Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: How Can I Believe That?
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How could I possibly believe it?
Before I knew it, I'd even missed dinner time.
To grab a late-night bite, Seo Ha-eun stepped out of the academy.
Eating alone was a chore for some, but it didn't faze her.
She'd gotten used to solitary meals after losing her parents.
"…."
Sitting by the window, Seo Ha-eun chewed her sandwich absentmindedly, lost in thought.
Hero criminal records were spotless, as if it were some ironclad rule.
Even thinking about Holy Knight, they weren't perfectly clean.
He must have stirred up trouble and gotten punished at some point.
Yet everything was too pristine, like someone had deliberately erased or omitted it.
< Next up: Amid ongoing controversies over celebrities' power trips… >
Someone nearby was watching a video on YouXTube.
She wouldn't have cared normally, but today she found herself listening in.
'Power trips….'
Humans love themselves more than anything.
That's why they always crave showing off.
Even a slight edge over others sparks bragging.
Heroes, reincarnations of novel heroes, would be even worse.
When that goes off the rails, it turns into crime.
Crime. A word worlds away from heroes. The exclusive domain of villains.
What if it came from a hero? How would people react?
Would they let it slide? Or curse them as no better than villains?
< Why you must become a hero! Heroes enjoy even greater popularity than celebrities! This week's interview features the hot A-Rank hero, Flying… >
Amid it all, heroes relentlessly chase fame.
That's the reason. They crave the rewards more than the act of protecting.
Gaining popularity. Becoming celebrities. Retiring into other fields.
The name "hero" suddenly felt a bit foreign.
Dad. Mom. Where are the heroes I used to know?
Bang!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, several cars outside the window smashed into each other.
At first, she thought it was just a routine traffic accident.
But the people stepping out of the cars acted strangely.
No clutching necks. No raised voices. No calling insurance.
They pointed somewhere, then fled, abandoning their cars.
"…Ah!"
Seo Ha-eun dropped her sandwich and rushed outside.
As she'd guessed, people were screaming.
"It's a villainnnn!"
"Run!!"
Villain. Seo Ha-eun scanned her surroundings.
If a hero were nearby, they'd have arrived by now.
But none in sight. Just fleeing crowds.
Kaboom!
Another explosion, and several cars burst into flames.
She wasn't a hero yet, but she was on the path to becoming one.
Above all, she'd come here fueled by hatred for villains.
She'd met a weird guy lately, but that was it.
Villains had to be caught and eradicated completely.
Pushing past the fleeing crowd, she confronted the villain wreaking havoc.
The giggling villain tilted his head at the sight of her.
"What're you? Hey. Aren't you running?"
"Now it's your turn to run, villain."
"No badge? Not a hero then? You got a death wish?"
No need to reveal her identity. Better to attack once more instead.
Kicking off the ground, Seo Ha-eun grabbed a nearby electric scooter and swung it down hard.
For a split second, she wondered how much it'd cost to replace it.
Thwack!
"You bitch! Awakened? Not a hero. Don't tell me you're a cadet?!"
Ignoring the villain's words completely, she swung the scooter again.
Just hold out a bit longer. A hero would arrive soon.
"Die!"
The villain's eyes glowed red, then he spewed flames from his mouth.
Of all things, from his mouth. Who knew abilities like that existed?
Seo Ha-eun caught her breath. She'd barely dodged the flames.
A moment later, and her face would've been severely burned.
"I'll turn you into charred coal, you fucking hero scum."
A villain daring to spout such filth—it ignited her rage.
These parasites tormenting society.
How dare they trash heroes who protect people.
Fwoosh!
Seo Ha-eun's ability activated. Blood vessels burst in her eyes.
Muscles screamed, her heart far exceeded its limits.
Reason fled briefly, replaced by destructive instinct.
"Fucking bitch!"
Flames erupted again. Simple. Just a frontal assault.
She kept distance, dodged, and closed in from the blind spot.
The villain backed away to stay out of her reach.
In that one second, she scanned and assessed.
No traps. His ability was just flame breath.
She'd memorized most villains above danger class.
Unfamiliar face. So, at best, a standard-grade villain.
One she, a mere cadet, could handle!
"Damn it!"
His wild punch—she deflected it lightly and slipped inside.
Dragging it out would overload her body, but she was fine.
She could hold. And this villain was small-time.
Positioned for a precise kick to his empty gut.
Thud!
'He dodged it?'
Everything had been perfect. Power, speed, his movements?
"Knew it. You idiots think straight fights are all there is!"
Oh no. He could control the flames at will.
She should've checked more. Never underestimated.
Her disdain and anger had made her forget the basics.
Couldn't dodge this. Block with her arm then—least damage spot….
Whoosh!
"Ack?!"
Suddenly, her body flew backward and toppled.
She hadn't dodged. It felt like tripping over something.
Or like someone yanked her from behind?
She quickly checked her back—nothing there.
Why'd she fall? Why the pulling sensation?
"Hey! What the hell are you doing? Get out of the way!"
A hero arrived just then, roughly shoving Seo Ha-eun aside.
Then he charged the villain ferociously with his baton.
"Villain scum! Ruining my good mood by dragging me here?!"
"A real hero this time?!"
"Real hero, so no impersonation. Ruined my date— no arrest. I'll kill you right here."
Her anger at him trying to harm civilians wasn't that fierce.
He seemed pissed just at having to come here.
"…."
Seo Ha-eun backed away and watched the hero-villain clash.
A battle of good versus evil. She thought it'd be noble, of course.
But watching this, no nobility. No goodness.
Was this really the hero she'd imagined?
Heroes meant heroes like her parents, bearing their duty.
Prioritizing others over self. Justice over immediate gain.
Unyielding to evil, untainted by darkness—great beings.
But as a cadet, the heroes she saw felt different.
Had this become just a job to them, not a calling?
Not heroes saving people and judging villains.
Just a means to shine brighter, look cooler?
"Gahhh!"
The villain collapsed, signaling surrender.
But the hero showed no sign of stopping.
Baton gripped tight, he swung relentlessly, blood spraying everywhere.
"Guh! Ack!"
This wasn't for protecting civilians.
He was just venting for being summoned here.
Not noble. Not just.
Cruel. No different from a villain.
'…Ah.'
That realization sent chills down her spine.
I wanted that too. That's why I came here.
Villains are societal ills. Trash. Parasites to eradicate.
What's wrong with beating them? Killing them?
Where's the you who vowed to live that way?
'But mine's for revenge….'
Killing for revenge or anger—same thing.
You can't be a great hero like your parents.
Not just, not noble, not shining.
"Hah… hah…."
The hero approached, having beaten the villain to near death.
"Academy cadet, huh? Crazy. Not even a hero yet and you jump in? Think a little justice makes you hot shit? Or wanted to play hero on video for clout? Hah. You kids do hero cosplay without even being heroes."
The advancing hero shoved Seo Ha-eun roughly.
"Ditch that flimsy justice crap. Don't get cocky—go study. Hah. Imagine this shit as juniors later. Old-timers'll have us deploying at dawn like them."
"…."
"All go blind with that justice bullshit…."
Something welled up, and Seo Ha-eun opened her mouth.
"What's wrong with having a sense of justice?"
But before her, a sharp voice rang from behind.
"What."
"I'm asking what's wrong with acting on justice."
Seo Ha-eun turned.
There stood a girl in an incredibly antique dress.
Evoking 'nobility'—a word lost in this free democratic age.
And Seo Ha-eun remembered that face.
"Miss Louise. Our security team's here—"
"Hold on. I'm furious hearing this. What's wrong with an aspiring hero acting on justice? Hero."
"Uh. You a cadet too…?"
"Yes. Hero Academy Korea. Cadet."
"Hah! No, you kids these days, talking back to a senior like that…."
"Denying justice as a hero, but expecting senior privileges? I heard Korean heroes were all impressive, but apparently not."
Louise sneered, and the hero bristled, about to yell.
But too many onlookers. Everyone filming.
Plus, that cadet wasn't ordinary. Six bodyguards.
The hero grumbled, dragged the unconscious villain, and retreated.
Louise glared at him briefly, then bowed her head.
"Cadet Seo Ha-eun."
"Louise…."
"What are you doing? Get up. That's what Korean hero cadets should do."
Seo Ha-eun stared at the smiling, extended hand, then grasped it.