28 – Mimiky Monster (6)
As the weekend approached, I started training in earnest in the training room.
However, I was so distracted that the trainer had to stop me.
“I feel like I can’t concentrate for some reason… Is it because of that thing on TV?”
The trainer also brought up the story with the words to take a break for a while as if he had watched TV.
“That… yes.”
“Never mind. Because it didn’t happen because of member Jinwoo Lee. Are kids these days really mean? My kid says….”
Contrary to his youthful appearance, Trainer seems to have already been a married man in mourning.
It was strangely vivid when they talked about how clever and cruel kids these days are.
Maybe there are some stories from children.
Children are just bullying the weak to relieve stress.
It’s not because I caught the monster.
Never mind.
I guess that’s how you turn a story like this.
Thank you for your consideration, and I understand with my head.
But understanding and not feeling comfortable were two different things.
“Let’s take a little break. There might be a big accident like this.”
“Okay.”
Even though I was taking a break, I didn’t feel like taking a break.
Societal phenomena caused by monsters who imitated humans to such an extent slowly ate away at my heart.
Even if I didn’t catch it, it was a problem that would explode someday.
On the contrary, it would be more dangerous if the main body of the mimicking monster learned more from humans and became stronger and more cunning.
I know.
I wonder if it bothers me this much even though I know it?
After finishing morning training, I returned home and met Ji-eun at the place we had promised.
“Are you okay?”
“It’s okay.”
Today is the volunteering day of the volunteer club With You.
I’m sure other people will care if I’m hanging around like this.
I tried to smile and went to volunteer work with the club members.
The volunteer activity I am doing this time is to play with children at a daycare center.
This is a place for parents who can’t take care of their children because they work on weekends.
There are so many children who come here even on weekends when they should be hanging out with their parents.
I want to show only a bright side of me because even if I don’t show it, they will be lonely and difficult children.
I patted my face loudly to clear my mind, opened the door to the daycare center, and went inside.
ㅡ Hello!
As if the teacher had given instructions in advance, the children welcomed us with bright smiles.
Ah, I really like children.
Listening to such a bright and lively sound made my body feel energized.
“Hello everyone~!”
We waved our hands, said hello, and started volunteering.
Volunteering at kindergartens and day care centers is one of the easiest things to do.
Because when I read picture fairy tales or perform a few puppet shows, the time tends to pass quickly.
We showed off what we had prepared while laughing lively.
The children laughed brightly and were happy until the things we prepared were over.
After we finished our preparations, the children smiled brightly and thanked us.
Then, as if it were natural, he slipped away like the ebb and started playing with the teachers.
As he was looking at it happily, Jung-hyeok, dressed as a clown, approached him, removing makeup from his face.
“Still, the daycare center is good.”
“It’s comfortable.”
“No, because the teacher is pretty.”
“Hey.”
“I’m kidding, you bastard.”
It’s because the way they look at the teacher happily is not like a joke.
“A nursing home is really hard.”
“That’s right.”
Volunteering at a nursing home is really hard.
I think 80% of the reasons for quitting volunteer clubs are because of volunteer work at a nursing home.
“No matter how hard you work at a nursing home, there are many people who get angry and annoyed. Everyone here laughs and likes it, so I laugh too.”
“Yes.”
As Joong-hyeok said, there are more cases of being cursed at at a nursing home than being thanked.
These people are sick in both mind and body, so they can’t afford it.
I know, but once I experienced it myself, it’s one of those places where I don’t want to go again.
Children are so pure….
I was thinking about that.
“Huh?”
I looked around at the children at play and noticed that one was strangely out of flow.
“Hey, Joonghyuk.”
“Why?”
“That child….”
“Huh?”
Junghyeok, who heard my words, looked at the child.
Then he frowned and clicked his tongue.
“This looks like it.”
“….”
The child I found was a little lame as if his leg was uncomfortable.
So even though she was playing tag, she couldn’t walk for long and sat down on the floor.
However, no children approached such a child.
The teacher just noticed and approached the child.
And a faint voice.
Monsters, monsters, clothes, ripped off, mom, dad, don’t play, handicapped….
I felt dizzy.
This type of bullying is also occurring at daycare centers with the youngest and most innocent children.
Then, if it’s somewhere other than here….
“Senior, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“Drink some water and relax.”
I stared blankly at the water Ji-eun gave me, trying to catch her heart.
However, it was not easy to calm down.
***
As I was heading home after finishing my volunteer work, my smartphone rang.
On the screen, Kim Hyun-seong was written.
It was the class leader of the disposal team who went part-time.
“Hello.”
ㅡ Hello. Are you Jinwoo?
“Yes. Long time no see, old man.”
ㅡ Because he’s the older brother, this kid? Anyway, do you have some time now?
“Time?”
– Yes.
Originally, I was thinking of doing more training, but I didn’t feel comfortable with it, so I didn’t feel like it.
So I decided to meet Hyeonseong Ajae.
“Hey!”
It’s late for lunch and a little early for dinner.
Ajae Hyeonseong sat down first and emptied a bottle of soju.
“Wait a minute, were you drinking first?”
“Should you come a little later?”
“Ajae Hyeonseong always blamed others.”
“This bastard is said to be father until the end.”
From noble mtl dot com
“Since you have a child, you are right, right? hahahaha!”
Meeting Hyeonseong Ah-jae after a long time made me feel a bit excited.
“This bastard didn’t even come to a part-time job because he passed the hero test… Brother, were you upset?”
“I didn’t go because classes started.”
“Is that so? Drink it now!”
Ajae Hyeonseong poured me a drink and urged me to drink it quickly.
I wouldn’t normally drink much, but now I feel like getting drunk.
ㅡ Drink in moderation.
Oh no.
She emptied her drink after giving a rough answer to Grid’s strangely motherly words.
Write.
It tasted a bit more bitter than usual.
Hyeonseong Ah-jae poured out the liquor over and over again, talking about memories unique to someone she hadn’t seen in a long time.
That’s when the number of soju bottles on our table increased to three.
“It’s Jinwoo.”
“Yes, bro.”
Ajae Hyeonseong, who had a small smile on his lips when I called him older brother rather than father-in-law, soon showed a bitter expression.
“I saw the news.”
“Ah….”
“I called you because I thought you were going through a bit of trouble.”
Ajae Hyeonseong said that while pouring alcohol into my empty glass.
“What you did was to kill the monster and save the citizens. He didn’t even make his official debut as a hero, but he did a great job.”
“No, no, brother. It’s not cool or anything.”
“It’s Jinwoo.”
“… Yes, bro.”
“Did I mention I have a baby?”
“Yes.”
“I worked part-time for the disposal team and now I am the class president… because it makes money If this really continues, even if it is dangerous, it will be money, right?”
“Yes.”
Even in real life, part-timers who dispose of human corpses tend to pay a lot.
The disposal of monster corpses, which are worth tactical use, tends to cost a lot of money.
The reason why I can go to the training room is also because I have a part-time job because I do this part-time job regularly.
“My child is that… I have some disabilities.”
Ajae Hyeonseong’s expression was bitter when he said that.
He realized the moment he heard that.
That the victims of the incident are not far away.
“It’s Jinwoo.”
“… Yes, brother.”
“My child is resting at home right now. I told you not to go.”
“… Yes.”
Every time Hyunseong Ajae uttered a word, my head lowered.
I felt like a criminal in court.
“They are so bad. Since heroes became popular, if you bully the weak, you’re called a villain, so everyone didn’t do this. It’s really just a moment.”
“….”
“But it wasn’t because of you, was it? I thought you were like that, so I called just in case, but how can you not miss my expectations?”
“I’m sorry, brother….”
“What are you sorry about, bastard!”
Ajae Hyeonseong tapped on my shoulder quite loudly.
“Sooner or later everyone will come to their senses. You just did what you were supposed to do, so you have to wake up.”
“Yes….”
“With great power comes great responsibility? There is a line like that in the movie, right?”
“Spider-Man.”
“Yes, that. Are all heroes just because they are strong? That’s not it, is it?”
“Yes.”
Ajae Hyeonseong looked at me intently after pouring the last glass of the fourth bottle of soju.
“A hero can’t just save his body when he saves people. I have to save my heart.”
“A heart?”
“Yes. If you save it with such a distressed expression, will the person you helped feel relieved? You have to be bold and courageous. Did the heroes on TV cry and be in pain? If you say only the camera came out, the person who was stumped until just now laughs, right? Is it just for popularity management?”
Hyunseong Ah-jae cleared his throat once, then nodded and continued the story.
“Of course there are people like that. But aren’t they all like that? Didn’t you say you were a hero for that too? Did you? I wanted to do it because the hero was so cool and cool. Isn’t that what being a hero is? It’s cool, confident, and reassuring when you see it. That’s why we shouldn’t just deal with monsters and villains, but also soothe those who are anxious.”
Ajae Hyeonseong told me to smile and walk around, then got up.
“Ah, the calculation….”
“I called and I have to pay. When I officially debut as a hero later, take the whole family and treat me to beef, okay?”
After saying that, Mr. Hyeonseong waved his hand and left.
ㅡ Humans are so amazing. In my eyes, each and every one of you looks like a mutant monster.
I see… It’s amazing.
Anyone who suffered such damage would be able to resent me.
ㅡ Take care. As that human said, there is no time for such things!
I wondered if the clothes on my back were slightly lifted, and then I heard a clicking sound.
“Ugh!”
I think the grid guy hit my back pretty hard inside his clothes.
It was a sharp pain.
“Yeah, I need to wake up.”
As Hyeonseong Ajae said, you have to be alert.
I tidied up my seat and stood up.
Tomorrow, let’s go back to our usual self.
Let’s cheer up and develop strength to deal with monsters and villains.
Let’s become a hero who can protect citizens’ hearts as well as their bodies.
That’s how I swore again.
***
The next day.
I woke up a little earlier than usual, went to the training room, finished training, and was on my way home.
I thought the temporary hero badge I was wearing on my chest rang, and then a notification requesting support popped up on my phone.
[Emergency call]
Currently request the closest hero to dispatch to the scene.
A violent incident using psychic powers occurred.
Currently, the culprit is on the run and the details are under investigation.
A hero who can be dispatched will respond immediately.
Detailed information will be delivered later.
ㅡ Is it an incident?
Yes, it’s an incident.
ㅡ It’s time to become a hero!
Following Grid’s call, I immediately responded to the request for assistance and started moving according to the GPS displayed on my smartphone.
As Hyeonseong Ajae said.
I decided to do the best I could.