After a colossal beam of light pierced through the night sky, the swarms of lesser monsters naturally ceased their movements.
This was because Decarabia, the entity responsible for the monsters’ intelligence, had fallen.
The lesser monsters no longer relied on their fangs and claws. Like battery-depleted machinery, they stood still with their feet planted on the ground, blankly staring ahead.
“Another one found here! Please bring the stretcher quickly!”
The tactical forces that had briefly withdrawn quickly re-emerged to handle the aftermath of the incident. They transported the fallen Awakened individuals and journalists, who were still deep in slumber, to the nearby educational hospital and subsequently dealt with the remaining monsters one by one.
“Team Leader Lim Ga-eun of the 32nd Mobile Team under the 3rd Special Tactical Unit. Is Arna here?”
A woman dressed in a tight black combat uniform approached Arna. She was a middle-aged woman whose features hadn’t quite settled fully.
Arna stood up straight and responded energetically.
“Yes, I am Arna Kristin Dotir, affiliated with the Combat Division of Han-yul Military Academy.”
“There’s no need to be so formal. This isn’t a wartime situation, after all.”
Team Leader Lim Ga-eun removed her black helmet and smiled warmly.
“Thanks to you, we have survived. Without Arna, all the people lying here might have fallen victim. Thank you for saving us.”
“Ahhh, don’t mention it! There’s no need to bow! It wasn’t just me who did it… we had the support of the tactical team, and besides….”
Arna’s gaze drifted elsewhere. It landed on Shin Yoon-seong lying nearby, struggling for breath.
“If it weren’t for him… I might have fallen too, unable to do anything against the monster.”
While Arna was indeed the one who overpowered Decarabia, that was just the surface of the whole story.
In truth, the person who contributed the most to defeating Decarabia was Shin Yoon-seong, who was lying there.
“Come to think of it, the one who brought the earplugs was also this student. We borrowed them during our re-deployment process.”
Lim Ga-eun held out the earplugs. It was a brand-new product, the packaging still intact.
“Did you know from the start? About it being a variant?”
That was a question Arna also had. What was the basis for preparing the earplugs in advance?
“Occasionally, there are those with such abilities. The ones who can see things that ordinary people cannot. I believe this student might be one of them.”
So, Shin Yoon-seong had such abilities?
Until now, Shin Yoon-seong was someone who was nothing but a laughingstock to others. He would always come charging at Arna wielding a ridiculous spoon.
Everyone pointed fingers, calling him foolish.
“Though it might just look like a pitiable spoon, to we non-Awakened, he’s a hero, and he’s also a source of hope.”
Hero. It was a term Arna had heard countless times. People praised and revered her as the sole hero who would save the world.
But a hero isn’t necessarily someone who possesses superior skills or a high awakening rank.
If you can bring a little bit of hope to someone, then we can all be heroes.
It doesn’t have to be a flashy sword. Even a small spoon is enough. If you can save people with it, then that’s what makes you a hero.
That’s what Shin Yoon-seong proved.
A hero isn’t some grand, overwhelming presence.
“Then, we’ll leave the cleanup to our tactical team. You Awakened individuals may withdraw.”
Team Leader Lim Ga-eun put her helmet back on and headed back to the scene.
“….”
Left alone, Arna hesitated, unsure of where to go, but eventually made her way toward Shin Yoon-seong, who was still resting.
There was something she still hadn’t been able to say to him.
“Huff… Huff…”
“Even though the situation’s over, you’re still panting?”
Shin Yoon-seong remained sprawled on the ground, unable to move even an inch.
“How far exactly did you run?”
“It’s not from running. It’s all because of you, Arna.”
“Excuse me?”
Arna tilted her head in wonder. “It’s because of me?”
Shin Yoon-seong let out a tirade.
“You, what exactly is your weight? All my strength vanished just from carrying your massive frame! I’ve never carried anything as heavy as you. Moving an elephant would have been easier.”
“What… what… what are you saying…?”
Even Arna, who was the top student at Han-yul Military Academy and acclaimed as the world’s hero, had something she had trouble discussing: her weight.
And how her weight was something she couldn’t easily control.
But what could she do? The world was filled with delicious food that even she couldn’t resist.
“It… it’s not that I’m heavy! It’s all… all because of my chest! It’s because my chest is too big!”
“Hmph. Now you’re making excuses about your excessive bosom. A hero with such silver-tongued skills.”
“But… bosom…! Is that something you can say to a woman…!?”
“I’ve never thought of you as a woman.”
“….”
Of course. Shin Yoon-seong was always like this.
She had hoped that her perception of him would change a bit after this battle, but it was a mistake to think so.
“Hmph! Here, take your spoon back.”
Arna stuck out her bottom lip and retrieved the spoon, but Shin Yoon-seong made no move to take it.
“I can’t even move my arm.”
“Ugh, honestly.”
Arna placed the spoon directly into Shin Yoon-seong’s jacket pocket herself, then tapped his chest a couple of times.
“Thud. Thud.”
“There, it’s safely tucked in. Remember that.”
“Ugh… You women with just big… chest tissue.”
“Sorry, my chest is too big.”
Seeing the situation winding down, Arna stretched her arms wide. This night breeze felt particularly pleasant tonight.
This peaceful night was possible only because Shin Yoon-seong was there. Thanks to him, she could experience this calm evening.
Even Arna, who disliked Shin Yoon-seong, had to express her gratitude this time.
It was time to say it.
“Thank you… Thanks to you, we were able to save everyone.”
With the heightened sensitivity of the night, it felt a little embarrassing. Her body started feeling ticklish, and she unconsciously wiggled her toes.
This was a first for her.
“But that aside…”
Shin Yoon-seong had no patience for the evening’s gentle ambiance.
As always, with his cold and unfeeling tone, he replied.
“Can you call an ambulance right now? I can’t even get up.”
“….”
What could she do with someone like this? Just when she wanted to express a little warmth, he made her lose all intention to do so.
He was truly irritating.
*
“Understand? Write it centered around student Arna. Exclude other people.”
Deep into the early morning, Instructor Kim Dong-hak sat alone in the empty office, diligently typing away at the keyboard.
He still had overtime tasks to complete. He had to finish the accident report for the Hero Management Department before leaving.
Tap. Tap.
Just writing down what he’d heard should easily complete this task, but why was he still here at this hour, clinging to the computer?
It was all because of Principal Lee Min-ho. Due to his ridiculous instruction to highlight Arna more, he was currently fabricating countless fictitious facts.
“Is it a report I’m writing right now, or a movie script?”
Using the words of the younger generation, he was starting to have a “life crisis.” It was simply too much. Could this even be considered an official report?
It was true that the one who finished it all was Arna. She took down Decarabia with a single blow – fitting for the hero the world was expecting.
But there’s one significant fact to note.
It wasn’t Arna’s solo show from start to finish. There was a figure in the background who played a pivotal role: Shin Yoon-seong.
Thanks to Shin Yoon-seong’s support, this operation was completed successfully.
“….”
Shin Yoon-seong, a second-year student of the Combat Division.
As a C-rank Awakened individual, he was otherwise an unremarkable student. Neither physically nor technically did he possess any outstanding qualities.
The only noteworthy feature about him was his spoon. In that regard, he outshone everyone.
Imagine this: while others wielded swords and spears, he alone clutched a rice spoon. Some may have laughed at his spoon.
However…
That spoon completely overturned the entire situation. It accomplished what no sword or spear ever could.
Perhaps even more power was hidden within that spoon. It wasn’t something to be taken lightly.
“Still…”
There was a lingering dissatisfaction with the current state of the report. Perhaps it was necessary to include the performance of the “spoon boy.”
Instructor Kim Dong-hak adjusted his posture and resumed typing on the keyboard.
“Hahh…”
While imagining Principal Lee Min-ho’s angry face tomorrow.
