A genuine shiver coursed down my spine.
There was a limit to how much nonsense I could tolerate. Yuha was practically a platonic friend to me.
We had even bathed together when we were children.
Honestly, even if someone told me to get into the same bathtub with her right now, I wouldn’t think anything of it. Seriously.
“Excuse me, is it appropriate for a hero to be peeking at other people’s messages like that?”
“Why be so shy? We’ll be sticking together through thick and thin for the next few days.”
Sleeping Bubble replied with a calm smile. To put it negatively, she lacked manners; to put it positively, she was unpretentious. Frankly, I preferred the latter interpretation.
If she truly were a hero, that would certainly be the case.
[Character Notification]
[Sleeping Bubble]
[Fearless Hero Agency Sidekick]
[B-Class Hero, Rank 238]
‧
‧
‧
‧
[Real Name: ???]
[Affiliation: ???]
The information previously obscured by Yuha’s message was now laid bare.
My lips twisted into a grimace. The blood coursing through my veins felt as though it had turned to ice.
As it happened, I had witnessed something similar in the Cradle just recently.
The presence of question marks despite a clearly stated affiliation invariably suggested something shady was afoot.
The Fearless Hero Agency was destined to be the primary setting for the impending field training raid.
So, they had already set their plans in motion.
“…I’m just a little shy.”
I dismissed the notification and offered a polite smile. I could feel someone’s gaze on me, seemingly bewildered. It had to be Han Sua.
“Ufufu, you’re rather cute, Woojin. This only makes me want to tease you further.”
Sleeping Bubble let out a soft, airy chuckle.
“If you’re a hero, I’d recommend a secret relationship. The same goes for civilians, of course. Public relationships involving those in this field often end poorly, in more ways than one.”
It was a statement of common sense. Family, lovers… a hero’s precious ones were always vulnerable to villainous schemes.
There were likely a fair number of students within the Cradle who had endured such heartache.
It was just that, considering the person who had uttered those words, the whole situation felt rather peculiar.
“Everyone here probably knows this without me having to say it. Right, Woojin? No matter how much you adore your girlfriend, it’s time to stop fooling around!”
“I told you, she’s not my girlfriend…”
“Ufufu! Look at you, all embarrassed. That just makes me want to tease you even more, you know!”
“…”
It seemed she had chosen me as her target for breaking the ice. The effect was undeniable; the initial tense atmosphere had already softened into something more amicable.
I met eyes with Han Sua, who was wearing a smug smile. She quickly cleared her throat and averted her gaze.
“Hmm, hmm.”
Just like a villain, wasn’t she? Instead of helping someone in distress, she merely laughed? I’d deal with her later.
“Alright! Everyone, this way!”
Having concluded her playful banter, Sleeping Bubble led us into the agency’s office. I, vowing revenge on Han Sua, slowly followed.
True to an A-class hero’s agency, the interior was vast and spacious. Beyond Sleeping Bubble, two or three other sidekicks were present, while operators and various task-specific secretaries bustled between offices, visibly sweating.
“Fearless is one of the heroes with the highest villain arrest record this year, you know? Even back in their B-class days, they fought the A-class villain Stingray, severed their left arm, and defeated them. If they maintain this trend, their promotion to S-class in next year’s evaluation is practically guaranteed! By then, they’ll likely hold one of the most esteemed positions among hero agencies in Korea…”
Sleeping Bubble continued her guided tour, meticulously pointing out every corner, and not forgetting to promote the agency intermittently.
It was a tedious time. I allowed her words to wash over me, using the opportunity to organize my thoughts.
Then, a thought suddenly brought Han Sua, who was likely walking in the back, to mind.
How was she perceiving the current situation? Honestly, from a villain’s perspective, listening to a hero’s praise probably wasn’t a pleasant experience.
She was probably frowning deeply, sulking to herself in silent indignation.
“…”
However, when I glanced back, I found myself wearing a dumbfounded expression. Han Sua was diligently nodding at every one of Sleeping Bubble’s explanations. Was that a notebook in her hand? She was even taking notes.
Her face gleamed with palpable admiration and passion.
Our eyes met. Han Sua, instantly changing her expression, retorted awkwardly.
“…Wh-what? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…It’s nothing.”
What was this? Was she employing some kind of camouflage?
Now that I thought about it, Han Sua had strongly insisted that the professor assign her to the Fearless Agency.
Judging by her actions, it almost seemed like she was a fan.
…A spy for a villain group? A fan of a hero?
“…”
No, surely not.
“Psyche. I’m truly touched. Honestly, I never expected a student to listen with such enthusiasm.”
Seeing Han Sua’s fervor, Sleeping Bubble smiled warmly and offered praise.
“At this rate, I’d say your attitude score is already passing!”
“Th-that’s too kind of you…”
Han Sua replied, her face flushing crimson. At this, Sleeping Bubble playfully tapped my shoulder and subtly remarked,
“Woojin, perhaps you could learn a thing or two from Psyche’s dedication? And try to stop yawning so much.”
“But I’m not a hero…”
“What? Even as a Cradle student, you should have a basic mindset! You enrolled in the Cradle because you admired this kind of work, didn’t you?”
“I just joined because I wanted to get a job quickly.”
Sleeping Bubble eyed me incredulously. Enduring her sharp gaze, I asked her,
“Speaking of which, what’s your power, Sidekick?”
“Me? Can’t you tell just from my hero name?”
Sleeping Bubble pointed to herself with a finger.
“I can create soap bubbles that induce sleep upon contact. It’s not great for direct combat, but it’s incredibly effective for non-lethal suppression. That’s how I became Fearless’s sidekick, you know.”
Faint murmurs of ‘ooh’ could be heard from the surrounding students. She puffed out her chest, making a gesture as if to say ‘ahem’.
“Could you show us just once? I’m curious what it feels like.”
“What? Oh no, I can’t. It would be a disaster if I misused it during work.”
She waved her hand, refusing.
Well, everyone else seemed to use theirs just fine.
I didn’t press further, letting the question pass. Someone else raised a hand and continued with a question.
“But where is Fearless right now? I’d really like to see them in person.”
“Ah, they’re probably returning from patrol right now. In fact… hmm?”
Suddenly, Sleeping Bubble focused her attention on the headset in her ear. After a lengthy conversation, she gestured, leading us forward.
“Well, it seems to be working out perfectly. Would everyone like to follow me this way?”
“…?”
Exchanging bewildered glances, we boarded the elevator. As we reached the rooftop, the full panorama of S-City abruptly filled our vision.
“Opportunities to witness an A-class hero’s battle aren’t very common, you know? Everyone, make sure to observe carefully.”
We followed Sleeping Bubble’s指-pointing finger and turned our gaze.
A deafening roar and shockwaves intermittently swept over us.
Not far away, a colossal villain, almost as large as a building, was rampaging violently. With scales and scabs covering its body, it resembled a monstrous beast more than a human.
Emergency sirens blared loudly throughout the city.
Fortunately, not a single person was in sight nearby. It seemed everyone had heard the warning and evacuated to shelters.
“It’s a case of extreme over-expression of a mimicry-type power. Their cells divided endlessly, causing their body to become grotesquely massive.”
Sleeping Bubble continued her explanation with an unnerving calm, as if on a zoo tour. Most of the students’ faces were already pale with fright. It was understandable, as the majority had yet to experience actual combat.
“Their brain is probably completely engulfed, causing them to lose all reason… at this rate, capture is impossible. There’s no way to stop them other than to kill them.”
“Th-then shouldn’t we stop it quickly? Before the damage gets worse…”
To someone’s anxious question, she grinned and shook her head.
“There’s no need to worry, they’ve already been dispatched.”
No sooner had Sleeping Bubble spoken than something appeared, blocking the villain’s path.
It was a crimson hero suit, hovering in the air with thrusters. Given the villain’s enormous size, the hero looked almost like a mosquito.
The hero then drew a blade from their waist and engaged the villain in combat.
Seeing the refined and nimble movements, a look of relief washed over the students’ faces. However, it didn’t take long for that composure to turn into alarm.
“Kuoooo!”
Each time the blade sliced through its flesh, the villain’s skin expanded at an even greater speed. Now even more colossal than before, the creature began to indiscriminately smash buildings in a fit of rage.
“Huh? This can’t be right…? Wait…”
Sleeping Bubble, speaking frantically into her comms, soon wore an expression of horror.
“A-class assessment? They say it’s regeneration-specialized, so normal attacks won’t do much damage? Why are you telling me this now?! Fearless has already engaged in combat! Don’t just stand there, call for backup…!”
She was stomping her foot, urging them on. Someone then placed a foot on the railing.
Black hair gently fluttered in the breeze. Her crimson eyes, catching the afternoon sun, held a brilliant glow.
Han Sua, now wearing her violet hero suit, spoke without looking back.
“Psyche, I’ll join the fight.”
“Wh-what did you say? Wait…! If you act so recklessly…!”
And before anyone could stop her, Han Sua pushed off the railing and leaped. An invisible staircase, created by psychokinesis, unfurled endlessly beneath her feet. Her ascent was graceful, as if she were walking on air.
There were two or three other hero students present besides her. They remained motionless, staring blankly at the scene.
“Kuoo, Kuoooo!!”
The battle situation was rapidly deteriorating. Large chunks of concrete from the buildings plummeted like meteors due to the villain’s rampage.
Fearless was busy deflecting the falling debris, but it was naturally too much for one person.
A student next to me spotted something and cried out.
“L-look!”
A small child, about two or three years old, had slipped out of the shelter and was looking around. The child then spotted their lost toy, and with a brightened face, picked it up.
And then, a shadow fell over them. A massive piece of concrete, large enough to crush a house, was plummeting directly towards the child’s head.
“!!”
Fearless, realizing this too late, desperately stretched out a hand. Unfortunately, the distance was too great for her to reach.
The child looked up and squeezed their eyes shut.
“…”
However, the surroundings remained silent. The enormous falling debris merely hovered above the child’s head, separated by the mere breadth of a leaf.
Han Sua appeared, hands outstretched, and shouted to Fearless.
“I’ll hold back the falling debris! Take this chance!”
“!”
The hero seemed to understand her intent and immediately nodded. They then reversed their grip on the blade and plunged it deep into the villain’s gaping maw.
From beside me, Sleeping Bubble’s lamenting voice could be heard.
“I told them not to do anything so reckless…!”
However, her worries soon proved to be unfounded. The villain, which had been rampaging as if to shatter the entire world, abruptly froze.
Then, as if a volcano had erupted, its internal organs burst forth in all directions.
The sky was awash in what looked like red rain. The villain, split from within, crashed to the ground with deafening roars in two opposite directions.
Through the gap, the hero in the crimson suit soared upward like a comet.
Having confirmed the villain’s demise, they immediately adjusted their thrusters and headed towards us.
-Thud!
Sleeping Bubble rushed towards the hero who had landed on the rooftop, unleashing a torrent of scolding.
“Fearless! How many times do I have to tell you it makes the suit hard to repair! The maintenance department complains to me so much, honestly…!”
-I’m sorry, but that was the most certain way. You said normal attacks wouldn’t do much damage, right?
And a slender voice, contrasting with the heavy suit that encased her entire body, offered an apology. As she removed her helmet, a cascade of long, pink hair tumbled down.
The A-class hero, Fearless, emerged, surveying us with a grin.
“So, these are the fledglings who’ve arrived this time?”
“…”
Everyone was silent, as if dead. Perhaps due to having just witnessed the battle, no one dared to offer a greeting.
Soon, another presence arrived on the rooftop.
Han Sua, who had followed Fearless back, had her suit drenched in crimson blood. One might expect her to wince in disgust, yet she merely walked on in silence.
Seeing Han Sua, Fearless laughed heartily and extended a hand.
“That was quite impressive, rookie. I’d say you’re already a proper hero with that kind of performance.”
“…I merely did what needed to be done.”
…An astonishingly humble reply.
Han Sua clasped Fearless’s hand with both of hers. A faint smile played on her lips, undoubtedly sincere.
After exchanging greetings, Fearless began to walk towards me.
Her gaze, sweeping over the students, suddenly landed on me.
And then, she abruptly seized my hand tightly.
“Student! Are you perhaps interested in working for our agency?”
“…Pardon?”
I asked, flustered. My attempts to pull my hand away were met with a forceful grip that only pulled it back.
“Come straight here after graduation! I’ll guarantee you the best possible treatment!”
The sensation of her soft skin was, to my surprise, rather burdensome. Suddenly, the A-class hero before me felt like a crazed fanatic.
What’s with her, all of a sudden?
“…The competition rate for an A-class hero agency is at least triple digits, you know? My grades aren’t that good…”
“It’s fine! I’ll take care of all that! If you really don’t want to work, you can just punch in on the first floor! So please, just be the face of our agency…!”
“…You’ll regret it.”
Behind the bright-eyed Fearless, a sulky voice spoke up. Han Sua was pouting, her expression rather prim.
Was she perhaps annoyed that the attention had been diverted?
“Looks aren’t everything, you know. If you’re judging based solely on appearance, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
Fearless asked, bewildered.
“Oh my, jealousy…? Could this be your boyfriend…?”
Sleeping Bubble, standing behind her, gasped in astonishment and chimed in.
“Then the person you were exchanging affectionate messages with earlier…? Could it be a love triangle…?”
“No! Why would I ever be with someone like him?!”
Han Sua, finally losing her composure, shrieked. Fearless then burst into laughter, wiping away tears.
“Ahahaha! Alright, alright. It was just a joke.”
“Ugh…”
“Alright! Let’s talk more later! Fledglings! Come inside for now. You’ve come to the right place. I’ll give you proper training, so be prepared!”
Fearless rose and gestured. She didn’t forget to leave one last remark in my ear.
“And… Woojin? Student, seriously consider my offer.”
“You just said it was a joke…”
“This is serious. Got it?”
Before I could reply, Fearless hurried away. Her sidekick, Sleeping Bubble, swiftly followed behind her.
-Fearless! What about your suit…!
-Ah, I know, stop nagging me!
“…”
Silence gradually settled over the bustling rooftop. Only Han Sua and I remained.
An awkward air filled the space between us. Han Sua, belatedly regaining her composure, nervously eyed me.
“Th-that was unavoidable just now.”
She spoke first.
“The kid was about to die… No matter who you are, in a situation like that…”
“Who said anything? I didn’t say a word.”
“Huh? Oh?”
Han Sua’s eyes widened, as if she hadn’t expected my reply.
“Why?”
“Oh, no… I just thought maybe you’d be upset because I rushed out without orders…”
She was certainly well-trained.
Even more so, my thoughts were complicated. An indescribable dilemma swirled in my mind.
“Were you a fan of Fearless?”
“Huh? Oh?”
A flustered Han Sua nodded slightly.
“She’s been a hero I’ve admired since I was little.”
“…Is that so.”
[Skill: Puppetry is being used on the target…]
A villain who admires a hero. What a dull joke. One would at least expect some effort in the lie.
But since she was little. Fearless looked undeniably young, but that meant she was older than she appeared.“`json{
