Was That a Bit Too Much?
Was it a little too much? Lee Seoha, emerging from the hospital, gazed down at her hand wrapped tightly in bandages. That morning, she'd treated injuries from battling a rampaging villain. Her hand had been shredded protecting civilians from his indiscriminate slashes, but luckily, thanks to her physical enhancement ability, there'd be no scars, and the doctor said she'd recover in three or four days. Her healing was faster than a normal person's, but this was still the limit of Seoha's power—anything more required A-rank at least.
What the hell was that civilian's ability? That made her even more curious about the man who'd healed her. A guy who could instantly heal wounds severe enough for months in a hero-specialized hospital—with healing ability at least upper A-rank, even lowballing it. Who was he, with his black hair, red eyes, and harsh, villainous features? After that day, Seoha had scoured the Hero Database, but no one matched. An ability that strong couldn't be hidden, so if he wasn't registered...
An unregistered ability user? That's a crime. She'd skipped reporting it because she hated the hassle of investigations, but should she do it now?
──You are my hero. Your face is a bit scary, but you don't seem like a bad person. Even now, recalling those words made her heart race. What was she supposed to do?
"Nya~aang~"
Snapped out of her inner turmoil by a cat's meow nearby, she turned to see a yellow cat staring right at her.
"Oh, a kitty. Hi there, meow-meow?"
Spotting the cat, Seoha knelt and cautiously extended her hand. Worried it might bolt, but the cat accepted her touch without resistance.
"Hehe, good kitty."
"Nya~aang~"
Seemingly enjoying the head scratches, the cat rubbed against her hand, purring deeply. The sight was so cute that a warm smile spread across Seoha's troubled face. For a moment, all her worries melted away. Just a stray cat, but that simple warmth lightened her weary heart.
"Yeah, I'll trust him for now."
A bad person wouldn't say something so kind. She'd deal with reports and crimes later—ask him directly if they met again.
"You really cheered me up. Thanks, kitty."
Seoha gave the cat one last pat before standing. Her hand still throbbed, but her steps toward home were much lighter than when she'd left the hospital.
"──And that's Nova, the hero I've got my eye on."
Finally back in Korea with Makina in tow, I'd dumped everything I knew about Lee Seoha—Hero Nova—on her. But after hearing it all, Makina's face was openly disappointed.
"Hah. The hero you picked is just a B-rank?"
Like she'd struck gold, she eyed me pitifully and unleashed her venom.
"I figured since you were so cocky, it'd be an S-rank or someone with special powers. This is just too ordinary—lost for words."
She smirked, driving the nail in.
"'Better than a half-assed compatible user, a perfect hero'—turns out you just suck at judging people?"
She was trying to rile me up, but this was within expectations. Hell, even I thought Nova was a total scrub at first glance—enough to call her a 1-star mob, not even 2. So I didn't deny it.
"Yeah, Makina. You're right—Nova's a pathetic B-rank hero."
"Uh, y-yeah? You knew?"
I admitted it so calmly she looked flustered, then puffed up and shrugged smugly.
"Hmmm~ Remember what I said last time? If your hero sucks, I'd backstab you."
"Heh, how could I forget?"
Her terrified face in Okinawa was like yesterday.
"You know and still make that face? W-wait, you planning to hit me first before I do? N-no way! I prepared for this..."
Her red-panda threat pose, arms spread wide, was hilarious, but I cut in before she caused trouble.
"Makina, you're misunderstanding something."
"What? Misunderstanding? What'd I get wrong?"
Resisting the urge to yank her pouty lips, I chuckled.
"Whether a hero's S-rank or B-rank, special powers or plain civilian—doesn't matter to Core Relics, right?"
"Guh..."
Hit the nail on the head, she flinched.
"B-but even so, she's too ordinary..."
"Ordinary or not, if the Core Relics don't choose her, it's all the same. If it was about raw power or special abilities, why'd you come back in time?"
"Tch, fine! So what's so special about this Nova or whatever that you're obsessed?!"
She exploded, squealing, but I snapped my fingers lightly. The screen lit up with footage.
"Hero Nova's a scrub, sure—but her heart's pure gold."
The video played daily life clips I'd captured via small action cams on my Resonance-controlled animals.
"...I heard you gather intel with animals, but seeing this blatant stalking is kinda creepy."
"Quit yapping and watch."
What a mood-killer kid. Anyway, I went on about Nova to Makina—or rather, to the 'others': her foolish uprightness and kindness, never losing goodness despite a cursed, grueling life—a true hero.
But Makina was merciless.
"This is the same as what you told me earlier? No need for your stalk-o-vision remix—what changes?"
"You know, but they don't."
"Huh? What're you—huh?!"
Makina's eyes went wide at my gesture. There, on toy chairs in a row: nine cans—no, Core Relics.
"Core Relics have egos, right? So show 'em who Nova is—they need to know."
"I get that, but it's not like that'll move them..."
Before she finished, the Core Relics shuddered in unison.
Not just trembling—nine metal bodies glowed iridescently, emitting resonance hums.
"Wh-what?! What's happening?! Why're they suddenly excited?!"
"Exactly what you see."
To the kid still in denial, I spelled it out.
"The Core Relics reacted to Nova! Even those snooty ones demanding 'compatible users' bowed to her."
"No way!! Even with egos, for them to react like this—all together—to an unverified target?! No precedent in my data!"
Her future knowledge crumbling live, Makina clutched her head, yelling, "This defies logic!" I stifled my laughter.
Moved, my ass.
These things watched humanity's extinction without batting an eye. Cold machines that ignored their creators' slaughter wouldn't get teary over Nova's hero vibes now. Egos or not, they're basically thugs—their reaction was my Resonance ability.
I wasn't even sure if I could sway these ego-less cans emotionally. My animals felt odd fondness for Nova via Resonance, so I tried it here—didn't expect perfect success.
Plan B was forcing Resonance to shove her on them, but this made things smoother. Self-selection beats coercion—more efficient.
Heh, this kid. Wonder what face she'll make knowing I pulled this trick with my power.
Her reactions are gold—fun to torment. Doing what she couldn't shatters her worldview into dust right now.
Watching her mental breakdown live was entertaining, so truth could wait.
"Heh. Reality sinking in, Makina? My judgment was spot on."
"U-uwaaaaa..."
Shock hitting hard, half-crying Makina trembled wordlessly.
...Ahem. Maybe I went a bit too far?