Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: City of Villains
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Tick, tick, tick─
One second before the alarm rang, D-Rank Hero Kang Hyunwoo opened his eyes.
The internal clock honed by his regimented lifestyle was now more accurate than any digital one.
He swiftly turned off the alarm, folded his blanket, and dropped to the floor.
"One, two, three…"
A hundred barehanded push-ups were his morning ritual to kick off the day. In this moment every day, he felt like he was pushing his limits just a little further.
"Fifty… fifty-one…"
His room was little more than a "minimal survival space."
A plastic dresser stuffed with worn clothes, a tiny fridge next to the sink, and a one-person table—that was it.
"Ninety-nine… one hundred."
Finishing his last push-up, Hyunwoo wiped the sweat from his brow and headed to the fridge.
What awaited him was the same breakfast as always.
A massive tub of plain cereal and boiled Brazilian chicken breast without a pinch of salt.
He bit into it, and a rubbery texture filled his mouth—utterly devoid of flavor or satisfaction.
If you could even call this food, it would be an insult to actual cuisine.
"Nutrients matter, not taste."
Hyunwoo chewed in silence. Eating was just the process of refueling for hero duties.
After finishing, he picked up his battered old smartphone. The screen was cracked all over, but the Hero Association app launched without issue.
[D-Rank Hero Endure (ENDURE) - Today's Missions]
1. Patrol Eastern Market
2. Monitor illegal dumping
3. Safety check on building slated for demolition
4. Stray cat control
Three years as a D-Rank. Always the same missions.
"It's fine. Even small acts of justice are justice."
Hyunwoo pulled out the uniform issued by the Association.
The navy-blue functional jacket bore his hero name "ENDURE" in bold letters. The fabric was frayed in places, but its durability held strong.
He slipped on the jacket and black pants, then grabbed his goggle-style mask.
Before heading out, he gave one last glance to the posters of S-Rank Heroes plastered on the wall.
His own reflection stood in stark contrast to those icons.
"Let's do our best today."
He stepped out the door and donned the mask.
No one would recognize him anyway, but he wore it for one reason alone.
He was a hero.
Stepping out of his studio apartment, the sprawling cityscape of S City unfolded before him.
The city's official name started with "Super-Special…" and dragged on forever, but everyone just called it S City.
Built between Seoul and Incheon on specially secured land, it was a hyper-modern planned metropolis.
The SH Tower, headquarters of the Korean Hero Association, pierced the sky, surrounded by cutting-edge research facilities and headquarters of the world's top corporations.
Skyscrapers shot straight up in the central district, their futuristic designs dazzling the skyline.
S City was one of the world's premier hubs for superpowered individuals, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Neo-Shanghai, New Tokyo, and America's Metropolis as a symbol of Korea's status as a superpower in abilities.
But Hyunwoo's destination was far from that glamour—the outskirts, with rundown apartments and aging markets.
Rent was cheap here because it was distant from Hero Association HQ, drawing crowds of everyday folks.
This was D-Rank Hero Endure's patrol zone.
Arriving at an abandoned lot on the city edge, Hyunwoo donned a heavy iron vest leaning against a tree. The 20kg weight vest crushed down on him.
"Alright, let's get started."
With no cheers from anyone, he began his solitary battle against himself.
He tied a rope to a discarded tire and dragged it around the lot ten laps. He lifted makeshift weights from scrap materials, repeating the motions. He pounded a sandbag patched from old clothes until his fists turned red.
"Still… not enough."
His breath came in gasps, his body burning like fire, but Hyunwoo didn't stop. After five grueling hours of training, his T-shirt was soaked through, heavy with sweat.
A quick shower later, lunch was more chicken breast and potatoes.
Only after this unchanging meal did his real hero work begin.
First mission of the day: Eastern Market patrol.
"Hello, Grandma. You're out early today. How's your back feeling?"
"Oh, young man. Out volunteering again? You're such a good kid."
Hyunwoo just smiled. He didn't correct her about being a hero. What mattered wasn't who he was, but what he did.
Passing through an alley, he heard crying. A lost child.
"It's okay, no need to be scared anymore. A hero's here to help."
Hyunwoo knelt to meet the child's eyes and pulled a candy from his bag.
"Be brave. Good things are sure to come."
The child stopped crying. Hyunwoo safely returned them to their parents.
The grateful parents tried to offer a reward, but he replied with a smile.
"It's just what a hero does."
In the afternoon, he monitored illegal dumping and fixed neighborhood issues—patching leaky pipes, sorting tangled wires.
Once, he chased down a pickpocket and recovered the stolen goods.
His Quirk, "Power of Endurance," was modest, but enough for handling petty crimes.
"Hey, you can't go touching other people's stuff."
He scolded the pickpocket sternly but didn't turn him over to the police. Instead, he gave a lecture and a second chance.
As dusk fell, he headed to the nursing home. Wednesdays were his volunteer day.
Cleaning and chatting with the elders—that was his task.
He approached every duty with utmost sincerity. That was the hero's way, he believed.
"Hey, Kang pro, seen this drama? Turns out the protagonist's a giant!"
"Really? Don't spoil the ending till next time."
"Hyunwoo, you know my granddaughter Eunji? She's coming from Seoul next week. Want an intro?"
Hyunwoo politely shook his head at the grandfather's offer.
"Sorry, Grandpa. I want to focus on hero work right now."
"Alright? But seriously, how long you gonna live alone like this?"
An orphanage kid, Hyunwoo had no friends or family. Only his dream of being a hero—of justice—sustained him.
"I'm fine. I'm not lonely."
His activities stretched into the late night. He broke up drunk brawls and escorted inebriated folks home safely.
"Our Hyunwoo's back. Overtime again?"
The regular at his corner convenience store waved.
"Do heroes even have overtime?"
"Makes us feel secure. To folks like us, you're the best hero out there."
"No need for that. It's just what I do."
Few saw the man without flashy powers or a standout costume as a "real" hero.
But recognition wasn't what mattered to him. Doing the right thing—that made him a hero.
Kang Hyunwoo dragged his heavy steps back to his studio door. Opening the shabby door, the same silence from morning greeted him.
"Ha…"
His whole body ached. Nonstop from dawn to now—a full day's grind.
He collapsed into the rickety chair.
No need to turn on the light; neon signs from outside cast a faint glow over the room.
The 7-pyeong studio, shrouded in shadows, mirrored his exhaustion perfectly.
He pulled the last piece of chicken breast from the fridge.
Chicken breast for breakfast, lunch, and now dinner.
The microwave beeped.
"Maybe switch up the diet next week…"
In the space heavy with solitude and silence, solo meals tasted even worse. He chewed and swallowed mechanically. Eating just to survive.
After eating, Hyunwoo turned on his old smartphone and meticulously logged the day's activities in the Hero Association app.
[Eastern Slum Patrol - Complete]
[Illegal Dumping Monitor - Complete]
[Nursing Home Volunteer - Complete]
[Notes: Escorted lost child to parents, subdued pickpocket]
He filled out every detail and hit "Submit." Seconds later, a message appeared.
[Good work today. Activity Score: 5 points]
Five points. Same as yesterday, and the day before.
To promote to C-Rank, he needed 5,000 cumulative points. He had just 2,365.
At this rate, it'd take another two years.
He recalled the recent Black Lotus Bank robbery news.
"Solving a big case like that nets 500 points, right…?"
He swiped to check his account balance. The Association stipend was a measly 1.5 million won—barely minimum wage.
Rent, food, training gear… it fell woefully short.
"It's okay. Money… isn't what matters."
Hyunwoo gazed out the window. Distant city lights glittered in the bustling district. A world apart from his rundown studio.
Flashing neons, dazzling signs. People there laughed, chatted… together.
A wave of fierce loneliness crashed over him.
No family, no girlfriend, no buddies for a drink.
All his time poured into training and patrols had only narrowed his life further.
In this tiny, unvisited room, living day-to-day without anyone's acknowledgment—it felt pathetic.
"No, not yet."
He rubbed his face with both hands.
"Just work harder. Harder…"
At 9 PM, he sat before his small TV. Checking the news was part of his routine.
[At today's 'Heroes' Charity Gala' at S City's Cultural Center, S-Rank Hero Golden Princess made waves with her appearance.]
The screen showed a beautiful girl in a golden gown.
[Golden Princess Serena, youngest daughter of IM Group, donated 1 billion won at the event. During Paris Fashion Week last time, she took down a local crime syndicate. Her Quirk 'Golden Rule' lets her manipulate gold freely—she holds the record for fastest promotion from A-Rank to S-Rank in one year.]
Next, an interview. Radiant blonde hair, flawless skin, an aura of elegance filled the screen.
[It's just what anyone would do. I believe talents and resources we're born with should be given back to society.]
Born with it.
Hyunwoo gave a bitter smile. He wasn't born with anything. Just endurance and effort.
The news continued.
[Next up: updates on rising hero 'The Great Grimoire,' who resolved the Black Lotus Bank robbery.]
The screen flashed a brief image of a silver-haired girl with ruby-red eyes. CCTV footage, so not crystal clear, but odd horn-like protrusions were visible on her head.
[This time, she single-handedly took down a C-Rank Monster 'Grumpy Toad' in Eastern Park. Here's Hero Association Personnel Director Seo Jin-ho.]
The feed cut to a suited man.
[The Great Grimoire is provisionally registered as a C-Rank Hero, but after formal review, we expect B-Rank or higher right away. She's shown A-Rank potential from debut. She's the talent we've long awaited. Promotion to higher ranks is imminent, and I'm certain she'll soon be the top hero.]
A strange pang hit Hyunwoo's chest. Stuck at D-Rank for three years, while someone else debuted straight to C-Rank with A-Rank potential.
He clicked off the TV with the remote.
A hero envying another hero? Shameful for a guardian of justice.
'But I've worked so hard too…'
He clenched his fist. Resentment bubbled up. Why was everything so much harder for him?
Regimented routine, relentless effort, disciplined diet, perfect training.
So why no progress?
His life felt like an eternal standstill.
"Just work harder."
He bit his lip, steeling himself. Dwell on defeat briefly. Rise again faster.
With no great Quirk or powerful backing, effort was his only weapon.
"Harder. More intensely. Stronger. Justice always triumphs."
Hyunwoo repeated his mantra. The creed that had sustained him since the orphanage.
"Tomorrow, up at 3:30 AM for training. 4's too late."
Heading to bed, he mentally mapped tomorrow's regimen.
Heavier tires, more push-ups, longer runs.
"Someday, I will too…"
Clutching that faint hope, he turned in early for tomorrow.
The small studio fell silent again, and in the darkness, only Hyunwoo's dream shone on.