TL/Editor: Raei
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"How can I help you with that?"
I expressed my confusion at her difficult request.
The request needed to be more specific.
Even if she asked to help her overco her hatred of n, I didnt know how.
Song Soo-yeon, who I sotis forget is my first friend, isn't soone I'm familiar with.
I expressed my confusion at her difficult request.
Song Soo-yeon, is my first friend. Sothing I forget.
I'm not familiar with people.
I know nothing about this.
"..."
Song Soo-yeon hesitated for a long ti afterward.
She seed unusually cautious about bringing up the topic.
Perhaps, like , she was also ignorant about it.
I proposed an idea instead of waiting for her to speak.
"Wouldn't it be better to seek professional help?"
However, Song Soo-yeon was firmly against it.
"I don't want that. I think I need your help, Mister."
"Soo-yeon, I really want to help, but I'm not sure if I can do it well."
"If you... if you just do what I ask... I think it'll be okay."
Her words eased so of my concern.
It seed she had thought of sothing.
"Like what?"
I asked, wanting to hear her plan.
Doing as she asked wouldnt be difficult.
For her sake, for mine, and even for Solace's.
It's right to help her heal her wounds, no matter how.
As she said, hating n like this isnt going to help.
Song Soo-yeon stuttered in fits and starts.
"...I need to beco more... accustod to n."
"I'm listening."
"...So, like having more conversations like we are now..."
"That's easy."
"And then... um..."
She said casually, yet shyly, as if it was nothing significant.
"...please have physical contact with ."
"...Physical contact?"
I repeated her words shortly, and Song Soo-yeon jolted.
But I had to ask again.
I doubted whether I had heard her correctly.
Of all the possible thods, I never expected such a bold one.
It was hard to believe these words ca from her.
I couldn't tell if it was sothing said impulsively or after careful thought.
A brief silence ensued.
She glanced at , then looked away, repeatedly.
Anyone could see she was nervous.
"...Physical contact?"
I asked again, seeking confirmation.
Then, as if she couldnt bear the mont any longer, she raised her voice a bit more assertively.
"Dont think-"
"-No, I'm not thinking anything weird. I just wanted to confirm what I heard."
Before she could finish, I interrupted.
She turned her head sharply and replied coldly.
"...Yes."
She looked very embarrassed.
Understandably, it was a request that couldn't be made without embarrassnt.
I now understood why she hesitated and stuttered.
At the sa ti, I felt pity for her.
Her determination to change was comndable.
Her embarrassed appearance was pitiful.
A flood of emotions washed over all at once.
Whether yesterday's incident was the catalyst or if it was a plan she had been considering for a while, it wasn't an easy request to reject.
I couldn't gauge the depth of her desperation that led her to make such a request.
Perhaps, each of these challenges would contribute to her continuous developnt.
I felt like I was learning sothing too.
"..."
Still, I couldnt easily agree because I couldnt imagine having physical contact with her.
Just because it was hard to refuse didnt an it was easy to accept.
I'm fine.
I can do it if I have to.
But what about her?
Even if it was her idea, she might regret it once we start.
I'm worried she might end up hating .
Moreover, I cant forget that she might beco 'Luna', the next villain after .
One wrong step might lead to disastrous consequences.
She hasn't beco a villain because of .
But what if she starts disliking ?
Could she beco a villain and tornt Solace?
As I was imrsed in these thoughts, Song Soo-yeon challenged .
"...You easily gave your cheek to Solace, but it's different when it cos to ?"
"...."
I had a lot to say in response.
She and Solace are not the sa.
I was just being more cautious out of consideration for her.
But seeing that she was determined, I eventually decided to go along with her choice.
"...Alright, I'll help you."
At my answer, Song Soo-yeon stopped.
I could hear her swallow nervously.
Before another awkward silence began, she spoke.
"...I'm going to the restroom for a bit."
While Song Soo-yeon was in the restroom, I rembered sothing I had forgotten.
"Ah, right."
I opened my phone and looked for Solace's contact information that I received yesterday.
I stared blankly at the number for a mont.
I never imagined I would co to know the number of soone who was once my archenemy in this way.
The fact that I could contact her so easily was surprisingly new to .
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and began typing a ssage to her.
'Bom, there are so strange people wandering around my restaurant. They dont seem like villains, more like your fans or paparazzi. It's probably best if you dont co by the restaurant for a while.'
Before pressing the send button, I hesitated.
Pushing Solace away, even temporarily, wasn't as easy as I thought.
Also, the vulnerability she sotis showed was starting to weigh on my mind.
As she gradually started to rely on , I wondered if it was okay to push her away like this.
"..."
I sighed.
It'll be fine.
After all, it's Solace.
Even before regression, without , didn't she grow up just fine?
Although I observe Song Soo-yeon more carefully because she beca a villain, Solace will be okay.
I pressed the send button.
---
---
"Yes! I will rember that well!"
Solace nodded with a pleasant smile to the senior hero 'ga Wind'.
"Don't get too cocky just because you've surpassed in the hero rankings."
ga Wind's advice ca after he was pushed to the 29th rank by Solace.
Walking through the Hero Association, Solace was caught by him and had to listen to his nagging, disguised as advice.
However, Solace responded to him without showing any discomfort, nodding and smiling until the end.
Her reactions were as if she was truly grateful.
Eventually, even ga Wind ran out of things to say.
He felt his inherent limitations.
There are indeed people born to be heroes.
For Solace, being a hero was her calling, and it was unlikely anyone could surpass her.
Just two years into her debut, she had already entered the top 20 ranks.
The world even buzzed with talk that she might surpass Shake, a renowned hero.
ga Wind too, honestly, saw that potential in her.
Maybe he was venting his frustration on a hero who would be rembered in history.
He felt montarily insignificant.
Expressing anger to her only made his heart more burdened.
"...Alright, go ahead."
He finally ended the conversation.
Solace bowed her head in respect until ga Wind walked away.
After waiting for him to leave, Solace moved on.
"Hello!"
Greeting senior heroes, staff, and juniors alike, Solace headed to her personal office.
Wherever she passed, people's faces lit up with smiles.
She had to bow more than twenty tis before reaching her office.
Arriving at her personal office, she looked at the door.
A large sign with a cute character of Solace warned, 'Do not enter!'
Solace paused to look at the sign, then twisted the doorknob to enter.
"Solace!"
Even as she opened her door, soone called out to her, waving.
Without tiring, Solace nodded in response.
"Hello!"
"You were aweso saving that child last ti!"
"...Thank you!"
She thanked them with a smile and entered her room.
-Thump.
Solace closed the door.
"....Sigh."
And just like that, her smile disappeared as if it was a lie.
Solace reached out her hand.
-Flash!
In a short mont, she activated her power, emitting electromagnetic waves from her hand.
It was a precaution against any electronic devices that might have been secretly installed inside.
After completing the security check, she listlessly pulled off her mask.
Not a trace of her usual smile could be found on her lips.
Solace ran her fingers through her hair and slowly walked around the room.
She lay down on the sofa in her office.
She closed her eyes tightly.
The warm persona of Solace was nowhere to be seen.
After a few minutes of deep breathing, Solace pulled out her phone.
There was a ssage.
It was from Jung-gyeom.
'Bom, there are so strange people wandering around my restaurant. They dont seem like villains, more like your fans or paparazzi. It's probably best if you dont co by the restaurant for a while.'
She silently looked at the ssage, then closed her eyes again and tossed the phone onto the sofa next to her.
"....Sigh..."
And then, for an even longer ti, she closed her eyes and took deep breaths.
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