Apprentice Hero: Han Eunbyeol (2)
Near the intersection by Park Ayoung's luxury apartment complex. Ohoo, leaning on Miyang's support while waiting for the crosswalk signal, suddenly furrowed his brow. A nagging thought hit him belatedly.
"By the way, Miyang."
"Yeees, Master~."
"Aren't you still technically a wanted villain? Until Park Ayoung finishes all the paperwork to launder your hero identity, you're still a criminal."
Ohoo glanced warily at the people around them and whispered in a worried tone.
"Isn't it risky wandering around Gangnam in broad daylight like this, in a crowded place, without even a mask? What if a passing hero or cop spots you?"
He was anxious that his one and only accomplice might get arrested right there on the street.
But Miyang, the person in question, responded with a relaxed grin.
"Psh, Master, you're such a worrywart. Tie those worries up and toss 'em~."
She waved it off with a bright smile.
"Miyang's just a lowly C-rank crook with a bit of a record, y'know? Even the snuff film stuff—I just set up hidden cams in back alleys, filmed, and sold to the dark web. Never killed anyone myself or robbed a bank in broad daylight~."
"You tried to mug me."
"Th-that was when Miyang was all mentally unstable.... Rent was almost overdue.... A-anyway, I'm a total sleazy info broker villain, so the Association probably doesn't even have a proper photo of me on file~?"
Ohoo found it oddly amusing how Miyang boasted about her own pathetic credentials.
"And with all these S-rank, A-rank psycho bomber villains rampaging across this massive city of Seoul by the truckload, what crazy hero's gonna patrol Gangnam just to catch a small fry like me? The Association's too busy chasing real threats to bother. So no worries, nope nope! Nyang!"
Miyang was convinced that as a thorough outsider crook, she flew completely under any hero's radar.
Carefree as ever.
"......Still, you never know with people. Better safe than sorry."
Unable to shake off the unease, Ohoo pulled Miyang's outer jacket hood up over her head.
"Just in case, keep those cat ears and blue tail hidden outside for a while. No need to draw attention."
"Hehe, Master worrying about Miyang~? Got it, I'll hide 'em real good. Nyang!"
Miyang pressed the hood down deep and hooked her arm through Ohoo's, waiting for the crosswalk light to turn green.
But.
Miyang's naive certainty that no one cared about small-time crooks like her—and Ohoo's belated warning to cover her tracks—were already one step too late.
On the opposite side of the crosswalk where Ohoo and Miyang stood. At the bus stop in front of the bustling shopping district across the eight-lane road. Amid the hurried crowd, a young girl munched on a convenience store sandwich, scanning her surroundings.
Her hair was tied in tight twin tails, dressed in a plain hoodie and jeans—but her eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.
The apprentice hero conducting a private stakeout, combing District J relentlessly.
Han Eunbyeol.
"Hmm...... Where the hell did they hide?"
Eunbyeol crumpled the sandwich wrapper, narrowing her brows.
Though just an unlicensed trainee without an official hero license, the burning sense of justice in her chest—to judge evil—was no less fierce than Shooting Star Han Sara's twenty years ago.
The police and Association dismissed it as minor crook business. But fueled by her obsession to capture the cyber criminal Nyestringer, who produced and distributed snuff films, and uproot the evil behind them, Eunbyeol had been prowling the area day and night.
Rapidstar must know how serious this is—that's why he showed up. I can't fall behind!
Just as Eunbyeol clenched her fist, reigniting her resolve—
"......Huh?"
Her gaze locked onto the crosswalk across the eight-lane road.
A hulking, limping fat guy.
And a petite woman in a deeply hooded jacket, arm-in-arm supporting him.
They could pass for an ordinary couple.
But when the woman grinned wide at the man and bounced excitedly, something flashed in the brief gap at the small of her back from her flapping windbreaker.
A long, sleek blue tail with faint blue static sparking at the tip.
And a perky cat ear silhouette peeking from under the flapping hood.
Eunbyeol's heart pounded.
Th-that's......
She rubbed her eyes in disbelief and stared across the street.
The distance was far, but eyes that had pored over wanted posters and blurry fellatio-gram captures day and night couldn't be fooled.
That unique combo of blue tail and cat ears.
The exact traits of the snuff film broker she'd been crazily chasing for days, skipping meals.
Nyestringer...... No way?!
Eunbyeol's mouth fell open.
Found you! Finally......!
The alley cat strutting carefree in daylight, assuming small fries were safe—had her tail stepped on by the tenacious apprentice hero.
But...... why's Nyestringer with some random civilian guy? Family....? Nah, she's too pretty. Or is he from the snuff film organization's backers? Or...... a hostage for the next target?
Eunbyeol's mind exploded with deductions and wild theories.
Or maybe seducing that innocent guy for a snuff film shoot!?
Either way, she had to chase and confirm now.
Eunbyeol held her breath, waiting desperately for the crosswalk light, eyes fixed on Ohoo and Miyang.
And she gripped the small, crude black pager in her jacket pocket.
The cold plastic under her fingertips swelled her chest like a holy relic.
This pager's weight. And the face of the hero who'd bestowed it upon her—it brought back dizzying, dreamlike memories from days ago.
"Ugh......"
An unfamiliar ceiling. A yellowed, wrinkled one at that—even to Han Eunbyeol, who knew cheap ones well—with an expensive-looking high-end grape cluster lamp.
Antique masterpieces hung on the walls.
And above all...... impossibly vast.
One room alone dwarfed her entire home.
The bedding wrapping her body was cloud-light and soft, unlike anything she'd ever felt. She didn't know the material—Eunbyeol lacked knowledge of such luxuries.
From a world far removed from hers.
Wh-where am I? Heaven?
Eunbyeol propped herself up in a daze.
Her last memory: the overwhelming killing intent from Korea's S-rank hero Rapidstar crushing her on the apartment rooftop.
Recalling how she'd blacked out under that pressure, she jolted up and kicked off the covers.
"Gasp! M-my costume!"
Looking down at herself, she nearly screamed.
Her painstakingly hand-stitched hero costume mimicking her idol Shooting Star—yellow and red—was gone.
Replaced by oversized, baggy, plush high-end gray sweats.
Humiliation surged at the thought of someone else undressing and changing her.
"Wh-what do I do! My clothes......!"
As Eunbyeol flailed off the bed, pacing and searching—
The door creaked open.
A middle-aged maid in crisp black-and-white entered quietly with a silver tray.
Her demeanor was impeccably polite and mechanical.
"You're awake, Miss Eunbyeol."
"Wh-who are you! Where am I, and my clothes......!"
Eunbyeol huddled in fear, but the maid set the tray on the table and replied flatly.
"This is Rapidstar's mansion. Rapidstar himself carried you here after you collapsed on the rooftop. Your worn-out clothes are currently in laundry and repair."
Rapidstar's mansion......?
Her jaw dropped at the monumental name.
Korea's mightiest hero, whom she idolized, had carried her here personally.
The terrifying killing intent faded; glory made her heart race.
But only briefly.
"Um...... Thanks for the repairs, but I didn't change myself......."
Eunbyeol mumbled, blushing, and the maid glanced around before leaning close and whispering softly.
"Well...... You wet yourself from tension while passed out on the rooftop. Couldn't put you to bed like that, so I bathed you and dressed you in my spare underwear and clothes out of necessity."
"......!!"
Eunbyeol's face exploded red.
Passing out wasn't enough—she'd peed herself in front of Rapidstar.
Mortification burned through her; she'd crawl into any hole if one appeared.
"S-sorry......! How could I shame myself like that before Rapidstar......! A-and the underwear, really sorry. I'll pay the laundry......!"
Tears welling, she bowed 90 degrees repeatedly.
The maid nodded impassively.
"It's fine. Your clothes will be returned cleaned and repaired. I noted your attachment to the costume and requested the finest work. More importantly, Rapidstar awaits. Let's continue over breakfast. I'll guide you to the kitchen."
Following the maid cautiously, Eunbyeol sighed inwardly in relief—but craved her Shooting Star costume, like a part of her soul, back soon.
Entering the living room via the hall—
Th-this is Rapidstar's mansion......?
Her mouth wouldn't close.
H-dong. Rapidstar's grand estate on the hillside where Korea's top 0.1% elite resided lived up to its fame: massive and imposing.
Yet the marble table, vast enough for dozens, held not a trace of family warmth—just chilling emptiness.
Only stoic maids moved silently.
At the head of that vast, quiet table sat Rapidstar in a robe, eating a refined hanjeongsik breakfast alone.
"Sit."
At his voice, Eunbyeol stiffened and perched tentatively at the table's far end.
A private audience with the legendary S-rank hero she'd only seen on TV and news.
She barely breathed under the pressure.
Rapidstar silently sipped soup, glancing at her sidelong.
Seeing her shiver in the baggy sweats stirred yesterday's unanswered question.
He set down his utensils, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and spoke.
"Who are you?"
"Y-yes? For Justice! Apprentice hero Han Eu—"
"Heard that yesterday. Asking again: who are you?"
"Y-yes....? Ah...."
Eunbyeol faltered at the interruption but caught his intent.
Yet her lips wouldn't part easily.
Her greatest weakness, impossible to ignore before her idol hero.
"Well......"
"Han Eunbyeol. Unlicensed apprentice."
"Y-yes......"
"Then why's an untrained trainee like you playing vigilante with risky back-alley investigations at night? Normally, you'd enroll in Hero Academy for proper education first."
Eunbyeol's shoulders hunched at his question.
She fidgeted with her rough hands on her lap, eyes downcast.
"......No money at home."
Her voice trailed off.
"Parents died young...... Raised by grandma. Hero Academy tuition and gear upkeep...... Couldn't afford it, not even the application......"
No matter how justice-oriented heroes claimed to be, the path to qualification was ruthlessly capitalist.
The Academy's exorbitant fees were beyond reach for a dirt-poor orphan like Eunbyeol.