Hero’s Child C36

Chapter 36

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Ha Uichan never particularly liked heroes. The world was overflowing with villains wearing the skin of heroes, exploiting their titles for profit. During the Seolhyang Village Tragedy, the young Uichan had witnessed firsthand the hypocrisy of those so-called saviors—heroes who cared only for their own gain. That was when he learned the bitter truth: there were no true heroes in this world.

And yet, when he looked at Noah, that conviction sometimes wavered—washed blank and pure as snow. Watching him, Uichan began to realize that perhaps, somewhere in this world, there did exist heroes who helped others with no conditions or expectations at all.

“You’re heading to the Nonhier office, right? Mind if I walk with you?”

“Yes, but…”

“But?”

“I’d… prefer to walk slowly.”

The moment Uichan lifted his foot from where he stood, his body tilted to one side. Noah, startled, reached out quickly, but Uichan caught himself, stepping forward on the other foot and regaining balance.

Limp—

“……”

He walked with a limp toward Noah, stopping in front of him. Though his bones weren’t broken, each time he stretched his leg, the bandaged area throbbed under pressure, sapping his strength. Uichan wiped the sweat from his forehead and lifted his gaze to Noah.

The green pupils before him looked slightly larger than usual—dark, almost inky, their depths unsettlingly still. Just as Uichan began to notice that strange heaviness in Noah’s eyes, the man’s expression subtly changed.

Crash—!

A scream echoed nearby. Uichan turned sharply toward the sound. Store signs along the street were crumpling like empty cans. People screamed and scattered, covering their heads as chaos erupted.

But amid the pandemonium, Noah remained motionless. His eyes were wide open, his body rigid like stone. Uichan reached out and grabbed his arm.

“Noah!”

Crack—!

“Noah!”

There was no sign of awareness in him. Desperate, Uichan cupped Noah’s face in both hands and yanked him close.

“Min Noah, wake up!”

The contracted pupils suddenly dilated, and his face went blank. In that instant, the world fell silent.

The roaring winds stilled; the invisible force crushing the structures vanished as if it had never been. Everything held its breath. Noah, lost in confusion, stared blankly as if unable to comprehend what he had just done.

Uichan scanned their surroundings quickly, then took his arm and pulled him away. They slipped into a narrow alley nearby, hidden from the crowd. People on the street blinked and glanced around in confusion—no one thought to connect the sudden calamity to Noahtis.

Leaning back against the brick wall, Noah sank to the ground, elbows on his knees, clasped hands pressed to his forehead as he tried to catch his breath.

“…Who… who did that?”

Uichan’s chest tightened with unease. Was Noah’s sudden loss of control his fault somehow? When Uichan didn’t answer, Noah misunderstood the silence and abruptly rose, stepping closer.

“Is it someone you can’t talk about? Who was it…? Just tell me the name. I’ll take care of it.”

“No, that’s not what you think, Noah. I just… slipped on the stairs.”

“…That’s not a slip injury.”

Noah’s gaze fell sharply on Uichan’s thigh, exactly where the wound was hidden. When Uichan drew his leg back, Noah’s eyes shifted to his gloved hand instead. Uichan quickly tucked both hands behind him.

From somewhere nearby, sirens wailed—likely the Hero Association or the police arriving at the scene. A child, cradled in their parent’s arms, was being hurried away from the area. In the rush, the kid dropped something—an ice cream bar—which landed right at the mouth of the alley where Uichan stood. The sweet scent wafted through the air, and his stomach growled faintly.

Before it could rumble louder, Uichan hastily spoke.

“Um… I think it’s getting late. I should go to the office now.”

Noah’s brows furrowed. Even with his face drawn tight, he didn’t look frightening—perhaps because the green of his eyes seemed unusually dim, subdued with guilt.

He shut his eyes tightly and pressed a hand to his forehead, exhaling several deep breaths as if to calm himself. Then he reached out toward Uichan. Uichan flinched, thinking he might grab his arm to inspect the wound again, but instead—

A warm hand gently took his ungloved one.

“…Let’s go. I told you, I have business there too. And you look hungry, Uichan-hyung. Let’s get something to eat.”

Noah’s large hand enclosed Uichan’s with surprising gentleness. He didn’t squeeze, only guided him softly, nodding toward the end of the alley. Uichan blinked at their joined hands, then looked up at Noah before finally answering.

“Could it… not be food?”

“Why not? Is there something else you’d rather have?”

Uichan hesitated, then, deciding there was no use hiding it, nodded firmly. The babies seemed to crave something sweet again. He pressed a hand discreetly over his restless stomach. The sugary scent of ice cream still lingered faintly at his nose.

I’ll buy you ice cream. So please, stay quiet in there.

Before leaving the scene, Noah had confessed everything to the arriving Hero Association staff—that the disturbance had been his doing. He promised to arrange proper compensation and handed over his office card before bowing deeply from the waist in apology.

Then, taking Uichan’s hand, he led him toward the Nonhier office. Uichan thought they’d go straight inside, but instead, Noah seated him on a park bench across the street.

“Stay here a moment, okay? I’ll be right back.”

“I haven’t even said what I wanted to eat yet…”

Before Uichan could finish, Noah was already sprinting off. Uichan could only stare blankly at his retreating figure. A short while later, Noah came running back—breathless, his hair tousled, one hand holding a drink carrier and the other clutching a white plastic bag stamped with a convenience store logo. Inside the bag was a mountain of ice cream in every imaginable flavor.

“I thought you might’ve wanted this earlier.”

…Was that even possible? Uichan blinked, lips parting slightly. Unless Noah could read minds, there was no way he could’ve known exactly what Uichan—or rather, the babies—had been craving.

Seeing Uichan’s stunned face, Noah smiled and began placing the drinks and ice creams neatly beside him.

“This one’s really good. Try it first.”

“…Huh? Oh, sure.”

Noah inserted a straw and handed over one of the drinks. Caught off guard, Uichan took it and sipped. Of all things—it was the sweet chocolate drink the babies loved most. Seriously? How does he…?

The thick cocoa melted pleasantly over his tongue. Without realizing it, Uichan’s foot gave a tiny twitch of joy. Noticing it, Noah chuckled softly.

After a few more sips, Uichan glanced at the logo—it was from a well-known franchise café he often passed by. Maybe he should stop in there more often, he thought absently. Noah, meanwhile, tore open a red-bean ice cream bar and spoke suddenly.

“You’re really not going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

Biting into his ice cream, Noah tilted his head slightly.

“About the wound. Who did it? I could find out on my own, but… I’d rather hear it from you.”

“I told you—it was just a fall.”

“Funny, you said earlier it was on the stairs.”

“……”

There was no mistaking it—Noah was thorough, persistent, and curious to the core. Uichan cleared his throat softly and took another sip of his drink before muttering,

“I tripped on the stairs, grabbed the railing, and twisted my foot. That’s all.”

“…Ha. Still not buying it. Then let me ask this—can I investigate it anyway?”

“How? There’s no culprit.”

“Well… if I look hard enough, I’m sure one will turn up. I’ve got a pretty good guess already.”

Noah had already finished his first ice cream and was now opening another—a matcha flavor this time. Growing up alone under older parents had left him with oddly mature tastes for someone his age.

By the time Uichan finished his drink, Noah had eaten six ice creams. He tried to offer Uichan a milk-flavored one, but Uichan shook his head, worried that his babies might get picky about sweets later.

He sure eats well for his age.

At twenty, Noah was considered young, even among heroes. Most people entered the Hero Association after university, officially registering around twenty-five and working as sidekicks in major agencies. Noah was an exception—he had begun his career before eighteen.

That meant he had already seen all the ugliness and corruption of the industry. And yet… how could he still be this bright, this pure?

Uichan liked heroes who were truly righteous. Who wouldn’t? The image of Noah catching that child’s balloon earlier flashed through his mind. For that brief, radiant moment, it had been like a painting—one where the laughing child resembled the future children growing inside him.

Before he realized it, he spoke aloud.

“You’re good with kids, I noticed.”

“Earlier? Oh, you mean the balloon thing?”

Having just finished the milk ice cream Uichan had refused, Noah sighed as he peered into the now-empty bag. All the ice cream was gone. He set the bag aside and turned toward Uichan.

“Why do you ask?”

“Do you… like children?”

“Well, they’re cute and full of light. Maybe it’s because I grew up an only child, but I used to wish I had siblings. Maybe that’s why I like kids so much. Besides, they’re our future—how could anyone dislike them?”

His soft laughter and sincere tone left no doubt—Noah genuinely loved children. Uichan felt his palms grow damp.

“…Then, if you ever had a child of your own…”