Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 049
Chapter Title: Trivial Heroism (1)
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Heo Seong-chan. 27 years old. An unregistered resident from the slums. Height 188cm, weight 87kg. Estimated superhuman grade: B+. Possessed superpower: Muscle and Bone Spiralization.
As he lowered his stance, the muscles and bones in his legs coiled into a spiral spring shape. The moment the compressed muscular elasticity was released all at once, the force he exerted on the ground was four times his normal kicking power.
His charging speed was nothing short of "vanished"—there was no other way to describe it.
Ahn Su-ho had taken a guarded stance with his blade aimed forward, but against that speed, he might as well have been standing completely defenseless.
-Pajijijik!
However, the instant Heo Seong-chan's fist shot forward, Su-ho's blade spewed forth a fierce blue current.
"Oh!"
Heo Seong-chan pulled back his fist. His extended leg, braking like a spring, transformed in the next moment, and his body rebounded in the opposite direction at the exact speed of his initial charge.
A movement that directly defied the laws of physics—impossible for any ordinary human.
-Pa, paang!
Kang Ha-neul wore a dazed expression at the two near-simultaneous whooshes of air. Nothing had registered in her eyes. She could only belatedly infer from Su-ho's frozen form, blade swung out, that an exchange had taken place.
"Whoa, you're fast! A skilled bodyguard! Whoever your backer is, they must've shelled out a fortune!"
Even most superhumans wouldn't have reacted to that speed, yet Ahn Su-ho had. It was a half-countered blow, struck almost on instinct, but he'd managed to respond somehow.
'...That last strike confirms it. This guy's a character from the original story.'
The reason he'd been able to do so was that Ahn Su-ho had prior knowledge of the man before him, Heo Seong-chan's ability.
Tall stature, ruggedly handsome blond features. A hitman from Uijeongbu's slums. And above all, the name Seong-chan.
From those details, Su-ho had recalled a certain villain from the original work, and his guess had hit the mark perfectly.
'Then that Jin-su guy who came with him must be the Yoo Jin-su from the original too. Damn, this just got annoying.'
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll win every battle"—but that didn't apply here.
Heo Seong-chan and Yoo Jin-su. A hitman duo that appeared from mid-story through the latter half.
They were criminals operating in the shadows, contrasting the protagonist Ryu Tae-hyun who lived in the light, clashing with him multiple times. Clashing repeatedly meant they weren't one-off villains—they were powerhouses with real skill.
The duo of Heo Seong-chan, who took the front in direct combat, backed by Yoo Jin-su from behind.
The synergy they produced was strong enough to threaten even Ryu Tae-hyun several times. In other words, beyond what the current Ahn Su-ho could handle.
Even so, his ability to react was entirely thanks to the artifact strapped to his wrist.
'...Activated Whisper of the Morning Star twice in an instant. Wastes my stock, but it was the right call. One activation never would've let me react.'
"Let's see if you can keep up with this!"
With those words, Heo Seong-chan's form vanished.
-Paang! Paang! Pang! Pang! Pang! Pang!
Whooshes of air filled every direction.
Heo Seong-chan bounded freely, using walls, floor, and ceiling as footholds. Even with the 4x acceleration from Whisper of the Morning Star, Su-ho could barely track his speed.
"H-Hiiik!"
Shielding the terrified Kang Ha-neul with one arm, Ahn Su-ho slowly backed away.
A normal studio apartment's walls and floor couldn't withstand Heo Seong-chan's kicks. The thin walls should've crumbled ages ago, and even floor or ceiling should've dented badly.
Yet they held their shape, serving as his footholds.
'Yoo Jin-su. His ability.'
At the studio entrance, by the front door, stood Heo Seong-chan's partner, Yoo Jin-su, hand pressed to the floor.
His power: Form Fixation. It locked an object's shape to the moment he touched it, absorbing any impacts inflicted.
In his hands, even a sheet of paper became a bulletproof shield. Kang Ha-neul's studio, now under his ability, became an indestructible footing no matter how wildly Heo Seong-chan rampaged.
Yoo Jin-su supported from behind while Heo Seong-chan went wild.
This was always how their fights went. Ahn Su-ho knew it. He knew, but knowing and dealing with it were worlds apart.
'No way I beat those two with my current skill. So then—'
"Kyaa?!"
Tucking Kang Ha-neul under his arm, Ahn Su-ho swung his blade wide.
'Run!'
-Puhwaaaak!!
Black smoke erupted from his hand, filling the studio.
Su-ho bolted straight for the entrance.
Couldn't escape through the window—it was fixed shut by Yoo Jin-su's ability. The front door was the same.
No matter the escape route, he first had to deal with Yoo Jin-su, who was actively using his power.
With that thought, Su-ho swung his stun blade with all his might at Yoo Jin-su amid the smoke.
"Where?!"
But in the next instant, Heo Seong-chan's kick slammed into Su-ho's exposed right side as he raised his blade.
-Wooduk!
"Kuhuk!"
With the sound of breaking bone, Ahn Su-ho's body flew through the air. It crashed gracelessly into the wall. The impact simultaneously dispersed the smoke he'd conjured.
In the revealed scene, Yoo Jin-su remained hand on the floor, unmoved. Before him, Heo Seong-chan bounced casually on spring-like legs.
"Smoke screen, huh. Crude ability! Still, not bad for a distraction!"
Coming from the man who'd shattered it head-on, it sounded like mockery. And it was.
Ahn Su-ho's choice wasn't bad. But it was too predictable. The moment the room filled with smoke, Heo Seong-chan had read Su-ho's intent from the blurry figure heading for the entrance.
Pure difference in combat experience—nothing Su-ho could've done.
"Sorry, but you can't beat us! We've fought plenty, so we know! When you're up against someone strong, the back of your head tingles. Yours? Nothing like that."
Heo Seong-chan picked up Su-ho's dropped stun blade. Pressing the button, vicious currents arced over it.
"So why not just surrender? You, and you over there too."
His gaze shifted past Su-ho to Kang Ha-neul, slumped on the floor.
"Come quietly with us! We probably won't kill you! If they wanted you dead, it'd be a hit, not a kidnapping. That's way cheaper!"
"N-No."
"We'll drag you anyway. I'm not great at holding back. Might accidentally break a bone or two?"
"I said no a million times!"
Kang Ha-neul scowled, thrusting her hands forward. Her eyes reddened as a red flame flickered in her grasp.
"Seong-chan!"
"Oh! Wanna go? Sounds good! Easier for me too!"
Yoo Jin-su urgently called at the ominous aura, but Heo Seong-chan was already raring to fight. As he lowered his stance, Ha-neul's palm spat a fireball.
-Pong.
With very, very weak force.
"Huh?"
The ping-pong-ball-sized fireball faded in midair shortly after leaving her hand. Heo Seong-chan and Yoo Jin-su looked dumbfounded, Su-ho panicked, and at the center, Kang Ha-neul bit her lip.
"As expected..."
Ha-neul hung her head in resignation. Moments later, grasping the situation, Heo Seong-chan burst out laughing.
"Puhahahahaha! What was that? You thought that tiny spark could take me down?"
Heo Seong-chan roared with laughter. Beside him, Yoo Jin-su, still hand on the floor, addressed the dejected Ha-neul.
"It'd be best if you came quietly. I don't know why you're so weak now, but even at full strength, you couldn't beat us. We're pros hired assuming 100% you."
"..."
Ha-neul hung her head, chewing her lip.
'I know. I know that.'
Weak as she was now, she couldn't resist them. Even the guard who'd been with her by chance went down in seconds. No escape.
She knew. But that didn't mean she could just go willingly.
Ha-neul could vaguely guess the fate awaiting her if she went with them.
'Definitely nothing good.'
So she bit her lip. Forced strength into her limp legs. Propped up her trembling knees and awkwardly took a stance. Feeble as it was, it declared her intent to resist to the end.
Immediately, the two men's eyes widened.
"Oh?"
Heo Seong-chan slowly advanced, stun blade in hand.
His gaze not on Ha-neul, but slightly behind her.
"Whoa, impressive! Standing after that."
A thick grin spread across his face.
"Eh?"
Ha-neul slowly turned. A thick palm rested on her shoulder.
"Y-You..."
There stood Ahn Su-ho, drenched in cold sweat.
"A-Are your injuries okay?"
"...Manageable."
A lie. His broken ribs still poked at his muscles. Every deep breath sent indescribable agony racing along his spine.
Gripping her shoulder wasn't to comfort her. Just something to steady himself.
Heo Seong-chan and Yoo Jin-su quickly clocked Su-ho's condition. They were pros—amateur acting wouldn't fool them.
"Best to stop there, nameless bodyguard."
Su-ho's gaze turned to Yoo Jin-su at the polite warning.
"No need for hired guns like us to risk our lives, right? Push further, and we'll have to kill you. Make the smart choice. Just lie there quietly. We won't bother killing you then."
Su-ho smirked at the words. Obvious lie.
He knew Yoo Jin-su's type. Unlike his brash partner, a thorough strategist. No way he'd let a witness who'd seen their faces live.
So Su-ho had to stand. Seeing no sign of backing down, Yoo Jin-su sighed deeply and quietly called.
"Seong-chan."
"Got it!"
-Paang!
Next instant, Heo Seong-chan resumed zipping everywhere, just like before.
-Kiiing!
Su-ho instantly unleashed the last stock of Whisper of the Morning Star. Three activations stacked, accelerating his body to 8x speed.
"Hup!"
Heo Seong-chan aimed for Su-ho's back, thrusting his fist.
But it sliced empty air. Next moment, Su-ho appeared behind him.
"Huh?"
A quiet exclamation, then Su-ho's fist slammed into Heo Seong-chan's side.
-Kwaaaang!!
"Kuhuk!"
His body bent like a zigzag as if hit by a truck, flying sideways. But before hitting the wall, Su-ho's preemptively arrived fist struck again.
-Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaaang!
Deafening explosions rang continuously. Half from Su-ho kicking off the ground, half from his fists pounding Heo Seong-chan.
Unlike Heo Seong-chan's chaotic 3D maneuvers, Su-ho's were purely linear. Linear, yet overwhelmingly fast—impossible to dodge.
"Uoooooo!!!"
Judging evasion futile, Heo Seong-chan abandoned defense and met Su-ho head-on. Fists crossed wildly from all directions.
-Kwaang! Kwang! Kwaaaang! Kwang!!
Explosions unbelievable from human fists.
Most from Su-ho. Superior speed let him dodge most of Heo Seong-chan's punches while landing his own.
But not all.
-Kwaaaang!!
Occasional snake-like hooks from blind spots rocked Su-ho badly. Whisper only accelerated—his durability unchanged. Each hit was lethal.
Su-ho's attacks were fast and heavy, but not lethal. Heo Seong-chan activated his power on impact sites. Spiral muscles dispersed the force via their elasticity.
Su-ho: overwhelming speed, but durability bottleneck.
Heo Seong-chan: outsped, but tanking endlessly with durability.
No predicting the outcome. Two shadows weaved through the studio, trading endless blows.
"What... is that..."
Yoo Jin-su's mutter dispersed weakly before the spectacle.
Heo Seong-chan's elastic-enhanced speed rivaled top A-grades. Yet he was losing in speed. Su-ho's velocity far exceeded Heo Seong-chan's max.
-Kwaaaang!!
Su-ho's full-force punch stabbed Heo Seong-chan's gut. His agonized body slammed gracelessly into the opposite wall.
-Jirit.
Yoo Jin-su's senses blared alarm.
-Paang!
Su-ho switched targets, charging Yoo Jin-su. No time to react.
Yoo Jin-su belatedly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. Just cloth, but his power would make it a fine shield.
But.
'Too late!'
Su-ho arrived first. With his bracelet's brilliant red glow, his fist hurtled toward Yoo Jin-su's brow.
"Don't look away!!"
But then, Heo Seong-chan, barely catching up, grabbed Su-ho's ankle. Off-balance, Su-ho's fist cut air.
"Jin-su!"
No more words needed. At Heo Seong-chan's urgent call, Yoo Jin-su reapplied his power to the studio.
-Paang!
Heo Seong-chan leaped high, sticking to the ceiling. Then, using it as footing, his fist plunged down on Su-ho.
Su-ho reacted late but dodged. His speed should've evaded easily.
-Kiiing...
But then, Whisper of the Morning Star's intense glow faded. The first two accelerations ended at that worst moment.
'Damn...'
Su-ho's knees locked briefly. The split-second gap from speed drop. Heo Seong-chan didn't miss it.
"Hrngh!"
Spiral-wrapped fist buried into Su-ho's back.
'...Shit.'
This was why he'd tried to run. That thought hit as—
-Kwaaaaang!!!
A massive boom hurled his body away viciously.
"...!"
Clean hit left Su-ho voiceless. He'd twisted just enough to save his spine, but that was it. The punch shredded muscles, burst vessels, mangled organs.
"Keuruk!"
His esophagus pumped blood like a ruined hose. Twitching body stiffened as he face-planted into his own blood pool.
Seeing it, the same thought struck Yoo Jin-su, Heo Seong-chan, and Kang Ha-neul.
He's done. Dead. Not getting up.
Yoo Jin-su sighed in relief. Heo Seong-chan mixed relief and regret complexly.
"A-Ahh...!"
Ha-neul just trembled in terror.
"...Time to go. If that guy's right, cops'll swarm soon."
Yoo Jin-su grabbed slumped Ha-neul's wrist. Looking up, her face filled with deep fear.
"N-No..."
He yanked; she stumbled up awkwardly. She struggled futilely.
"Stay still. We want you intact too. Don't wanna get hurt needlessly, right?"
He gestured to fallen Su-ho. You wanna end up like that?
Ha-neul gave up resistance. Had to. Pale-faced, she let herself be dragged, trembling faintly.
"Hic."
Ominous imaginings flooded her mind. Didn't know why they wanted her, but easy guess: her power. What else for someone penniless?
Human experimentation. That word shook her.
'In the end.'
Resignation followed.
'Ended like this.'
She'd always feared entanglement. That's why she dropped Green House. Rejected the scholarship, sought quiet normalcy. Away from superhumans and powers.
Too late? Or inevitable fate?
In this dreaded scenario, Ha-neul shed silent tears. Tried to resign.
But thinking of what awaited after going with them, she couldn't.
"...I-Is anyone there?"
Her belated murmur dispersed weakly.
"Please! Someone help! Right now... Mmph!"
Rough hand clamped her mouth. Yoo Jin-su drew a knife to her throat. Shut it.
Terrified Ha-neul silenced. Couldn't scream gagged. No resistance, flailing, nothing left but desperate prayer.
Anyone. Please. Save me.
She prayed fervently, futilely. The noisy fight's shocks and sounds were thoroughly blocked by Yoo Jin-su's power.
'Please...!'
Even if sound leaked, her building's residents were mostly students or workers. Daytime, she was one of few home.
'Anyone...!'
Harsh reality. No matter how desperately she wished, no storybook hero would appear.
"...Kuhuk!"
Only the already-fallen extra foolishly rising.
The odd noise drew three gazes to Ahn Su-ho. Propping shaky knees, barely standing, they reacted differently.
"Oh?"
Heo Seong-chan exclaimed delightedly. His arms and legs coiled spirally in an instant. Poised to pounce.
"...Foolish."
Yoo Jin-su shook his head with a sigh. Could've lived lying down—why rise stupidly?
Ha-neul just stared wide-eyed.
Emotions flashed in her eyes.
First, surprise.
Surprise to relief.
Relief to disappointment.
Disappointment bred fear.
Fear filled those sky-blue eyes; a muffled whimper escaped her gagged mouth.
Su-ho was a wreck.
Every hit spot bruised purple. His shirt soaked red in his own vomit-blood. Knees buckled precariously; standing strained him, head drooped, eyes floorward.
No hoping he'd save her, even optimistically.
A battered man suddenly awakening like in a story? Impossible.
Ha-neul tried not clinging to vain hope.
'But... maybe.'
With nothing else, she clenched her frail fists tightly.
Clung desperately to that vain hope.
And to answer that vain hope—
"..."
From a throat steeped in bitter blood, Ahn Su-ho exhaled lowly.