The Hero Has Returned

Chapter 14 - Hero is born (3)

As the employees left one by one, a stillness fell over the bustling factory.

I stood in the empty lot, wearing the P1.

P1 is the first model name for the Purple Devil suit.

Tonight, finally.

'It's my first sortie as a hero.'

With a thrilled heart, I turned my head.

My full body was reflected in a piece of chrome shield material for tankers that had been propped up.

I clenched and unclenched my fists under the moonlight.

A purple helmet and black armor.

Since it was a prototype the details were crude, but the overall appearance was quite plausible.

The Purple Devil's first mission was set.

Thievery.

I intend to steal someone else's property.

And who is the target?

The president? Or the other employees?

Not a chance.

The target is...

"Cap'n!"

From far away, Kkalkki came dragging something with both hands.

As wheel tracks were left on the ground, a heavy object revealed itself.

"The thing ya asked for! It's this!"

Its form was similar to an electric bicycle, but looking closely, it was a motorcycle.

"Was this the thing you were working so hard on fixing?"

"That's ri-ight! How is it? Pretty killer, huh?"

Kkalkki stopped the motorcycle in front of me.

Its red exterior was covered in muddy water, giving it a shabby appearance.

However, I recognized that this was a hidden gem.

"A Honda XR80?"

"Oh! Bingo! You know it, Cap'n? As expec-ted!"

Kkalkki snapped his fingers, delighted.

"Cap'n! Have you seen ? It's the one that's in it, y'know!"

In the movie he mentioned, the police, unusually, are the villains.

The motorcycle the protagonist chooses to escape the cyborg's attack is this very model.

The scene of the XR80 riding alongside a Harley-Davidson was chosen as one of the most iconic scenes.

"Where'd you get this?"

"I picked it up from under the Shit Bridge over there! The moment I saw it, I shouted!”

Kkalkki spoke, his voice full of ecstasy.

"Oh, shi-it! Jackpot!"

This motorcycle was released way back in 1979.

At the present time, it was no different from an antique.

How on earth did an XR80 find its way here?

As if reading my thoughts, Kkalkki added.

"Prob'ly some of the other foreign worker bastards stole it, used it, and then dumped it."

Kkalkki wasn't the only foreigner working at the Ilsan industrial complex.

"Here, Captain! Take this!"

I took what Kkalkki held out.

It was a silver key with a classic design.

'A key. It's been a while.'

I thought back to the time I had returned to.

Usually, electric bikes or electric cars were started with a smart key or a fingerprint.

But this was a massive key that looked like it would be more at home opening the door to a flush toilet.

It was more than just a step back in time; it was a leap.

There was also a keyring attached to the key.

"What's this?"

"I made it myself!"

It was a cute figure, a reinterpretation of the Purple Devil wearing his purple mask in an SD version.

Looking at it, I was suddenly reminded of the Jin Shark figure my father could never buy for me when I was a child.

"How is it? Do ya like it, Cap'n?"

I squeezed the keyring tightly in my fist.

"Very much. Thank you."

Kkalkki grinned and stepped aside.

"It's yours now, Cap'n!"

After giving Kkalkki a smile, I got on the motorcycle while still wearing the suit.

I inserted the key, stepped on the pedal, and started the engine.

VRROOOM!

Being an old machine, it vibrated the suspension with a rattling noise.

The rough, vivid sensation unique to an off-road bike was transmitted throughout my entire body.

"Oh yeah, I installed a Z-engine on this thing!"

Kkalkki pointed to the body of the motorcycle.

"I got a broken one from Khan over at the 1st Factory, ya see!"

Khan was another foreign worker from Bangladesh, and a friend of Kkalkki's.

The Z-series was the latest model of internal combustion engine.

It was like putting a jet engine in a propeller plane.

It may be an illegal modification, but.

So what.

"Cap'n, I tried ridin' it for a bit, ya know? It's awes-ome! The high-torque ride is insane!"

A new object that had never existed in the world was reborn at the hands of Kkalkki.

Before setting off, I grabbed the last preparatory item.

"Kkalkki. What's that?"

"Aha! I bought it during lunch today!"

Kkalkki fumbled in his inner pocket and took out a black cloth.

It was definitely as small as a handkerchief when it came out.

But the more he pulled it out, the bigger it got.

It seemed like he was performing a magic trick, but it was a unique effect of the cloth itself.

This was the so-called Dvergr Cloth.

Made by processing a special fabric, it could freely expand and shrink as needed.

Not only that, but if you put an object inside and wrapped it, the object's volume would shrink.

It was, quite literally, a magical item.

It was originally a cloth made by dwarves in dungeons, but you could buy it on the black market from porters who had secretly smuggled it out after entering a Gate.

"I'll put it on for you!"

Kkalkki flapped the blanket-like cloth and draped it around the neck of the suit.

With this, it was complete.

I gripped the handlebars with both hands and placed a foot on the peg.

"I'll be back."

"Cap'n. Be care-ful."

I nodded and twisted my wrist back.

"The thievery, make sure you succeed!"

Leaving the waving Kkalkki behind me,

I disappeared into the darkness of the industrial complex with a roar, my cape fluttering.

......

I stopped the motorcycle, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The place I had arrived at was the 7th Factory.

Even among the factories from 1 to 9 that made up the Ilsan Industrial Complex, it was a particularly unique place.

It was the location of the gang's headquarters.

I parked the motorcycle a short distance from my destination.

I fixed my gaze and activated the dial on the side of my helmet.

As the blue-element night vision activated, two gang members guarding the entrance to the 7th Factory came into view.

They were standing there leisurely, yawning, but one had a machete on his back.

The other had an axe at his side.

'Should I attempt a frontal assault?'

I considered it for a moment, but soon gave up on the idea.

Today's plan is not to defeat the gang.

'Let's infiltrate.'

I left the guards be and stood before the wall of the 7th Factory.

I stretched out both hands and placed them on the cement.

As I manipulated my fingers in a designated pattern, a suction force was generated in my palms.

SCHLICK! SCHLOCK!

After checking a few times to see if they would stick properly, I began to scale the wall as if I were rock climbing.

The more heroes I 'Purchase' in the future, the more diverse abilities I will possess.

However, that wasn't for now.

Since I am growing step-by-step, like climbing a staircase, I still have a long way to go.

Therefore, for now, it's most efficient to utilize the suit as much as possible.

I crossed over the wall in an instant and landed.

Thud.

When I touched the ground, I knelt on one knee and raised the opposite elbow high toward the sky.

The so-called Superhero Landing.

It was a clichéd yet stylish pose, an indispensable part of any hero story.

"......"

Was I getting too into it?

I shrugged and stood up straight.

When I turned my head, a tall wall soared up behind me.

'This is awesome.'

I was once again impressed by Kkalkki's talent for making equipment.

To think he could draw out this level of performance even in such a poor environment.

What kind of even more outstanding equipment could be born if he were given abundant resources and financial support?

I moved my feet, filled with anticipation.

I lowered my body to hide my presence and moved quickly.

Two buildings came into view in the center of the 7th Factory.

One was used as a factory, and the other was the gang's headquarters.

While the factory occupied a large plot of land, the gang's base was a two-story prefabricated building.

As befitting a hideout, two men who were bigger than the ones before stood in front of the main entrance.

This time, too, they were armed.

'A submachine gun?'

Ever since the Gates opened, monsters had been appearing all over the world.

Citizens wanted powerful weapons as a means to protect themselves.

It's nonsense to believe that you can kill a monster with a gun, but they wanted to at least gain some peace of mind.

And so, the National Assembly passed the bill, and firearms were legalized in the Republic of Korea.

However, because both large and small incidents never ceased, the procedure for civilians to buy firearms became more and more complicated.

'Well, not that it's a problem for those bastards.'

The gang's hideout had only one entrance.

To get inside, I had to go through there.

I lifted my head and looked at the second-floor window of the building.

That's the place I'm aiming for.

'Just like before, I'll climb the wall...'

I was about to go to the back of the building but stopped.

A faint red laser was spread across the concrete wall.

'A security sensor.'

Why would a mere gang occupying an industrial complex have such tight security?

I knew the reason.

'Just you wait.'

I aimed the back of my hand at the window.

To prevent failure, I set the target point with the VR device in the helmet I was wearing.

'Right there.'

I pressed the button at the right timing.

A wire with a sharp hook shot out and landed precisely on the window frame.

As the steel cable retracted, my whole body was lifted into the air.

I balanced myself and clung to the window like a spider.

Now, all that's left is.

I pressed the button on the back of my other hand.

The plasma cutter on the back of my hand activated with a brilliant light.

With it, I lightly cut the window's lock.

Click.

Secretly, and swiftly.

I opened the window and entered.

"Hey. What are you gonna do if the Boss catches you?"

"We can just open the window and smoke in secret."

I suddenly came face-to-face with two gang members.

The bastards had their heads together, trying to light each other's cigarettes.

'Crap.'

Did they come up to the second floor to smoke?

Of all the times.

The gang members dropped the cigarettes from their mouths in bewilderment.

"Wh-What the?”

"Who the hell are you, you bastard!"

What should I do?

I knew instinctively.

If my judgment is slow, my life will be in danger.

My body moved before I could think too hard.

Whoosh.

I grabbed the bastards' heads with both hands.

And then I shook them back and forth violently.

Ding.

[ is activating. ]

– Withdrawal: 1,000,000 won.

The two gang members, as if on cue, rolled their eyes back and collapsed simultaneously.

"Hoo."

I let out a sigh of relief.

It's only in the movies that a chop to the back of the neck can knock someone out.

Reality isn't so easy.

Just like how a boxer's punch landing on the chin can make someone collapse in an instant.

A human can pass out just from having their brain shaken violently.

'Of course, it would be impossible for an ordinary person.'

Borrowing the power of Super Kid, I had easily subdued the two gang members.

I walked past the fallen men and down the long hallway.

From the second floor of the prefabricated building, the entire first floor was visible.

'There's no one below.'

The ones who were guarding the floor below must have been the ones who came up here.

Now, this place is entirely my own space.

With bolder steps, I reached the end of the hallway.

There, a thick iron door was situated, one that didn't fit with the simple building.

In the center of the door, a piece of white drawing paper was taped.

Unpleasant, blood-red letters that looked like they were written in blood were scrawled across it.

[ ENTER AND YOU DIE! ]

I ignored it, grabbed the doorknob with one hand, and twisted.

CRUNCH!

Ding.

[ is activating. ]

– Withdrawal: 1,000,000 won.

[ Awakened's Balance ]

: ₩1,066,565,998

I put down the iron door I was holding and stepped inside.

I fumbled along the wall and turned on the light.

An orange fluorescent lamp flickered a couple of times, and then the inside brightened.

The scene that unfolded before my eyes was something I had already expected, but the feeling was new.

This was the room of the gang's boss.

Inside a large fish tank, a human-faced fish with an unpleasant appearance swam around.

A saber-toothed tiger's hide was spread on the floor, and a werewolf's head was mounted on the wall as taxidermy.

'What awful taste.'

Although the shelves were also full of all sorts of luxurious items, I ignored them all and headed for one spot.

Behind the desk, a safe was placed conspicuously, as if there was no intention of hiding it.

"Found it."

Because it had once been a sensational news story, I knew what was inside the safe.

Before beginning the thievery in earnest.

I unfolded the cape I was wearing around my neck and laid it on the floor.