The Price of Waiting
When I opened my eyes in the morning.
"...Mm."
My whole body felt stiff and sore, so I stretched.
Crack, crack—my joints popped, and it felt like my bones were slotting back into place.
"...Not bad."
I could tell my condition had recovered quite a bit.
The gunshot wound on my thigh had left no scar.
Just a lingering blue bruise.
Of course, there was still that scratching pain inside my eyes from the ability's aftereffects.
'Being a Korean awakened has its perks in times like this.'
This was more than enough recovery.
And at the same time, a status window appeared in my vision.
You have greatly altered a portion of the past.
Experience gained from achievement.
Name: Ryu Hajun
Level: 2 (+???)
▽▽▽
Level: 3 (+???)
Special Ability:Future SightSpecial Ability:Regression
HP: 35 / 35
MP: Null
Strength: 15 ▶ 18
Agility: 40 ▶ 45
Intelligence: 50
Mentality: 80 ▶ 85
...A pretty generous reward—it looked like my level had gone up, and my stats had grown substantially too.
Considering how slowly Korean heroes' stats usually increased.
And given that I'd never experienced such a rapid boost even in my previous life.
The 'greatly altered a portion of the past' part must have played a big role.
But on the flip side, recalling the moments right before my death in that previous life.
'...This still isn't enough.'
Strength 70, Agility 74, Mentality 92.
Back when I'd barely shaken off the Asian quota stigma in America.
When even I was recognized as a top-tier hero.
Yet even then, I couldn't hold out against Great America and ended up kneeling... facing death.
In other words, physically stopping a potential rampage from Great America was obviously out of the question.
Which made equipment, daily habits, and conditioning all the more crucial.
I was reminded of that yet again.
And next on my mind.
'...A new place to live. Napalm was right—I need to move.'
My initial mistake was underestimating Pax a bit.
I thought my level of blackmail would make them back off on their own, but they'd already dug up my home address.
The problem was that their thoroughness could drag me into even greater danger.
With the Director possibly knowing Pax's internal info.
Staying in a place with zero security measures?
Absolutely not.
From my current position, I needed a setup where even if my location was exposed, it wouldn't matter.
'...Maybe a large plot of land with tons of defensive measures.'
What I needed now wasn't just a house.
A place no one—not the Director, not Pax, not anyone—could touch easily.
Maybe it was time to establish a base, a stronghold.
First, it had to be fortified enough that registering it on Pax's internal network wouldn't be an issue.
Those guys would try to find my base's location no matter what anyway.
Especially since both Pax and Napalm had tracked me down before.
Hiding wasn't enough—I needed a structure where them showing up would be their loss.
Second, space to store and maintain equipment.
My mobility was limited.
Unlike Napalm or Great America, I couldn't fly.
In my previous life, I'd gotten around on my custom bike or car...
This life would be the same.
Third, it needed to be reasonably far from civilian areas—just a matter of picking the right spot.
But then, another possibility crossed my mind.
'...What if I give Hope a section of the base? That could work too.'
She'd built tons of gear for me, and our goals aligned almost perfectly.
Making an offer she couldn't refuse to someone like that didn't sound bad at all.
"...Sigh. First things first—head to Pax. Too much to talk about."
I grabbed my jacket and stepped out.
The Director took priority over a base right now.
*
"... ."
Great America hated silence.
The lab where she'd been born and raised was always dead quiet.
A sealed space where she'd stare outside, waiting for their 'experiments.'
So she loved chaotic crime scenes.
The sight of crowds of reporters swarming her sent thrills down her spine.
Even now, she felt bugs crawling all over her skin.
'When the hell is he coming back?'
He—Hajun—had told her to wait.
Said it would be more dangerous if she stepped in, that he had to handle it, then bolted from the scene.
So she'd stayed glued to a conference room chair at Pax HQ, not even sleeping, waiting for him.
'Not a single message.'
Still nothing from him.
But right then.
—Creak.
"Oh, you're already here."
He—Hajun—opened the conference room door and walked in.
But to Great America, he looked utterly wrong.
His gait was clumsy.
His eyes twitched and were bloodshot.
Exhaustion seeped from every movement.
Yet Hajun straightened up like it was nothing.
"You worked hard yesterday, Great America."
He flashed a casual grin and took his seat.
"... ."
She hated it.
"I waited."
Great America stood and approached Hajun.
"Just like you said. Stayed here and did nothing."
"Good job."
Hajun replied with a faint smile.
But Great America's mouth kept moving.
"Then why? Why'd you come back hurt?"
It disgusted her.
She didn't know worry.
Why was he hurt?
Who did it?
Why wasn't she there? Why didn't he use her?
The fact that Hajun had gotten damaged somewhere without her.
It was utterly revolting.
"Good job? Then why's the result like this?"
Red electricity crackled around her.
Her eyes glowed like red suns.
Each step carried weight.
"I did good, so why are you hurt? What exactly did I do good?"
She'd followed his orders to the letter.
So why was he injured?
If waiting led to him getting hurt, wasn't that wrong?
If she waited next time, would it happen again?
Her disgust twisted into blazing rage.
Hajun responded.
"It's because you waited that this is all it was."
"...What?"
"I don't want you becoming a weapon in that guy's hands."
"Weapon?"
"To the Director, most people are tools—or weapons. Especially heroes like us. He handles them masterfully."
Hajun stood.
"If you'd gone out yesterday, he'd have used your power to kill people."
"...I don't kill people, like you said."
"Yeah, that's your will."
"... ."
"But the Director doesn't act on your will. He provokes your anger, pride, impulses—makes you move."
He gently placed a hand on Great America's shoulder.
"So you didn't just wait. You didn't 'break' anything."
Listening, Great America felt something tickle her heart.
An indescribable emotion.
But what stirred her more was.
"...You still got hurt. That doesn't change."
The disgust that he'd been injured.
Hajun eyed her carefully and responded.
"That's a separate issue."
"Separate? No, it can't be."
"... ."
"If you get hurt, my waiting was wrong."
Great America said.
"...?!"
"And I know how to fix it."
She grabbed his wrist on her shoulder.
"I'll stay by your side."
"What do you—"
"—Wherever you go, wherever you fight, wherever you sleep."
"Great America."
Hajun sensed danger.
Worry? Affection? Nothing that simple would make cold sweat trickle down his back.
Great America wasn't trying to protect him.
Like a child who couldn't bear to see a parent's ruin.
A pure, twisted 'adoration' demanding eternal perfection.
That was her psyche.
"Great America."
He decided to play the perfect role even more.
"Let go."
A short command.
No anger, no pleading, no pushing.
"... ."
"You can't act on your own just because I got hurt."
Even with his wrist gripped, Hajun didn't avert his gaze.
He straightened his back, projecting even more confidence.
Right now, he couldn't afford to look broken.
To Great America, he was the standard to follow.
—Snap.
She finally released his wrist and suppressed her power.
"...Good job."
Hajun gave brief praise.
But her eyes stayed fixed on his.
"Because you said so."
Then her gaze dropped to his leg.
"But if you come back like this next time."
"... ."
"I'll hate waiting. Even more than now."
She said.
And right then.
—Swoosh—!!
"...Already in quite the heated debate, I see?"
Brooke Vender opened the conference room door.
Hajun, seeing him.
"You're awfully early, Mr. Vender."
He spoke as if nothing had happened.
"I called you here to confirm something."
"...Fine, what is it that has you summoning me this early—"
"—The record of my residence stored in Pax's internal database. Who registered it, and who's accessed it so far?"
"... ."
With that, Hajun seized control of the room.