Heroic Resolve in the Dark
“Have you made your decision?”
Until now, we had never met face-to-face twice.
Our interactions had been limited to brief messages exchanged through counseling sessions.
Conversation over voice calls had occurred only twice.
“...Yes.”
Yet in the meantime, the man had repeatedly reminded me of this fact.
As if he were warning me like a fine-print clause about dangerous work.
He had emphasized the danger of the task several times, layering the warning.
“This time, I trust it will be in earnest?”
“.........Yes!”
Crunch...
That unnecessary kindness pricked at my raw nerves even more.
It sounded as if he were forcing me to agree, just to hear my answer.
You've chosen the dark path, haven't you?
It was nauseating to hear him suggest the dark road I had already chosen.
“Oh, Oppa...”
At that moment, a soft touch enveloped me from the side.
It was the warmest sensation in the world.
His grip was firm, as if to say he would never leave me.
His hands clasped mine tightly, pulling me close.
Glancing beside me, I saw my longtime girlfriend, the one who could cool every bit of anger in the world.
“It'll be fine.
You're visiting a place recommended by a trustworthy acquaintance, and the results are guaranteed there.”
“Yuna...”
Yuna.
Hong Yuna.
The hidden hero name, Swan Blade, kept from the public.
I swallowed the surge of emotion I felt for her.
Honestly, I wanted to burst out and leave right now, but I held it back for Yuna's sake.
“...Understood.
You've come with a rather serious mindset this time.”
It sounded like a casual remark, as if he had noticed my edgy demeanor.
The man seated across the wooden table gripped the mouse and clicked open his laptop.
Tap-tap-tap, the sound of him typing, as if preparing something.
Counselor: Shim Uijin
Before the man, a nameplate rested on the desk.
Aside from that name, all the information I needed about him had been delivered straight to me.
Shit... Why does he have to be so damn good-looking...!
Even in photos, he was strikingly handsome.
His skin was pale, whiter than pearls, almost translucent.
His broad shoulders and large hands contrasted sharply with his delicate face.
When he stood to greet us, his height reached the ceiling.
Judging by feel, he had to be at least 190 centimeters—close to two meters.
A parasitic older brother.
I couldn't describe him that simply because of the way his tailored suit hugged his body.
Unlike me, who worked as a hero, his muscles were trained to perfection.
I could find no flaw to poke at; every single detail screamed that a woman would adore him.
It was almost inconceivable that he was engaged in such illegal work here.
“That's all.
It took me a while to double-check the documents.”
As he muttered that, he gave me a glance laced with thinly veiled envy.
When his eyes flicked back to me, I lowered mine slightly to hide the jealousy in them.
“You're Seong Junpyo, the C-class hero, and Hong Yuna, the A-class hero?”
“...Yes.”
“Yes!”
“The issue is your family's opposition to the marriage due to the rank difference, correct?”
“...Yes.”
“...Correct.”
He spoke bluntly, without any pretense.
That was far better than any empty politeness.
In the end, it made me feel a little better to know that the problem stemmed from me, the one who had requested this pathetic counseling.
Yuna, unwilling to let my spirit break, desperately tried to defend me.
“We've already set the wedding date!”
After showing the engagement ring she had given me,
“We've traveled together a lot, and we've been living together for ages.
We're practically already married!
It's just that my family is a bit... closed-minded.”
“You don't need to share the details of your family situation.”
“I-It's true, but...”
“In the end, the obstacle to your love is this rank difference.”
C-class.
He pointed to the giant letter on the whiteboard,
“Ultimately, you've come here to raise your rank, haven't you?”
“Yes...
I wanted to take more time, but now the clock is ticking.”
Ticking.
Both my heart and Yuna's were racing.
“I understand.
Some heroes have shorter lifespans.”
Shim Uijin handled the issue delicately, using the word “some.”
But in reality, it was a problem that struck many heroes.
Aftermath.
Power surge.
Serious injury.
Etc., leading to forced retirement.
These were problems you encountered all too often as a hero.
But the one I faced was an utterly shameful one.
A complex I couldn't shake because my self-worth was so low.
The limit of my ability.
The despicable three syllables of my problem.
Forced retirement wasn't just about external issues like injury.
If the Association analyzed you as expendable internally,
they wouldn't expect much from someone whose ability development was too slow.
And if you were old and hadn't achieved results yet, you were immediately on the disposal list.
They forcibly retired you.
Judging you as a hero who no longer had the life to protect anyone.
They replaced you with new parts and reinforced the lineup.
Thoroughly meritocratic.
Yet I couldn't rely on private hero enterprises after leaving the official Association.
Those were even harsher capitalistic versions of the same system.
No private firm would hire a six-year C-class hero.
If I stayed like this, B-class promotion was out of the question, and forced retirement loomed just ahead.
That would be the end.
The blessed marriage Yuna wanted... was gone.
I would simply become a pillar standing alone.
Just the unlucky tail that stuck to a woman who got lucky.
“At least...”
Squeeze...
But Yuna refused to give up.
She couldn't let me go to the end.
“At least if you reach B-class, my family will change their minds!”
“B-class... Junpyo, you said you're currently twenty-eight years old, right?”
“Yes! I am that age, but right now...
No, even next year, if I reach B-class somehow, I can convince my family!”
“Yuna...”
“Don't lower your shoulders, Oppa!
Heroes are the ones who struggle until the very end.”
It sounded cool.
A hero-like statement.
A being who sparkled with determination.
“...I beg you to help me too.
Please... if you can achieve a short-term promotion, help me.”
That's why I couldn't give up either.
If Yuna wouldn't give up no matter what, I couldn't either.
Here, at the end of all these trials,
Even if it stained me with darkness, I wanted to carry the title of B for the rest of my life, a title that had tormented me my whole life.
“Possible.”
Shim Uijin's calm reply.
Then he tapped away at the laptop again,
“If you accept, the grade will be one step.
If you provide even this much effort from Shim Uijin, I judge that the goal is achievable.”
“R-Really?”
“Then let's start the acceptance right away!”
“Yes.
I'll start acceptance immediately.
I'll have the secretary bring the contract.”
“Thank you!”
“Only one thing.”
His eyes, which had looked almost indifferent until now, narrowed,
“As I've warned you several times, this is a task with a heavy price tag.”
“...That is—”
“You can quit midway anytime, but you may suffer severe aftereffects, and in some cases, serious mental issues.
I am only a running mate who helps achieve your goal; I cannot treat the mental aftereffects.
—”
“I have heard the warnings clearly.”
Here, I cut him off.
Squeeze!
Instead, I took Yuna's hand.
While gripping her hand tightly, I summoned every ounce of courage I had left in my life.
“Oppa...”
“It's okay.
I'm done running.”
Click.
“We have already reserved a beautiful wedding hall, so we have to get married, don't we?”
“Really... suddenly acting tough.”
Her eyes glistened with tears, but she smiled anyway.
My sun smiled back at me.
That was enough.
Because Yuna's heart never changed.
So I could endure even this much hardship—
Creak!
“The answer has come.”
At that moment, Shim Uijin stood up.
His footsteps echoed as he walked around the desk and stopped in front of my girlfriend.
“Could you stand up for a moment? Hong Yuna.”
“Huh?
Y-Yes, of course...”
Eager to comply with the polite request, Yuna stood.
Now she stood before the man.
...He's really tall.
His head reached about halfway up her tall frame.
While I was still stunned by his devastating height,
Thud!
“A?!”
“!!?”
Words failed me.
Seeing that sudden act of violation right in front of my eyes left me speechless.
Yuna's chest had been grabbed.
Her large, soft breast was seized without warning by a stranger's hand.
I breathed in sharply.
Suppressing the urge to hyperventilate, I was about to lunge forward when I stopped myself.
“You must endure it.”
“......”
“Since you've been informed by other means, you must endure it.”
I froze, my palm extended.
It wasn't because of my hero ability, but because I chose to endure it.
Even seeing another man grope my girlfriend's chest right in front of me, I held back.
“Good.
You've come with a lot of resolve, haven't you?”
“......”
“Correct.
My Mind Break ability activates at this point.
Every time you feel this discomfort and your mind breaks and deteriorates, I can strengthen Seong Junpyo.”
“......”
“Do you truly have the resolve to endure this pain?”
“.........So that's why you're holding on.”
Shit.
Shit shit shit shit shit!
My teeth ground together.
I could endure it because I knew his ability.
I had to endure it.
“Enough already?! Now it's done, so let's write the contract.”
“Understood.”
When Yuna struggled, he released my hand without hesitation, like a machine.
“Here is the contract, miss~♥”
The contract was brought by a blonde woman.
I didn't know if she was a capable or just a simple employee.
“Please read it carefully and sign.”
““......””
This decadently handsome man hadn't changed his expression once since entering the counseling room.
While I made a ghastly face trying not to watch my girlfriend's chest being groped, and Yuna, blushing in embarrassment, covered herself.
He simply acted as if it were just “work.”
His expression was so detached it was almost suffocating.
“Do you believe in anything, folks?”
“......?”
The question sounded oddly like a sudden religious solicitation.
While I was signing and raising my head, the man continued seriously.
“Actually, I believe in the noble value of love.
That's why I'm confident in both of you.”
He took the contract from my desk,
“You two will definitely overcome this trial.”
He said that.
Scribble...
Even he signed, signaling the beginning of hell.