The Hero Association headquarters located in A City.
It was originally a self-governing district where civilian access was strictly prohibited, called the strongest defense line of humanity and the final frontier.
Since I was still a student aspiring to enter a hero-related university, I shouldn’t have been able to enter through official channels.
But I wonder if I should call it the Okami family, with its 1,000 years of history.
“Hey. Are you bringing my attendant inside?”
“Of course, Princess.”
“Of course. Hahaha…”
Passing through the guards, who stepped aside like at an airport with a free pass, we soon arrived at the association’s lobby.
If it was the first floor, which was somewhat open for children’s field trips, that might be understandable.
Led by the young lady’s hand, I took the elevator and descended to a huge simulation room where civilians definitely shouldn’t be allowed.
“Hoshino, is it okay for me to be in a place like this?”
“Huh? Why? Didn’t you come here a few times before?”
“Well… that’s true, but at least last time I wasn’t the one who came, I was dragged along.”
“Ah, forget it! It’s basically the same. If anyone asks who you are, just tell them to talk to me. Got it?”
Anyway, you can stay here!
She said that while shooting sharp glares at the surroundings.
With her acting like that, I wondered if anyone would dare to challenge her.
It was an uncomfortable situation in many ways, but since I was already here, I decided to quietly follow her.
“By the way, this is the simulation room.”
“Yeah, that’s right. But do you know where this place is, Janghoon?”
“Yes. I heard it’s a facility where heroes train before fighting monsters.”
It’s commonly known as an experience dungeon.
I remember it being a place where you could earn training items twice a day, and with a monthly subscription, you could go up to five more times.
‘When I played the game, I just skipped it, but this is a pretty large space.’
Inside the white space, I saw a few administrators in white coats, punch machines, and heroes sparring.
The simulation room was divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, just like in the game.
I followed Miss Hoshino to the advanced room.
As soon as I entered, I saw familiar silhouettes of big figures.
Although I recognized them, I felt tense, probably because of the place, so I greeted them first.
“Master Makoto. And Teacher Yoon Haeun is here too.”
“Janghoon? …Looks like Hoshino brought you.”
“Oh my! Janghoon, how long has it been~?”
In the advanced simulation room, waiting for us were Master Makoto and Teacher Yoon Haeun, who had contacted Miss Hoshino in advance.
At first, unlike Miss Hoshino, Master Makoto seemed to know that this was not a place for me to be, as he was constantly shooting piercing glares at his daughter.
And
Rub rub.
“Oh my~. How did you grow so well?”
Yoon Haeun, now looking up at me, who was taller than her, pushed my face into her ample chest.
In the past, after proving that I wasn’t a monster even with horns, our relationship became awkward for a while.
But since then, especially because she looked out for me more, my relationship with Yoon Haeun had become this close.
“Ah?! Can’t you remove that disgusting fat from my Janghoon?!”
Slap.
“Ugh?! H-Hoshino… what if you leave a scar on Teacher’s chest while doing that…”
“Ugh, when will you stop acting like a teacher?! We’ve already graduated elementary school and are in college now?!”
Miss Hoshino had become an adult, but still seemed to have a complex about not being able to catch up with Yoon Haeun’s ‘size of heart’.
“Hoshino. I understand your feelings, but Yoon Haeun here is one of the S-class heroes representing Hero City. Don’t be rude to someone like that.”
“Uu… o-okay…”
However, even that quickly subsided under Master Makoto’s heavier warning.
“In the first place, your ranking of second in A-class is largely due to the Okami family name.”
“Well, that’s true…”
“Your real abilities are much lower than that. Look at Carmilla, who’s in the same year as you. She’s currently ranked higher than her own mother.”
“Uuuu…”
“Don’t lose confidence, but don’t get too arrogant either. Remember that.”
“I understand…”
If Miss Hoshino was a fox, Master Makoto was like a wolf with blood on his mouth.
Maybe he wanted to pass on the title of head of the family to her since she had become an adult.
Lately, whenever they were in the same space, there were many times when they created such a heavy atmosphere.
The air had become so heavy that even Yoon Haeun, who was just passively receiving a slap on the chest, became awkward.
But isn’t that why I’m here?
“Master! By the way, why did you suddenly call Miss Hoshino to the Hero Association?”
I naturally interrupted between the mother and daughter, breaking the flow.
Master Makoto let out a slight sigh, and as if he understood my intent, he changed the subject.
“I don’t really know. Honestly, we were ‘summoned’ as well.”
“Summoned… you summoned S-class heroes?”
“Yes, yes. By the way, Teacher also came because of that. Probably, all five S-class heroes, including us, were summoned.”
“So… does that mean all S-class heroes have been summoned?”
I thought there were already two S-class heroes, so I wondered what was going on, but after hearing the whole story, I was left stunned.
‘This wasn’t even in the original…?’
It wasn’t just a small thing.
The setting of S-class heroes being hard to find was completely shattered, as five of them were gathered in one place.
Something huge must be happening.
That’s when I immediately understood why the head of the Makoto family was looking at me with such concern.
If it were Lady Hoshino, who ranks second among A-rank heroes, it would be a different story.
But as a mere university student in a hero-related department, I shouldn’t have been here in the first place.
This was a restricted area, off-limits to unauthorized personnel.
“Should I leave right now?”
“…No. Since you’re already here, just listen and go.”
“Y-Yes?! Is… is that really okay…?”
“Yeah~. You’re going to work at the association later anyway, right? Just think of this as pre-internship training~.”
No, Yoon Ha-eun.
What kind of company exposes top-secret information to an intern even before they’re hired?
The two of them were saying it was fine, but by my standards, it was absolutely not fine.
So—
“Um, I’ll just head out now.”
I needed to be aware of my surroundings.
With that thought, I quickly turned around to leave…
Thud.
“…Ugh?”
“Oh my.”
I was trying to sneak away quietly, but…
At that moment, it was as if I had hit an invisible wall, and I almost lost my balance and fell.
But then, someone caught me elegantly, almost as if escorting me.
“Monsieur, are you hurt anywhere, young master?”
“Y-Young master?”
She had called me “young master,” a term used to refer to a young man.
When I stood up with her help, the eyes that met mine were like dazzling ruby-colored pupils — the eyes of a beast.
She wore a gorgeous rose-colored dress that evoked the image of Western royalty.
Above that, her golden hair shimmered brightly, like a sunflower growing on fertile soil.
Her elegant smile was the very essence of a modern princess.
That smile aimed at me held a seductive charm that could make any man’s heart race.
“Be more careful next time, young master.”
“Ah, y-yes…”
For a moment, the white simulation room seemed to transform into a noble’s mansion.
That’s how much influence she radiated — one of the S-rank heroes I’d rather avoid facing if possible.
S-Rank No. 4.
The Princess — Roselia Ardret.
In the past, I had even cracked open my savings to do a full pull on the gacha banner that featured her.
“Janghoon, are you okay?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine, Miss Hoshino.”
“Why were you trying to leave?”
“Haha… Well, honestly, since this is a gathering of all the S-rank heroes, as a civilian, I didn’t think I should be here.”
“Ah… Sorry… I didn’t realize it would be such a formal gathering… I feel like I messed up…”
Meanwhile, Miss Hoshino, who had rushed over because she was worried about me, now looked like she was about to cry.
It seemed she was weighed down by guilt for bringing me to a place I shouldn’t have been — not to mention her recent troubles with the head of the Makoto family.
I was about to cheer her up, stroking her drooping fox ears like I usually did.
“Oh, by the way, including me, everyone here is an S-rank hero.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“…What did you say?”
Roselia, who had been listening to our conversation, casually announced that she was the last one to arrive.
“From what I heard, the first and second-ranked heroes are on an ‘expedition’ outside Hero City, so they couldn’t make it.”
“I-Is that true, Roselia-senpai?”
“Yes, it’s true. So if there’s going to be an important meeting, we’ll have to handle it ourselves.”
“Hmm… I get the first rank, but the second rank is skipping out again? …That’s not a great look, honestly.”
Everyone seemed disappointed — but not me.
Since I was half-monster, getting involved with S-rank heroes any further would’ve been personally uncomfortable.
Anyway, since it seemed everyone was here, I figured it was time to slip away.
While the heroes’ association worked hard to ensure humanity’s survival, I would focus on doing my own part in my own way!
As if responding to my determination—
“Now that everyone’s gathered, let’s begin the S-rank meeting.”
I ended up sitting at the round table with five thrones, awkwardly filling up one of the empty seats.
“…But while I get why Princess Hoshino is here, who exactly is this man?”
Exactly.
Why am I here?
My plan to stay unnoticed had already fallen apart from the very beginning.