Chapter 967

EP.967 Part 2 Chapter 9-23: How Can a Hero’s Name Be…

“To see a future version of myself creating dark histories… This is truly an awful situation.”

It’s absolutely terrifying.

No matter how hard someone tries to regain their senses, seeing such a vision of one’s future self inevitably drives them mad.

Regretting past dark moments is fine since they’re already in the past.

But witnessing what your future self might do fills you with shame over those dark times and even deeper self-loathing.

“Uh… Commander?”

Hikari approached me and pointed at Seok Harang’s battle scene.

The SS+ Rank Hero, ‘Seoyea,’ was unleashing overwhelming power against numerous foes, including Miss Tabasco, Rasputin, and others too tiresome to mention.

“Is this the power of SS+ Rank?”

“That’s right.”

The entire Busan sky was adorned with a spectacle of ice butterflies.

Frozen tridents falling from the heavens.

An impenetrable wall of ice no one could scale without wings.

And Harang stood there calmly for over thirty minutes, not even breaking a sweat while maintaining all these phenomena.

This was someone wielding unimaginable magical power far beyond their S-Rank days.

This was the realm of demigods—what humans could only dream of achieving.

“As Seoyea grows stronger, won’t it backfire?”

“Backfire?”

“Seeing her strength makes me think, ‘Could I become this strong too?’ If only I had access to the Commander’s power… The desire for strength is immense.”

Hikari had been imprisoned for a long time by someone who desperately sought power.

She must have recognized that familiar longing in others seeking the Commander’s magic supply.

The desperate yearning for power…

The pressing need for it…

Hikari, who was content with her own abilities, couldn’t empathize emotionally.

But she understood through experience, having witnessed someone’s obsession with tattoos while enduring culinary torture involving Mint Kimchi Chocolate and Pineapple Pizza.

“The stronger Seoyea becomes, the more people will crave the Commander’s power.”

“So, I told her to say it: ‘Defeat me, and I’ll allow you access to the Commander’s magic.'”

Meeting the Commander isn’t easy.

To connect with the Commander’s magic, one must first overcome magical girls.

“Have you ever met the Demon King directly at the Demon King Castle? You’d at least need to defeat one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”

“True. Meeting the Demon King without facing the Four Heavenly Kings would cause chaos among them.”

“Exactly. If a hero capable of defeating the Demon King skips the Four Heavenly Kings, it’s not because the hero is too strong—it’s because the Four Heavenly Kings have lost discipline.”

“Is Seoyea then the strongest among the Four Heavenly Kings?”

“No. More like a Northern Duke.”

Not part of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings but still responsible for an entire front.

“While Seoyea is in Busan, most airborne threats are handled. Though constant challenges may tire Harang, order will be maintained and respect shown. Look at this.”

KAGA-GANG!!

Countless ability users fell to the freezing spears descending from the sky.

Shoulders, legs, arms—those pierced by ice were instantly frozen solid before any blood could spill.

Even S-Rank fire attribute heroes weren’t spared.

Before the demigod of ice, Seoyea, even S-Rank heroes seem merely bothersome.

“Hikari, how many S-Rank heroes has Seoyea frozen so far?”

“According to my count: Miss Tabasco, Rasputin, Conquistador, and… another…”

“How many total?”

“…13.”

In just 30 minutes, Seoyea froze 13 people.

Did Seoyea take any damage during this time?

Nope.

Harang remained standing exactly where she started.

“Did Seoyea’s magical power decrease at all in 30 minutes?”

“Not at all. There’s no sign of magical exhaustion. It’s as if she possesses infinite magic. Surrounding atmospheric magic seems to converge on her. This phenomenon… is unprecedented.”

Hikari showed great interest in the flow of magic centered around Seoyea.

After all, compared to other SS+ Ranks whose magical patterns resemble several nuclear power plants’ worth of energy, Seok Harang’s pattern is exceptionally unique.

Because she’s a ‘spirit.’

Currently half-human, half-spirit, but upon fully syncing, she’ll become a demigod-spirit hybrid.

While other SS+ Ranks wield power equivalent to multiple nuclear plants, Seok Harang can harness all the magic dispersed throughout nature.

“What about these ice statues, Commander? What will you do with them?”

“We need to offer them a chance. Will they challenge properly or continue sneaking around to target me from behind?”

I understand desperation well.

Though I declared I’d eliminate everyone except the heroine, there’s no need to kill those with good intentions.

Thus, I’ll grant them one opportunity.

Even though this body is male, the sin of attempting something intimate with Shin-ra within me…

For the sake of saving the world—if it’s done with ‘goodwill,’ I’ll provide one chance of goodwill. But if anyone uses their connection with the Commander for ulterior motives, I’ll naturally respond with malice.

“Heroes should approach the Demon King Castle’s main gate like proper warriors.”

Heroes don’t sneak behind to target the Demon King’s throne.

That’s what being a hero means.

* * *

Busan.

“You can no longer move.”

SAAAH.

The sight of Seok Harang descending from the icy wall transformed dramatically.

From a complete child into a taller adult figure, she radiated immense power, suggesting this form was Seoyea’s true self.

“I am the Commander’s proxy, the Commander’s first spear, and the eternal shield of permafrost protecting the Commander.”

Seok Harang’s words chilled the ability users, literally freezing their blood and making them tremble as if drowning.

“I’m here in Busan. If you wish to meet the Commander, come anytime. Challenges are always welcome.”

“Ugh! Thanks to the Commander, you’ve grown so powerful!!”

A foreign-looking woman twisted her lips mockingly at Seok Harang.

“Seoyea, right?! You shouldn’t live like this! Just because you spread your legs first for the Commander doesn’t mean you get to brag—it’s disgusting!”

“And what do you expect me to do?”

Seok Harang simply smirked at Miss Tabasco’s sexual insults.

“I don’t care to hear anything from a villain posing as neither hero nor hunter.”

“Hah! A villain?! So, everyone who opposes you is automatically a villain?! You’re no different from that tyrant Demon King! Some people have 3cm, others AAA—isn’t that ridiculous?!”

“…Dorranana, enough.”

Seok Harang gripped an icy spear.

Its sharp tip aimed precisely at Miss Tabasco’s neck, ready to pierce at any moment.

“It seems I need to set an example to bring you to your senses.”

“Hah! If you stab me, my guild won’t let this slide! I represent Mexico!”

“Would the Mexican government really protect you?”

SWISH.

Seok Harang tapped her magical gear, displaying holographic images to Miss Tabasco.

Miss Tabasco gasped in horror at the various images and data shown only to her.

“No! This is fabricated!!”

“Don’t worry. Only you can see this.”

“…”

Other ability users struggled to move their heads slightly.

Miss Tabasco swallowed hard under the countless eyes seemingly watching her through the holograms.

Whatever magic Seok Harang used, if this data leaked publicly, ‘he’ would surely disown her.

“When and where did you obtain this data?”

Worldwide, even the Round Table deems certain drugs illegal. Even S-Rank ability users deserve condemnation for possessing them.

“That’s none of your concern. Ah, ah. Hello, this is Seoyea.”

Seok Harang contacted someone via her magical gear.

[Did you find her?]

“Yes. We’ve captured ‘Miss Tabasco’… or rather, the internationally wanted S-Rank villain ‘Azteca.'”

“What?! That’s absurd!”

“That’s correct,” came the calm male voice. Everyone held their breath recognizing it as the Commander’s cold tone.

[The rescue at the Mexican airport succeeded. Who would have thought someone could disguise themselves so convincingly with human skin?]

“Eliminate her.”

“No! Wait! I’m not—!”

CHING!

Miss Tabasco, or rather Azteca disguised as Miss Tabasco, froze mid-protest in an expression of pure shock.

Even as an S-Rank ability user, and despite her stunning beauty, her monstrous grimace horrified everyone.

Her face resembled…

“A hardcore porno expression.”

“Like someone mid-battle sex.”

“She probably intended to violate the Commander with that look. Ugh, what a villain!”

…the exact expression of a villain realizing their true identity has been exposed.

“One more thing.”

Seok Harang swung her icy spear toward the remaining ability users.

“Who else here is a villain targeting the Commander?”

No one dared to speak.

* * *

“Really?”

“Absolutely. I just confirmed with the Mexican Association. I immediately informed Harang after the call.”

“No, I mean… how could that woman not be Miss Tabasco?”

“That’s false. The head of the Mexican Association is a drug kingpin. They cut ties with her.”

Miss Tabasco is indeed the villain Azteca.

When we confronted her with force, the drug lord likely deemed her expendable and abandoned her.

“How could anyone call someone Miss Tabasco?”

Even in Mexico, there should be some dignity and moderation, right? What is Tabasco anyway?

“If we ranked embarrassing hero nicknames, wouldn’t she top the S-Rank list?”

“Isn’t there already an S-Rank number one?”

“…”

I felt ashamed despite not being the one to choose such a name.

“The most embarrassing hero nickname? Isn’t it ‘Mugunghwa Boy’?”