Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 111

An S-rank for B-ranks. No one had ever heard such a strange phrase.

 

Hwashin immediately explained the operation. The expressions of the unit members who heard the plan were heavily contorted, but Hwashin did not stop.

 

He spoke as if this operation was the only way. Like a rushing fire, people fell headlong into his story. However, by the time he finished speaking, a few woke up from the illusion. They had realized the weight hidden within the cloud-like fantasy.

 

“Now, if there is anyone who doesn’t understand the strategy, please raise your hand and speak—” 

 

“Why are you intentionally doing it like this? There is an easier way, isn’t there?” 

 

Before Hwashin could even finish his sentence, one of the listeners stood up and shouted. It was a protest born from finding this situation utterly incomprehensible.

 

There is an easy path. If they took that path, everything would be smooth. No, at the very least, they should choose it because everyone else does. Otherwise, they would fall behind. Not choosing it was ultimately equivalent to choosing defeat in this training.

 

If not that, had Yoo Hwashin given up?

 

His voice rose higher and higher.

 

“….Just what on earth do you hope to gain through this training?!” 

 

The enraged man huffed. It was so meaningless. This training, himself, and the reality that only S-ranks would eventually be welcomed. It was all so meaningless.

 

Hwashin looked at him. With eyes filled with a piercing glint, Hwashin spoke.

 

“Today, I.”

 

What Hwashin’s hand pointed to was precisely the man who had stood up from his seat. 

 

“Will gain all of you.”

 

Hwashin smirked.

 

“How is this?”

 

The entire Team B agreed to the strategy Chanyoung laid out. The clean, concise explanation served as a reminder that he was the leader of a unit. 

 

“Since I prioritized long-range attacks, I am not that strong in close combat. The spot where the hostage must remain is fixed, so I will station a portion of heroes strong in close combat around me.”

 

The strategy of putting the main force led by the S-ranks at the front and attacking Team A all at once was simple but standard.

 

“However, Jin-ssi, the illusionist hero, could you stay on this side? The hostage—”

 

“I don’t want to.”

 

But there was also a man to whom his words didn’t apply. Jin, perched on a rock, swung his legs. From his very posture, he radiated an energy of—I am being uncooperative.

 

In the past, Jin was a hero who declared he wouldn’t form a team with anyone other than his younger sibling. Recently, rumors had been circulating that he was being seduced by Yoo Hwashin, but that was likely a joke.

 

In fact, Chanyoung had expected this kind of obstacle from the moment he was teamed up with this man. Yoo Jian would fit in well since she was friends with Sun Sihan, but these 3rd Unit guys.

 

Jin spoke while picking at his ear.

 

“It’s just that I don’t see why we have to listen to you. Am I wrong? It doesn’t look like there’s anything to gain by listening either. ‘Since we have strong S-ranks, we’ll use them as leaders to strike’—this seems to be the main strategy. To be frank, it’s cliché, and easy to anticipate. Besides, I just dislike being teamed up with B-ranks I don’t even know.” 

 

Unable to listen to his talk any longer, a B-rank spoke up.

 

“In this situation, where are B-ranks and A-ranks? We’re all on the same team—”

 

“….All the same? Us?”

 

At Jin’s single remark, the atmosphere of the place froze in an instant. Jin curled one side of his mouth into a sneer.

 

“Don’t make me laugh. If we were the same, that operation wouldn’t even make sense in the first place.”

 

“Hyung-nim.”

 

“Then what is it you want to do?”

 

Chanyoung, who had been listening quietly, asked.

 

“I thought you were only a child in appearance, but your behavior is exactly the same.”

 

“What?”

 

“Then are you saying that because you have a better strategy than the one I proposed?” 

 

“Of course I do.”

 

Jin answered as if he had been waiting for it. Jin recalled the story he had heard from Hwashin just before the training. Good grief, he didn’t know what the guy was thinking when he drew up such a strategy, but still. 

 

“Want to hear it?”

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

“It is a foolish strategy.” 

 

“What does it matter? It’s not like this is real combat anyway.” 

 

“How can I tolerate a strategy that fails to properly utilize the human resources on this side?” 

 

Team B, which was expected to form an operation smoothly, made no progress at all, contrary to such expectations. Ko Youngwoo watched the two men arguing. Looking bored, he grabbed a thick tree branch and began doing pull-ups.

 

Next to Ko Youngwoo, Lee Suho sat hunched, watching his exercise.

 

“What is it, kid.”

 

“Ah… n-no, it’s nothing.”

 

Lee Suho’s lips parted as if he wanted to say something, then closed again. Soon, Lee Suho opened his mouth and looked up at Ko Youngwoo.

 

“About before, I’m sor…ry!” 

 

“….About what?”

 

“After saying I’d receive instruction, it—it ended up looking like I ran away. I felt like I was causing a nuisance for no reason, so I asked a cl—close hyung.” 

 

“That ‘hyung you’re close with,’ is that Yoo Hwashin guy?”

 

“…Th—that is.” 

 

Ko Youngwoo hopped down from the tree and sat next to Lee Suho.

 

‘Gosh, no matter how I look at this fellow, he’s a guy I can’t grow fond of.’

 

A guy who’s already a high schooler keeps his shoulders completely hunched, and perhaps because his unexercised body is soft, his slouched, pitiful posture stands out even more. He doesn’t look like he has any thigh muscles, let alone biceps or triceps. 

 

“Hey. Is your way of speaking always like that?”

 

“Pardon? …Ah, uh. Well, I d-don’t really know.”

 

“What do you mean you don’t know? Was it like that from the start?”

 

The start. Lee Suho recalled his beginning. He still didn’t know. Was I like this from the start? What was the beginning of the place where I originally lived like?

 

I don’t know well, but does everyone hate me like this? They might all think I’m embarrassing in secret. Lee Suho’s head slumped lower and lower.

 

“It seems the people in Unit 1 don’t say much about your manner of speaking?” 

 

“….Pardon? …Yes. S-Should I fix this? As expected….”

 

“What? Why would you fix that?”

 

“Yes?” 

 

Ko Youngwoo pointed his finger at Lee Suho’s chest.

 

“That’s a sickness. A sickness. It’s not some toy that can be fixed just because you say you should, you idiot….I mean, what did you say your name was? Right, Lee Suho.”

 

“Uh, uh-huh. That is.” 

 

“Is a sickness something that gets better just because you want it to? How can you immediately cure a sickness when you don’t even know the cause? If that kind of ma-magic were possible, then dammit, everyone in the world would have been cured by now.”

 

Ko Youngwoo felt unpleasant when he looked at Lee Suho. It wasn’t a feeling of—I dislike this kid. It was purely because he was reminded of his own past.

 

Right, this wasn’t the emotion of unpleasantness, but ‘discomfort.’ The ‘discomfort’ of seeing a forgotten past through a mirror.

 

“I’m telling you this because you don’t seem like an S-rank.”

 

As Ko Youngwoo crossed his arms, Lee Suho also sat up straight with a proper posture.

 

“Y-Yes.”

 

“If there’s any b*stard who says something to you about that, just beat them up with your shadow. Just slam into them.”

 

“…P-Pardon? B-But I’m a h-hero.”

 

“What, are heroes not even human? This world is a bit uptight, but there are loopholes for everything, kid. Since you’re an S-rank, the Association will look even more favorably on you.”

 

What kind of sermon am I giving to an S-rank? Is it because that bastard Chanyoung is still fighting that I ended up chatting like this with a kid?

 

Whether they finally reached a truce after a fierce debate, Chanyoung stood up. As Ko Youngwoo naturally moved toward Chanyoung, Lee Suho followed right beside him, pestering him.

 

“…T-Thank you. I-I’ll also try my best to be able to slam into people.”

 

“You know, you need to cut down on that word ‘thank you’ too.” 

 

“…Y-Yes.”

 

“Don’t talk to me next time, S-rank.”

 

“You talked to me first, Mister.”

 

“….You’ve got a mouth on you. Right, keep doing that.”

 

When Ko Youngwoo and Lee Suho arrived, Chanyoung began to explain the strategy. 

 

“The framework of the strategy has changed. ….The S-ranks will form a separate team as S-ranks, and the A-ranks as A-ranks. The same goes for the B-ranks.” 

 

Team 1, which would command and lead, was composed entirely of S-ranks, and Team 2, acting according to those commands, came to be composed entirely of A-ranks. A situation where the B-ranks, who made up the absolute majority, rather stepped back. Yet, surprisingly, there was no one among the B-ranks who expressed dissatisfaction with that strategy. Ko Youngwoo  also prepared for the training that would begin shortly without complaints after hearing this strategy. 

 

*** 

 

The training began. The B-rank heroes belonging to Team A ran in groups of five. If they ran at full speed toward Team B’s camp, they would arrive in two minutes. They must have been placed at this distance because it was training. One of them spoke up tentatively.

 

“Can we do this by ourselves?”

 

“Are you only saying that now?”

 

“But back then—”

 

“Hey. If you’re going to say that kind of thing, just focus. We are the main force.” 

 

The main force. At that single word, they swallowed hard.

 

Just because they were B-rank did not mean it was a low rank by any means. Even if one was only around B-rank, they could become a hero recognized by people, and their annual salary was also not disappointing. However, this was a standard viewed from the perspective of civilians. 

 

In reality, B-ranks were a bit different on the scene. They considered themselves ambiguous. They couldn’t be the best, but they were people who couldn’t completely let go of the field either. There were times they thought—I’d rather be a C-rank—but they didn’t actually want to become C-ranks.

 

Under such circumstances, the interview Hwashin had given. Words directed toward them, who were of a clearly low rank. Yet, the guy who had said those words entrusted the main force of the strategy exclusively to the B-ranks. 

 

‘I will only give you the strategy. As for the rest, you just have to win with your own abilities. As you can see, I can’t do anything.’ 

 

Prove it with skill. Show me that B-ranks are not nothing to him.

 

‘I want to gain all of you.’

 

Having said that, Hwashin coordinated the teams by ability. The teams he created on the fly were actually a much more systematic and effective combination than when they were in the GH Unit.

 

Just before arriving at Team B’s camp, all Team A heroes stopped in a single line at once. From here, the operation begins.

 

Standing at the very front of Team B were Yoo Jian, Jin, and Theo. S-rank heroes. The faces visible immediately behind them were Ko Youngwoo, Sun Sihan, and Lee Suho.

 

‘Can we win?’

 

Amidst the rising doubt, they recalled the one thing Yoo Hwashin had said.

 

‘You must win.’

 

Team A, B-ranks.

 

All of them run forward. Team B also seemed surprised by the unexpected personnel composition. Because neither Cha Jaeha nor Jeong Mueum were visible.

 

The formation of those who were running changed from a rectangle of three rows to a triangle. The B-ranks of the vanguard team running in front scattered to both sides. They scattered quickly and used their abilities. One of them grasped a piece of wood he was holding in his hand. The wood pulverized in an instant. The wood that had become powder spread into the air. The eyes of the hero coordinating them from the center glowed blue.

 

“500! A bit more! 470! 430! That’s it!”

 

A scene that unfolded in a matter of seconds. A thick gray powder obscured Team B’s vision. Simultaneously, the heroes who were running split apart completely. Team A, who had been running, also stopped moving. A hero standing on the left jumped straight into the air and spread his palms.

 

“Securing target distance complete! Now!”

 

“[Spark]!”

 

All of this happened in just a few dozen seconds. Along with a thunderous roar, a thick gray smoke that obscured the vision hit Team B. Nothing could be seen. Shadow mercenaries instantly blocked their path. It was as if a wall of thick darkness had been built.

 

“Team A! B-rank! Everyone!”

 

The loud voice of the hero, who was blown far away due to exceeding his ability capacity, echoed throughout the forest.

 

“Charge!!”

 

Today, in this place.

 

We will defeat our leaders.