Chapter 24: A Hero on the Way Home

It’s embarrassing to say, but my bank balance had never exceeded 10 million won.

No, maybe it had never even gone over 5 million won.

My earnings were low to begin with, and whatever I saved quickly drained away on living expenses.

But recently, that wasn’t the case.

After joining Myth Guild, my balance had become incredibly plump.

It had to be.

Because, aside from a bit of tax, a monthly salary of nearly 50 million won was deposited.

Ha…….

50 million won.

Me, who couldn’t even earn 500,000 a month, now making 50 million.

It made my heart pound with joy.

Of course, I had no intention of spending this money on myself.

I planned to use this huge sum solely for my daughter Eunbyeol.

“Wowww! So many toys!”

The toy store I visited with such thoughts.

The moment we entered the entrance, Eunbyeol let out a cheer.

Because the spacious store was packed full of toys.

“Daddy! Are you really buying Eunbyeol toys?”

“Of course.”

“Really really? Really really buying?”

“Even if you say that, haha.”

“Wowww! The best! Our Daddy is the best!”

Eunbyeol hugged my leg and rubbed her face against it.

She seemed overwhelmed with emotion at the thought of getting toys.

I’m touched too.

I was moved to the point of tears.

It had to be.

Unlike the past when living expenses were tight and I couldn’t buy her toys, now I could.

“Eunbyeol, buy lots of toys.”

“Lots? How many?”

“As many as Eunbyeol wants.”

“Really? Then can I buy two?”

“Haha, sure. Three is fine too.”

“Wowwwww! Our Daddy is really the best! The greatest! Our Daddy is the best! Hurray! The coolest man in the world!”

Eunbyeol shouted, raising both arms high.

Her words made me laugh, and the toy store owner watching smiled contentedly.

Eunbyeol, overjoyed like she owned the world over mere toys, was just too cute.

“Now then, shall we pick some?”

“Yeah yeah! Let’s go!”

With an energetic shout, Eunbyeol toddled over to the display shelves.

“Total is 427,000 won.”

The toy store owner said, and I immediately handed over my card to pay.

In the past, I would have hesitated even over 42,000 won, let alone 427,000, but not now.

To me, 427,000 won was now just pocket change.

It was on the level of a gacha pull while walking down the street.

“Thank you. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, mister!”

Eunbyeol and I greeted, and the owner smiled warmly while waving.

Like that, I walked out of the store with the toy shopping bag in my left hand and holding Eunbyeol’s hand in my right.

“Eunbyeol, did you buy what you like?”

“Yeah! Bought lots of super pretty ones! Bought a dolphin doll, an ice cream maker, and a princess doll too! Hehe!”

Eunbyeol grinned broadly.

That my earned money could make my daughter this happy.

Money really is a good thing, I thought.

Awakening as a necromancer was a godsend.

Thinking that, clearing away chicken bones and awakening really felt like a divine move.

If that luck hadn’t come, Eunbyeol and I would still be living in poverty now.

We might have wandered from goshiwons to a miserable end.

Let’s work harder from now on. Build achievements in the Nova Team and climb to the Gold Raid Team.

I, a Silver Raid Team member, resolved.

Work really hard in the Nova Team and climb higher.

Don’t settle for a 5 billion salary; reach the Gold Raid Team for 50 billion.

Making that resolution, the moment I stepped out of the toy store.

Screeeech!

The sound of brakes being slammed hard echoed.

I immediately turned my head to the road and saw it.

Kwaaaang!

A blue city bus speeding down the road violently collided with a vehicle.

And the collision didn’t end there.

The bus that crumpled one car like a tin can continued crashing, crossing the road and smashing several vehicles to pieces.

“……!”

The bus that wrecked over 10 vehicles and the crumpled cars.

Blazing flames and rising smoke.

And people’s screams.

The peaceful road had suddenly turned into a hellscape.

“D-Daddy! Accident! Accident!”

Eunbyeol, holding my hand, shouted.

I hurriedly covered Eunbyeol’s eyes.

Afraid she might see corpses.

What is this all of a sudden……..

Alarm sounds ringing from everywhere and people’s screams.

And the nearly destroyed vehicles and flowing blood.

Staring at them, I moved my lips.

“H-Help! People are trapped inside!”

At that moment, a voice requesting rescue came from inside a car.

At her words, passing citizens clung to the vehicle and started rescue efforts.

But due to the collision, the car was completely crushed, making it hard to open the doors.

I have to save them.

With the thought to help, I picked up Eunbyeol.

Then went back into the toy store and entrusted her to the owner.

“Eunbyeol! Stay right here! Got it?”

“Yeah? Y-Yeah! But Daddy?”

“Daddy…….”

I continued with an urgent expression.

“Is going to save people.”

Saying that, I ran out of the toy store.

Only about 20 seconds had passed, but the situation had become even more serious.

The flames and smoke rising from the vehicles had grown larger, and people’s screams louder.

The blood flowing from the vehicles had formed puddles.

I have to save even one more person!

I ran across the road to the scene.

The scene up close was even more horrific.

The vehicles were severely damaged, the flames too intense for people to approach, and the blood soaking the asphalt was truly copious.

“W-We have to open this door!”

“Let’s pool our strength!”

“One! Two! Three!”

“Haaap!”

Brave citizens tried to open the crumpled bus front door.

But even with over 10 people, they couldn’t open it.

I looked at the back door, but it was even more severely crushed and untouchable.

“Everyone move aside! I’m a hunter!”

As I shouted and ran up, people cleared the way for now.

The word “hunter” seemed to give them some hope.

“Hap!”

I grabbed the crumpled front door and started pulling.

At that moment, the front door that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard the citizens tried began moving with a screeech sound.

Like that, with a bang, I ripped off the door and entered the bus, shouting.

“Come out! Quickly!”

At my words, the people inside the bus started pouring out.

With faces soaked in tears, saying thank you.

Tap.

I accepted their thanks and got off the bus.

Clatter! Clatter!

25 skeletons summoned in an instant.

I gave them orders.

Disperse immediately, straighten the vehicles, and rescue the people.

Clatter! Clatter!

At that moment, the skeletons began scattering like trained special forces.

I used the skeletons to rescue people.

But even when giving orders to the skeletons, I didn’t particularly expect much.

Because I was worried if the skeletons could carry out specific commands.

But that was unnecessary worry.

The skeletons that spread out in perfect order appropriately divided and clung to the vehicles, unfolding the crumpled car doors.

Not only that, they carefully rescued people and transported them to safe areas.

Of course, there were big and small explosions in the process, but the skeletons suffered no damage.

My skeletons are strong.

Unlike others’ skeletons, mine are tremendously sturdy.

By the time the skeletons had rescued everyone, fire trucks and ambulances arrived, apparently after reports.

But those pouring out of the vehicles looked somewhat bewildered.

They seemed dumbfounded that the people they were supposed to rescue were already saved.

Hearing the full story from the citizens, a firefighter approached me and said.

“Hello. I heard you suppressed this incident…….”

An elderly firefighter approached and said to me.

“Ah, yes.”

“Huh, I see. Thank you. You really did a great deed. If Hunter-nim hadn’t been here, it would have been a disaster. There might have been mass casualties.”

“No. I just did what a hunter should.”

“Oh no, that’s absolutely not true. There’s no law that hunters must help. Anyway, thank you so much. If I may ask, what is your affiliation?”

“I’m with Myth Guild.”

“Huh, from a famous guild. Not only character but skill is outstanding too.”

“Haha, no.”

I made an embarrassed expression at the firefighter’s praise.

But the praise didn’t end there.

“Hunter-nim! That was really cool!”

“Thank you for saving us! If not for Hunter-nim, I would have died trapped in the bus!”

“Thanks, young man. I survived thanks to you. Really thank you…….”

“Mister! Saving people was really really cool! I wanna be a hunter like you when I grow up!”

“Using skeletons for rescue. Your skill is amazing.”

“Honestly, I had prejudice against necromancers, but I see you differently now! Hunter-nim, you were really cool!”

Citizens approached and showered me with praise.

People who watched the rescue, those who helped, and those rescued all gathered to praise me.

My face turning red and feeling embarrassed like that.

“Daddy!”

Eunbyeol’s voice came from behind.

Turning my head immediately, I saw Eunbyeol holding the toy store owner’s hand.

“Eunbyeol.”

“Daddyyyyy!”

Eunbyeol toddled over and hugged me tightly.

“Why did you come out? I said stay inside.”

“Eunbyeol told the owner she wanted to come out!”

“Eunbyeol did?”

“Yeah yeah! Wanted to see Daddy! But Daddy, you were really cool! Saving lots of people!”

“Really……?”

“Yeah! Our Daddy is the best! Daddy is a complete hero!”

Eunbyeol in my arms gave a thumbs up.

It wasn’t just Eunbyeol.

The gathered citizens around also called me a hero and cheered.

Hero……..

Hearing praise from all sides, I was just dazed.

Yet my heart warmed to the point of throbbing.

Hero.

Being called that was a thrillingly proud thing.