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The day of the execution.
Ho-cheol left his house with his bare face, not the mask he usually wore.
He couldn't share the information about Byeong-hoo and his subordinates' hero attack with the other targeted heroes.
If they realized the information had leaked, the plan might change again.
Of course, that didn't mean he intended to stand by and let those heroes die.
Ho-cheol had already mobilized and placed a sufficient number of his subordinates in the planned attack locations.
Е̊n um̀_a .і̇ d̂
This was to ensure that, even in the worst-case scenario, ordinary citizens would not be caught up and suffer casualties.
And the place he visited after completing his preparations was the Swordmaster's area.
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If Byeong-hoo moved personally—no.
To deal with the Swordmaster, mediocre thugs wouldn't be enough.
The Swordmaster alone could easily handle three or four S-ranks, and his sidekicks were superior to typical heroes.
Each individual was already at the top tier of B-rank, and some were capable of immediately becoming A-rank upon independence.
Е̂nu m̂ а̄
To shake off the combined efforts of his sidekicks and then fight the Swordmaster himself?
Even Ho-cheol found that slightly daunting, so there was no way a mere villain could succeed.
Naturally, there was no scenario other than Byeong-hoo moving personally.
A battle between the former and current S-rank No. 1 heroes, a collision between the strongest of their generation.
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It was an unbelievable event that would be recorded in history, yet likely no one would know about it.
Ho-cheol stopped walking not at the Swordmaster's office, but at a somewhat secluded park.
W̌ е́b ǹ ó v е l̀ Е̂ n u m.а̌
After sitting on a bench for a moment, the Swordmaster approached him and sat down.
If Byeong-hoo personally targeted and attacked the Swordmaster, receiving the attack in this quiet park was much safer than in his office downtown.
As if he absolutely hated sitting close, the Swordmaster sat precariously on the edge of the bench.
Without looking at him, Ho-cheol spoke first and asked.
“The kids?”
He didn't need to try to understand what Ho-cheol’s question meant.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
After all, the "kids" he would ask about were obvious.
The Swordmaster, who was looking straight ahead, also gave a concise reply.
“I sent them to a safe place.”
He hadn't shared any information about this attack with the other heroes, but the Swordmaster was an exception.
To cooperate, they had to communicate to some extent.
“A safe place?”
W̄е̄ bǹ о́ v́е l̊ Е n u m а̄
The Swordmaster explained that it was a completely different city, a twenty-minute drive from here.
They weren't just excluded from this attack list.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The hero in charge of that area was one of the traitors allied with Byeong-hoo, whom Ho-cheol had identified.
It was definitely one of the safest places during a large-scale attack of this kind.
“Is that so? Then nothing major should happen in that area.”
Byeong-hoo wasn't an idiot; there was no reason for him to cause trouble in an area managed by a hero who was allied with him.
W̊.е b̆ ńо̊ vеl Е̌ nu m̌ а
While the sidekicks were a different matter, there was absolutely no reason for them to be involved in this fight.
“You’re truly taking good care of them.”
“Of course. They're my students. I promised to protect them.”
Ho-cheol casually let the Swordmaster’s sarcasm flow past him.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He knew well that he wasn't genuinely mocking him.
It was just that the man had a terrible personality.
Е̇n umа
Ho-cheol checked the time briefly.
He knew the execution day and location accurately, but the intelligence didn't contain detailed information about the time.
It was only marked as afternoon.
Since it was only just past noon, the incident could break out at any moment.
He would have to wait indefinitely until then.
Having made that assessment, Ho-cheol shoved his hand into his pocket.
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The moment he did, the Swordmaster warily put his hand on the sword hilt standing next to him, but upon seeing what was in Ho-cheol’s hand, he relaxed his furrowed brow again.
Two pouches of red ginseng extract, with a distinctive dark orange wrapper the thickness of a finger.
Ho-cheol held one out.
“Want some?”
The Swordmaster, who had been expressionless the entire time, let out a dumbfounded laugh.
“You take care of yourself with things like this?”
Wе̂b n̄ õ v̂е l̆ Е n um а
“No. A friend packed it for me.”
When he mentioned going to a dangerous place again, So-hee and Ji-an bristled, but what could he do?
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They could only pack him things like this, along with pleas that bordered on threats to please come back unharmed.
“A friend.”
The Swordmaster continuously repeated the word friend.
The word friend coming so easily from Ho-cheol’s mouth made it difficult for him to adjust.
Е̃num̆а̇
He was one of the heroes who knew the active Ho-cheol best during his time.
“You have friends?”
“Why wouldn't I? Anyway, there are two, so eat one. You know, they say the ghost of someone who died eating looks beautiful.”
Besides, wasn't he the Sword Demon because he was possessed by the sword?
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The incident would surely break out at any moment, forcing them to fight until the sweetness dried out of their mouths.
They might even die.
W̌ѐb̃ n̈ o v̇еl .Е̊ñ ũm̆ а
At that moment, they might regret not having eaten this red ginseng.
“No.”
Ho-cheol clicked his tongue at the Swordmaster’s refusal.
“If you don’t want it, fine.”
He could just eat it all himself.
He tore open one of the red ginseng pouches So-hee packed for him and put it in his mouth.
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He squeezed out the thick liquid and swallowed it, his brow furrowing.
Ugh, it was bitter.
He shook the remaining pouch up and down and asked.
“Seriously, you won’t eat it?”
“I won’t.”
“Honestly. This good stuff.”
Ẽ ǹu m̄ а. і̆d̂
Ho-cheol emptied the second pouch and took out a candy from his pocket, putting it in his mouth.
“By the way, are they getting any separate training from you aside from patrols these days?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Sometimes. But since their main weapons don't overlap, there isn’t much to teach.”
“Just teaching them how to deal with a sword is useful enough.”
Chewing on the candy, Ho-cheol continued talking.
The subject was not related to himself, but mainly concerning Ye-jin and Da-yeon, who were currently under the Swordmaster's charge.
Ŵӗb̂ n̊ о̃ṽ еl Ӗ ń ü m̌ a
Da-yeon, being the Swordmaster's daughter, would naturally be well taken care of, so the main focus was on Ye-jin, who might relatively receive less attention.
“Especially for her, the goal is to sharply drop the temperature with one blow. The key is whether she can lower the temperature drastically without affecting her own physique. The idea she came up with for that is…”
Watching Ho-cheol passionately express his opinions on Ye-jin’s Trait and its potential development, the Swordmaster muttered in genuine surprise.
“You’ve changed. A lot, truly.”
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“Is that so? I don’t know.”
He hadn't changed all this time.
Е̂ǹ ũ m̃а
Only the people around him and the situation had changed.
Ho-cheol rolled the candy in his mouth, puffing up one cheek, and shrugged.
“That’s just the way people are, isn't it? Did you know that you’ve also changed quite a bit?”
The Swordmaster wore a surprised expression.
Me, changed?
His wide-open eyes seemed to ask.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Ho-cheol shrugged.
“See? People usually don't notice their own changes. Others have to tell them. Still.”
Ho-cheol grinned, folded the empty red ginseng pouch, and put it back in his pocket.
“It's a positive change, so think of it favorably. Maybe you can also become a great hero and a good parent someday.”
“A good parent.”
The Swordmaster seemed to like the sound of that word, muttering it repeatedly while covering his mouth.
Ẁе b̄.n̆о vеl̂ Ѐ n̄ üm̈á
He was someone who had failed to resolve his disagreements and express his feelings, but the Swordmaster also deeply cared for Da-yeon.
Ho-cheol initially found the Swordmaster’s behavior pathetic, but now he could understand it to some extent.
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He had only changed thanks to the dedicated efforts of Smiley, Yu-hwa.
The Swordmaster was similar to his past self.
It was natural that he felt a certain degree of sympathy.
How long did their trivial conversation continue after that?
Ӗ n um ä . і̀ď
Ho-cheol, realizing that a considerable amount of time had passed, checked the time.
Even though the scheduled attack time was vaguely described as afternoon, it was already 3 PM.
Yet, the city was utterly silent.
Could this all just be a smoke screen to deceive him?
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If so, the deceivers wouldn't gain any advantage… What exactly was their motive?
Ho-cheol contemplated with a serious expression.
W̌ е̂b ṅ ô.v̂е̇l̈ .Еn ŭ m̈а̄
Occasionally, the Swordmaster’s phone would receive reports of villain crimes, but they were always minor, petty criminals that could happen at any time.
While he was contemplating, Ho-cheol’s and the Swordmaster’s cellphones vibrated simultaneously.
Finally, he thought, and Ho-cheol opened his phone.
But the contents vastly exceeded his imagination.
A large-scale villain crime had occurred.
The problem was the location.
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It was a completely separate city and area from the places Ho-cheol had prepared for.
“...They used their brains quite well.”
Ho-cheol muttered grudgingly.
It seemed they had planned the scheme with the leak of information and his subsequent response fully in mind.
However, as Ho-cheol checked the areas where the large-scale attack had occurred, he noticed something unusual.
“This. It’s the traitors’ area.”
Ѐn ûm̀ã
It was the jurisdiction of the traitor heroes who were allied with Byeong-hoo. Why, exactly? And, surprisingly, the Swordmaster was the first to realize the true nature of the situation.
“They weren't aiming for the heroes themselves.”
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“What?”
“The Sun only needs to dismantle the Hero System. He just needs to destroy the concept and reputation of heroes.”
Only then did Ho-cheol belatedly understand Byeong-hoo’s objective.
The heroes who sided with Byeong-hoo.
Е̌ ǹu m а̌ ..і̌ d̄
Villains run rampant in their assigned areas.
And those heroes do not move.
If villains run wild like this and heroes respond half-heartedly, leading to increased damage, public opinion towards heroes will rapidly deteriorate.
If the Association or the heroes maintain a rigid attitude even slightly longer, the overall public opinion toward heroes will not just worsen—it will be shattered.
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Of course, they would have to completely change their identities and faces to adopt new hero titles, but that could easily be done through Traits.
The plan itself wasn't bad.
Е̃ n̈üm̄ а̇ .іd_
No, it was excellent.
No matter how strong one was, fighting always involved consumption.
But Byeong-hoo avoided even that minor consumption through a self-produced incident, steering clear of the trivial fight.
It was a brutal method that didn't even require him to use his own strength to defeat the enemy.
Of course, he needed the authority to sway public opinion in the interim, but that was what the Association did best.
Ho-cheol, who had fully grasped Byeong-hoo’s true intentions, muttered as if chewing on the words.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“That crazy bastard.”
He said he wouldn't touch the citizens, and yet he pulls a fast one like this. Right, I was the idiot for believing him in the first place.
There were a total of five cities where this large-scale villain incident occurred.
Ho-cheol’s eyes widened momentarily as he looked at the list.
“Wait.”
Ho-cheol jumped up in shock.
Ẁe̊ ḃ nо̃v̆_е̄ l̊ Е̇ṅ u̇ m̃ a
The Swordmaster also stood up from the bench with a look of dismay.
The closest area among them.
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Ho-cheol had heard the name of that city today.
The area where the Swordmaster believed was the safest and where he had temporarily sent Da-yeon and Ye-jin—that area was also included in this attack.
He had no memory after that.
He simply stole any nearby car and slammed the pedal down with all his might.
W е̄b̃.nо́ v̈ e l̄. Еn um а̄
***
It took barely ten minutes to enter the city.
Ho-cheol got out of the car and looked around.
Cars and buildings were ablaze.
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Acrid smoke stung his nose, and the screams of people tormented by pain and fear echoed everywhere.
They were looking for heroes, police, and emergency crews.
W ӗb ṅ õv̈е̇l Е ǹŭḿa
Yet, no one responded.
In the city that had turned into a wasteland, their cries and pleas no longer registered in Ho-cheol’s ears.
His gaze was simply fixed straight ahead.
Very slowly.
Ho-cheol started walking.
A cold so intense and vivid, not just from winter, seemed to seep beneath his skin with every step.
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Because of that chill, no one was around.
No, only one person existed.
Lying on the ground, quietly and still, as if dead.
Facing the opposite direction from where the citizens had fled, she held her ground.
He took a step.
Even moving one foot felt as heavy as having iron weights attached to it.
Е n ů m̆ а
Was the worst possible outcome, which he never wanted to imagine, waiting for him?
That fear made Ho-cheol’s steps heavier.
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But slowly like that.
Ho-cheol finally arrived at his destination.
He stopped and slowly knelt on one knee.
He carefully placed his hand on Ye-jin's shoulder as she lay collapsed.
Е̄ n̄ ü ḿ а̊_
Her left arm was completely blackened and charred, and she was motionless.
Feeling a faint heartbeat and breathing, he felt genuine relief.
She's alive.
As long as she was alive, that was enough.
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Ho-cheol opened his mouth.
His voice trembled more pitifully than ever.
Ên u m̌а.і ḋ
“...Jeong Ye-jin.”
At Ho-cheol’s call, Ye-jin slowly opened her eyes.
“Ah. It’s Professor.”
She smiled weakly with one eye open.
“I saved people.”
Her weak voice was precarious, as if it would break off at any moment, yet paradoxically, it was filled with more dignity and pride than ever.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
She raised her right hand, the one that was somehow intact.
No, she tried to lift it.
Her hand trembled violently just to lift it a few centimeters.
“I tried my best.”
At those words, which seemed to beg for praise, Ho-cheol was unable to respond.
He simply bowed his head in silence, firmly gripping her falling right hand.
Еn̂ ūm а
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