Chapter 102: 102

Shin Cheonho was staring into space with unfocused eyes. At the end of his gaze was where a portal had just disappeared.

 

However, no matter how long he stared, the view remained unchanged. There was just the disastrously broken wall of the gym.

 

The same scene repeated endlessly in his head.

 

His lifeless daughter, and the giant made of light who took her away.

 

"Why..."

 

He couldn't understand the situation. It didn't feel real as if he was having a bad nightmare.

 

...Maybe I'm really dreaming?

 

His nice and lovely daughter Shirahui who would regularly call him to say hello even if he was far away. Such a filial daughter wouldn't just leave him behind like this, would she?

 

"Ha...Right. My Rahui wouldn't do that."

 

Therefore, it must be a nightmare. He had to be dreaming.

 

And now it was time to wake up. When he turned around, his proud daughter would greet him with a smile like always.

 

"Right...Rahui?"

 

He turned his head with a forced smile.

 

"..."

 

However, only his cracked voice came back. The figure of his beloved daughter was nowhere to be seen.

 

It was as if the quiet gym was whispering into his ears. That, everything was a vivid reality.

 

"A-ah...ah..."

 

Drip.

 

Tears fell down his wrinkled eyes.

 

The grief that he had to swallow even when his wife passed away. However, he couldn't suppress it any longer. Now there was no reason to hide it.

 

"Aaaagh!!"

 

He wailed like a beast. To the daughter who had left this world first, he poured out the tears he had endured all his life and cried out her name.

 

"Rahui...Rahui!!!"

 

It was his daughter that his wife had sacrificed her life to protect.

 

As such, he should have protected her. Regardless of the opponent, he should have fought back.

 

Something that his wife, an ordinary housewife, was able to do, and something he, an S-Rank, had failed to do.

 

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry, honey...I-I..."

 

Where did it go wrong?

 

He had lived strictly adhering to the World Government orders. Even when they had ordered him to do something that went against his principles, he had accepted it without saying anything.

 

Solely to protect his precious daughter.

 

"But...why!!!"

 

Why didn't the World Government warn him of this fate beforehand?

 

If they had told him, he wouldn't have let his daughter attend the school festival. She would certainly be alive and well.

 

Was his loyalty not enough? Was that why they had punished him like this?

 

In that case, if he had conformed a little more to their will, this wouldn't have happened...

 

No...that's not it!

 

Right. In fact, he knew it was all just an excuse. It was entirely his fault that it had turned out like this.

 

This was the result of living cowardly and conforming to the strong.

 

Because he was used to obeying, he couldn't move when he had something to protect.

 

What's worse, even a little child moved...

 

Noah, who had jumped towards the giant made of light without hesitation, came to mind.

 

The guilt pressed down on his chest.

 

Just as he was about to fall into despair, a voice suddenly came.

 

"Shin Cheonho."

 

Slowly raising his head, he saw a woman in a clergy uniform.

 

"Saintess...?"

 

Saintess Samaria. A woman who had been active even before he became a hero, and someone who had contributed to the establishment of the World Government a long time ago.

 

Shin Cheonho was one of the few people who knew that the real identity of Samaria was a sealed 'ancient.'

 

Why did such a woman appear in front of him? When he thought about it, he remembered that she was also a professor at the institute...

 

The moment he thought as such, he had no choice but to widen his eyes.

 

"?!"

 

This was because in Samaria's arms was a person he had wanted to see more than anything else.

 

"R-Rahui!!!"

 

He sprang up and ran to Samaria. And with only an arm, he grabbed Shirahui as if she was the most precious thing in the world.

 

What was going on? Why was Samaria holding his daughter? Was he hallucinating?

 

Many thoughts passed through his head in a short time, but the moment he saw her sleeping face showing a comfortable expression, he couldn't carry on any more thoughts.

 

He was just relieved that his daughter was alive and well.

 

"I had found her while checking for survivors. A short time ago, a sudden spatial transition occurred at the institute, and when I got close, I found her lying there."

 

"A-ah...Thank you. Thank you so much."

 

Shin Cheonho stammered.

 

Should he thank Samaria? Or should he thank the heavens for giving him this fate? He didn't know who, but he was just grateful for everything.

 

The face of the daughter he thought he would never see again.

 

It was certainly something that could never happen. So how was it possible?

 

At that moment, a child's face came to his mind.

 

Come to think of it...He disappeared over the portal too.

 

Did Noah have something to do with his daughter's return?

 

Considering the circumstances, he could only think that Noah had saved his daughter.

 

If that was the case, where was he? His gaze naturally turned to Samaria.

 

"By the way...was there anyone else where my daughter fell?"

 

As if confirming the intent of the question, Samaria asked back with a calm expression.

 

"Are you talking about Choi Noah?"

 

"Choi Noah! Did that child come with you? Where the hell is he now? How is he doing?!"

 

Shin Cheonho shouted pressingly.

 

It wasn't to complete his mission. There was something he wanted to say to the child no matter what.

 

He wanted to thank him for saving his daughter, and that he was sorry for having done such a vile thing.

 

Samaria shook her head with a stiff expression. She took out a wrapped cloth from her arms.

 

It was stained with blood on one side. An ominous premonition ran through Shin Cheonho's mind.

 

"Wh-what's that?"

 

"It's faster if you see it for yourself."

 

Samaria slowly unfolded the cloth.

 

"?!"

 

It was a small arm that looked to have belonged to a child. Shin Cheonho looked at it with shaky eyes.

 

"Hey, don't tell me...that's?"

 

"Yes. That's right. I've checked it myself and found that this is Choi Noah's arm."

 

"Why!! Why an arm...? Then, is Choi Noah okay?"

 

Shin Cheonho asked anxiously.

 

He had driven Noah to the brink of death with his own hands just moments ago, but now only concern filled his mind.

 

Although he didn't know what to do with Noah yet, he didn't want such a talented child to live with permanent disability.

 

Maybe even now, if they hurried to the hospital, they may be able to reattach the arm with minimal aftereffects.

 

"The barrier must have faded by now, so we need to get him to the hospital as soon as possible!"

 

He cried out urgently. However, in contrast to his eagerness, Samaria spoke in a rather calm tone.

 

"This arm...It was found in the same place where Shin Shirahui was."

 

"What the hell are you saying?!"

 

"After examining the mana traces left by the spatial transition before it dissipated, I've confirmed that they were attacked by something of enormous power just before the transition began. It was an attack that could wipe out the entire institute in an instant."

 

"Y-you mean...?"

 

"Yes. Choi Noah is believed to have been killed in the last attack to protect Shin Shirahui. So this arm in front of us is actually all that's left of Choi Noah."

 

Thud–

 

Shin Cheonho lost strength in his legs and sank on the spot.

 

That boy...is dead?

 

He recalled Noah running towards the portal.

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The child threw himself into the air with a determination to save a life. And in the end, he did what seemed impossible and brought his daughter back safely.

 

All at the cost of his life.

 

"A-ah...What the hell am I..."

 

Although today was the first time he had met Noah in person, he had heard countless stories about the boy.

 

Starting with stopping the hotel terrorist attack in Pyongyang.

 

Searching for members of the Eighth Layer Hell who had infiltrated the institute, and after that, using himself as bait to wipe out dozens of their members.

 

When everyone was dragging their feet because of political tension, he moved to save Hong Kong.

 

Dealing with the monsters at today's school festival and saving countless people in the gym.

 

Even as he was indiscriminately attacked, he didn't shy away from the attacks to save others despite having such remarkable talent.

 

What the hell have I been doing...?

 

Shin Cheonho was more cowardly than anyone else, yet he had preached justice.

 

Rather, didn't he try to arrest such a righteous and outstanding boy by falsely accusing him?

 

He recalled a conversation he had with Noah earlier.

 

[Ahjussi looked so unsightly right now that I couldn't help but laugh.]

 

Right...Looking back, he had lived a very ugly life.

 

[No matter how I look at it, it's just a loser who has already given up.]

 

He was just a coward who had surrendered to the strong by justifying it as wise or fate. Were the decisions he had made so far really inevitable?

 

[No. Let me make myself clear. It's just because ahjussi is weak.]

 

The child had called him, an S-Rank, weak. He had thought it was very arrogant at the time. As such, he had forcefully tried to impose his will onto Noah.

 

However...

 

In the end, everything he said was right.

 

No matter how remarkable Shin Cheonho's ability was, the actual mind supporting it was worse than a 13 year old child.

 

The boy must have seen through all of those aspects of me...

 

He suddenly recalled the dream he had as a child. Back then, he wanted to be a great hero who could help the world.

 

How did he become such a despicable adult?

 

If there's anyone who deserves to live in this world...It was him, not me.

 

Shedding tears, he was ashamed of the pathetic life he had lived so far. To the boy named Choi Noah, he felt both sorry and thankful.

 

I'll take what you've taught me today and carry on your will. Now...rest in peace.

 

One of the top ten heroes in the world and Korea's greatest hero, Shin Cheonho.

 

With the will of a true hero in his heart, he became determined to resist true fate.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

A quiet rural countryside located in eastern Switzerland.

 

Over a small cottage built on the Alps' hillside, a mysterious creature with huge wings was flying at high speed.

 

A creature with wings made up of film instead of feathers and a head adorned with colorful orange feathers.

 

If anyone saw the creature, the long-extinct pterodactyl of the Cretaceous period would have come to mind.

 

The pterodactyl sped and slowed in the air a couple of times before landing silently at the door of the cottage.

 

Soon, the pterodactyl that boasted an enormous size gradually transformed and became more human-like.

 

Crack–Crack!

 

And a little later, the pterodactyl had turned into a large man with orange hair.

 

After taking out a suit from a bag he had carried in his beak earlier and putting it on, he tidied his clothes.

 

He knocked cautiously on the door of the cottage. Shortly after, a woman's voice came from inside.

 

"Who is it?"

 

"I-it's Ptero!"

 

The man, who had identified himself as Ptero, stood stiffly at attention. After a short pause, the woman answered back.

 

"...Come in."

 

"Then, excuse me."

 

Ptero looked very tense as he took a deep breath and walked into the cottage.

 

A modest interior. It was much narrower than it appeared from the outside.

 

In front of a table in such a small room sat a woman with needles inserted all over her body.

 

"We have the results from the case you mentioned."

 

"What happened?"

 

"Every terrorist from Eighth Layer Hell who attacked the Hero Training Institue was killed, and fortunately, the case was resolved safely despite the heavy casualties. And specifically, the property damage..."

 

"Hmm..."

 

Ptero summarized the key points of the incident and delivered precise information. However, the woman continued to listen to the report with an expressionless face.

 

The more that went on, the more sweat began to flow down Ptero's forehead.

 

"A-and Pamir...He was killed during his mission."

 

"Pamir?"

 

The woman finally raised her eyebrows as if a little surprised. However, even that lasted only a moment.

 

"Who was the culprit? If he shows all his abilities, there won't be too many people in the world who could kill him."

 

"Pamir was attacked by a monster named Sophia, one of the terrorists who attacked the institute. The result was confirmed through Pamir's death log."

 

"Hmm...Is that so? Well, he worked hard, so it was time to rest."

 

"Y-yes."

 

The woman's face returned expressionless. As the report continued, the woman finally asked Ptero.

 

"So what happened to the one that was suspected of being a Warrior? What was his name, Choi Noah?"

 

Ptero, who was reporting, nodded.

 

"Choi Noah was pronounced dead at the scene."

 

"Did you just say he died?" 

 

"Yes, that's right. The S-Rank hero, Shin Cheonho, verified it himself, so it could be considered that Choi Noah's death has been confirmed."

 

"Oh...?"

 

Her eyes, which were shaking like a dying candle, regained its vigor and lingered sharply in the air.

 

"Can you prove it?"

 

"Then, will you take a look at this?"

 

Ptero took a tablet out from his bag and showed her a picture that was taken by Shin Cheonho.

 

"What's this?"

 

"This is Choi Noah's arm."

 

"Arm?"

 

It was a picture of a child's severed arm.

 

"This arm was all that was left, and I've heard that it was clearly confirmed through the mana probe after the spatial transition."

 

"Really?"

 

That was good news to hear.

 

Although the best outcome was to put Noah on a leash and use him, disappearing like this wasn't a bad outcome at all.

 

And even if he was alive, after losing an arm it would be difficult for him to show his full ability from now on.

 

After seeing every picture, she sent Ptero back. Only the sound of a boiling teapot resonated in the quiet room.

 

"Whether he was a Warrior or not, a big problem is resolved for now."

 

Although the reason why the World Government had been alert of Noah was because of his remarkable talent that put him on par with Irregulars, the bigger reason was because he was judged to most likely be a Warrior.

 

And as long as there was not something like a Warrior who could interfere with the fate of this world,

 

The world will be perfectly controlled.

 

Looking at the sky beyond the mountain range, she vowed to herself.

 

She would protect world peace at all costs.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Two days after the incident at the institute, rain was falling from the sky.

 

Pitter-patter–!

 

People dressed in black held umbrellas as they gathered inside the institute.

 

The director of the institute, Dokgo Hakju, climbed onto the podium and grabbed the microphone.

 

"Starting now...We'll begin a joint funeral in memory of the deceased."

 

The institute where Noah had disappeared. Those who had lost loved ones began to mourn the dead in their own way.

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