Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Lee Seo-yul (4)
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As the conversation with her gradually warmed up the atmosphere.
If only the alcohol we'd brought out and shared had given me a nice buzz... how great that would have been.
But no matter how much I drank, I didn't get drunk at all.
'Hmm...'
It wasn't like I'd only had a little, either.
Considering my usual tolerance, this was more than enough to leave me thoroughly sloshed.
Yet I didn't feel the slightest bit intoxicated.
'Am I unable to get drunk anymore?'
I'd half-expected it, to be honest.
Normal people tend to let their true feelings slip when they're drunk, after all.
From everything she'd shown so far, it was hard to imagine her deceiving or betraying me—but you never know, right?
That said, as an A-Rank Hero, she's no fool with glaring weaknesses; it's unlikely she'd drink with someone she doesn't trust.
So on that note, it was reasonable to think she genuinely trusted me.
Hiding those tangled feelings, I glanced at her. Unlike me, Seo-yul's face was flushed bright red, like she was good and drunk.
'She looks wasted.'
"Ugh..."
Yeah, she definitely was.
"You okay? Maybe we should call it here?"
"Ugh... Do-yoon..."
She suddenly called my name.
"Why'd you call me?"
"Do-yoon... how are you so strong...?"
"...Huh?"
How am I strong...?
Even if she asked, I didn't have much of an answer.
This power was something I'd gained when ordinary me suddenly dropped into this game-like world.
"Well... I don't really know why I'm so strong, either."
"Hmm... that's not what I meant... I want to know why you're going so far to act like a Hero..."
"Huh?"
"Honestly... even with that kind of power... no one would unlicensed Hero it just to play Hero..."
"..."
I didn't know myself, but yeah, I had to admit it.
My thinking had been pretty shallow.
Back then, I figured since I was Heroing anyway without causing much collateral, unlicensed activity wouldn't get me harshly punished.
I'd thought there was no other option at the time.
Until then, most Heroes—including Kinesis—had just looked like people hunting my identity.
The whole world seemed like the enemy.
In this otherworldly South Korea I'd suddenly landed in, a broke college kid with no connections or cash didn't have many moves.
Thanks to my low-key activities so far, public opinion on me was pretty positive now.
Solving that Seoul terror incident hands-on seemed to be the clincher.
It was half a gamble, but my name recognition had shot up.
Heck, major news outlets had been covering me nonstop for days.
With public sentiment full of calls to officially register me as a Hero, now really was prime time.
I didn't know if it'd pan out, and I still had no clue what to do next...
But unlike before, when no path was in sight, now at least a road was visible.
"It's nothing big. I just... want to live without wanting for anything."
"Uh..."
Seo-yul looked baffled.
Which made sense.
My reason for Heroing was to live without lacks?
Besides, with this power, I couldn't just sit idle—it made me butt in where I shouldn't—but that was too embarrassing to say aloud.
"Hehe... what even is that? Sure, people Hero for cash, but who unlicensed Heroes just to rake it in...?"
"Right here."
I hadn't realized it myself.
But here I was.
Seo-yul, cracking up nonstop at how ridiculous I sounded, let out a sigh.
"You said... the higher-ups probably know about you already, right?"
"Yeah... so?"
"I'll talk to them myself. I've got a decent rank... If I say you want to Hero, they'll probably greenlight it."
"Really?"
I'd been mulling going straight to the Association myself.
Seemed I wouldn't need to.
"Of course... you're this dead set on Heroing... and you've proven your track record..."
"Thanks for the help."
I thanked her from the heart.
She waved it off like no big deal, but it absolutely was.
I'd been stressing over how to approach the Association brass.
Ideas included barging into their HQ or dropping a message mid-unlicensed Heroing about wanting to chat.
Stuff like that—but now, no need.
All that was left was waiting for their call.
Time passed, and the day to face the Association arrived.
"Nice to meet you, Ha Do-yoon."
I scanned the people seated in a circle right before me.
All wore serious faces, shuffling documents as they eyed me.
'These are some seriously high-up folks.'
She'd said she'd vouch for me—no need to worry.
Honestly, I'd figured just waiting would net me a Hero license eventually.
Or show off my powers there, and they'd stamp it on the spot. Apparently not.
No wonder she'd hinted at some big talk coming up. This was it.
'These guys wanted to see me.'
That seemed the most likely now.
"Please take a seat first. We'll get started right away."
"Ah, yes."
First time in a setup like this—I was tense.
Felt weirdly like a job interview.
I nodded and took the seat the man indicated.
"Then... Ha Do-yoon."
"Yes."
"There's a record from recently: you tested as Powerless on the Superpower measurement machine. True?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Yes. Even after retesting before coming here, still Powerless. Anything to say?"
"No."
"Straight to it: it's hard to chalk this up to machine error, so we see it as some undetectable Superpower. Willing to cooperate on tests? We'll compensate generously."
"No. Don't trust it enough right now."
As if I'd go for that.
"...Understood. Refusal noted. First off, thanks from the bottom of our hearts for your quick action subduing the Villain in the recent Seoul terror incident. You saved A-Rank Hero Kinesis's life, Ha Do-yoon."
Didn't expect thanks here—caught me off guard.
"Then..."
"Hold up."
It was then.
The old man's voice from up front made everyone halt mid-sentence.
I looked up too, at the familiar timbre.
"I'll vouch for this young man. Let him have his way."
"Ch-Chairman?!"
"B-But..."
"Enough."
The Chairman scowled with clear displeasure.
"Have I ever pulled this before?"
"Well..."
"N-No, you haven't..."
"Quiet, all of you. And... you there, Do-yoon?"
"Ah, yes?"
What was going on?
How was this unfolding?
"Disappointing. You don't remember me?"
"Huh?"
About to ask what he meant—
The voice, the face... familiar.
A brief encounter a month back; memory clicked.
'Ah.'
Now I got it.
"The guy from the mountain that time..."
"Right! You remember. Good, good."
No way—that grandpa?
I stared in shock; he chuckled.
"Do whatever you want as my son-in-law. Heroing? I'll back you all the way."
"Uh... yes?"
S-Son-in-law?
"One condition, though."
He grinned and shrugged off his jacket.
Stunned by the sudden strip for a beat—then jaw-dropping unreal muscles, sharply defined and massive for his age.
"Spar this old man once, and you're in."
That line sparked a buried memory.
Current Hero Association Chairman.
And...
'No way...!'
Former "Martial God."
The S-Rank Hero once hailed as Korea's strongest man—the Martial God.