Chapter 15

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: No Romance Outside the Home (2)

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Why do we even have to work? If life could just cover the basics—food, clothing, and shelter—that'd be plenty. But the grind needed to keep even that afloat? It's straight-up modern slavery. Trapped from dawn to dusk pounding away at work, it drags you into utter powerlessness. Just like I'm feeling now.

"Me... baby Siwoo. I don't wanna work..."

"Bro, I told you not to keep picking up weird speech patterns from the internet. That's bad stuff."

"But... Sihyun-chan, if I don't do this... you won't even look my way..."

"With all this work piled up, I gotta stare at the monitor. Why would I look at you?"

Sihyun glances back at me for a moment before diving back into her paperwork. People say someone focused on their job is cool, but can you really call it cool when she's got those hollowed-out eyes glued to the screen, pounding the keyboard like a machine?

I feel the weight of being the man of the house all over again. Silently shouldering that burden feels a bit much for me.

Hero work is tough and pitiful too, but imagining being cooped up in an office, bleary-eyed and staring at a monitor? Kinda turns my stomach.

The thought of hammering keys until your eyes go hollow from staring at tiny text makes my hands freeze up.

So I make a vow. When Sihyun gets home from work, I'll have dinner ready. Soup on the stove. That's why I gotta get outta here. Honestly, helping out for five hours feels like plenty.

"Oh yeah, I just remembered—house chores are piling up. Guess I'll head out..."

"Bro, you don't do house chores."

"Nah~ A friend's got chores piling up, so I gotta go help."

"Bro, you don't have friends. I've never seen you meet up with one since you got back."

It's not like I even remember who my friends are. How am I supposed to meet someone I don't recall?

"Ugh, whatever. I'm out. Catch ya later!"

I'm not dumb or anything, but I can never win an argument with Sihyun. Best bet is a quick escape.

I shove back from my seat and wave goodbye to everyone in the office. They're all working hard, so I put my heart into it with both hands.

"Thanks everyone for grinding away to keep my comfy life going~ See ya!"

-Sigh... that crazy bastard. Wonder if he even did the paperwork right...

Sihyun mutters something, but I ignore it and head outside.

-Huh...? What the. He organized it better than me...? Hmm, maybe I should just make him work here...? Bro! Come back!

No way. Nope.

Worried someone might call me back, I bolt out and just start wandering aimlessly. I just hated the stuffy boredom of the office—didn't really have anything I wanted to do.

Weekday afternoon, when everyone's still knee-deep in their own tasks. In this awkward in-between time, here I am: a total bum shuffling around in a plain white tee, black sweatpants, and slippers on bare feet.

Figuring out what to do—that's my most important job right now. Letting my feet lead the way, I end up in the entertainment district lined with PC bangs, karaoke joints, and pool halls I frequented back in school days. My last memory was heading to one anyway, so I probably hit 'em up nonstop ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even in the forgotten bits.

So if I dive in and have some fun, would memories bubble up? Those buried somewhere in my head that I've forgotten—maybe a few would surface? Staring blankly, the thought pulls my feet that way.

The closer I get, the grimier the streets: cigarette butts littering alleys, flyers plastered on poles. The vibe turns seedier, more rundown, but oddly... it doesn't feel bad.

Somehow familiar, I slip smoothly into the entertainment strip. Plenty of time left, so I'll take it slow and enjoy.

I wander from spot to spot wherever my feet take me.

The old PC bang felt just as welcoming, food tasting as great as ever. Menu's even more varied now—perfect for lazy days when cooking's a hassle.

The pool hall... well, kinda awkward without friends. Gotta check soon if I even had any.

Last stop, the karaoke joint—some coin-operated setup? Never seen that before. Pay solo and belt out tunes. World's come a long way.

By the time I'm done bouncing around, dusk has settled, and crowds of people shuffle through the streets like zombies under the twilight sky. Wrapping up long workdays, they're staggering toward their vices.

Salarymen's feet head straight for bars, students to PC bangs. Naturally, I slip into the workers' flow. Bars just opening for dinner catch my eye.

Come to think of it, do I even remember drinking? Ten years back, I was a fresh-faced soldier barely legal. In Pretoria, as the Hero, I always had to stay sharp—no room for booze in my memories.

Trailing the crowd toward a bar...

- ...Help... me...!

A faint but crystal-clear girl's voice. I don't wanna get involved, but my sharp hearing and Hero instincts kick in unbidden, yanking me toward it. That way. You've got work to do. My body reacts on autopilot.

"Haa... occupational hazard. Can't shake this damn habit."

I sigh and duck into the alley. Unlike the main street bathed in twilight glow, this place is dark and shadowy, crammed with seedy corners. Sure, it's just the vibe, but spots out of sight like this breed nasty business.

Like what's right in front of me now.

- Someone... help...!

- Haha, nah, we're not bad guys~

- You didn't say no earlier either, did ya?

A high school girl, clothes disheveled, grabbed by a pack of burly thugs. What the hell are they doing to a kid that young? Revulsion surges— that same disgust from before.

Ah.

That's why I barreled here on instinct alone. I'd witnessed this scene before. That shock had eaten away at my reason back then.

Just like now.

Filth like this? Death's the only answer.

"Beatrice."

A pure white sword materializes in my hand amid a burst of light.

"Bless."

My body envelops in blessings, proclaiming omnipotence.

Power floods back—my eyes gleam gold, aura warping the very air around me.

-Huh? Who's that punk? Yo, some glowing freak's walking our way.

-Hunter thinks he can take us? What a psycho.

Why do these types always spout the same crap?

I stroll forward casually, and they point weapons at me. That smug look, cocky stance, groping the girl with one hand—can't stand it.

I swing the sword lightly.

Whoosh—slash—

The blade's sharp wind slices off their arms... and useless junk between their legs.

-Gaaahhh!! Aaaargh!!!

Familiar screams—no hesitation, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I approach steadily.

-Urk...!

"..."

-Spare me...! No, please spare me...!!

In Pretoria, I'd have ended them. Shame they're Earthlings. What a world where even trash like this gets protected by law. Criminals have it good.

"Heal."

I pulverize the severed arms and seal just the stumps. Can't have them dying on me from shock.

"Yeah, okay. I'll let you live. But head straight to the Hunter Association and turn yourselves in. No next time."

-Y-Yes sir...! Right now... we'll go surrender...!

Pale as ghosts, they bolt from the alley. I tidy up the collapsed girl's clothes.

"You okay?"

"Y-Yeah..."

She's staring blankly at me—worried, I wave a hand in front of her face.

"Anywhere hurt?"

"No... well, one spot kinda hurts..."

Did those bastards do something else?

"Tell me? I'll heal it."

"M-My heart's just pounding like crazy right now... big bro."

I'm 31. That's a 12-year gap. More like uncle material.

"Uh... right. Let's get outta here quick."

"Okay, big bro. Um, could I get your number?"

"Nah, can't do that."

I'd end up the criminal in cuffs.

Absolutely not.

When did it start? Sneaking out of the palace to wander the markets.

Probably two months into training with Sio, around then.

For a regular guy like me, endless palace training felt like prison labor. Feeling cooped up and unjustly trapped, I begged to check out where folks actually lived. I wanted out that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bad.

I'd already mastered holy power fine, and swordplay and martial arts under Sio daily—no worries about losing to anyone.

So I roamed eagerly. Whenever time allowed, I'd hit the markets, eyes wide at cultures unlike Earth's. What's this? Edible? Next time, bring Seren and Sio. Little thoughts like that.

-Hic... I-I'm sorry...!

In the bustling market din, how'd I catch that? Buried under chatter and noise, impossible.

-No... don't...!

Yet that frail voice rings clear to me, over and over. Like a whisper in my ear: Do your duty. It echoes in my skull.

You're the only savior. The Hero who'll rescue that child.

Just Ansiu from Earth, barely knowing anything—yet my feet follow the sobs. Closer they get, the faster my heart races; murmurs and shouts swell around.

I arrive at chaos. Pure pandemonium, just like that. Rubble everywhere where the girl huddles—building's gone, crumbled to dust. Only her tears remain.

She just sobs. Weak as she is, no resistance possible—just pitiful wails. Despair of no help, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠isolation, helplessness—making her cry harder.

-Yo, she's kinda cute. Snag her first?

Can't hold back—I draw my wooden training sword and charge, no hesitation.

-Hey, who's this weirdo rushing us?

-Some bumpkin? Daring us? Freakin' nutjob.

They brush it off, aiming clubs and batons my way. Eyes gleaming like they found a fun new toy.

I cast Bless and swing...

...and get pummeled without landing a proper hit. Like a dog on a hot day, a lifeless sandbag—beaten till they grinned satisfied.

My first fight in Pretoria. First defeat. Bitter as hell.

-Kuhaha~ Alright, let's bounce. Grab the kid.

Sneered at, spat on my chest—the phlegm clings sticky. Only the exhausted, tear-streaked girl dragged away bothers looking. Passersby, locals ignore us both. Scared? Not their problem?

Back then, that selfishness disgusted me more than gutter filth and trash.

Staggering back a mess, Sio eyed me knowingly.

"You look like hell. Don't tell me you went playing hero? Can't even handle basics, and you wanna save someone? You're no Hero—just a useless little boy."

"Yeah. Gotta train harder."

"Good. Get healed by Seren and hit the training grounds. Work's piled sky-high."

I nod and head off opposite him.

The reason I decided to train for real.

Probably this.

At the very least, to be someone who doesn't turn a blind eye—to extend a hand to kids in need.

To punish those tormenting these young ones.

I even draw my sword on fellow humans, not just demons.

Proclaiming death.

I hate those who make kids cry... and the ones who just watch.

That's why I truly set out to become a Hero.