What Happened at the Mission Training Ground - 6
To reach the true ending in Hero Academia, you had to meet specific conditions and rack up enough true ending points. One of them was the event that triggered right after the first battle in main story chapter 1.
"Everyone, great job out there!!"
The ones who'd really busted their asses were someone else entirely. The ones who'd clashed head-on with the Death Witch were Kang Jin-ho and his party. But it was also true that we'd fought our asses off inside, and thanks to that, there'd been zero casualties. So it wasn't weird that Kang Jin-ho, who was in charge here, was thrilled.
"I'm truly moved by how brilliantly you underclassmen performed. Here! It might not be much as a reward for today's hard work, but please dig in!"
We were gathered in the research institute's cafeteria. Kang Jin-ho had even dipped into his own pocket to provide this party spread. After a hard fight, you had to eat big—that was common sense—so the table was piled high with enough food to make your legs buckle.
"Let's eat!"
A few cadets had injuries, but nothing life-threatening. Some were grinning ear-to-ear with bandages wrapped around them. Watching them, I grabbed my plate and stood.
Eat up. Food's the best souvenir.
"Listen up while you eat. We managed to repel the Death Witch, but we can't let our guards down yet."
Yang Jun was right. Villains struck twice like lightning in a storm—almost always at least two waves. The first attack had pulled back, but there was no guarantee a second wouldn't come. Hell, the Death Witch had just bailed mid-fight. She'd probably regroup and hit us again. Plus, the villains who'd stayed in Korea hadn't joined this time, so they could team up for round two.
"That's why I'm saying—once you're done eating, head back to the academy."
"Sir?"
"The first wave was just undead. But the second could bring the real villains."
In other words, it could get seriously dangerous. The cadets quieted down mid-bite at Yang Jun's words. He gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"Of course, if you think you can handle more, you're welcome to stay. But you're all freshmen with barely any training. From here on, leave it to your seniors."
This was a training mission, not a full op. So going back was fine. Yang Jun laid out the reality plainly, and a few cadets exchanged glances. They were probably spooked. Plenty of them had never seen action on this scale.
"What about our points..."
"Sure, sticking around for another fight gets you bonus points—maybe even an award from the Association. But points? You can farm those anywhere."
As they started mulling it over, Yang Jun grinned.
"Knowing when to retreat is one of a hero's virtues too."
With that firm line, he sat back down. As the cadets refocused on their food, Yoo Choa turned to me.
"Is this the help you wanted?"
"Yeah."
The event after the first battle: fight the second wave or bail? Obviously, true ending points came from staying and fighting.
"You staying?"
Cheon Suho asked around a massive rib bone. I nodded.
"Cool. Then I'm in too."
"Hmm, what to do~? Think I'll follow your lead, Yohan? Spill it. Pretty please, sis—join us~."
The bomb-crazed maniac from earlier was gone, replaced by a giggling Yoo Choa poking my side like she'd found a fun new toy.
"Just go home."
"Eek?! Kidding! Kidding! I'm in!"
With Yoo Choa and Cheon Suho staying, what about the rest? As dinner wrapped, a few cadets approached Yang Jun. Looked like they were heading out—the ones who'd been in deep shit during the fight.
"Don't feel bad. You gotta live to fight another day. The place won't fall without you."
"...Yes, sir."
"Bruised ego?"
"Can't say it doesn't sting."
"Good. Remember that feeling."
The cadet named Hyejin—who Yoo Choa had bailed out earlier—and her party were leaving. Yoo Choa went over to chat with her. Meanwhile, Cheon Suho fiddled with his shotgun.
"Wonder what kinda bastards are coming."
"Who knows..."
Even I didn't. In my past life's playthrough, it wasn't a named villain—just some "C-rank villain."
"The Death Witch..."
"Yang Jun and the other heroes got that covered."
No matter how good my buffs were, Yoo Choa or Cheon Suho couldn't hang with a witch. They'd get smoked. Even B-ranks were tough; an A-rank? Just thinking about it made my limbs shake.
Anyway, some left, some stayed. Nearly half the cadets bailed, then Yang Jun came over to the rest.
"Alright, time for assignments. I'll brief you on your posts till morning."
A screen showed the institute layout with names popping up. Where me, Yoo Choa, and Cheon Suho got sent...
"Lab 3 again, huh."
Lab 3, headed by Director Shin Ha-rang. Our names were there.
"When do the seniors show?"
"Around midnight, probably. Use the dummies till then."
"No Association backup?"
"They're already here. Guarding the central lab."
The central lab—where all the key stuff got developed. Made sense to stack heavy hitters there.
"You heading there too, sir?"
"Nah, I'm on patrol. I'll jump in wherever it gets hairy. Alright, to your positions."
Yang Jun clapped after the briefing, and we headed back to our spot. Once that blood-red sunset faded and night fell, shit would get real.
"Can't wait to see what shows up."
"You aren't scared?"
"Ha! Think this Cheon Suho fears some punk-ass villains?!"
"Classic Cha-seok! Legend!"
"...It's Cheon Su-ho, dammit..."
Yoo Choa cracked up at Cheon Suho's growl over the nickname slip. Zero tension. Then again, that's Yoo Choa for ya.
"Huh...?"
"What."
"What time is it?"
"Around six PM."
"...Lights on over there."
"Psh, it's only six."
"Isn't that quitting time?"
Naive girl—believing in the 9-to-6 myth! The lab Yoo Choa pointed at was lit up like daytime. Cheon Suho shuddered watching it.
"Yeah... No way I make it into a lab after graduation."
"Same vibe from me."
"...What’s that mean?"
"Wasting a top tank like you on lab duty? Total squander."
"Kuhm. Fair point?"
Yoo Choa snickered at Cheon Suho puffing up instantly.
"He's so simple-minded."
"Not so much..."
"Ah?! You guys are here!"
A window flew open as we chatted outside. There stood Shin Ha-rang and his wife.
"Hehe, didn't get to say hi earlier. Nice to meet you. I'm Oh Ye-na, assistant director here."
"Pleasure."
Leaning on the sill, she cozied up to Shin Ha-rang.
"Hehe, getting all lovey-dovey in a sacred lab?! Not scared of the researchers behind you?!"
"They can date if they're jealous."
She smiled tiredly and pulled snacks from her lab coat pocket, handing them over.
"Best I can offer. Heard you heroes are sticking around?"
"Yes."
"Thanks. Saw you fight on the monitors—damn impressive. Ahh, if only I'd awakened, I could've been a hero too."
"Psh, research gigs are brutal."
"True, nothing's easy. Anyway, count on us for backup if needed."
She fiddled with her tablet, and a dozen dummies popped up around us moments later.
"This help at all?"
"A ton! Thanks!"
I knew those dummies. Academy had 'em too. Game didn't have this perk, but they'd be huge.
"Take care, heroes?"
She waved with a bright smile before heading in. Shin Ha-rang waved too. Good folks.
"Oh, right—take this."
As he turned to go, he pulled something from his pocket. Potions.
"Not quite combat-ready, but hope it helps."
Ampule-type restoratives usable mid-fight. Whoa, pricey stuff.
"We'll put 'em to good use!"
"Hope you don't need 'em. Don't worry about us."
"Got it!"
No more words, he went inside. We plopped down naturally and cracked open the snacks. The sunset vanished, and stars speckled the deep blue sky.
"Whoa... pretty."
"Sentimental type, huh? Time to move."
Something stirred in the dark. Streetlights along the path to the labs flickered on. And there—a figure approaching.
"...Who the hell are you."
No answer to Yoo Choa's wary voice. Then—
-Whirrr!!
The dummies activated. Unauthorized intruder.
"Nice to meet you, young heroes."
"Sword Demon?!"
"Nah?"
"...I know him. C-rank villain infamous for his sword. Slashing folks indiscriminately to hone his blade..."
"All that grinding paid off, eh?"
-Wheeeeoooong!!!
His face emerged from the shadows. Middle-aged guy, plain features. He slowly drew a single sword and bared his teeth at us.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Sword Demon."
"Oh yeah? Came alone? We got numbers."
Yoo Choa's taunt came with a barrage of mana shots from the dummies.
-Tingtingtingting!!
Hundreds of shots in a blink, all deflected by his insane swordplay. He casually reproduced Jin Siyeon's feat from last time, eyed the front-line dummies, and smirked.
"No interest in slicing dummies."
And then—
"Huh?!"
He pulled a small device from his pocket.
"What's that?"
"Mini energy EMP!"
"Huh?"
-Vrrr...!!
Dummies froze the second he triggered it. Streetlights winked out too—now just old incandescent bulbs lit the area.
"Young heroes. You won't call this unfair, right?"
"Uh... it is unfair?! Sword Demon, huh? Use your sword! Why EMP?!"
Cheon Suho exploded, but...
"That's why he's a villain."
"Fair, but it pisses me off more!"
Yoo Choa and Cheon Suho fumed, glancing sadly at the dummies. A peek back showed the lab in a panic over the neutralized bots. But I wasn't worried. With my buffs on top of our current firepower... C-rank was doable.