Chapter 435: Lily of the Valley (10)

Chapter 435: Lily of the Valley (10)

The terrorism committed by the HanEun Group resulted in the destruction of the Hero Association headquarters and endlessly repeated meetings in temporary facilities.

After all that, in the evening, Seo-Eun and I returned home together.

"Seo-eun, it's been a long day, so let's go to bed early. We'll talk more tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Okay. And school tomorrow...I'll call your teacher."

She nodded.

I let Seo-eun rest first, who looked tired and troubled by the whole situation with the HanEun group.

I felt bad for Seo-eun, who looked tired, and I felt bad for her as she staggered into her room with her head down, looking so small today.

After sending her back to her room.

-Click.

I returned to my room, turned on the light, sat down at my desk, turned on my computer, and lost myself in thought.

I'd have to organize some things before I could sleep.

'...The HanEun Group.'

In the original, they were only responsible for the Behemoth incident and attacking Seoul with giant robots at the end of Phase 1.

Of course, they had quite an impact, but they were a bit underwhelming compared to the enemies in Phase 4, where even gods appeared as enemies.

So I honestly wasn't too worried, but...

'Things are different now.'

I thought to myself while holding the mouse.

The bugs that I thought would disappear on their own, became more powerful.

They're replacing a bunch of superpowers that have somehow disappeared.

This situation didn't exist in the original, therefore I could only have one mindset.

'Forget the original.'

I was determined.

For the past three years. I don't know how, but...The HanEun Group has changed from the villainous organization I knew. I've taken out all the other villains, so it's highly likely that they've become the 'final boss' of Korea.

If so, there was only one answer.

Take them out, with all my might.

And of course, it's not just for me...

'I'm also doing it for Seo-eun.'

I nodded in agreement.

Seo-eun grudge against the HanEun Group aside, they were too dangerous.

The world was peaceful at best, and it's crazy to think that they'd try to upset it.

Especially...Especially considering that Seo-Eun was an escaped experiment from HanEun group.

There was a chance they still wanted her.

"...Hah. It's complicated."

I sighed and leaned back in my seat.

I wondered what their purpose was.

At first, I thought it was just the usual ignorant terrorism from the original, but...But it felt different.

They hit the Association and destroyed religious facilities at the same time.

Especially when they destroyed religious facilities, they didn't target people, just the facilities. Temples, churches, cathedrals...They scared away all the people and targeted only the buildings.

I was suspicious of this.

In my original world, there was some religious conflict, so I could understand it.

But this world?

The existing religions had been decimated by the existence of superpowers, and there were only a few religious facilities left. The ones they destroyed were practically everything on the peninsula.

Then why did they destroy it?

Did they do it to celebrate science?

"...I don't know, I don't know."

I muttered that and went online.

...Okay. But first, let's see how people reacted to this incident.

With that thought in mind, I went to the news.

The news was saying that the HanEun Group had attacked the Hero Association and religious facilities.

Stardus repelled them and the villains used superpowers.

As for me...I don't know if it's because I didn't get involved, or if the Association prevented it, but thankfully I didn't appear in the news.

When I took a look at the comments, I saw a lot of people criticizing the group and cheering for the association. There were also quite a few comments that were surprised by the appearance of people with superpowers.

I wondered if Lee Seola's media reaction manipulation unit had used some power...

"..."

And while I was at it I suddenly wondered what people in my fan cafe thought about this incident.

Everyone seemed a little crazy, and I wanted to see their reactions, so I took a look at the top posts.

*

[HanEun Group Invasion. Honestly, it's not choreographed at all.]

What is Korea?

Isn't it the country that owns Egostic and Stardus?

Mango and Stardus <<< If you have faith that these two will do it all, you'll be fine.

=[Comments]=

[Really lol]

[Dog recommendation lol]

[Honestly, if it were another country, I would have been scared, but we have K-mango, so what's scary? LOL]

[This is really something that Mango seems to be able to solve on its own lol]

[But it's strange that there are two beings with superpowers in South Korea after the superpowers disappeared. What else stands out? Did they get chosen or something?]

[It's all because Grandpa Dangun took good care of the ground.]

[Aha, that's why the house price in Seoul was so expensive(?)]

[HanEun Group has a lot of people with fire-shooting superpowers, which is a bit strange...Isn't it unusual for them to use the same power? What on earth did they do?]

N [The fact is that they're all just one star punch away...]

[This is the reason why foreign countries are focusing their attention on HanEun Group right now...they want to know how they got the superpowers]

[The world is paying attention, the International Hero Association is shaking, and villains are interested in our country]

[The funny thing is that it's real]]

[You just have to believe in mango]

[It's been so peaceful for 3 years now, it's been boring, I need some thrills, will mango turn on more shows now?]

ㄴ[You crazy guy lol but is he really going to turn it on more?]

ㄴ[Day 1 of waiting]

*

"....."

After scrolling through a few, I just turned off the internet.

Where does their fanaticism for me come from...I'm starting to wonder.

Still... It wasn't a bad feeling. It's better to go about my daily life like that than to be a pest.

Okay. That's all for today, let's lie down and sleep.

Tomorrow I'll make my own plans.

With that thought, I got to bed.

-Knock-knock.

There was a knock on my door.

At the sound, I turned my head and looked towards my door.

"...Da-in."

There she was.

Dressed in white pajamas and with a baguette in one hand, Seo-eun was looking at me with slightly watery eyes.

"Seo-eun, weren't you asleep? What's wrong?"

I was puzzled by her appearance and asked her.

...Seo-eun answer was something I didn't expect.

"Da-in, can we sleep together tonight...?"

"Huh?"

I was puzzled.

******

It was late at night.

Seo-eun came with her own pajamas, asking me if I could sleep with her.

...Honestly, I was a little torn and wondered if it was right.

After all, she's a grown woman. She's not just a high school student anymore, she's a grown woman without a uniform.

And now that I think about it, even when she was younger, she never did this.

But.

'I'm so anxious, it reminds me of the past. I can't sleep by myself...'

Looking at Seo-eun pale face as she said that to me while trembling slightly, I realized that now was not the time to care about such things.

"....."

My bed, with the nightstand beside it, coloring the room with a faint orange glow, was large enough for two people.

I looked at Seo-Eun lying there with her eyes closed, sighed weakly, and said,

"Seo-eun, are you going to sleep now...?"

"...No, but...I think I'm thinking less bad thoughts."

"I see..."

Seo-Eun replied, but then her eyes fluttered open and she looked at me.

"Da-in, you're not sleeping?"

"Yeah. I'm going to read this, and then I'll watch you sleep."

I said, leaning back against the back of the bed, holding the book in my hand slightly.

"Yeah... but I have Da-in next to me, so...Hmm. I could use some sleep."

In response, Seo-Eun yawned, put her arm across her forehead, and closed her eyes again.

A moment later I could hear her breathing quietly and regularly.

She's sleeping now.

I put down the book I was looking at, the one with a cover that said 'Real Estate Investment Secrets' but inside it said 'Understanding Adolescent Children'.

I looked down at Seo-Eun for a moment.

"...."

Her silver hair flowing, her face buried in her stomach and she was breathing heavily.

...I was surprised when she asked me to sleep with her, though I didn't show it.

She'd rarely acted so foolish since we met.

Perhaps the events of today's group had touched a nerve in Seo-eun's PTSD.

"...."

Feeling a little sorry for her, I silently stroked her sleeping hair, which was faintly colored under the mood light.

That's right. If you can be okay with my presence, I'll always be there for you.

After all, in this life, this is the only goal I have left.

'What will I do with myself when Seo-eun grows up and goes to college and becomes independent...?'

I don't know. After I catch all the villains and Seo-eun leaves...I'll have enough money. Maybe I'll go to a small town and open a cafe.

Or, since I've always loved teaching, I could become a teacher of children in the countryside. It would be good for me to heal.

...I'm getting too sensitive at night.

"Oh..."

I smirked, turned off the mood light, and lay down.

Yeah. Now is not the time to worry about that. I need to think about defeating the HanEun group first.

I'll figure out what to do with Seo-eun later.

"Good night, Seo-Eun."

I muttered that, and closed my eyes.

***

And the next morning.

"....."

"Mmm...Hehe..."

I said as soon as I opened my eyes.

I closed my eyes again, feeling the pressure of Seo-eun, who was hugging me tightly as if she would never let me go.

Seo-eun doesn't have good sleeping habits...