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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Memory
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Memory.
Memory is like sticky syrup; if you close your eyes and stay still, one by one, memories resurface on their own.
And it's the same for everyone.
Even for heroes with immense power, there's no exception.
"No. You can do it."
"You owe me one this time, right?"
"...My hero is acting like this, of course I had to come."
"...."
Sometimes, old memories would reappear to her, borrowing the form of dreams. Just like today.
"....It's raining."
Shin Haru, who had gotten up and was leaning against the bed, briefly ruminating on the old memories from her dream. She suddenly looked at the window beside her and muttered to herself without realizing it.
The sky, steeped in damp gray, was drizzling rain.
It was the kind of weather where something felt like it was about to happen.
"....Should I go to the Association?"
Shin Haru, who had been replaying memories in her mind while still in bed, shook off her thoughts and got up.
It was weather that gave her an ominous feeling, but it was probably just her imagination.
With those thoughts, she arrived at the Association and sat in her office.
A few hours later, the siren announcing a state of emergency began to blare from the Association.
Her ominous premonition, as expected, had not been wrong.
***
Inside the Korean Association building, the largest space was the Emergency Response Headquarters.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that chaos reigned there.
"Damn it! What's the situation now!"
This control center, a vast space filled with numerous monitors and a single colossal screen.
The Association President rushed in, shouting his question.
In response to his words, a staff member, sitting with a tense expression, gazing at the monitors, spoke urgently without taking their eyes off the screen.
"....It's not good! Currently, countless marine monsters are launching aerial attacks on coastlines near major cities in various countries, and their numbers are too significant to ignore!"
"What about our country?"
"...It's likely to be soon!"
"Damn it, why do all these kinds of incidents have to erupt during my term?"
As the Association President wailed as if wronged, the office door opened, and Stardust rushed in.
"President, I heard the news and came. What exactly is happening?"
To her, who asked with a hardened expression, the Association President wiped the sweat from his forehead and explained.
"...A group called Latice, presumed to be a villain organization from North America, has declared war on the entire world. Their claim is that the sea is superior to land, and thus, they must expand the ocean. And with that, they are simultaneously attacking the coastlines of major countries. And we'll probably be next soon! Have you ever seen such crazy psychopaths!"
The Association President, seemingly enraged as he spoke, trembled and shouted in agitation. Soon, he started coughing as if he'd choked, frantically searching for water. In his stead, another Association agent began explaining to Stardust, pointing at a monitor.
"Their leader is a man named Atlas, who seems to possess the ability to transform marine life into monsters. Currently, monsters are invading the coastlines of the American continent and Europe, and their numbers are staggering."
As soon as he finished speaking, a video played on the colossal screen on the wall.
It showed giant squids and strange creatures relentlessly attacking coastal cities.
Watching it, Stardust's face grew even more serious.
....The numbers are too great.
"According to the North American and European Associations, who were attacked first, invasions are coming from multiple directions within a single country, and the damage is growing progressively worse!"
"The more coastline a country has, the larger the scale of the invasion is said to be!"
And from various parts of the control center, urgent voices of Association agents could be heard.
At this news, the Association President clutched his remaining hair, lamenting his fate, and began issuing orders.
"Haa... Damn it. Immediately gather all B-rank heroes and below, and contact Icicle to tell them to defend Busan. Shadow Walker is no help right now, and Stardust needs to know where the attacks are occurring from here before departing, so wait a moment."
"...Understood."
Stardust replied briefly, then looked over the situation board again.
A massive sky-blue world map displayed on a large screen.
And on it, red dots were scattered here and there.
In contrast to Asia, which was clear, the red dots were blinking mainly along the coastlines of the Americas and Europe. Those were likely the areas currently under invasion.
And those red dots began to appear, one by one, further to the east as well.
"Attacks have now begun in India as well!"
And simultaneously with the urgent cry of the Association agent, red dots began to appear on several Indian coastlines on the world map.
At the same time, urgent shouts from agents began to echo from various parts of the control center.
"Aerial attacks have reportedly begun in the Philippines and Vietnam!"
As soon as he finished speaking, urgent shouts immediately erupted from beside him.
"Attacks have finally begun in China as well!! Aerial attacks are now starting directly opposite our West Sea!"
"The Japanese Association has also issued an air raid warning!!! Major metropolitan strongholds on the island are reportedly under attack!"
As their words ended, countless red dots began to rapidly appear all over the world map.
Now, there was hardly a country bordering the sea that didn't have red dots attached, causing dismay.
To that extent, the clouds of war began to gather within the Association as well.
"....Everyone, get ready. Keep your eyes peeled and watch carefully where the invasion begins!"
Following the Association President's stern warning, a suffocating silence ensued.
Everyone began to wait, filled with tension, for the aerial attacks that would soon begin somewhere in the nation.
One anxious minute passed.
Three minutes passed.
Ten minutes passed.
"....Damn it, why aren't they showing up? Is it a delayed attack?"
The Association President muttered, nervously tapping his foot.
Agents, including Stardust, remained on standby, their bodies even more tense.
Thirty minutes passed.
Around an hour passed.
"....Something's strange."
The Association headquarters, which had been filled with tension just moments ago, was now filled with bewilderment.
"What's the situation now?"
"Yes. Aerial attacks are reportedly continuing in major developed countries. Heroes on the ground are scrambling to defend. Japan, in particular, seems to be suffering even greater damage because it's surrounded by sea."
"...No, Japan, right next to us, is being attacked from all sides like a relentless hunt, so why haven't they come for us yet?"
As the Association President grumbled, Stardust alone felt something was off.
...Does it make sense that every other country is being attacked right now, but our country alone is experiencing a delayed assault?
However, since it was still unknown, everyone remained tense.
Thus, ten hours passed.
"President, the sun is setting."
"President. Latice is now retreating from various parts of the world. It seems the terror attack has ended."
"...Should we just go home?"
And in the end, South Korea was not attacked.
***
[(Column) Latice's Global Invasion Ends... Why Was South Korea the Only Country Not Attacked?]
The entire world was deeply scarred.
Countless coastal nations were attacked by the global-scale terror of the villain organization Latice.
Black smoke billowed everywhere, and numerous coastal cities crumbled.
Reports are even emerging that Japan, our immediate neighbor, has suffered astronomical losses.
Many countries, including the United States and Europe, experienced invasions; while they all managed to repel them, they incurred significant losses in the process.
However, one strange point was that our country was not attacked.
While every other nation grappled with shelling and ruin, no unidentified aquatic monstrous creatures were confirmed in South Korea.
What could be the reason?
The reason is unknown, but it is truly nothing short of a miracle.
-Reporter Kim Hwan-seok
=[Comments]=
[Reporter, WTF, I read this to find out the reason, but you say you don't know it?]
[LOL, I also turned on the news, thinking there was another terror attack, and was surprised, but then I was bewildered that nothing happened LOL]
[The world is in chaos, so why is only South Korea peaceful? It's fascinating.]
[What kind of luck is this, seriously LOL]
[....? What happened while I was at work?]
The invasion was over.
The terror that had swept across the entire globe for half a day ended as abruptly as it began, with all marine monsters simultaneously returning to the sea.
After they departed, only destroyed cities remained. While the Associations worldwide were working tirelessly, as if they needed ten bodies, for post-war recovery.
The Korean Hero Association, however, was simply idle.
"....I don't know what it is, but it's truly a godsend! Hahaha, do the kids these days call this 'nuclear profit'? Hahahahahaha!"
The Association President was simply thrilled to have less work, and the staff were genuinely relieved that no terror attack had occurred.
And standing behind them was Stardust.
She too let out a sigh of relief, yet she felt a sense of bewilderment deep down.
...Why on earth was South Korea the only country not attacked?
"Why, indeed...."
Just as she was pondering this.
Suddenly, from one side of the Association, a staff member's loud voice rang out.
"President! Egostic has posted an announcement!"
"...Egostic? Why is he suddenly coming up now? And what announcement?"
As the Association President looked bewildered.
Stardust had already accessed the Egostream website faster than anyone else.
And there it was, a post clearly visible on the announcement board.
(new!)[Egostream X Other Villain Alliance Partnership Announcement]