Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 90

The heroes attending the summit possessed strong pride in their own countries, and each nation’s heroes displayed their own distinct characteristics. 

 

For example, the S-rank heroes of Japan generally didn’t show themselves outside the summit venue. It was so extreme that a hero named Izawa even appeared at the summit wearing a mask, claiming he was shy.

 

On the other hand, Wang Hao, recognized as the most powerful among China’s S-ranks, intentionally loitered in the hallways. His reason was to trample down the heroes of newly participating countries.

 

Such eccentric behavior from Wang Hao actually continued towards Russia and the US, but most ignored him each time. This was because, according to the regulations from the start, fighting itself was prohibited at the summit.

 

***

 

“Wang Hao.”

 

Adam and Nathan moved to block the path in front of Yoo Hwashin. 

 

“No, I wasn’t trying to pick a fight.”

 

Wang Hao waved his hands dismissively, his eyes narrowed like a snake. He put on a flustered expression, but Hwashin knew it was a fake. The threads of fate of a truly flustered person wouldn’t be this calm. 

 

“Asking for a match is picking a fight. Have you still not fixed that habit?” 

 

“No, no, I clearly said it first, didn’t I. Nice to meet you, and since this is your first time participating, I’m curious about your skills.”

 

He had said those words, certainly. But in the end, the bottom line was that he wanted to fight. One time, an Indian S-class hero had taken the bait from this gamecock, Wang Hao, and the result hadn’t been good. 

 

Even Cha Jaeha already knew that fact. Cha Jaeha whispered to Hwa-shin, who was poking his head out to watch the situation unfold. 

 

“You, don’t accept that.”

 

“Hm? Why?” 

 

“….According to the regulations, if you fight before the summit, that country loses its qualification to participate in the summit. Because of that, the Indian side couldn’t participate in this summit.”

 

Ah, come to think of it, no Indian heroes were seen at the summit in the original work either. He heard it was because of a discord with a Chinese hero.

 

‘But Wang Hao is here?’

 

At Hwa-shin’s whisper, Cha Jaeha silently mouthed the answer: Exactly. 

 

‘Then how can Wang Hao be here?’

 

“Mr. Yoo Hwashin—.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Hidden behind Adam’s massive body, Wang Hao waved his hand from the other side. His slender body, with long hair braided to one side, repeatedly appeared and disappeared over Adam’s shoulder.

 

“Do you really have no intention to?”

 

“Hmm, well. There’s no benefit for me to gain, so I’m not particularly drawn to it.”

 

Simultaneously with Hwashin’s answer, a booming voice was heard from the end of the hallway.

 

“Wang Hao! Are you picking a fight again this time?!”

 

“Ugh.”

 

The suddenly appearing man easily overpowered Wang Hao with one arm.

 

“Listen here, if you keep going around starting fights like that, you’re going to get in big trouble, you know?” 

 

“I told you, it’s not a fight.”

 

The eyes of the man who had put Wang Hao in a headlock turned to Hwashin. The presence of his golden pupils was powerful. Seeing an eye color he hadn’t seen in a long time, Hwashin unwittingly let out an exclamation of “Oh~”. Pale white skin, a high nose bridge, and pupils shimmering with gold.

 

“Fomin Ignaty?”

 

“I’m honored you know my name. Are you the Hero of Resurrection?”

 

“…Hero of Resurrection? Pwahahaha! H—Hero of Resurrection! Puhaha!”

 

At the nickname Ignaty had personally attached, Nathan rolled on the floor laughing. Even Cha Jaeha slightly turned his head away.

 

….Why did that Russian guy attach such a weird nickname as soon as he appeared?

 

“Yes, Hero of Resurrection! Seeing Nathan laugh like that, it must definitely be a good nickname. Anyway, ignore Wang Hao’s words. This guy doesn’t really like heroes who stand out more than himself. He’s a very selfish b*stard.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Of course. Besides, he unconditionally picks a fight if he sees a guy who looks weak. Ah, for your reference, fighting isn’t allowed here, but a mock match is possible. The reason the Indian hero was kicked out was because they ignored the regulations and had a dogfight.”

 

Ignaty shrugged as he released the headlock he had on Wang Hao.

 

“Though I wouldn’t recommend fighting or having a match with Wang Hao.”

 

“Hmm. I understand.” 

 

Indeed, there’s nothing to gain from fighting Wang Hao. Then there’s no reason to fight either. However! That doesn’t mean there’s a reason not to fight at all!

 

Hwashin pointed a finger at Fomin Ignaty.

 

“Then do you recommend fighting you?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Because I would like to have a match with you.”

 

There was something to gain from a fight with Fomin Ignaty.

 

“If I win, you grant me one wish. How about it?”

 

Fomin Ignaty was a man who lost to no one in self-esteem and pride.

 

There’s no way such a man would allow someone to challenge him.

He always had to achieve an overwhelming victory. A vein on Ignaty’s forehead twitched at Hwashin’s finger.

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

He put on a thoroughly relaxed expression, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.

 

“What a funny thing to say, Hero of Resurrection. In the first place, there’s no way I would accept your match, but you winning? Is such a premise even possible?”

 

“Of course. It’s obvious. We’re both S-ranks, right? No one can know who will win.”

 

“Hahaha.”

 

Ignaty laughed at a volume he had never heard before. His laughter was so massive that it sounded like a ship’s horn echoing throughout the entire hallway.

 

Wang Hao had sneaked away at some point and was already hiding behind Ignaty.

 

“Hwashin, do you have two or three lives or something? It hasn’t even been that long since you awakened as an S-rank.”

 

“Ignaty.”

 

Did Hwashin reply with a smile to Ignaty’s intense voice?

 

“So, are you scared you might lose?”

 

At Hwashin’s provocation, Nathan jumped up, and Adam immediately hugged the jumping Nathan. Dangling in Adam’s arms, Nathan struggled, saying Hwashin was crazy.

 

“Oh, no way. There’s no way that Fomin Ignaty would be scared.”

 

Hwashin didn’t stop provoking him, regardless of the surrounding reactions. 

 

He had something to ask Fomin Ignaty. To do that, he had to make that stubborn mouth open. 

 

He had thought about visiting him first, but he was thankful that he stepped up like this. Before they knew it, other Russian heroes had run over and were whispering something to Ignaty. They were probably trying to stop the angry Ignaty.

 

“Enough. Don’t touch me.”

 

There’s no way that dictator would listen to them. Only fighting him would be left in Ignaty’s head now.

 

“Fine. I will show the rookie what a true S-rank is. Hey, call the summit official right now. Tell them we’re going to start a match among ourselves, so bring a referee.”

 

“But—.”

 

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

 

The colleague, flinching at Ignaty’s forceful demeanor, eventually left to call a referee. Still held dangling by Adam, Nathan was making “Uuuh” sounds, trying to comprehend the situation. Wang Hao, the cause of all this, widened his long eyes, seemingly surprised by the unexpected development.

 

As for Cha Jaeha…

 

“This damn b*stard.”

 

He ground his teeth.

 

He was actually more terrifying than Fomin Ignaty. Both his face and the sound coming from his molars. 

 

***

 

In the basement of the hotel used for the summit, an underground arena for heroes was installed separately.

 

The arena was a mandatory installation for every summit. It wasn’t necessarily just for matches. Since there were S-rank heroes who said they had to train every day, the arena also served as a training ground.

 

The underground arena had an elongated oval shape, and the only space where heroes were actually allowed to use their abilities was entirely on the arena platform.

 

‘I wonder. I’m not entirely sure.’

 

Riel asked in a bored voice.

 

‘I wonder. I’m not entirely sure.’

 

—You picked a fight based on only that much probability? If so, you should have waited for the SH3 Unit that went out to investigate first.

 

‘Because I don’t particularly trust those guys.’

 

—Even assuming Fomin Ignaty knows, how are you going to find out? ….Ah, don’t tell me you’re going to use that.

 

Riel’s words were cut off mid-sentence as Cha Jaeha intervened.

 

Cha Jaeha was pissed off. He could feel it just by looking at his expression. How many times had he seen descriptions of Cha Jaeha being angry in the book? How could he not know?

 

First of all, when Cha Jaeha gets very angry, he talks less. It’s too much for him to even nag.

And about three wrinkles appear between his eyebrows. Seeing that there are four right now, it’s an immense fury.

 

The veins on the upper part of his temples bulge thickly, and they were bulging on both sides right now.

 

Seeing this face…

 

‘Yeah, this is the first time except for when we crossed paths right before I died.’

 

One of the expressions he faced while disappearing in the 「Battery War」 dungeon.

 

“Yoo Hwashin.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“….Are you just desperate to die?”

 

“Whoa. That’s harsh. I’m a mister who wants to live longer than anyone else.”

 

Actually, being over two hundred years old, living for so long was a bit tedious, but still. 

 

“Then why are you pulling this kind of stunt? Fomin Ignaty is an opponent I might not even be able to beat if I fought him. There’s no way you don’t know that guy’s ability.”

 

“I do know it.”

 

In the original work following Cha Jaeha’s perspective, the exact name of Fomin Ignaty’s ability never appeared. However, he knew roughly what type of ability user he was. He had thought it was a rather modest ability for his ferocious appearance.

 

Fomin Ignaty was smart. He was a guy who knew exactly how best to use the ability he possessed.

 

“So you think I’ll lose?”

 

Yoo Hwashin, climbing onto the arena platform, looked down at Cha Jaeha. Perhaps because of the flashy lights on the ceiling, Yoo Hwashin’s expression couldn’t be seen clearly.

 

“If you’re the guy I know.”

 

Cha Jaeha turned his head and faced away. Leaning against the entrance of the passage leading out of the arena, Cha Jaeha said,

 

“Come back in 5 minutes.”

 

“I’ll be right back, Partner.”

 

Partner, he says.

 

At the embarrassing word, Cha Jaeha scowled in absolute disgust. Adam, secretly eavesdropping on their conversation, shivered as if he were touched instead.

 

In the center of the arena, Fomin Ignaty was already stretching, extending his legs.

 

“Since there’s a referee, this will be established as an official match.”

 

Bringing his extended legs together, Ignaty straightened his back again.

 

“Don’t die. Killing isn’t permitted.”

 

“Sure, sure. Then shall we get started?” 

 

Hwashin gave a bright smile. It was an unmistakable tone that seemed to ignore Ignaty.

 

“Because I promised to return in 5 minutes. …Well, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep it, though.”

 

“…Hah.”

 

This b*stard. No, no. Calm down, Fomin Ignaty. You are the greatest S-rank hero of this era. There is no need to lose to the provocation of such a weakling.

 

He seemed to have made it this far with the lie that he was a guy who died and came back again, but…

 

‘You won’t be able to fool me, Fomin Ignaty, with that, Hwashin.’

 

“Fine. Then shall we begin as you wish?” 

 

Phew. With a quite serious expression, Ignaty looked at the referee standing below the arena. At his signal, the referee stepped between the two heroes and explained the rules of the match.

 

1. Abilities must be restricted to the arena platform. This includes the space up to the ceiling above it. However, stepping outside that range results in disqualification.

 

2. The match ends the moment one hears the word “defeat” from the opponent during the match.

 

3. Since this match is not an actual fight, it will be stopped if one side completely loses consciousness or sustains injuries severe enough to make utilizing their abilities impossible. However, causing the death of a hero from another country during the match is prohibited.

 

“Understood.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Only after hearing the words of both heroes did the referee nod.

 

“We will now begin the first match of the Hero Summit. Fomin Ignaty of Russia and Yoo Hwashin of Korea are participating. Now.”

 

The hand wearing a black suit and a white glove sliced through the air and flashed upwards.

 

“Begin!”