I headed straight to the Hero Association where my big sis was waiting, right after my phone got smashed.
I had to talk with her eventually, and using my broken phone as an excuse would only make things worse later.
The one fortunate thing was that when I answered the call earlier, she openly showed her anger instead of calmly saying "it's fine."
Why is her showing anger fortunate?
A few years ago, a sleazy reporter tried to link me to politics with some tabloid rumors.
What was it again? Something about me being able to work as an S-Class Hero because I had political backing.
My big sis's reaction then was truly...
Terrifyingly calm.
"It's okay. I'll handle this, Hyun. You just keep doing what you normally do."
With a smile on her face, she said that—then proceeded to take control of everything from the broadcasting company's funding sources to the reporter's background, sending the journalist who published that malicious article straight to hell.
Even now, I get chills remembering how she calmly sorted through documents while that reporter knelt before her in the Director's Office, begging for mercy after everything was over.
*There's a reason the Chairman wants to make her the next Chairman.*
She complains that she wouldn't take the position even if offered, but from where I stand, there's no one more qualified.
Anyway, I'd rather face her open anger and scolding than try to slip past it and end up in a one-on-one meeting with my truly angry big sis.
Of course, she wouldn't send me to hell like that reporter.
Still, having a face-to-face meeting with my big sis while she smiles and calmly expresses her anger is something I really, REALLY don't want to experience, even if it kills me.
*Just being in the same room feels like my soul is being shaved away.*
I shuddered just thinking about it.
Thinking I should get there as quickly as possible, I pressed the accelerator a little harder than usual.
Since I traveled this route daily, I arrived 20 minutes earlier than the navigation's estimated time. I parked my car in the parking lot and headed straight up to the Director's Office.
Outside the Director's Office, Yu Chae-Ah, my big sis's Sidekick, was sitting at her desk, occasionally glancing toward the office.
Hearing my footsteps, Chae-Ah turned toward me, widening her eyes and glaring.
*What on earth did you do to make the Director so angry!*
That's what her expression said. I gave her an awkward smile, and after looking me over, she rubbed her face and got up to go to the Director's Office.
Knock knock—
"Um... Director. S-Class Hero Choi Hyun is—"
["—Tell him to come in."]
"Yes, ma'am."
Chae-Ah, full of tension, turned around and strode toward me.
Unlike my big sis, Chae-Ah was usually grumbling by nature, so I blinked nervously, wondering if she was going to scold me. Instead, she examined the bandages covering my face with a worried expression.
"...Are your eyes okay?"
"Huh? Oh, they're fine. Just needed a few stitches."
I didn't expect her to worry about me.
Genuinely surprised, I answered a beat late, and Chae-Ah, looking up at me with a blank expression, let out a deep sigh.
"Haah... Seriously, be more careful when you work. Do you know how anxious we get when you're the only Hero who keeps getting injured while everyone else is fine?"
"I get enough nagging from my big sis, so please just let it go."
"I'm showing genuine concern and this is what I get... Anyway, if you're fine, hurry up and go in. The Director is extremely upset, and you have no idea how much I've had to tiptoe around."
"Alright, alright."
...I treat her like a little sister and this is how she treats me.
I wonder if this is how my big sis feels when I talk back to her.
Feeling strangely annoyed but not really upset, I scratched my head and opened the door to the Director's Office.
The Director's Office was quieter than usual.
That made it even scarier.
*I'm really screwed, aren't I?*
Swallowing nervously, I closed the door behind me and saw my big sis sitting on the sofa, drinking tea.
With a completely calm expression, even eating snacks.
"You're here? How are your injuries?"
She sounded furious on the phone earlier, but now she seemed unnervingly calm.
"What the hell, am I totally screwed?"
Faced with my big sis's completely unexpected demeanor, I blurted out my true thoughts.
I caught myself too late and shut my mouth, but the words had already escaped.
As I swallowed nervously and watched her reaction, my big sis, who had been quietly looking at me, rubbed her forehead with a deep sigh.
"I'm not that angry, so come sit down."
"Are you really not angry?"
"Yes. I'm really not angry. Or would you prefer if your big sis got angry at you?"
Ugh, no thanks.
I immediately shook my head and sat down across from her.
"Okay... Let's get one thing clear before we talk. I'm not going to lecture you about disobeying my orders."
I blinked in surprise at this unexpected statement.
"Really?"
"From the moment Sia was involved, I didn't expect you to listen to me anyway."
"Then why did you yell at me on the phone?"
"I was genuinely angry then. The Chairman kept pushing the Vice Chairman position on me, that slick broadcasting station director was spouting nonsense just to get a scoop... And then the report came in saying you were injured, so I was really, really upset."
"Ah..."
"So I momentarily lost control of my emotions and yelled. It ended up looking like I was taking out stress from elsewhere on you. I'll apologize for that part. I'm sorry."
Only then did I realize she wasn't really angry, and I scratched my cheek.
"No, it's... I was wrong too for ignoring orders and rushing to the scene to save my friend."
"Yes. But I'm still going to discipline you. No matter how much you're an S-Class Hero or my close brother, disobeying orders is a serious matter."
"Is it going to be a suspension?"
No way, I thought as I asked, but my big sis nodded.
Is this for real?
"Sia's isolation measures and Kaiju registration will be processed today. Your suspension will be processed along with it by tomorrow, so take some time off at home with Sia for a while."
"Um... I'm grateful, but I'm a bit surprised."
It might sound like I'm complaining about good fortune, but I was sincere.
Even S-Class Heroes can't do whatever they want. If they could, society would have collapsed long ago.
*Honestly, I violated orders knowing I'd accept whatever punishment came my way...*
I couldn't understand what she was thinking with this measure.
It was something the usual big sis would never do.
As I looked at her with these thoughts, she quietly drank her tea, set down the cup, and said:
"Does it seem strange that I'm being too lenient?"
"...Yes."
When I answered honestly, my big sis chuckled.
"I like your honesty. Anyway, I have my reasons for this disciplinary action."
"I figured you'd have your reasons since you said so, but it's a bit hard to understand."
My big sis nodded at my response.
"First of all, people don't know that you and Sia knew each other before. At most, they know you've been in and out of the hospital where Sia was, and that's not enough to say 'these two were acquainted from before!' Right?"
"That's true. Checking on the condition of someone who became a Kaiju is also part of a Hero's job."
"That's a nice way of saying surveillance, but anyway, let's move on."
With a deep sigh, my big sis leaned back against the sofa.
From that position, she pointed at me and said:
"Then, from the perspective of people who don't know about your relationship with Sia, if you, who received a suspension, become responsible for Sia's isolation, what do you think people will think?"
"That I received the suspension to isolate Sia...?"
"Exactly. From the perspective of people who don't know anything, that's how it would look."
My big sis nodded and continued, resting her chin on her hand.
"And second. This incident has revealed Sia's dangerousness to the world. A monster that can instantly kill Kaiju over 3M tall and even injure an S-Class Hero."
"Sia is..."
"I know what you want to say. That Sia isn't the kind of person who would hurt or kill others? That this incident happened unavoidably?"
I was speechless as my big sis understood everything I wanted to say before I could even start, so I just nodded.
Sighing once more, she crossed her arms and continued.
"But people won't see it that way. They won't want such a dangerous creature near them, nor would they want to live with one."
"...That's true."
It was painful to admit, but it was all true.
Considering how long it took for Mr. Park Gwang-Deok, the centipede Kaiju who never caused any trouble, to settle down, I wondered how long it would take for Sia, whose incident had spread through the news.
"That's why I'm processing Sia's isolation along with your suspension. If while you're in charge of Sia's isolation, Sia doesn't have any problems and doesn't cause any problems?"
"...People will think Sia is safe."
"More precisely, they'll think that Sia is safe when you're with her."
"Oh..."
"What do you think of your big sis's insight?"
My big sis said with a small smile.
To be honest, she looked really cool.