Heroes Grow Up Eating Guilt

The morning I was discharged from the hospital, the area outside my room was still under ironclad security.

"You can't. It's absolute bed rest."

"Your bones might not have fully healed yet."

Seo Yoona and Han Soeun stood blocking the door, fully committed to their stubborn defense. Just from the look in their eyes, it seemed like they were ready to lock me in this hospital room and raise me like a pet for the rest of my life.

"Ha..." I let out a deep sigh.

Honestly, I was grateful. For them to worry this much about a complete stranger like me. But this was a bit much.

"Girls, I'm really fine."

I tried to persuade them as gently as possible.

"The doctor said I could be discharged. And I have to go to school. If I don't have enough attendance days, I'll get held back."

"I'll go to school in your place and take attendance for you..."

"I'll threaten the professors if I have to and make sure your attendance is recognized."

...Why were their thought processes like this?

I couldn't keep getting dragged around like this forever.

"Move."

In the end, I put on a serious face. I loaded it with the weight of a third-generation chaebol heir.

"I'm thankful for your concern, but don't cross the line. I'm not a child."

I lightly grabbed Han Soeun's shoulder and moved her aside.

"I'll handle my own business."

"......"

My firm attitude left both girls silent. They wore expressions like abandoned puppies. My heart softened a little, but if I gave in here, I'd be trapped for life.

"Instead, let's go to school together. Okay?"

When I offered the compromise, their faces lit up instantly.

"Yes! I'll carry your bag!"

"I'll take charge of your escort."

What simple creatures. I smiled bitterly and left the hospital room.

. . .

On the way to Daeseong Hunter Academy, the moment I stepped out of the limousine, cheers poured down on me.

"Lee Dohyun! Lee Dohyun!"

The treatment for the hero who had slain the hydra was certainly grand. But I couldn't just smile along.

It felt like a heavy stone was lodged in one corner of my chest.

'That guy... did he die?'

Park Minsu.

I'd been in such a rush to send only Yoona and Soeun away that I hadn't been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠able to grab him from where he'd passed out in the corner. Right before the explosion, I'd thought 'Oh right!' but it was already too late.

I'd killed a person.

No matter how much it had been to defeat a monster, the guilt of dragging an innocent classmate into it tormented me for three whole days.

A hero? Don't make me laugh. What kind of hero abandons his comrades and runs?

I left the cheering students behind and headed to the classroom with heavy steps.

The moment I opened the classroom door, applause erupted. The kids swarmed over, surrounding me with cries of "Are you okay?" and "That was insane."

I forced a smile and tried to sit down at my desk.

But then.

"......Huh?"

My eyes widened. My heart sank, then began pounding wildly.

In the corner of the classroom, a male student wrapped head to toe in bandages.

It was Park Minsu.

"Crazy..."

He was alive? For real? Not a ghost?

I tossed my bag aside and ran over to him. Seo Yoona and Han Soeun, who had been about to escort me, tried to follow in surprise, but I didn't pay them any attention.

"Hey! Park Minsu!"

When I shouted, he lifted his head. His eyes behind the glasses turned toward me. They looked a little scared, but gentle.

"......Ah, Senior Lee Dohyun."

"You... you were alive?? Thank god..."

I grabbed his shoulder without thinking. It was warm. I could feel his body heat. He was alive.

For a moment, my legs nearly gave out.

Relief. And guilt crashed over me like a tsunami.

"Wow... thank god. Really, thank god..."

My voice trembled.

"I'm sorry, Minsu. I didn't... I didn't mean to abandon you. It was just so urgent... I wasn't thinking straight..."

I apologized in a jumbled rush. I didn't have time to care about my usual 'arrogant third-generation chaebol' persona. When someone's almost died, who gives a damn about keeping up appearances?

"I'm really sorry. How's your body? You're badly hurt, right? Medical bills? I'll cover all the hospital fees. No, I'll pay compensation too. How much do you want? Just tell me."

I reached for my wallet but stopped and grabbed his hand again.

"Thank you so much for surviving. I thought you were dead..."

It was sincere. If this kid had died, I would've been haunted by nightmares for the rest of my life.

Park Minsu stared blankly at my fussing for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.

"......I'm fine, Senior."

He scratched his head as if embarrassed.

"The situation was urgent, wasn't it? Thanks to you drawing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the hydra's attention, I managed to slip behind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a rock. I got lucky, that's all."

"Still... I'm sorry for leaving you behind."

"No, not at all. If it weren't for you, Senior, our whole party would've died. You're the hero."

Park Minsu spoke as if it were no big deal. He even smiled so kindly that I felt awkward for overreacting.

Wow, this guy... he's a real saint. If it were me, I would've started cursing first thing.

"You're seriously kind... I'll treat you to a proper meal later. Steak until your stomach bursts."

"Yes, I'll look forward to it."

Only then did I let out a sigh of relief and turn away. I'd aged ten years from the stress.

At that moment, Park Minsu lightly grabbed my sleeve.

"Um, Senior."

"Yeah?"

He glanced around, then whispered very quietly into my ear.

"Back then... I saw it."

"......Saw what?"

"What you used, Senior. That golden light... it was a scroll, right?"

My heart dropped. So he had seen it. If this got out, there'd be talk again. Or the Hunter Association might come investigating.

When I stood there dumbfounded, opening and closing my mouth, Park Minsu put his index finger to his lips.

"Don't worry. I haven't told anyone."

"Huh?"

"You used it to save us, didn't you? It must have been expensive... I have to keep that kind of secret for you. You're my savior, after all."

He smiled brightly, looking genuinely good-natured.

Ah... I'm seriously going to cry from how grateful I am.

"Dude, you really... thank you. I'll take care of you for life."

"Haha, thank you even for just saying that."

I gave his shoulder one more firm squeeze and returned to my seat.

Park Minsu. What a good kid. I should treat him well from now on.

But I didn't see it.

The moment he sat back down and opened his book, Park Minsu's expression went completely blank and cold for a split second before returning to normal. He adjusted his glasses and muttered so quietly it was buried under the sound of turning pages.

Lunchtime. I was summoned to the student council room.

Maybe because I'd shed some of my guilt, my steps felt light. But the moment I opened the door and stepped inside, the atmosphere turned icy.

Student Council President Choi Taesan. The bear-like giant stood with his arms crossed, glaring at me.

"So you came, Lee Dohyun."

"Yes. What did you call me for? To give me an award or something?"

I tossed out a cheerful joke. But Choi Taesan was dead serious.

"An award, huh... Well, your contributions were certainly significant. But there's something I need to verify."

He placed a Magic Power Measurement Stone on the table.

"We need to remeasure you. To confirm whether you're truly F-Class or if you've used illegal means."

"......Excuse me?"

"These are the results from the hydra subjugation site investigation. The magic reaction is too clean to be from a scroll. I'm suspecting you might be an unregistered awakened or that you've borrowed power from a demon."

Ah, what a headache. I just resolved the Park Minsu issue and now this?

"President. What exactly do you take me for? I'm from the Daeseong Group. A demon? Do I look like I need to beg demons for power because I don't have money?"

"Then just take the measurement."

Choi Taesan pushed aggressively. If I measured now, my S-Class core would be exposed. It was still too early. I had to hide my power to avoid any backlash.

"I'd rather not? I'm in a bad mood, so I won't do it."

"If you refuse, I'll refer you to the disciplinary committee."

"Go ahead. I'll bring my lawyers with me."

A tense standoff. Choi Taesan rose from his seat and walked right up to me. The oppressive aura of an A-Class hunter bore down.

"By the authority of the student council president, I order you. Raise your hand."

That was when it happened.

Bang—!

The student council room door burst open so hard it nearly broke.

"Take your hand off him!"

It was Seo Yoona. Han Soeun followed right behind her. Both of them had murder in their eyes. They must have heard I'd been called here and come running.

"Yoona? Why are you—"

"Don't be rude to Senior."

Seo Yoona stepped in front of me, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"He was just discharged from the hospital. Is threatening and pressuring patients the student council's way of doing things?"

"If you bother Young Master, I won't let it slide!"

Han Soeun also began gathering mana beside her. In an instant, the student council room turned into complete chaos.

Choi Taesan let out a dumbfounded laugh.

"Ha... so hiding behind women is your hobby?"

Those words scratched at my pride.

'He's not wrong, though...'

I sighed and placed my hands on Seo Yoona and Han Soeun's shoulders.

"That's enough, girls."

"But Senior...!"

"Young Master!"

"I'll handle this. If you two get involved, it'll only get bigger."

I gently calmed the two of them down and walked up to Choi Taesan. Then I pulled a check from my pocket.

"President. I understand you're suspicious, but your methods are completely wrong."

I casually dropped the check on top of the measurement stone. It was a check for a billion won.

"This is a donation. If you're doing this because the student council is short on operating funds, consider this taken care of."

"You're trying to solve this with money...!"

"Yes, with money. It's the only thing I have, after all."

I smiled brightly.

"And the disciplinary committee? Go ahead and call them. But the moment you do, you'll have to have a meeting with the Daeseong Group legal team. For 'student rights violation' and 'defamation of character.'"

Choi Taesan's face turned red then purple. But he couldn't throw the check away. He was overwhelmed by the weight of the Daeseong Group name and the presence of the two mad dogs standing beside me.

"......We'll see about this, Lee Dohyun."

"Yes, take care."

I left without looking back. The two girls trailed after me like ducklings.

"Young Master, that was so cool!"

"Next time, I'll cut that bastard's throat myself."

"Enough. You'll actually commit murder."

I chuckled and walked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down the hallway.

Park Minsu was alive, Choi Taesan had been dealt with. I thought I could finally stretch my legs and get a good night's sleep today.

But I didn't know.

That someone sitting on a bench in the hallway was watching my retreating figure and sending a short text message to someone on their smartphone.