Chapter 34: Loser’s Memories

Kang Ye-rin was crouching on her bed in her private room, hugging her pillow.

‘How dare they insult Somi, knowing that?’

She repeatedly replayed the conversation she had with him that day.

The more she thought about it, the more her suffering grew, but there was no way to avoid it.

She had to take responsibility.

Her current state was the result of the accumulation of her actions.

When the president of the association, Shin Yoo-kyung, and Ji Se-hwa labeled Jeong Seok as a dangerous person, she had remained a bystander.

Even when she returned after the subjugation of the Dark Kingdom, she did not protect his honor, fearing the damage it would bring to her father.

So at least, to honor his teachings, she had locked herself in the training grounds.

When the Galactic Empire appeared, she decided to carry on his will, sacrificing his honor and truth to strengthen her powers.

Therefore, no matter how much she hated the association president, Ji Se-hwa, Shin Yoo-kyung, and Choi Min-seo, she could not sever ties with them.

If she did, there would be no way to defeat the Galactic Empire.

In the end, it had been the worst choice.

Jeong Seok was still alive.

Had she known it would end up like this, she should have fought them from the beginning. She should have

protected his honor and revealed the truth to the world.

Maybe then, he would have accepted her apology.

“…It’s just an excuse.”

In the end, she had chosen the easy path for herself, and now, what was she saying? She felt nauseous with self-

loathing. Anger bubbled up from her foolishness.

An apology was unnecessary. He had said not to show up again.

Thinking of those words made her heart feel like a black hole, crushing her body.

Her nails dug into her palms, and her muscles tensed, pressing against her bones.

“Of course, it must have felt like that.”

She was pathetic for trying to recall the apology as soon as she saw his face.

What meaning could there be in an apology with no one to accept it?

“In the end, I never understood that person.”

She wasn’t fit to be beside him.

Kang Ye-rin realized again.

She knew it well. There had been someone who stood beside Jeong Seok and fit perfectly with him.

A good person.

As she recalled the memories with her, she realized,

“I see now. I thought the Dragon King Corps was led by Isseok but…”

Ji Se-hwa and Shin Yoo-kyung’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

During the subjugation of the Dark Kingdom, Jeong Seok had often been reckless.

The one who controlled the pace and cared for everyone was Han So-mi.

Jeong Seok led from the front, and Han So-mi supported from behind.

That’s how the Dragon King Corps had functioned.

In the one-year battle with the Dark Kingdom, Han So-mi’s death came in the ninth month.

As the one who led the charge sped up, there was no one left to support from behind, so it was natural that others began to fall.

Looking back now, it was something she could say, but.

“…If I think about it, from the beginning.”

Jeong Seok, Ji Se-hwa, Shin Yoo-kyung, Choi Min-seo, and herself.

They had all grown as heroes.

But Han So-mi, that person, had been a complete hero from the start.

Her first impression was that she was like a beautiful work of art.

After her home was attacked and Jeong Seok helped her, during her mother’s funeral, Han So-mi and Jeong

Seok came to visit together.

At the time, Kang Ye-rin didn’t know them, so she had thought they were her father’s guests.

They helped with her mother’s funeral, treating it as if it were their own family’s, and stayed until the burial was completed.

After burying her mother’s ashes at the family grave, she walked alone to a cliff and gazed at the distant view.

Her family consisted only of three.

Relatives were nothing but hyenas trying to cling to power, and her authoritarian father barely communicated with her.

Kang Ye-rin‘s world had been practically just her mother.

Trying to lock away that reality, she tried to turn herself into a robot who couldn’t feel emotions.

At that moment,

“Good job.”

With a kind voice, Han So-mi gently embraced Kang Ye-rin.

It was then that she finally broke down in tears. Han So-mi embraced the tears of a girl she didn’t even know.

Dragon Arrow, Jeong Seok.

Rainbow Shooter, Han So-mi.

A few days later, when two S-rank heroes met with her at a café, Kang Ye-rin could only feel bewildered.

What was this talk about? She, who was just attending a regular university and not a Hero Academy, suddenly being

approached like this.

“You’re aware of your abilities, right? You have the Time Dragon within you. You have the talent to become an S-

rank hero in just one year. What do you think?”

This was before Jeong Ui-seok had earned the prestigious title of Red Dragon, a name with a color in it. His active hero name was Dragon Arrow.

Excited, Jeong Ui-seok started explaining everything to Kang Ye-rin. He was on a roll, but then Han So-mi gently

placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Ui-seok, you always skip too many details. Ye-rin, I know you’re still processing everything. Please take your time to

think it over. But the truth is, having you on board will be a huge help for world peace.”

Han So-mi smiled brightly.

Kang Ye-rin thought she had a beautiful smile. Of course, the sadness in her heart had not completely faded yet, but

she didn’t want to stop. Her mother had always said that if she had the chance to help people with her abilities, she

shouldn’t hesitate.

“…Why do you need me?”

“We’re going to form the S-Rank team!” Jeong Ui-seok declared without a hint of hesitation.

“S-Rank team? Isn’t that a title that only one team in the whole world can have?”

“Exactly! So we have to grab it! You, me, So-mi, Se-hwa, and… we could use a couple more members!”

Jeong Ui-seok smiled wide, revealing his teeth. His smile wasn’t based on arrogance or greed. He wasn’t just aiming

for the title; he was confident it could happen.

“…Alright.”

Kang Ye-rin accepted their offer.

The path of a hero wasn’t easy. Training, training, and more training. After defeating villains, there was always more training ahead.

More than that, getting along with the team was difficult. Kang Ye-rin was not skilled in relationships, but especially

with this team, it was tough. Ji Se-hwa was hard to view as a hero because of his personality. Soon after, Choi Min-

seo joined, but he was always quiet, and it was unclear what he was thinking. And when Shin Yu-kyung joined much

later, she initially thought he was a robot.

What held the Yongwang Squadron together was Han So-mi.

“Ye-rin, you did well today. I bet your muscles are sore, right? This cream will help a lot.”

“Here’s your birthday present, Ye-rin. You like strawberry cake, right? How did I know? We talked about it last

winter when we had dinner together.”

“Alright, enough. Se-hwa, Ye-rin, both of you have misunderstood each other. There are definitely things you need to

apologize for. Now, come here and shake hands. It’s warm, right? Of course, you both are heroes with a burning

sense of justice.”

Han So-mi. She was the mother of the Yongwang Squadron and the role model for all heroes.

“…Ui-seok, you shared love with such a perfect person.”

Kang Ye-rin knew it too. She just didn’t want to acknowledge it.

Her abilities as a hero, her effort, her strength. Her qualities as a person, her wisdom, her heart. None of it, not a single thing, could surpass Han So-mi.

She hadn’t back then. She couldn’t now.

So, it was only natural that she was now despised by Jeong Ui-seok.

“I understand. I know. I’m a fool.”

Still, despite it all.

“I still want it.”

Desire doesn’t disappear. In fact, it burns brighter.

The fact that he was still alive made her heart race again.

Her brain, which had cooled to defeat the Galactic Empire, now turned pink.

“…What should I do?”

She pieced together the clues. What exactly did Jeong Ui-seok want? She tried to build a logic from his actions and words.

The negotiation with the emperor. What did they negotiate? She confirmed that after the negotiations, a battleship

from the Galactic Empire had headed toward Earth. He had returned safely. That meant the negotiation was

successful.

Why had he called only Choi Min-seo? Considering the situation, there was no reason to forgive only him. He said

there were other companions. He had chosen them. People who were different from the doctor who saved her.

…Just a little more. If she thought a little more, she was sure she could figure something out.

“…Ugh.”

As Kang Ye-rin thought about Jeong Ui-seok, she suddenly realized that her body had become heated. Her brain was overheating, and her thoughts were starting to scatter.

“…Haah, haah.”

Without realizing it, her fingers slid between her thighs.

When had it started?

It must have been since she found out that Jeong Ui-seok was dating Han So-mi.

From that moment on, it became a habit, a pleasure only granted to those who were destined to be losers.

“…H-huff, huff…”

Kang Ye-rin wept in self-loathing and sorrow, giving in to her instincts, allowing reason to fade away.

“You’re weak.”

Her pink hair fluttered as she spoke those rude words to me, even though it was our first meeting.

“Weak? I became an S-rank hero in just three months. Look here. I knocked out an S-rank villain without breaking a sweat. Where do you get off saying something like that?”

Rainbow Shooter, the S-rank hero, laughed lightly before stepping forward and poking me in the chest with her finger.

“Here, it’s weak. If you run too quickly, you’ll trip over your own feet.”

“How strong are you, then?”

I used the Dragon’s Eye to observe her.

[Rainbow Shooter / Han So-mi]

[Occupation: Hero]

[Rank: S]

[Ability: Rainbow Serpent Yurung Lv.10]

[Affiliation: Seoul Hero Association]

[Alignment: Lawful Good]

[Talent: Hero of Light (SSS)]

[Ideal Wife (SSS)]

[She will never fall for justice.]

“You’re pretty strong.”

“I don’t know what you’re doing, but it feels like you’re spying on me. Would you mind asking for permission next time?”

“Haha, alright.”

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly before making a proposal.

“I’m looking for members to form an S-rank squad. How about we team up, Han So-mi?”

“Sounds good.”

“It might seem sudden, but if we form a squad… Huh? You’re in?”

“Yes. I saw justice in your eyes.”

Without a moment of doubt, So-mi answered me just like that.

And so, we became comrades.

“Did I just doze off and dream about the past?”

“Jeo, hurry up! The broadcast is starting!”

Irua opened my door, shouting excitedly, then ran off. I stood up from my chair and left the room.

I headed towards the large hall beyond the residential area. All my subordinates were gathered there, and the atmosphere was festive.

Today was December 31st.

The last day of the year.