Chapter 36
K-mart was attacked by villains. The villains wearing masks were pointing guns at citizens.
"Don't move until the heroes arrive. Move and you die."
In the front door, back door, fitting rooms, bathrooms. Hidden masked villains suddenly appeared, controlling citizens with guns.
Click-
"If you don't want to die either, lie down."
"..."
"You’re not going to lie down quickly?"
The scale of terrorism is bigger than expected. They seem quite prepared.
So, I lay down as told by the one who appeared behind me. Then, Hwaryeon erupted like a volcano with anger.
-Why are they ordering us?! Dad, beat them up! I don't like them!
I quietly lowered my voice and muttered.
"...Not yet."
-Why?!
"We don't know their purpose yet."
I can't understand their purpose. From the brief training I got after becoming a hero, you need to know what the opponent wants to resolve the situation in terrorist situations.
So, they told us to refrain from unnecessary movement until we knew.
"What could their purpose be...?"
Suryeon answered my mumbling.
-Probably heroes like you, dad.
Her tone was certain.
-If they wanted to kill humans, there'd be no reason to call heroes. They would've killed them already. So they obviously don't want the mart's goods either. What these weird underwear-wearing humans want is heroes like you, dad. They're just holding regular humans hostage to gain the upper hand.
"..."
Suryeon poured out words like a waterfall. I perfectly understood what she meant. Probably...
"Ahem, actually I knew that too. You're right, Suryeon."
-I never say wrong things, dad.
"Yeah, it seems that way."
As expected of my smart daughter. I would've patted Suryeon thoroughly if only my hands were free. I can't help but resent that gun-wielding guy.
"What are you looking at? Stop muttering and stay quiet."
"..."
I'll deal with you later, though that pistol wouldn't hurt me at all. For now, I should pretend to be a civilian.
I sighed and decided to quietly observe the situation.
"You all stay quiet too. This is a serious situation."
-Don't order me around!
-I know.
-Yes!
Choryeon's response is the best as always.
Anyway. I lowered my body and quietly watched their actions.
They made all citizens one with the floor and were having some conversation.
"...I can't hear what they're saying."
-Father, I'll have my friends listen!
Choryeon said that and briefly left the bag, opening her mouth.
-Friends! Please go listen to what those people are saying!
Choryeon commanded her spirit friends that I couldn't see. Then, she quickly hid back in the bag.
-Now my friends will go listen!
"They're really friends, right Choryeon?"
-Of course! What do you take my friendship for?!
After Choryeon's small outcry...
While staying one with the floor, Choryeon's friend must have completed the mission, as she spoke to me.
-Father, my friend told me!
"What were they saying?"
-They said 'When the heroes arrive, shoot all the citizens dead!'
"And?"
-And, the bomb is a lie! They said when everyone's distracted by the bomb, they'll escape in the chaos!
"..."
So they're determined to commit terrorism, against citizens at that.
Maybe because they're wearing masks, I thought they looked too pathetic. Unlike their appearance, they seem to have more dangerous intentions.
'...I can't handle this scale alone.'
If I move, they'll shoot citizens immediately. The villains' goal is to kill citizens in front of heroes.
This won't do. We need to resolve this before heroes enter the building.
"Hwaryeon. Will you help dad?"
-I don't listen to humans weaker than me!
"This is really fun though? Really?"
-If it's fun, I'll do it!
Hwaryeon seemed excited and poked out of the bag.
"Not yet."
I held Hwaryeon back and explained the plan.
Whisper whisper-
After hearing the plan, Hwaryeon answered like it would be fun.
-Okay! I'll specially listen to dad's request!
Thank goodness. I was worried what would happen if moody Hwaryeon refused, but it seemed she'd follow my plan since it looked fun.
"..."
-When do we start?! I'm bored!
We lay there quietly, waiting for the right timing to start the operation.
"Now should be good."
-I'm doing it now!
"Let's do it, Hwaryeon."
-Graaah!
Hwaryeon jumped out of the bag and opened her mouth wide. Then, she shot a fireball toward the ceiling.
Whoosh-!
"What's that?"
"Who is it?!"
I took advantage of the villains' distraction to get up. And Hwaryeon's fireball...
Bang-!!
Covered the mart in intense light like fireworks. I rushed at the guy controlling me and threw a punch.
"Pulling out a gun in front of kids?"
I’ll show him no mercy.
I planted my fist in his abdomen.
"Aagh-!!"
The masked man took my punch and fell to his knees. However, he didn't lose consciousness.
'I hit him seriously. Is this guy an awakened too?'
Maybe he just has a bit of mana in his body. He’s probably not a high-grade awakened, though. I kicked the kneeling guy in the head.
Thud-!
Finally, he completely lost consciousness and collapsed.
'I need to handle this quickly while everyone's confused.'
First priority is my children's safety. Second is my safety. Third is the citizens' lives.
If the villains have their purpose, I have mine too. Thinking practically, I ran toward the gun-wielding villains throwing punches.
"You bastards! I was trying to finish shopping with my daughter and go home! Why are you making things harder for me?!"
They’re so pathetically weak. Why are they trying to do such useless things? Their actions made no sense, and the dragons seemed to feel the same way.
Before I knew it, Hwaryeon had crawled out of the bag and was tapping the fallen villains' heads with her front paw.
-You're no fun! There was one strong human! Why did they disappear and leave only you guys?! Take this! Take that! Weak humans die!
"Ugh..."
It looks like one-sided bullying, though. I told Hwaryeon to get back in for her safety, then tried to look for the next target.
However…
"Ow, my eyes... Was that you just now?"
"...Yeah, that was me."
Click-
The last masked man was pointing a gun at me.
He glared at me with fierce eyes and asked.
"My eyes hurt like hell... Are you a hero?"
"No?"
"Then what are you?"
"I'm a dad."
I’m just a dad shopping with my dragon kids. The guy pointing the gun laughed in disbelief.
"Bullshit... That physical enhancement! You must be a high-grade hero...! Otherwise, my comrades couldn't have ended up like this...!!"
It seems they were all awakened villains, though none were skilled. They’re probably the tail end of villains trying to cause chaos by killing citizens.
"Die!!"
He pulled the trigger, spewing killing intent at me one last time.
Ting-!
But the bullet didn't penetrate my body. Of course not.
My body is a premium one filled with dragon mana.
I slowly walked toward the panicking guy.
"Come here."
"Th-these bullets were supposed to work even on B-rank heroes...!! W-why aren't they working...?!!"
"Either you got scammed, or my body's just tough. One or the other. Don't run away and come here!"
I ran toward the guy who was backing away in fear.
And by the time the summoned heroes entered, the situation was already resolved.
I had stuffed the big adult guys in the cart and told the heroes who were making 'what's going on' faces,
"I stopped the terrorism. Do I get a good reward?"
I worked on my day off. So, I should get paid.
***
They said that all the villains were taken to jail under the Association's guidance.
"Recently, crime rates have been rising with the appearance of villain organizations. The villain atmosphere isn't good. Please be careful on your way back."
According to the Association staff, crime rates spike dramatically whenever villain groups form, and drop when they're disbanded.
However, this is the first time there's been such indiscriminate large-scale terrorism against citizens.
"These movements are increasing recently... There's no more easy times now that I'm here."
That's too bad. Feeling regretful, I pulled the cart full of items toward home. They were items provided free by K-mart for stopping the terrorism. They also put lots of gift certificates in my pocket.
"They even gave me a cart to easily take home what I bought. I should have bought more."
-That's what I'm saying! I told you we should buy more tasty things!
I wanted to knock some sense into her when she was throwing tantrums at the mart. But looking back now, maybe that level was forgivable.
"Hwaryeon really is a dragon."
-Of course, I'm totally a dragon!
Proudly-
Hwaryeon popped out of the bag in the cart. She came all the way out to look around.
-The strong person ran away, but! Today was still fun!
"I wonder what that person came for."
-Don't know! They just watched and ran away!
"...That's a bit concerning."
It doesn't feel like things wrapped up cleanly. It feels like there's something fishy behind this. Though I hope it has nothing to do with me.
After all, I just want to make lots of money and live peacefully with them.
"Suryeon, Choryeon. How was today for you? Was it fun?"
-It was okay despite the interruption.
-I had fun! Let's come together again next time!
"...I'll think about that later."
Still.
Despite the incident in the middle, I'm glad they enjoyed themselves.
The dragons had come out of the cart before I noticed. I pulled the full cart, walking toward the setting crimson sun. Evening had fallen without us realizing.
'It's already this late?'
I didn't notice the time passing. Time seemed to flow quickly when I was with my children.
Maybe that means today was a fun day.