Miyeon's Everyday Life III: Losing My S-Rank Hero Sister and Childhood Friend - 11
Thanks to Miyeon awakening her powers, she and Jinseok barely survived the monster attack. Orphaned and plunged into misfortune, Miyeon drew attention for her unusual story of awakening her abilities at a young age to protect her little brother.
After undergoing ability testing, she was revealed to be a rare and powerful S-rank ability user, so the government designated her a special management case. Governments around the world, constantly threatened by monsters, were pouring resources into supporting those exceptional at hunting them.
Thanks to this, Miyeon received backing from the government's superhuman development program. With no parents, she was placed in a foster home funded by state child-rearing subsidies, and she regularly attended the ability development research institute for studies and power training.
Research determined Miyeon's ability to be the materialization of the sword. By visualizing a sword, she could generate sharp blade-like Sword Qi, or focus her mind to solidify it into an even harder sword force. Analysts concluded that her kendo training as a child had helped manifest this unique sword-materialization power.
Though difficult to control, her ability boasted tremendous lethality and destructive power, enough to battle massive kaiju-class monsters. The institute pinned great hopes on her, and she received abundant support.
Unlike Miyeon, Jinseok showed no special powers, so he didn't qualify for the program and was sent to an orphanage. The siblings were forced to live apart.
Miyeon begged repeatedly to live with her brother, but budget limits on the government program made it impossible. Still, her foster parents accommodated her visits to Jinseok at the orphanage. They pitied the siblings, the only family each other had, yet separated—but they also hoped to curry favor with Miyeon, who would surely grow into a powerful hero.
Foster parents for ability-user children were often government-linked civil servants, teachers, police, or soldiers. Miyeon's were ordinary public servants. These professions were trusted to stably manage the kids in line with state policy, as ability users needed special care.
Miyeon didn't feel particular affection for her fosters. She saw them more as dutiful uncles and aunts than family. Even so, she had no real complaints. Mature beyond her years, she understood they were just doing their jobs.
Receiving adequate care, she excelled in studies and developed her powers at a top-tier level.
Jinseok, meanwhile, struggled in the orphanage. With so many monster-orphaned kids, facilities were overcrowded and underfunded. The children lacked proper clothes and food.
Worried for her brother, Miyeon brought him clothes and snacks on visits. Jinseok eagerly awaited her monthly drop-ins, growing deeply sad if her schedule delayed them.
Around then, he met Han Serin, who entered the orphanage at a similar time. Lacking powers herself, she was just an ordinary girl, and Jinseok shared his snacks with her. Miyeon met Serin too on visits, passing down her own clothes, and the three got along well.
This sparked jealousy among the other orphanage kids. Most went hungry in rags, yet Jinseok alone got help from his sister—nice outfits and treats. Naturally, bullies picked fights with him.
Jinseok was average in size and strength but had grit, holding his own in one-on-ones. Group beatings, though, left him bruised often. His injuries worried Miyeon multiple times.
She tried sharing bulk snacks for all the kids to curb the bullying, but it wasn't that simple.
One day, amid a group thrashing, rage surged through Jinseok. His hair stood on end, power flooded his body—he had awakened.
Awakened to Physical Enhancement, he demolished his attackers with terrifying strength. At first, he didn't realize it was an ability, just sudden power. But Miyeon noticed changes on her next visit and urged testing, confirming his awakening.
"Now I can be a hero like you, sis!"
Thrilled, Jinseok dreamed of becoming a hero and living with Miyeon again.
But reality dashed his hopes. The institute rated him a mere D-rank—too common a physical enhancement type, barely above normal humans. Not worth the heavy investment like Miyeon.
Still, he got a welfare officer for ability kids, and extra orphanage funding improved conditions. No more starvation, no rags.
Disappointed but resigned to policy, Jinseok continued orphanage life—better now, fight-free.
Time passed. Miyeon entered university and went independent. Good grades earned scholarships; hero work already banked her monster bounties handsomely.
While she studied, Jinseok enlisted. B-rank+ heroes got exemptions for hero duties, but C-rank and below were encouraged to serve. The modern military focused on monsters; even weak ability users were valuable troops.
High-rankers fit hero teams better, but low-rankers didn't. Miyeon wanted Jinseok in her new team, but he refused to burden her.
In the army, he trained against monsters. His modest power gave superior stamina; marksmanship and combat showed talent. Impressed, they assigned him to special forces.
There, he gained combat experience suppressing monsters. By discharge, he was a full veteran—the army even urged him to stay, but he declined.
"I'm a hero now, too."
Hardened to B-rank qualification, brimming with confidence, Jinseok joined his sister's team, Team Valkyrie.
Miyeon, who'd worried during his service, welcomed him joyfully. Now they could live together.
Though blood siblings, their harsh upbringing forged deeper bonds than most—fiercer affection and attachment.