Former Hero Streamer – Chapter 215

Chapter 16: A Streamer’s Journey

“How’s it going? Feeling a bit calmer now?”

Jihye, who had been watching the kids beside me, asked quietly.

“Calmer…? I don’t know if this can even be called calm.”

It felt like I’d crossed beyond calm and ended up in a state of complete numbness.

The warmth of the hot spring seeped into my skin, relaxing my whole body in a languid embrace.

I could easily block it out, but instead, I accepted it fully, letting my entire body soak it in.

The soothing sensation flowing through my peripheral nerves and spine wrapped my thoughts in a thick haze of steam.

As the colorful thoughts in my mind blended into a white pastel, I allowed myself to sink deeper into the warmth.

“My head’s so foggy, I can hardly think. It’s like I can’t focus on anything. My whole body feels so weak.”

“Hey, either way, it’s way better than yesterday, ain’t it?”

Is that so? My previous state must have looked so pathetic under everyone’s gaze that this sluggishness seemed preferable.

“So, what did that girl Eunha say? I know the situation’s dire, but what more did she say to make our boss end up like this?”

“Well, it’s kinda like a ramble, really.”

I recounted to Jihye what Eunha had said that day.

It was a long story, but there was no need to condense or alter it; I just told it as it was.

Jihye listened silently, her reaction plain.

“Well, it’s true that Eunha’s in a tough spot… but isn’t she being a bit too guilt-ridden?”

“……”

“Sehee can’t really change things. I actually think she’s doing the utmost she can. If she were really cold-hearted or an efficiency freak, she would’ve just taken Eunha’s head to stop the Demon King, right?”

As I swirled my fingers in the hot spring water, it formed a little vortex, which made me think I might get sucked in. Unable to hold back, I revealed what I had buried deep in my heart.

“I… have killed a Hero before.”

“…Huh?”

Leaving a bewildered Jihye behind, I stared aimlessly at the sky ahead.

“I was the second summoned to that world. The first ended up becoming a puppet for the Demon King, and in the end, we had to clash swords.”

“I’ve never heard that before. Sehee’s Hero days?”

Maybe, in a way, I was the one confessing my sins.

I cupped some hot spring water in my palms and splashed it on my face.

With my face and palms touching, I remained still.

I felt a sort of self-punishment, like a headless chicken.

“As they were dying in my hands, they said thank you. I still remember their expression. I often think that if I had done better back then, I might have been able to save that Hero. But….”

“……”

“Eunha keeps reminding me of that Hero from back then.”

This might just be Hero PTSD, and it’s also why I couldn’t respond to Eunha’s confession.

They might be different people with different voices, but the appearance of that day bore too similar a resemblance, twisting my sense of reality.

“Ah, so it’s wearing you down.”

Though my palms covered my face, I could tell Jihye was speaking calmly, gazing ahead.

Then she stretched her limbs as if to awaken her slumped muscles.

“Oops! Ahh, that feels good. Anyway, I told you before, right?”

“What about?”

With Jihye’s finger poking my cheek, I lowered my palm and met her gaze.

She was smiling confidently, looking at me with her clear eyes. She seemed even clearer than the hot spring where we were submerged… and oddly, I felt a twinge of jealousy.

“We’re humans before we are Heroes. Isn’t it natural to have troubles? If you keep whining, being nice can become an illness, you know?”

“……”

“In the end, it all comes down to emotions. Heroes seize things, right? It’s not like you to be scared before even starting. Or are you actually that much of a coward?”

“I am not!”

Feeling like I was caught off-guard, I cowardly turned away.

There certainly was only one way to save Eunha. If the Demon King synchronizes with Eunha’s body as a medium… I have to separate the Demon King from Eunha and take him down.

Our only plan was slowly starting to slip away.

It’s a task of a different difficulty than simply breaking a curse.

Maybe… the worst situation, like last time when I held a dying Hero in my arms, could happen again. That thought scared me.

But…

“You’re right. And don’t worry too much. Back then, you were alone, but now it’s different.”

“……”

“Sure, we may have turned into losers because of the world’s unfairness, but just like you saved us, we’re right here beside you. Eunha will think the same. So, let’s not carry heavy hearts and charge ahead with smiles. Just go with the flow.”

“Go with the flow?”

Her confident tone left me stunned as I looked at Jihye and the other Heroes.

A Hero isn’t someone who stands alone; regardless of strength, they are one person who protects and is protected by others.

Ah, I see. You all are my Heroes, and I’ve only just realized it.

“Jihye, you… really know how to say beautiful things.”

“Well, of course. I’m the one responsible for our essentials.”

“What? That’s….”

Realizing a fundamental truth that I had buried in the past, I felt lighthearted.

That’s when it happened.

“Yeeah~! I’m moved, howling from the east to west! It was a good story. Thank you, Sehee. Thank you, Jihye.”

“Pfft!”

Dressed in a colorful bikini, Baebae clapped her hands while wiping away tears, filling the space with absurdity.

Who on earth could keep a straight face after seeing that… and before I knew it, laughter I had bottled up burst forth.

* * *

The brief hot spring respite wrapped up refreshingly.

Dinner time brought an extravagant feast piled high with an array of delicacies, so much so that I worried the table might break.

The outdoor hot spring area sprawled out ahead, with a gentle mist lingering in the air.

Eating while gazing at the pristine hot spring and the night sky behind it would surely whet anyone’s appetite.

Whenever money was involved, associating with Sehee always meant abundance. But this serene atmosphere felt fresh since that camping stream, and everyone looked lively.

Sehee, who had been quietly observing, soon gathered her thoughts and stepped forward.

“I’ve got something to say.”

“Huh?”

“Yeeah~?”

With all eyes on her, I cleared my throat awkwardly, likely recalling the conversation I had with Jihye earlier.

Still, I knew I couldn’t stop here. This was for them, after all. Probably.

“It’s about Eunha… but first, I want to say two things.”

As soon as Sehee spoke Eunha’s name, everyone straightened up, preparing to listen.

At least her mentioning that name meant she had something important to share as a Hero.

“First, I’m going to negotiate with this world to lift our restrictions as Heroes. If I make the request, they’ll comply. If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask that bastard to drop in.”

“…?!”

“Whoa, is a Hero making a comeback at last?”

“Or should we say an ex-Hero?”

“Unlimited cloning possible!”

Everyone perked up, excited at the prospect of regaining their lost powers and shaking off the lethargy they had been feeling.

Sehee knew everyone had been struggling emotionally with the loss of their strength, even if they didn’t show it on the outside.

“Wait, was it that simple?”

Park Dayoung, seemingly puzzled, raised her hand.

After struggling so much, it couldn’t be that easy now.

Understanding her feelings, Sehee sighed softly.

“Normally, my requests wouldn’t go through. But this time is different. We can’t overlook an invader coming into our world.”

“Well, if you say so, sis…”

“But is the one coming over that powerful?”

“Taking them down would be simple if it’s just a hunt. But if we plan to save Eunha, it’s better to work in numbers. We need to minimize collateral damage and be prepared for anything. The world knows this, so they’ll cooperate.”

“Woohoo, let’s catch the Demon King and ride that momentum to pacify the North! Yeeah~.”

*Clang!*

As Baebae fell unconscious with a Y-shaped crack in her skull from the summoned Holy Sword, Sehee decided to move on to the next topic.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if everyone would understand or agree with this request, but it was better than keeping it bottled up.

“Second….”

Turning her head side to side, Sehee took a deep breath as she looked into everyone’s eyes.

“This might be a sensitive topic, but I hope you’ll hear me out. Like Jihye said, I think we should deal with things comfortably instead of bottling them up. So here goes….”

“I sense a big development coming here.”

Sehee nodded at Yuri’s eager remark.

It was indeed big.

“I plan to stream the process of taking down the Demon King. You know, a bit of an unveiling for my Hero days.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“…Hmm.”

“Oh.”

“Yeeah~. What could possibly go wrong…”

*Clang!*

With the sound of bones breaking, Baebae collapsed again, and I felt various emotions prickling my skin.

Surprise.

Shock.

Calm.

Amazement.

“So, it’s like that.”

Caught in this whirlwind of emotions, I scratched my neck awkwardly.

“An ex-Hero streamer?”

Since I’m going to take it easy, I’ll go for maximum exposure, my way.