sighs just kept piling up.
A few days later, in a conference room at Central Hero Association headquarters.
"Tch."
Aselrika clicked her tongue softly inside. The sound, unnoticed by others, dripped with irritation.
Her frustration stemmed from various sources.
A relentlessly busy schedule with no breaks, wasting time traveling from W Sector to Central.
And the pig, toad, and serpent spawn in human form spewing revolting words from the vast auditorium.
"This incident could have escalated into a major crisis. If Hero Han U-sol had died, it would've been an unprecedented disaster for humanity. We must pull Hero Han U-sol from the front lines."
The fat pig declared it, his flabby jowls jiggling as he gestured wildly, as if flaunting a body that had never seen exercise.
"Agreed. We need to get him off the battlefield ASAP and station him in Central to defend it."
This time, the toad spoke. His ugly eyes, clouded with selfish greed, scanned the room's occupants.
The Association executives still fretted over sudden magic beast raids on Central. Corrupted by avarice, they ignored frontline conditions, obsessing only over their own safety.
Even with surplus heroes properly deployed, their anxiety persisted, always demanding stronger forces nearby.
It wasn't for Central's citizens. They just craved powerful 'watchdogs' to safeguard their wealth and glory to the end.
And their target was Han U-sol, bearer of angelic blood.
They doubtless saw him as more than adequate as a guard dog for their lavish palace.
Aselrika clicked her tongue again amid the rising annoyance and spoke up.
"I agree this could have blown up into a big deal, but I can't support stationing Hero Han U-sol in Central. Even without charging the front, he's one of the few heroes whose mere presence influences the battlefield. Just having him in the rear, providing firepower support at key moments, noticeably speeds up magic beast sweeps."
"That's why keeping him safe in the rear leads to problems like this!"
The toad bellowed. Aselrika rubbed her temples against the oncoming headache.
"His rash actions only started after the Association began interfering. Before that, his positioning was appropriate—no major risks."
"What?!"
Han U-sol hadn't always been strictly in the far rear.
Even after Aselrika learned of his origins, he fought from a spot slightly back from the center.
There, protected by other heroes, he provided timely support to allies and unleashed area attacks on magic beasts.
It didn't fully utilize his abilities like frontline deployment would, but there were no dire dangers.
His position allowed influence anywhere on the field, so sudden rushes forward were rare.
The key point: no major issues back then. Far more stable than now, relegated to the useless rear guard.
The troubles began with Association interference. Displeased with him fighting at all, they pressured Aselrika, forcing her to gradually shift him rearward.
Without Han U-sol's support, frontline casualties naturally rose.
Confused and burdened by guilt already festering inside him, Han U-sol began overextending forward.
Emboldened, the Association's pressure continued, until Aselrika had no choice but to bench him completely out of sight.
Unable to bear the frustration, Han U-sol bolted forward again—and the Association pounced with a 'disciplinary' leash.
"Hoo..."
They'd sabotaged his role with their meddling, and now complained he wasn't performing, demanding custody.
Did these people only care about their own safety, with no thought for humanity as a whole? Truly conscienceless scum.
"What nonsense is that?! Are you saying all of Hero Han U-sol's dangerous actions are the Association's fault?!"
"Yes. So please, no more interference. We'll handle our own affairs."
Aselrika was utterly fed up with the Association. She'd hoped at least one had a shred of sense. Nope.
Now she understood why the late Julian and Yoon Kang-woo despised the Association, with Yoon openly clashing. This place reeked of filthy politics for self-preservation by dirty players.
"I cannot agree to stationing Hero Han U-sol in Central. He must remain in W Sector."
"I agree with her."
As Aselrika spoke, one executive raised his hand.
"He's vital to humanity. No one handles magic beasts more effectively. He belongs in unpredictable W Sector, even if slightly rearward, not peaceful Central."
"Colton, you..."
The man's name was Colton Keil, but Aselrika disliked him.
He was a snake. Pale features and sharp eyes exuded a chilling opportunism.
It wasn't just his looks. He'd secretly built his own private forces and repeatedly tried procuring Han U-sol's weapons.
'...That snake. What's he scheming?'
His moves screamed ulterior motives. Aselrika had eyed him suspiciously ever since.
"He must be stationed in Central! Refugees in K Sector are showing unrest, talking about punishing Central! For Central's defense, we need him here!"
The pig shouted. Recent refugee anger toward Central was another anxiety for them.
"If unrest is in K Sector, why Central? Send him to K Sector, if anything."
"What if magic beasts hit Central while we're fixated on refugees?! Beasts or refugees, the target is Central! We need strong forces here!"
"Haa......"
Colton sighed softly after trading barbs with the pig and toad. Reasoning with them was futile from the start.
"How about this, then?"
Colton held up a finger.
"Station Hero Han U-sol in K Sector until the refugee unrest calms, and supply Central with his weapons. As you all know, his weapons are devastating against magic beasts. Even a sudden raid would be manageable."
Placing Han U-sol in K Sector eased refugee worries. Arming Central with his weapons addressed beast threats. A decent compromise for the others.
Even for Aselrika. Send him to K Sector temporarily, then recall to W once things settled.
She'd face renewed pressure later, but better than this endless deadlock.
Colton had offered a balanced concession amid the stalemate.
"Not bad."
"I'm for it."
"Me too."
Amid rising assents, Aselrika felt unease.
If they approved this for Han U-sol's discipline...
His weapons would flow to Colton's private forces.
Colton, who'd long sought those weapons at every chance.
And now they featured oddly in his 'compromise.'
Aselrika couldn't shake the suspicion.
"......What's your angle?"
She eyed Colton askance.
"Nothing harmful to humanity."
Colton replied with a sly grin.