Thank You for the Advice
In a room I'd asked the hotel to prepare, I told Dan Miryu what had happened the day before.
"Something like that happened?"
"Yes. Why else would we be gathered here in secret?"
Dan Miryu's brow creased.
"Captain Kid... I hadn't taken him for that sort of man."
He looked thoroughly displeased. Of course he did. The man had used his child to force a meeting. What parent would be glad of that?
"We took revenge for you."
"How do you mean?"
"We gave him a good scare inside a moving car."
"I took part as well."
Hong Yumin lifted a hand, still mumbling around a snack. On her lap, San-gun was licking a piece of candy.
"You too, Master?"
"He played tricks on my disciple. A warning was the least he was owed."
Hong Yumin sucked the crumbs from her fingers.
"Well. The fellow wasn't acting with his reason about him, so I went a little easy."
"...He wasn't rational?"
Dan Miryu turned the question back on her.
"Captain Kid is famous for being cold and ruthless. He is so cold one might sooner take him for a businessman than a hero. It is difficult to believe a man like that lost his head over a matter this small."
"Is that so? To my eye, he was nothing of the kind..."
Hong Yumin tapped at San-gun's adorable paw pads, and the tiger rolled this way and that across her lap.
"Miss Hong has it right. It's true that Captain Kid is cold, but he has a weakness, and that weakness is what turns the man emotional."
"...This is the first I've heard of it."
Dan Miryu didn't believe a word.
"He's meticulous, and he hides it well. That's why it never got out."
"And what is this weakness?"
You could call it Captain Kid's one and only weakness.
"He's a terminal fanboy of Captain Earth."
"...Pardon?"
Dan Miryu blinked.
"It's well known that Kid is a fan of Captain Earth, isn't it?"
"Not a fan. A zealot."
Where Captain Earth alone was concerned, it was an absolute worship fit to rival the fanaticism of Ilshikgyo. That was Captain Kid's weakness.
"Do you know what Kid treasures most?"
"...What?"
The fact had come from so far outside anything he'd imagined that Dan Miryu looked dizzy.
"A limited-edition Captain Earth figure, released to commemorate the end of the Second World War."
"......"
"Kid risked his life to get it."
"Th-then..."
Dan Miryu stammered.
"...That's why Kid acted the way he did yesterday?"
"He was annoyed that Captain Earth was being dragged all over the place."
For the record, Kid is entirely heterosexual.
"Ha..."
A hollow laugh escaped Dan Miryu.
"We'll want good relations from here on. Praise Captain Earth in front of Kid, and he'll be beside himself with joy."
Not that he would ever let it show.
"I'll keep that in mind..."
The talk had just ended when a knock came at the door.
"Sounds like they're here."
"I'll get it."
Mi Soryeong went to the door and opened it.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Two people stepped inside.
A blond giant in a T-shirt printed with the Earth offered a bow, and the blond white man beside him did the same.
"A pleasure to meet you. Captain Earth, Steven Turner."
"I apologize for yesterday. Captain Kid, Dick Robinson."
The most influential heroes in the world had arrived.
"A pleasure, Captain Earth. I am Dan Miryu."
The two shook hands.
"I worry my Korean may sound awkward. How does it sound to you?"
"I could believe you were a local."
It wasn't empty courtesy. Captain Earth spoke Korean with real fluency.
"Please, sit this way."
"Thank you."
Kid and Earth took the chairs that had been set out. Right on cue, a cart rattled in, and the hotel brought the food.
"Thank you for choosing our hotel. We hope you will favor us again."
The hotel manager showed his face only briefly.
"Thank you, John. It's a wonderful meal."
"You remember me?"
The manager asked it carefully.
"You welcomed me so well the last time I came. I still remember the lobster I ate then."
"...Thank you, Captain Earth. You are the greatest hero."
"Not at all, John. Please give my regards to the chef, Leonard, as well."
The manager withdrew, visibly moved.
"You've been here before?"
"Yes. It must have been about four years ago. I stayed a single night."
Captain Earth spoke of it lightly, but remembering the names of a manager and a chef from a hotel where he had spent one night was no small thing.
"I think I understand why they call you the greatest hero."
Dan Miryu was impressed as well.
"All of you are far greater than I am."
Captain Earth waved the praise away.
"You protected this hotel, didn't you? As an American, and as a hero, I respect you, and I thank you."
"We only did it because we could."
"There are many who couldn't even manage that."
Dan Miryu and Captain Earth laid the gold on thick for each other. What was remarkable was that none of it was courtesy. Every word carried real sincerity.
They really are something.
It was proof that both their characters, and their hearts, had gone beyond the ordinary.
"...Krrrng."
As the talk dragged on, San-gun grew restless, and Hong Yumin's expression melted, as if she found even that adorable.
"Forgive me for talking with the food in front of us."
"Not at all. Please, eat first."
Dan Miryu urged him on.
"Thank you."
Captain Earth began to eat, and at last the meal got underway.
The meal ended well. While the plates were being cleared, the chef came in and exchanged greetings with Captain Earth—a small thing, and a warm one.
"I've heard about the Temporary Hero Association. I intend to officially support the founding of the Korea Hero Association."
"...Truly?"
Once the meal was over and the talk turned to business, Captain Earth dropped a bomb.
"Of course. The people of Hawaii were saved by Korea's heroes. How could I oppose that?"
"Is that the position of the United States Hero Association?"
Captain Earth smiled, just a little.
"This has nothing to do with the United States Hero Association. Here. If you ever need help, contact me anytime."
Captain Earth held out a business card, and Dan Miryu accepted it with thanks.
"You've shown us more kindness than we deserve."
"It's my thanks for saving the people of Hawaii."
Astonishingly, it was the truth. Captain Earth hadn't said it with any political aim. He was simply grateful.
"Have you decided on a university for your son?"
"No. I mean to leave it to his own choice...?"
At the mention of himself, Dan Chuyeon stole a glance at Captain Earth.
"My university? Why...?"
Captain Earth's eyes lit up.
"Would you consider studying at a hero school?"
"...Me? There?!"
There is a famous hero school in the United States, an institution that trains nothing but heroes.
"I saw the footage of you facing those villains. With skill like that, a scholarship to the hero school would be more than enough. I'll sponsor you."
Dan Miryu said nothing, and waited.
"I'm still in high school, and I can't even speak English..."
"I'm not telling you to come now. You can come once you're grown. And English is something you can learn."
Dan Chuyeon hesitated.
This has to be hard for him.
A Korean university, or one of the finest schools in the world—asked which was better, anyone would say the latter. And with Captain Earth's backing on top of that, what was there to agonize over? But Dan Chuyeon was a high school student. A choice like this would feel strange to him.
"Why are you looking at me? Choose for yourself."
Hong Yumin scolded him.
"B-but..."
"Pitiful boy. Do you think I mean to teach you for a thousand years, and a thousand more?"
She cut into the cake that had come out for dessert.
"When you come of age, you must live your own life. From now on, and ever after. Offers like this may come again. Will you freeze like this every time?"
"........"
Dan Chuyeon's fingers fidgeted.
"Whether it is a good chance or a bad one is yours to judge."
Hong Yumin put an entire slice of cake into her mouth.
"...Could you give me some time?"
"As much as you need. Here is my card. Call whenever the thought comes to you."
Dan Chuyeon put the choice off, and Captain Earth soothed the boy.
"...I'll go in first."
The spirit seemed to have drained clean out of him. Dan Chuyeon's face had gone hollow.
"Go on. Wash up, and brush your teeth."
"...Yes."
"I'll go up with him."
Mother and son went up to their room.
"He's a good boy. He'll go far."
"Yes. In talent alone, he yields to no one."
Captain Earth looked at Hong Yumin, who was playing with San-gun.
"Are you the child's teacher?"
"I am."
"If you wouldn't mind..."
"I won't go."
Hong Yumin was firm.
"That child is disciple enough for me."
"...I understand. If you change your mind, please contact me."
"If I must."
Hong Yumin slipped the card into the fold of her robe.
"It's gotten quite late. We'll take our leave."
"Yes. It was a good time."
Captain Earth and Captain Kid made to go.
"One moment, Captain Earth."
I stopped him.
Captain Earth turned, his face all but asking whether someone like me had been in the room at all. Captain Kid's expression hardened. He, too, had only just noticed me.
"I am the phantom thief Phantom. My introduction comes late."
"Ah! Yes. A pleasure."
Captain Earth and I shook hands.
"But what is this about?"
"Your ear, just for a moment..."
I leaned in and whispered, very small.
"—————."
"......"
He drew back. Not a flicker crossed his face. The same good-natured smile stayed where it was.
"Ah. Ilshikgyo is in Hawaii, so be careful. And see that the villains don't die in prison."
Something cracked. The air in the room froze.
Dan Miryu pressed a hand to his forehead. Hong Yumin clicked her tongue. San-gun sighed.
What. Why.