Chapter 7 – 『Thunder Emperor』 Kang Cheon-Hu ③

My S-class hero sister and childhood friend are taken away. – 7 – 『Thunder Emperor』 Kang Cheon-hu ③

“Whoa…”

After completing the rescue work in the ruins created by Kang Cheon-hoo, Jin-seok sat down and rested on a lump of concrete debris for a while. There were many victims due to the atrocity of Kang Weather, who destroyed the Behemoth in the middle of the street. If Team Valkyrie, who was at the scene of the incident, had not quickly rescued the victim, it was clear that there would have been more casualties.

“That guy, Kang Cheon-hoo, why isn’t he designated as a ‘villain’? He’s causing so much damage…”

Jinseok looked at the ruined street and muttered. The damage caused by the strong weather was enormous. It was as if he had detonated a large bomb in the middle of the street. This was not the first time that Kang Cheon-hu committed such atrocities.

Jinseok personally witnessed Kang Cheon-hoo’s atrocities a few times, and also saw Kang Cheon-hu’s atrocities frequently reported on the news. Especially when he was put in the position of personally correcting Kang Cheon-hu’s atrocities, he was able to recognize even more how egregious the consequences of Kang Cheon-hu’s actions were.

Naturally, despite being an S-class hero, Kang Cheon-hoo was so infamous among the general public that he was regarded as a walking bomb rather than being revered as a hero by people. Nevertheless, because he was a powerful S-class hero, no one could stop Kang Cheon-hoo.

“Collateral damage that occurs when a ‘hero’ defeats a ‘monster’ is exempt from the hero’s responsibility. Even if it causes casualties, he is not designated as a ‘villain’ in that situation.”
“I know that, but… Ugh.”

Miyeon answered calmly to the grumbling Jinseok. Jinseok also knew the situation because he had learned the reasons Miyeon explained, but he still couldn’t understand it.

『Hero’s Duty』 Was primarily about cooperation in exterminating monsters, the enemies of humanity. However, because it was excessive to hold heroes responsible for collateral damage that occurred when defeating monsters, heroes were exempt from responsibility for causing collateral damage.

Even if a hero accidentally gets caught up in the hero’s abilities while defeating a monster and causes the death of ordinary people, it is treated as “Collateral damage” And the heroes are not responsible for anything. Exempting all collateral damage may be unreasonable in some ways, but it was unavoidable because if we didn’t do that, no one would become a hero and fight off monsters.

Those with abilities who abuse their abilities to cause harm to ordinary people, even if they were “Heroes” In the past, are designated as “Villains,” Receive a bounty, and become targets of villain subjugation. However, it was safe to assume that he would never become a villain due to the damage he caused during the monster hunting process. Even though the strong weather caused enormous damage, it did not become a villain.

“Hello. I’m from the broadcasting station. Can I interview you guys from Team Valkyrie?”

While the members of Team Valkyrie were taking a break after disposing of the wreckage, several broadcast reporters appeared from nowhere and approached without hesitation with cameras pointed at them, requesting an interview with Serin, who was nearby.

“Yes? Yes?”

Although her popularity was high, Serin was unfamiliar with the experience of being interviewed by a broadcasting station as her hero life had only lasted a short time. She felt embarrassed when reporters suddenly showed up with cameras and asked for an interview. She was so embarrassed that she couldn’t even answer.

“Uh, hey. What are you talking about, an interview all of a sudden?”
“Yes. I would like to ask your position regarding this incident.”
“Ah. Um, there. Don’t take a picture.”
“Mr. Han Se-rin, please interview me.”

Jinseok stepped forward to block Serin as if to protect her, but the reporters continued to point their cameras towards Serin. Serin kept covering her face with her palm, feeling embarrassed about being filmed by the camera. She asked for an intensive interview, even calling her Serene by her first name.

(I guess she’s deliberately trying to capture Serin’s popularity these days.)
“Hey, there’s no interview here.”
“I can’t do interviews. They say they don’t like me.”

Although she had only recently started working as a hero, Serin’s popularity was rising quickly because she was an S-class hero with an idol-level cute appearance. It was natural for her to try to get coverage of her in the media. Jin-seok noticed the reason why her reporters were so persistent in attacking Se-rin, and she protected Se-rin by blocking them with her body as if she were a dragon.

“Miss. You’re so disturbing. Who are you? What is it?”
“Isn’t that guy a B-class hero?”
“She’s Class B, how is she on Team Valkyrie?”
“He says he has a hunchback because his older sister is the team leader.”
“Wow. What is it? It’s ugly. I feel bad.”

The reporters were watching her and whispering behind her back as if they were gossiping about her. As soon as Jinseok heard the reporters talking behind her back, her mood got worse and her expression became distorted.

(Cheesh. I can hear it all. These.)

Coincidentally, Jinseok’s ability to strengthen his body was also somewhat effective in sensory aspects such as vision and hearing. The reporters were whispering quietly, but Jinseok could hear them normally.

“As the leader, I will conduct the interview. Leave the other team members alone.”

As Jin-seok made her displeased expression and she was protecting Se-rin, Mi-yeon came forward in front of the reporters. Miyeon, like a veteran hero, appeared confidently and naturally in front of reporters.

“Do you know that Team Tempest’s Kang Cheon-hoo caused enormous civilian damage by hunting down Behemoths and is causing controversy because he spoke harshly in interviews?”
“I saw Kang Cheon-hoo hunting Behemoth, but he’s causing controversy because of his abusive language?”
“Huh? Don’t you know yet? It’s causing a lot of controversy on the internet right now…”
“Our team is in the process of clearing up the accident site…”
“Oh? Really? I’ll show you the video now.”

The reporter who was interviewing Mi-yeon took out her smartphone and showed a video of Kang Cheon-hoo being interviewed by another media company. In the video, Kang Cheon-hoo was being interviewed with a very arrogant expression.

“Mr. Kang Cheon-hoo. While hunting Behemoth, a huge explosion occurred, causing serious damage. What do you think?”
“Aang? What? Did I explode the Behemoth because I wanted to explode it? What are you telling me to do when that bastard exploded on his own because I beat him up?”

When Kang Cheon-hu was asked by a reporter about the incident in which the Behemoth exploded and caused serious damage, she responded in a harsh and arrogant manner as if it was none of her business.

[Isn’t that crazy guy?]
[Wow. Is that what a hero would say?]
[No human being could say something like that.]
[Fuck. Isn’t that guy actually a monster?]

Kang Cheon-hu’s remarks were an interview that could not help but make anyone angry because of her arrogant attitude and remarks. Chats were popping up from people who were angry after seeing her news video.

“But because Mr. Kang Cheon-hoo defeated Behemoth, enormous damage occurred…”
“What kind of stupid thing are you talking about? If you had left the Behemoth alive, there would have been greater damage. And don’t you guys know that heroes have immunity from collateral damage caused by hunting monsters anyway?”
“…”

Kang Cheon-hu came out in a brazen manner, even asserting her immunity as a hero. Even the reporter who was asking her questions was left speechless for a moment by Kang Cheon-hu’s so brazen attitude.

[Immunity = license to kill]
[Let’s abolish hero immunity!]
[Strong weather is scarier than monsters!]

The reaction in the news comment section was also on fire, as if pouring oil on a fire. The comments were full of genuine anger. However, Kang Cheon-hu was wearing a unique arrogant smile, as if he was laughing at the anger of ordinary people pouring at him.

“Yeah, but. Team Valkyrie tried to reduce the damage by guiding the Behemoth toward the park. They were also trying to control the damage after it occurred…”
“Hmph. Is it my fault that I killed those bitches because they were slow to process and I got tired of waiting? Anyway, I defeated the monster.”

The reporter also told Kang Cheon-hoo that Team Valkyrie tried to defeat Behemoth with as little damage as possible, but she still showed an incredibly brazen attitude.

[Team Valkyrie! The best!]
[Team Valkyrie Miyeon is beautiful and has a really good personality. I fell in love.]
[I really like Yeeun unnie too. If she weren’t her sister, I don’t know how many people would have died.]
[Serin is also pretty and cute.]
[Team Valkyrie is compared to Kang Cheon-hoo.]
[Can’t that guy just be banned from hero activities? The damage is greater because of that bastard, right?]

Naturally, the news comments were full of criticism towards Kang Cheon-hoo and overflowing with praise from Team Valkyrie.