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“Uh, urgent news.”

An employee burst through the meeting room door, shouting.

Normally, the door would be left open, allowing anyone to run in and out.

But now, there was a possibility of the movements of Heroes Jeong Gyeoul and Jeong Ha-yul being leaked.

If it became known that an S-Class villain who manipulates time had entered Korea, it could cause social unrest, so the entire meeting was classified.

Yet, someone barged in like this.

Either the employee had something extremely important to say, or they were about to get fired after the meeting.

Only two options.

Fortunately, this time, the employee was the former.

“What is it?”

“Villain Chronos has stopped in Japan!”

“…?”

Tension seemed to ease from all around, and sighs of relief could be heard.

The subordinate who had submitted a speculative report, only to be proven wrong, was trembling.

Jeong Ho-min scanned the room with a triumphant expression, as if to say, “What did I tell you?”

“He loves K-culture, so he’s coming to Korea? Guess he prefers J-pop over K-pop.”

“…I’m sorry!”

Bowing deeply at Jeong Ho-min’s sarcastic tone, the employee bent at a 120-degree angle, which Jeong Gyeoul liked.

“Ah, I’m not being sarcastic. I already cooled off earlier.”

“Ah…”

It was as if he had a split personality, changing in an instant.

Jeong Gyeoul was just worried that the head of the Hero Association seemed to have some mental issues.

On the other hand, the employees, seemingly used to it, even started cracking jokes without hesitation.

“That last comment was a bit off.”

“Ah… really? I thought it was pretty funny.”

The atmosphere was completely different from before.

Haha, hoho, it was all warm and friendly.

You could say it was the kind of employees that matched the kind of association head.

Or you could pity the employees who had adapted to survive under such a head.

“But are you sure he stopped in Japan? Maybe he just got hungry and stopped for a quick meal.”

From Jeong Gyeoul’s perspective, it was a perfectly reasonable question.

If it were her, running from the U.S. to Korea, she’d probably use magic to create an ice mold and carry it around with telekinesis to keep her food fresh in real-time.

Who’s to say Chronos wouldn’t do the same?

Jeong Ha-yul agreed with Jeong Gyeoul’s opinion.

“If he’s not fleeing from something or doesn’t have a pressing reason to get to Korea quickly… it’s entirely possible he’s just taking a break in Japan.”

The atmosphere in the emergency committee room grew heavy again.

“Jeong Gyeoul and Jeong Ha-yul, you two can probably head back for now. We’ll contact you once we’ve discussed and come up with a plan.”

Jeong Gyeoul’s expression kept stiffening and relaxing repeatedly.

The words “Then why did you call us?” were on the tip of her tongue.

But she didn’t feel like staying in the meeting room waiting for a villain who might not even show up, so it was probably for the best.

Though it was also annoying that if they were just going to send her home so easily, they shouldn’t have called her in the first place.

But then again, they were staying behind to continue the meeting while sending her home, so she felt a bit grateful.

Even though she was forcibly summoned, was it right to feel grateful for this?

People usually look bigger when they mess up 99 times and get it right once.

Should she be angry?

In an instant, a mix of emotions flashed through her mind, and her expression changed colorfully.

‘…Am I going to develop a split personality at this rate!’

She decided it was best not to stay at the association for too long.

If she ended up like Jeong Ho-min, losing her hair, changing personalities, and enjoying being a nagging old-timer…

‘That would be the worst.’

Goodbye, everyone!

Jeong Gyeoul suddenly started running, grabbing Jeong Ha-yul’s hand and dragging her out of the meeting room.

Jeong Ha-yul, not understanding the situation, hurriedly followed the frantic Jeong Gyeoul.

She thought there must be a reason for Jeong Gyeoul to act like this.

Once they were outside the association’s main gate and Jeong Gyeoul stopped, Jeong Ha-yul finally asked.

“…Why did you run?”

“There was a curse in the meeting room just now.”

“…A curse?”

Jeong Ha-yul’s expression turned serious.

If it were a physical fight, maybe, but when it came to magic, spells, supernatural events, or psychic powers, Jeong Gyeoul was a step ahead.

If it was a curse so advanced that she couldn’t even sense it, it must have been quite high-level.

And if Jeong Gyeoul felt the need to run, it must have been an incredibly strong curse.

Jeong Ha-yul was about to turn back and run, but Jeong Gyeoul barely managed to stop her.

“What are you doing!”

“We need to evacuate the employees!”

“No need!”

“…?”

“The employees are already cursed.”

With a serious expression, as if asking what on earth she was talking about.

Jeong Gyeoul stifled a laugh and answered.

By now, Jeong Ha-yul also realized something was off.

Jeong Gyeoul wasn’t the type to run away to save herself.

Even if she really wanted to escape alone… she’d go through the main gate?

‘…She’d probably just break through the roof or walls and run.’

Only then did Jeong Ha-yul realize it was all a prank.

“What kind of joke is this?”

She didn’t sound angry, just a bit exasperated.

“If I stayed in that meeting room any longer, I might have turned into a nagging old-timer too.”

“…?”

Jeong Ha-yul didn’t understand what this meant until Baek Kang-woo arrived with the car much later.

On the other hand, Baek Kang-woo understood immediately.

“You’re going to get backlash from bald people all over the country.”

“But I’m not going bald, am I?”

“…You never know.”

“Suddenly, why are you like this? Are you in danger? Hahaha.”

She laughed, imagining Baek Kang-woo going bald.

Of course, it was just a joke…

“Get out.”

“…Huh?”

Baek Kang-woo, who had stopped the car, looked unusually angry.

“My grandfather went bald in his 50s. My father in his 40s. So that means I…”

“…Huh?”

Baek Kang-woo was currently in his 30s.

Jeong Gyeoul had thrown it out as a joke, but it was a serious danger.

In fact, there were more hairs in the drain than before.

“…I’m sorry!”

“Enough. Get out right now. Walk back by yourself.”

“I was wrong! Forgive me!”

“I won’t let it slide.”

Jeong Gyeoul looked at Jeong Ha-yul with teary eyes, but Jeong Ha-yul shook her head.

“You brought this on yourself.”

“So mean…”

Jeong Ha-yul quickly cut ties with Jeong Gyeoul.

If a bald person holds a grudge, frost will fall even in June.

If she took Jeong Gyeoul’s side here, she’d be in trouble too.

“I was wrong! I won’t do it again!”

“Yeah, bye. Take care.”

Jeong Gyeoul kept apologizing, but she had already touched Baek Kang-woo’s sensitive spot.

There was only one way to resolve this.

“I’ll ask—no, threaten Seolhwa unni to make a hair growth potion!”

It was the strongest and last resort Jeong Gyeoul could think of.

But Baek Kang-woo’s expression only grew more pitiful.

It almost looked like he was tearing up.

She sensed something was wrong.

‘…Oh no. Don’t tell me.’

Jeong Gyeoul wasn’t the only one who could ask Park Seol-hwa to make potions.

Jeong Gyeoul got out of the car and walked to the training ground.

It would be awkward to go straight home, and she had nowhere else to go.

Once Baek Kang-woo cooled down, Jeong Ha-yul or Yoo Eun-chae would probably contact her.

As she trudged along, a sense of injustice welled up.

She thought it was all Jeong Ho-min’s fault.

‘That old nag.

I’ll get my revenge someday.’

***

A few hours later.

Jeong Ha-yul and I were at the Sokcho Lighthouse.

Behind us, a line of heroes—no, backup—stood ready.

They said they wouldn’t call other S-Class heroes in case something bad happened.

So does that mean it’s okay if something bad happens to us?

That traitor Jeong Ho-min.

I’ll leak this to the press someday.

Chronos had landed slightly above Fukushima, in Sendai.

It wasn’t exact, but if you drew a straight line from Nevada, where he started, that’s where he’d end up.

Similarly, if you drew a straight line from Sendai toward Korea, the expected location was Sokcho.

So Jeong Ha-yul and I were dispatched to the Sokcho Lighthouse.

We were supposed to stare endlessly at the East Sea like a pair of longing stones, and when Chronos appeared, we’d go greet him.

“…Gyeoul, we’re not going to greet him.”

“If Chronos enters through the Sokcho sea, our plan is to beat him up and then escort him to the association’s underground prison, right?”

Then that’s greeting, not sending off.

-What did you just hear? We need to resolve this through dialogue first.

-What dialogue with a villain? There’s no negotiating with terrorists!

-That’s other countries… no! Chronos hasn’t even committed any terrorism yet!

-Ah! He smashed the Groom Lake Air Force Base, and the IHD labeled him a villain! That makes him a terrorist!

The operator was getting increasingly frustrated, raising their voice.

But I’m frustrated too, you know?

Do they need to get beaten up to come to their senses?

First strike wins, don’t they know?

Did he enjoy his meal in Japan? Is that why he believes there was no terrorism there?

Thinking you can resolve things with a villain through dialogue.

Might as well try to domesticate a monster.

After hours of meetings, the best they came up with was dialogue?

Shouldn’t the entire emergency committee be stripped naked?

These tax thieves.

-…Enough, Hero Jeong Gyeoul, don’t step forward. If our negotiations fail, then…

-By then, everyone will be dead. And I might just refuse to step forward out of spite.

The association operator explaining the plan to me was on the verge of tears.

 

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