221 – Radical Justice Hero #1
The advancement of science and technology has given humanity hope.
However, the world does not consist solely of positive events.
“There are always bad people.”
Recently, what has been troubling the 21st century?
Rapid global warming due to climate anomalies?
Conflicts of ideology and thought?
While those exist, if I were to pinpoint the most practical and immediate issues, I would put the criminal acts of delinquent Awakened individuals at the forefront.
Awakened individuals were people who realized and trained unique abilities different from ordinary humans.
Some possessed such powerful physical capabilities that they could run 100 meters in 7 seconds, 5 seconds, and even as fast as 1 second, while others could conjure flames from their hands or unleash lightning.
It would be great if such powers could be used altruistically, pragmatically, and humanely, but as I just muttered to myself, there are many bad people in this world.
The same applies to the Awakened.
Villains.
A term that refers to the role of the evildoer in comics or movies.
People began to call Awakened individuals who committed crimes “villains,” and that term has become entrenched, easily found in today’s news or newspapers.
There are various villains in this world.
I hear there are even villain organizations.
If I were to name some, there’s the “Patriots” in America, the “Psycho Shockers” in Japan, the “Iron Blood Brigade” in Germany, the “Old Communist Party” in China, and the “Jihadists” in the Middle East, among others.
In Korea, the first-generation Awakened who caused terror at the Gangneung sea along with several Awakened groups were also noted as villain organizations.
Even now, lower-tier Awakened individuals are reportedly clandestinely engaging in illegal activities with various organizations.
Of course, Korea strictly controls Awakened individuals, registers their identities, and manages them vigorously at the state level, which is why there are relatively few villain organizations.
Anyway.
What I wanted to say was this.
“The woman with the beak mask is a villain.”
I had encountered a woman wearing a beak-shaped mask and a man with a mechanical arm in various issues I had experienced, such as the Nymph Illinois gang incidents and the Elf luxury cruise terrorism.
They were thoroughly hiding their identities and seemed to be indulging in acts of terrorism.
They were likely part of an organization.
A villain organization active globally, centered around Korea.
“Someone was watching me…?”
I had already suspected all day that someone was watching the squirrel beast I had become through the new technique “Wild Sense,” borrowed from Kkungkkungi’s magic, which heightened my senses.
“Is a villain organization monitoring me…?”
It was a plausible story.
I was recently a high A-Ranker.
From the perspective of villains committing all sorts of evil deeds, someone like me, Haildo, would likely be a future enemy.
So, it would be possible for them to secretly monitor and, if necessary, plot against me.
“Shall I track them down?”
Thirty people.
That was the estimated number of ordinary people who could be harmed before the Awakened suppression team was deployed when an F-rank Awakened individual initiated a mass stabbing.
The higher the rank of the Awakened, the greater that number would become.
And I believed that the woman with the beak and the man with the mechanical arm were at least A-rank beings. What if such individuals could move about the world as they pleased?
“The common people and ordinary citizens can’t sleep peacefully, fearing when they might lose their lives, families, and loved ones.”
I knew well the sorrow of society being stifled by fear of indiscriminate crime. In such situations, fewer people would venture out on the streets, economies would collapse, societies and families would disintegrate, and in the end, there could be a world war that would cause suffering for countless people.
That’s why I decided to go after the villains.
The method for finding them was simple.
Sniff, sniff.
I just needed to follow the scent.
Chasing the traces and scent of the woman with the beak mask.
“Kkungkkungi, bang bang, Ahn Ahn. Let’s go!”
━Kkungkkungi…!
━Hiooong…!
━Zzi…!
I carefully placed the small animals in my outer coat pocket and set off energetically.
# # #
“Magic deployment.”
I drew on Kkungkkungi’s magic to deploy my own.
Then, I distinctly felt my senses strengthen as if resonating with the squirrel.
“I smell something.”
Squirrel olfaction is particularly remarkable.
Unlike a human’s nose, which tires easily, a squirrel’s sense of smell does not fatigue easily and can accurately locate the desired scent among countless olfactory signals.
It was as if the scents were connected by thin threads.
“So, this is why squirrels can remember and find the acorns they buried for winter. This is how they can also find whispering coins. Incredible.”
Swish, swish.
I gently patted Kkungkkungi, who had climbed onto my shoulder.
Kkungkkungi barked happily; it seemed it was content, as I sensed from my experience as a former squirrel.
Anyway.
Following the scent of the beak woman, I arrived at a dilapidated fruit storage warehouse located in a remote area of the primordial village.
Of course, what was stored inside the warehouse weren’t fruits, but various materials I had roughly thrown together over the past year after entering and exiting the fissure.
Why? Men tend to collect cables and wires they might use someday, right?
It was the same for this place, where I had stored materials I might use one day, a place that was indeed very cluttered and disorganized.
I prepared myself to get dusty and slowly opened the warehouse door, covering my nose with my palm.
Creeeak-.
I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sight that unfolded before me.
The haphazardly cluttered warehouse was organized! Items were stacked neatly according to their similarities, dust was properly cleaned, and there was even ample space left over!
“Ahn Ahn, did you tidy this up?”
Honey ants were known for their love of organization.
Recent academia pointed to the fact that the desire of honey ant knights and soldiers to align themselves in precise formations was due to their preference for cleanliness and order.
But Ahn Ahn shook its head from side to side.
━Zzi…!
Zzi.
I still didn’t know exactly what that meant, but it likely meant something like, “I didn’t do it…!”
Well, this warehouse was beyond Ahn Ahn’s active radius.
“So, that means the woman did this…!?”
I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought that the woman with the beak mask had organized my warehouse.
Perhaps the feeling of a young man witnessing a sudden guest setting the table could be similar to how I felt now—both astonished and frightened.
After all, it would be surprising if a shell suddenly transformed into a human.
Just as astounding as me turning into a squirrel.
“Wait… Transformation….”
I suddenly thought that the beak woman might be a Nymph transformed into a shell.
In ancient tales, the true identity of the shell woman was said to be the daughter of the dragon king who had been punished and banished, right?
The dragon king could refer to Poseidon or his son Triton, and the mermaid princess in fairy tales was also the daughter of Triton.
And mermaids are typically classified as “Nymphs of the Sea,” right?
So, that meant the shell woman was indeed a Nymph.
━Don’t be surprised. I am OinOi.
If an ancient person were to see a Nymph, they would undoubtedly be astonished.
I was truly amazed when I saw an OinOi rummaging through a trash can.
“No… this isn’t it.”
I shook my head vigorously.
My consciousness drifted away in a flow of thought I never expected, swept away by the current.
“Did she perhaps steal some items?”
I didn’t think she simply tidied up my warehouse. There would be no reason for her to do that. She must have either stolen something from my warehouse or gathered my information.
So, I inspected the neatly organized items in the warehouse, and everything matched up perfectly with what I remembered regarding quantity and amount.
“How can this be…!?”
In the situation where nothing was missing, I instead felt an eerie chill.
“Why would she do such a thing…!?”
It felt like a warning! “Haildo, we know the condition of everything in your old warehouse, right down to the smallest item….”
I couldn’t calm my racing heart.
If the bad villains were targeting my family…!?
“Ahn Ahn, I’m really worried about my family and acquaintances. Can we deploy honey ant knights to keep watch for a while?”
━Zzi…!
Ahn Ahn was the queen ant of the honey ants.
Buuuu-.
As the queen ant flapped its wings, several shiny silver-armored ants suddenly appeared from somewhere in response to the sound.
━Gyuji…!
━Dooji…!
It was Gyuji and Dooji.
They were veteran knight ants, and as Ahn Ahn uttered ━Zzi…! the knight ants flew off toward some direction.
About ten minutes later.
I received a call from my mother.
“Yildo, a bunch of ants have flown to our house? Are these honey ants? I saw them on MyTube…! They suddenly showed up at our house…! What should I feed them…!? Do we no longer need to do dishes or clean…!? Will they handle the laundry too…!?”
My mom’s voice was extremely excited.
As I understood, these days there is no companion animal as popular among college students or housewives as honey ants, and it seemed my mom had wanted a honey ant friend for a while.
“You can still do the laundry, cleaning, and dishes if you want, Mom.”
“I don’t want to do it!”
I see.
“By the way, is Chuseok coming up this year? You didn’t come the last two years because you were busy, right? Of course, I know you’re busier now still….”
“Chuseok….”
Chuseok.
I remembered that I hadn’t gone home for the Chuseok and Seollal holidays in recent years. I had filled in for duty and worked.
I had to earn money was one reason, but on the other hand, being a permanent D-ranker, I felt a bit ashamed to go back home and see my family, so I deliberately chose to work.
But… this year, it felt right to spend Chuseok with my family.
“I’ll make time to see you this Chuseok.”
“Really? Then how about we spend Chuseok at your place instead of ours? Your house is bigger, has more rooms, and is in the countryside! Plus, with Imp Barbar and Racoon Leaf, our house is cramped!”
It seemed like Imp Barbar and Racoon Leaf had recently moved in and were getting accustomed to our house.
Anyway.
I was relieved that my family was doing well.
I made plans for Chuseok and hung up the call.
With the honey ant knights and Imp Barbar, I felt somewhat reassured.
With that feeling, I returned to the well house only to find unexpected people waiting for me.
“Mr. Yildo, it’s a pleasure to meet you. We are from the broadcasting corporation TTS. We have some things to discuss regarding the entertainment program “I Survive Alone” that you decided to join.”
