Chapter 103

1.

Steve Rogers, Captain America.

Once a popular hero in the Marvel hero movies back in the previous Earth’s era. If you’re part of Korea’s young generation – specifically those who’ve experienced any form of cultural life – nine out of ten would likely have heard this name.

The hero group from Marvel, ‘The Avengers.’

A leading figure in that group alongside Iron Man forms the two pillars of the organization. He is the quintessential model of heroism.

Captain America is characterized as follows:

A Super Soldier wearing a blue suit and wielding a shield reminiscent of the American flag, fighting with unparalleled combat skills, judgment, countless battlefield experiences, and intuitive insight. Beyond that, he possesses an unyielding spirit.

The noble beliefs and ideals Captain America displayed are the very roots and reasons he is called a “hero.”

…Some people refer to Captain’s certain actions with the derogatory term ‘Blue Skull,’ but the ideals, beliefs, and spirit he embodies are undoubtedly worth looking up to.

The figure most befitting the word ‘Hero.’

That was ‘Captain America.’

And at the same time… he was also someone from whom I learned many profound spiritual insights.

Even before he became a super soldier, during his weakest phase in the past, he possessed pure ideals and spirit.

He understood the principles of right and wrong, knew what true justice was, and was intrinsically spiritually complete even if his body wasn’t.

Is it because of that?

I was awestruck watching the sight of a girl trembling yet standing up to terrorists.

Introducing herself with a trembling voice as an elite of the Justice Realization Department, she never lowered her weapon or dimmed her gaze against them.

She was tense and prepared to fight the enemies in front of her instantly, even while fearing their evil.

“……Impressive.”

Her spirit was undoubtedly not as strong as Captain’s.

Nor was her body extraordinary like Hulk’s or Spider-Man’s.

Her slight build, a spirit weighed down by malice, every action filled with fear and quivering, and a gaze that swayed.

Nothing in her appearance resembled a hero, but she possessed enough courage to overshadow all that.

She carried a firm belief in realizing justice.

So…

“That’s enough for now. The rest… you can grow into slowly.”

“EH? What- Eh?! S, Silk?!”

“A promising one to look forward to. It’s good to see someone like you in Trinity Academy.”

Beside her, a small girl who was regretting stepping out alone turned her widened eyes toward me.

I saw the faces of the terrorists, who were reacting with hostility toward Koharu, rapidly turn pale.

“The courage to stand against injustice and fear. That, in itself, is the virtue of a hero.”

“…”

“Never lose this spirit. And… keep growing your own strength. So that this courage of yours doesn’t remain mere brashness.”

Objectively speaking, the girl’s actions just now were impulsive reactions driven by emotions.

To me, it was evident courage, but others might call it a rash impulse.

That’s why, for her actions not to be dismissed as mere recklessness, she needs to strengthen her own power.

There’s a saying: “Power without justice is tyranny, and justice without power is impotence.”

The girl in front of me, ‘Shimoe Koharu,’ started showing a strangely delighted reaction despite being surprised at my appearance.

“Yes, yes…!”

Her face brightened instantly upon my arrival, though it seemed hard for her to openly smile.

I chuckled a little as I stepped in front of Koharu.

“I’ll help this time.”

“…Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

…Koharu’s response was incredibly adorable.

Afterward, the fresh reactions from the protagonist of the ‘Eden Treaty’ storyline were fairly intriguing, but… I couldn’t gaze at the scene for too long.

“Damn it! Why is Silk here…!”

“They’re running away!”

They started to flee, turning their backs as they didn’t welcome my appearance.

I tapped Koharu’s shoulder lightly and said I’ll check back later, then kicked off strongly.

Bang─!!

Surrounding my whole body with Ki, it bestowed an omnipotent sensation, enhancing my physical capabilities. Now, my movement ability was almost Hulk-level, and the distance to my enemies was closing rapidly.

“All of you, stay still.”

“Shi, SHIT─!!”

“Don’t come! Stay awayyyyy!”

In a flash, the distance was closed, and the terrorists screamed like children having seen a ghost.

They aimed their guns at me, but with a light punch, I sent each barrel bowing in a polite 90-degree salute.

Even the guns seemed to have impeccable Trinity ladylike manners, making the terrorists’ cries grow harsher.

“KIIYAAAH! You monstrous brat! Get out of hereeee!”

“Hey, does it feel like I’m tormenting you?”

“That’s right, you lunatic!!”

“Save us! Save us! Save us!”

“Great.”

I chuckled exasperatedly, and they seemed to take it as an opportunity to start mounting the motorcycles they’d brought.

Did they think I was letting my guard down?

Or were they simply of the “either fight or flight” mentality?

Whatever the case, it didn’t matter.

“I did tell you all to stay still.”

Chhak-!

Firing a web strand was faster than they could start their motorcycles.

Not stopping there, I ensnared the guns they were carrying, the helmets and equipment they had on, and tied up their bodies too with webbing, securing them all to the lampposts.

Chhak-!

Chhak-!

As if playing a claw game, I even gagged their mouths with webbing while they were strung up on the lampposts.

“Done.”

The situation ended quickly.

Even the citizens caught up in the terrorist act were now watching me with a mix of dumbstruck and admiring expressions, as everything wrapped up in an instant.

Of course, it was to be expected from Trinity.

In another place, they might have been cheering me on for wrapping it up quickly, but it’s still not familiar here, so they react this way.

‘With Ki, there’s no way it can be slow.’

Now, I could easily suppress such small-scale disturbances.

In the first place, these guys weren’t real villains but mere criminals.

I turned to Koharu, who was gleaming her eyes at me from nearby, amidst the astonished stares and applause raining down from all sides.

“What do you think?”

“Umm… it was cool…”

“Haha. That’s a relief.”

Frankly, I was trying to strike a pose. If I told her to leave it “to me” and then took too long, there would be nothing as embarrassing.

Fortunately, Koharu seemed impressed with my performance.

Satisfying.

“Remember this incident. Keep the mindset you just had. I look forward to seeing what’s next, Koharu.”

“Wha… do you know my name?!”

How couldn’t I?

The protagonist of the ‘Eden Treaty’ storyline? No way I wouldn’t know!

…Of course, I didn’t say that.

I just smiled meaningfully and lightly patted her hair, leaving her to ponder.

“Trust me. We’ll see each other again, Koharu.”

“Yes, yes…!”

Though I stepped in unintentionally after witnessing her heroic moment, I had no regrets.

At least, I had seen some hope.

At the same time, through Koharu, I saw glimpses of changes I’d helped bring about.

The issues of Trinity, the issues of Gehenna.

The conflict, hatred, and disputes between these two academies.

They weren’t within my scope of resolution.

They need to change spontaneously from within.

I can’t go around doling out beatings to every venomous person, can I?

My goal is to plant seeds.

Whereas I subdued the horrors of Gehenna by silencing its chaos and fear, here, I intended to instill a sense of pure justice.

Seeing the responses of Koharu and the Justice Realization Department, I began to realize that I needn’t worry too much.

Why?

“Because of the goodwill and admiration the children showed towards me.”

As long as there was interest in heroes and the will to be just, there was still hope in this district.

Not kids who harbored both sides of good and evil but ones who held the starlight of pure justice in their hearts.

That was enough.

Approaching Koharu wasn’t to raise her directly but to gently push her along.

Even a small variable can change the story.

I didn’t need to go so far as to take over and transform everything about Koharu myself.

If just by creating a slight change in her mindset, I could bring a positive variable, the story would likely flow even smoother.

Just as Hifumi brought change to the city with her speeches, I believed Koharu, who was exceptionally just, could play a similar role.

So…

“That’s enough.”

There were still many concerns…

But for “right now,” it was sufficient.

I could intervene later for anything that comes up.

So…

“Shall we head back now?”

Having confirmed the bright stars firmly implanted in Trinity,

It was time to return.

And time to welcome a guest.

With that, I wrapped up my Trinity itinerary.

Now, it was time to meet the princess.

…

…

…

“Cool…”

As Silk left the scene, Koharu’s eyes gleamed.

Koharu felt a certain warm and strong sensation spreading throughout her body every time she saw Silk.

Heat rushed through her, and her heart pounded.

Thump—Thump—

That warm excitement planted a single desire in the originally timid girl’s heart.

A change amidst her self-blame and self-loathing that usually filled every inch of her mind.

Clutching her heart and blushing, she watched Silk’s retreating figure with a yearning look.

It wasn’t romantic love.

Something simpler, more fundamental.

It was a kind of thirst, the kind felt when one person looks at another.

She thought she wanted to be cool. She wanted to be praised by Silk again, like just now.

She wanted to be just like Silk…

Admiration.

Clearly, that was the name of the emotion.

At the same time, it was her longing, her ambition, and her hope — a fragment of emotion she didn’t originally have.

“Could I… really become a hero?”

Silk had said it.

Koharu possessed the virtue of a hero: ‘Courage’.

A talent that Koharu herself hadn’t yet discovered.

A shining star that wouldn’t have been noticed without Silk.

And it was also the untapped talent of the girl who was engrained with justice and faith, yet remained physically and mentally weak.

Therefore…

“I want to… be like Silk…”

From the moment someone noticed her talent, Koharu’s talent began to bloom at that very instant.

An indiscernible starlight had been planted somewhere along the way, growing more vivid and clear.

---