Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 112

Aspiration. Constancy.

 

A human equipped with these two things never stops growing. God Himself cannot halt the end of a world that has decided to forge ahead rather than retreat into stagnation. 

 

A world created by such humans will never fall to ruin.

 

Embracing a world that will never perish, humanity moves toward the future.

 

With the sole exception of ‘him.’

 

***

 

“Charge!!”

 

It was a simple strategy. 

 

‘If you want to refute my interview, this strategy will be the best. And I believe you all will do better than you think.’ 

 

Having said that, Hwashin had formed a new team consisting of A- and B-ranks. This was the reason he had memorized the abilities of all the GH Unit members. Because perfect teamwork is what can bridge the gap in power. But at the same time, Hwashin had to make them realize one more thing.

 

Amidst the heroes flustered by the thick white smoke generated from the earlier explosion, Yoo Jian was the first to move. Drawing the axe from her back, Yoo Jian instantly clove through the smoke of the explosion. The sharp axe blade severed the empty air in an instant. The sound of tearing air reverberated through the earth. Along with it, her voice, resembling the screech of a tearing beast, pierced everyone’s ears. 

 

“Everyone, get it together!”

 

With her voice, the formless smoke parted in the air like the miracle of the Red Sea. At the same time, Ko Youngwoo shouted from behind.

 

“Everyone! Do not rush! Protect the hostage!”

 

Ko Youngwoo bit his lower lip hard with his upper teeth. It was a small habit of his that only appeared in critical situations.

 

This was… at most, a training exercise. It was not actual combat, and the survival of humanity was not determined by a defeat in this training.

 

And yet, why?

 

Heroes burst out of the smoke all at once. There were four B-rank Heroes attached to Ko Youngwoo alone.

 

Due to the regulations of the training, A-rank heroes were restricted in their ability usage. This training was no exception. Even so, they were confident in winning. Because it had been that way until now, and it would remain that way in the future. 

 

However,

 

‘Why are the eyes of these b*stards so—.’

 

Ugh. Ko Youngwoo blocked the sword lunging at him with his shadow. Unlike usual, the shape of Ko Youngwoo’s shadow was flickering and viscous. The shadow had weakened. The reason was simple. First, the timeframe was daytime. Furthermore, midday. The exact moment the sun sat dead center in the sky. That was the moment Go Yeongwoo’s ability was at its weakest. 

 

But this time, it wasn’t just that.

 

It was because in this strategy, the B-rank hero with the worst compatibility with Go Yeongwoo had been deployed against him. 

 

A Hero who utilizes light. Literally, it was an ability that served no purpose other than being flashy. A Hero with an ability usually used for rescue operations on-site charged at Ko Youngwoo. Simultaneously with the burst of light, the color of the shadow turned gray. Krrr. Ko Youngwoo forcibly held up the sagging shadow as it lost its strength.

 

Not missing that moment, other B-ranks rushed in. Among them was also a cooling-line hero. 

 

“They’ve gathered nothing but the annoying ones. Just—seriously!” 

 

“K-Ko Youngwoo-ssi!” 

 

“Kyaak!”

 

Another shadow instantly grabbed and enveloped the light-type Hero. Lee Suho had controlled his own ability. It was still difficult to hold them down completely, but he could now at least issue commands.

 

“A-Are you okay!” 

 

“You say things like that after it’s all over, kid!”

 

Ko Youngwoo snatched the falling shadow arm and slammed it back into the ground as he shouted.

 

At that time, the detachment team sent by Team A passed through the zone where the S-ranks and A-ranks were located. The maximum number of personnel in the detachment team moving together with the A-rank hero who possessed the ‘Invisibility’ ability was four in total. Except for the single invisibility hero, all of them were B-ranks.

 

However, Hwashin had entrusted them with capturing the hostage. 

 

‘There is someone on the other team who likes me, so I’ve asked that person for a favor. If that is fulfilled, the ones protecting the hostage will likely be B-ranks. Because that side will focus on offense rather than defense. Therefore! Your role is important. Do you understand?’

 

The other colleagues facing the S-ranks. The maximum time those colleagues could hold out was twenty minutes. Everything had to be handled within that window.

 

Crackle. With every step forward, it felt as if a corner of their hearts had become fallen leaves crumbled by the autumn weather. The weight of heavy responsibility. Not a single one of them had ever stepped onto a scene with this much weight before.

 

‘The pressure is immense. The S-ranks always feel this kind of pressure—.’

 

The lush green vision came to an end, and sunlight gradually leaked through the gaps between the tree leaves. 

 

‘Shh.’

 

The Invisibility Hero, placing his index finger over his lips, came to a halt for a moment. Finally, the ‘hostage’ entered their view. Chanyoung, sitting alone on a circular ring. A few B-rank Heroes were visible around them, but the GH Unit members perfectly understood each other’s strength. Because they were the closest colleagues, they were the most confident.

 

Whoo. Inhaling lightly. Then exhaling. He slowly raised his right hand. Two Heroes standing in the back row walked up slowly and stood in line.

 

He lightly flicked his finger and pointed forward. The target was only one. 

 

‘We capture Chanyoung here.’ 

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

At the same time, Chanyoung, who had been unaware that the detachment was approaching him, was hearing the progress of the battle in real-time.

 

‘This shouldn’t be happening.’

 

S-ranks are strong. If it were the ability of a hero around S-rank, they could comfortably topple ten, no, twenty B-ranks alone. Even if their abilities were restricted. 

 

But why. Why on earth were they struggling this much?

 

It took a long time for Chanyoung to understand the situation before his eyes. Where did the calculation go wrong? The skill of the S-ranks? No, looking at the state of the battle, once a few minutes of this confusion passed, the S-ranks would clearly defeat them. It was just a bit chaotic right now.

 

Then is it because of this absurd strategy? Because he hadn’t anticipated that not a single S-rank would be visible. Chanyoung took a deep breath. 

 

‘Then the ones coming here must be the S-ranks.’

 

This game is ultimately a defeat ‘if the hostage is not taken.’ It meant that winning a violent battle was not that important. In that sense, Chanyoung was already fully prepared.

 

Yes, even if the defensive line of the S-ranks were breached by the opposing team’s B-ranks. 

 

The possibility of him losing this match. There was absolutely no way. 

 

***

 

“Yawn. This is boring.” 

 

“Don’t let your guard down, you don’t know when they’ll come.” 

 

“…You know that’s not very convincing when you’re in that posture, Jaeha Hyung.”

 

Jeong Mueum looked at Cha Jaeha, who was half-lying in the grass, with a dull expression. At that, Jaeha countered that mental concentration was the most important thing.

 

‘Was this Hyung this kind of character?’

 

Mueum turned his head to look at the empty clearing. The chirping birds seemed to suggest that this place was not even a truce zone, but a ceasefire area.

 

Yoo Hwashin’s operation—simple, but difficult to predict. B-ranks strike, S-ranks protect.

 

Actually, the blind spot of this game lay in ‘not letting the hostage be taken.’ Therefore, it was better to compose the protection of the hostage with high-level personnel.

 

-Since Hwashin even said, “B-ranks attack, and S-ranks protect me!”

 

Hwashin, who had been sitting in the area where the hostage was supposed to be and swinging his legs, soon looked toward the side path where people would swarm in. To get to this forest, they had to go through that side path anyway.

 

It would be good to watch while he was at it.

 

‘Just how much the skills of Jaeha and Mueum have grown.’

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

And unfortunately, Team B’s strategy failed. Normally, the S-ranks should have bypassed all the B-ranks and come this way, but in the end, they could not reach Team A’s camp. The only ones who made it here were B-ranks who barely broke through the empty spots and arrived in an exhausted state. They reached the opponent’s camp having already lost their confidence.

 

Waiting for them there were two S-ranks. 

 

Winning against those with eyes that have given up is not a very difficult task. Yoo Hwashin lay still in the hostage’s spot and watched the battle of Cha Jaeha and Jeong Mueum.

 

Cha Jaeha lightly suppressed them by creating whips out of fire. Except for the scorch marks on their clothing, there was no danger to their lives. The team members Cha Jaeha knocked unconscious were confined by Jeong Mueum using gravity.

 

‘I was the one who taught them, but these kids have really grown a lot. They have great sense.’

 

– What did you ever teach them?

 

Oh, come on, Riel. Picking a fight again? I guess even lying on the sofa and just reading books is getting boring now?

 

– I’m just stating the fact.

 

The scene of Riel prissily flipping her long white hair back came to mind.

 

Hwashin shared nonsense with Riel as he checked the time. Twenty minutes had passed since the training began. By this time, the matter should be settled. Yes, the B-rank guys would have lost. Because if the S-ranks and A-ranks got their act together, they would surely lose. But that didn’t mean that defeat was meaningless.

 

When this game ended, the B-ranks would have changed.

 

‘I told them to contact me when the situation was over, but not yet.’

 

While Hwashin was staring at his watch until his eyes felt like they would pop out, a voice came from behind.

 

“….Yoo Hwashin-ssi.”

 

Hwashin’s gaze instantly snapped backward. The place he turned toward was where there should have been nothing, a place without even a path. Bae Deokho was standing on the ground composed of overgrown weeds and squelching mud.

 

He had eyes that were more out of it than when they met during the selection match. Was he dissatisfied about losing to Cha Jaeha and being chewed out on all sorts of TV channels? He might have participated in this training for the sake of revenge. Because Cha Jaeha had already warned him once, Hwashin was not majorly on guard either. 

 

“Why are you here, Bae Deokho-ssi? All the other Heroes went to Team B’s camp.” 

 

“[Don’t you think it’s all a useless effort?]”

 

Bae Deokho mumbled.

 

“A useless effort?”

 

Hwashin turned his body completely to face him. Bae Deokho continued in a voice that cut in and out like a radio with a poorly tuned frequency.

 

“[Yes, …..that is right.]”

 

Bae Deokho let out a slimy laugh. He slowly raised both hands and clenched his fists.

 

“[Do not… try to change what cannot be changed. Is it so d…ifficult to accept the future?]” 

 

“What is this?”

 

Listening to his words, Hwashin curled one side of his mouth.

 

“I didn’t expect a mere villain to make it all the way here.” 

 

The villains of <Your Hero Is Here> were trivial but annoying existences. However, disregarding life is always accomplished more easily than protecting life. Because Frick, as if aware of this, had interfered with Cha Jaeha every single time. 

 

“I guess you have nothing better to do?”

 

Hwashin tilted his head slightly. His gorgeous but thin silver hair flowed down following his head. The way it fell disheveled was as if it were describing his life.

 

“Han Jeyu-ssi, did you come all this way just to say that?”

 

Bae Deokho’s mouth curled up as if it were tearing. No, really. His mouth stretched all the way to his ears as if about to rip, and even if it did, he looked as if he wouldn’t care at all. Because neither the voice nor the body belonged to him anyway.

 

The fox in the guise of a piece of trash spoke once more.

 

“[You recognize me immediately now. I’m pleased because it feels like we’ve become close.]”

 

“That aside, the Han Jeyu I knew wasn’t able to take over someone else’s body.”

 

Has Han Jeyu’s ability also continued to evolve? At Yoo Hwashin’s words, he shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

 

“[Since I too must evolve to survive the appearance of an unexpected person. So, through this training, is what Hwashin-ssi is trying to stop the Hell of ‘Falsehood’?]”

 

He poked his head out slightly. In the front, Cha Jaeha and Jeong Mueum could be seen handling the B-ranks who were gradually beginning to swarm in.

 

“That’s right.” 

 

“[Mhm, I see. You truly intend to stop the Hell of Falsehood.]”

 

With the following words, Yoo Hwashin was certain.

 

“[But you won’t be able to stop the beginning of Hell with just this much.]”

 

The Han Jeyu within <Your Hero is Here>, which he had entered, was a different character from the original work.

 

No, can he really be called different? If memory is the foundation that composes a person, can this man, who has different memories from the Han Jeyu in the original… be called Han Jeyu?

 

….Despite all the reasons, causes, and circumstances.

 

If there is one certain fact.

 

“[Because all the Hells that will arrive from now on.]”

 

It was that he knew far more than Elric—himself—who had read <Your Hero is Here>. 

 

“[Are the records of a world that has already perished, inscribing the ‘past’ into this place.]”

 

It is the fact that he knows more.