Hero's Qualifications (6): Time Flies
Time passed quickly.
As part of our training, today we were visiting a daycare center affiliated with the agency.
"It's not just about taking down villains—heroes have a duty to contribute steadily to society. The place we're going today is a daycare sponsored directly by Peerless. You'll all learn about serving and giving back here today, right?"
I made eye contact with Sleeping Bubble, who was guiding us. I gave a slight bow in greeting.
"Haa..."
She whipped her head away with a strange noise. Her face was red again today—maybe she had some kind of heat sensitivity issue. Han Sua, standing next to me, furrowed her brow in confusion.
"...You, did you do something to Sleeping Bubble or what?"
"Not really?"
Well, I had done something. During breaks, I'd buy her drinks; when she came back from dispatch, I'd give her shoulders a quick rub. I was pretending to get friendly to fish for info, but unfortunately, no luck there. Hypnotizing her outright was still too risky. She might resist like Han Sua or Yuha had at first. Felt like a waste of effort.
We arrived at the daycare while chatting. It wasn't huge, but the kids' faces were beaming with innocence. You could tell how much effort Peerless put into this place.
"Okay, then! Feel free to spend time with the kids however you like!"
The hero trainees, including Han Sua, were all in their suits. Obvious reason: kids love heroes, duh.
"Once upon a time, in a very small village, there lived a girl..."
Han Sua read from the picture book in a gentle, soothing voice, a little girl perched on her lap. It felt oddly awkward seeing her so warm and approachable, so different from her usual frosty demeanor. She'd been diligent about every task during training. Watching her capture small-time villains on dispatch almost made you think she was a real hero—like that first day when she helped Peerless take down the giant villain.
I approached while the girl was away for a moment.
"Is this for show? Putting on a friendly public image?"
"What're you talking about."
Han Sua shot me a glare like she'd never been soft at all. Somehow, it put my mind at ease. Yeah, that's the Han Sua I know.
"You should manage your expressions at least. Even if the kids annoy you."
"What?"
I touched my face and only then realized my expression. My mouth was set in a stone-hard line, unmoving. Han Sua glared even sharper, scolding me.
"You're trash after all. Even in front of kids..."
"Yeah. If my parents hadn't died to villains, I'd be over there playing with them too."
"What...?"
Han Sua's eyes shook hard for a moment. Probably caught off guard by the unexpected answer. Unpleasant childhood memories bubbled up—not exactly the best fit for a daycare, it seemed. Why blurt out something only Yuha knew? Hearing "villain" from a villain just pissed me off, I guess.
"...I didn't know."
Han Sua mumbled, lips twitching. Did she have a shred of conscience left? Hilarious.
"...Still, you awakened an Authority somehow."
"Yeah."
Though it was an artificial one from surgery.
After a brief silence, she asked cautiously.
"If that happened, why not become a hero? It would've been better in every way."
I let out a smirk. I'd dreamed of that once too. And it ended in hell. Even with my power now, nothing had changed. A sinner like me had no right to be a hero.
"That's none of your business, hero."
"..."
She clamped her mouth shut at my firm tone. Those occasional flickers of pathos just messed with my head.
She asked in a voice tinged with gloom.
"...So what are you plotting?"
"Plotting what?"
"There has to be a reason you blackmailed me into tagging along here."
"Nothing? Just surviving this training and going home safe is my dream."
"...You're terrible at lying."
Han Sua shot me a sharp side-eye. I shrugged. Of course she wouldn't buy it. Wasn't meant to be believed.
"Hero sis, here..."
The girl returned, breaking the awkward vibe. She held out a flower crown she'd made from plucked blooms in her tiny hand. Crude workmanship that might turn anyone off, but Han Sua just accepted it carefully. With a warm smile I'd never seen at Yoram Academy.
"Oh, how pretty. Thank you."
"Heehee... Huh?"
The shyly grinning kid finally noticed me.
"...!"
Her wide eyes grew sparklier by the second. Pure longing and envy filled her gaze as she alternated between me and Han Sua.
"House play!!"
"...What?"
And that's how the impromptu house play started. Me as dad, Han Sua as mom. We exchanged a reluctant glance.
The girl squeezed between us, face full of satisfaction.
"Heehee."
"..."
No one with a conscience could refuse an orphan's house play request. Not even the most evil villain.
So Han Sua had no choice but to go along. Of course, I never expected Yuha's video call out of nowhere.
-...Mom? Dad?
Yuha's voice sounded oddly hollow. Anyone seeing this out of context would freak.
"Ah, right now..."
"Honey, come eat dinner now that you're home from work."
Han Sua's sudden voice cut off my excuse. She'd even donned an apron and was glued to my side. What the hell?
She peeked at my phone and whispered.
"No more messing around. Got it?"
She smiled softly but nodded sideways. The girl looked on the verge of tears, pissed at the interruption.
"...Gotta go."
Han Sua was quicker on the uptake than me. I sighed and nodded.
"Sorry, Yuha. Kinda busy right now."
-W-Woojin...! Wait...!
"I'll call back later!"
Click. Hung up.
"Pfft."
Han Sua's eyes crinkled in laughter, the happiest she'd looked in days.
...What?
The next day, the peaceful training continued. I ran into Han Sua in front of the agency.
"Eek."
"?"
She startled and abruptly looked away, like she was desperately hiding her expression. Her dry lips twitched nervously, radiating unease. A strange intuition hit me from her reversed attitude.
Finally cracking?
Near the end of training, I raised my hand.
"Sua seems unwell. Mind if I take her to the infirmary quick?"
"Eh...?"
Han Sua's eyes widened in surprise. Sleeping Bubble glanced at her and nodded readily.
"Of course! Psyche does look a bit tired. Overdoing it isn't good. I told you—rest is a key hero virtue."
I beckoned Han Sua with a smile.
"Sua, come on over."
"N-No... I'm fine..."
"Sidekick said it's okay. Come on, quick."
"Eek..."
She rose unsteadily and shuffled over. I pretended to support her as we headed into the hall. Some admiring sound came from behind, but irrelevant now.
We reached a deserted spot—not the infirmary.
"Looks like you're not actually sick."
I turned to her.
"Any orders from Hwaryeon?"
"O-Orders...?!"
She shook her head furiously, still avoiding my eyes.
"N-No, nothing like that. Just a bit tired..."
I smirked and raised my finger.
Snap!
Puppet Show used on target...
Han Sua's eyes lost focus, going blank. Should've lied better. Still hasn't learned.
I questioned her slowly in that state.
"What plot are you hatching?"
"...Assault."
"Assault. When?"
"...Last day of training."
Her limp lips spilled words steadily.
"Locations: 46 hero agencies in S City...Perpetrators: S-rank villain Stingray and his minions...Other agencies are decoys...Real target... Peerless..."
Her words matched what I knew perfectly. Checked in case something changed—nope.
Good. Keep it this way.
"Why plan the assault?"
"To...kill hero Peerless."
"...And your role?"
I hesitated, then asked. She answered slowly but without pause.
"Hide identity...join assault side...kill all heroes."
A cold smile crept onto my face. Of course. No matter how much she played hero, a villain's a villain.
I snapped again. Her focus returned; she stared blankly, then clapped a hand over her mouth in horror.
"W-What did I just say...!"
"Too late. I heard everything I needed."
I said calmly, then hardened my expression and voice.
"And you still tried lying to my face? Was last time's punishment not enough? Huh?"
I raised my finger threateningly. She trembled like a leaf.
"I-I'm...s-sorry...I was wrong..."
"Watch yourself. Why do you think I let you live? Useless? You're dead."
"Hic, g-got it..."
She nodded frantically. I said that, but...I didn't want to dream-walk her more either. What she endured was less than a third of what Marionette put me through. I knew that pain best.
"So, what now? Obey orders quietly?"
I asked. She nodded reluctantly.
"...Obviously. Defying Hwaryeon's orders isn't an option. I'd...die."
"Didn't you like Peerless? All fake, huh. She'd love seeing you like this."
"Eek..."
No retort; she dropped her gaze. After silence, she peeked at me slyly.
"S-So what about you...?"
"What?"
"You infiltrated pretending to be a student for some scheme too."
"...And?"
"W-Whatever it is, outsiders interfering wouldn't be good for you...?"
Her voice rose unwittingly, almost hopeful.
"If an outsider meddles, won't it mess up your plans? Wondering if you're thinking of stopping it..."
"No need to worry."
"Eh?"
I grinned.
I had plans, sure. But why stop this? It was going perfectly—made me happy.
"I have no intention of stopping what you're doing. Go wild, don't mind me."
I replied cheerfully.
"You too."
"..."
Han Sua fell silent. Hypnosis long gone, but her eyes stayed hazy.