Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Unchanging Love-2
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I was plunged into confusion.
"No, didn't you just say it couldn't be done?"
"You said you still wanted to."
Han Ji-yeon let out a laugh.
"Then... is it okay to do it?"
"If you want to, then do it. What can I do?"
"Nafre said no."
"That's her problem. Hey. Who's the strongest person here right now?"
"Wasn't it Nafre?"
"Of course it's me, you idiot. You can do whatever you want. Why bother asking for Nafre's permission?"
It was strangely persuasive.
"Then why did you stop me so hard earlier?"
"I had to explain that this isn't some simple thing. And for courtesy's sake, I had to pretend to stop you so I'd have something to tell Nafre later."
"Won't Nafre get mad when she wakes up?"
"Just drop your name then."
What a refreshingly straightforward attitude. It felt like all the intimidation up to now had been an act.
"You seem oddly happy about this?"
"Of course I'm happy. Hey, I've been cooped up here with you lately, not able to do a damn thing. The last time was that date outing, and before that... what was it? Once when we were gathering the escort team?"
"Really?"
"I even got put on your escort team. Setting up scenarios, training, rounding up people... Fuck, it was a nightmare."
She grumbled playfully.
"Getting some fresh air after so long isn't bad."
"Is it really okay?"
"With me around, nothing major will happen. Well, anywhere we go is more dangerous than staying put inside."
I swallowed hard.
"Then... let's go."
"Good thinking!"
She patted my back firmly.
Time to meet Black Warden.
We climbed into the car side by side. No one was in the driver's seat, but the car started moving on its own.
"By the way, what kind of person is Mr. Black Warden?"
Han Ji-yeon tilted her head.
"What are you curious about?"
"Just... you know how it is. I only know him from the news and media as this amazing hero. What's he really like?"
"Eugene?"
Han Ji-yeon, who had been gazing out the window, tilted her head.
"Yes?"
"You're Black Warden, right?"
"His real name is Eugene?"
"Oh, you didn't know? Well, it doesn't matter anyway. Anyway, Eugene is..."
She fell deep into thought.
"He does have some things he's hiding, but if you judge him purely on personality and skill, he's exactly like what you see in the news. If anything, he's a bit underrated."
"Really?"
"How should I put this... Civilians obsess over whether a hero is strong or weak, right? But heroes out in the field? It's different."
"Isn't being strong good?"
"Of course it is. But even the strongest hero gets a bad rep if they ignore the law, go berserk, or screw up team chemistry. Some cause civilian casualties or make things worse even when doing the same job."
"Is Black Warden different?"
"He's special even among the sane heroes. Fucking smart, solid, and mentally all there."
I fell into thought.
"But heroes have to fight villains and win, right? So isn't more power better?"
"Not quite. Say a villain group is plotting a bomb terror—you need evidence. Black Warden handles it clean: minimal contact, perfectly neutralizes the enemies, grabs the evidence, and bounces. Now, a brute-force hero?"
"Ah..."
Now I was starting to understand.
"Anyway, he's unparalleled in that regard. I personally think highly of him. That's part of why I'm helping you out."
I nodded slowly.
"We're here. We've arrived."
"Yes!"
I got out of the car and entered the cafe where Black Warden was waiting.
'He said he's on the second floor...'
As I climbed the stairs, a man who looked strikingly handsome even at a glance was waiting for me, mask on.
"You're..."
"Yes, Lee Seong-ha! Did you call for me?"
He stood from his seat and bowed politely to me.
"Yes. Hero Black Warden, Lee Yoo-jin. Thank you so much for coming out."
'He's incredibly polite...'
His posture was the kind that would fit right in at a major corporation—no rough hero vibes at all.
"Nice to meet you. I'm a fan. I've wanted to see you forever."
"The honor is mine."
"Just to check—do you know about my ability?"
"Not precisely."
He lowered his head.
"I just know there's some way to increase points. I heard about it by chance."
"Ah... that's kind of tricky."
"I really want to ask you. My wife—"
Before his words could finish, an explosion boomed from downstairs.
"Get down!"
His eyes sharpened in an instant. A fierce aura radiated, thick with killing intent.
"What the hel—"
The moment I started speaking, flames erupted up the stairs.
"We'll move through the window."
"Here? Jump right out?"
"If the whole building collapses, we're done. Hurry!"
He grabbed a chair and smashed the large window.
"I'll catch you below. Come right now!"
"I'm good! I can handle a drop from here!"
Sure, compared to a real hero, I'm nowhere close, but thanks to diligently draining Lee Ha-seon, I had more power than your average person. A second-floor jump was no problem.
"Yes, going first!"
Black Warden leaped through the large opening. I followed right after.
"Kyaaack!"
"What is that thing!"
Whether it had climbed the stairs or not, a grotesque creature engulfed in flames came into view.
It was bipedal, sure, but it didn't look like any human-made being.
Its arms were grotesquely swollen, snagging on the walls, and its feet had no distinct shape—black mud-like sludge splattered the floor with wet slops instead of toes.
"Hup!"
We jumped out the window in a hurry. The situation below wasn't any better.
"Kwaaaaaaaa!!!"
A massive grotesque the size of a building let out a horrific screech.
"You bastard... so damn noisy!"
Han Ji-yeon shot toward the monster.
Now clad in her frilly magical girl dress, she swung a fist blazing with flames.
Dozens of magic circles intertwined, forming a massive geometric pattern of light. She thrust out her hand.
"Haaaaaaa!!!"
"Kreeee!!!"
The monster staggered from the blow. But it didn't go down.
"We need to move!"
"Yes!"
No time to watch that side. I followed Black Warden.
"Damn, we've got a tail."
The bipedal grotesque from the cafe earlier was filling the alley.
"Hold position. If I die or get hurt, run or hide the other way immediately."
"...Got it!"
I couldn't awkwardly suggest fighting together.
"Hup!"
The monster charged at Black Warden. His fist moved.
'Whoa...'
No excess motion whatsoever. Perfect form, body flowing to strike the precise spot.
Not some superhuman magical girl power like Han Ji-yeon's, transcending limits. But every resource he had, used with maximum efficiency to drop the enemy.
I didn't know martial arts, but I could tell he'd honed himself endlessly into something almost artistic.
'Doesn't seem dangerous right now...'
An ominous vibe crept in.
"Urk!"
"Kyaaack!"
Something dropped from above.
Limbs gaunt and elongated, radiating unease. Its tail had mutated into a massive blade—brushing it would probably cleave a body in half.
No time for hesitation.
"Damn it!"
I immediately drew my pistol and fired at it.
"Guh!"
A boom rang out, along with massive recoil.
"Haa..."
A huge laser beam erupted from the pistol, sweeping away everything in front: the monster, piled trash, even utility poles—nothing spared.
"Definitely powerful."
It was the pistol Nafre had given me for self-defense. I'd never used it, so I didn't know its exact power, but this was more like heavy artillery than a handgun.
'Damn, should have used this earlier!'
This might get us through the crisis. I urgently looked toward Black Warden.
"Danger!"
He'd already downed over ten grotesques. It seemed headed my way.
The problem was behind me.
"Ugh!"
There wasn't just one. The blade-tail monster leaped at me like a flying squirrel.
'Dodge—'
It moved faster than I'd thought.
And Black Warden was even faster.
"Gruk!"
Right in front of me, an arm was sliced off. Deep into the shoulder.
Blood poured.
"Hup!"
But I couldn't just stare at his wound. I raised the pistol and fired at the monster.
Light burst forth again. The monster died. But Black Warden's arm didn't come back.
"W-what do we do! The blood..."
"I'm fine. Won't die from this. We move first."
Pain had his lips clenched tight. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Let's move now. We got lucky. If Han Ji-yeon hadn't taken down that one over there—"
Han Ji-yeon, who had instantly felled the giant grotesque, flew toward me.
"Damn it, why does shit always hit the fan now? Big trouble. Black Warden, what happened to you?"
"Protected a civilian. Fine for now."
"Good job."
Han Ji-yeon turned to look at me.
"Seong-ha, grab my hand! We'll run for it first!"
"What about Black Warden!"
"Your life matters more right now! Hurry!"
"...Got it!"
Han Ji-yeon grabbed my hand. Or tried to.
"Uwaaaaaaaa!!!"
A black shadow fell over us.
A grotesque so huge it blotted out the sky was flying straight at us.
"Tch, that's a tough one."
"We lose?"
"I'll win, but you'll die. Black Warden, somehow get just Seong-ha to Humanity's Shield. I'll buy time."
Black Warden nodded.
"Roger."
"More important than my life or yours. Protect him no matter what."
"Understood."
"Good. Then I'll go all out for once..."
She clenched her fist tight. Even I, clueless about magic, could sense she was gearing up for something massive.
"Once I land one big hit, you start running. Seriously, I'm prepping something huge... Huh?"
Suddenly, the tension deflated. The taut atmosphere vanished.
"W-what's wrong?"
The grotesques were still there. No reason for Han Ji-yeon to drop her guard.
"Situation over! Seong-ha, your girlfriend's here!"
"Huh?"
In that instant, light beamed down from the sky.
"Eh?"
And a beat later, the sound hit.
The sound of the sky shattering.
"No way..."
The giant monster was gone. Blasted out of sight in an instant, by some massive impact.
In the spot where it had been stood a familiar figure.
Lee Ha-seon.
Earth's strongest hero.
A human with power so overwhelming that no matter how powerful, dangerous, or evil the foe, none could dream of beating her.
She flew straight toward me.
"Seong-ha, you okay? You're okay, right?"
It was all over. The monsters were down.
That was the level of influence Lee Ha-seon wielded.