Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 110

“I thought everyone hated me.”

 

An endless crowd of people. There were those who wavered, wondering if their decision was right, and those who held conviction. 

 

At that sight, Hwashin smiled brightly. Unlike Hwashin, who had an endlessly long line of people stretching out behind him, Chanyoung quietly stared at the empty space in front of himself. Only a desolate, dusty wind welcomed him. 

 

Ko Youngwoo and Sun Sihan stayed with him out of loyalty, but the vast majority of the remaining GH Unit members were standing behind Hwashin.

 

‘I mean, he said to pick the representative who looks like they have a higher win rate.’

 

‘Then whoever looks at it would choose this side.’ 

 

‘Is—is it our fault?’

 

The Audit Department employee looked troubled, but there was no actual bewilderment in his expression.

 

“This is tilted way too much to one side. In this case, as I mentioned before, we will form the teams anew for the sake of the training’s fairness. However, we plan to reflect your opinions as much as possible, so please come forward and check off which team you selected.” 

 

The GH Unit members who chose Hwashin checked their names on the list provided. As they did, they each stole a glance at Hwashin’s face. However, no one could say a word. They were afraid that if they spoke up for no reason, they would end up like the colleague who was supposedly beaten to a pulp during the B-rank sparring matches.

 

‘If we’re going to jump him, we should do it later together with all the other guys.’ 

 

***

 

“Team assignments are complete!”

 

The employee announced the team lists based on ability, rank, physical strength, and the team preferences from a moment ago. Seeing Yoo Jian grumbling as she headed toward Chanyoung’s side, it seemed preferences weren’t perfectly reflected. Furthermore, Lee Suho ended up on Chanyoung’s side as well.

 

“Before the training begins, I will state this once more. Each team has one hostage, and the very moment that relevant hostage is seized by the opposing team, it is that team’s defeat.” 

 

“Who is the hostage?”

 

Yoo Jian asked. The employee had not yet mentioned who the hostage was or how they would be selected. At that, he let out a broad grin as if he had been waiting for the question.

 

“I will tell you now.”

 

With both palms facing upward, he pointed toward the leaders of each team.

 

“Each team’s hostage is your team leader. The Heroes selected as hostages will have their ability usage completely restricted, and all they can do is offer advice to the team. In other words, the hostage’s abilities are effectively useless!”

 

“What?”

 

“Hey, you should have told us that in advance!”

 

The GH Unit members who had teamed up with Hwashin began shouting at the top of their lungs.

 

“Did you know?”

 

Cha Jaeha, standing right next to Hwashin, asked. Hwashin replied with a beaming face while looking up at the employee.

 

“No? ….They did say there would be a secret clause for me, but I didn’t think they’d give me something like this.”

 

The Association President, that black-hearted old geezer. Even if he’s getting old, he should age gracefully like me instead of using cheap tricks like this. I wondered why he allowed the training so easily. I didn’t think he’d make things difficult in this way.

 

‘Is he scheming to restrict my abilities, end the team battle in defeat, and then drive public opinion in a bad direction? He must have been quite furious about being humiliated during the last conference. A man of his age shouldn’t act like that. ….But really, what happens if I lose here?’ 

 

—S-rank Yoo Hwashin, Falls After a Single Provocation— he’d probably pick a headline like that. Even though I haven’t been here long, I felt like I understood how this world’s media manipulation worked.

 

In truth, the way rumors are made is the same wherever people live.

 

If you throw them an incident that the public might find interesting, make them believe it is the right thing, and give them an equal opportunity to tear it apart, everyone becomes a hunter as if they had never done otherwise. Without even realizing that what they are hunting is a human being. 

 

Truly foolish. Foolish things. Whether mages or humans. Any living being capable of thought never misses an opportunity to trample on others and rushes in.

 

That is why I will—

 

– Are you standing there like an idiot again, lost in your own thoughts?

 

– Yoo Hwashin, didn’t I tell you not to keep stepping forward? A young fellow constantly sticking his nose in…

 

Both Riel and the old man, stop nagging. 

 

‘But well, there is a difference.’

 

In this world, there is still—

 

“Hyung, I’m on the same team as you. But will it be okay? This hostage rule was clearly made just to target you. It’s annoying.”

 

“Hyuuuung, I’m with you too…”

 

“Hey, Lee Suho. Can’t you see me?”

 

“….Oh.”

 

The fact that these guys remain.

 

***

 

Cha Jaeha roughly scanned the faces of the GH Unit members who were now on the same team. There were many A-ranks who had appeared in the SH Unit selection exam. Was it because they had all personally seen Yoo Hwashin in actual combat once? The proportion of those who participated in that exam was quite high.

 

‘That b*stard Bae Deokho is here too.’

 

The reputation of Bae Deokho, the opportunist who had begun to be called the public’s villain, had plummeted to the floor. Unlike back then, he had sunken cheeks and a gaunt body like a thorn bush, and he staggered as he glanced at those around him. It seemed the beating he received during the selection exam was effective.

 

‘Will these guys even listen?’

 

In the first place, it was impossible to know what Yoo Hwashin was aiming for by starting this training. Cha Jaeha turned his gaze toward Yoo Hwashin. 

 

“Ah, how do you do this? How do I upload this as a square?”

 

“You have to press this button for that.”

 

….

 

What is he doing over there?

 

Stuck right next to Jeong Mueum, he was listening to an explanation on how to use social media in order to upload the photo he took a moment ago.

 

‘…He looks like a guy with absolutely nothing on his mind.’

 

Just what is he trying to do by causing all this?

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

“Now then!”

 

Yoo Hwashin, having finished his social media upload, instantly caught Team A’s attention—or rather, surprisingly, not a single one of the GH Unit members paid him any mind.

 

It seemed their goal was to openly ignore Hwashin. If they were going to be like this, why did they even apply saying they wanted to be on the same team? Looking at the list, given that everyone was checked off, they were all people who had chosen Hwashin in the previous selection as well.

 

“I think they’re doing this just to screw with you, Hyung.”

 

“Why?”

 

Mueum stared at him blankly, his eyes asking if he really didn’t know. He let out a short sigh and continued.

 

“….Why else? They joined the side of the person who looked like they’d win, but since your abilities are restricted anyway, they think they can mess with you if they band together.”

 

They thought they’d win if Hyung was there, so they tagged along; but since the hostage leader can’t use abilities, they’re openly ignoring him.

 

“If the team is in this state, we’ll lose in an instant. The thirty minutes of prep time will be nowhere near enough.”

 

If they did nothing for thirty minutes like this, they couldn’t beat the tightly knit Team B. But Yoo Hwashin wasn’t the type to just watch that happen. Hwashin, sitting on a large rock in the grass and swinging his legs, asked.

 

“No, it’s not lacking. Jaeha-ya, how many of those kids over there have good compatibility with you?”

 

“….Roughly about five people. As for the rest, I suppose it could work out somehow if I fit them together.” 

 

“What about Mueum?”

 

“Anyone is fine for me. My abilities can handle support, attack, and defense in the first place.”

 

“That’s enough then. We should be able to handle unexpected situations to some extent.”

 

Hwashin hopped lightly onto the grass. The rest of the GH Unit members were still keeping their attention away from him.

 

“Now, my GH Unit members.”

 

Hwashin spoke with a bright, smiling face.

 

“「Everyone, turn your heads this way.」”

 

Swish. Swish. Swish. Swish. 

 

Like dominoes falling, their heads turned backward one by one from the end. Some collapsed, unable to adapt to the vision that turned too suddenly. Others lay on the grass, claiming it felt like their neck bones were broken. However, the majority of the healthy ones who experienced Hwashin’s ability for the first time simply stared at him with blank eyes.

 

“It’s before the game has started, so it’s okay to use abilities, right?”

 

‘What is this?’

 

‘…Is he a real lunatic?’

 

‘…But.’

 

‘Still, this ability.’

 

Isn’t he seriously crazy? Does everything just happen if he says it? Can he just control a person’s body at will like this?

 

All the GH Unit members had personally witnessed Chanyoung, Ko Youngwoo, and Sun Sihan fighting on the field. They had even worked together. They followed them because they were leaders, and they truly thought their abilities were amazing. It was the same when they saw Cha Jaeha using his abilities through video records. They could marvel, thinking that this was how abilities should be used.

 

However, they say that the moment a human witnesses a being they can never surpass, all jealousy is washed away. A feeling that is neither admiration nor jealousy, an emotion that cannot be described with words.

 

Those who were gnashing their teeth at Hwashin after seeing the interview felt a certain emotion from that single sentence.

 

‘No matter how weak his body is said to be.’

 

‘If he has this ability….’

 

Awe, terror. Fear. Admiration. Expectation. A clash of loud emotions that could not be defined by a single word. Their expressions distorted before returning to normal. They let out hollow laughs and then despaired. Soon, their thoughts converged into one.

 

‘Is this why he was able to give an interview like that?’

 

But the reaction Hwashin wanted through this training was not that.

 

Looking at the various heads lost in thought, Hwashin spoke with a satisfied smile.

 

“First of all, thank you for choosing me. Seeing as you chose me even after hearing that interview, it seems you actually had a stronger desire to win? ……Rather than me.”

 

Hwashin looked toward Team B on the opposite side.

 

“Your own leaders?”

 

Because they were close to them, they knew their greatness all the better. That is why they wanted to win even more. It was a natural competitive spirit.

 

In other words, at the very least, the people gathered here were those whose competitive spirit to try and beat their leaders was stronger than the insult they felt from the interview.

 

“I am Yoo Hwashin, and as you know, I am an S-rank Hero. Even those of you who didn’t know my ability probably have a rough idea of what it is from what just happened, right?”

 

Those who were silently listening to his words swallowed hard, looking nervous.

 

“Team B has Chanyoung and Ko Youngwoo, so basically they will move centered around them. However, since Chanyoung won’t be able to use his abilities, he won’t stand on the front lines and will likely act as a strategist. Even so, there are plenty of S-ranks to lead, and the A-rank combat power is decent. Yes, they are a team without deficiencies.”

 

At Hwashin’s words, the B-ranks murmured.

 

“No, then what are we supposed to do?”

 

“If you’re such an amazing S-rank, then think of a way.”

 

“There must be some kind of method.”

 

Though their tone was grumbling, what they ultimately wanted was victory. However—there was something they were overlooking. They didn’t know how much interest ‘this’ S-rank had in them.

 

Hwashin’s eyes turned toward the group. And as if he had been waiting, he poured out what he wanted to say.

 

“The person who spoke up first. You’re B-rank Kim Jinseong, right? Your ability is the defense-type [Guardian’s Shield], and you were quite active in rescue operations.”

 

The man whose name was called opened his eyes wide in surprise. Yoo Hwashin did not stop.

 

“Middle of the second row, also B-rank, Lee Hwayoung. Ice attribute, combat-type, but you were embarrassed so you didn’t record the ability name in the DB, and I know your aiming range was too small to become an A-rank. That part is a shame.”

 

“To the left of that. B-rank. Seong Siwoo, combat-type, the [Aquaman] who has the worst compatibility with Cha Jaeha.”

 

“Next, B-rank. Kim Taeyun, healing-type, you can treat basic bruises and can treat up to ten people simultaneously, so you’re often on the scene—.”

 

“Next. B-rank, Han Jeongoh,”

 

“Next, A-rank.”

 

“Next—.”

 

It was endless.

 

All of them. It was everyone. The names Yoo Hwashin spoke without resting for a single moment on that spot.

 

A glint appeared in the eyes of the B-ranks. Hwashin, having called the last name, spoke.

 

“If you were angry at my interview, that is normal. Because no one can define you by your rank.”

 

“….”

 

“You came to this team because you want to beat your leaders, right?”

 

Hwashin met the eyes of Chanyoung, who was looking at him from a distance. The gaze that had been looking far away turned back to the immediate vicinity. There, eyes mixed with distrust and expectation were already watching Hwashin.

 

“If that’s the case, I will make you win. No, I will help you be able to do that.”

 

“….”

 

A smile hung on Hwashin’s face. To call that smile one belonging to a Hero—

 

“Because I’m the S-rank meant for all of you.”

 

It was a smile that was far too mischievous.