9 – Spoon in the Drawer (8)
After a burst of immense light pierced through the night sky, the swarm of raging demons also naturally came to a halt.
Because the mother Decarabia, responsible for the intelligence of all demons, had fallen.
The demons no longer brandished their fangs and claws. Like machines with drained batteries, they stood still with their feet on the ground.
“There’s one more here! Bring the stretcher quickly!”
The temporarily withdrawn task force rushed back and managed the scene. They transported the still unconscious awakened individuals and reporters to a nearby medical facility, and then proceeded to handle the remaining demons one by one.
“I’m Commander Im Gae-eun of the 3rd Special Operations Unit, 32nd Mobile Division. Are you Arna, Miss?”
A woman dressed in a solid black combat uniform approached Arna. She was a middle-aged woman whose wrinkles had not completely disappeared.
Arna stood upright and replied energetically, “Yes, I am Arna Christindotir, affiliated with the Combat Division of Hanyul Officer School.”
“No need to be so formal. It’s not a formal situation right now.”
Commander Im Gae-eun removed her black beret, revealing a gentle smile.
“Thanks to you, we survived. If it weren’t for you, all the people who fell here would have been in a dire situation. Thank you for saving us.”
“Oh, no! You don’t have to bow your head like that! I didn’t do it alone! The task force helped, and…”
Arna’s gaze shifted somewhere, towards Shin Yoon-seong lying in the distance, breathing heavily.
“If it weren’t for him… I would have been helpless and fallen victim to the demons too.”
Arna may have subdued Decarabia, but that was only the visible outcome.
In reality, the person who played the biggest role in bringing down Decarabia was none other than Shin Yoon-seong over there.
“Come to think of it, it was that student who brought the earplugs. We borrowed them just in case during the redeployment process.”
Commander Im Gae-eun extended the earplugs. It was still a new product with the packaging unopened.
“I wonder if he knew from the beginning that it was a variant.”
That was something Arna was curious about as well. What evidence did he have to prepare the earplugs from the beginning?
“Well, sometimes there are awakened individuals like that. Individuals with abilities to see things that ordinary people can’t. Perhaps that student is one of them.”
Is that so? Does Shin Yoon-seong possess such power?
Until then, Shin Yoon-seong had been a source of laughter for others. Always wielding a ridiculous spoon and constantly picking fights with Arna.
Everyone pointed fingers at Shin Yoon-seong, calling him foolish.
“Even if it’s just a seemingly pathetic spoon to the eye… to us non-awakened individuals, he’s no different from a hero. He’s a source of hope.”
A hero. A word Arna had heard countless times. People praised Arna as the only hero who could save the world and admired her.
But being a hero is not something given based on exceptional skills or a high awakening grade.
If you can give someone a small glimmer of hope, anyone can become a hero.
It doesn’t have to be a glamorous sword. A small spoon is enough. If you save people with that, it’s just as heroic.
Shin Yoon-seong had proven that.
A hero, is not such a grand existence.
“Well then, leave the rest to our mobile unit. Awakening individuals, you may withdraw now.”
Mobile unit leader, Im Gaeun, once again put on her backpack and headed to the scene.
“….”
Arna, who was left alone, pondered about where to go and finally headed towards Shin Yoonseong, who was taking a rest.
Because there was something he hadn’t told him yet….
“Huff…huff….”
“It’s been a while since the situation ended, why are you still gasping for breath?”
Shin Yoonseong was stuck to the floor, unable to even move a arm. It looked difficult for him to even move his arm.
“How far did you run away….”
“I didn’t end up like this because I ran away. You could say it’s all because of you, Arna.”
“Huh…?”
Because of me? Arna raised her head, puzzled.
Shin Yoonseong let out his words.
“What is your weight, exactly? Moving that ignorant physique made me exhaust all my strength. Your heavy body is truly a first in this world. It would be easier to move an elephant.”
“W-what, what, what are you saying….?”
There was a worry Arna, the top student of Han Yul Military Academy and the hero of the world, couldn’t tell even Arna.
That was her weight. It wasn’t something she could control as she pleased.
But what could she do? There were so many delicious foods in the world. Even Arna couldn’t resist those temptations.
“I-I-I’m not t-that heavy…! It’s all because of my chest, my chest…! It’s because my chest is so big…!”
“Hmph. Now you’re using your big breasts as an excuse. That’s what a so-called hero sounds like with a long tongue.”
“B-big breasts…! That’s something you say in front of a woman…!?”
“I’ve never seen you as a woman.”
“….”
Yeah, Shin Yoonseong was always like this.
I was thinking of changing the way I look at him after this battle… but I almost did something futile.
“Hmph! Take your spoon back.”
Arna stuck out her lips and took out a spoon. But Shin Yoonseong didn’t take the spoon.
“I can’t even move my arm.”
“Ugh, seriously.”
Arna reached into Shin Yoon-seong’s jacket pocket herself and stuck a spoon inside. Then, she tapped his chest a few times.
Pat. Pat.
“I’ve put it in here nicely. Keep that in mind.”
“Ugh… a woman with only breasts as big as… that.”
“Sorry. Just a woman with breasts this big.”
The situation seemed to be over. Arna stretched widely. The night breeze blowing gently made her feel unusually content today.
This was probably also possible because of Shin Yoon-seong. Thanks to him, she could welcome this peaceful night.
Even though Arna, who resented Shin Yoon-seong no matter what, had to express gratitude to him this time.
It was time to bring it up slowly.
“Thank you… thanks to you, we were able to save everyone.”
On this emotionally charged night, she felt a bit embarrassed. Her body felt tingly for no reason, even making her wiggle her toes.
This feeling was new to her.
“Anyway.”
But Shin Yoon-seong wouldn’t tolerate even a small sentimental moment under the night sky.
As always, he spoke with an indifferent and stern voice.
“Could you call an ambulance right now? I really can’t even manage to get up.”
“…”
What should she do with this person?
Even if she wanted to attach a bit of affection, it all evaporated from her heart.
Really, he was an annoying man.
***
─Understood. Write it from Arna’s perspective. No need to include others.
In the deep predawn, Instructor Kim Dong-hak was alone in the empty office, typing away at his keyboard.
There was still overtime work to be done. He had to finish writing the incident report to be sent to the Hero Management Department.
Tap. Tap.
Writing down mere facts should have been an easy task to finish… What was the point of being glued to the computer until this hour?
It was all because of Principal Lee Min-ho. Just because of one order to highlight Arna more, he was fabricating non-existent facts.
“Am I writing a report right now, or am I writing a movie script…”
Borrowing words from the younger ones, he was now at his wit’s end. No matter how much he thought about it, this was too much. Did he really think this could pass as a report?
Arna was the one who definitely brought it to an end. With just one blow, she cleanly subdued Decarabia. She was indeed the hero that the public expected.
However, there is one point that should be noted here.
It wasn’t Arna’s solo stage from beginning to end. Behind the scenes, there was a presence named Shin Yoon-seong.
Thanks to Shin Yoon-seong’s support, they were able to successfully conclude this operation.
“….”
A combatant and a second-year student, Shin Yoon-seong.
As a C-rank Awakener, there was nothing particularly special about him when looking at the rank alone. Neither in physical nor technical aspects was there anything outstanding.
If there was anything that drew attention, it was the spoon. In that aspect, he had attention-grabbing qualities that were truly unmatched.
Think about it. While others were wielding swords and spears, he alone held a dining spoon.
Someone might burst into laughter at the sight of that spoon.
However.
That spoon alone overturned the entire situation. The spoon accomplished something that no sword, no spear could do.
Perhaps there was more power hidden in that spoon. It wasn’t to be underestimated as just a joke.
“As expected….”
It feels a bit regrettable to transmit the report as it is. We definitely need to include the achievements of the Spoon Boy.
Instructor Kim Dong-hak corrected his posture again and began typing on the keyboard.
“hehehehe….”
Thinking about the irritated expression of Principal Lee Min-ho tomorrow.