Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 046

In the antique office where the bright sunlight poured in through the wide window, creating a serene scene like a painting with the clear sky and green trees visible outside, there sat a man facing the hospital director. This finely carved space, adorned with delicate details on the marble-finished walls, was the office Isaac had just visited.

Separated by a wooden table with a texture that felt smoothly worn, the atmosphere between the hospital director and the man sitting across from him exuded solemnity and careful consideration.

“Director, even if that person approves, wouldn’t that still be a problem on its own?”

“What problem?”

“His abilities haven’t been definitively verified, and even Sword Emperor and Crimson Titan have failed. Wouldn’t it be better to delay and find a more suitable candidate?”

As the two calmly exchanged words, an undercurrent of tension and worry seemed to underlie their conversation. The man, dressed in a doctor’s gown and seemingly holding a position at least equivalent to a department head.

“Are you suggesting we delay while claiming it as a precaution? What about compensation? Are you telling me to give up the request now?”

– Thud! –

The director raised his voice and slammed the wooden table. His face, now stern and sharp, showed signs of intense anger. The man, in response, let out a subdued sound and lowered his head as if resigning.

“I apologize. It’s just that I thought if there were any complications in case of failure, it might become problematic… I’m sorry!”

“Isaac is undoubtedly a physical-type hero surpassing Crimson Titan. We consulted with experts and proceeded. Is this department head viewing me as a naive fool hoping for luck?”

“No, not at all! I apologize.”

“Geez, thinking about it again, it’s unbelievable. I thought if she’d experience some hardships after leaving the family’s embrace and soon come back. To think that the head of a small clan without any foundation, was a hidden S-class hero… If this isn’t fate, then what is?”

“Are you talking about your daughter?”

“Yes. That kind child, no matter how stubborn she was… No matter how much I advised, she didn’t listen. Children are all like that. Anyway, isaac’s abilities as the clan head are beyond doubt.”

“Yes! But, Director, what were the opinions of the experts? He wasn’t even officially registered as a hero.”

“It’s his own decision. Just becoming a clan head makes on-site command possible. And according to video analysis, isaac not only induces temporary spatial expansion with a punch but also creates rift in the air by wielding a sword.”

“Wielding a sword to create rift…! Isn’t that impossible?”

“Almost true. If energy exceeding tens of thousands of MPS (Magic Power Stones) is applied to a small area, it’s theoretically possible. Of course, isaac could be a manipulation-type hero, dealing with spatial interference or wave function manipulation, but the probability is extremely low. Honestly, whether he strengthens his physical abilities or distorts the laws of physics to exert powerful physical force, as long as he can restrain the demons of the Abyssal Realm, it doesn’t matter which side he falls on for us.”

“If that’s true… it might be possible.”

The man nodded slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He still seemed to think that the hospital director’s decision was hasty. After a moment of silence, he nervously fidgeted with his fingers and expressed his concerns again.

“But, Director, couldn’t that man have known about the characteristics of ‘Nightmare’ and declined? He must have encountered all sorts of monsters… That bothers me.”

“That’s something he’ll have to handle on his own. With great rewards come great risks, it’s only natural. And he hasn’t accepted it yet.”

The director dismissed the significance of Nightmare’s characteristics without much thought. The man, seemingly resigned, didn’t raise any further objections.

====

***

====

After checking Grandmother’s condition, hwang Man-deuk and I arrived at Dongdaemun-gu Medicinal Street. I wanted to see and purchase the supplementary ingredients for the elixir with my own eyes, especially since the system would automatically indicate the quality if I just looked. The only problem was that my mind kept wandering elsewhere.

‘It keeps coming back to my mind.’

Even after arriving at the street, the director’s proposal didn’t leave my thoughts. A request fee, success reward, and even a hidden piece, which I had used like a cherished ingredient for a long time. It was said to have a high proficiency.

‘For Man-deuk to become S-class, he needs at least a 4th-grade exclusive equipment, not to mention breaking through level 80.

I discreetly glanced at the person shoulder walking beside me. He had been maintaining his ‘Happy Bear’ mode since earlier, without a trace of the sadness he showed in the morning.

The moment he heard that his grandmother might come out, his stress actually decreased by 8%.

‘It might take at least three years, even if I rush.’

Even if I were a former Ranker, some things were simply impossible. I couldn’t accelerate the growth rate of the members with real money.

The only thing that could be possible in a short period was to enhance and supplement the Final Finish and challenge it directly. But since my life wasn’t multiple, it wasn’t that simple.

Regrettably, hoping for the future might be… Wait a minute. What’s that smell? Sniff, it doesn’t seem like medicine.

– Boom! –

“!?”

– Beep-beep-beep –

‘An explosion?’

A sharp pain as if my eardrums were tearing hit me. Slowly, a storm of flames rushed from my right. I had to avoid it. Somehow, I tried to roll my body backward or sideways…!

– Growwwwwl –

At the moment I was about to throw myself, hwang Man-deuk transformed into a werebear, blocking the space between me and the firestorm.

– Paaahhh! –

Amidst the collapsing roar and explosive sound, a wave of intense heat swept around me.

– Hwaaaah –

‘What’s happening?’

I didn’t feel the stinging pain characteristic of negative energy. Was it not a monster or villain attack but a simple explosion?

“Are you alright… Oh, I made a mistake. I apologize.”

Bear Hwang Man-deuk’s robust voice reached me undistorted. As the emergency passed, the time dilation effect seemed to be over.

“No. You did well. First, inspect the scene.”

“Yes!”

Even though I appeared calm outwardly, my heart was pounding loudly. If it weren’t for Man-deuk, there might have been severe injuries.

His broad back as he walked confidently into the accident scene looked even more reliable today.

‘Just wait. I’ll nurture you with all my strength.’

My nurturing desire for Hwang Man-deuk intensified. His posture was indeed that of a true tank, instinctively protecting a superior, Calmly facing explosions…

– Wooong –

The flames roaring from Hwang Man-deuk’s magic power instantly extinguished. The street became crowded with citizens who had rushed out upon hearing the explosion. I had to reassure them according to the manual, even if I had to reveal my identity.

“I’m Hero Isaac. It’s just a simple explosion accident, so citizens, you can rest assured.”

Even a minor explosion could become a disaster when the scale increased. I turned on the Akashic Live to classify the situation as ‘fire and explosion’. This way, it would be considered an achievement. Even accumulating such minor incidents could help the reputation of our members.

“Sir! We have an injured person.”

After completing the search of the store, hwang Man-deuk came out carrying an elderly woman who had lost consciousness and suffered severe burns on her face.

‘Terrible.’

I immediately opened the inventory and used a vitality recovery potion. The red energy stream extended from my hand and rapidly absorbed into the woman’s body.

The burns noticeably healed, and the woman soon made a groaning sound before peacefully falling asleep. I had saved a life that was almost lost with just a few touches.

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, a faint voice saying, ‘Oh, even healing abilities!’ could be heard.

‘No. I just used a potion.’

Stop exaggerating. It might cause misunderstandings…

“Situation resolved.”

I closed the briefly activated Akashic Live and went into the store to tidy up the tables. I saw something sparkling outside, and it was golden.

‘It seems to be burnt.’

The golden light sparkled from something resembling a charred seed. As I reached out to the seed, I felt a warm sensation. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a transparent flame rising from the seed.

【Damaged Ifrit Ember】

▶ Category: Material Seed

▶ Grade: Legendary

▶ Description: A seed containing Ifrit’s flame. Damaged and lost its value, but it might still be useful somewhere.

▶ Effect: Explodes upon receiving physical impact or heat.

‘Legendary grade?’

It must have been damaged already, considering there was a fire. The store owner probably didn’t recognize its value and casually tossed it on the shelf. Even if I took it, he would never know.

The moment I made the decision, I picked it up and placed it in my inventory. Even though it was just a brief touch, the heat was intense, and my fingers turned red.

‘What an unexpected find.’

Soon after, the police arrived at the scene, took over the incident, and we received applause from the citizens before heading back to herbal shopping.

‘Hwang Man-deuk thought I was strong.’

Before that, it was essential to clarify the action guidelines for the members in a crisis situation like the one before. Although Man-deuk, driven by his tank instincts, protected me on his own this time, he might express unnecessary humility like, ‘How dare I protect the leader? Let’s not overstep our bounds’, in the future.

I needed to create a reasonable excuse and persuade him.

“Man-deuk, I find it challenging to delicately control my abilities.”

“Is that so?”

He seemed to affirm with a feeling like, ‘It’s understandable’. Since I was already pretending to be a fake powerful hero, I might as well take advantage of this situation in this direction.

“So, from now on, make sure I don’t exert my strength. The same goes for disaster scenes.”

“Ah! I understand. It could have been a disaster if I hadn’t acted!”

“It could have been.”

I nodded casually. Man-deuk’s admiration, ‘How powerful could he be…’ messed with my head, but at least the minimum safety measures were in place now. He would protect me without hesitation next time.

====

***

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In the herbal district, heroes like us were scarcely seen, mostly Alchemists or magic engineering students dreaming of becoming Alchemists.

Still, there were a few heroes I saw, but they were cases where they came to sell rare herbs directly.

The street buzzed with the sounds of magic engineering students and merchants asking about herbal prices or attempting to haggle. Although the lively scene was absorbing, it sucked out all my energy. Nevertheless, I diligently tried to check the condition of the herbs.

‘Overall, the quality is disappointing.’

The recipe for the elixir ‘Gentle Embrace’ listed four supplementary ingredients: Heartleaf, tranquil Bloom, shadow of the Sea, and High Breeze Thistle.

Naturally, when looking at these items, an information window appeared. Even with the same ingredients, the quality could be distinguished by the adjectives or item descriptions attached to their names.

“Let’s check that place too.”

“Yep. Hehe.”

Accompanied by Hwang Man-deuk, who continued to follow me, he seemed pleased at the thought of improving his grandmother’s condition. With the presence of a reliable bodyguard, I could navigate through the crowded herbal street without worries.

Solsol~

Passing various herbalists, different scents tickled my nostrils. The red leaves of Heartleaf shone on the oak branches, the red petals of Tranquil Bloom faintly glowed in the sunlight, and the Shadow of the Sea emitted a faint blue light in the shaded areas.

The High Breeze Thistle looked especially peculiar, it could easily pass as a poisonous plant.

With a long snake-like body, the middle part was suspended above the ground. This made the thistle stand tall, and the central part of the thistle swayed with the breeze, creating an illusion that I, too, was swaying and losing balance.

I memorized the appearance of the supplementary ingredients needed for the elixir and decided to look for a better herbalist while I was on the street.

After about 30 minutes of wandering.

‘A good feeling about this one?’

I spotted a seemingly decent store. The herbalist who might have higher-grade herbs was tucked away in a corner inside the market, requiring people to turn inward to find it.

It was a store surrounded by a worn-out wooden door and black walls. In front of the door were shabby wooden boxes and broken jars scattered around, and the window was adorned with a dusty and stained light brown curtain, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

‘How do I get through this place?’

Man-deuk looked puzzled, questioning whether it was necessary to explore such a hidden herbalist. But Clan of Heroes was a game that subtly followed clichés.

Even though the appearance of the store hinted at an elusive master, the aura of a hidden expert was not there.

“Are you there?”

“Oh~ Customers?”

A man with a look that made it difficult to tell whether he was a grandfather, or an uncle came out of a shabby store and greeted us.

“How did you come all the way here?”

“We’re just looking around.”

“Oh, go ahead and look around. These plants may look like this, but they’re all natural, grown with sweat and tears. They’re fundamentally different from those fancy-looking plants that are grown with fertilizer and pesticides!”

He rambled on, but I couldn’t pay attention.

‘This is embarrassing.’

It was because the store owner was a hero. Moreover, he was level 75 with a 3-star. His hero’s name was Farmer Man. It was a familiar and even delightful name. He was one of the herbalist NPCs.

I found the truly hidden master.

‘But how do I strike a deal?’

The herbal ingredients on display were mostly withered or had holes, as if insects had eaten them.

Even if they were packaged under the name of ‘naturally grown’, these items were practically unusable even if given away for free. Guests who came all the way here, like nobles excavating in the mountains, would probably turn around without a second thought after seeing the condition of the island’s herbs. But that was likely Farmer Man’s intention.

By hiding his status with the strategy of ‘darkest under the lantern’, he was probably conducting shady business.

According to my memory, Farmer Man was almost killed by the gangster clan, twilight Dawn, but he barely survived and is now sharpening his blade of revenge.

The fact that he runs a business in this shabby store with such a shabby appearance is all a smokescreen. He comes out when customers come, and inside the store, he lives a life of revenge, stacking up plans to defeat the Dawn Clan.

“Don’t you want to buy anything?”

The Farmer Man shot me a look that said if you weren’t going to buy, you should leave. It was quite a dilemma figuring out how to handle this person.

‘Wait. How about poking him directly?’

The Dawn Clan had a hostile relationship with the Harmony Clan, and they were bound to turn dark and become villain sooner or later. As someone who knew this, unless I actively converted their leader, Electric Guy, with all my might, this storyline would likely unfold as it is.

‘Why not really give it a shot?’

In a situation where we share a common enemy, if I, who is known as an S-class hero, extend my hand, wouldn’t the Farmer Man be willing to collaborate? If I were in the Farmer Man’s shoes, it would be completely favorable.

‘And I might even protect him.’

The card of guaranteeing hero activities and protection from the Dawn Clan also looks appealing. In many ways, it seems like a situation where I could actively send a positive response. Farmer Man isn’t fools, he won’t just attack or run away without thinking.

“The Founder of the Harvest Fist. Former physical-type hero, Farmer Man. Is that correct?”

“……!”

– Woong.

–

– Hwaaaah! –

Suddenly, a fierce wave of magic power surged. Hwang Man-deuk had positioned himself in front of me, blocking the eye-to-eye confrontation with Farmer Man. It was a moment that required a bit of showmanship.

‘I guess he did that because he was surprised.’

I stared at the Farmer Man, lowering my voice.

“It would be wise to stop.”

– Woong……..

–

‘Yuu.’

The vigorously blazing magic power wave subsided. If we had clashed with all our might, he would have been an opponent with no chance. He seemed to recognize me from the start.

He, who swallowed a sigh, opened his mouth with a subdued tone.

“It’s unbelievably unfair. If I knew it would end like this, I would have met women to my heart’s content……….”

No. I guess one could think in such a way in this situation. A suddenly famous S-class hero coming to investigate, he must feel a chill down his spine. From their perspective, it must be pure terror.

“They say even dead ghosts fulfill wishes. Let alone me, who is still alive, please let me make a call to my family before leaving this world.”

Why would you make such a bizarre and absurd request? If there’s such a misunderstanding, it seems like it’s not an ordinary fate with the Dawn Clan. The story might get easier from here.

I shook my head.

“I just want to make a deal with you.”

“Are you saying that you’re not here because an assassination request?”

– Swoosh.

–

I nodded half-heartedly. Since he was convinced of me being an S-class hero, taking an authoritative stance here would only create discomfort.

“Then how do you recognize me? Who told you that I exist?”

“There are various ways.”

I waved it off casually, I didn’t trust the information even if it was in the status window. Although I instantly came up with excuses like detecting unique magic waves of the Harvest Fist or recognizing the refreshing scent from top-grade herbs, I didn’t bother to mention them. At the moment, it seemed more important to maintain a sense of gravity than to open my mouth.

“……..”

The Farmer Man’s sharp eyes gradually turned into resignation. The sound of rolling marbles could be heard from here.

“Come in. Whether I die like this or that, I need to say my piece before you go.”

Feeling that the conversation might go well, we followed him into the dimly lit herbalist shop.