“How do you adjust the suit? I understand that B-type armor is incredibly difficult to fine-tune.”
“First, we entrust primary inspections to the maintenance department, and then we periodically overhaul it…”
Han Sua and Fearless, walking ahead, engaged in a deep conversation befitting only heroes.
Trailing behind them at a slight distance, I found myself enveloped in a profoundly strange sensation.
Anyone witnessing two individuals destined to die within three days conversing side-by-side would surely feel the same.
I mulled over my pre-regression memories and the information I had compiled.
It was the worst year, the catalyst for the world’s destruction.
The very beginning of that catastrophe was the upcoming field training raid.
It was a tragedy where dozens of hero offices were simultaneously attacked by villains, culminating in the deaths of the A-rank hero Fearless and the promising prospective hero Psyche.
There was a specific reason why I had coerced Han Sua into accompanying me to Fearless’s Hero Office.
While many were seriously injured and wounded during the attacks, this was the only location where fatalities occurred.
Indeed, it had to be this way.
All the other attacks on hero offices were merely diversions; Fearless alone was the true target.
The perpetrator of the raid was the S-rank villain, Stingray.
As Sleeping Bubble had explained earlier, Stingray had orchestrated this event to exact revenge for losing an arm to Fearless in the past.
Fearless’s promotion to S-rank had not occurred before my regression.
She had been brutally murdered by Stingray, who had invaded with his entire organization.
Of course, she hadn’t lost due to a lack of skill.
Even as a B-rank hero, Fearless had effortlessly defeated Stingray when he was still whole.
Considering pure strength, it was virtually impossible for the now one-armed Stingray to defeat Fearless, who was in the prime of her powers.
However, he was not some honorable duelist but a wicked and heinous villain.
Instead of a fair fight, Stingray resorted to taking the office staff hostage, thereby blackmailing Fearless.
That was why a formidable A-rank hero had met such an empty death.
Although other hero offices and the管理局 (TL Note: Management Bureau, likely a government agency overseeing heroes) realized the deception belatedly and dispatched urgent support, they only managed to rescue the hostages and failed to save Fearless.
Stingray, having safely escaped the scene, later became an minion of the great evils that destroyed the world, perpetrating all sorts of atrocities until the very end.
Additionally, the deceased Psyche was also revealed to be a villain, causing a stir in the world for a time, but that was another story entirely.
Regardless,
A question lingered.
An A-rank hero’s office was a facility with the highest level of security.
Yet, even if an S-rank villain personally led the attack, how could they have managed to take the people inside hostage?
Only after arriving here did I grasp the reason.
[Sleeping Bubble]
[Fearless Hero Office Sidekick]
‧
‧
‧
[Affiliation: ???]
“Woojin, why are you staring like that? Is there something on my face?”
Sensing my gaze, Sleeping Bubble, who had been walking ahead, tilted her head. I simply offered a casual smile and uttered whatever came to mind.
“Just because you’re pretty.”
This approach usually sidestepped bothersome explanations, and I recalled it being particularly effective with women.
Though I couldn’t say why.
“Ugh… you can’t tease a hero like that. You might get arrested, you know?”
“Come on, can’t I even make a joke like this?”
“…I don’t know. Anyway, you’d better be careful.”
Hesitantly, she suddenly whipped her head around. It seemed this tactic was quite effective even against villains. Perhaps I should use it more often?
“By the way, do villains ever raid hero offices?”
I continued my questioning, feigning ignorance.
Sleeping Bubble, her face somewhat flushed, fanned herself and replied. It did feel a bit warm inside.
“Hmm… it’s quite rare, isn’t it? Why do you ask?”
“I’m a little scared. What if they manage to get inside?”
“Heh heh, you’re more timid than you look. You can rest assured. There’s probably no one in the world bold enough to raid an A-rank hero’s office.”
She puffed out her chest with a proud shrug.
“There are also bulkheads and several shelters for civilians inside. Even if, by some slim chance, an intrusion occurs, you can just hide in there and wait until Fearless takes care of all the villains, you know?”
“…That’s reassuring. Where are these shelters?”
“Oh, that’s a secret! You’ll naturally find out when it’s time to evacuate. Though, of course, such a thing will never happen.”
She patted my shoulder reassuringly.
I swallowed a curse inwardly.
‘What a loathsome woman.’
With such a spy embedded within from the start, it was inevitable that all security measures would be breached.
Her resourcefulness was truly remarkable.
To be able to infiltrate and remain undetected as an A-rank hero’s sidekick.
‘Of course, this would only have been possible with external support.’
Even with a grudge, Stingray was merely the executor. The true mastermind behind this scheme had to be someone else.
It was a name I knew well.
The villain group, Hwaryeon.
The hidden hand behind all villains in South Korea.
‘Fearless Hero Office has been investigating the abnormal flow of funds within a villain organization and arresting those involved for several months.’
I recalled a passage I had found while voraciously reading news after my regression.
And I was able to organically connect the events.
‘Fearing the discovery of their funding source, Hwaryeon must have instigated Stingray.’
He would have been a suitable pawn, especially since Fearless and Stingray already harbored a deep-seated animosity toward each other.
Furthermore, there were ancillary objectives that couldn’t be overlooked.
Currently, Fearless was one of the most popular heroes, boasting exceptional skill to the point where her promotion to S-rank was almost guaranteed within the next year.
In terms of immediate standing, she could be considered superior to both Han Sua and Yuha.
If such an individual were to die in a villain attack, it would not only conceal their funding channels but also degrade the social standing of heroes.
Creating a stagnant, gloomy, and defeatist atmosphere throughout society would be an added bonus.
In any case, from the villains’ perspective, aiming for the world’s overthrow, it was a business with absolutely no downsides.
So, what was my role in all of this?
To stop the incident itself?
‘No.’
I had no such intention.
Fortunately, I had discovered the infiltrating spy, but there was no guarantee that dealing with this woman would prevent the incident from occurring.
Even if I were to prevent the incident, that would present its own problems.
If the event were to disappear before it even began, citizens and heroes alike would dismiss it as a minor disturbance.
This was precisely not what I wanted.
While preventing casualties, it was essential to instill both fear and a strong sense of caution.
Therefore, my task was simple.
I organized my thoughts.
First.
Naturally, I needed to prevent Han Sua from getting involved and dying in this incident.
She was both an insider of Hwaryeon and the catalyst that would bring them down.
Second.
I would also prevent the death of the popular A-rank hero, Fearless.
This would prevent a loss of power for the hero side and a void in S-city’s public safety.
And the most crucial third point.
‘I will replace the perpetrator of the incident with myself, Marionette.’
This was, for me, the most important task.
The field training raid.
If it was an inevitable event, then someone needed to reap the fruit of the infamy hanging in the air.
While I was currently just a minor villain, if things proceeded according to plan, my perceived threat and notoriety would undoubtedly escalate.
Naturally, Yuha’s reputation, as my arch-enemy who would continually confront me, would also skyrocket.
So, how should I achieve my objectives?
The answer was simple.
I just needed to play along.
Until when? Until the incident unfolded and the raid occurred as originally planned.
The presence of unforeseen variables always complicated the battlefield.
For Fearless, the internal spy was that variable; for the raiders, I would be that variable.
Until then, I simply needed to remain an innocent, powerless individual.
Then, the person beside me would naturally lead me to the eye of the storm.
I turned my gaze to Sleeping Bubble, who was now walking beside me.
And I met the eyes of the woman who had been continuously glancing my way.
“…Why, why do you keep looking at me like that?”
“Because you’re pretty.”
“Ugh…”
‘Until then, I’ll just keep playing the fool.’
And Han Sua…
“…”
I once again fixed my gaze forward. Han Sua was still eagerly pressing Fearless with questions.
“So, in a situation like the one earlier, the primary course of action to follow is…”
‘I don’t know. For now… all I can do is watch.’
“…Woojin, you really should be careful.”
Sleeping Bubble’s soft voice reached me. Perhaps due to the mixed air conditioning, it felt unusually cool.
****
Baek Yuha was engulfed by worries.
She was currently at the hero office of Alchemist, the A-rank number three hero.
It was the place she had originally wanted for her field training, and she was performing her given tasks and assignments exceptionally well, even beyond expectations.
If things continued this way, securing a top-tier evaluation for her training was practically a foregone conclusion.
However, to Baek Yuha, none of it held any meaning.
Her initial plan to spend the entire field training period with Kim Woojin had long since crumbled into a mere crumpled piece of paper.
And now, that very person was, of all things, with someone she found most difficult to be around.
In a place she couldn’t reach, nor even see.
“Hero Flame Mist! I’ll be counting on you again today!”
The more she smiled brightly and greeted everyone, the more her heart burned with frustration.
“Flame Mist! Why don’t you take a short break?”
A female hero appeared and gently tapped her shoulder as she stood guard.
“You look too gaunt. You haven’t been overexerting yourself since yesterday, have you? Hmm?”
“I’m fine. I can keep going…”
“Proper rest is also a virtue for a hero. Otherwise, you won’t be able to exert your full strength at a crucial moment.”
Baek Yuha was about to smile and shake her head. The hero, momentarily adopting a stern expression, added as if scolding her,
“That’s one of the most basic things taught from the cradle. I thought you were an excellent child, but it seems I might have been mistaken.”
“Ah…”
Just as Baek Yuha’s expression was about to droop after the scolding, a benevolent voice, as if nothing had happened, warmly enveloped her.
“So go and get some good rest. You have exactly one hour. Make sure you return within that time. If you’re even a minute late, you’ll get no evaluation points. Understand?”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
Only then did Baek Yuha smile and nod. She knew this was a courtesy extended because the hero had sensed her hidden worries.
She could feel that an A-rank hero wasn’t an A-rank for nothing.
‘I want to become a hero like that someday, too.’
Baek Yuha clenched her fist, making a silent vow.
However, contrary to her words, her hand had already urgently pulled out her smartphone.
She pressed speed dial number one and immediately initiated a video call.
Kim Woojin’s name appeared, accompanied by a ringing tone.
Her anxiety about him possibly not answering lasted only a moment.
–Yuha? What’s going on all of a sudden?
His voice came through after only three rings.
The screen displayed the bewildered face of a tall male student.
Just seeing his face caused Baek Yuha’s tension to slowly dissipate.
A smile naturally formed on her lips, and she waved her hand cheerfully.
“Woojin! What were you doing?”
–Me? I’m doing volunteer work right now…
Kim Woojin said, his expression a little tired.
Field training evaluations also included volunteer work during the period.
Judging by the background, it was likely an orphanage sponsored by the hero office there.
Kim Woojin, with his kind heart, and volunteer work—the combination seemed so incredibly fitting that Baek Yuha’s regret subtly grew.
‘I should have been right there beside him, watching that.’
“Mhm, I see.”
She asked, making an effort to hide her true feelings.
“How’s work? Is it manageable? Not too hard?”
–It’s not hard, but… I’m a bit busy right now…
Then, a small shadow suddenly appeared behind Kim Woojin.
A short little girl was curiously looking at the screen. Was she one of the orphanage children?
It felt too personal, somehow, and it bothered her. Baek Yuha was about to smile and wave at the child.
Suddenly, the little girl puffed out her cheeks and shouted towards the back.
–Mommy! Daddy’s cheating with another woman!
–Hey! I told you to go away!!
And Kim Woojin yelled. Immediately, chaos erupted on the other side. The wildly shaking screen soon revealed a familiar figure.
Han Sua had her hair tied back, adorned with a beautiful floral wreath.
She was clinging right next to Kim Woojin, even wearing a pristine white apron.
As if they were newlyweds.
“…Mommy? Daddy?”
All light instantly vanished from Baek Yuha’s eyes.
