*Sponsored by Joseph Gange ($30)
The Hero
Volume 5 – Silver Knight
Chapter 9
It was confusing to see what type of person Haneul of this world was. As time flows by and with the help of the people around him, Haneul was clear that this world’s Haneul was different from himself.
Suddenly, Haneul’s phone rang.
It was the reporter. It was a call regarding the interview that was to take place with himself and Ironman, the day after tomorrow.
Haneul accepted the call.
His heart was still feeling some conflict, as he was unsure as to what his strength was supposed to be used for. However, he felt like Ironman would be able to give him the answer.
There were many Heroes in this World that were still unknown.
Most of the Rank D and Rank C Heroes fit this category. It was very hard to raise their awareness, especially for the Rank D Heroes, which is why they weren’t able to make themselves aware to the World. At the least, Haneul had to dig through the website to even find anything regarding them.
For the most part, one could luckily gain popularity starting from the Rank C threshold. From that point on, they’re able to partic.i.p.ate in the battlefield and rack up points into their major.
Once time pa.s.ses, they would be able to interview with reporters and appear on the news.
Awareness is built up starting from that point on.
That’s why Ironman knew for a very long time now, that he would never appear on TV.
“S, s, so the thing is……W, Where my strength came from…….it, it, was from…….”
Ironman was laying in bed at the hospital, and because he was stuttering so much during the interview, the reporter swiped her hand. There was no point in continuing the interview right now, because there was no way they could post this interview up.
“Let’s rest a little while before we start again.”
“Okay……”
As the staff walked out from the room, Ironman released a sigh.
“Why are you so nervous?”
“Of course, it’s because of the camera in front of me……There has never been a chance for me to be in front of it before. I’ve never even thought of it before, and I don’t think it will ever happen again…….”
Haneul softly laughed, but there was no way for Ironman to be able to see it. He was currently completely covered up by his Silver Armor.
‘Is this person really the same person that was at the scene last time?’
The exterior appeared to be the same, but for some reason, Haneul wasn’t able to match it together. The strong and courageous Ironman that was willing to sacrifice his life for others.
The Hero that fought against his fear was a very unsophisticated person. Haneul could see that this person was only a couple of years ahead of him.
“But, are you really that Silver Knight?”
“Yes, I already told you this.”
“But, I’m still not able to comprehend. Everyone in the World says that you’re a Rank B Hero. However, there’s no way someone who has such powerful strength only be Rank B. How can you be lying that you were one of the Heroes that were hiding inside the shelter…….."
“Because the World will become too loud. I don’t really like it when people gossip about me, because interest is the same as a boiling pot of water that rises up, then quickly dies back down.”
“Is, is that so…….”
Haneul’s words were something Ironman was envious of. He wanted to get strong and famous. After finding out that his Rank was only at D, Ironman did whatever he could in order to raise the level of his strength.
He kept telling himself that as long as he kept trying, he would be able to see great results.
Sadly, reality was a bit harsh. No matter how much time pa.s.sed by, there was no change in his magic level.
It was cruel, but that was reality.
At that point, his hope became despair.
And a never ending swirl was formed within his heart.
“I’m quite envious of you.”
These words Ironman said were barely audible. However, Haneul was able to hear it clearly. At that moment, Haneul’s face completely changed.
That’s when the reporter came back in.
“Were you able to calm yourself down now?”
“Yes, I think I will be okay now. I’ve calmed myself.”
Ironman continued through the interview with a consistent and composed tone of his voice. In the midst of the interview, Haneul was also asked several questions but his mind blanked out and he could not recall what he answered in the interview.
‘I’ve made a mistake. I answered my questions with indifference and without any thought.’
Haneul had a sour taste in his mouth.
To have been this empty headed. It was to the point where Haneul wanted to hit his own mouth hard.
“Today…….I felt like I was more of a nuisance than anything.”
“Not at all. I’m thankful. Even if I was to thank you several times, it still wouldn’t be enough. With this, my life will get a little bit better. To be honest, Rank D Heroes like myself are usually just stuck at the sideline.”
With the words ‘sideline’, Haneul felt sad.
He thought of this before, but this was a problem. A person that possessed magic was not able to dream of their own future. They would immediately be put into training in order to become a Hero. But, if they’re unable to awaken or if they awaken but don’t have strong powers, they’re just thrown away like this.
“I think that’s pretty unfair. If you really think about it, even the fact that you guys get such low income doesn’t make sense. Heroes are amazing people, and it’s natural for them to be treated well. Ironman, that’s the same for you as well.”
“It’s okay, it’s a tough time for everyone. Other countries are pretty similar to us, so I can’t be the only one to be complaining. But, to be able to hear such words from a true Hero like yourself, brings me comfort. It makes me feel like I’m doing the same job as you are.”
“It’s not that it feels like we’re doing the same job. We ARE doing the same job.”
“No, it’s different.”
Although a bit cold, Ironman answered in that way.
Haneul shut his mouth.
“I apologize if I said anything that I shouldn’t have. I just thought a person like yourself should be known to others. The courage that you’ve shown where you put your life on the line and never backed down, I feel that it’s wrong for people not to know of it.”
Ironman was looking outside has window, but turned his head to look at Haneul.
“How nice of you.”
“Th, that’s not it…….”
“However, your consideration and kindness seems to hurt more. With just a professional mind and heart………you cannot save the world or people. I’m sadly part of that category. It is my limit, and no matter how you try to word it, there’s nothing that I can change. I cannot fight like you.”
Haneul had no way to respond.
Haneul felt like he was able to feel Ironman’s misery in his heart. Haneul’s actions so far have made him feel embara.s.sed. How he didn’t want to be known, or how he didn’t like it when people gossiped about him…….It was the same pungent feeling as earlier.
“My thoughts were a little short.”
Haneul said a lot of words he shouldn’t have in front of the true Hero that he recognized.
‘Embarra.s.sed. I’m so embarra.s.sed I can’t lift my head up. What bulls.h.i.t did I spout in front of this person?’
“I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay, you did nothing wrong to be apologizing. I’m just thankful. The fact that this interview was in my favor, and that all the words that you said to me earlier were the truth. That’s why, you shouldn’t apologize. I’m okay.”
“……..”
“Silver Knight, I’ll continue rooting for you. You’re already an amazing Hero, so please save more people. I hope your future is filled with glory.”
Chapter 9 – End.
*Sponsored by Joseph Gange ($30)
*Sponsored by Joseph Gange (30$)
The Hero
Volume 5 – Silver Knight
Chapter 10
Haneul came out from the hospital room into the hallway, and just stood there.
The nurses pa.s.sing by were glancing over at him as they walked by. However, the nurses in this area were restricted from doing anything outside of what was needed, so all they could do was glance a couple of times.
With a clouded mind, Haneul headed towards the roof.
This National Hospital was the biggest Hero hospital in East Area and because it was 3 km away from the 1st city, it was able to avoid calamity.
However, the amount of Heroes that were hurt this past Earthquake were quite a few. 10 Rank A Heroes, 20+ Rank B Heroes, and Both Rank C and Rank D Heroes had over a hundred Heroes that were hurt.
Normally, there wouldn’t be this many Rank C and D casualties. However, the shelter was attacked. The monsters focused on attacking the shelter, and Heroes that were there as refugees volunteered to fight against the monsters.
There were plenty of heroes like Ironman at the hospital.
In the midst of the staff running around back and forth, Haneul felt a weight on his shoulders of the people he had to protect.
It was all about saving lives.
It wasn’t as simple as doing a job and receiving money for it.
As the Armor faded away from Haneul’s body, he felt the wind caress him on top of the roof.
As he walked out from the hospital, a change could be seen within his eyes.
‘Let’s not b.i.t.c.h about something that’s outside of my control right now. Whether it’s returning back to my own world, or who I am currently, n.o.body has an answer. Let’s just focus on what I can do right now and what I can do in this world.’
The thing that was moving around in the darkness has now become the size of a little dog. It now had no problem with moving its body. As time pa.s.sed, its knowledge of other life forces grew, and it was able to understand how to divide its cells.
Shockingly, the Wizard that almost died found a good mechanism it could use, and made that its new goal.
In order to survive, its new goal was to become the most perfect existence. In order to do that, it could not stay in this place. This place was focused too heavily on just surviving, so it could not evolve. It was already struggling to just live.
One thing was clear, its flesh that was already at its limit, would start to disintegrate the moment it tried to surpa.s.s a hurdle. The smaller the life, the more apparent it was. There was also another big reason.
The energy that circulated within its flesh could not be found here, and here that energy was called magic.
If it was not able to grasp the magic within its hands, the only way to survive was to go from one living thing to another. This was a very incomplete and dangerous way to exist.
It had to find it. An existence with energy.
As soon as it tried to crawl around outside as a rat, it was attacked by a cat. And although its weak rat body started to shrivel, it was not an existence of this world. It was a monster that came from the Earthquake.
The rat’s body suddenly extended forth and covered the cat’s body instead.
MEEEOOOWWW!
The cat’s painful cry within the darkness, slowly drifted away and dropped to nothingness. As it consumed the cat’s body, it was able to find itself a bigger and faster body, and continued to move forward with caution.
This new body didn’t have any energy either. However, on the bright side, the brain was bigger and its physique was a lot more flexible compared to before.
It must find magic energy and it must grasp the magic within its hands in order to gain strength again. This was the prerequisite for its evolution.
Evolution. Gaining strength. Jumping above the limits of one’s flesh. This was its only goal and desire. In order to evolve, this ‘thing’ continued to look for life containing magic energy.
As it continued to do so, it was finally able to find its goal. Not too far away from it, it was able to feel many beings with magic energy, and it pushed forward towards it.
The location it was aiming for.
The National Hospital.
The Organization made magic sensor towers and posted them up everywhere.
If World A had many Wi-Fi towers posted up in order to release signals, this World had things called magic sensor towers. In order to capture the moment when magic is released from Earthquakes, if a certain number is. .h.i.t from the sensors, it would immediately inform the Organization.
That’s why the status room was always active in the Organization, and they would thoroughly scan through the magic captured by the sensors.
“Huh?”
They were able to capture some magic a little while ago in the eastern side of Central East. Jae Kyung Kim from the status room was the one to notice the numbers.
It was a larger number compared to normal.
‘These numbers are quite high’
However, the numbers did not show that another Earthquake was going to hit. The rise in numbers was temporary, and the graph was now flowing in a consistent motion. If it was a sign of an Earthquake occurring, there was no way for the graph to be looking this stable.
‘Isn’t this area where the National Hospital is located?’
It all made sense now as to why there was a sudden spike of magic. Heroes that were hurt would usually have nightmares and would release their magic subconsciously. It was something that occurred often and was nothing to worry about.
The person in charge of the status room just pushed it aside as if it was nothing.
He continued to talk with his friends through the messenger.
Who knew something out of the ordinary would happen out of his negligence?
Chapter 10 – End.
*Sponsored by Joseph Gange (30$)