Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: National Exchange Conference (4)
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‘I don’t think I slept properly…’
I felt like I’d slept well at first, but in reality, it hadn’t been for very long.
By the time I woke up, it was still early dawn, and both of them were already asleep, with barely any time having passed.
Dazed by the pleasant scents wafting from both sides, I couldn’t hold back any longer and quietly slipped out from between them, sprawling out on the sofa to kill time.
‘For all that, I feel surprisingly fine…’
I’d been sure my condition would be terrible, but contrary to my expectations, my body felt strangely invigorated.
Well, my body being weird was something I’d felt ever since coming to this world, so I just shrugged it off…
“Mm…?”
I locked eyes with Seo-yul, who was rubbing her eyes as she stepped out.
I was lying on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, and I looked back at her in surprise.
“You’re up early…”
“Y-yeah… My eyes just opened sooner than I expected…”
“Right… Ah!”
Her face suddenly lit up as if she’d remembered something, then paled as she stared at me for a moment before dashing back into the room.
‘What was that about…?’
Why the sudden reaction?
Well, at least from my perspective, it was a relief that she didn’t know I’d pulled an all-nighter.
It was better if no one else knew I’d fled from between them because it felt too overwhelming.
God knows what they’d do to me if I told them…
“Haa…”
……
It wasn’t all bad, though.
I got to see them both so relaxed… How many people in the world could lie in the same bed as two such beautiful women and witness them like that?
It was something that would’ve been utterly impossible without this cheat power I’d gained.
‘I can’t handle this…’
I had to spend the next few days in the same room like this—would I be okay?
Judging from everything so far, sharing a room with me didn’t seem like a big deal for them, but I was the problem.
Even just last night, sandwiched between them in bed, I hadn’t slept properly and ended up pulling an all-nighter on the sofa.
Keeping this up would be seriously tough.
‘Whew…’
This is really not easy…
“Ugh…”
Something had been off with Seo-yul since earlier.
She’d come out looking perfectly fine at first, but after spotting me on the sofa and fleeing back to the room, she’d been like this ever since.
She responded when spoken to, but she just seemed in a bad mood compared to usual.
Had something upset her?
“Um… Did something happen in the room, by any chance?”
Unable to stand it any longer, I quietly asked Yu-ah beside me if anything had gone down.
“Nothing in particular… She was already like that when I woke up.”
“Ah…”
Guess there’s nothing to be done, then.
“I did overhear her mumbling a bit earlier, though it’s not certain…”
I tilted my head at Yu-ah’s words.
Apparently, she was acting this way because I’d seen her in such a disheveled state…
But hadn’t that been the case since yesterday…?
Women’s hearts are such a mystery.
For now, leaving her alone seemed like the best option.
Better to let her sort herself out than to approach and ask if she’s okay.
More importantly…
‘It starts today, right?’
The National Exchange Conference.
To be precise, I wasn’t the one participating—it was up to Thunder Emperor—but for me, just being able to gain experience from it felt like a huge win, even if I wasn’t fighting directly.
Glad I tagged along.
‘Feels kinda weird leaving Korea empty, though…’
I couldn’t shake this vague worry…
How to put it? Up until now, if something happened, I’d head out for hero work, but being abroad like this, I wasn’t sure I could do that anymore.
I figured I probably couldn’t.
Just because I’m a hero in Korea doesn’t mean I can operate freely here.
Not unless the American Hero Association recognizes it, anyway.
“Everyone sleep okay? …Though you all look a bit rougher than expected.”
Thunder Emperor arrived at our hotel first and continued after glancing at me and Seo-yul.
I’d pulled an all-nighter, but my condition was still decent.
The only one looking bad was Seo-yul.
“You all ate breakfast?”
“Yeah, we had the buffet.”
It was surprisingly delicious.
What can I say… Usually, when you think of American food, it’s all greasy, unhealthy stuff that packs on the pounds, right?
But the food here was nothing like that.
It was clearly high-end and pricey just looking at it.
Probably because this hotel is so luxurious—the breakfast alone was gourmet.
I’d never eaten anything like it before, so I was fascinated, but it wasn’t polarizing in taste, so I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Yu-ah ate like it was normal, and Seo-yul…
‘Is she really okay?’
She’d been off since earlier, so naturally, she didn’t eat much at breakfast either.
She did eat some, so I didn’t say anything, but it was such a small portion I wondered if it was enough.
Since she wasn’t complaining, she was probably fine.
“Alright, shall we head out then?”
I nodded with a bit of anticipation at Thunder Emperor’s question.
Wonder who I’d meet—curious, I headed to the venue.
National Exchange Conference.
Naturally, its origin lay in America, the hero homeland.
Back when superpowers were just emerging, after the Westward Expansion, when raw power began to rule again and societal ideals and legal order crumbled.
People calling themselves heroes started appearing one by one to stop villains, and the masses went wild for them, gradually shaping modern America.
No country loves heroes like America does.
It pays the most attention to them, too.
And it produces the most diverse heroes.
Amid that explosion of heroes, one proudly claimed the top spot: the strongest hero.
A veteran who’d been active for decades, now hailed as the current pinnacle—a legendary figure.
His name, drawn from his overwhelming power.
Overwhelming.
[Long time no see, kid.]
He loomed with his massive frame, looking down at Thunder Emperor.
Thunder Emperor stiffly craned his neck, staring right back defiantly.
[Better brace yourself this time, old man.]
[Hey, I’m not that old yet.]
Overwhelming grumbled in dissatisfaction.
‘Don’t heroes usually meet other heroes first?’
With so many heroes here, he skips them all to meet America’s strongest first…
Hiding my bewilderment, I stared at him.
First impression: he was huge.
I’m not short myself, but he towered over me.
Like he had gigantism or something.
He looked well over two meters tall… Must be inconvenient for daily life.
[Hm? You brought some kids today. Who are they?]
[Heroes here to observe. And that one over there…]
Thunder Emperor glanced at me and grinned.
[Might be the kid who can beat you.]
[Ho… That’s intriguing. Is he participating in the conference?]
[Nah. Sorry, but he joined after recruitment closed.]
“Hmm…?”
Overwhelming looked disappointed, then turned to me.
‘What are they talking about?’
Who knew not knowing English would bite me like this…
I tilted my head, and Thunder Emperor turned to me, shouting.
“Hey, Ha Do-yoon!”
“Yeah?”
“Got a question—can you answer it?”
Suddenly?
“As long as it’s not tricky…”
Thunder Emperor grinned at my response and asked.
“If you could join the National Exchange Conference, would you?”
I blinked at that.
I really hadn’t expected it.
But…
‘If I could participate…?’
……
Then yeah, for me, joining would beat just sitting around.
I wanted more experience with more people.
“…If I could? I’d probably join.”
“Okay. No take-backs?”
“Huh?”
What?
Is he seriously thinking of letting me in?
I narrowed my eyes, watching their English exchange resume.
Guess I really need to study English…
‘No way they’d just slot someone in for a national event…’
…Right?