They say people live up to their names, or something like that.
Kim Seonghwa.
Apparently, my parents named me to shine like a shooting star, but what the hell is this?
Boom!
An explosion in the middle of downtown.
A truck that had been flying through the sky before crashing to the ground because of it.
And standing at the crash site was me.
'Shit, so it was me falling like a meteor.'
Or maybe it was more like the meaning of 'Seonghwa'—getting dragged into one annoying mess after another.
Either way, there'd been no shining moment like a meteor. It was just one shitty thing after another.
Names aside—and the truck even more so—through the thick dust cloud from the aftermath, a familiar figure came into view.
Sky-blue hair.
A dazzling white battle suit.
It was Korea's No.1 Hero, Min Seola.
'Ah, so that's why all this crap happened.'
Looks like villains had been fighting over territory nearby.
And I'd gotten caught up in it as an innocent bystander.
Any normal person would've blacked out.
But I was fine.
Pat pat.
I brushed the dust off my shoulders.
My new clothes were a bit torn up, which pissed me off, but my skin didn't have a single scratch.
'This world's going to hell because of all these Awakeners.'
I clicked my tongue indifferently and was about to slip out of this hellish scene.
"...Who are you?"
My eyes met Min Seola's.
Or rather, she'd been watching me from the start.
'Ah, for fuck's sake...'
This was bad.
What else could it mean when a guy who got smashed head-on by a truck walked away unscathed?
'No way Min Seola wouldn't notice that.'
I turned my head, pretending not to see her.
Nothing good could come from getting involved. She was Korea's most famous Hero, after all.
For a regular citizen aiming for a peaceful life, even yelling "Whoa! Min Seola! I'm a fan!" would be too much hassle.
Heroes, Villains—
The moment you got tangled up with that exhausting crap, your life drifted away from normalcy.
People need to know their place.
Just because I had an ability like "never getting hurt," it didn't mean I had to save the world.
'I'd do it if I could, but only if the power backed it up.'
My strength was average human level.
A plain build.
If it boosted the durability of objects connected to me or something, that'd be different.
But it didn't, so I couldn't tank and didn't want to anyway.
'Who knows when or how it might get pierced.'
This world was perfect for dying if you got cocky thinking you were invincible.
If there was a shield that blocked everything, there'd be a spear that pierced everything—and there were way too many crazy Awakeners out there.
'If word of this ability got out, I'd be experiment subject No.1 for the government or the Villain Alliance.'
So please!
Just let me pass quietly!
"Hey! Wait a sec!"
Shit!
I ignored the shout from behind and quickened my pace.
I can't hear you.
I'm deaf.
"Hey!"
I'm crazy.
It's just hallucinations in my head.
Whoosh!
With the sound of cutting wind, Min Seola blocked my path.
Up close, she was unrealistically pretty. But just as unrealistically dangerous.
"You're an Unregistered Awakener, right?"
"Who are you?"
Min Seola's eyebrow twitched at my shameless question.
"You don't know me? I'm on TV all the time. Sky-blue hair's pretty memorable, isn't it?"
"I don't watch TV. Anyway, I'm off."
I tried to step aside.
But she urgently grabbed my arm.
"Wait, you really don't know? I'm Min Seola. The most famous Hero in the country. Whatever, that's not the point. You're an Awakener, right?"
"No, I'm not."
"What do you mean no? I saw it with my own two eyes! How do you walk away without a scratch after taking that hit? No way that's just luck!"
Min Seola's voice trembled with excitement.
She seemed convinced.
That she'd finally found the Unregistered S-Rank Awakener with overwhelming defense she'd been searching for.
'They even posted a job ad for a defense-specialized sidekick.'
It wasn't like I'd gone looking for the info.
TV, internet banners, NewTube—
Ads were everywhere, so even Villains probably thought, "I'll be that damn sidekick, so stop the ads, you bitch," at least once.
"You have the wrong guy. I'm busy."
"Busy, huh? What with? I'll give you a ride. Let's talk on the way."
Min Seola chattered as she followed.
No sign of giving up.
'Does the No.1 rank have no pride?'
Or maybe it was her innate sense of duty. Either way, she looked ready to tail me until I joined up.
"You listening? Someone with your abilities can't live as a normal person. You'll get caught by the government—or worst case, recruited by the Villain Alliance."
"Ah, you're really the persistent type."
For a split second, Min Seola's expression hardened.
'Ah, that might've crossed the line.'
But her face softened right away.
She stepped closer, beaming again.
"Gotta be persistent to be No.1. I'll take that as a compliment."
"It's not persistence, it's..."
"I get it. But Heroes can protect you from hassle and make you tons of money. Sound tempting?"
I stared straight into her blue eyes.
That glint—they were the eyes of a predator that latched onto a goal and never let go.
'Time to push harder.'
I'll bruise her pride enough to back off.
"Being a Hero seems even more annoying. Just look—I'm already wasting time with someone like you."
"Honesty's good. But I'm a popular Hero, you know. Walking with me should be an honor."
This woman was even crazier than she seemed on media.
Did you have to be this nuts to be No.1 in anything?
'Not the time to admire it.'
Shit, get lost!
That's what I wanted to say, but her crazy eyes scared me—like she'd snap my neck, Hero or not.
"The fact that you think it's an honor is already... Anyway, I'm busy, so don't follow me."
I spoke firmly and walked on.
But Min Seola stuck by my side like an old friend, showing no intention of backing off easily.
"Fine, fine. I won't follow."
"You're still following."
"Give me your number at least. Call me if you change your mind."
"No."
Her lips pouted slightly at my refusal without a hint of hesitation.
"Tch, aren't you too cold? You're hurting my feelings."
That sulky face was so cute I nearly wavered, but no wavering. I'm living a damn normal life.
"Still, come find me if you change your mind. Hero Headquarters is open to talents like you."
Was she responding because I kept replying?
Best to stop now.
And it worked—Min Seola didn't chase anymore.
Except...
"My name's Min Seola! The top Hero in the country personally gave you her name! I'll take good care of you if you come! You have to!"
Damn it.
Everyone's staring, you crazy bitch.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Back home, I cracked open a can of beer and chugged it.
'Of all people, Min Seola had to spot me.'
She's pretty. I admit it.
How many Korean guys wouldn't get butterflies seeing her?
So yeah, I felt a bit regretful.
But no means no.
Even if safe, fame meant no privacy.
'And how exactly is safety guaranteed?'
Imagine if word got out I was Min Seola's closest ally.
No.1 target for Villain kidnappings as hostage bait.
No.1 target for curses from her obsessive fans.
'Absolutely not.'
With that thought, I fell asleep.
The next day...
"Oh? We meet again?"
Familiar sky-blue hair appeared around the corner.
Today she wore jeans and a white shirt instead of her Hero suit, but it wasn't enough to hide her overwhelming presence.
"Did you switch careers to my stalker?"
"What are you talking about? It's a coincidence. Co-in-ci-dence. Or... fate?"
Min Seola grinned and added,
"Bumping into each other twice in a row like this means we're connected somehow. And your name's 'Kim Seonghwa'—similar to mine. Total fate, right?"
"You are a stalker! And not similar at all...!"
I yelled before checking around.
Luckily no one was there... but claiming coincidence in an empty alley was just absurd.
"Just one question. Why are you so obsessed with me?"
Min Seola flinched at my bluntness.
But she quickly flashed a shameless smile.
"At first it was duty. Now it's different. Everyone's desperate to impress me, but you treat me like a bug. Makes me want you more."
"Pervert?"
"...What?"
Min Seola's eyes went wide.
She blanked out for a moment, then burst out laughing—"Pfft!"—and lightly smacked my shoulder.
'This fox. Look at her naturally touching and laughing.'
Wag that tail all you want.
I'm not falling for it.
"Pervert?! That's too much for a Hero adored by the nation! Shouldn't you call this a romantic confession?"
Definitely not right in the head.
"Treating people like objects and wanting to 'have' them—that's pervert talk."
"Puhaha! You're hilarious."
"Didn't say it to make you laugh. You seemed arrogant from the 'honor' bit. Guess top rankers have high self-esteem."
Min Seola put on an exaggerated hurt expression.
Hands clasped to her chest, looking up with sad eyes like the cat in boots.
'Her face is making me soft.'
I don't want to go this far!
But she won't leave otherwise!
Even if it hurts her feelings, get out of my life!
"So mean. I just wanted to paint a big picture for humanity with you... Arrogant? Pervert? Too much... to a hopeless single like me..."
Ah, damn.
Cute.
"Fine, you win. Since it's come to this, can I tell you the truth?"
Min Seola's eyes sparkled at my sudden shift.
She nodded eagerly, full of expectation.
"Yeah! Tell me! I'm ready for anything!"
I glanced around again.
No one nearby. Good.
Still, I lowered my voice, put on the creepiest, most pervert-like smile I could, and leaned in.
"You asked if I'm an Awakener? Yeah, I am."
At that moment,
Min Seola's heart seemed to sink—her face showed it plain as day.