Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 89

The Hero Summit.

 

A year had passed since the emergence of Gates across the globe. This was a summit established exclusively for nations possessing S-class heroes. 

 

The existence of an S-rank hero was symbolic. The number of countries possessing at least eight S-rank heroes, which was one of the conditions for attending the summit, could be counted on one hand. Even fewer remained when narrowing it down to offensive types.

 

Until now, Korea hadn’t met the qualifications to attend the summit.

 

However, with the recent additions of Yoo Hwashin, Ha Cheongwon, and Lee Suho to the S-class ranks, they had finally earned their seat at the table. 

 

As a general rule, a country attending for the first time was strictly given only one seat. This was because the information shared at the summit was top secret, and highly sensitive intelligence was exchanged.

 

Yet, a storm of opinions was currently swirling, suggesting that an exception be made to grant Korea two seats. 

 

“Hyung, you’re doing big things as soon as you get back.”

 

Mueum said, stopping his scrolling.

 

It was no wonder, considering Hwashin dominated most of the hero news sections on famous websites.

 

[ Returning Yoo Hwashin, now heading out to conquer the world, not just Korea. ]

[ Korea’s Incarnation, Yoo Hwashin! Confirmed to attend the Hero Summit! Korea secures at least two seats! ]

[ I’ll be waiting ★ A letter from America. Meeting Adam and Nathan. ]

[ Confirmed for the Hero Summit? Cha Jaeha or Yoo Hwashin, who will it be? ]

[ Yoo Hwashin, will he become a legend? Let’s take a look at his spectacular life! ]

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There were well over 20 articles with Hwashin’s name in the title alone.

 

The comments were also filled with praise for Hwashin.

 

ㄴ Wait, isn’t Yoo Hwashin the highest-ranking among the S-Ranks? Where else can you find an S-rank who died and came back to life?

ㄴ He truly returned like an incarnation (Hwashin), Yoo Hwashin.

ㄴ Until now, I thought heroes were just heroes in name. But watching our SH1 unit, I’ve realized how noble this profession is. Hero Yoo Hwashin even braved death itself. I am so moved. I heard Korea gets to participate in the summit this time, and we must send Hero Yoo Hwashin.

ㄴ *risked -> braved

ㄴ Eh ㅋㅋ Even so, Cha Jaeha should be the one to go;;; Whether you look at the time since becoming an S-rank or the number of gates resolved, he is much more suited to be the representative. He himself said at the press conference that he didn’t want to be the leader… he probably wouldn’t even want to go to the summit that much?

ㄴ True, true, he’d probably find it burdensome.

ㄴ I agree.

 

Hwashin, who was secretly peeking at Mueum’s phone, let out a gasp of dismay.

 

I wouldn’t want to attend the summit? I purposely released articles and created controversy just to attend that! Why?

 

“Mueum, give me your phone for a sec.”

 

“Huh? Why? ….Ah, ah Hyung. Hyung, wait a minute.”

 

Tap tap tap.

 

Hwashin’s fingers moved dazzlingly. Shortly after, a single comment was posted.

 

ㄴ I am Yoo Hwashin and I want to attend the summit.

ㄴ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ What’s with this guy?

ㄴ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ You might as well say you’re Jeong Mueum. Using a Jeong*** ID and claiming to be Yoo Hwashin, what bs.

ㄴ Yeah, and if you’re Yoo Hwashin, I’m Cha Jaeha.

 

“Do people here originally not believe what others say?”

 

“Ah, give it back. Why are you leaving comments as you please? …But Hyung. Do you really want to attend the summit that badly?”

 

Mueum, curled up on the sofa in the SH Unit’s private lounge, asked as he checked more news. Simultaneously, he deleted the comment Hwashin had just posted. 

 

“If you really wanted to attend, you should’ve just said you’d be the leader at the press conference. The Association President seemed quite shocked back then.”

 

“That and this are separate matters. Mueum, do you think I suit being a leader?” 

 

Mueum maintained his silence.

 

An SH1 unit… with Yoo Hwashin Hyung as the leader.

 

Let’s imagine it. Hold on, let me think about this seriously. Answering briefly, Mueum crossed his arms and closed his eyes. His closed eyes and face gradually distorted until all the blood drained from his face. Gasp. Letting out a short breath and opening his eyes, Mueum urgently turned his head toward Hwashin.

 

“Hyung, you should absolutely never be the leader. Jaeha Hyung is the one with at least some common sense.”

 

“….What kind of imagination did you have, Mueum-ah?”

 

“What else? Imagining you becoming the leader. Then there’s a high probability that Jaeha Hyung will be the one attending the summit. No matter how much the media pushes you, it’s the heroes of the participating countries who decide the hero and the number of personnel attending the summit.”

 

“Adam and Nathan will probably be the US representatives, wouldn’t they have pushed for me?”

 

“Well, Nathan might vote for you out of pure interest. But I’m not sure about Adam.”

 

True. Adam seemed to have a serious personality, so he wouldn’t choose a summit representative based purely on interest. I wonder how the kids from other countries will vote.

 

“Hmm, but I heard the members of the SH3 unit have a hero they’re close with in Japan. If they had asked that person to recommend you, you might have been selected.”

 

“SH3 Unit? Come to think of it, that unit is in Russia right now, isn’t it?” 

 

Around this time, the SH3 unit would be in Russia. As rumors about human experimentation circulated, the SH3 unit had taken charge of that investigation.

 

“Yes. It seems they handled one incident in Japan and moved over right away. ….Now that I think about it, Mr. Jin was very disappointed. He said it was a waste for you to die so early.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Jin-ssi and Theo-ssi are both quite difficult people to get close to. I guess you really are special, Hyung.” 

 

“You shouldn’t say special; you should say I have outstanding character.”

 

“….People don’t say someone has a good character when they leave their team behind and die as they please.”

 

Mueum muttered, his eyes fixed on his phone. A surge of emotion was visible on his face.

 

It seemed that witnessing my death right in front of him was quite a huge shock.

 

—While you were dead, Mueum is the one who cried the most in the novel. Every single sentence was so sad I could barely turn the page. He held it in on the outside, but looking at the narration… his heart was just rotting away. 

 

‘I can’t see that part, right?’

 

No.

 

Heartless brat. Couldn’t you let me see just once since we’re friends? 

 

“Anyway, they said the list would be out today.”

 

Mueum looked around.

 

The person who had told the two of them to wait in the lounge was Ha Cheongwon.

 

Only authorized personnel in each organization could view the roster first, and the information arrived first to Ha Cheongwon, who handled related tasks.

 

“There must be a reason he told us to wait even though the list is already out.” 

 

Shortly after, Ha Cheongwon returned with Cha Jaeha. It seemed there had been a conversation just between him and Cha Jaeha. In his hand, he carried a thick stack of documents.

 

The documents placed on the table listed the information of key figures from each country and the hero roster.

 

“You’ve waited a long time. Our side’s roster has now been finalized as well.”

 

With a calm face, Ha Cheongwon handed the documents to Hwashin. The handed-over documents were too voluminous to be given so calmly. As Hwashin lifted his head at the amount, which easily looked over 100 pages, Cheongwon opened his mouth.

 

“You have to memorize all of this.”

 

***

 

The morning of the summit.

 

This was the first time he learned there was a separate formal uniform for the summit. When Hwashin, with his silver hair slicked back with pomade, stepped out of the Association building, Cha Jaeha was standing there waiting for him. Next to Cha Jaeha was Ha Cheongwon, who was in charge of guiding them to the summit.

 

“…I expected us two.”

 

I didn’t expect this.

 

Hwashin smiled and turned his head forward. Ahead of his gaze, he saw all the heroes in the Association building. They stood in a line, leaving just enough space for the three of them to pass through.

 

“Attending the summit represents the national prestige of the country. It is a very meaningful event.”

 

Shall we go?

 

Ha Cheongwon calmly extended his hand. With every step they took, the sound of applause and cheers gradually grew louder. Among them was Ko Youngwoo, the guy Hwashin had beaten up first.

 

“Don’t lose, you b*stard!”

 

Yep, his way of speaking was still the same. He debated for a moment whether to introduce Lee Suho, who used the same shadow ability, to Ko Youngwoo, but then dropped the idea.

 

‘I can’t have Lee Suho, who’s like a blank slate, tainted by a guy like that while I’m away.’

 

Surely the two haven’t gotten close while I was briefly away, right? Surely.

 

At the end of the line, a black van that would take them to the airport was waiting for them. Right in front of the van, Yoo Jian, Jeong Mueum, and Lee Suho were waiting for them.

 

“Have a safe trip. Don’t go causing trouble over there. And definitely don’t lose.”

 

“Hyung, please behave yourself.”

 

“Y-you have to come back safely this time!”

 

Receiving their final farewells, the three boarded the van. Finally heading to the summit, huh.

 

The scenery outside the car window passed by quickly. While touching the hand mirror in his pocket, Hwashin’s phone rang.

 

“San Ihyeong-ssi?”

 

—Oh, you saved my number. I heard you’re heading to the summit today? Congratulations. It’s the first time a newly participating country has taken two seats.

 

San Ihyeong expressed her regret at not being able to see them off, saying she couldn’t leave the Association because she had work to do.

 

—Has the location for this summit been revealed?

 

The location of the Hero Summit remained unknown to anyone except the host country until right before boarding the plane. Honestly, I wonder if they really need to go that far.

 

“No, not yet. Cheong-won-ssi, do you know anything about the summit location? Ah. He says it might be Russia. It’s not certain, just a candidate.” 

 

—Really? Well, it’s not too far away at least. Anyway, have a safe trip. Ah, I have to get back to work. Say hi to Cha Jaeha for me too.

 

After the brief call, the two arrived at the airport. Ha Cheongwon handed them their special passports and bid them farewell.

 

Boarding the prepared private jet, Hwashin pondered over the events that would occur after the summit.

 

In the original work, the location where the summit takes place is indeed Russia.

 

Since the SH3 unit was also investigating human experimentation in Russia, they would probably be able to meet.

 

No, they had to meet. The events that would unfold there would be too much to handle on their own.

 

Just in case, he had secretly asked Ha Cheongwon for a favor before leaving, so things should be fine on the Korean side.

 

Now.

 

Not a Red Gate, but the first war between the Awakened would take place in Russia. Of course, I’m not sure if they can even be called Awakened. Cha Jaeha used to call them ‘Greed.’

 

Along with the ‘Greed’…. those guys would appear too. He misses them in the original work, but Hwashin had no intention of doing so.

 

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Upon arrival, the two were transferred to an exclusive hotel for the heroes attending the summit.

 

A fountain was installed in the center of the lobby of the 5-star hotel, and sweet music flowed. As they received their key cards and went up to their designated floor, familiar faces waved their hands.

 

“Hey, you’re here! I knew you two would both come!”

 

Adam and Nathan welcomed them warmly.

 

Perhaps because they were the most popular S-rank duo in America. It seems they attended without any issues.

 

Through the in-ear earpiece that automatically translated English, all their words sounded informal.

 

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

 

So Hwashin also spoke informally. Nathan suddenly grabbed Hwashin’s suitcase and pulled it to his room as he said,

 

“Hurry up and unpack, then let’s hang out. I saw a place where we can play table tennis. Wanna make a bet?”

 

It was nice to see familiar faces at the hotel where they gathered for the summit, like this.

 

“Wow, if it isn’t Mr. Yoo Hwashin—! Nice to meet you for the first time! I’ve heard a lot of rumors about you.”

 

“If you wouldn’t mind, would you care to have a match with me?” 

 

However, there were also disconcerting faces proposing a fight the moment they met in the hallway.

 

“You’re not scared, are you?”