Chapter 134: Do Ji-hwan's Ambitious Project (11)
Heroes needed personal time for themselves.
But the world always wanted them to be heroes, not individuals.
That was the duty of an ability user!
Born with the blessing of abilities, they had a mission to dedicate themselves for the majority.
But ability users were humans, not machines.
Even if they seemed to operate like machines, they needed rest just like any person.
This was where the dilemma arose.
How much rest did ability users need?
If an incident occurred while they were resting, should they immediately respond?
-Hey, if you’re an ability user, shouldn’t you stop even if you’re in the middle of pooping, wipe quickly, and rush out?
Some people said this to an extreme extent.
While an ability user was watching TV at home, a villain killed an innocent citizen.
Some went around saying this.
It was true.
It was an absurd force.
However, ability users were still a minority in this world, and those with more life experience than them had already established themselves in society’s key roles. The world had been shaping ability users into heroes from the moment they were born.
Therefore, an ability user must always step up in situations where others could not if they were capable.
[Ability User Safety Law Article 131 (2003.04.28. 2461V-2PGCP1A)]
[Failure to respond to disturbances caused by villains or demons, despite being aware, can result in imprisonment for over 5 years or a fine exceeding 1 billion won.]
That was a ‘law’ defined in this world.
Since the law was established by the majority who already had voting rights, and the number of ability users who could vote was limited, they could not resist this unreasonable law.
Too harsh?
Yes, it was.
From an ability user’s perspective, it was a ridiculous law. However, it was made when they were still learning the Korean alphabet in kindergarten.
In this era, especially after 2020, as ability users began to enter society as adults, some laws were amended to be more realistic, sensible, and considerate of their rights.
But the overall social expectation was still for ability users to take action.
However, ability users did not always act.
Everyone said to punish those who didn’t act, but what if that led to them becoming ‘fallen perpetrators’?
What if they became targets of hate crimes by ability users?
No one dared to say this openly, so they grumbled behind the scenes.
“Legally, it’s illegal for ability users not to respond to every incident, but in reality, everyone just turns a blind eye.”
I pointed to Yumir on my right and Baek Seol-hee on my left, indicating people in the TV video.
“Before the Golden Priestess Solar Platina stepped in, there were many people on Ulleungdo who could suppress a Class B demon. But let’s exclude Seol-hee.”
Baek Seol-hee nodded slightly.
“It may sound hypocritical, but officially, Seol-hee isn’t on Ulleungdo. She’s spending a day off on Sejong Island, officially approved by the government and the association, so she’s not legally obligated to act.”
No company called an employee on sick leave for work.
No organization demanded a public servant on leave to handle complaints immediately.
Unless that person had created a mess or it was a problem that only they could solve, someone else in the organization should step in.
Moreover, Baek Seol-hee was a woman and on a legitimate leave.
Therefore, Baek Seol-hee was innocent.
“Then how many people are there right now who could have acted but didn’t? No need to check. Netizen detectives are already digging through SNS and documents.”
I displayed the Taeguk Watch screen on the TV.
“Look here. See? People are on a witch-hunt.”
Hey. Ariadne is on Ulleungdo, right? I saw a cafe photo on SNS taken there.
Lol, let them be. To them, birthing one ability user is more important than a regular person dying.
Didn’t she just not bother because she thinks it’s justified if they die? She seemed to be nagging a lot with her boyfriend.
She went to Ulleung with her boyfriend? Is it wedding time?
“B-Class female hero got caught on Ulleungdo. See? People really do scary investigations when they set their minds to it. There’s a reason why internet detective agencies exist.”
“…I just posted a picture of myself drinking tea at a café.”
“People, especially those with obsessive tendencies like stalkers, can find out everything with just a bit of information. They analyze everything – the color of the wallpaper, the structure, location, even the sound of a passing plane, to track a hero’s every move.”
“Why would they go to such lengths?”
“There are various reasons. Some are paid, others lost family because a hero didn’t act, or… some enjoy digging into heroes while hiding behind the anonymity of a mask.”
If it was for money or revenge, it was logically understandable.
But the latter was different.
“It could be stalking, a villain trying to ruin a hero, or someone feeling a sense of mission and accomplishment from uncovering a hero’s identity hidden behind a mask. The world is full of all sorts of people.”
“So, teacher, are most people currently trying to find ability users who didn’t act?”
“Not most, about 20%.”
I refreshed the internet search engine rankings.
“Congratulations, Student Yumir. You’ve taken over the top 10 search terms.”
“……Wow.”
Yumir exclaimed in amazement, looking at the search rankings filled with NEW and words referring to her from 1st to 10th place.
“Solar Platina, Golden Priestess, demon purification, let there be light… I never imagined I’d gain this much popularity.”
“It’s annoying to see the witch-hunt, but the whole country is interested in Baekgeumtaeyang. Right, Seol-hee?”
“… There’s an undiscovered S-class. Maybe even S+, a person who could be in the top 10 in the world. It’s natural to be interested. The government and the Hero Association have set up a task force for Golden Priestess Solar Platina. Even the National Intelligence Service.”
“Really? Wow, that’s kind of flattering.”
Yumir smiled satisfactorily at Baek Seol-hee’s confidential but not-so-confidential leak.
“It feels even more thrilling than when I was chased by the CIA and FBI. The National Intelligence Service of South Korea is investigating me!”
“…….”
Something felt off.
It was strange to suddenly see this ‘kimchi premium’ in a sticky worldview.
“…Well, intelligence agencies around the world are digging into Golden Priestess, so be careful. After demons Lilith, Ermina Sternfert, and Half-toad, now the female demon, uh…”
“Sirmila.”
“Right. Thank you, Seol-hee. Sirmila, the official name. Already involved in four demon cases, and purified three. During the demon Lilith case…”
“The Goblin stepped in and killed the demon.”
Baek Seol-hee shook her head in displeasure.
Yumir sipped her honey-laden hot milk, and I nodded heavily in response to Baek Seol-hee’s words.
“Yumir. Be careful of the Goblin. The government suspects you might be collaborating with the Goblin.”
“Collaborating? Me? With the Goblin? On what basis?”
Yumir laughed in disbelief.
Her laugh seemed to say, ’As if I-
“Are you saying I collaborate with garbage like the Goblin?”
“That’s good then. Have you ever talked to him?”
“Yes. He’s so arrogant, and it’s so annoying. If I meet him, I really want to punch him in the solar plexus. Speaking of which, Seol-hee, you punched the Goblin in Gangwon-do, right?”
“It felt a bit satisfying, even if the Goblin took it.”
It was a conversation about the Goblin.
One was completely unaware, and the other didn’t show any signs of smiling or anything while dissing the Goblin.
“The Goblin must be ugly, right? Maybe his face is really messed up.”
“That’s… probably not the case.”
“What? Seol-hee?”
“The Goblin is good-looking.”
“…Have you seen his face?”
I felt a bit nervous.
“Really, have you seen the Goblin’s face?”
“Oh my, really…?”
“No! Just that, a guess. Like, you can kind of tell what someone’s like just by hearing their voice…?”
Baek Seol-hee twirled her hair with her fingers and mumbled.
“He must be handsome. That’s why he acts so freely with women. Of course….”
Baek Seol-hee placed her hand on my shoulder and grinned.
“In my opinion, Ji-hwan, even with a mask, is much more handsome than a Goblin like that.”
“…… I’m flattered by your compliment. Thank you, Seol-hee.”
I locked eyes with Baek Seol-hee.
To the side.
Yumir maintained a poker face while sipping her hot milk.
But I saw it.
Yumir’s eyes were trembling as if convulsing.
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