Chapter 122
Chapter 122
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Prepare for the Party
-----------------------------------------------------------------
September. The new semester at Hero Academy had begun.
A summer break that lasted less than two months—an incredibly short one.
But in that time, the cadets had each undergone their own changes.
Especially those gathering right now.
"There she comes! Cadet Kang Yuna! Over here!"
Among heroes, there's an award called "Sidekick of the Month."
It's given directly by the Hero Association.
Receiving it doesn't mean anything huge happens.
But it's recognition from none other than the heroes themselves.
Sidekicks who will one day become their juniors—and colleagues.
Winning this award is sure to pay off later.
And the recipient for August's Sidekick of the Month was none other than Kang Yuna.
"I heard you worked a lot with Hero Shieldman?"
"It wasn't a big deal. I just rushed in whenever monsters appeared."
"That's exactly what matters. A sidekick fighting alongside a hero, never falling behind or dragging them down—not once—and fulfilling your role perfectly? That's huge."
Kang Yuna scratched her head sheepishly at Jeong Ye-bin's lavish praise.
It was embarrassing. She still felt like she hadn't really done much.
All she'd done was diligently follow the heroes she was with.
Evacuating people. Occasionally fighting monsters herself.
Facing her fear head-on and learning how to control it.
There were no flashy achievements or heroic tales.
"You've gotten so much stronger compared to before break. Congrats."
Jin Seo-ah, who had been quietly watching Kang Yuna, smiled.
Nothing was more enjoyable than seeing your teammates grow stronger.
Whether it sparked new motivation or filled in each other's gaps during joint training.
Having someone exceptionally talented by your side was like striking gold.
"What about you, Cadet Jin Seo-ah? We only saw each other once during break."
"Don't even get me started. Grandpa put me through hell—I nearly died. I bet I could hold my own against an A-rank hero in a deathmatch for at least five minutes now."
A cadet lasting five minutes against an A-rank hero charging to kill.
Not "just that much?" No—rather, "that much?" was right.
"And... Cadet Louise. I heard about what happened in the UK. I even went directly with some of Whioon's executives, but let me offer my condolences again."
"Thank you, Ye-bin. The citizens of London were touched by the condolences from faraway Korea."
Excluding Jeong Ye-bin, Louise had the fewest accomplishments so far.
It couldn't be helped—the situation in the UK had been too chaotic.
No room for focused training or personal growth.
But that didn't mean she gained nothing.
At the end of this summer, Louise had obtained something incredibly important.
"Hey, Cadet Louise. Do you know anything about the Smiling Man?"
Yes. The man whose name Jeong Ye-bin had just uttered.
The Smiling Man. The one who claimed not to be a hero.
Yet more deserving of the title than anyone.
Louise had witnessed his true nature up close.
'The Smiling Man... he was truly amazing.'
He knew how to sacrifice himself willingly for others.
He understood that it wasn't all glamour and shining moments.
And that she alone knew the full truth.
For some reason, that made Louise feel good.
"No. The last time I saw him was in the UK. I haven't heard anything since. Sorry, Ye-bin."
"... ."
Seo Ha-eun sat there with a perfectly nonchalant expression.
All while feeling a strange sense of superiority inside.
'I know.'
She had been the first to see the Smiling Man after he returned from the UK.
And even now, that hadn't changed.
Kang Yuna. Jin Seo-ah. Jeong Ye-bin. And Louise.
All waiting for the Smiling Man, unaware of his whereabouts.
But she knew. He had appeared only to her.
'I'll never tell anyone. Not ever.'
Somehow, he'd become the center of attention for many.
The Smiling Man was watching many people too.
But no one was quite like her.
He called himself a mere spectator, but it didn't matter.
Someone was there with him in this tale of revenge.
"Oh. Have you heard the news? They say the curriculum's changing starting this second semester."
"More emphasis on practical training over theory, right?"
"For anti-villain combat tactics, the instructors will play the villains, and monster fights will be in the combat simulation room."
"The combat simulation room? Isn't that usually for second-years and up?"
The combat simulation room.
A product of virtual reality programs fused with illusion abilities.
It existed worldwide, but Korea's was the most advanced.
One reason Hero Academy was called the world's best.
Here, cadets experienced monster battles in advance.
Before sidekick duties. Before becoming real heroes.
Think of it as pre-studying in the simulation room.
"With all the chaos lately, they rushed to build an extra one starting this summer. Now first-years like us can use it from the second semester."
"Great news. We've had real combat experience, but it's rare, and I was worried about forgetting the feel."
No matter if you'd split swords with the Sword Saint or trained under Valkyrie.
Villains aside, fighting monsters felt different.
You had to face their grotesque forms and the visual intimidation.
"I saw on the board they're taking applications for simulation room use. Group applications first, then individuals next week."
Perfect timing. This group was ideal for each other.
They'd synced up at least once and faced various situations.
Heroes rarely operated solo.
They always formed teams, meshing before engaging.
Finding compatible teammates was a skill in itself.
"Ah. Count me out. No matter how I think about it, combat just isn't for me."
Jeong Ye-bin raised her hand, clearly opting out.
She knew she would only be a burden in battle.
Better to step aside before tripping anyone up.
"Come on, why not try once? We'll help you."
"No, Cadet Jin Seo-ah. This just isn't worth the investment versus return."
She approached it with a purely corporate mindset, arriving at her conclusion.
But it was also coldly objective.
"Plus, I think supporting you all in other areas is more effective than combat aid."
Under Jeong Ye-bin's lead, Whioon investments had already begun for them.
Jin Seo-ah, being from the Jin family, was one thing—but it was great for the rest.
Especially Kang Yuna and Seo Ha-eun. Even Louise benefited.
British nobility or not, she was just a foreign student here.
"By the way, Whioon invested quite a bit in this new simulation room."
Truly, was wealth the ultimate ability?
Kang Yuna clapped, genuinely impressed.
"...Ugh, this sucks."
I want to quit everything. I'm seriously going insane! Aaaah!
Valkyrie irritably tousled her hair.
But nothing improved. Just her hair became a mess.
Currently, beyond S-rank hero duties, she handled multiple roles.
Instructor at Hero Academy, missions to neighboring countries.
And lately, overseeing Union Korea Branch.
Not as branch chief, but as a supervisory role.
Ensuring the reforming Union stayed on the right path.
No dark-hearted infiltrators meddling.
'The intent is good. Yeah, the intent is great! But why me?!'
The government rep's words still echoed.
"Hero Valkyrie, you've been the most vocal critic of Union's issues. You need to take the forefront for this to look right."
Pretty packaging, but it boiled down to this:
You have skin in this mess, so help clean it up.
Valkyrie acknowledged it somewhat, so she'd accepted.
But acceptance didn't make it less exhausting!
"Haaa..."
Strictly speaking, she wasn't even the origin of this.
The first to detect Union's malice.
The one who acted quickest with unwavering conviction.
That person was most essential for Union reform...
"Oh? Are you perhaps thinking of me?"
Startled, Valkyrie whipped her head around.
She nearly unleashed her ability and blasted the whole room.
"You—seriously! Make some noise! You scared me!"
"Hahaha! If I'd wanted that, I'd have knocked and walked in!"
"What kind of..."
Come to think of it, that wasn't entirely wrong...
Valkyrie sighed, eyeing her unexpected guest.
"You're incredible. How do you pop up everywhere and vanish like a ghost?"
"Shh. Trade secret."
"...Yeah. Sure. That answers it well enough."
He's insane. Has to be out of his mind.
"Anyway. Let's get to the point."
"Oh? I'd love to chat more with you, Valkyrie."
"You'll just say something weird again. No time-wasting..."
"Hero Valkyrie. Will you go out with me?"
Slam! Valkyrie faceplanted onto the desk, glaring in disbelief.
"Of course, I'm kidding."
"...You really want to die?"
"Hahaha!"
Fine. Straight to business, then.
"Hero Valkyrie. I hear Hero Academy's combat simulation room is being expanded."
"Construction started before summer break, so it's about time for completion. Why?"
"Does that simulation room really include every type of monster? Every battle scenario heroes have faced?"
"Of course. It's programmed for any situation, so you can prepare accordingly."
I see. Impressive technology. Amazing.
The Smiling Man smiled and spoke again.
"Then, does it include that incident?"
That incident?
"The Great Collapse."
Great Collapse. Great Collapse... Great Collapse?
"Wait. You don't mean the 'Great Collapse,' do you?"