〈 Chapter 10, Part 1, Episode 9 〉
“Wow, there aren’t any buses going to Seoul?”
I lounged on the rooftop of the terminal flipping through a random newspaper. The pages were filled with all sorts of news, but especially abundant were stories about Monsters and Heroes.
‘I really need to get a smartphone soon.’
In this information age, nothing makes you feel more disconnected than being cut off from the digital world. Isn’t it the 21st century where the world can change overnight in just a year?
“Hmm…this place…”
I scanned my surroundings. It was a typical modern city, though battle scars were evident everywhere.
The city is dying.
If this major metropolitan area next to Seoul is in such bad shape, I can only imagine the state of other cities.
‘And some places have Monsters nesting in government buildings too.’
At least Incheon has Hero Association members stationed at the city hall keeping things under control. Though by the start of the original story, even Incheon falls to the Monsters.
‘Only five years left?’
The newspaper date read April 3, 2020. Assuming this is today’s paper, that means we’re about five years away from the start of the original timeline.
‘Tighter schedule than I thought.’
While it’s not the worst-case scenario where the original events have already begun, five years isn’t as long as it seems.
The original story definitively begins in Spring 2025. Without any special incidents, that’s when things will unfold.
‘I need to recover all the fragments and find a way to survive.’
I’m constantly amazed at how extraordinary the Protagonist was. In just one year – actually around ten months – they gained wealth, power, love, and saved the world on the side.
‘I’d like to just let the original story play out, but…’
This world runs on visual novel mechanics. There are proper “choices” to be made and correct paths to follow to reach the true ending.
In the game, I played as the protagonist, but now I’m not the main character. Now I’m Villain A, destined to sacrifice myself for the protagonist.
‘Maybe I’ll have to raise the protagonist myself.’
Princess Maker, no, Hero Maker here I come. I neatly folded the newspaper and stood up from the chair.
“……?”
Suddenly, a shadow fell over me.
“Student, looking for a bus to New Seoul, right?”
A smug-looking blonde Young Man appeared with a friendly smile. His skin was slightly tanned, as if he’d been sunbathing at the beach.
‘Who’s this guy?’
I started to ignore him but changed my mind and responded.
“Yes, I have business in New Seoul…”
“Got your ticket number? Let me see. Hmm, 5000 series? No way. Even with connections, it’ll take at least three months.”
“Really?”
Though I already knew, I played along. The man patted my shoulder and grinned broadly.
Should I just cut him down?
“That’s right! Thousands of people want to go to New Seoul every day. You saw that sister earlier crying when she got kicked off, right?”
He lowered his voice.
“So anyway, we provide vehicles to New Seoul for those unfortunate folks…”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
When I interrupted him, his eyebrows twitched slightly. But he shrugged nonchalantly.
“If the government says it’s illegal, then it’s illegal, right? But come on, would they really shoot at refugees coming from Monster attacks? We’re all part of the same nation.”
That’s true. They wouldn’t shoot. Not with guns.
“If you’re a law-abiding good kid who respects the rules, I won’t pressure you further. But student, among those running transport to New Seoul, do you know who offers the best deal?”
He smiled brightly while pinching his thumb and index finger together. I snickered inwardly while maintaining an outward appearance of caution.
“…Will it really go to New Seoul?”
“That’s right! Just need a little money. So, student, how much do you have right now?”
I pulled out the two King Sejong bills Mr. Park gave me for fare.
“This is all I have…”
“Ah, that’s problematic. Way too short.”
The young man casually scanned me up and down. I considered plucking out his eyes for his insolence toward my Lovely Angel Bluebird.
“Hey, isn’t there another way?”
“There might be, but does the student have parents? Or a guardian of some sort?”
“My cousin sister is in New Seoul. My parents are…not around.”
When I said this in a tearful voice, the man put on a sympathetic face, though his darkened eyes betrayed sinister intentions.
After scratching his head awkwardly, he grabbed my wrist and led me away.
“Can’t be helped. Let’s go. I’ll try pleading on your behalf-”
“Excuse me.”
I firmly gripped the hand holding my wrist and smiled sweetly.
“Did anyone say it was okay to touch me?”
“What?”
The man furrowed his brow in confusion.
I simply smiled gently and then…
POW!
I kicked him in the groin after releasing his grip on my wrist.
CRACK
With the sound of something precious being crushed, the man collapsed without even a scream.
“Seok-pil!!”
“What the hell is wrong with this crazy girl?!”
The men hiding behind the door rushed out, foaming at the mouth as they supported the fallen blonde youth.
‘When did you catch on?!’
‘From the beginning.’
‘How?! Our plan was perfect?!’
I could already predict this exchange.
Sighing deeply inside, I looked sympathetically at the blonde youth.
‘Blonde hair and bronze skin equals 100% hitomi eyes.’
Let me make this clear: this world isn’t an open-world RPG or post-apocalypse setting. It’s a 19+ visual novel.
Not the pure romance type either, but one filled with all kinds of 19+ tags. You need to roll your eyes dramatically to survive here.
“To think someone would try something with a high school girl who doesn’t have money. I’d rather wait than go with people like you. I’m calling the police.”
Then, toward those who dared to lust after Phoenix Sir’s sacred body, let the flames of justice (public authority) burn-
“Hey crazy girl! If you don’t have money, just ask your cousin sister to send it!”
“Eh?”
There was a hint of委屈in the eyes of the companion holding the unconscious blonde youth.
“Um…what’s going on?”
A woman carrying a bundle appeared from downstairs. She had been forcibly removed from the bus earlier.
“N-Nee-san, wait a moment. Right now Seok-pil…”
“Huh?! Pull yourself together!”
In the terminal corridor, a man lay on a chair letting out silent screams. All I could do was stand awkwardly nearby without saying a word.
“It’s…not right…”
I fidgeted with my fingers and looked up at the sky.
The sky was perfectly clear without a single cloud.
* * *
“Nice to meet you, student. I’m Sang-a Kim.”
The middle-aged woman introducing herself as Sang-a Kim habitually pulled out a business card.
The gold-embossed card read “Raon Law Firm Attorney Sang-a Kim.”
“You’re an attorney? But…”
At my surprised question, Sang-a Kim bitterly smiled.
“Did you see something unpleasant? Sorry about that. This is really precious to me.”
Sang-a Kim pulled out an album from her bundle.
“It’s my ex-husband and daughter. After the divorce, my husband went back to Busan. Our daughter is with him now.”
“You’re going to New Seoul because…”
She nodded.
“Yes. Before Pyongyang happened, her dad took her to Busan for sightseeing. She’s been staying there since.”
Sang-a Kim’s hands, which flipped through the photo album, were full of calluses that didn’t seem fitting for an attorney.
“…Then, I decided to go there too since Incheon doesn’t seem livable anymore. It’s embarrassing to go to my ex, but…”
“If it’s New Seoul, maybe… But it’s a neighborhood where Monsters rampage every three days. It must be hard for attorneys to make money like before.”
Judging from her worn-out clothes, she probably hasn’t practiced law for nearly a year. She must be going to rely on her ex now that her money is almost gone.
“Th-Then why is the student going to New Seoul? Also a refugee?”
At Sang-a Kim’s question, I told her the background story I had prepared.
“My cousin sister works in New Seoul.”
“Parents?”
“…….”
“…Sorry. That was inappropriate of me.”
It’s convenient how people automatically misunderstand when you act like you have a tragic backstory. Is this the power of a school uniform?
“By the way, your hair color is quite unique. Are you a Hero?”
Sang-a Kim enthusiastically smiled and continued the conversation.
Well, of course. Who wouldn’t expect to find a run-down office straight out of a yakuza movie with a lone woman inside? She’s probably making small talk to ease her unease having me here.
” Dyed.”
“Oh, I see. Your eyebrows match the color so I thought you had awakened as a Hero. Like Princess Suhwa whose hair and eyes are that snowy white color.”
“That’s true.”
It’s a common tale that Heroes who awaken to their Special Abilities experience changes in their body hair color. Thanks to that, my blue hair stands out somewhat but isn’t unusually strange.
“Awakening as a Hero.”
Old man Park mistook me for a Hero. I briefly considered registering as one and starting Hero activities.
“Ah, does the student want to become a Hero too?”
“Having power is definitely better in this crazy world.”
Sang-a Kim nodded after taking a sip of green tea.
“That’s right. The days when everything could be solved with money are gone. While Korea is in this state, do you know what kind of treatment Heroes receive in America or Europe?”
“State-managed human scavengers?”
I recited the answer from the original story’s protagonist’s choice.
Sang-a Kim wagged her index finger with a look of disdain.
“Idols. Superstars. Icons. They literally become humanity’s ‘Heroes’. Student, you should cultivate a bit more sensitivity.”
Should I argue with someone I just met about this? I decided against it.
“Right. Sensitivity.”
“That’s right. The more desolate the world becomes, the more important it is to share humanity between people…”
“Excuse me, may I ask something?”
I deliberately interrupted Sang-a Kim. Though she looked quite displeased, I ignored it and asked my question.
“In this desolate world, how should one live as a person?”
“Such an unexpected question.”
As Sang-a Kim pondered, I clarified the situation further.
“For example, if all I have is my body and life is unbearably tough, how would Attorney Sang-a wish to survive in this crazy world?”
“Hmm…it somehow feels related to my situation.”
Sang-a Kim hugged her bundle with self-deprecating humor.
“I’d probably not care about means or methods. I’d do anything to pass through New Seoul and get to Busan where my daughter is.”
“…”
“A. To clarify in case there’s any misunderstanding, I mean within legal boundaries, of course. Would I ever break the law? I’m a legal professional.”
“I see.”
I turned my head toward the window and closed my mouth. Though Sang-a Kim tried to engage me in conversation with signs of restlessness, I ignored her and kept looking out the window.
‘Not caring about means or methods.’
Does that include inhumane crimes? I wanted to ask directly but decided against it.
‘Soon enough I’ll find out anyway.’
Both Sang-a Kim and I silently waited in the office where the young men had led us. Whether they’re genuine brokers to New Seoul or the first example of this decaying world’s darker side remains to be seen.
‘Doesn’t matter either way.’
“If it gets annoying, I can just kill them all.”
“Huh?”
“It’s just talking to myself. Don’t worry about it.”
I waved to reassure the startled Sang-a Kim. She was subtly moving her bottom on the sofa to create distance from me.
“Y-You’re an Ability User…?”
BANG!
The office door opened. After giving Sang-a Kim a quick glance, I smiled faintly at the young men entering.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Truly.
