Chapter 224
“Heroes are described as the very embodiment of justice, but let’s not kid ourselves—being a hero is a real job.”
So, they have to negotiate with the king and manage the office staff too. Sure, there are heroes who handle it all on their own, but most prefer to leave it to their managers.
That’s why heroes often joke that while they can get by without a sidekick, no hero can survive without a manager.
At least, that’s what Justitia always says. Managing schedules, negotiating with the association, conditioning, makeup, and transportation… If you try to do it all, you’ll end up with no time and no body left to show for it!
When I was being trained to be a manager, I was totally scared…
But looking back, I realized I was already doing everything myself! Managing schedules, maintaining condition through diet and sleep, doing makeup—which I basically took over—and I was already a pro at getting around in a vehicle.
Outside of negotiations, I was basically just keeping myself busy to the point of boredom, so there wasn’t much to learn in manager training.
I thought the manager training at the Academy would last through the whole winter break, but surprisingly, it wrapped up in just ten days.
So much so that the person who came to teach even asked if they were supposed to be a hero, or if they actually wanted to be a manager. Honestly, it didn’t matter much to me, but it turned out my instructor was surprisingly supportive.
Right now, heroes really aren’t following true justice… or something like that.
Watching this made me think, maybe when Minho does well, genuine social change might actually be possible. It seriously seems like it could happen.
Not because he’s the protagonist—though I expect he could make it work anyway—but even if he weren’t a protagonist, he might still pull it off.
Well, whether he can manage that or not is up to that guy—there’s nothing I can do about it.
More than anything, I figured he’d do fine on his own, so I decided not to overthink it.
My role is simply to support and protect Lapiz and her family.
Even up until this spring, I wondered if I could really keep this up, but aside from this, I couldn’t see any other way to live.
It’s fulfilling, people are kind, and there’s plenty of freedom… what’s not to like? On top of that, nothing particularly bad has happened.
Where else could I even go? I’m sticking around until I die—no, I’ll be buried here even after I’m gone.
I sometimes feel like my growing loyalty is leading me somewhere weird, but if I’m giving this much, isn’t it only right to feel like I’m being led?
“I brought snacks, Miss! Today it’s dango!”
“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it~”
At the mention of snacks, Lapiz’s eyes lit up, and she practically made adorable noises that sounded like she hadn’t eaten in three days while devouring them.
It’s so nice to see her enjoying it.
…When you look at her like this, she still seems like a child, but to treat her entirely like a kid wouldn’t be fair—she’s grown up quite a bit lately.
It’s not just a hunch that she’s grown—she’s genuinely taller, and her body is filling out too.
Comparing her to her mother or grandmother, sure, she still falls short, but she’s developed quite a bit of her own opinion now.
Maybe she’s kinda in between Yeonhwa and Ageha.
“Eat up, Miss! That way you can grow big and strong—both in body and height. Once you get a little taller, you’ll be shedding that childhood look.”
“Uh, I shed that childhood look ages ago?!”
Lapiz seemed offended at being treated like a child, but honestly, I thought she still looked quite young.
Sure, she’s grown taller, but she’s still small, her chest is small, and aside from being my superior, she feels like a little sister.
“Hah, you’ve still got a long way to go before shedding that childhood look, Miss. Even the madam would agree.”
Lapiz, though, seemed to begrudgingly accept that, as she didn’t really argue, just picked up her pace in eating, showing her desire to grow.
Yeah, she should definitely eat well while she can. Better to be a bit bigger than to be overlooked just because she’s small.
Looking at her growth trend, she’d likely still end up shorter than me when she’s fully grown.
“Oh, by the way, Miss. Can I join you tonight when you meet the kids?”
When I asked Lapiz this, she blinked, initially hesitating to say she didn’t want to go, but then mentioned planning to take me anyway.
“Ah, that explains why you were so quiet.”
“I haven’t seen the kids for quite a while, so I should definitely take you along.”
“That’s true; I’ve been busy with various things lately, so it hasn’t worked out…”
Lapiz seemed to have said what she wanted, and now while chewing on the last of her dango, she fretted about what to say next.
“Should I set up my office right after graduation, or should I go in as a sidekick for someone’s office?”
“Yeah, they say you could just debut as a pro, though…”
“It’s a bit too daunting, and makes me feel nervous and judged, and that’s why I can’t quite settle on it.”
When I interrupted what she was hesitantly sharing, she nodded and admitted I was right.
I wanted to offer her advice, but this time it was Lapiz who cut me off.
“I get it—if I set up my office, the other kids won’t see me as weird. The awkwardness is totally on the other heroes.”
“So what’s the problem? There’s gotta be something bothering you. Is that why you’re still unsure?”
After saying that, I realized I came off a bit harsh, but I wasn’t trying to rush her.
“…It feels like I’m leaving the other kids behind.”
After a long silence, Lapiz admitted that it didn’t sit well with her to feel like she was abandoning her friends.
If that’s the case… well, I don’t really have much to say to that.
I told her that it was a tough dilemma and drew it out, then offered what sounded like a decent solution.
“How about shifting your perspective? Just because you’re doing great as a hero doesn’t mean your personal relationships change. And besides, are you guys really just acquaintances?”
“Well, no—not exactly. We’ve been through life-and-death situations together.”
That’s it, I said. Those bonds can supersede social standings and status.
“Besides, Miss, honestly speaking, given your social position, do you really think your friends will still meet up with you?”
Being the granddaughter of a returnee isn’t what I’d call ordinary—so I advised her to not care what others say and just live as she likes.
It was a thought inspired by watching the free-spirited Altera.
I figured, why couldn’t Lapiz live like that too?
I didn’t think my advice would greatly help her, but she looked a bit brighter and thanked me for guiding her a little.
“Honestly, I should be the one thanking you! It’s a privilege to be able to help you like this.”
“Blanca, that’s starting to sound like your catchphrase!”
Lapiz laughed and mentioned she’d probably heard me say that over fifty times by now.
Is that so?
“But what can I do? This is what I truly feel.”
I really should feel guilty toward her.
That guilt still lingers heavily.
– – – –
The place where I was supposed to meet the kids for dinner turned out to be a pretty fancy restaurant.
I wasn’t sure if Lapiz made the reservation herself or if Changwon or Ageha did, but I figured it was one of the three.
They’re the type who wouldn’t bat an eye at spending money.
“It’s been a while, everyone!”
“Blanca! Long time no see! How have you been?”
They warmly welcomed me, though I could see a hint of concern about how long it had been since we last met, and I reassured Yeonhwa and the others that nothing serious had happened.
“Just timing didn’t line up. But I’ve learned a lot while I was away! Minho, you… don’t look like you’ve fared too well.”
Compared to the other polished kids, Minho looked worn out and slightly disheveled—seems like he’s still dealing with the hassles from Heros Company.
“It just kind of turned out like this…”
Being Lapiz’s friend and a core member involved in the Liberators’ raid operations and the Evil Society’s annihilation, it seems it’s fortunate he can’t just be brushed aside anyhow.
“Even if I tell him to quit, the stubborn fool doesn’t listen.”
Seolhwa seemed a bit unhappy about his state but still cared for him enough to not let go of his hand.
Of course, Ageha was exactly the same.
“You two never change, huh?”
Totally obsessed with Minho, the two did their usual self-absorbed back-and-forth, but then turned it into a playful jab, urging each other to give it a rest.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Minho looking so haggard was partly due to being stuck between these two.
“Why are you two sitting around fighting in such a nice place? Chill out. We’re having the best lamb here; we should welcome it happily!”
“Well, since Lady Blanca said so, I suppose we have no choice. Let’s put an end to this for today!”
“You backed down first, so I win!”
“What did you say?”
It wasn’t until Minho stepped in to mediate that the heroines finally found peace again.
“Well, leaving that aside, it still seems like we’ve got a wait until the food comes… so what’s your plan after graduation?”
I was glad to have restored some harmony but wasn’t done with the silence, so I brought up the question of what they’d be doing after graduation.