#91 Hospital Discharge Party
Superpower Body Enhancer (Lv.5) has been offered as sacrifice.
The Body Enhancer (Lv.5) tattoo on Player 'Bal Jeong-nam''s body has disappeared.
Player 'Bal Jeong-nam''s first superpower Body Enhancer (Lv.10) experience has increased.
Superpower Clone Master (Lv.3) has been offered as sacrifice.
The Clone Master (Lv.3) tattoo on Player 'Bal Jeong-nam''s body has disappeared.
Player 'Bal Jeong-nam''s third superpower Clone Master (Lv.10) experience has increased.
…
Sacrificing those two tattoos had boosted Body Enhancer to 17% and Clone Master from its previous 6% by an additional 13% to 19%.
"Looks like I can raise EXP easier than I thought," he muttered, staring at the status window.
They'd been low-level superpowered folks, but killing a bunch of them had significantly bumped up his Body Enhancer and Clone Master EXP.
"I miscalculated."
A Lv.6 Clone Master had only given him 6%. So he'd naturally figured he'd need to kill ten Lv.10s with the same power as his own to level up. That seemed like the most efficient way with the fewest kills.
It had been a foolish assumption.
The easiest way to boost EXP was slaughtering a hundred Lv.1s. That was why sayings like "many hands make light work" and "small profits quick returns" existed.
"Not that that's easy either."
Finding superpowered people with his exact abilities in Dark City wasn't simple. Body Enhancer might be common enough, but the other three? Not so much.
"Can't I just use these superpower level-up tickets to raise levels?"
He still had one Superpower Creation Ticket and thirteen Superpower Level-Up Tickets left. Just in case, he tried using a level-up ticket, but got a curt "cannot use."
What a heartless system, he thought.
Ding~!
"Hm? Who texted?"
The phone that buzzed was Steel Armor's burner dedicated to his villain alias.
He turned it on and checked the message, a grin spreading across his face.
"I see."
He'd planned to take it easy today and practice Gravity Dominator, but that would have to wait. Something had come up.
He slipped into his trademark suit and headed downstairs.
"Oppa, where are you going?"
"Got some business."
He planted a kiss on Elis's lips and stepped out.
*****
Nurse Bae Sujung smiled warmly at the woman.
"You've been through a lot, Emily."
"Thank you so much for taking care of Rachel all this time."
Rachel's mother, Emily, was dressed in casual clothes instead of a hospital gown. She'd taken a bullet to the gut but survived thanks to quick surgery, and today she was finally cleared for discharge.
"Hehe."
Rachel beamed, clutching her mother's hand. She was thrilled to be going home together.
"Rachel, what are you gonna do when you get home with Mom?"
"Umm... I'm gonna clean the house!"
"Really? Can our Rachel clean her own room by herself?"
"Yes!"
"Wow! When I was Rachel's age, Mom cleaned my room for me! You're amazing!"
"Yup! 'Cause I'm a hero!"
"Hero Rachel? Clean my room sometime too, okay?"
"Yes!"
"Hehe."
Bae Sujung smiled at Rachel's enthusiastic nod. The girl, mature beyond her years due to family hardships, was pure innocence today—like any other kid her age.
"Um..."
"Yes, Emily?"
"My hospital bill... that man really covered it?"
"Uh..."
That man. With people around, she called him that, but Bae Sujung knew exactly who Emily meant: the S-rank villain Steel Armor, whose infamy and fame had skyrocketed lately.
Hero Association goons had grilled Emily during recovery despite their protests—multiple times, no less. Without them, she'd have recovered faster.
Bae Sujung glanced around cautiously before nodding.
"Yes."
"Haa... I owe him a huge debt again."
Emily had received help from Steel Armor three times now. Twice he'd rescued kidnapped Rachel, and once he'd rushed dying Emily to the hospital, saving her life.
Especially his words in her fading consciousness—they'd given her strength.
'I'll save Rachel. Whatever it takes—even if I have to tear Dark City apart. Leave it to me and focus on living to see her again.'
Steel Armor was undeniably a villain. And Emily hated villains like everyone else—maybe more. The man she loved, Rachel's father, had been killed by one without even a body left behind.
But maybe because he'd saved Rachel? She didn't hate this villain.
So when he said he'd save Rachel and to just live for that reunion, she'd clung to it desperately.
I'll survive. I won't leave Rachel behind.
Even in delirium, that single thought had kept her going.
"Mom."
"Huh? What, Rachel?"
"Aren't we going home?"
"Oh, right. We are."
Rachel tugged at her mom, eager to get home. Bae Sujung pouted playfully.
"What? You wanna ditch me and rush home with Mom? That hurts my feelings."
"Aaaang~! Nooo! Mom's tired, so I wanna let her rest at home quick! Aaaang~!"
Rachel put on her aegyo, soothing her. Bae Sujung melted instantly, a fond auntie smile on her lips.
"Rachel, call me anytime you miss me, okay?"
"Yes! Thank you, unnie!"
"Hehe. Bye, Rachel."
Bae Sujung hugged her and stood.
"You must be tired—head in."
"Yes, thank you. Take care."
Emily bowed to Bae Sujung and left with Rachel, who kept turning back to wave.
"Hehe. She's too cute. Aaa~ I want a daughter like Rachel. Oh, right."
Bae Sujung pulled out her phone from her pocket and texted Steel Armor.
He'd only visited briefly at night to watch over them, but he'd paid the bill anyway. Best to let him know mother and daughter were discharged.
"Hm..."
Before sending, she pondered, then added a line at the end.
"Th-this is just collecting the bill!"
No one was around to judge, but Bae Sujung flushed red, making excuses to herself.
*****
Arriving home, Emily sighed inwardly. Today would be busy. The kidnappers who'd snatched Rachel had trashed the place—major cleaning ahead.
Rachel hadn't bragged to Bae Sujung for nothing.
She'd visited occasionally but spent most time at school or hospital—no time to clean.
"Huh?"
Emily's eyes widened upon entering. The wreck she'd expected was spotless. Like pros had come through.
She glanced suspiciously at Rachel.
"Rachel, did you clean?"
"No? Wow! The house is clean!"
"...Rachel, wait here a sec, okay?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Just a moment."
"Okay..."
Rachel nodded and sat on the chair by the door—full of memories of her father.
Leaving Rachel outside, Emily entered alone. Were the kidnappers back? Unlikely—who cleans after a kidnapping?
A smell...
Delicious aromas wafted from inside. Someone was cooking.
Emily grabbed the hammer by the door and crept toward the kitchen.
And there he was.
"Oh? You're here?"
Steel Armor, apron on, pulling pizza from the microwave. He greeted her casually, like he'd been waiting.
"Y-you..."
"Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves. Steel Armor. S-rank villain."
"....."
He said it so nonchalantly, like the new neighbor introducing himself. Emily was at a loss.
What the hell is this?
Regaining composure, she asked, "What are you doing here?"
"What else?"
Steel Armor stepped aside, gesturing to the table.
"Here for your discharge party."
The table groaned under tasty dishes, a three-tier cake with candles in the center.
"D-discharge party?"
"Yeah!"
Rachel's voice piped from behind. Bored of waiting, she'd come in.
"Uncle!"
"R-Rachel!"
Spotting Steel Armor behind Mom, Rachel lit up and hugged him tight.
"I missed you, Uncle!"
"Up you go!"
Steel Armor hoisted her effortlessly, perching her on his arm with a fond tone.
"How've you been, little miss?"
"Great! Super great!"
He offered a fist bump with his left; she met it naturally.
"Eaten yet?"
"Nope! Not yet!"
"Knew it. Uncle made yummy food just for you."
"Wow!"
Rachel's eyes widened at the packed table.
"Uncle made all this?"
"...Probably?"
A slight pause before answering, like he was guilty of something.
"Wash hands before eating, right?"
"Yes!"
He set her down; she dashed off to wash up.
Alone again, Emily spoke.
"This is..."
"Discharge party, like I said."
"Why would you—I mean, Steel Armor—"
"Hm... Why? No real reason. Call it after-service."
"After-service?"
"Yeah. Anyway, wash up before the food gets cold."
"How'd you know my name?"
"I paid your bill."
"Oh..."
"Come on, don't just stand there—go wash."
He ushered her out of the kitchen. Dazed, she headed to the bathroom as told.
"Um, Steel Armor."
"Yes?"
Before the bathroom, she turned and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for saving Rachel."
"No biggie. Just doing what needed doing."
Steel Armor nodded back politely.
*****
The discharge party, starting at lunch, dragged into late evening.
He'd planned to leave once they rested, but Rachel made it impossible.
"Uncle's leaving...?"
"....."
How could he leave with that adorable pout?
Playing with her aimlessly led to dinner, then his secret slipped: lunch wasn't homemade—it was delivery.
He had cooked: just fried eggs. But he had excuses! No time between cleaning!
Anyway, he'd spent the day entertaining Rachel; the exhausted girl finally conked out.
"Whew... Rachel's stamina is no joke."
"Hehe. Aren't you a Body Enhancer, Steel Armor?"
"Yep."
"And you're tired?"
"Goes to show—her stamina's better than mine."
Slumping his shoulders tiredly, Emily burst out laughing.
"....."
"....."
Awkward silence fell.
"I'll head out."
"Oh, okay."
"Oh, and the Hero Association won't harass you anymore."
"Pardon?"
"Got connections there."
On the way to Rachel's, he'd called Memory Hunter and chewed him out about leaving Emily and Rachel alone.
"Anyway, see ya."
Grabbing his suit from the chair for real this time—
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna... have a drink?"
"....."
At Emily's offer, he hung the suit back up.