The Monster Aspires to Be a Hero!

Over the weekend, I began my formal training regimen at the training room.
However, my concentration was severely lacking, to the point the trainer intervened.
“Seems like you’re having trouble focusing… is it because of that TV coverage?”
The trainer, having likely seen the news, suggested taking a break while broaching the topic.
“Y-Yes.”
“Don’t dwell on it. It’s not something that happened because of you, Jinwoo. Kids these days are just vicious, or so I’ve heard from my own child…”
Despite his youthful appearance, the trainer seemed to already have a child of his own.
The vivid accounts he shared about how cunning and cruel kids could be likely stemmed from his parenting experiences.
Children were simply venting stress by bullying the vulnerable.
This incident didn’t occur because of me defeating that monster.
Don’t overthink it.
He was essentially expressing that in a roundabout manner, out of consideration.
Though I understood his kindness rationally, separating understanding from an uneasy heart proved difficult.
“Let’s take a break. We could risk a serious injury if we continue like this.”
“Understood.”
Even during the break, I couldn’t feel rested at all.
The societal phenomenon triggered by the human-disguised monster had gradually gnawed away at my heart.
This issue would have inevitably surfaced, even if I hadn’t apprehended it.
In fact, had that disguised entity further studied humans to grow stronger and craftier, it could have posed an even greater threat.
I knew that.
Yet despite understanding, why did I still feel so unsettled?
After the morning training session, I returned home to meet Jieun at our prearranged location.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Today, the WithYou volunteer club had scheduled activities.
If I remained gloomy, others would undoubtedly take notice.
Forcing a smile, I joined the club members for our volunteer work.
Our task involved playing with children at a daycare center.
A facility where children of parents too busy working weekends could be looked after.
So many children visiting here instead of spending time with parents during such a crucial developmental stage.
Though unvoiced, their loneliness and hardship must have been immense, so I wanted to show them only my brightest side.
Slapping my cheeks to regain composure, I opened the daycare doors and entered.

Hello everyone!
Likely having been briefed by the teachers, the children welcomed us with radiant smiles.
Ah, children really were the best.
Such a bright, energetic greeting reinvigorated me.
“Hello, everyone~!”
Waving both hands in greeting, we commenced our volunteer activities.
Volunteering at kindergartens and daycares was relatively easy.
Simply reading picture books or performing short puppet shows would make time fly by.
We enthusiastically presented what we had prepared.
The children smiled brilliantly, enjoying our offerings until the very end.
Once we finished, they cheerfully expressed their gratitude.
Then, as if it were only natural, they dispersed like a receding tide to play with their teachers instead.
Watching that heartwarming scene, Jungheok, who had done clown makeup, approached while wiping his face clean.
“Still, daycares are the best, wouldn’t you say?”
“They are easier.”
“No, it’s because the teachers are pretty.”
“Hey.”
“Just joking, kiddo.”
That gaze toward the teachers didn’t seem like mere jesting.
“Nursing homes are really tough, you know?”
“That’s true.”
Volunteering at nursing homes was genuinely arduous.
I suspect around 80% of club members quit due to those experiences.
“At nursing homes, no matter how hard you try, there are always residents scolding or venting frustrations. But here, everyone just smiles and enjoys themselves, so I can smile too.”
“I suppose so.”
As Jungheok said, insults were more common than gratitude at nursing homes.
The elderly residents, burdened by ill health, lacked patience.
Though understandable, directly experiencing it made me never want to revisit such volunteer sites.
Children, however, were so pure…
Lost in such thoughts, something caught my eye.
“Hm?”
Observing the playing children, I noticed one oddly detached from the group.
“Hey, Jungheok.”
“What?”
“That child…”
“Hm?”
Following my gaze, Jungheok’s expression soured as he clicked his tongue.
“Seems like one of those cases.”
“…”
The child I had noticed seemed to have difficulty walking, slightly limping.
Perhaps due to that, even while playing tag, they couldn’t run far before plopping onto the floor.
Yet none of the other children approached them.
Only the teachers cautiously drew near.
And faintly audible voices…
Monster, freak, clothes, rip, mom says, dad says, don’t play, disabled…
A chilling feeling washed over me.
Such ostracization was occurring even in this daycare filled with the youngest, purest children.
Then what of other places…?
“Sunbae, are you okay?”
“Hm?”
“Have some water and calm down.”
Staring blankly at the water Jieun offered, I tried to collect myself.
But calming my heart proved difficult.

After the volunteer activities, as I headed home, my smartphone rang.
The caller ID displayed ‘Kim Hyunsung’ – the former team leader from my disposal part-time job.
“Hello.”

Hello. Jinwoo?
“Yes. It’s been a while, Ajeossi.”

Still calling me ‘Ajeossi’, you brat? Anyway, you got some time right now?
“Time?”

Yeah.
I had originally planned more training, but felt too uneasy for that.
So I agreed to meet Hyunsung Ajeossi.
“Yo!”
Too late for lunch but too early for dinner.
Hyunsung Ajeossi had already arrived and downed an entire bottle of soju.
“Did you start drinking without me since I was running late?”
“You’re the one who showed up late!”
“You always blame others, Ajeossi.”
“This brat is still calling me Ajeossi until the end.”
“Well, you do have a kid, so Ajeossi fits, right? Haha!”
Meeting Hyunsung Ajeossi after so long lifted my spirits.
“You little punk, not even showing up for part-time after passing the hero exam… Ajeossi was hurt, you know?”
“I stopped after the new semester began.”
“Ah, I see. In that case, drink up!”
Hyunsung Ajeossi poured me a drink, egging me on to down it quickly.
Normally, I wouldn’t drink much, but today I felt like getting tipsy.

Drink in moderation.
Yeah, yeah.
Dismissively responding to Greed’s motherly remark, I drained the glass.
Bitter.
More bitter than I recalled.
Reminiscing about our past encounters, Hyunsung Ajeossi continuously refilled my glass.
By the time our table had three empty soju bottles, he spoke up.
“Jinwoo-ya.”
“Yes, Hyung.”
Rather than the usual ‘Ajeossi’, calling him ‘Hyung’ brought a faint smile to his face before a wistful expression emerged.
“I saw the news.”
“Ah…”
“I figured you’d be troubled, so I called you out.”
Pouring more soju into my empty glass, Hyunsung Ajeossi continued.
“What you did was apprehend a monster and protect citizens. You haven’t even officially debuted as a hero yet, but you’ve already made a stellar showing.”
“No, no, Hyung. It wasn’t anything admirable.”
“Jinwoo-ya.”
“…Yes, Hyung.”
“Did I mention I have a child?”
“Yes.”
“The reason I do this part-time disposal work, to the point of becoming team leader… it’s for the money. This job is genuinely dangerous, but it pays well, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose.”
Even in reality, part-time body disposal jobs pay quite well.
Disposing of monster corpses, which have tactical value, also compensates generously.
The income from this part-time work is what allows me to frequent the training room.
“Our child… has a disability.”
Hyunsung Ajeossi’s expression turned wistful as he spoke those words.
In that moment, I realized the victims of that incident weren’t so distant after all.
“Jinwoo-ya.”
“…Yes, Hyung.”
“Our child is resting at home right now. I told them not to go out.”
“…I see.”
With each word from Hyunsung Ajeossi, my head hung lower.
I felt like a criminal standing trial.
“Truly despicable people. Ever since heroes became a trend, they’d bully the weak by calling them ‘villains’, but now it’s changed in an instant.”
“…”
“But this wasn’t caused by you, was it? I called you out thinking you might be troubled, but you’ve surpassed my expectations.”
“I’m sorry, Hyung…”
“What are you apologizing for, you brat!”
Hyunsung Ajeossi firmly patted my shoulder, raising his voice slightly.
“Everyone will come to their senses soon enough. You just focus on doing what you need to do.”
“Yes…”
“That line about ‘great power comes with great responsibility’ from the movies?”
“Spider-Man.”
“Right, that one. Does just having great power make someone a hero? Of course not, right?”
“I suppose not.”
Pouring the last glass from the fourth soju bottle, Hyunsung Ajeossi gazed intently at me.
“You see, being a hero isn’t just about saving someone’s body. You have to save their heart too.”
“Their heart?”
“That’s right. If you save someone while wearing such a troubled expression, how can they feel reassured? You need to be confident and steadfast. Do the heroes on TV cry and look anguished? As soon as the cameras roll, even the glummest person starts grinning, don’t they? You think that’s just for managing popularity?”
Clearing his throat, Hyunsung Ajeossi nodded as he continued speaking.
“Sure, some might do it for that reason. But not everyone, right? Didn’t you say you wanted to become a hero because they seemed so cool and awesome? That’s what being a hero is about, isn’t it? Looking cool, confident, making others feel reassured just by being there. So it’s not just about dealing with monsters and villains, but also comforting those feeling anxious.”
After advising me to smile more often, Hyunsung Ajeossi rose from his seat.
“Ah, the bill…”
“I called you out, so I’ll cover it. When you officially debut as a hero, bring my whole family out for some beef, got it?”
With those parting words and a wave, Hyunsung Ajeossi departed.

Humans are quite peculiar. To my eyes, each of you appears as some variant monster.
I suppose so… quite peculiar.
Someone directly impacted by the incident could justifiably resent me, and yet…

Regain your senses. As that human said, you have no time to dwell on such matters!
I felt a light tugging at my back before a rustling sound.
“Ugh!”
It seemed Greed had firmly struck my back from within my clothes.
A jolt of shocking pain that cleared my mind.
“Right, I need to regain my senses.”
As Hyunsung Ajeossi said, I had to collect myself.
After settling the bill, I rose from my seat.
Tomorrow, I would return to my usual self.
I would steel my resolve and cultivate the strength to face monsters and villains.
Become a hero capable of safeguarding not just citizens’ bodies, but their hearts too.
I renewed that vow once more.

The next day.
Waking earlier than usual, I completed my training room regimen before heading home.
Just as the temporary hero badge on my chest seemed to vibrate, a support request notification appeared on my phone.

[Emergency Call]
The nearest available hero is requested to respond to the scene.
An incident involving the use of superpowers and violence has occurred.
The perpetrator is currently fleeing, and details are still being ascertained.
Any heroes able to respond, please confirm immediately.
Further information will be provided later.

An incident?
Yes, an incident.

Time to become a hero!
Heeding Greed’s rallying cry, I immediately accepted the support request and began moving according to the GPS coordinates on my smartphone.
Just as Hyunsung Ajeossi had said.
I had resolved to give my utmost to the tasks I could perform.