My Name Isn't 'Hero' Either

Ian's body was now that of a regular human on Earth, so he couldn't use energy freely as he had on Praeri.

However, Hao was still in a Hao's original body, fully containing the energy of Praeri.

'Hao could just go to Seoul and bark.'

Ian quietly nodded to himself.

Hao's barking caused vibrations in the surrounding environment, driving off harmful creatures and making weeds wilt.

Even monsters didn't dare approach.

There was an auspicious resonance in it.

So, surely, it could purify the polluted air as well.

On Praeri, air pollution was extremely rare, and with the Praerians present, there had never been a need for Hao to personally purify the atmosphere.

But Ian felt certain.

'Of course, it'll work.'

He knew all too well the unique traits of a creature like Hao.

If Hao could easily tend the fields with just a soft bark, then if he barked loudly a few times with purpose, even the polluted air would be cleansed.

"Right now, purifying the pollution is the most pressing issue."

Ian opened his mouth to speak.

"Exactly. From now on, we'll try to hunt monsters in ways that don't cause so much pollution, but we still have to figure out how to deal with the pollution that's already out there."

Jeongnam replied indifferently, then suddenly looked up at Ian.

"Do you, by any chance, know a good way to purify it?"

For some reason, he got that feeling.

That this person probably would know.

Judging by the way Ahn Bin had used that synthetic fiber blanket, the clothesline, and the magnifying glasses during the monster hunt last time, this was definitely someone full of creative, unusual ideas.

Ahn Bin had said it was something he saw online, so Jeongnam looked up monster-hunting methods afterwards, but found nothing like that.

It seemed certain that Ahn Bin had devised it himself.

'Why didn't he just say he'd come up with it? Probably to make himself more believable.'

He wasn't a cop or soldier. Just a young man who'd newly settled in the countryside—who would really listen to him?

That's probably why he blamed it on the internet. That's how Jeongnam understood it.

But at this point, Ahn Bin's credibility was sky-high. It was obvious how much the villagers depended on him.

Even Jeongnam could no longer help but feel that if anyone knew a way to purify pollution, Ahn Bin would be the one.

"I can't say for sure, but I have an idea... I'll have to go to Seoul myself and check to narrow things down."

Ian answered intentionally vaguely.

He was thinking of using Hao, but he couldn't recklessly reveal Hao's abilities to the humans of Earth.

'Who knows, they might try to take Hao who-knows-where. That's not happening.'

He just planned to slip in and purify things quietly without people noticing.

His purpose in going to Seoul was to perform a variety of experiments.

Hao's abilities were just one; there were things he wanted to check inside the portal that had appeared in Seoul too.

"I see..."

Even as Jeongnam replied, he kept staring at Ian with expectant eyes.

It was the kind of mood that made Ian feel he shouldn't just say he knew nothing.

'Hmm. Guess I'd better throw him a bone.'

Ian spoke up again.

"There's also the problem of treating people who fall ill during hunts, not just pollution, right? I do have a way to handle that."

"Huh? There's a treatment?"

Jeongnam's eyes shone with delight.

"I think it's possible to treat with some of the herbs and mushrooms I raise."

"Aha! The herbs."

Jeongnam had personally seen Ahn Bin's skill at treating the wounds of the medicinal herb woman.

As expected, he'd kept some secret methods after all.

'That has to be some kind of power too. I bet Ahn Bin's got some special abilities, just like they say you can get after fighting monsters...'

Jeongnam's eyes grew even deeper.

"I've seen the herbs before, but what about the mushrooms?"

"They're called butterfly mushrooms, and they have the effect of purging impurities from the body."

"I see, so that's what they do."

"I talked to the medicinal herb woman about it, and she recognized them. In fact, since I expect there'll be demand from the pollution in Seoul, I was thinking about cultivating them in earnest soon..."

"Oh, is that so? Butterfly mushrooms. That's important information. Do you mind if I let the government know?"

Jeongnam asked, his eyes darting.

"Yes, of course. Then we'll be able to supply the government directly,"

Ian answered.

"That's great. We could even make them a specialty crop for the village."

A specialty crop for the village?

Hearing Jeongnam's remark, Ian realized there was another path to pursue beyond just selling through the medicinal herb woman.

'Direct trades with the government are possible, and we could form a village specialty cooperative... Hoo, this is looking good.'

Something about hoping for increased demand for butterfly mushrooms did make Ian feel a bit guilty, as if he were wishing for more pollution in the world.

But even if it wasn't caused by the pollution left by slimes, butterfly mushrooms were common as a general health food, so it really wasn't a problem.

'They clarify your energy, lift your mood, even clean out your blood vessels, after all.'

He shook off his misplaced guilt.

"Making them a village specialty sounds great."

After all, with access to Praeri lands through the portal, Ian could supply as much as he wanted on his own, but it was much more interesting for the whole village to prosper, rather than just making a profit solo.

When the people thrive, the lord is happy—that's how it's always been.

"Wow, I just have this feeling the village is really going to do well. Ahn Bin, you're our lucky charm!"

Jeongnam found himself increasingly envious of Ahn Bin, all the more so now that he believed Ahn Bin had gained some kind of power through monster hunting.

'I want to gain powers too, no matter what.'

After the monster crisis, Jeongnam had been one of the first to get wind of information through his work.

Almost nothing made sense and it was a terrifying disaster, but there was one bit of good news.

Some people had, in fact, awakened supernatural abilities.

He wanted that, desperately.

The world was changing, and Jeongnam believed you'd have to gain some special ability for any hope of holding a place in it.

So, he'd resolved to join in future monster hunts, no matter what.

Besides, if he could join up with a veteran like Ahn Bin, that would be the best situation possible.

You always wanted to keep close to people like that.

"Ahn Bin, you said you were interested in purifying the pollution zones, right?"

"Yes. I do plan to visit Seoul soon,"

Ian nodded.

"How about going together with me? I'm headed up there on a work trip myself."

Hearing Jeongnam's invitation, Ian tilted his head inwardly.

'He... wants to go with me? Why?'

Jeongnam was gazing at him, brimming with expectation.

Ian didn't know Jeongnam's reasons, but he was planning to go to Seoul soon anyway.

He had to investigate the Seoul portal and the area beyond, the place people were calling the Tower.

Not to mention, the most important national incident was happening there—he couldn't just ignore it.

Thinking it over, there was a benefit to going with Jeongnam.

There was a problem, after all, with Ian going alone.

"By any chance, do you have a car?"

From Ahn Bin's memory, there was an express bus straight to Seoul from the village, thanks to Mount Jiri being a tourist area.

But Ian couldn't take the express bus.

He'd have to bring Hao.

A small dog might be one thing, but bringing a large creature like Hao onto the express bus was impossible.

If this were Praeri, he'd ask Parito to open a portal for travel... No, that portal disaster was the cause of all this to begin with.

Besides, Ian was too short on energy to use any techniques right now, so a car was necessary.

"A car? Sure, I have one. I need it to commute between the village and the county office... But wouldn't it be easier to just take the express bus to Seoul?"

"I'd prefer going by car, if that's possible."

Thinking of Seoul's current situation, Jeongnam hesitated, but Ian insisted just as he wanted.

"Oh, in that case, of course I'll drive."

"That's great. Shall we go tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Sure!"

The two set a date and got up to leave.

* * *

When Ian got off the bus at the village stop on his way home, someone was rolling quickly toward him.

Not a rock—a person half-running, half-rolling.

'What, what the?'

The person came running from the opposite side of the road and, reaching Ian, fell flat on her stomach in a deep bow.

"Thank you so much!"

Saying this in a grandiose tone and style, the person slowly looked up—it was Haeyeon.

"Wait, what are you doing? Please, get up."

Ian, flustered, helped Haeyeon stand.

"Really, thank you. I was so grateful, I had to bow."

"Huh? For what?"

"What do you mean? Seven hundred thousand views! My video got over seven hundred thousand views! The channel's on fire—I'm famous now! It's all thanks to you, hero!"

Only then did Ian understand what was going on.

Haeyeon's video had become incredibly popular—something that never would have happened without Ian. She was full of gratitude.

This was a world where views instantly translated to money. At seven hundred thousand views, a deep bow was more than deserved, or so Ahn Bin's memories told Ian.

Come to think of it, it was five hundred thousand when he'd checked at the phone shop earlier, and already seventy thousand—an incredible rate of spread.

"Alright, I get it. Thanks for the gratitude."

Ian accepted the thanks and started to walk away, but Haeyeon quickly blocked his path again. She spoke with a determined look.

"Hero, please let me be your dedicated camera operator!"

Haeyeon bowed at a full ninety degrees as she asked.

Now that he looked at her, she actually had a dramatic flair—almost as if she was mimicking a historical drama.

And "Hero"? What kind of title was that?

'Hero? My name's not "Hero"...'

At that moment, a memory from Ahn Bin bubbled up.

'What? There's a famous singer named "Hero"?'

Anyway, the "Hero" title was funny, but for now Ian decided to set that aside and ask the necessary question.

"Dedicated camera operator?"

"Yes. I want to keep making videos of your exploits and uploading them. That's the only way my channel will survive."

"What exploits?"

"Anything at all! I'll follow you around and record whatever you do."

"You want to follow me?"

"No, no—I don't mean I'm going to stalk you, just when you go hunting! Please?"

Haeyeon pleaded even more earnestly.

Ian paused to think.

Haeyeon's video going viral was actually a good thing.

'Not a student, not a repeater, but just an unemployed young woman... She must have felt so stifled out here in the countryside, having given up on college and with no job.'

Ahn Bin's memories empathized with the pain of an unemployed youth, and Ian could understand too.

'If it helped her, that's good. The more the villagers succeed, the better for me, too.'

A dedicated camera operator? Not bad.

Of course, it wasn't only for Haeyeon's benefit—it could actually help Ian.

He planned to make appropriate use of this newfound thing called fame that he'd gained on Earth.

'There might be messages I'll need to spread far and wide one day. Like a priest relaying the word of God, or an official spreading the lord's decrees, I may well need a channel of my own.'

This world had a medium perfectly suited to that purpose: the internet.

With Haeyeon's channel already popular, he could use it as needed.

"Alright. You can be my dedicated camera operator."

"Wow! Really? You mean it?"

Haeyeon's face immediately brightened.

"But you have to stick to the conditions."

"Yes! Of course I will. What are they?"

"You can't just follow me around anytime—you only come when I say you can. Also, you can only shoot and post videos that I approve."

"Understood! I'll never cross the line, I promise."

Haeyeon answered energetically, heart pounding.

'Wow, I actually got permission? I'm the Mount Jiri Hero's dedicated camera operator!'

Haeyeon, who helped run her parents' restaurant in the mountains, had big dreams.

To become a famous video creator.

That's what launched her channel, all about Mount Jiri.

She posted videos every day, rain or shine, but her view counts were dismal.

But then, all of a sudden—a famous channel, all because she filmed this handsome Hero.

'Ah, I love it. I get to indulge my fan-heart and make money too.'

Her mouth stretched into a broad grin; she was so happy she felt lightheaded.

"Oh, so does this mean you can go to Seoul tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow... Seoul?"

Haeyeon's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Seoul was a terrifying place now, where monsters could appear at any time.

But with the Mount Jiri Hero, of course she could go.

"Yes! I can, hero!"

"Then let's go. And please, stop calling me 'Hero'."

At Ian's words, Haeyeon's mouth snapped shut.

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