Is There Such a Thing as Coincidence in This World...?

"Co-congratulations... Here, this is your personal hero license, Mr. Kang Hyunwoo."

"Th-this is really... mine...?"

"That's right, kid. You're a proper hero now. You've got to do even better from here on out, got it?"

"Yes, yes! Of course! Mentor Baek Seungha!"

Usually, is a hero license... supposed to be issued this easily?

Isn't this all happening a bit too fast?

Well, to be precise, it was a 'Sidekick Special Issuance.' Unlike real heroes, it was a license plastered with all sorts of penalties.

The most eye-catching part was the phrase stamped right in the center of the card:

[Affiliated Hero: Baek Seungha]

My ranking was in the tens of millions, and my grade was F. My class was even labeled 'Sidekick-Derived Hero.' It meant I hadn't passed the official exam but was registered via recommendation. My authority was limited, my freedom was restricted, and there were countless constraints.

But, even so...

"I, I really became a hero...!"

Just this alone made me feel like I owned the world.

"Technically, you're a sidekick... but so what? There are plenty of cases where people started as sidekicks and became full heroes. You just need to do the same."

"Yes!!"

"Haa..."

Meanwhile, Supervisor Han Yusul, who was watching the scene, still looked like she’d seen a ghost. The world's first male sidekick hero. And she was the very first official in charge of actually issuing such a license.

'Ugh... why did I get dragged into this insane historical moment...?'

And it wasn't even because she had a strong conviction; she had just been pressured into handing over the paperwork by what amounted to threats. She didn't even know how the test could be considered fair, but for now, it had been formally marked as 'Pass.'

So, what was she supposed to do now? Whether she liked it or felt it was unfair, the license was already printed, the registration number was live, and the official documents had been sent out.

"...Sigh. Anyway, a qualification is a qualification."

With a twisted smile of resignation, she finally began to explain the details of the hero license to Hyunwoo out of a sense of duty.

"Uh... I'll inform you now, but Mr. Hyunwoo's hero license is not a full hero license."

"Oh, I see."

"To use an analogy... it's like fried chicken without the batter."

It meant that while the exterior looked similar, the internal composition was completely different.

"Because you are registered as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a hero's 'sidekick,' you are considered an assistant and supporter. There are some differences in authority and treatment compared to a full-fledged hero."

The biggest restriction was the activity range. A full hero could enter anywhere in the world with just their license, but a sidekick was only permitted to operate within the 'Affiliated Hero's' activity zone. Furthermore, sidekicks couldn't even create a hero social media account, making it difficult to promote their achievements or keep a record, which was a fatal disadvantage for climbing the rankings.

"You can't even rank higher than your affiliated hero. You must always stay below them."

"I see... that comes with a lot of restrictions."

"Yes. Since the test items are simple, the actual disadvantages balance it out. If we removed these, you might look like someone who got in through a silver spoon or nepotism."

And.

"Above all, poor performance by you, Mr. Hyunwoo, as a sidekick will also affect the ranking of your affiliated hero, Baek Seungha."

"Ehh?!"

"Yes. A sidekick is an assistant and simultaneously a 'disciple,' so there is a partial link with the mentor."

Because of this, sidekicks couldn't go on solo missions. They had to move with their partner hero, and their activities were limited to restricted areas.

'There were even penalties like that...'

Hyunwoo's gaze wavered. For a brief moment, clear emotions were visible in his eyes. Anxiety, a sense of responsibility, and the fear that he might just be a burden because he wasn't qualified. He lowered his eyes and looked away quietly. His slumped shoulders spoke volumes about his feelings.

However, Baek Seungha, watching him, spoke softly.

"Why are you looking so gloomy?"

"Ah, Mentor..."

"Are you worried you might be a burden?"

Hyunwoo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"...Yes. Honestly... I am."

In this test, had Mentor secretly helped him? He wasn't sure, but that's how he felt. Moreover, in a world filled with nothing but frail, sickly men, he was at best a 'man with an average physique.' Less than 10% body fat and over 180cm tall. His biggest boast was... his stamina, which was dozens of times higher than the average man in this world. That was truly all he had.

And yet, he had become the sidekick of Mentor Baek Seungha, who had operated in the United States, the heartland of heroes. Was this really okay?

Just as his worries were deepening, Baek Seungha walked over quietly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Let's make a promise right now."

"A promise...?"

"Yes."

With those words, Baek Seungha narrowed her eyes and said, "Never make that pathetic face in front of me again."

"But...!"

"Uh-uh~ Are you not going to listen to your mentor? Or do you not want to be my sidekick?"

"O-of course I want to! But I... all I have is this 'body'!"

At that moment, Baek Seungha turned her head slightly. Then, she muttered in a low, thick voice, as if to herself.

".....That body is enough."

"...Yes?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing! Nothing at all!"

Unlike Hyunwoo, who was just blinking, Baek Seungha's mind was currently in a state of total runaway.

'Hehehe... that firm chest, those muscles, those innocent eyes... slurp...!'

Every building of the Hero Association, whether it was a branch or the headquarters, regardless of the country, shared a common structure. The areas open to civilians were limited to the first floor or parts of the lower levels, mainly consisting of civil complaint desks, lounges for tours, and general information desks. On the other hand, the upper floors, where the training rooms, equipment supply rooms, private meeting rooms, and the cafeteria were located, were classified as hero-only zones.

These areas required hero registration verification for entry, and civilian access was legally prohibited. The entry restriction to the cafeteria, in particular, remained a mystery to many. Training facilities were one thing, but why operate a cafeteria exclusively for heroes? However, looking at the prices of the food in the Association cafeteria made the reason clear.

"Th-the stir-fried pork is... 60 won?!"

"I'm having the tuna sashimi set. It's 500 won for a whole fish."

"A-a whole tuna for 500 won?!"

If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you ate that outside, it would cost millions. The real reason civilians couldn't use the Association cafeteria was simple: the prices were insane. If this were made public, it would obviously collapse not only the local commercial district but the national distribution economy itself.

Nom, nom.

"I... I had no idea heroes ate food like this!"

"Heh, isn't it amazing?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Isn't this a deficit?!"

"Not necessarily. The revenue heroes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earn is astronomical. And South Korea is a hero powerhouse, isn't it? I heard the associations in Venezuela or Somalia aren't this cheap."

The higher the quality of heroes, the more resources the state invests in the Association, and the Association contributes to the national interest in return. Heroes weren't just 'public servants'; they were strategic national assets. Thanks to this, heroes operating here are treated as a 'privileged class.' Meals, medical care, housing, equipment, and even family welfare are supported at the national level. And all those benefits are strictly limited to registered heroes.

...And now, I had entered that circle. To be precise, it was in the limited form of a sidekick, but just by being registered in the Association under that name, I had become a completely different existence from the civilians.

'I'll work hard and make sure to re-register as a full hero later...!'

I was on my third bowl of stir-fried pork. That was when Baek Seungha, who had brought a whole box of tuna sashimi, sat across from me and piled the sashimi high on top of my rice.

Chuck, chuck.

"By the way, all facilities in the Hero Association look equal, but in reality, there are many restrictions based on rank."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. For example, this tuna set. The original price is millions, but I eat it for 500 won. If everyone from F-rank to S-rank ate the same thing, the Hero Association would go bankrupt in no time, no matter how rich they are."

Thinking about it, when I was choosing a menu at the kiosk, my menu only showed basic Korean food including stir-fried pork, while Mentor had dozens of times more options.

"Of course~ I can share everything with my cute disciple."

Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck.

At the same time, my stir-fried pork bowl instantly turned into a tuna sashimi bowl.

"Anyway, strength never comes 'by accident'."

"...! Yes!"

"So since you've started, don't look for shortcuts and climb up with real skill."

I nodded with sparkling eyes.

Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck!

...But something was strange. We had been having a serious conversation for a while, but someone seemed to be poking me under the table. So, I leaned down to look under the table.

"Whether you're handsome or cute, I don't care about weapons. They don't have feelings. They just stab, cut, and kill. So, you must train..."

"What is this?"

"Hm?"

A dark, smooth black blade that seemed to swallow the light. I was holding that sword, which possessed a dignity as if it had jumped out of a legend, without much thought.

"Mentor, this sword... it won't come off my hand."

"...Huh?"