Chapter 31: The Shadow That Saves

The water’s surface was calm. Lee Soo-hyun also remained completely still. He simply stared beneath the water. At his feet was something like a rubber mat.

“You know, there’s no rule saying we actually have to go into the water.”

At those words, Sung Ji-woo immediately looked up at the scoreboard. Lee Soo-hyun’s score was rapidly climbing.

“If no one enters the water, then all I have to do is turn on the electricity.”

Meaning the surface—despite looking perfectly normal—was currently electrified. For the next ten minutes, Yoo Hee-ro and Sung Ji-woo could only stare helplessly at the scoreboard.

“And with the remaining time, I just have to beat them up. Five minutes is plenty.”

With his enhanced physique, Kim Yoo-cheol could easily stay underwater for five minutes without breathing. Yoo Hee-ro, who had to surface to breathe, was at an inherent disadvantage.

“…….”

After thinking it over, Sung Ji-woo finally hardened his expression, as if reaching a decision.

*******************

“Let’s stop.”

“…What?”

After Lee Soo-hyun’s turn ended, the two mentors were given a strategy break. And Sung Ji-woo suddenly told Yoo Hee-ro they should stop. As if he had misheard, Yoo Hee-ro stared blankly.

“What you’ve done so far is enough. This is a performance review. And I think you’ve already shown outstanding results.”

Sung Ji-woo calmly laid out his reasoning. Yoo Hee-ro hesitated, then nodded as if accepting it.

“So don’t let those two push you around. Go test how far your power can reach. You’re someone meant to play in much bigger waters than this.”

By “let’s stop,” Sung Ji-woo didn’t mean they should literally give up and do nothing. He meant there was no need to desperately cling to victory in this tiny, trivial match. Someone like Yoo Hee-ro shouldn’t waste himself on things like this.

“…Okay. I will.”

Yoo Hee-ro answered obediently, a faint smile touching his lips. The more he got to know Sung Ji-woo, the more fascinating he found him.

Three contestants stepped onto the starting line. When the signal sounded, the only one who plunged into the water was Lee Soo-hyun.

He flailed helplessly underwater. Kim Yoo-cheol had yelled at him to do it physically if he couldn’t use his ability. Since they assumed Yoo Hee-ro would immediately dive in like Lee Soo-hyun, Yoo-cheol was thrown off when Hee-ro stood upright on the line without moving.

“What are you doing? The match started, idiot.”

Thinking Hee-ro simply hadn’t realized the match began, Yoo-cheol even tried kindly informing him. But Hee-ro didn’t react at all.

During the previous break, Yoo Hee-ro had turned on all of the pool’s lights, which had been only half-lit.

As the light grew stronger, shadows grew thicker. Just by standing near the pool, a dense shadow hovered over the water. Time ticked away, and Hee-ro played with his shadow, trying various things as if toying with it.

Meanwhile, Lee Soo-hyun poured every ounce of strength into approaching the sensor, desperately trying to whack it using his whole body.

Physical contact also counted toward points, so his score slowly accumulated. But Yoo Hee-ro didn’t care and focused solely on sending his shadow under the surface.

Everyone except Sung Ji-woo stared in confusion at Hee-ro, who seemed uninterested in competing.

“…Honestly, if you’re gonna act like that, that’s great for us.”

“Five minutes remaining.”

The announcement signaling Kim Yoo-cheol’s entry thundered across the arena.

BOOM!

With incredible force, Yoo-cheol shot underwater like a bullet. A massive splash erupted, and in seconds he reached the sensor. Every time his fist—hardened like steel—struck the device, a deep thud echoed.

Yoo Hee-ro’s eyes sharpened. He stopped playing with his own shadow.

Instead, he began moving Kim Yoo-cheol’s shadow. The movement was so subtle that Yoo-cheol didn’t notice.

The question was: Would an attack done through Yoo-cheol’s shadow count as Hee-ro’s points?

Hee-ro watched his stagnant scoreboard carefully. Then he tapped the sensor using Yoo-cheol’s shadow.

The score increased.

The sensor detected Hee-ro’s ability within the shadow.

He could have restricted Yoo-cheol’s movements entirely, but there was no reason to. Total points also affected rankings, so letting the other two rack up points while he narrowed the gap was more efficient.

Yoo-cheol’s shadow betrayed him, moving in subtle defiance. Watching Hee-ro’s slowly rising score, Sung Ji-woo realized he was doing something.

The arena had never been so quiet—understandable, since its loudest participant had gone underwater.

“…Why isn’t he coming up?”

A teacher standing beside Sung Ji-woo frowned suspiciously. By now, Soo-hyun should have surfaced for air. Unlike Yoo-cheol, he had no ability to expand lung capacity.

Realizing something was wrong, Sung Ji-woo looked toward the underwater cameras. Soo-hyun was thrashing violently.

“…Isn’t this dangerous?”

The person gripping Soo-hyun’s ankle—preventing him from surfacing—was Kim Yoo-cheol. With only about a minute left, he seemed to be telling Soo-hyun to suck it up and keep attacking.

That lunatic.

Sung Ji-woo’s face hardened. He crouched as if prepared to jump in at any second.

Soo-hyun was clutching his throat now, coughing underwater. Bubbles burst from his lips.

“A—ah…!”

At that moment, Yoo-cheol released his ankle, apparently realizing there was no point in restraining him anymore.

Thirty seconds remained.

Sung Ji-woo let out a breath of relief as Soo-hyun reached for the safety rope—

—but he stretched too desperately, the rope drifted with the current, slipping from his grasp.

He reached again—and suddenly curled in on himself, clutching his ankle in pain. A cramp.

Yoo-cheol, focused only ahead, didn’t notice a thing. Soo-hyun seemed unable to move and barely conscious. His breathing bubbles scattered wildly.

Sung Ji-woo shot to his feet. He knew he wasn’t supposed to intervene, but he couldn’t just watch someone drown.

“He hasn’t sent the rescue signal yet.”

The teacher’s cold voice stopped him. They had agreed beforehand that the rescue signal was a thumbs-up. And indeed, Soo-hyun hadn’t signaled.

Rescue signal my ass—he’s about to die—!

“If you intervene, he’ll be disqualified. And for minimum safety guarantee, we—”

Ignoring the teacher, Sung Ji-woo stepped off the judge’s platform—

—and Yoo Hee-ro watched the entire scene unfold.

SPLASH.

Someone dove into the water.

“…!”

It was Yoo Hee-ro.

**********************

At some point, Yoo Hee-ro had realized Sung Ji-woo wasn’t watching him anymore—but watching Soo-hyun.

His mood plummeted.

He stopped attacking completely and just stared at Sung Ji-woo. But Sung Ji-woo didn’t notice him at all. Whatever chaos happened underwater, Hee-ro didn’t care—but Sung Ji-woo’s changing expressions snagged all his attention.

Why does he care so much? What’s so special about that kid?

Objectively, Lee Soo-hyun had no value. There was nothing about him that should interest Sung Ji-woo.

Objectively speaking—and from Sung Ji-woo’s perspective—Yoo Hee-ro was superior in every way.

He’s about to jump in.

Sung Ji-woo was seconds away from diving to save Soo-hyun. The teacher whispered something beside him.

No need for further thought.

There was no way Yoo Hee-ro would let Sung Ji-woo be the one to save him.

He dove in without hesitation. In seconds, he snatched Soo-hyun and dragged him up to the surface. Soo-hyun hung limply in his grasp, pulled ashore like a rag doll.

********************

Yoo Hee-ro… saved Lee Soo-hyun?

It was a scenario Sung Ji-woo had never imagined. He stared in disbelief.

[GAME OVER]

The whistle blew, but it didn’t matter.

Yoo Hee-ro saved someone. He saved a person.

He, of all people.

Soo-hyun coughed violently.

“Cough—cough!”

He spat out water, clutching his throat. Yoo Hee-ro simply stood there, staring down at him as if his job was finished.

“Th-thank you…”

Once he regained a little strength, Soo-hyun grabbed his savior’s arm, trembling. The fact that his savior was Yoo Hee-ro didn’t even register—he was simply grateful to be alive.

“……”

Thinking perhaps he had misjudged him all this time, Soo-hyun slowly lifted his head. Under the bright indoor lights, Yoo Hee-ro’s expression was… still utterly cold.

Soo-hyun felt like a debtor facing a ruthless loan shark after failing to repay millions. Hee-ro looked like the kind of man who wouldn’t blink even if someone died at his feet.

A chill crawled up his spine. Goosebumps erupted. He wasn’t sure if he trembled from the cold or from the terrifying man before him.

Struggling, Soo-hyun tried to stand. Yoo-cheol, who had just climbed out of the pool, still hadn’t processed what had happened.

“…Huh?”

At that moment, Yoo Hee-ro extended a hand toward Soo-hyun.

Soo-hyun tried to say he was fine. But Hee-ro’s sharp, threatening gaze said Take it or else. So he placed his hand gently into Hee-ro’s.

Without even seeming to exert effort, Hee-ro lifted him like he weighed nothing. Too light, in fact—Soo-hyun nearly toppled over from the momentum. Confused, he let Hee-ro steady him.

“You saved him?”

Sung Ji-woo’s voice came from behind. Yoo Hee-ro shot him a glare telling him to get lost. Soo-hyun quickly moved aside.

Hee-ro’s stiff face instantly softened.

“You—why did you suddenly decide to save him?”

With the rescued victim right there, Sung Ji-woo focused on a completely different point. Soo-hyun blinked in bafflement.

Sung Ji-woo fully turned his back on Soo-hyun and clasped Yoo Hee-ro’s hands tightly.

“I just… felt like I should.”

Soo-hyun silently disagreed. Yoo Hee-ro was not someone who acted because he “felt like he should.”

But Sung Ji-woo accepted the words as truth, his expression full of awe.

“…Really?”

“…Yes.”

He looked at him the way one would gaze at a magnificent hero.

Then Sung Ji-woo’s eyes widened as if seeing something in midair.

***********************

[You have successfully guided <The Destroyer of Worlds> onto the right path.]

[Title acquired: <Guide of Peace>. S-rank Support Skill unlocked.]

[The quest “Save the World” is automatically transferred to Yoo Hee-ro, who has now been guided toward peace.]

[Upon quest completion, Yoo Hee-ro will receive the title <Protector of Peace>, and you will obtain additional rewards as the <Guide of Peace>.]

[Additional Rewards: Title <Guardian of Peace (Duo)>, stat upgrades, ability enhancements, new ability awakening, regressor’s…]