Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: What a Commotion!
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It's chaos!
The first-year cadets who had gone on the field trip to Ulleungdo had returned.
They weren't official heroes, yet they had bravely fought.
They returned to the academy amid applause from many.
A few people were waiting for these cadets more than anyone else.
First, of course, were their families and the academy staff.
Second were the reporters gunning for interviews with the cadets.
And finally, surprisingly, Union representatives.
"The first-year cadets from the Korean Hero Academy have returned."
"Contact the Korea Branch right away. Make them splash big coverage on their heroic resistance and sacrifices. Spend whatever it takes—flood all the news outlets, and fill up YouXTube with related videos too."
Infuriating and utterly ridiculous. This is absolutely unacceptable.
These stupid pigs. How dare they treat heroes and villains the same?
What are villains? They're scum who harm people without a shred of guilt.
No different from monsters. They have zero intent to follow the law.
Of course, not all heroes are saints either.
The Union has covered up plenty of their scandals.
But even so, the Union sees heroes as better than villains.
At least heroes mind the public eye.
They know they need people to idolize them as heroes.
They're not monsters who just kill and rejoice like villains.
"We can't cover up the whole Ulleungdo incident. But we absolutely can't let all the spotlight and attention go to the Smiling Man. How many heroes died there! How dare they mention some fickle villain before them?!"
"If Korea, the so-called hero superpower, is like this, other countries must be in weird spots too. Opinions reinterpreting villains are popping up already."
"Block it all. Villains must be demons, no exceptions! People change their minds once perceptions shift! Villains should spark rage just by being mentioned, screams and curses at the sight! That's how heroes—and the Union—stay untouchable!"
Look at medieval religion. Back then, mentioning demons meant a pyre for all.
But now? Songs, comics, movies—demons pop up everywhere.
Even treated as normal, not something to exterminate.
The result? Religion weakened, and the Papacy became a joke.
The Union could follow the same path.
If the hero-villain, good-evil divide shakes.
"Manipulate the comments to sway opinion. Hurry!"
"Emphasize the heroes' sacrifices. Frame any villain talk as mocking those sacrifices! These idiots will tear each other apart if we just poke their emotions!"
"Good. These idiots. Toss a spark, and they burn themselves."
"If we keep this up a bit longer, it should work."
As always, they were convinced it'd go their way.
Everyone knew the villains' countless atrocities.
Everyone remembered the heroes' heroic deeds!
But one thing. Something the Union hadn't anticipated.
Why people obsess over 'heroes'.
Not just because they're do-gooders.
They're true ability users with comic-book 'superpowers'.
Real heroes doing the impossible.
Their flashy, mighty forms captivate all.
Like transcendent beings descending from the heavens.
Billions are utterly smitten.
"The mood... isn't what we expected."
"What?"
"We've been manipulating opinion hard, but reactions are lukewarm this time."
"These stupid pigs?! Actually siding with the villains?!"
"No, not villains. They're siding with 'Smiling Man'."
The Union Korea Branch staff were speechless.
Siding with Smiling Man, not villains?
It made no sense. Wasn't it the same thing?
Above all, it wasn't just Smiling Man there.
The Clan Boss. A clear villain. She stepped up and handled the monsters too.
Without her, catastrophe would've hit Sadong Harbor.
The Union's opinion manipulation and public steering lost steam.
Too devastating an event to ignite flames over.
Clan Boss who protected people. Smiling Man who saved the hero holy site.
Villains contributing to saving citizens alongside heroes.
How to fight such a violently compelling narrative?
"Hey! Find them! Where'd they go?!"
"Just one interview, please! One interview!!"
A massive horde of reporters desperately hunting someone.
Normally, no one can just enter Hero Academy.
Not even reporters—and certainly not in such numbers.
Causing a ruckus is forbidden; they'd be kicked out.
Yet they roamed freely, yelling. Why?
The Union had given special permission this time.
They told the Korean Hero Academy not to block reporters.
Academy initially resisted, citing disruption to classes.
But Union's firm demand left them no choice.
The result: a stampede of reporters swarming everywhere.
"Find them! Just find them first! We'll decide who asks what later!"
The first-years were great stories, sure.
But insufficient for the Union's 'real' goal.
They needed flashier targets. Ones drawing massive attention.
Super famous. Or recently impressive.
Reporters tore through the academy hunting them.
Rustle!-
"...Gone?"
"Seems so."
The academy's arboretum.
Cadets perfectly hidden cautiously checked around.
From the left: Kang Yuna. Seo Ha-eun. Then Jin Seo-ah.
Opposite: Louise and Jeong Ye-bin.
"Anyone seeing us would think we did something wrong."
"If reporters catch you, you won't say that. You'd get grilled for hours without a break."
"Given the situation. But don't reporters usually can't just enter the academy?"
"Heard from my attendant secretary. Union permitted it."
All nodded at Jeong Ye-bin's last words. 'Ahh.'
If Union allowed it, the reporters' frenzy made sense.
They'd keep rampaging till they spotted prey.
"Still, we can't hide forever. What now?"
"Hang in a bit longer, Yuna. They can't disrupt class time. Be careful moving then; we can slip through."
"Wonder if they'll stick around that long..."
"Indeed! But what are you all doing here right now?"
Huh? Sudden male voice?
The five cadets turned.
A familiar face was watering flowers there.
"Uh."
Kang Yuna and Seo Ha-eun reacted like they knew him.
Storage staff. They'd grown friendly over visits.
"What are you all doing here?"
"Shh! Hiding from reporters!"
"Ahh. Got it. I'll be quiet."
The staff put a finger to smiling lips.
Kang Yuna, crouched, spoke to him.
"No injuries? From Ulleungdo."
For staff welfare. Plus Jeong Ye-bin's suggestion.
This staffer had gone to Ulleungdo with the first-years.
Worried something happened, but seemed fine.
"Nope. Came back safe thanks to the heroes. My companion sis is fine too."
"Glad to hear. Must be disappointing, though. Even took vacation."
"It's fine. Short, but quite the interesting trip."
"Lots of fun, huh."
Seo Ha-eun's question made him smile at 'fun'.
"Yeah. Super fun. Sis and I fished, y'know? She caught small stuff; I nearly hooked a huge, massive one. But it got away. So regrettable."
"Fishing's like that."
Then he spotted Jeong Ye-bin, said 'Ah!', pulled out his phone.
"Thanks for this. Got tons of videos!"
"No biggie. Glad you used it well."
Come to think, Smiling Man used the same model.
Thinking of Hwiwoon Electronics' boosted stock, Jeong Ye-bin smiled.