Chapter 10
Every boy in Hwa Yujin's heart dreamed of becoming a hero. The wretched era yearned for heroes. And Hwa Yujin possessed the talent to become the very hero that era demanded. Dream, era, talent—a perfect trinity. At that point, entering the Big Team Academy was the only option for Yujin; nothing else existed.
Of course, Yujin didn't overestimate himself. No matter how hard he tried, he'd never reach the level of the Five Heroes, humanity's final bastion. And talent? The academy was a gathering of the truly gifted anyway. He knew his slightly above-average gifts compared to his peers wouldn't cut it.
But that didn't matter. The world didn't need only mythical heroes. There were surely people dying for want of a helping hand, when one outstretched palm could save them. If he could just become a warrior who extended that hand to them, it'd be enough. Just like the hero who once reached out to him and Ayumi, orphans both. He hoped to do the same for others.
Honestly, he wanted a little praise too. Words of thanks. But who didn't think that way? No one would doubt Yujin's sincerity over something so trivial. If anything, lacking even that much heart would be more precarious. In mindset alone, Yujin had the makings of an excellent hero—provided he steadfastly carried that heart forward.
...But regretfully, the world seemed to doubt the authenticity of Yujin's pure intentions. Otherwise, it wouldn't have thrust such trials upon him.
"What the hell is this? Female Training?! Sexually training and developing women to make them dependent, thereby strengthening their qi? What kind of ridiculous unique ability is this... I've never heard of anything like it...."
The examiner's face upon checking his unique ability was a sight to behold. And Yujin's expression, reflected in those eyes, must have been even more spectacular.
He hadn't expected anything extraordinary. He'd even sincerely vowed to embrace something seemingly useless, like boosting weed growth. But reality? Zero, no—negative.
Strengthening others' qi was a definite plus. Everyone would welcome it. But the conditions? Socially catastrophic minus. Was this a joke? A talent straight out of some erotic comic—what was he supposed to do with it?
It wasn't even "have vanilla sex with women to boost their qi." No, it demanded "training," "developing," and fostering "dependency." An ability that trampled human dignity—utterly unfit for a hero.
Rumors swirled that a person's unique ability reflected their essence. So what did Female Training say about Yujin's? Aspiring sex offender?
Meeting the examiner's prejudiced gaze head-on, Yujin despaired. Ah, so my dream ends here. Crushed without even a chance to unfold.
He could endure that. How many never even got a shot at their dreams? Time to shelve naive hopes and find his place as a cog in society.
...That was when the academy acceptance letter arrived for Yujin.
What was this? Mockery? Hopeful torture? Were they that desperate for talent?
Yujin agonized. Enrolling meant his ability would soon be public knowledge. As a civilian, he could hide it indefinitely. Which path benefited him more?
But he realized the question itself was flawed. Which helps more people? Reframed, the answer was simple: the academy.
From day one, disgust, contempt, and lecherous curiosity rained down. To them, an alleged predator brazenly strutting into the hall of aspiring heroes must seem laughable. He'd steeled himself for it. I'm here on an official acceptance. No shame in that.
Intellectually, he got it. But instinct made him shrink. Worst, his one and only childhood friend entering with him, Ayumi, got sorted into another class.
Now I'll spend over a year surrounded by people treating me like a latent criminal. The thought alone drained him.
But weren't heroes defined by endurance? If he couldn't overcome biased glares, his heroic dreams were impossible from the start.
Self-hypnosis in place, he sought a spot shielded from prying eyes. That's when she approached.
"Seat free? Mind if I sit?"
She was a stunning beauty with radiant black hair. Yujin already knew her name: Joo Hyowon. The middle-schooler who'd plunged into gates, a veteran whose every appearance sparked frenzied news coverage. Did anyone in the country not know her?
And Joo Hyowon deliberately took the seat beside him.
Hasn't she heard the rumors? Possible. His ability leaked through examiners, instructors, cadets—not official channels. The rumor-illiterate stayed blissfully unaware.
"...Hanging with me isn't smart. People'll misunderstand."
Hesitating, Yujin warned her. Better she hear it from him first. She'd learn eventually anyway, and he didn't want her tainted by association.
To that, Hyowon replied, "You done something wrong?"
...No. Absolutely not. Yujin bore zero blame for the suspicion and scorn now boring into him.
"No. I haven't done anything wrong. Not a damn thing yet."
Hyowon flashed a fearless grin. "Then quit cowering like a criminal when you're innocent. Chin up."
Don't get hopes up. She could say that only because she didn't know his ability. No leaning on her emotionally.
Yet he clung to those words. Regardless of her intent, they were exactly what he needed.
But his expectations missed the mark. Even after learning his ability, she treated him unchanged—special care, even. Chatting casually like any cadets? Fine. But seeking him out during solo training to help? That wasn't ordinary classmate courtesy.
Such drills were marginal for average joes like him, pointless for hero-caliber talents like her. Why carve out time for him?
Only one person Yujin could confess this to: Ayumi, who approached without prejudice despite knowing his ability. His childhood friend.
She pondered briefly, then said, "She likes you, right?"
"Nah, no way."
He nipped delusions early. Filtering every kindness as romantic interest bred only black history.
"Hyowon's a vet who fought monsters in middle school. What would she see in a guy like me?"
"Ugh, that self-deprecating habit is really bad. What's wrong with you? You're deep, and your looks aren't half-bad. Romance could spark."
"Cut the nonsense. It's that Joo Hyowon. You watch news."
"Her circumstances don't make her inhuman. Assuming everything about her is different from ordinary people just keeps you from understanding her fully. Girls our age get curious about guys—perfectly normal."
...Maybe. News-image Hyowon and real-life Hyowon were worlds apart. Talent and looks aside, she seemed utterly ordinary.
Ayumi might be right...
"...Nah, axe the hatchet-wife delusion. She'd never signal interest, and I'd just trip over nothing."
"Hmm..."
Ayumi narrowed her eyes, unconvinced by her childhood friend's reaction.
"Guess I'll meet her myself."
"Huh? Why?"
"We might cross paths. Hero-aspirant to hero-aspirant, I'm curious. Plus, thanks are due."
"Thanks?"
"For keeping your spirits up. As your childhood friend."
"...Overkill."
He said it, but didn't deny. Hyowon's mere existence had been immense comfort. And Ayumi could handle anyone harmlessly.
"Ufufufu, exciting. Might even be your first girlfriend? Gotta see her myself."
"Told you, no false flags!"
※
Atop a massive boulder deep in the mountains, a girl dangled her fishing rod toward the cityscape.
"Saving fish from a tree" typified idiocy. Swap tree for rock or mountain—same folly.
But anyone grasping her act couldn't call her foolish. Her hook hung not on mountain or air, but betwixt reality and another dimension.
In mountain wind's sole disruption of silence, the girl awaited a bite. Soon, the air obliged.
She yanked the rod with vigor. From dimensional rift, a house-sized fish emerged—brimming with qi that expert appraisers would rank high-tier monster.
Its dense qi, visible even to Chalbeop novices, went unseen. The instant it materialized, it atomized—no, down to primal qi—seeping into her body.
Yet the girl, absorbing such vast qi, seemed dissatisfied. Far from sated.
"Gotta open a new fishing ground."
To quench this soul's thirst with the perfect prize catch.