Chapter 73: Echoes After the Void

*Hero Association Medical Wing*

Ji-hye slowly opened her eyes.

The white ceiling above her felt unfamiliar. The faint scent of disinfectant filled her nose, making her blink several times as she tried to focus.

“…Huh?”

Her head felt heavy.

She turned her gaze to the side, confusion slowly spreading across her face as she tried to understand where she was.

Standing beside her bed was Park Hyun-Woo.

He noticed her movement immediately and spoke calmly.

“Oh? You’re awake.”

Ji-hye frowned slightly.

“W–Where… am I?”

“You’re in the Medical Wing,” Park Hyun-Woo replied gently.

“Relax. You’re safe here.”

Her eyes widened.

Memories rushed back into her mind like shattered glass assembling itself—dark eyes, red dots, screams, the suffocating feeling of losing control.

Her breathing quickened.

“Wait—!” she said, trying to sit up.

“There was a villain! I have to—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Park Hyun-Woo raised his hand.

“Calm down,” he said firmly but kindly.

“Everything is under control. The villain has already been defeated.”

“…Huh?”

Ji-hye froze.

Her expression turned blank, unable to process his words.

“Who defeated him?” she asked quietly.

Park Hyun-Woo hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering.

“He was a hero,” he said smoothly.

“You don’t need to worry. Just rest.”

Ji-hye stared at the ceiling.

A hero…

Hearing that, her tense shoulders finally relaxed.

She let out a long breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

So it was all over.

The nightmare she remembered—it must have ended already.

For a moment, she wondered if everything she experienced had simply been a bad dream.

Just then—

The door burst open.

“Where is Ji-hye!?”

A frantic voice echoed through the room.

Na Yerin rushed in, panic written all over her face. Her eyes darted around until they landed on the hospital bed.

“Ji-hye!!”

She ran over and immediately wrapped her arms around her.

“Hey—hey,” Ji-hye chuckled weakly.

“What’s with the panic?”

Na Yerin pulled back, glaring at her.

“Are you stupid?” she snapped.

“I heard you were taken to the Medical Wing! Of course I rushed here!”

Ji-hye smiled faintly.

“Calm down. I’m fine.”

Hearing those words, Na Yerin finally let out a sigh of relief.

Ji-hye turned her head toward Park Hyun-Woo.

“Then… what happened at the campus?”

“The heroes are still there,” Park Hyun-Woo replied.

“They’re treating the students and professors who were affected.”

Ji-hye closed her eyes for a moment.

“…That’s good.”

Yet her mind still felt unsettled.

One question refused to leave her thoughts.

“Hyun-Woo,” she said slowly.

“Who was the hero that defeated that villain?”

Park Hyun-Woo flinched slightly.

“…That information is classified,” he answered carefully.

“The director ordered us to keep it confidential.”

He had no choice but to lie.

“Oh…”

Disappointment flashed across Ji-hye’s face.

“I see…”

She lowered her gaze, her fingers gripping the blanket slightly.

Na Yerin noticed immediately.

“What’s wrong? You look worried.”

Ji-hye shook her head.

“It’s nothing,” she replied softly.

“I just wanted to thank that hero… but if their identity is hidden, there’s nothing I can do.”

She smiled faintly.

Park Hyun-Woo watched her quietly.

’…Looks like hyung made someone fall for him again,’ he thought, letting out a silent sigh.

*Yoo Jinhoo’s House*

I sat on the couch while So-ah treated the wounds on my arms and shoulders.

“O–ouch… easy,” I hissed.

“That hurts.”

So-ah shot me a sideways glance.

“How can the most feared villain in the world complain about pain from a few scratches?”

“…Ugh.”

I had no comeback.

She wasn’t wrong.

Lee Donghyun walked over, carrying a plate filled with freshly cooked food. He placed it carefully on the table in front of me.

“Hyung, eat this,” he said.

“It’ll help you recover.”

“…Thanks.”

Min-seo stood behind the couch, gently massaging my shoulders.

“Oppa,” she said softly.

“Next time you need help, remember this—we’ll always be here, waiting for your orders.”

Her words made me fall silent.

She was right.

I couldn’t keep fighting alone.

If I continued like that, I really might lose my life someday.

Elvera walked over and sat beside me.

“So,” she asked casually.

“What are you planning to do next?”

I thought for a moment.

“For now,” I answered,

“we rest.”

Then I added,

“And we get stronger.”

They all nodded in agreement.

The future would only become more complicated.

New variables.

Unknown enemies.

Stronger forces.

The original webtoon’s storyline had already drifted far beyond its intended path.

I needed more power—to survive.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

I picked it up.

A message from Jade.

[Indigo, I’ve managed to gather some alliances. The numbers are still small, but it should be enough for now. Do you want to check them out yourself?]

I smiled faintly.

Just as expected of Jade.

She never disappointed.

I typed my reply.

[Alright. I’ll come tomorrow. Send me the coordinates of our meeting place.]

A thumbs-up emoji appeared almost instantly.

I turned off my phone and placed it on the table.

Things were getting more complicated by the day.

But at least—

I wasn’t alone.

*Hero Association – New York Branch, Jade’s Office*

“Alright,” Jade said firmly.

“You’ll all be meeting the one who will lead this group. Show proper respect.”

In front of her stood four people.

One woman with pink hair.

And three men.

“Yes!” they replied in unison.

Minutes passed.

Jade tapped her foot impatiently, biting her nails.

“…Ugh,” she muttered.

“Where is he? Why is he so late…?”

At that moment—

A blue light appeared in the center of the room.

From within it, a figure emerged.

A man wearing a suit, a cloak, a hat—

And a black mask.

The four recruits gasped in shock.

But Jade?

She looked furious.

“INDIGO!!” she shouted.

“Ah—sorry, sorry,” Indigo said, scratching his head.

“I’m a bit late.”

“A bit!?” Jade snapped.

“It’s been thirty minutes! And you call that ’a bit’!?”

Indigo walked closer, his tone playful.

“Oh come on,” he teased.

“Think of it as a small delay~ At least I showed up, right~?”

“…Ugh,” Jade groaned.

“Whatever.”

She took a deep breath, regaining her composure.

“Fine. Let me introduce you to the younger generation.”

They both turned toward the four standing recruits.

“Oh?” Indigo said casually.

“So these are my subordinates from now on?”

He tilted his head.

“Let me test them myself.”

“…Test?”

Before they could question it—

Indigo released his aura.

A suffocating, murderous darkness flooded the room.

The walls shook violently, like a massive earthquake.

The four recruits collapsed instantly, forced to their knees.

Cold sweat poured down their faces.

They couldn’t even lift their heads.

The pressure alone felt like death.

“STOP IT!!” Jade yelled.

“Are you showing off again!?”

Indigo immediately retracted his aura.

The pressure vanished.

The four gasped for air.

“Ah—sorry, sorry,” Indigo laughed lightly.

“I went overboard.”

“…You’re impossible,” Jade muttered.

After a moment, the recruits introduced themselves.

A man with slightly dark skin stepped forward.

“My name is Michael,” he said proudly.

“Hero Rank A, from the United States.”

The man beside him spoke next.

“I’m Ronald. Hero Rank A, United States.”

A shy pink-haired woman followed.

“I–I’m Myra,” she said nervously.

“H–Hero Rank A, United States.”

Finally, a shorter man stepped up.

“I’m Julien. Hero Rank A, United States.”

I observed them silently.

A frontline powerhouse.

A cold tactician.

A timid but precise combatant.

And a fast, agile fighter.

“…Not bad,” I thought.

They’ll be useful.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep