Chapter 5

Chapter 004

S-Class Heroes are Celebrities.

Not just ordinary celebrities, but ones whose names are known worldwide, celebrities in the truest sense.

If an S-Class hero travels abroad, the state provides a private jet and bodyguards to prevent foreign agents from approaching the hero with false asylum offers.

Naturally, their freedom is restricted, and their movements are hindered, making the lives of S-Class heroes even more exhausting than those of regular celebrities.

Therefore.

Even if I disguised myself by wearing a wig to hide my white hair due to the changes in my body from this ability, it wouldn't be strange for someone to recognize me as 'Snow White.'

"Shh...!"

Snow White pressed her index finger to her lips, startled.

"Um, how did you know that?"

"......"

Because she's one of the main heroines?

Or because she's incredibly beautiful?

"I'm a fan. I'm one of the 'Dwarves.'"

"Oh."

Snow White grabbed her sunglasses with her hand.

"No wonder...."

What are the Dwarves?

They are the name of Snow White's fan club, her followers, so to speak.

Of course, for her, this fan club being a global organization is a source of stress.

To think that while trying to rent a motorcycle in the parking lot of a high-end apartment complex in Banpo, Seoul, the motorcycle owner turned out to be her fan?

It's a real dilemma.

"Really, I'm sorry, but could you lend me your motorcycle right now?"

"Are you going to ride it to go there? To stop them?"

"Yes. I'll definitely compensate you. No, I'll transfer the money right now."

"No, you don't have to transfer the money."

Being tracked by a hero?

Having your account traced and your villain identity exposed?

-This guy will freeze my account!!

All the money I've earned will be seized by the government.

Such a thing must never happen.

"Just take it. Since the hero is protecting the country, it's only natural to lend it to you."

"Really? But still..."

"In return, please protect my home. I've only had this for three months...! Thank you very much!"

I bowed slightly to Snow White and handed her the car key before quickly leaving.

I looked like a regular person in a hurry to escape.

I could feel Snow White's gaze from a distance, but I focused on heading north as fast as possible while pulling out my smartphone.

"Huff, huff, Chairman...!"

[What's the matter, Director Do?]

"It's not Lesser Demon, but Black Knight, who was taken by Snow White...!"

[What?!]

I relayed the facts to the CEO.

[But why is she in Seoul?]

"I don't know. She suddenly approached from behind and asked to borrow a motorcycle...!"

[The motorcycle?!]

"I lent it to her for now."

[No, no! Go and retrieve it! Why did you lend my motorcycle to Snow White, you idiot!]

The chairman shouted into my ear.

[It's mine!! Yours!!]

"...I'm sorry. I didn't want to reveal my identity and cause trouble for you, Chairman."

[That's fine! ...No, wait. The situation has already unfolded. Ahem. Director Do?]

His voice returned to that of a cool beauty.

[You don't need to retrieve the motorcycle. We can buy a new one. You did well. Incidentally...they've started moving.]

"Are you talking about the motorcycle?"

[Yes. It has a tracking device.]

I knew this, but it's still a bit scary to hear it again.

The motorcycle is the only personal vehicle I have, and it has a tracking device...

"Chairman, by any chance?"

[Let's track the signal and follow it. I have a mission for you, Director Do.]

The CEO's voice had a playful tone.

[Go with Red Scarf and destroy the motorcycle in one go.]

"Then..."

[You'll be putting Snow White in debt. As an S-Class hero, she can financially compensate, but a custom motorcycle has value beyond just money.]

"Chairman, what are you planning?"

[To use the connection and ties with Snow White to implement 'that operation.' I'll explain the details later, but for now, go and destroy the motorcycle. I'll get you a new, better one.]

"Understood."

In a sparsely populated alley.

I took a deep breath and raised my hand to my face.

"...Transformation."

* * *

Vroom—

The motorcycle roared as it sped forward.

Snow White, commonly known as 'Baeksuhui (白雪姬),' was momentarily stunned by the speed that quickly exceeded 200 km/h.

'A motorcycle with this kind of speed in the hands of a civilian?'

It's an absurd speed.

Maybe that guy is a street racer?

Or perhaps he borrowed the motorcycle from a gangster or someone like that.

In Seoul.

Even in Banpo, which is now more of a place for those who can't leave Seoul rather than a wealthy neighborhood.

Compared to the relatively safer 'East' area, the 'West' has become an environment where security is inevitably worse.

It's unavoidable.

With the 'Island,' the safest place in the world and the center of the world, located in the East Sea.

If it were in the Yellow Sea, the East and West would be reversed, and Busan might have suffered even more severe damage than Seoul.

Screech.

While lost in thought, she had already arrived at her destination.

[Snow White! What's your current location?!]

"Here, in Anseong, Anseong."

[The target is moving north along Cheonan! Intercept if possible, and recover 'that item' at all costs!]

"...Roger."

Snow White got off the motorcycle.

To prevent it from being damaged, she parked it safely on the shoulder and secured the side stand. Then, using her ability, 'Ice Magic,' she froze the area around the wheels.

No one would steal it.

"...Phew."

She was about to go into battle, but her mind was a mess.

Not only was she worried about the motorcycle, but the mission itself was stressful for her.

She had appeared in Seoul not as part of the pursuit team from Busan, but because she was on 'vacation' in Seoul.

Heroes can't even enjoy their vacations properly.

If there were other heroes in Seoul, it might be different, but the only hero in Seoul was Snow White.

365 days a year.

Even during the three days when heroes can enjoy some freedom away from their usual locations, she found herself in a situation where she had to fight the enemy.

[Snow White. The Minister of National Defense...!]

"...Connect me."

Snow White was instantly irritated but couldn't interrupt the so-called 'high-up.'

[Oh, Baeksuhui? So, you are-]

"I'm on a mission. Call me by my code name."

[...Ahem! So, Snow White. You are-]

"I'm about to engage in combat."

Click.

Snow White pressed the device in her ear and extended her hand toward the intense red heat approaching from the front.

"Ice Wall."

Crack!

With a splitting sound, an ice barrier formed on the road.

The wall was at least a dozen meters high, and it seemed no enemy could easily break through it.

An ice wall created by an S-Class ability user.

While an average ability user might not be able to break through, someone with 'that' could-

Boom—

The red trajectory collided with the ice wall.

Something that dyed the surroundings a blood-red color tried to pierce the ice wall like a spear.

"...Hmph!"

Snow White poured more mana into her hand, and while the ice wall was chipped, it didn't break.

"Tch!"

The red trajectory, the man inside, spat and retreated.

"Hey, government dog."

"...What? Aren't you embarrassed to say that?"

"I'm not saying anything false, so why should I be embarrassed?"

The young man, the villain 'Red Scarf,' with a red scarf-like appearance around his neck due to his mana manifestation, extended his hand with blood-red eyes.

"Move, or you'll lose."

"You? Me?"

"Heh heh, you'll see when you experience it firsthand."

Flap.

Red wings unfolded behind Red Scarf.

The mana fog resembled the wings of a demon, and Snow White quickly looked up.

"...Phew."

There were no helicopters yet.

Satellites couldn't pinpoint this location immediately, so she had about three minutes.

She needed to subdue him quickly.

"You. Do you know how dangerous that item is?"

"Why? Are you afraid it will make the world tremble with fear?"

"Our conversation isn't getting anywhere. Are you really 19 this year?"

"Shut up!"

Red Scarf raised his fist to the sky.

Soon, a pillar of fire erupted around him, and Snow White secretly extended ice spikes from the ground upward.

"Even Snow White can't stop me! With this power, the power of 'Darkness'!"

Whoosh!

The pillar of fire spread in all directions.

Snow White hastily formed an ice barrier, but the flames spread faster than she expected.

"Ah...!"

The fireball landed on the motorcycle, causing it to explode spectacularly.

"Such indiscriminate terrorism...!"

Snow White bit her lower lip and extended her hand forward.

"Do you think you awakened your mana just to do this? Use the blessing of mana for the betterment of the world!"

"What's wrong with using it for myself!!"

Red Scarf floated in the sky and flipped his middle finger at Snow White.

"I'm going to live my life! Damn it, if I have to live in this hellish, impoverished peninsula—"

Suddenly.

"I'll live where...I can be a hero...."

Screech.

A scraping sound came from the ground, and a dark figure began to approach from a distance.

"That's...."

[Danger!! S-Class ability user detected! Pattern...Dwarves!!]

The executioner of villains appeared.

Stepping on the burning motorcycle wreckage, the Dwarves tilted his head and stared intently at Red Scarf.

And then.

[Villains are to be killed.]

With those words, the Dwarves charged at Red Scarf.