Chapter 16

We stayed inside the evacuation shelter for what felt like forever, waiting for the heroes to do their work. The confined space was silent, save for the murmurs of other families, but my boredom only grew. Staring up at the dull, metallic ceiling, I finally broke the silence.

"Mama, what are heroes?" I asked, tilting my head curiously.

Mama smiled softly, her voice warm and patient. "Heroes are special humans, Aleena. They're very powerful and protect people like Mama, Papa, and you from monsters."

I already knew that much, but I wanted more. "I wanna be a hero too!" I said, my voice filled with enthusiasm. "Then I can protect Mama and Papa!"

Both of them smiled, their faces softening at my words. Mama pulled me into a warm hug, her arms wrapping around me tightly.

"I'm sure Aleena will grow up to be the greatest hero," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. I felt her warmth and her love, and for a brief moment, the world outside didn't seem so scary. I buried my face into her shoulder, savoring the moment while it lasted.

Finally, the call came. The shelter staff announced that the monsters had been defeated, and it was safe to resurface.

As soon as we stepped outside, Papa grabbed Mama's hand while she held me tightly, and we rushed through the crowd to avoid being delayed. The destruction outside was staggering—buildings were in ruins, and debris covered the streets. When we reached our house, relief washed over us. Our home was intact, but the car parked outside had been crushed beyond recognition, flattened into a mangled sheet of metal.

Papa sighed but didn't seem too bothered by it. "At least the house is safe," he muttered as he opened the door.

Together, we stepped into the familiar safety of our home.

---

National Heroes Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan

The footage of a man effortlessly crushing a greater dragon to bits had gone viral, spreading across the globe and finally reaching the National Heroes Headquarters. Inside the executive meeting room, chaos erupted.

"Who is this man? Is he one of ours?" one executive questioned, pacing the room.

"To take down a greater dragon like that… he's no ordinary human," another added, shaking their head in disbelief.

"An unregistered hero, perhaps?" someone speculated.

"I'd estimate his power level to be at least S-rank, maybe even low SS-rank," a senior executive suggested, stroking his chin. "But if he isn't listed in our database—"

"Then it means he isn't one of us," a sharp voice cut in, silencing the room.

The woman who spoke stepped forward, her presence commanding. Dressed in a sleek black suit, her name tag read Miss Woods. She placed a stack of documents on the table and glanced at the room of executives.

"Here's my proposal," she said, her voice calm but firm.

One of the executives picked up the document and skimmed through it, their eyes widening as they read. "You're suggesting hiring multiple S-rank heroes including yourself to track him down?" they asked, incredulous.

Miss Woods smirked. "Exactly."

The room erupted into murmurs again. Another executive raised a hand to speak. "Miss Woods, you should know our S-rank heroes are already stretched thin with global crises. They won't waste their time on an unknown individual. Not everyone is as free as you."

"Oh, they will," she replied confidently. "I've already secured sponsorship from the government officials to locate this individual—whatever it takes. I'll offer fair compensation to any S-rank hero willing to join me and the association."

Her words sent a wave of shock through the room. The executives exchanged uneasy glances before one of them spoke.

"Very well, we'll allow you to negotiate with other S-rankers. But be careful, Miss Woods. Heroes aren't tools to be manipulated."

Miss Woods grinned. "Trust me. I'll get my hands on this person, no matter what."

---

Meanwhile, Back Home

I sneezed, a loud "Achoo!" escaping my lips.

Mama gasped, rushing to my side. "Aw, Aleena has caught a cold?" she said, gently wiping my face with a soft handkerchief.

I sniffled, feeling the warmth of her care. "Even gods can get fevers, huh?" I muttered under my breath, pouting slightly.

Mama chuckled and hugged me close again, brushing my hair back with her hand. "Rest, my little hero. You'll feel better soon."

And just like that, I felt safe again in her arms, as if nothing else in the world mattered.