Chapter 18 - Hero

A train speeding forward at high velocity.

What would happen if a person were hit head-on by that train?

Well, most people would think the same thing.

They'd be smashed to pieces.

That's 'common sense.'

In that sense, what would you think if you saw someone running toward an oncoming train?

Aside from thinking, 'People sure do choose diverse methods for suicide these days!' not much else would come to mind.

The scene I'm watching right now is exactly the same.

A slender woman, running head-on toward an oncoming train.

But I have faith.

Faith that she won't be smashed to pieces.

However, now isn't the time to say that yet.

This is when I need to overact a bit.

Watching that scene, I made a fuss.

"No!!! Is this really okay? At this rate, she'll be smashed to pieces!!!!"

*

[Is Stardus finally going insane???]

[I mean, even if Stardus is an A-Rank Hero, can she withstand that?]

[Nope, with Stardus's level of strength, she can't handle that. I saw the data uploaded to the Hero Association—the maximum physical force she can endure is less than that train collision]

[Then what happens?]

[He told her to choose between 1 person dying or 5 people dying, but now all 6 are gonna die LOL]

*

"No! Miss Stardus! Why are you running to commit suicide?! Stop!!!"

I shouted at the top of my lungs from atop the cliff, but there was no way Stardus could hear me.

I could only watch helplessly as Stardus rushed toward the train.

The chat window began to ignite.

*

[Koitsu getting flustered after meeting real madness is hilarious LOL]

[He definitely set up a dilemma but she just commits suicide hahaha]

[Why did Mangostick suddenly freeze up?]

[He became Ice Mango LOL]

[They should upgrade Egostic to S-Rank Villain]

[For real, he's eliminating an A-Rank Hero without doing anything hahaha]

[You crazy bastards, if Stardus dies we're screwed too, this isn't the time to be laughing!!]

[Isn't Stardus in charge of Seoul? I don't live in Seoul so doesn't matter to me hahaha]

[For real, as long as it's not me hahaha]

*

"This... isn't what I intended..."

I muttered bitterly.

Or more precisely, I 'pretended' to mutter bitterly.

Not intended my ass. Of course I intended it.

Given Stardus's righteous personality, there's no way she'd tolerate sacrificing someone.

She'd sooner sacrifice herself.

Stardus. Shin Haru.

In the original work, Shin Haru endures countless hardships.

All sorts of bizarre villains do their utmost to drag Stardus down to hell in various ways.

In the process, Shin Haru's body and mind become tattered. Despite being more righteous than anyone, she suffers endlessly.

The first day I realized I'd entered this strange world, that's what I resolved.

To lessen Stardus's—Shin Haru's—suffering, even just a little.

But there's a slight problem with that.

True to being the protagonist of a hero story, Shin Haru grows stronger the more hardships she endures.

The more her mind deteriorates, the stronger her abilities become; the more her body suffers, the stronger her abilities become.

A character like a weed, growing stronger by overcoming adversity.

But the important thing is, if I decide to eliminate the villains in her place, the adversity gradually disappears—that's the problem.

Wait, she needs to suffer, but because of me she's not suffering?

If she doesn't face hardship, she won't grow stronger.

And if she doesn't grow stronger, there are quite a few problems.

As I mentioned before, the original manga that formed this world suffers increasingly severe power inflation as it progresses.

South Korea, which was clearly filled with moderately strong heroes and moderately strong villains, somehow becomes a story of villains growing absurdly powerful over time and Stardus becoming equally absurdly strong to match them.

And America. In this world, America is just five minutes from total chaos. The country with the world's number one count of S-Rank Heroes—of which South Korea has none—and also the most S-Rank Villains. A country where all sorts of incidents and accidents break out daily.

In the latter part of the story, divine beings just start appearing, Earth's destruction looms, chaos erupts—and even the S-Ranks crawling all over America can't stop Earth's destruction, but our Stardus does.

This got long-winded, but the conclusion is: Stardus needs to face hardship and power up, if only to prevent Earth's destruction.

And now, I'm the one who has to give her that hardship.

Rather than suffering from all sorts of civilian casualties, property damage, and unpredictable random villains, wouldn't it be better for Stardus to receive hardship from me—with a well-structured, systematic hardship curriculum providing dedicated support? Anyway, it'll definitely be better.

And the first item in my hardship gift set: stopping an oncoming train.

Yes, it might be hard. It might be hard, but our Haru will endure it. Go Stardus!!

And at that moment, Stardus collided with the train.

Kwa-aang— A tremendous roar that reached even here.

[Kyaaaaaaaaaah!!!!]

...And the sound of Subin's scream.

I'm sorry, Subin. Please hang in there just a little longer...

I watched the scene with my mouth agape.

Clouds of dust billowing up thickly. Breaking through that dust, the train continued to run.

However, the train was definitely slowing down gradually.

Because someone was holding out in front of it.

Screeeeech— The train, making that sound as its speed decreased, finally came to a stop just barely in front of the five bound people. Yes! It stopped! Phew. I let out a secret sigh of relief.

But wait, Stardus's okay, right? I clenched my fists and stared at that spot. She endured, right? She must have. There's no way my Stardus would fall to something like this. Yeah, of course she endured.

I felt my throat gulp audibly without realizing it. An unprecedented situation. The dust slowly began to clear.

I started feeling anxious again. What if she died? Uh, that wouldn't be good.

A moment of terror.

Before long, the dust cloud had completely cleared.

What emerged from within was Stardus, standing firm and resolute.

I unclenched my fists and shouted without realizing it.

"Yes!!!... I mean, not that! Oh! Oh... Oh! She endured. She endured it. Wow, she actually withstood that. Right. This wasn't exactly what I had planned, but... yes. Well, she solved this dilemma in her own way. Hmm. Yes."

*

[What's with him shouting 'yes'? LOL]

[No, but seeing Stardus standing there perfectly fine, he seems happier than anyone else?]

[Mangostick—I knew it from the moment this guy killed that villain and wrote Stardus's name, turns out he likes Stardus more than anyone else hahaha]

['I mean, not that!' What bullshit LOL]

[Egostic is so cute]

[Wow, but Stardus withstood that? How did she endure it? Shiver]

[For real, wasn't that speed like 140? How does a person withstand that?]

[Not a person—a 'hero']

[Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus! Stardus!]

[Mommy, when I grow up I wanna be Stardus! Mommy, when I grow up I wanna be Stardus! Mommy, when I grow up I wanna be Stardus!]

[Look at these bastards suddenly switching sides after trash-talking Stardus LOL]

[For real LOL honestly whether Stardus pulled the lever or not she would've gotten flamed, but she broke through it like this hahaha]

[Everyone who insulted Stardus, come out right now!]

[Wait, is it true that Egostic maintained zero casualties again this time? Egostic is truly a legend...]

[I'm going to petition the Association right now to appoint Egostic as an A-Rank Hero, damn it]

*

The chat window reactions were excellent too.

Yes, this is it! Stardus deserves this kind of treatment!

I felt the blockage in my chest clear. Good, good. Though with zero casualties again this time, it seems like there'll be more people fawning over me... but yes, for our Stardus's sake, I can endure this much sacrifice.

Just as I was lost in my own emotional moment, I saw Stardus collapse in the distance. Huh?

I immediately moved toward Stardus.

Stardus lay collapsed on the ground.

Covered in dust, she was barely keeping her eyes open, wheezing for breath. She looked like she might lose consciousness at any moment.

"You... bas...tard..."

Stardus called out to me in a voice on the verge of death.

Seeing her about to faint, I felt somewhat sorry. I mean, I made her struggle because she needed to struggle, but seeing her in such difficulty made me feel a bit guilty.

Before she passes out, I should at least say this much.

I knelt down on one knee beside her and spoke.

"Yes, Stardus. You did well. In a way I never even imagined. To think you'd save everyone in that manner—I truly didn't expect it. This is your victory. I'll be going now, so rest well. Other heroes will arrive soon."

After whispering these words to her, I reached out one hand and closed her eyes.

She tried to resist for a moment, but once her eyes were closed, all her strength seemed to drain away completely, and she finally fell asleep, breathing raggedly. Yes, it must have been hard.

I stood up again, dusted off my knees, and bid farewell to the camera.

"Yes. My terror ends here. Thank you to everyone who watched."

Now I need to grab the seemingly unconscious Subin from the engine room and head home.

After my closing remarks, I turned off the camera.

The moment the broadcast ended, the chat closed as well.

*

[What's with the atmosphere between those two lol]

*

That was the last chat message.

And that night, dating rumors between Egostic and Stardus exploded.

Is this... Korea?