Thunder Emperor Kang Cheonhu ③ - Losing My S-Rank Hero Big Sis and Childhood Sweetheart - 7
"Hoo...."
After finishing the rescue operations in the ruins created by Kang Cheonhu, Yoo Jinseok took a short break, sitting on a chunk of concrete debris. Because Kang Cheonhu had obliterated the Behemoth right in the middle of the street, there had been massive casualties. If Team Valkyrie, who were at the scene, hadn't acted quickly to rescue people, the death toll would surely have been even higher.
"Why the hell isn't that bastard Kang Cheonhu designated a Villain? He goes around causing this much damage...."
Jinseok muttered as he stared at the ruined street. The destruction wrought by Kang Cheonhu was on an enormous scale—equivalent to detonating a massive bomb in the heart of the city. And this wasn't the first or second time he'd pulled something like this. Jinseok had personally witnessed Kang Cheonhu's atrocities a few times, and he'd seen them reported on the news plenty more. Especially now that he was in the position of cleaning up after them, he could truly grasp just how vicious the aftermath was.
Naturally, despite being an S-rank hero, Kang Cheonhu wasn't revered as a hero by the people. To civilians, he was infamous, seen as a walking bomb. Yet no one could rein him in because he was such a powerful S-rank hero.
"Hero's Duty exempts heroes from responsibility for collateral damage when taking down Monsters. Even if it causes civilian deaths, they don't get labeled Villains in those situations."
"I know that, but.... Tsk."
Yoo Miyeon gave a calm reply to Jinseok, who was grumbling. He knew the reasoning she'd explained—it was something he'd learned himself—but he still couldn't accept it.
The primary goal of a hero's duty was to cooperate in exterminating monsters, humanity's enemies. But holding heroes accountable for every bit of collateral damage from those fights would be excessive, so they were exempt from liability for it. Even if a hero accidentally swept up civilians with their powers while slaying a monster, killing them, it was treated as "collateral damage" with no repercussions for the hero.
Exempting all collateral might seem unfair in some ways, but without it, no one would step up as a hero to fight monsters. Those who abused their powers to harm civilians, even if they'd once been heroes, were designated Villains, slapped with bounties, and hunted down. But damage from monster hunts? That never made you a villain.
That was why Kang Cheonhu never became one, no matter the devastation he caused.
"Hello. We're from the broadcast station. Could we interview the members of Team Valkyrie?"
As the Team Valkyrie members took a break after clearing the debris, a few broadcast reporters suddenly appeared, shoving cameras in their faces and boldly approaching Han Serin nearby to request an interview.
"Y-Yes? Y-Yeah?"
Though hugely popular, Serin was still new to hero work and unfamiliar with media interviews. Caught off guard by the sudden cameras and requests, she felt flustered and couldn't even respond properly, floundering.
"H-Hey, what the hell? An interview out of nowhere?"
"Yes, we'd like your stance on this incident."
"Uh, um, d-don't film me."
"Han Serin, please, an interview."
Jinseok stepped in to shield her, but the reporters kept thrusting cameras toward Serin. She shyly covered her face with her palms, embarrassed by the constant filming. They even called her by name, hounding her relentlessly for the interview.
(They must be targeting her on purpose since her popularity's been rising lately.)
"N-No interviews here."
"No interviews. She said she doesn't want to."
As a newbie S-rank hero with idol-level cuteness, Serin's popularity was skyrocketing. It was only natural the media would swarm her. Jinseok realized why they were so persistent and blocked them bodily like a bodyguard, protecting her.
"Argh, what a pain. Who the hell is that guy? Thinks he's something?"
"Isn't he a B-rank hero?"
"How's a B-rank even in Team Valkyrie?"
"His sister's the team leader, so he's tagging along."
"Ugh, what a loser. Pisses me off."
The reporters muttered behind Jinseok's back like gossip. Hearing it, his mood soured, his face twisting.
(Tch. I can hear you assholes.)
His Physical Enhancement ability conveniently boosted senses like sight and hearing too. Their whispers were faint, but he heard them clearly.
"I'll handle the interview as leader. Leave the other team members alone."
As Jinseok stood guard with an irritated expression, Miyeon stepped forward before the reporters. The veteran hero handled them confidently and naturally.
"Are you aware that Kang Cheonhu from Team Tempest caused massive civilian casualties hunting the Behemoth, and now his rude interview remarks are stirring controversy?"
"I saw him hunt the Behemoth, but controversy over rude remarks?"
"Huh? You haven't heard? It's blowing up online right now...."
"We've been busy cleaning up the scene...."
"Oh? Here, let me show you the video."
The reporter interviewing Miyeon pulled out a smartphone and played footage of Kang Cheonhu being interviewed by another outlet. In the video, he smirked arrogantly.
"Kang Cheonhu, an enormous explosion during the Behemoth hunt caused serious damage—what do you think?"
"Huh? What? You think I blew up the Behemoth on purpose? That fucker exploded on its own after I beat its ass—what do you want me to do about it?"
Kang Cheonhu responded to the question about the explosion and casualties with crude, arrogant bluster, as if denying any responsibility.
His arrogant attitude and words were so infuriating anyone would rage. Chats from viewers furious at the news clip flooded in.
"But Kang Cheonhu taking down the Behemoth caused all this damage...."
"What kinda stupid shit is that? Leaving the Behemoth alive would've caused even more. And you idiots don't know heroes are immune to collateral from monster hunts?"
"......"
Kang Cheonhu brazenly invoked hero immunity. Even the questioning reporter was momentarily speechless at his shamelessness.
The news comments were exploding like oil on fire, filled with genuine outrage.
But Kang Cheonhu smirked with his signature arrogance, as if mocking the public's fury.
"B-But Team Valkyrie was trying to lure the Behemoth to the park to minimize damage. And we were working hard to clean up after...."
"Hmph. Those bitches were so slow I got tired waiting and took it out myself—is that wrong too? Anyway, I killed the monster."
The reporter mentioned how Team Valkyrie had tried to minimize casualties, but Kang Cheonhu remained unbelievably shameless.
The news comments were predictably full of criticism for Kang Cheonhu and overflowing with praise for Team Valkyrie.