Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 88

“I said I don’t want it. That position.” 

 

A brief, awkward silence filled the room before the Association President opened his mouth again. 

 

“It seems Hero Yoo Hwashin is still taken aback, as this is the first time he’s hearing of this.”

 

He naturally turned his gaze back toward the front. 

 

—That old fox. It seems he expected you to just accept it since he brought it up in a place like this? 

 

Riel grumbled in the empty air.

 

It was true; the Association President originally disliked Cha Jaeha because he never listened. But when it comes to not listening, I wouldn’t lose to anyone either. Since neither of us listens, does he think it’s better to make me a symbol at least?

 

Certainly, compared to an original S-Rank hero, a hero who re-awakened from F-Rank to S-Rank—and even resurrected—would be much better for PR.

 

“We will propose this matter again later—”

 

“No, I’m not taken aback; I really don’t want it.”

 

Yoo Hwashin, gripping the microphone on the table, spoke up.

 

“To be a class president, you fundamentally need leadership or something like that. But look at me. I do whatever I want, and without even seeking my teammates’ consent, I died as I pleased and then came back to life. I don’t know what you think you know about me to decide whether to make me a leader or not.”

 

At Hwashin’s response, the reporters began to whisper among themselves.

 

‘Is he picking a fight with the Association President?’

 

‘Is the relationship between the SH1 Unit and the Association President bad? Usually, the association and heroes have a good relationship.’

 

‘If they fight like that, aren’t we the only ones who’ll get screwed? Didn’t someone almost die last time while filming heroes together?’

 

“You are more than qualified.”

 

Despite Hwashin’s provocation, the Association President calmly continued his response.

 

“An S-Rank hero who has achieved this level of accomplishment is rare. No, you are the only one in the entire world.”

 

“Whaaaaaat?” 

 

As if he had been waiting for those words, Hwashin leaned back in his chair.

 

What is this old man talking about? He’s saying this in front of the others?

 

Hwashin barely managed to compose his dumbfounded expression and grabbed the microphone. He had a lot to say. Catching his breath, he immediately continued.

 

“Since the global appearance of Gates, there have been a total of 870 occurrences in Korea. Over 500 of those happened in high-altitude mountains or outskirts, far from urban centers. Hero Cha Jaeha resolved more than 200 of those. Among them were over 30 A-rank Gates and over 100 B-rank Gates. That hero over there is the one who resolved those single-handedly.” 

 

“…Wait…”

 

“And Hero Yoo Jian was famous as an elite among her peers since her training days. She has resolved over 50 gates on her own. Aside from Hero Cha Jaeha, Hero Yoo Jian has resolved the most cases. It’s the same for Hero Jeong Mueum. At his age, he paired up with other heroes to minimize the damage in those areas.”

 

This was information that even the heroes themselves didn’t know in detail. If someone knew this, they would either have to be someone who researched the vast amount of hero data from the very beginning, or someone who had been keeping an eye on the SH1 Unit members for a long time.

 

That someone was Yoo Hwashin.

 

In <Your Hero Is Here>, there was a scene that detailed the reasons why the protagonists were selected for the SH1 Unit.

 

Every single detail, down to the most trivial stories.

 

Hwashin listed the facts he knew—or rather, the history of their world—without pause.  

 

Cha Jaeha, who used his ability while burning his own hands during his inexperienced days.

Yoo Jian, who cried every night, resenting herself for not even being able to control her strength properly. Jeong Mueum, who was called a genius but couldn’t live the life he wanted.

 

“Everyone here—no, everyone watching this press conference. Shall we share a few more stories?” 

 

“….”

 

“First of all, Cha Jaeha has a nasty temper.”

 

?

 

“You can’t say Yoo Jian has a good personality either. Out of everyone here, Mueum is probably the best one.”

 

….?

 

What is this? Isn’t this supposed to be a heartwarming moment? The sound of enthusiastic typing gradually faded. Hwashin continued to speak without yielding.

 

“Cha Jaeha, with his nasty temper, is a nag. Every time we clear a gate, he nags endlessly. Do this, do that. If we do it this way, the people outside will all die; we have to resolve it quickly. So then I just end up doing whatever I want.”

 

This time, his gaze turned to Yoo Jian.

 

“Jian is loyal. She’s different from a stubborn loner like me who tries to solve things alone without thinking. She’s strong and loyal—a true general.” 

 

Next was Jeong Mueum.

 

“Mueum is young but calm. He tries to make the most appropriate judgment in every situation. Among the incidents he resolved with Yoo Jian… let’s see. In the case of Incident No. 397, if Mueum hadn’t supported a building, there might have been quite a lot of casualties.”

 

Incident No. 397?

 

Kang San quickly searched the internet. It was an incident where a gate appeared in an apartment complex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. However, it was a C-rank gate and hadn’t received much attention from the public.

 

Furthermore, a considerable amount of time had passed, so there would be far more people who didn’t remember it.

 

Yoo Hwashin continued the story as if he had witnessed it himself.

 

“To return to the main point. Shall we talk more about Cha Jaeha? Incident Nos. 81, 187, and 299. Those gates were all A-Rank gates, and due to a lack of personnel at the time, Cha Jaeha cleared them entirely on his own. Similarly, because they were on the outskirts of the city, almost no one remembers them. But what if Cha Jaeha hadn’t stopped them?”

 

Kang San wrote down every single word Yoo Hwashin was saying. There must be a reason why Hyung was saying all this.

 

“Then what was I doing back then? Me, who is now being idolized and told to become the leader of the SH1 Unit.” 

 

Yoo Hwashin smiled.

 

Yoo Hwashin—Elric—knew. Back then, this man named Yoo Hwashin probably did nothing. As the Origin’s puppet, he would have been living a life thoroughly excluded from the novel. 

 

“The most important thing in the profession of a hero isn’t a grand narrative or amazing media play. Nor is it the person’s personal character.”

 

The gazes of the reporters fixed on one place. On the single man, Yoo Hwashin.

 

He was smiling, but there was a sense of pressure in that smile. A seriousness felt in his low, calm voice. Even a hint of playfulness mixed into every word he spoke. He was, quite literally, a star.

 

An undeniable star. Even the reporters could understand why the Association President wanted to make him the leader. But at the same time, they could understand what Yoo Hwashin was trying to say.

 

“It’s not like heroes are supposed to be picking a star, anyway.” 

 

What is the definition of a hero?

 

“Someone whose top priority is saving people. That is the most important definition of a hero, and it will continue to be so.”

 

Because at least for him, that was why he liked this novel—this world.

 

Because he cherished those who, without any reason, without weighing the good or evil of a person, sought to save all lives.

 

To be able to offer unconditional kindness.

 

“In that sense, I am…”

 

It wasn’t something anyone could do.

 

At least, he wasn’t someone who could.

 

Whether it was his reason for wanting to stop the destruction, or his reason for trying to make these people suffer even a little bit less. 

 

<Your Hero Is Here>.

 

Because Elric’s heroes were inside this novel.

 

“I will never, ever be the leader of the SH1 Unit.”

 

***

 

Additional Q&A session directed at the Association President. The SH1 Unit left their seats first. It seemed a separate Q&A session regarding the upcoming hero summit had been prepared.

 

In the hallway leaving the press room, Cha Jaeha walked right next to Hwashin. Cha Jaeha wore an expression of deep thought for a while before opening his mouth. 

 

“Why did you say I have a nasty temper?”

 

“Huh? What, is that what’s bothering you?”

 

He wasn’t the type to care about something like that. At his question, Hwashin burst into loud laughter.

 

“Don’t laugh.”

 

The fact that he added that made the laughter burst out even more. Wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, Hwashin replied.

 

“I just stated a fact. Before saying what an amazing guy you are, you know. It’s embarrassing. Isn’t it? But didn’t it make you feel good?”

 

“….I didn’t care who became the leader.”

 

On the surface, the leader of the SH1 Unit was Cha Jaeha, who was evaluated as the strongest among the domestic S-rank heroes. That was why he would have held the center seat and started the conversation at every conference. 

 

“I know you’re not attached to that position.”

 

Cha Jaeha didn’t covet the leader position. He merely stayed true to his given tasks. Whether he was the leader or not, he would act the same. Rather, if the protagonist had changed, I probably wouldn’t have liked him so much.

 

“However, I truly just don’t fit that position. I don’t unconditionally jump in to save others like you do.”

 

“It’s not like I’m such a great guy either.”

 

“That’s why I added that you have a nasty temper.”

 

“….Right. You’re always acting like that in front of a guy like me.”

 

Cha Jaeha chuckled and continued.

 

“Anyway, today’s press conference will make big news.”

 

He was right. It could be framed as friction between the Association President and the SH1 Unit, or it could run with the headline that he rejected the leader position. It didn’t matter what it was. In the first place, Hwashin wasn’t the type to cling to a position.

 

‘That fox-like old man… he probably really didn’t expect me to refuse.’

 

“At this rate, you’ll be called to the summit too.”

 

“Ah, the hero summit, right. I know.”

 

“…Don’t tell me you.” 

 

Cha Jaeha stopped in his tracks.

 

As if he had finally grasped Yoo Hwa-shin’s intentions, Cha Jaeha furrowed his brows. No wonder he had put out an interview immediately after coming back to life, and grabbed a reporter telling him to spread it across the world. Even today’s incident. 

 

“Did you do that on purpose?”

 

A summit where only powerful nations possessing a certain number of S-rank heroes or those with recognized special abilities could participate. About 1 or 2 S-rank heroes from each country could attend that summit. Korea, which was assigned a seat for the first time, was scheduled to receive one seat.

 

However, if one more hero who would cause a stir in the world was produced, the story changes.

 

“….Well.”

 

Hwashin smirked.

 

Well, my foot. Hwashin absolutely had to attend the hero summit. That was why he had asked Kang San to write the interview as quickly as possible.

 

With the views exploding and Nathan and Adam contacting him separately, his plan had definitely succeeded.

 

‘I need to start preparing for the real thing now.’

 

The timing was advanced a little, but the 「Battery War」 dungeon was over. Besides, some time had passed in this world from when he died to when he returned.

 

Coinciding with the timing of the summit, the wheel towards destruction begins to turn. Entangled in that wheel was the bastard who had interfered with him during the 「Battery War」.

 

Touching the lid of the hand mirror in his jacket pocket, Hwashin averted his gaze. Cha Jaeha hurriedly followed beside the turning Yoo Hwashin.

 

“Hey, Yoo Hwashin. What are you plotting this time.”

 

“Ah, I’m not plotting anything.”

 

“You better tell me before you cause trouble.”

 

“Then I’ll be sure to tell you before I do.”

 

Two weeks after the press conference.

 

The list of Korean heroes attending the summit was finally announced.