Because I'm Shooting Star's Son (1)
Bang-! Rat-tat-tat-!
“Kyaaahhh-!!”
The chase between Deogi and the armed group raged on, even as the Unmarked members lost themselves in thought. Screams mingled with the acrid stench of gunpowder and the sickening reek of blood, surging back up from below.
“.......”
Ohoo watched Han Eunbyeol in silence.
Put her under hypnosis again. What's the point if she dies?
He'd nearly faltered at her question, his iron resolve almost cracking. But he had to stay cold, even if it was himself doing it. If she later hated him for the artificial emotions, cursed him for manipulating her feelings, he could brush it off with some half-assed excuse afterward. Right now, he vowed to slap the strongest, most unbreakable hypnosis on her to keep this reckless aspiring hero from charging into the jaws of death.
“Mister.......”
Han Eunbyeol's voice trembled as she pried open her tightly shut lips.
“Earlier...... with that phone, you gave me courage, didn't you?”
Ohoo slowly turned to look down at her question.
“I'm not an idiot. I know my emotions can't just calm down like this in an instant...... I know you used some ability, or that device.”
Tears welled in Han Eunbyeol's eyes and trickled down her cheeks. No matter how overflowing her passion as a hero aspirant, people were spilling their guts right in front of her, bullets flying everywhere. The terror that had buckled her legs when she first faced the scene, leaving her rooted in place—the helplessness—had vanished like magic in that single second when Ohoo held out his smartphone. Her mind had turned unnaturally cold, her inner fear snipped away like with scissors, leaving this bizarre tranquility. It couldn't be her natural courage. She knew how much of a coward she really was. It was thoroughly artificial, injected fakeness.
“You gave me that courage.......”
At Han Eunbyeol's words, Miyang, who had been watching with arms crossed, snorted derisively and cut in, shattering the mood.
“You're right, you're a total idiot, nyang. Spouting the same dumb shit right now—what do you even know?”
Even at Miyang's sharp jab, Han Eunbyeol gave a wry smile in response.
“Is that so....... Yeah, I am an idiot. We've only been together a short time, so maybe it's excusable, but...... I could tell you weren't trying to hurt me. You used that power to protect me from rushing in recklessly.”
Han Eunbyeol's gaze shifted back to the dark entrance of the underground mall. Just moments ago, the face of the woman who had clutched her pant leg, vomiting blood and sobbing to save her seven-year-old daughter left behind underground, was burned into her mind like a stamp.
“In there...... innocent people, kids, are still alive. Waiting for backup will be too late. People are dying every minute, every second.”
She turned back to Ohoo.
“So, Mister...... please give me that fake courage again.”
“What?”
“On my own, I'm too scared, too terrified—my feet won't move. But...... even if I'm controlled, it's fine. Even if I borrow artificial power, even if I become your slave...... please manipulate my mind so I can charge in and save those people right now.”
She wanted to be a hero, even with fake courage. She wanted to save lives. Not even hypnosis could smother Han Eunbyeol's sense of justice.
“Help me...... become a real hero...... please......!”
Finally, Han Eunbyeol dropped to her knees and clutched Ohoo's clothes tightly.
Ohoo looked down at her as she clung to him, sobbing. His mother's shadow, Han Sara, overlapped on her face. If he manipulated the hypnosis app here. If he just typed one line: 【You're a hero who fears no death. Charge in there and save them.】
Han Eunbyeol would immediately dash into the hail of bullets with a smiling face. Just like Shooting Star, smiling as she was defiled under Ha Deokgu's hypnosis.
......I can't do that shit.
Ohoo pulled out his smartphone. He activated the purple vortex on the screen and firmly pressed Han Eunbyeol's name in slot 4.
> 4. Han Eunbyeol - Release registration?
> [Y / N]
Ohoo's thumb slammed down on Y without a hint of hesitation.
Ding-!
Flash-!
The hypnosis that had frozen Han Eunbyeol's mind evaporated in an instant.
“Gasp......! H-heuk......!”
The moment it lifted, every suppressed sensation of reality crashed into her without mercy. The nauseating stench of blood assaulting her nose, the screams and gunfire tearing at her eardrums, and the extreme fear of death all at once.
“Ah...... Hic, aaah......!”
Her legs gave out completely, and she collapsed to the ground. In full panic, she clawed at the floor, gasping.
“Mister......? Mister...... this is.......”
Han Eunbyeol looked up at Ohoo with a face drained of color. She couldn't understand his action—not the courage she'd begged for, but one that severed even the last thread of reason holding her up.
Ohoo knelt slowly to meet her eyes, gripping her shoulders firmly with strong hands.
“The hypnosis is gone now.”
“Mister....?”
“You're not a hero yet. Just a kind-hearted, untrained unlicensed aspirant. No reason to force yourself into that meat grinder. It's normal to be scared.”
“B-but...... the people inside......!”
“Stick to the justice you can handle, within your limits.”
Ohoo stared straight into her wavering eyes and added,
“But what you just said...... that was pretty cool.”
“......Huh?”
“Wanting to save people even with fake courage. That felt like a real hero. So remember that great mindset and for now, do what you can out here. Evacuate the wounded, stop the bleeding. That's your role right now.”
Thick tears plopped from Han Eunbyeol's eyes. She faced her limits and weakness head-on. Yet gratitude for Ohoo acknowledging her true feelings mixed in.
“Then...... what about the people inside......? You're just gonna let them all die......?”
“No.”
Ohoo rose slowly and turned toward the underground mall entrance.
“What you want to do in there. Someone who can do it for you is here.”
He shook out his ankle lightly.
“Trust that person.”
With that, Ohoo averted his gaze from Han Eunbyeol and strode toward Park Ayoung standing by the pickup truck.
“Auntie.”
“Y-yes! Ohoo.”
Under absolute command control, Park Ayoung snapped to attention.
“Even if this is a controlled immigrant quarantine zone, guns blazing and massacres in the open—police, Hero Committee strike teams, or Bupyeong district's private medical net...... forces will come to clean this up. You sure about the time until they arrive?”
Park Ayoung quickly checked her smartwatch and nodded firmly.
“Yes. Exactly 20 minutes until the Committee strike team and nearby heroes arrive. Once support gets here, they'll seal the underground with firepower and sweep it.”
“20 minutes.”
Ohoo nodded, then turned to Miyang stuck to his back like gum.
“Miyang.”
“Nyang? Yes, Master!”
“Get ready. Let's do that thing.”
“......!!”
Miyang's face, which had been smugly mocking Han Eunbyeol moments ago, drained white at Ohoo's short words.
“M-Master! Are you insane?! You're really gonna do that?!”
Miyang grabbed Ohoo's arm with both hands, clinging desperately. Her tail stiffened straight up, fur bristling all over.
“Nooo! Absolutely not! Master's body can't handle that yet! Last Moment said to use it carefully....!”
Miyang shook her head frantically.
“If you're really gonna do it...... 10 minutes max! Just 10 minutes! Any longer and your muscles and organs will cook—you'll die first, nyang!”
Ohoo's expression didn't change despite her desperate pleas.
“15 minutes.”
He tossed out the dry counteroffer.
“10 minutes isn't enough to scour that huge underground mall and pull everyone out. 15 minutes. It's doable if we push it. My personal best.”
“Masteeeer......!”
Miyang stomped her feet, eyes tearing up, but she couldn't break her master's steadfast gaze. In the end, she had no choice but to yield to his stubborn decision.
“Haa...... Fineee. Exactly 15 minutes. One second over and Miyang will drag you out by the hair myself!”
With the negotiation done, Ohoo took a deep breath and lit up his smartphone screen.
> 1. Ohoo
Ohoo's thick thumb began pouring text onto the screen.
> Command: You feel no pain.
> Command: Exactly 15 minutes from now, slap your own cheek full-force with your right hand.
And the final line. Ohoo paused his finger, glaring at the blood-red entrance to the underground mall. He hammered his full resolve into the last command.
> Command: I am Shooting Star's son. I will rescue every single life inside without fail. On my mother's honor, I will survive and save them all.
Ohoo copied the sentence.
Enter. Ding.
Paste.
> Command: I am Shooting Star's son. I will rescue every single life inside without fail. On my mother's honor, I will survive and save them all.
Enter. Ding.
Paste.
> Command: I am Shooting Star's son. I will rescue every single life inside without fail. On my mother's honor, I will survive and save them all.
Enter. Ding.
He spammed the same command relentlessly until the screen was filled.
Final enter. Fwoosh-!
The purple flash burst, searing deep into Ohoo's retinas.
“Ngh......!”
As the commands eroded his brain, only the mission of rescue and being Shooting Star's son blazed in his eyes.
Ohoo pocketed the phone, turned his back to Miyang, and slightly bent his knees, exposing his thick nape fully.
“Ready. Start.”
Drag it out.
His latent ability.
The legacy inherited from his mother Shooting Star.
Shooting Star's power!
「Acceleration」.
He'd never used it in 20 years, so voluntary activation was impossible. Prepping by ramping heart rate and pumping muscles took dozens of minutes.
A memory from training surfaced: Last Moment checking him and clicking her tongue.
Half an ability: acceleration successful but unable to strike foes. But now, speed for escape and rescue was enough—no attacks needed.
“Hic...... Here I gooo, Master.......”
Miyang bit her lip hard. Her hands shook at the thought of pumping high-voltage current into her beloved's flesh. But unable to defy his resolve, she gathered crackling blue lightning for a flawless strike.
Crackle-! Crackle!
Sparks flew from her fingertips.
“You have to endure it, Master! Nyang!!”
Kwaaaah-!!!
Miyang's hands slammed precisely into Ohoo's exposed nape spine.
“...!!!”
Thud.
I can do it.
Miyang's current surged through Ohoo's central nerves, flooding his body.
Thud. Thud.
I can do it.
Even with pain blocked by hypnosis, his flesh sizzled forcibly, skin moisture boiling loud enough to echo across the plaza.
Rumble rumble crack!
I...
Snap! Crunch!
Ohoo's muscles contracted and relaxed with audible creaks.
Thud. Thud.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
I...!
Training-swollen muscle fibers pumped forcibly from the shock, veins bulging under skin.
Shhhhaaa-!
Superheated steam vented from Ohoo's skin.
Thudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthud!
His heart went berserk post-preheat.
Because I'm Shooting Star's son.
“Haa...... Haaa.......”
Current stopped; Miyang stepped back. Through the thick steam, Ohoo's silhouette rose slowly. His body radiated heat haze-like scorch from every inch.
Shooting Star's blood had been forcibly awakened. It transformed his 100kg bulk into a destructive projectile.
“I'll be back.”
Ohoo spoke low but firm to Han Eunbyeol staring in awe and the group by the truck.
The words barely left his mouth.
Kwaaaaang-!!!
Ohoo kicked off the asphalt, launching forward.
“......!!”
Han Eunbyeol tumbled back in the gale, blinking. Where Ohoo had stood: only dust cloud and afterimage remained. His muscle-heavy frame had vanished.
With explosive acceleration beyond visual tracking.
Ohoo plunged into the dark Bupyeong Station Underground Mall like a shooting star amid blood spray and bullet storm.
Shooting Star's son.
To rescue every trapped resident.
A life-or-death 15-minute time attack into the blood-soaked melee's heart.