Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Mayor's Encouragement
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What is the price of justice?
Where is the price list for good deeds?
If you convert a hero's goodwill—saving citizens and vanquishing evil—into an hourly wage, how much would it be?
There's no need to flip through thick philosophy books to answer these questions. The answer is right nearby.
Minimum hourly wage: 9,860 won. The labor value of Hanasia, a part-time convenience store clerk in South Korea.
"Welcome. This is the CS25 Dohwa Branch."
*Ding-a-ling.*
She spat out the greeting mechanically as the door opened.
A convenience store tucked away in a quiet alley of Dohwa-dong, Michuhol-gu, Neo Incheon. After midnight, the buzzing of flies was more frequent than customers.
This was the livelihood of D-rank hero Polaris.
From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., she swapped her hero suit for a blue vest and her starlight energy for a barcode scanner.
A ray of light piercing the darkness. Your North Star, Polaris.
That grand slogan shrank pathetically in the face of checking cigarette stock and sticking expiration labels on discarded goods.
That was the reality of being a hero—a tightrope walk between noble ideals and harsh survival.
Hanasia crumpled the empty can of coffee a customer had left behind as she thought.
A D-rank hero's monthly activity stipend was 500,000 won.
Paid only after fulfilling obligations: patrols at least three times a week, villain responses at least twice a month.
Divided by minimum wage, that's about 50 hours. But actual activity time easily exceeded 100 hours a month.
Of course, incentives came for capturing villains or notable achievements, but no villain worth their salt would let themselves be caught by a D-rank.
Essentially unpaid volunteer work. An honorary position. Or an extreme hobby.
Justice didn't pay.
No, it actually cost money.
Suit repairs, medical bills, info terminal data fees. Expenses outpaced earnings.
This was what it meant to live as a D-rank hero in Neo Incheon.
"Haa."
She let out a deep sigh and pulled out her smartphone, launching the familiar banking app.
Two accounts appeared on the screen.
First one.
Hanasia. Balance: 37,450 won.
Still a week until payday.
Miserable. Pathetic. Not 370,000 won—thirty-seven thousand four hundred fifty won.
Lunch tomorrow: discarded bento box for sure. With this, her limit was two cups of instant ramen and one triangle kimbap a day.
Second one.
Polaris Donations. Balance: 34,567,890 won.
No mistake. Two commas. Thirty-four million five hundred sixty-seven thousand eight hundred ninety won.
An account that had been zero just a month ago.
A tower of donations steadily built by her sole fan, the mysterious tall mister "IluwaIt."
A little devil and a little angel started a fierce debate on Hanasia's shoulder. Pure imagination, but noisy as hell.
The devil Hanasia whispered, complete with horns and a trident.
'Sia, look at that money. That's enough for a year's rent with change. You could escape that moldy goshiwon right now! Ditch the sticky caramel-stained blanket for a goose down duvet! Hot pork stew instead of discarded bentos every day! Beef! Pork! Chicken!'
No, this wasn't a devil's whisper. It was a perfectly rational cry of survival instinct.
*Gulp.*
She swallowed dryly.
If she just closed her eyes once and withdrew a bit...
The angel Hanasia countered, halo gleaming above her head.
'No way! That's Hero Polaris's activity fund! Sacred money for citizens' safety and city peace! Can't use it for personal greed!'
'Polaris is me, and Hanasia is me! Same person! That pervert mister wants me happy too, right? What's wrong with eating good food and being happy?'
'Justice hungers by nature! Noble conviction shines brightest in poverty!'
"Ughhh."
Hanasia slammed her head on the counter and groaned.
The temptation was sweet. Sweeter than Sugargirl's caramel syrup.
In the end, she resisted.
This money wasn't given to Hanasia. It was given to Hero Polaris.
A precious investment in her justice, her dream, her potential.
"Right... this isn't my money."
She shook her head and closed the donation account app.
"With this, I can buy the latest hero suit, training gear, upgrade the info terminal. Become a stronger hero... and protect the citizens."
She muttered like a vow to herself.
It's fine. Hungry and tough now, but fine.
Someday, she'll shine brighter than anyone.
"No money, but I have dreams! Hungry body, full dreams!"
She clenched her fist and shouted into the empty store.
Right then, her stomach growled.
Dreams were full, but her stomach was honest.
Hanasia shuffled to the basket of discarded goods.
Tonight's late dinner: a pork stir-fry bento three hours past expiration.
"Grateful for this too."
She popped it in the microwave and hit start.
*Whirr.*
The scent of warming food spread.
That was the moment.
[D-rank Monster 'Horn Rabbit' Multiple Sightings. Location: Michuhol-gu, Juwan Citizen Park. Nearby D-rank Heroes, Dispatch Immediately.]
"Ah! My pork stir-fry!"
She hadn't even taken a single bite of the steaming bento fresh from the microwave.
Hanasia grimaced as she tore off her store vest.
"Pay docked again...!"
She left a note apologizing to customers on the counter and dashed to the store warehouse.
There hung her battle suit, stained pink and pathetic.
"Time to shine again today!"
1 a.m., Juwan Citizen Park was already a mess.
The peaceful park lawn was torn up everywhere. Culprits: small, cute, but nasty-tempered monsters.
*Kyuiik!*
Rabbits with a sharp horn on their forehead. D-rank monsters, Horn Rabbits.
Not threatening alone, but a herd was a headache.
With rampant breeding and voracious appetites, they wreaked havoc on farms.
And that horn hurt if it gored you.
Hanasia landed under a streetlamp and assessed the situation.
Dozens of Horn Rabbits were wrecking the park landscaping.
First, she fired up the battle cam drone for a live stream, as usual.
[Polaris's Justice Live! Revenge on the Horn Rabbits!]
Viewers jumped to 1 the moment it started.
As always, her one viewer. IluwaIt.
What does this mister do instead of sleeping at night?
"Mister! You watching? I showed some ugly sides before... but today’s different!"
She winked at the camera.
"Today, behold Polaris's true power! Look forward to it!"
Hanasia took a deep breath.
Before, she'd charge in blasting 'Starlight Shots' wildly. But now was different.
Thanks to the VR training sim at Songdo Superhero Training Center, funded by mister's donations, she'd learned energy efficiency.
'Focus, concentrate... minimal output, maximal effect.'
First target: the Horn Rabbit munching grass up front.
She gathered a tiny light at her fingertip. Not fist-sized like before—a marble. But denser.
*Whoosh.*
A small starlight flew silently, nailing the horn on its forehead.
*Kyuu?*
The Horn Rabbit tilted its head in confusion, then flopped over.
"Yes!"
Buoyed by the first hit, Hanasia upped the tempo.
Leaping between trees and lamps, she sniped pinpoint.
Under the night sky, her starlight gleamed sharper.
Second, third, fourth...
Dozens of Horn Rabbits dropped without real resistance.
Last one standing: the boss, twice as big.
*Kyuuooo!*
It roared in rage and charged.
"Your turn now!"
Hanasia leaped high, spun midair, maxing energy.
Spiral Flash!
[New ultimate: Spinning starlight kick illuminates the park!]
Her new ultimate. A helix-spinning starlight kick lit the park bright.
*Flash!*
Dazzling light struck the boss dead-on.
"Yay~! Did it! See that, mister? I won!"
Hanasia flashed a victory V at the camera, beaming.
Then, a notification popped on her terminal.
[IluwaIt donated 1,000,000 won!]
Our Sia was amazing today. Worth every donation so far. Keep cheering you on.
Seeing the pure praise, Hanasia's face flushed beet red.
Why so normal today!
"Uh, um..."
She stammered in fluster.
"Wh-why praise so normally today...! Now I don't know how to react!"
Usual IluwaIt was like:
'Our Sia rocks. Celebrate with a party at mister's place? Private party, heh heh...'
Then Hanasia would reply:
'Mister! Keep it up and you're banned!'
Their routine. Like a comedy duo.
"This... this breaks the rules!"
Hanasia hastily ended the stream.