Chapter 12: To Become Stronger (4)
The movie was just an ordinary battle between good and evil.
The righteous Tyrannosaurus’ Rex’ was resurrected from ancient times, and the cyborg Mecha Tyrannosaurus Rex was created based on the genes of that T-Rex.
Facing a predator that it was cloned from, a Mecha T-Rex clad in modern armor fought in a truly spectacular beastly duel.
“Let’s go, Rex! Combine your mana with mine and defeat your clone!”
“Kwaang!”
The T-Rex was a hero with the power of mana, and the Mecha T-Rex was a villain.
“Hahaha! My hypothesis that dinosaurs are made of mana was right! Now, with this Mecha T-Rex, everything will be under my control!”
“That evil man! He’s doing all this for his own desires!”
“I will do anything to rule the world! Even if I have to trample and kill everything with this foot!!”
There was always a villain trying to resurrect ancient beings and do strange things. The Mecha T-Rex, controlled by the villain, smashed everything with the power of mana.“Danger! Whether it’s due to the resurrection of the dinosaurs, cosmic energy is trying to destroy the Earth!”
“A meteor?!”
“Haha! My hypothesis was indeed correct…! The Cretaceous, the era of dinosaurs, was annihilated by the cosmic energy aimed at killing all the mana creatures! Come on, universal will! It’s about time to destroy the Earth! Haha! Let this damn world perish!”
Wait, a meteor from there??
A gigantic meteor fell from the sky, and the world was filled with chaos at that moment.
“Climb on my back, Rex! We’re going to stop the meteor together.”
“Kwaaang!”
“We failed 200 million years ago, but now we’re with the will of humanity! Let’s go! For the future of all living creatures on this Earth!”
Rex climbed on top of the Mecha T-Rex and headbutted the meteor.
Kwaaang.
The meteor was destroyed.
The meteor was completely annihilated by the self-destruction of the Mecha T-Rex. The T-Rex turned into a small meteorite and fell into the Pacific Ocean.
And the ending credits concluded with a Tyrannosaurus as small as a puppy being born.
“It was really fun.”
“Was it?”
I had heard rumors, but seeing it in person was utterly overwhelming.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I came to see the movie in person. The ending of the movie was mind-boggling, and I ended up having dinner with the hero who had caught me in the theater.
‘It’s the worst.’
Putting aside the story and visual beauty.
‘It was propaganda clearly intended to mess with our secret society.’
The character presented as the villain scientist was unmistakably a villain made to belittle our secret society.
He was such a repulsive and revolting villain that halfway through, I thought, ‘Even if the leader tolerates it, [Doctor] would get annoyed.’
No matter how I thought about it, the villain seemed to be based on [Doctor].
“Do you not like the food?”
“No, it’s not that. I just haven’t eaten in a place like this very often.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I brought us to where I feel comfortable….”
Snow White, Baek Seol-hee, gestured around with a shy smile.
“You can talk freely about me here. It’s a place under ‘control’.”
This place was a fine dining restaurant where food was served in courses.
At Baek Seol-hee’s suggestion, I ended up in a high-end restaurant that I had never visited before or after my fall into this world.
Did I like it?
I did.
“I’m paying, so don’t feel burdened and eat.”
“Thank you.”
I’m not buying it with my own money, so I was just eating what was given to me.
Eating at such an expensive restaurant, where one course costs 300,000 won (per person), was something I could never even imagine.
It felt like the festivity of high-quality food was cleansing my eyes and ears, which had been rotted by the movie.
“I’ll explain the dish. This food is…”
“Oh, that’s okay. I’ll ask you next time.”
“…Ah. Yes. Enjoy your meal.”
However, Baek Seol-hee neatly interrupted the server, who was about to explain the food.
There must be a specific English term for such a server, but I had never been to such a place, so I didn’t even know what to call them.
“It’s a steak made by mincing and grilling clams and scallops. Do you dislike seafood?”
“No, it’s a flavor I haven’t tasted in a while. I think I used to eat it frequently, but it’s been rare to have a proper seafood meal recently.”
“Fishing in the East Sea is a bit difficult.”
After the meteorite fell.
It was not just humans who received the blessing of mana.
Fish were also imbued with mana, and their intelligence increased to the point where they could distinguish bait that was thrown by humans.
So, fish were now extremely expensive.
I’ve always felt they were expensive, but we lived in a world where you had to pay 10,000 won for a mackerel.
In the end, unless it was meat slaughtered on land, it was hard to eat in this world.
Surely the author either hated seafood, or he was a maniac for meat or both.
Of course.
That didn’t apply to our rich S-class hero.
For this woman, the atmosphere where people could not bother her and the location were more important than the restaurant’s taste.
“Do you often come here?”
“… I wouldn’t say often…”
“That’s surprising. I thought you would visit frequently.”
“… I come every time.”
Baek Seol-hee blushed as she sliced her scallop steak with a knife.
“This restaurant collaborates with the government, so on weekdays, it operates as a dining place for heroes.”
“So, is it also today…?”
“Not today. It’s not just one restaurant but is designated by day. I just came as a customer today, so it’s okay. … Although I’m in such a situation where I can enter without a reservation.”
“I see. Uhm, I hope I’m not making you uncomfortable by having a meal together?”
“Why would you?”
Baek Seol-hee tilted her head with a puzzled look.
“Well, isn’t it troublesome if a scandal occurs while we’re having a meal?”
“A scandal…?”
“Yes. Isn’t it the trend for the paparazzi these days to take photos and upload them even if a good-looking man and woman in their twenties meet? Especially if it’s someone like you, ma’am….”
“If they recklessly put out an article, the men in sunglasses will immediately come for them.”
Baek Seol-hee smirked and continued to cut the scallops.
“The government thoroughly manages matters regarding its super-powered individuals. Especially me. I’m one of the people the country pays a lot of attention to in various ways.”
“You are one of the only seven S-class heroes in South Korea. And you are fourth among the 30 S-class heroes worldwide.”
“… It’s a bit embarrassing when you say that, but that’s right.”
Baek Seol-hee put her hand on her chest with a proud smile.
“I’m not the strongest yet, but you could say I’m the pride of Busan. I’m not an S-class hero for nothing.”
“I’m proud. Thanks to you, I can live comfortably today.”
“Thank you. But…”
Baek Seol-hee put down her spoon and looked at me.
“Despite being such a person, I found it fascinating that you never looked at me like that.”
I was flustered.
“Even when the movie was playing, you were immersed in the movie from the middle, and even after entering here, you became comfortable as soon as I ordered. You didn’t seem like an ordinary person, no matter how I looked.”
No way.
“…Perhaps, are you an ‘Unregistered’? A super-powered individual who has awakened their ability but has not yet registered with the government and has the ability to hide mana?”
“Me? Haha. I’m a completely ordinary person without any mana.”
“Really?”
Chills ran down my spine.
Her gaze flew like a dagger to my chest…
No.
I had nothing to fear.
Rather, I shouldn’t back down now.
Baek Seol-hee was not certain.
She had no basis for thinking that I was Goblin.
Did she think that I was Goblin because of my aura?
Where in the world would such irrationality exist, even so?
“It’s truly an honor and joy for me to meet someone like you, but if you’re feeling puzzled about my gaze… it’s because you’re off duty today.”
“……?”
“You didn’t come to watch the movie as the hero’ Snow White,’ but just as a citizen of Busan, Ms. Baek Seol-hee, right?”
“…….”
“No matter if one is a hero or a celebrity, it’s not right to intrude into their daily lives. I do not intend to make a fuss and ask for autographs, pictures, or spread on SNS that Snow White came to watch a movie alone.”
Others would already be swarming and bothering her enough without me. I had no intention of doing so.
“Or, would you rather I looked at you that way?”
“…No. It’s refreshing. I’m thankful you spoke that way.”
“There should be one or two people like this around you, right?”
“… I’m sorry. Looking around, there seems to be no one like that.”
Baek Seol-hee chuckled bitterly as she drank her tea.
“Everyone looks at me with eyes wanting to exploit me, use me, win my favor, harbor hatred or envy.”
“If you wish, I can look at you that way too.”
“No, no. It’s perfect the way it is now. This, too, is fate. I hope we meet often in the future.”
“…Pardon?”
Was this woman sane?
“You know, the movie we saw earlier.”
Baek Seol-hee’s eyes began to sparkle.
“Do you think that if a super-powered individual had enough mana, they could break through the atmosphere like Mech-Tyranno, and even breathe in space like Tyranno without needing to breathe?”
“…….”
“How did you find the movie? You seemed very intrigued.”
“…It was intriguing indeed.”
A movie about dinosaurs riding mecha-dinosaurs into space to self-detonate on an asteroid.
“Everything is new to me. All I’ve seen are things I haven’t seen before.”
When I finally return to Earth, I should create something with it, be it a novel, a webcomic, a movie, or whatever.
And I would definitely take it with me.
The many ‘serialized works’ that have ended in this world.
“In this age where superpowers have become a reality, my hobby is watching 21st-century cartoons, movies, novels, and all sorts of ‘literature’. That’s why I decided to become a librarian.”
A spoonful of rationality that was an excuse for the outside world.
“In the future, I want to write stories, be it as a novelist or a screenplay writer.”
I would definitely return to Earth.
“I want to continue the world that has ended by someone else’s hand, towards the future with my own strength.”
To memorize the conclusion of all these serial works in my head for the many readers desperately waiting on Earth.