Heroes Are Those Who Overcome Injustice (2)

Putting off my meeting with Yumir for later, I returned to the scene to assess the situation. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Of course, I wasn't naked. I'd clearly shown up fully clothed, and no one batted an eye at me.

'If they thought it was weird, I'd be socially screwed.'

I glanced at myself in a full-length streetlight mirror. Just like when I'd left after eating, I was dressed in ordinary clothes—but they weren't clothes at all. They were mana.

Just as Yumir, the Solar Platinum Knight, had shaped her mana into protective armor, I'd wrapped mine around me like clothing to return to the scene. The Dokaebi's imagination becomes reality. Call it the so-called naked Dokaebi.

Right now, I was wearing mana-made garments visible only to one very special person's eyes. There was only one such person in the entire world at the moment, and even if she was watching, she'd understand completely.

"Hey, sunbae. Check out this screen."

"Why? Something weird?"

"This guy and girl were inside the restaurant before the accident, but after it happened, they're gone."

"What? This reeks of something fishy. A man and woman vanishing at the same time? Doesn't look like they got buried in the restaurant rubble. We need to investigate."

What if someone rewound the CCTV later, spotted my disappearance, and started tracking me? A Dokaebi never leaves loose ends.

Even in this lull at the scene, pretending to worry was the right move. Showing up was the answer.

"Ah, are you okay?!"

The restaurant server spotted me and flashed a bright smile. "I was worried something happened to you! And, uh, the woman you were with...?"

"She went home first. She was pretty shaken up."

"Ah, got it. So she's not dead, right?"

"Yeah. She's perfectly fine."

"What a relief..."

The server crossed my name off what looked like a roster. I was the one who got lucky. If "Do Jihwan" and "Yumir" hadn't been scrubbed from that "missing persons list," either she or I would've ended up under investigation.

'I'm not really going out of my way for her, but since I'm at it, might as well clean up thoroughly.'

I'd come to hide my identity, but things worked out this way, so I had no choice but to cover for Yumir too.

"So, uh, what happens now? The bill...?"

"It's all verified through your Taeguk Watch, so it'll be billed once things settle down."

"Ah, send it to me then. I'll cover it."

"Really? Awesome. Just transfer to my account."

"You the owner?"

"Yep."

Even the meal cost. "Haa, thank you. Paying for food during a disaster like this."

"Just doing what anyone should. It was a great meal, after all."

I settled the bill cleanly to spare the owner any thoughts like, 'No way I'm letting these deadbeats skip out! Gotta investigate everyone—ahh, these two! They were inside but vanished outside! Missing persons?! Insurance claim? No! Can't afford higher premiums! I'll uncover their identities!'

'Yumir's pretty sloppy.'

Maybe because she was a hero aspirant whose identity wouldn't cause much trouble if exposed, she left plenty of trails behind when she left.

'Or maybe she's gotten sloppy because of me? Too busy watching her back?'

She might be reeling from the shock of her identity—and her naked body—being exposed to me. She seemed like a delicate girl, so she could be agonizing over it right now.

'Gotta clue her in next time.'

Like how to erase your identity and slip away. Or how to fabricate an alibi proving you existed for those who suddenly vanish. Or, like now, how to shape mana into clothes so no one suspects a thing.

...Though once the mana runs out, you're buck naked again. But it doesn't last just three minutes or something—it holds for at least two hours. Plenty of time to get home.

"The restaurant's destroyed, so you must be heartbroken."

"Well... at least it's insured."

The owner started grinning ear to ear. "That rampaging devil... Lilith, right? If it'd just been Lilith, the payout might've been low, but Dokaebi showed up too."

"What's Dokaebi got to do with insurance?"

"Oh, you don't know? Property damage insurance—for when villains wreck stuff—has tiers. With Dokaebi involved, it's obviously rated at his level: S-grade!"

"The higher the villain's threat level, the bigger the insurance payout?"

"Exactly! Heh heh, so lucky. I almost owe Dokaebi one."

"Unfortunately, that won't happen."

A voice came from behind. "Ah, you're...?"

"Snow White. You're the restaurant owner, right?"

Snow White—Baek Seolhui—spotted me and widened her eyes in surprise. I subtly nodded toward the crowd, playing it cool.

"...Ahem. Sorry."

Thankfully, Baek Seolhui caught on and ignored me. But was that hint of disappointment in her eyes my imagination?

"Dokaebi appearing doesn't qualify the restaurant for S-grade coverage."

"What?! Why not?!"

"Because Dokaebi didn't damage the restaurant."

Baek Seolhui explained the insurance rules stiffly, and the owner clawed at his hair in despair. "Aaa...! Damn it, if only he'd kicked the building or something...!"

"......"

Sometimes, seeing humans like this—petty and frail—leaves a bitter taste, especially in this superpower world. Is it because of the abilities, or do these types exist in reality too?

"Damn, then the families of the deceased..."

"I'll ensure condolences are delivered to the victims' families through my foundation. Contact us later."

"Really?"

The owner's face lit up. "You mean it?"

"Yes. So if any bereaved families complain about deaths at your restaurant, handle it with sincere condolences. Don't skimp or dodge responsibility—they've lost family."

"Ah, understood. As expected of an S-grade..."

"......"

Baek Seolhui nodded lightly and turned toward the rubble being cleared. Her jaw clenched with visible fury.

That anger was probably aimed at whatever drove the ability user to devilize, like Red Scarf's rampage—

"Yo, isn't that blood? Damn, people really died."

"Fucking idiots rampaging like that. Heh, but seeing Platinum Lady ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Knight and Dokaebi's new form makes it worth it?"

"Sacrifice for the greater good... Ahem. Not something to shout about. Anyway, great show. Heh heh heh."

—I hoped. Not hatred toward humans.

Baek Seolhui checked her phone, smiled faintly.

"......Weird emoticon."

I pocketed my phone and headed straight home. Before the transformation wore off, before the mana depleted—fast as possible.

Back home, I shut the door and immediately released the transformation for quick mana recovery.

Pang!

I was naked in an instant. Right in front of the entryway—not ideal, but I strode inside confidently and flicked on the TV.

The news recycled bystander footage, spinning every angle of the incidents. But barely a word on the deaths.

Not because few people were around—death was just too commonplace in this world. Villains rampage, people die. An accepted fact now.

"......What a spectacle, even before the entrance ceremony."

I rose from the sofa and opened the wardrobe. Inside: seven suits bought by Chongsu.

"Good thing I didn't wear one on the date. If I had... ugh."

They'd have been atomized by mana. Horrifying to imagine.

"Such a hassle."

Transformation requires mana release. Mana erupts from the skin, annihilating clothes in the process. Everything worn explodes from the sheer force.

The Taeguk Watch resists a bit, but no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠need to wear it transforming.

Strip and stash clothes somewhere first? 'No time for that!'

Villains strike anytime, anywhere. At weddings, dates—anywhere. If saving one more innocent means shredded clothes, so be it.

"......Still, can't transform in these pricey suits."

Not for Chongsu's sake. The phone rang—perfect timing, her call.

"Yes, ma'am."