That day, I was just chilling in my room, playing a mobile defense game with heroes and villains. No big deal.

“Why the heck are these enemies’ attacks so strong…? And these heroes’ skills have such annoying conditions to trigger…”

The difficulty was driving me nuts, so I splurged 19,900 won. Just to pull one overpowered, pay-to-win unit with the ‘Invincible’ trait.

“There we go, now the game’s finally playable. Even this tanky boss will go down in no time—”

Thud.

And just like that. I got sucked into this damn game.

About forty years ago.

People started awakening these things called superpowers or abilities.

“Whoa! Fire’s shooting out of my hands?!”

Fwoosh—!

“Eek—! My neck just stretched out of nowhere—!”

Stretch!

In the midst of that chaos, some with evil intentions. Like something straight out of a superhero movie, they used their powers to commit all sorts of heinous crimes, throwing the world into disarray.

“Bwahaha! Hey, lady, that’s one fine backside! Fill this bag with cash, and you’re coming with me!”

“Sob…! Please, someone help—”

Slap!

“Heh, you dumb broad. I’m a superhuman who can bend tanks with my bare hands! Even the army can’t stop me, so just behave!”

But when the world drowns in darkness. A sun always rises to drive away the night—

BOOM—!

“Eek—! It’s Smile! Boss…! Smile showed up!”

“Argh! Why’s that lunatic in Incheon?! Isn’t his turf Seoul?!”

“…Strong, you’re under arrest for bank robbery, assault, and civilian harm.”

Against these vile villains, the world now had heroes. Trained professionally by government agencies.

Countless state-sanctioned heroes. Day and night, they fought to stop their wicked, despicable crimes.

CRASH—!!

“Agh! My arm! My arm that even cannons couldn’t break—!!”

“Are you alright, ma’am? Any injuries?”

“N-no…! Um, if it’s okay, maybe I could treat you to some tea as thanks…”

Grin—.

“Haha! No need. Your smile is the greatest reward I could ask for.”

“Ehe! T-then I’ll keep smiling! I’ll smile ten times a day in your direction, Smile!”

“Hahaha! You’re quite the jokester.”

And—

Among these heroes today, the most iconic figure. Was the tall, black-haired man standing here now.

Born during the ‘Chaos Era,’ when villains using their powers for evil nearly destroyed the world. He started his hero career at just fifteen, and now, at thirty.

This invincible hero who dedicated half his life to securing Korea’s safety. Opened the current ‘Stable Era.’

The greatest hero of the past and present generations. Known for never losing his smile for the citizens, no matter the hardship.

Korea’s—nay, the world’s greatest hero, ‘Smile.’

Click—.

“Ugh…! I’m so damn tired I could die…! What kind of idiot came up with a penalty that squeezes my heart if I don’t work 18 hours a day…!”

[‘Heroes’ prioritize others’ crises over their own comfort. And a ‘hero’ doesn’t use such crude language.]

Grip—!

“Ugh! Fine, I get it! But even a hero should get at least one day off a year!”

Clutching my tightening chest, I stood in a cramped goshiwon room, barely two meters wide, where I hit my head every time I got up. And glared at that blasted status window.

For the record, the reason Korea’s top hero sleeps in a tiny goshiwon with a shared bathroom. Is simple.

I’m currently… a ‘jobless’ basic income recipient. Supported by the government with a measly 600,000 won a month for housing and medical costs.

Sure, it’s a cliché for a hero with no inheritance or side job to be broke. But in an era where ‘heroes’ are idolized more than celebrities or athletes.

Working 18 hours a day, seven days a week, and still being a basic income recipient? That’s just too much, isn’t it?

Of course, I had plenty of wealthy fans offering sweet deals. Some even begged to gift me a mansion to live in—

But every time, that cursed status window…

[‘Heroes’ don’t accept monetary rewards for their actions. The only reward a ‘hero’ can accept is the citizens’ smiles.]

…would spew that nonsense and tighten my heart with penalties. So, I had to tearfully decline every offer.

And every time, people would go on about Smile’s noble spirit. Saying modern ‘heroes,’ who’ve turned it into a job with billion-won salaries, are all fakes.

Crying and praising me as the only true hero.

Once, a famous idol on a TV show trashed the commercialized heroes. Claiming only Smile was a true ‘hero’ in the real sense.

You have no idea how much my heart clenched then. I’m already getting subtle glares from some heroes my age for doing this dangerous job for free.

Why would a celebrity, living off fame themselves, hold heroes to such a harsh standard and prop me up? Their excessive kindness nearly brought me to tears.

Of course, every time—

[A hero doesn’t cry. A hero’s spirit must always be stronger than steel.]

That damn status window would squeeze my heart, so I couldn’t even cry.

“Damn it, if I could, I’d work for a proper paycheck like everyone else…!”

So, I glared again at the insane status window that tightened my heart for every complaint.

It didn’t change anything, but it made me feel a bit better.

‘Gritting my teeth, how long do I have to live like this? What the hell is this ‘condition’…!’

Ding—!

[Ability: Invincible Hero] [Effect: Ignores all damage. You are the ultimate hero.] [Penalty: Unheroic behavior is strictly forbidden. You cannot retire until the ‘condition’ is met.]

For the record, the mobile game I played before getting stuck in this world didn’t have such weird penalties. The ‘Invincible’ hero I pulled was a broken unit with no drawbacks, aside from needing real money to unlock.

Maybe penalties like ‘double physical damage’ or ‘triple skill cooldown’ or ‘1.5x ice damage’ from the game’s units. Got twisted into this real-world side effect.

Perhaps the unit’s only flaw—requiring a ‘cash sacrifice’ to pull— Got mangled into this miserable penalty in reality?

…Well, no matter how much I racked my brain. There was nothing I could do today.

This square status window, a blessing or curse only I could see. Just nagged about what I couldn’t do this way or that.

Never giving me any useful information.

“Sigh… Whatever, I’ll just sleep. Gotta catch a quick nap before the next call…”

Fifteen years since I got stuck here. Forced to protect citizens for free as a hero, I’d half-given up on retiring.

I lay down on the narrow bed, hoping for a brief rest.

Ring—! Ring—!

“…Damn it, another call? I’m human too! Let me sleep! What’s so urgent they’re calling instead of texting?!”

Springing up!

“Yes, this is Hero Smile. I’ll head out now, so tell me the villains’ location—”

—Hey! Dohyul! Been a while. It’s Hakhyun Jung! Still busy as ever, huh?

But then, through the outdated phone, rare in this day and age.

—So, this year we’ve got some stellar new students. I know you’re swamped, but as a first-gen grad, could you spare a moment for a speech at the entrance ceremony…

“Sorry, as I’ve always said, the safety and peace of citizens come first, so please ask another capable hero—”

Ding—!

[Retirement ‘condition’ unlocked.] [Find the next generation’s ‘true hero’ to succeed you. Then, you can retire freely without ability penalties.]

‘…What? Retirement…?’

Beep—.

—Hey, Dohyul. Can you hear me? Hmm, bad signal? You should really upgrade that ancient smartphone…

The voice of a senior hero, long retired and living comfortably teaching kids—someone I envied to death—came through.

‘Seriously, I can actually retire from this miserable life…?’

The possibility of ‘retirement,’ something I’d dreamed of and couldn’t refuse, emerged.

—Come on, switch to a wearable phone already. They’re cheap now, and I can even cover the cost if you need, so stop being stubborn…

“…On second thought, checking on how the next generation’s doing seems just as important as hero work. Alright, I’ll make time this year, even if it’s brief.”

Click.

—Oh! Really?! Great thinking! I’ll arrange the speech schedule, so send me your available dates and times… Huh? Bad signal again?

Beep—! Beep—!

‘Heh heh! Finally…! I’ve found the condition…! Alright! I’m retiring, no matter what! As soon as possible! I’m done with this unpaid hero life…!’

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