Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 130

Home was the best.
I had thought this more than a hundred times in my life, but never had it felt as urgent as it did now.
“I’m taking a week off.”
After unilaterally announcing my break, I locked the front door and didn’t step outside even once. I deserved this rest.
I indulged in all the food I had been craving, Chinese cuisine, fried chicken, steak, raw beef, pork ribs, and various seafood, all delivered to my door. I spent my days gaming, reading, watching YouTube, and binge-watching OTT series.
Eat, sleep, enjoy, repeat.
In the cozy apartment where survival was guaranteed, I was liberated from labor and devoted myself solely to my human instincts.
These were happy days.
The weather was pleasantly cool, my stress levels decreased day by day, and there were no monsters, magic soldiers, or ethereals to bother me.
Genetically, I must have been optimized to be a slacker.
I wasn’t the only one like this, of course, but how long had it been since I vowed to protect everyone as a hero before I started feeling like doing nothing again?
“How bothersome.”
A mountain of messages had piled up.
The Hero Association, with the Sword Emperor and God Hand leading the charge, requested a direct meeting. Japan, China, and even the U.S. State Department had reached out.
Due to my extraordinary strength, the people requesting meetings were no longer ordinary.
It was probably because the enemies I defeated were of immense caliber by Earth’s standards.
―Isaac’s form is insane… I love and respect you.
―He’s playing with opponents even tougher than Aqua Shaper;;
―(Waving the national flag) Long live our country! Long live Isaac!
―Thank you for protecting us. Because of you, Korea stands strong.
The national pride among the citizens seemed to be reaching toxic levels. It was like our national team winning the World Cup, but on a higher level.
This wasn’t just about sports; it was a case of a legendary hero preventing national collapse and mass slaughter.
It wouldn’t be strange to elevate Isaac to the same status as the Sword Emperor. After all, I had single-handedly turned the tide in a battle where we were outnumbered.
‘The reactions are all similar.’
The top comments on news articles and shorts were filled with intense national pride.
A hero who had gone missing in a hellish Other World appeared at the last moment, single-handedly preventing a national overthrow.
Even just reading it was astounding. The opponents were nothing special by my standards, though.
It felt like being praised for doing 40 push-ups in a row. Embarrassing and unfamiliar, to say the least.
As I browsed through the media reactions, I naturally found myself on the fan cafe.
[‘That Scene’ Compilation of Hero Reactions]
The title of the latest popular post gave me chills, but curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked on it.
– Click. –
“Hiss.”
As expected.
A gif played of my team members rushing to hug me as I spread my arms wide.
Damn it. The guy who had survived countless near-death experiences couldn’t resist a momentary impulse and ended up creating a personal black history.
“Ah.”
I was about to scroll down but quickly hit the back button.
Yoho, covered in dust, was watching the live broadcast with her mouth covered.
Below the popular posts, there were many similar posts. Dramatic return, tearful hugs with team members.
The impact must have been significant.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I turned my attention to older posts rather than the recent ones.
―He will definitely come back alive.
―Flame Emperor and Yoho said so. He will definitely be safe. Let’s trust the judgment of the S-rank heroes, everyone!
―Whatㅋㅋㅋ He’s just taking a short break.
―Don’t make a fuss. Isaac is on the level of the Sword Emperor.
Three months ago. Fans seemed to think Isaac would return soon. I didn’t expect to wander the Other World for months either.
―When are you coming back… The state of the country is a mess… Please come back and sort things out..ㅠ
―50 days of praying for the safe return of the leader (emoji of hands clasped in prayer)
―We all know it. He’s gone. Let’s stop clinging.
└Nonsense. Get lost to your side X.
One month ago.
Even with some harsh expressions, fans were still waiting for me. They missed Hero Isaac.
[Waiting for the Leader]
Am I the only one?
Ten days ago.
The frequency of posts on Isaac’s board had noticeably decreased.
Under the simple title and content, there were a few comments.
―Me!
―Me too…(emoji of cautiously raising a hand)
―(Author) Let’s believe! This might all be part of the plan (emoji of a clenched fist)
―The leader said he would only step in when other heroes couldn’t handle it. That time hasn’t come yet!ㅠㅠ
Ten days ago was when DRR’s surprise terror attacks were happening nationwide. Despite feeling their lives threatened, some fans still hoped for Isaac’s return.
I felt a heavy weight in my heart. It seemed the mission of a hero had deeply rooted itself in my heart.
‘It was a tough time for everyone.’
It’s an era where only the strong survive. If South Korea had been a bit stronger, DRR wouldn’t have dared to start a war.
Similarly, my survival in the Land of Screams and the Ark of Trials was due to overwhelming strength.
Suddenly, I felt at ease.
Because I am strong, Earth will be peaceful for a while.
Though I might not feel it as the protector, those being protected must feel incredibly secure.
– Ping―. –
A notification sounded.
I had turned off notifications for group chats, so this must be urgent. I had asked not to be messaged personally unless it was important.
“PR Manager?”
The real-time message was from the PR manager.
They usually filter out ad proposals or interview requests. Something must have happened.
[PR Manager]
Leader, the Hero Association contacted us regarding the Hero of the Year award. They need your confirmation to proceed with preparations…
It was about the Hero of the Year award.
“I see.”
The Hero Grand Battle.
A national event that should have been held in mid-December last year still hadn’t been concluded.
〈Quest – Sub〉
▷ Content: Achieve 2 championships in the year-end ‘Hero Grand Battle.’
▷ Reward: Significant increase in the gauge for the breakthrough limit of affiliated heroes.
The double championships quest was still ongoing.
For the first time in a week of seclusion, I sent a reply.
―Tell them I accept.
====
***
====
Sea of Okhotsk
The abyss hidden beneath the thick layer of ice was dark and heavy.
A medium-sized submarine glided silently through the deep sea, where light barely penetrated.
The heavy flow of water enveloped the silence as if time had stopped, occasionally broken by the faint movements of sea creatures and their mysterious bioluminescence, bringing a touch of life and light to the space.
In such an environment, it felt as if a hidden secret was faintly emerging.
“We’re almost there.”
A soldier in uniform spoke in Chinese. The middle-aged man with his hands behind his back nodded slightly and then asked the young man with his arms crossed and eyes closed.
“I wonder if the Divine Spear of the Moon is well-prepared.”
“Of course.”
The young man wore a purple robe embroidered with delicate stars and moons, paired with wide black pants.
The middle-aged man smiled in satisfaction at the young man’s confident reply.
“The guardian’s outer shell is said to be so tough that even most S-rank heroes couldn’t defeat it. But of course, you are different.”
“Didn’t Master Cheongun reclaim an ancient relic from Japan? I will also perform my role without shame.”
“Haha! Reclaim, you say. We merely took back what we discovered first.”
“Indeed. I misspoke.”
– Ping. –
At that moment, a faint light flickered in the distance. As the submarine approached, the light became clearer, revealing a dome-shaped structure beyond it.
It was like witnessing a peculiar optical illusion in the deep sea.
The massive dome evoked the image of an underwater city that had been submerged for a long time.
“Magnificent. To think we almost lost this to Japan. It’s fortunate that Korea sided with us.”
“Haha, as if I don’t know that it’s all thanks to Master Cheongun. But I’m concerned about the hero Isaac who made a name for himself in Korea. His presence might hinder your plans.”
“Oh dear. Anyone listening might think I wish for Korea’s downfall. I am merely a patriot who hopes for our country’s prosperity and strength.”
“I misspoke again. I should stop talking and focus my mind.”
The young man in the purple robe closed his eyes again after speaking.
The submarine maintained its depth, overlooking the giant dome.
The structures within the ancient relic were clearly distinguishable even underwater, with arches, pillars, towers, and buildings all visible.
It was as if soft lighting was installed all around the dome.
In the center of the dome stood a towering spire, surrounded by various buildings grouped together.
Unknown light sources within the dome sparkled, creating a beautiful scene as if the dome itself was a star.
The ancient relic, bathed in faint light, seemed to hint that it still harbored life.
Eventually, the young man opened his eyes.
“I am ready. My Meteor Moon Spear will pierce the guardian’s throat in one strike.”
“Let’s descend.”
As the moment of the decisive battle approached, the previously relaxed face of the middle-aged man took on a more serious expression.
Soon, the middle-aged man, the young man in the purple robe, and four others exited the submarine and descended into the dark depths of the ocean.
They were all simply wearing hero suits, without any cumbersome underwater magitech equipment.
Instead, the middle-aged man held a turquoise orb that emitted a soft light, enveloping his companions.
– Rumble. –
Suddenly, an undersea earthquake shook the vast area, causing the young heroes to panic and look around nervously. Only the middle-aged man and the young man in the purple robe remained calm, staring straight ahead.
– Roar! –
The earthquake turned into a monstrous roar. The turquoise orb in the middle-aged man’s hand glowed brightly, illuminating the surroundings.
“Prepare yourselves! Your quadruplet talents are unparalleled in binding. Have confidence and do your best!”
“Yes!”
– Rumble. –
– Roar! –
The distant monstrous roar grew closer.
Finally, they came face to face with the guardian of the ancient relic.
It resembled a haetae with sharp fangs.
The massive fortress-like creature, with its dark blue skin and elongated body, created countless whirlpools with its tail.
The protrusions from its head to its tail seemed useful for navigating the strong currents and rugged terrain of the deep sea.
“What are you waiting for! Deploy the binding spell!”
“Uh, uh. Haaa!”
– Buzz. –
As the four heroes, who looked strikingly similar, simultaneously released their magical power, the guardian’s formidable swimming speed gradually slowed until it almost came to a halt.
At that moment, a blue flash sparked in the eyes of the young man in the purple robe.
“Pierce through, Meteor Moon Spear!”
– Boom―. –
– Swoosh! –
As the young man dynamically threw his spear, the deep sea split like a drill, and the spear embedded itself in the guardian’s chest.
– Splash! –
Dark blue blood spurted out. As the creature flailed sluggishly, the middle-aged man gathered his magical power and cast a spell.
“Explode!”
– Boom! –
The violent explosion shook the dark depths of the sea. Soon, the murky water cleared, revealing the fallen guardian before them.
“As expected of the Divine Spear of the Moon. You pierced through the guardian’s thick armor and skin.”
“Your explosive spell was impressive as well. To draw such explosive power from the poison on my spear… Though Master Cheongun is known as the King of Poison, I didn’t expect such a feat.”
“Haha, if we keep praising each other like this, we’ll run out of air. Let’s hurry and explore the inside.”
The middle-aged man, the young man in the purple robe, and the quadruplets crossed the deep sea and disappeared into the giant dome.
The submarine remained far above the seabed, casting light below, and the once noisy deep sea returned to its serene silence as if nothing had happened.
– Swoosh! –
Moments later, a massive amount of dark energy gathered inside the ancient relic. The entire dome turned a dark crimson, a bizarre phenomenon that soon subsided into stillness.
– Swoosh. –
Finally, the middle-aged man and the young man in the purple robe emerged from the seabed. Only the two of them appeared, with no sign of the quadruplets.
– Humm… –
Suddenly, the eyes of the middle-aged man and the young man in the purple robe emitted a dark crimson aura. They staggered as if they had lost consciousness, but soon regained their composure as their eyes returned to their original color.
“The quadruplets weren’t sacrificed. They died fighting the guardian. Understood?”
“Understood, brother. Our resurgence comes after exploring the surface civilization.”
“Absorb their memories quickly. We must avoid mistakes. Be mindful of your speech to prevent arousing suspicion among those around us.”
“Understood.”
– Swoosh. –
With their eyes back to normal, the middle-aged man and the young man in the purple robe swiftly headed towards the submarine they had arrived in.
Only the fallen guardian’s corpse remained as evidence of their visit.