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“Mr. Kim. What are you doing after work? Want to grab a drink? There’s this amazing lamb skewer place I know.”

“I’m sorry. I have something to take care of at home…”

“Ah… I see. Well, go ahead then. Let me know if you need any help.”

“Yes, thank you, Manager.”

There was nothing to take care of at home.

But it wasn’t like I was avoiding the manager on purpose.

The long-awaited time had finally come—the day the first episode of *The Birth of a Hero* aired.

“Where would I go on a day like this? I have to catch the live broadcast.”

*The Birth of a Hero* featured the tired audition format, but it was different from other audition programs.

It was a crazy program that selected Awakened Ones and trained them to become heroes.

With an insane lineup of all S-Class heroes participating.

It was surprising enough that this small country had six S-Class heroes, and all six were participating as judges.

They were supposed to mentor the junior Awakened Ones.

Overseas, politics and corporations were going crazy because of the unruly S-Class heroes.

But our country’s S-Class heroes were all kind and selfless.

They didn’t earn their qualifications as heroes just through strength.

They were people with genuine character and integrity, truly embodying the qualities of heroes.

Even compared to the superpower of heroes, the United States, they didn’t fall short.

Is this… national pride?

*The Birth of a Hero* aired at 10 PM on Friday.

At 6 PM, thanks to the manager’s consideration, I was able to leave work on time.

He must have thought I really had something to do…

I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll join you for hiking.

I rushed straight home.

After finishing dinner and cleaning the house, I showered and waited for *The Birth of a Hero*, catching up on webtoons and promoting the show to my friends.

And finally, 10 PM.

The program started.

The program’s logo appeared.

Letters slowly engraved themselves below the logo.

Heroes: People with extraordinary courage, talent, and wisdom, who do what ordinary people cannot and protect the masses.

Boom—

A loud sound accompanied the stamping of an “S” mark.

Below it, A, B, C… other grades were already stamped.

But…

“What’s that empty space above?”

It looked like there was a space left above the S-Class, as if there was another grade.

But as if it wasn’t important, the screen changed.

An editing choice most people wouldn’t notice.

But I, Kim Kwon-yong, the 28th descendant of the Andong Kim clan, immediately understood the intention behind that scene.

“It means that above heroes, there are the people. Ugh… I wish Ha-yul had said that herself.”

The changed screen showed a coastline by the sea.

The video quality and color tone seemed old.

The ground was torn apart as if a war had broken out.

And… a monster.

Legs so thick they looked like they’d burst.

Skin so tough it seemed like bullets would bounce off.

Compared to the naval ships and attack helicopters around, its size was terrifying.

“…Behemoth.”

The world’s first extinction-class monster that appeared in British waters.

Nowadays, extinction-class monsters are manageable if a few S-Class heroes team up…

But back then, the extinction-class lived up to its name.

The name wasn’t given for nothing.

Everything was sold out, whether it was a supermarket or a local store.

People hoarded everything, expensive or cheap.

Religious fanatics prayed and spouted nonsense about the end.

Later, it was revealed that even Korean leaders tried to flee by requesting protection from the U.S.

It was almost apocalyptic.

The extinction-class caused a massive uproar.

It was barely defeated through a joint operation between the UK and Korea.

The filming equipment was all destroyed.

Even the heroes filming died, so the only remaining footage was from before the fight…

Anyway, since it was successfully defeated, the UK probably treats Jeong Ha-yul like a queen.

The footage of Jeong Ha-yul flying towards the Behemoth in British waters slowly faded.

Footage of Park Seol-hwa meeting world leaders and handing out potions.

Kim Yu-shin demonstrating the swordsmanship of the Hwarang.

Jang Gil-yong charging at thousands of monsters.

Lee Ha-yoon activating dozens of spells simultaneously.

And…

The finale was Jeong Gyeoul.

Jeong Gyeoul used telekinesis to spin several swords.

A magic circle opened in the air, and dozens of ice spears shot out.

“…?”

As if that wasn’t enough, she punched towards the sea.

The pose was nice, but I wondered what she was doing.

The sea split.

Moses had nothing on her.

“????”

As a long-time fan of Jeong Ha-yul, I could tell.

That was… the Demon King Punch.

It wasn’t even inferior to Jeong Ha-yul’s.

“What is she… how many categories is she handling?”

I thought it might be a trick or some kind of illusion…

But this was the work of PD Choi, a master of variety shows.

There was no way he’d play a prank.

The scene that threw my mind into chaos disappeared.

The regions where the first preliminary rounds were taking place appeared.

“The preliminaries aren’t important right now… what was that just now?!”

I frantically grabbed my phone.

Friends who had been persuaded by my sales pitch to watch the live broadcast.

The internet community I frequented.

News articles from various media outlets.

It was a complete frenzy.

***

“Don’t ever make me do something like this again.”

“Are you going to tell PD Choi? I just do as I’m told…”

“No matter what your superior says, making a 15-year-old middle school girl do something like this is too much. Are you trying to kill her?”

“Her actions suit her age… I’m sorry! I’ll have a strong word with PD Choi!”

The day after the second preliminary round.

Jeong Gyeoul couldn’t go straight home.

She was held back for additional filming due to a late order from PD Choi.

The filming, which started at a beach in Goseong with a view of the East Sea, ended with a cringe-worthy strength show.

It was no wonder Jeong Gyeoul was furious.

She was already upset about having to stay after filming…

Using telekinesis to levitate swords.

Firing her signature ice spears.

And finally, the Demon King Punch.

“Who even taught her that?”

The combat mechanics were so Jeong Gyeoul-like.

But Jeong Gyeoul’s combat had never been publicly revealed.

It was a repertoire only someone who had seen her fight firsthand would know.

It had to be one of the Demon Realm Expedition Team.

“Please don’t tell anyone we filmed this.”

“Everyone will know once it airs… is there really a need…”

Jeong Gyeoul glared at the PD with dagger eyes.

One more word, and it wouldn’t be dagger eyes but an actual dagger flying.

“There is. Of course, we’ll keep it hidden. I’ll make sure all the staff who came for the additional filming keep their mouths shut.”

Anyway, the completed scene was set to appear not in a teaser but in the main broadcast of the first episode.

Noise marketing? Teaser bait? A high-budget trailer?

None of that was needed.

The moment this scene aired, all attention would be focused on it.

Exactly as PD Choi had planned.

[An unprecedented event. The world’s first multi-category hero, Jeong Gyeoul.]

[The youngest Awakened One and youngest S-Class hero, Jeong Gyeoul. From magic to physical categories.]

[The world’s first all-category Awakened One. Appearing in Korea.]

[Has the Association been hiding Jeong Gyeoul’s hero status until now?]

[*The Birth of a Hero* hooks viewers from the start with an incredible opening.]

“I expected this, but… out of ten articles, only two mention our program?”

Of course, with one refresh, ten articles disappear at once.

Roughly 20 percent.

For the first outlet to report this, it was underwhelming.

“It’s because we’re announcing a world first. It’s a bit awkward to include a variety show in such a glorious article. I think two is lucky.”

“Stingy journalists. If it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t even know about it. Is it so hard to include the program’s name?”

“It’s not like we need it. Our lineup is just insane.”

“…It feels like we’re getting away with too much.”

“After Gyeoul, who uses all three categories, space teleportation appeared, and thanks to Gyeoul, nicknames like Taoist Girl and Elf Girl were given, so we’ll be riding the hype for a while. Plus, with that…”

The foreshadowing in the first episode’s opening.

The grade above S-Class.

We haven’t decided yet when would be the best time to reveal it.

“Just thinking about it makes me full. I can already hear the ratings rising.”

Awakened Ones who had given up on their dreams due to various circumstances.

Thinking this was their last chance, they challenged those dreams.

Overcoming hardships and adversity.

Training with the judges after making it into the top ten.

Finally, the Awakened One who wins.

It’s a clichéd and overused repertoire.

But that’s why it’s a popular narrative.

I felt like bowing to HC Entertainment’s CEO Kang Joo-han, who suggested we do this program together.

 

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