Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 63

“Yes, yes. Please turn off the drones now. We can do the interview later. Yes.”

 

After hanging up, San Ihyeong turned around again. The scene she faced was, quite literally, a disaster. A disaster? That doesn’t even cover it. It was a complete mess.

 

“What’s the point of having foresight if you can’t predict a situation like this? At this rate, calling you an S-rank hero might be generous. You might be better off labeled a trash-tier hero. What kind of hero in the world… faces monsters—or, no, people—or… I mean…”

 

The elite who had joined the SH2 Unit had broken down.

 

“Uh, uh… Where is this? Mueum, I just followed you.”

 

“This place… hmm.”

 

A student in a school uniform had popped out of the Gate along with them. 

 

San Ihyeong, arms crossed, laughed this time as she spoke aloud.

 

“As expected… total mess.”

 

***

 

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t troubled, and a lie to say he wasn’t flustered. After all, Hwashin had never seen a case like this before. 

 

But thinking rationally, it wasn’t impossible for Lee Suho to follow them out.  

 

After all, if monsters from the gate could emerge here, then the protagonist from that dimension could, too.

 

It was simply difficult to accept because no one had ever seen such a case. One just had to accept it. 

 

Whenever Hwashin conceived a new spell, this was the thought that always came to mind:

 

First, just accept it. Understanding comes later. 

 

“Now, now, shall we try to organize the situation for a moment?” 

 

Among them, the most composed was San Ihyeong. When the gate had opened, she had been appointed a hero as a first-level awakener. With her red hair swept behind her shoulders, she looked at Lee Suho.

 

“I’ve turned off the drones for now. …I didn’t think that kid should be caught on camera. We’ll report that the workshop was suspended due to the Gate, and the four heroes who went in will have to do their interviews later.”

 

“Yeess.”

 

Jin, clinging to Theo’s shoulder as if hanging from it, gave a half-hearted answer. He was a hero famous for hating reports just as much as Yoo Jian. 

 

“I’ve heard enough while getting the items appraised to know all about the Red Gate. Ha Cheongwon and I investigated the perimeter of the Gate from the outside, and Teo was guarding the front of the Gate, so nothing happened. That’s everything that happened outside. So now.” 

 

San Ihyeong gestured toward Lee Suho and Hwashin.

 

“You two explain.”

 

What on earth was happening? Her smiling face made the expression even more eerie. Hwashin pretended to shake his shoulder lightly before continuing.

 

As Hwa-shin’s explanation went on, the back of Ha Cheongwon, who had been sitting listlessly, grew increasingly upright. It wasn’t that his pride had recovered; he simply seemed intrigued by the story. Among Ha Cheongwon’s hero skills was a B-rank skill called ‘Researcher’s Vision.’ It was part of why he fit in so well with the SH2 Unit. 

 

“…School Ghost Story.”

 

San Ihyeong murmured.

 

So, the protagonist of that story. Right now.

 

“He’s… a student?”

 

That student who looked so small and even fragile. Lee Suho was still sticking close to Mueum’s side with a face that looked like he still didn’t understand what was happening. 

 

“Sigh. The more I hear, the more it’s a mystery.” 

 

Hah.

 

Cha Jaeha’s expression, glanced at briefly, looked complicated too. Inside the Gate, he would have tried to help Lee Su-ho to clear the dungeon.

 

But, given his current feelings.

 

‘He’s probably deciding whether to kill Lee Suho or not.’

 

To be honest, Lee Suho could be considered in the same class as a monster that had come out of a Gate. 

 

A lifeform in human shape that can speak and feels a sense of familiarity toward heroes. That was the way to describe Lee Suho in a single sentence. 

 

“Let’s have the association decide on his treatment.”

 

At San Ihyeong’s words, Yoo Jian raised her hand. Sitting cross-legged, she seemed deep in thought before voicing her opinion.

 

“Unnie, are you really going to tell the association?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“But… if you tell the association… they’ll probably kill him.”

 

They were cruel words, but no one could easily refute them. That was because what Yoo Jian said was the correct answer. 

 

In a place that hated even a slight difference, throwing such a tempting prey to them was the same as saying, ‘Please eat this.’ 

 

“Think about it. Once he’s sent to the Inspection Department, he’ll be treated just like a monster. Technically speaking, he looks human, but his origin is the same as a monster’s, so they’ll process him by regulations. That’s the association’s mindset.”

 

“….Sometimes, Noona is really smart, right?” 

 

Mueum whispered this into Hwashin’s ear. She was an older sister who knew when to act.

 

“A-a-am I… going to die?”

 

A terrified Lee Suho hid himself even further behind Mueum. 

 

Mueum couldn’t answer.

 

“So… what do we do with him—?”

 

“Then should we hide him?”

 

All eyes fell on Hwashin after he casually suggested it. The sharpest gaze came from Cha Jaeha.

 

“What?”

 

“He doesn’t seem likely to harm us. All the heroes who entered the gate would probably agree. Right, Cha Jaeha?”

 

“I agree, but I can’t say he’s not dangerous.”

 

Cha Jae-ha clicked his tongue at the naive judgment. Opinions flew from sharp and varied angles. Those who hadn’t entered the gate were uneasy; those who had, deliberated.

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

Hwashin raised a hand in a soft tone, cutting through the tension. Behind Mueum, Suho and Hwashin made eye contact.

 

“Suho.”

 

“…”

 

“You… it’s all confusing here, isn’t it?”

 

He nodded.

 

Hwashin could somewhat understand Suho’s mindset. For himself, he had read this novel and entered Yoo Hwashin’s body, easily obtaining his memories, so it was easy to adapt—but not for this boy. 

 

Furthermore, he was a variable. A variable that wasn’t in the original work. Hwashin had no intention of letting go of this small variable. A lifeform from another dimension, just like Ppi-ppi. There was a high possibility he would become a key to preventing destruction. 

 

“You’re an outsider here. You have to start completely fresh, and the people in front of you might try to kill you.”

 

“M-me… why?”

 

Su-ho’s voice trailed off. However, Lee Suho also understood to some extent. He knew how difficult his situation was. 

 

The gate, another dimension—it was clear this wasn’t his school. Mueum had explained that he came through the gate into this dimension.

 

“B-but I have no intention of harming you at all.”

 

“Then why did you follow?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“The closure of that dimension was your choice.”

 

Otherwise, there was no way such a window would have appeared. Lee Su-ho’s pupils suddenly shook violently. It was my choice? This situation?

 

What he truly wanted…

 

“I just wanted to stay with my friend.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Hearing that, Hwashin pressed his hand gently onto Suho’s hair. Firm, cold, and strong.

 

Suho looked up at the adult silently.

 

“I think so, too.”

 

Silence fell. Those listening appeared deep in thought. Ha Cheongwon, who usually remembered only playful Hwashin, now saw something new. So did San Ihyeong.

 

“I’ll take responsibility. Let’s process it so that only we here know about Lee Suho’s identity, shall we?”  

 

Hmm? Eyebrows narrowed instantly. Yoo Jian laughed quietly at his return. Mueum echoed the same sentiment.

 

“Me too. I feel largely responsible for him following us. I’ll handle all the explanations myself.”

 

“I have no objections. But I won’t take responsibility either!”

 

Jin added nothing. Theo seemed to agree with everything his older brother said.

 

That left Cha Jaeha and Ha Cheongwon.

 

Ha Cheongwon remained unsettled. By regulations, this ‘monster’—Lee Suho—should have been reported to the association. He should have gone to the lab. A lifeform from another dimension capable of speech and understanding their language. Perfect conditions for an experimental subject.

 

Yet,

 

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Especially the scene where Yoo Hwashin spoke to Lee Suho. How should he put it? It made him see another path. 

 

Seeing Ha Cheongwon’s wavering eyes, Hwashin seized the moment and coaxed him gently.

 

“Ha Cheongwon-ssi, your ability is essential for this decision. If a problem arises later, you can foresee it, right?”

 

“…But regulations.”

 

“Doing everything by the regulations doesn’t mean it’s all right, does it? Just this once. Please? Please? I’ll even buy you bubble tea.” 

 

Ha Cheongwon rested an arm on his cross-legged knee, thought for a long time, brushed his forehead, rubbed his dry face, then answered under his palms:

 

“….The moment I judge that this becomes a problem, I will report it to the Association immediately.” 

 

That was probably the maximum Ha Cheongwon could give. Hwashin smiled.

 

“That’s enough.”

 

Is the final decision the protagonist’s after all? The gazes of everyone sitting in a circle pierced Cha Jaeha. Cha Jaeha still had a face that looked like he couldn’t be convinced. 

 

“Are you confident?” 

 

At his question, Hwashin smiled with his usual expression. 

 

“If you do anything foolish, I’ll strike you down immediately.” 

 

As soon as Cha Jaeha answered, Hwashin clapped.

 

“Alright, then it’s decided? No taking it back?”

 

“I’ll prepare the necessary paperwork. I have someone on that side who can help.”

 

Once opinions aligned, San Ihyeong spoke as if waiting for this moment.

 

Lee Suho would stay at Mueum’s home, who lived alone. It was judged that living with someone the same age would be better for both of them.

 

Ha Cheongwon still wore a complicated expression.

 

The gate had closed, the workshop concluded. There was no reason to linger in the forest. The SH units headed back to the playground where the workshop had begun.

 

An employee from the Audit Department who had heard the news was waiting for them at the playground. The female employee who had been with them since the beginning waved her hand vigorously as if she were glad to see them. 

 

“Everyone~!! Great job!!”

 

It had taken five hours to resolve the Red Gate and determine Lee Suho’s residence.

 

‘I’ll make it so Lee Su-ho isn’t visible to the Audit Department employee.’

 

Jin took charge of hiding Suho’s identity, stepping ahead and positioning himself beside the staff member.

 

A faint smoke rose from beneath his feet. The employee’s eyes lost focus for a moment before returning. 

 

“Hmm, the numbers are perfect!”

 

Jin’s hallucination seemed to have worked well.

 

“I heard the workshop was suspended midway because a Gate opened. However! Regardless, I came because I felt I should notify you of the workshop results. We have to use it for the broadcast, too! Hahaha!”

 

“Isn’t it just over? We couldn’t even determine a winner because of the Gate.”

 

Yoo Jian asked, and she shook her head.

 

“I clearly told you during the initial explanation! There is only one way for a team to win! That is by losing the representative of each team. Also, there were two main ways to lose a representative!”

 

She held up two fingers.

 

“The first method is to incapacitate the representative. Seeing that everyone is safe, that method clearly didn’t work.”

 

She folded one finger and continued, index finger raised.

 

“The second way was to steal the ball with the crown drawn on it. All the representatives had crowns drawn on their balls, right?”

 

“Each ball had a GPS tracker attached by our Audit Department. We were tracking where the representatives’ balls were moving from the very start. Ah, of course, the machines went dead when you entered the Gate. Regardless!” 

 

Her eyes sparkled like she’d just watched the ending of a long-awaited game.

 

“Exactly then, there was movement with a representative’s ball.”