Extra Chapter 1 – VIP Member Information Viewing (1)
He could still remember the day his parents died. His father had died before his eyes. His mother made him run away and became bait. Kang Shin-hyuk, who ran without hesitation, hid in the cracks of a ruined building, holding his breath and crying until the superhumans found him. It was when the Superhuman Association was still inexperienced, and Korea’s countercurrent was one of the top ten disasters in human history. Those days when a superhuman could be counted as representing a country just by becoming S-rank… Power was insufficient, and people’s perception was still easy, but the monsters were unchanged.
It was natural that enormous damage occurred as a result. Would that have happened if the Hero Universe was complete at that time? Could it be that not only Kang Shin-hyuk but also his parents would all be saved? Maybe so, both of them might have survived. However, since superhuman power isn’t infinite, there must have been some sacrifice elsewhere. The world isn’t perfect; not everyone can be happy. That was no exception for the creator of the Hero Universe.
“I think Shin-hyuk is right. The image of that time remains. It was a very breathtaking moment, and there were C-class monsters nearby….”
“Well, maybe so. Meeting today was fun. Let’s go back.”
“No, wait a minute. I’m really sure. At that time, through the rubble of the collapsed buildings, there was a place where a child could enter, right? What was there, obviously the orcs in Hyehwa-dong…”
“I think you can go back.”
“Oh, yeah…”
They were in the living room of a house in Jongno-gu, where Kang Shin-hyuk and his family resided. The middle-aged superhuman, who might have been in his forties, let out a sigh and left. Kang Shin-hyuk grumbled and went to rub his shoulder but felt a hand there.
“Are your shoulders tight, Anvil? I’ll massage them.”
“Ah…”
Tsukuyo, who had come behind him without any sound, began to rub his shoulders. However, rather than trying to loosen the muscles, it felt like a caress.
“I guess things didn’t go well, but it’s okay, Anvil. Please let me loosen anything that’s accumulated. Anywhere in my body…”
-Fox! Fox!
Kang Shin-hyuk could feel a plump part of Tsukuyo pushing against his back. Sure enough, the administrator’s fox call had already started.
“…Tsukuyo, how long will you be here? It’s okay to go back to your original world.”
“Anvil’s side is where I’ll be.”
-Fox!
This stalker was dangerous, even more so since she was a being that couldn’t be dispelled.
‘While I’m away, Seoul… she’s protecting Earth. Her excuses are very clever.’
Fighting with Gaia, and even staying on Earth, he thought it had been her plan all for this moment. Maybe she had collaborated with Shu, who had the power of causality, but still, there was no need to be afraid of Tsukuyo’s approach. Kang Shin-hyuk had a steel-like spirit from recovering all his previous life’s memories.
“Aren’t you too close?”
“Oh my…”
The golden lightning that flew in without warning collided with the black flames blossoming from Tsukuyo. Although she wasn’t hurt, she had no choice but to back down.
“Oh, anyway, fox.”
“I don’t know who is reporting who, Eunah.”
It was Shin Eunah who quickly filled the gap left by Tsukuyo. The sight of Shin Eunah, sticking to Kang Shin-hyuk and eying Tsukuyo, really couldn’t be said to be very motherly. She really didn’t grow up either. Well, it would be enough if the administrator didn’t have to explain why he taught her that phrase.
“Honey, are you okay?”
Shin Eunah, who was growling at Tsukuyo, changed in an instant as she looked at Kang Shin-hyuk.
“It might not be okay now.”
“Because of that scammer too.”
From the window of the living room, he could see the back of a man being driven out of the mansion and walking through the garden. That middle-aged superhuman, no, that scammer who claimed to be the one who rescued him during the third countercurrent in Korea. Shin Eunah’s golden eyes flashed dangerously as she watched him leave. But, the reason he wasn’t feeling well wasn’t because of that scammer, but because of those two growling in front of him. Not that he dared to say it.
“It’s not just one or two, and I can’t take it anymore. All those who lie should be deprived of their superhuman license!”
“Maybe he really believed he rescued me. To put it plainly, I wouldn’t have been so noticeable at the time, and it would be true at least that superhuman was working on the rescue at the time.”
“No, Anvil must’ve been a remarkable little boy even then.”
Suddenly, Tsukuyo interrupted, and Shin Eunah’s eyes opened wide.
“Tsukuyo, maybe somethings wrong with your eyes?”
“The person I fell in love with is incomparably handsome.”
What sort of excuse was that? But in Tsukuyo’s case, it couldn’t be denied…
“Actually, I fell in love with Anvil before even seeing his face.”
“Unrequited love from start to finish.”
“If you dare to distort the love of Anvil and me, even Eunah, you cannot…”
“Do it in moderation.”
Kang Shin-hyuk separated the two as they geared up for their second match.
“Now, I have to stop looking. It was enough to ask questions.”
“But that wasn’t what you wanted to find?”
“They’re probably dead.”
Tsukuyo and Eunah stopped moving. Kang Shin-hyuk shrugged in response.
“I had a premonition it would be like that. It’s common that things in the world don’t work like a drama.”
Reuniting with the benefactor who helped him as a child and repaying their grace… It was really dramatic, but also hard to see in reality. Kang Shin-hyuk let out a brief sigh.
“I just wanted to organize my feelings, and now they’re sorted out in some way. So, this is the end.”
“Uh, well… should I go to the bedroom?”
“You can only comfort me that way?”
Kang Shin-hyuk felt some sympathy for Tsukuyo. It was good that Eunah’s personality had changed, but it hadn’t really matured. Perhaps that was because they had been together for a long time in that disconnected world…
“What about the kids?”
“Shu is watching them.”
Eunah immediately answered. The fact that Shu was caring for the children in this mansion wasn’t unusual at all. If Tsukuyo was only obsessed with her relationship with him, Shu was obsessed with everything he valued. In other words, she showed a great interest in his family ties. He vaguely imagined it might have something to do with the innate abilities of the race. Anyway, Shu loved his children and spent as much time as possible with them.
“Shall we go see the kids?”
“Well, no. I don’t think I can today if I go now.”
“Where are you going?’
“Ossuary.”
“Let’s go together.”
Unlike Tsukuyo, who sensed his feelings and quietly retreated, Shin Eunah tried to accompany him regardless. Today Claire was also working, so he was going alone, but there was no chance he would go alone as he looked at Shin Eunah.
“Yes, let’s go together.”
“Yes.”
-You really don’t notice.
‘No, I didn’t.’
-Isn’t this the worst one? Interfering with the daughter and father’s date…
‘The administrator has no intention of leaving me alone, so.’
Despite being the owner of the Hero Universe system, the administrator’s attitude towards Shin Eunah was still cold. No, otherwise, the administrator wouldn’t have allowed Eunah to be with Kang Shin-hyuk.
“Anvil, I will prepare something delicious for dinner.”
“Okay, thanks.”
He faintly smiled at Tsukuyo before leaving the house with Shin Eunah. Shinyoung, which had grown into a large guildhall, was a 30-minute walk away, but if they went near, they would suffer from the young superhumans who wanted their attention.
“Are they in Jongno-gu?”
“Yes.”
His parents were enshrined with all the others who lost their lives during the third countercurrent. In fact, he didn’t see them often. That was because until now, all sorts of feelings of regret had prevented him from facing them. However, even though those unresolved emotions remained steady in his heart, he was able to accept them and face his parents.
“I’ll tell you about the kids. I have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes.”
Shin Eunah, who nodded quietly, looked back as if something suddenly came to mind.
“Will you go to the Starlight Orphanage?’
“How’d you know?”
“I just thought so.”
Shin Eunah, having successfully grasped his intent, pretended to be proud as she clung to him.
“I visited alone last time. I gave them a gift, and they really liked it, and all the kids ate sweets, and…”
Seeing her talk about how well she had behaved in the orphanage brought a laugh from Kang Shin-hyuk. It was clearly an act, but he didn’t hate it.
“Thanks.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
“Wow…!”
Kang Shin-hyuk regretted saying the words out loud immediately as he couldn’t overcome the momentary impulse, but Shin Eunah was delighted.
“Thank you. I love you too…!”
“Yes, yes.”
“…Shall we make a second?”
“Eunah… whatever you say, is the endpoint the same?”
“That’s it… hehe.”
Shin Eunah stuck to him, and Kang Shin-hyuk just laughed. He felt a small object wriggling in his inventory. It was the hairpin, Lullaby. He had given to Janus to keep safe. At first, he thought of giving it to Shin Eunah. Then, they decided to give it to their daughter, Sia, as a gift when she grew up. But suddenly, the face of one who smiled brightly as he saw the child with the pin came to his mind.
“…”
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”
“Huh…”
There were still feelings that hadn’t been cleared up. Faces from his old life came to mind as Kang Shin-hyuk walked with Eunah.
***
And Tsukuyo completely occupied the kitchen.
“No, it’s my turn today? I’ve been learning a new recipe…!”
“I can’t make concessions today. Okay, Alchemist? There are moments when a woman cannot back down.”
“You’re an outsider!”
She stood firmly in the kitchen despite Claire.
“Today, Anvil is going to need my cooking, so forgive me.”
“Ha, you really…”
Claire let out a sigh as she saw Tsukuyo, who didn’t seem like she would back down. Nine-tails fluttered behind her back.
“Wearing a mask thoroughly in front of him, but you’re a liar like this.”
“Yes, I am a liar.”
Perhaps there was something funny about Claire’s assessment, as Tsukuyo laughed and affirmed it.
“Really, a terrible liar.”
Falling in love before even seeing his face was a perfect lie.
Okay, everything was from start to finish.
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