“Ohooo—!! Dohyul! How long has it been! You’ve gotten even more impressive since I last saw you! Oh, by the way, could you sign this? My wife and daughter are huge fans of yours!”

As I opened the door to the principal’s office with its large checkered pattern—

…There was a familiar middle-aged man, holding my figurine, springing up from a comfy leather chair to greet me.

Though it was only for a brief month—

This gray-haired senior, who taught me how to control my powers and basic combat when I first arrived here—

Was now one of the few, especially in private, who called me by my real name instead of ‘Smile,’ especially since many first-generation heroes had passed away from lingering injuries.

Well, with hero work keeping me so busy, aside from check-in calls, it’s been nearly seven years since we’ve spoken face-to-face.

“Haha! Sorry about this. I told them not to bother you, but they’re so insistent!”

“Haha! No worries. Having such passionate fans is always a joy. By the way, how’s your shoulder doing these days?”

“Haha, same as always. I’ve been fully retired for a while now, so I’m in great health. These days, I even play tennis with my wife on weekends—I’ve recovered that much.”

Hmm, so no issues with daily life then?

Back when he got injured—

He could barely move his arm without assistive gear, so that’s a relief.

Aside from my envy of his cushy retired life—

This muscular guy dove into hero work without hesitation during the Chaos Era, when every mission risked hero deaths, showing his kind heart.

And since he was the first person I relied on here, I can’t help but care about him.

“Hahaha! Anyway, you should’ve seen how excited the students were this morning when they heard you were coming! So, I took the liberty of canceling afternoon classes, and not just the new students but all students will hear your speech in the auditorium.”

…Huh? That’s why I didn’t see any students on my way here?

Perfect. For someone desperate to find a successor ASAP, the more students I can scope out, the better.

With all students, that’s over 200—surely one of them fits what that status window wants?

This place handpicks the cream of the crop from hero aspirants nationwide, an elite hero academy, after all.

‘Hehehe! I’ll find that “true hero” or whatever and retire as soon as possible…!’

So, despite my outward cheerful laugh, I harbored sneaky intentions inside.

Following my senior, who seemed overly excited about my speech—

We arrived at a place less like an auditorium and more like a massive airplane hangar.

‘But I didn’t prepare a speech… Can I just wing it? I haven’t done something like this since elementary school class president elections.’

…Well, I’m not some professional motivational speaker.

I’m just a senior from this school telling juniors to work hard.

Unlike my senior’s expectant gaze, I don’t need to deliver some grand speech.

‘Hmm, I’ll just say something vague and end with the pro hero oath. Revi said the entrance speech isn’t a big deal anyway.’

Plus, my real goal isn’t to inspire the next generation with a moving speech—

It’s to scan the students during the speech for anyone the status window might deem worthy.

A ten-minute speech? I just need to get through it without the status window nitpicking.

In that sense, reciting the stuffy pro hero oath like a speech isn’t a bad move.

Combined with my fifteen years of honed hero acting, it’ll at least pass muster.

“Ahem— Hello, students. I’m Smile, a first-generation graduate of this school and currently an active pro hero.”

Murmur, murmur—

“Wow, it’s really Smile…! The actual Smile in person…! He’s famous for avoiding public events—guess it’s true he’s close with the principal…?!”

“Eek! He’s way hotter than on camera! After the speech, I’m definitely getting his autograph on my clothes!”

“Hey, everyone, quiet down. As students of Korea’s top hero academy, show some dignity!”

“…Teacher, your autograph paper and marker are sticking out.”

So, I scanned the teachers and students staring at me in awe from the stage—

Praying fervently that at least one of them would be the successor to secure my comfy retirement.

“Today, I stand here to speak to you, the future generation who will lead—”

Grabbing the mic, I slowly began my speech.

***

[Hero Gallery]

Title: Ugh, I failed Seoul Hero Academy this year.

Passed the first test easily, but fell short on the superpower control score in the second test.

…But isn’t it weird? It’s a place to learn control, yet the entry bar’s so high?

They don’t take anyone over 15, so should I look at regional academies now?

—Don’t feel too down, stay confident ㅇㅇ It’s a place for real elites. What was your control score?

—OP) 152 out of 300. That’s like top 5%, right? Not even getting to the third test is ridiculous.

—?? Are you nuts? I thought you meant you missed by 1 or 2 points. The cutoff’s been rising yearly—last year’s minimum was over 200, you idiot.

—OP) ??? 200’s practically the pro hero minimum, isn’t it? What do they expect from students??

—You think Smile’s alma mater is a joke? At least get close to the passing score before whining. Think graduates get pro exam exemptions for nothing?

—OP) But Smile only attended for a month.

—Just give up on being a hero. You don’t even know what kind of place you applied to. You’re not cut out for it ㅇㅇ

Flash—

“Wooow…! Just a bit longer, and Smile’s really coming to our school?! Seola, have you ever seen him in person?! I saw him from afar during a big terrorist attack!”

“…Yeah. Once, when my sister and I got kidnapped by a villain, Smile saved us.”

“Huh?! Kidnapped?! Are you okay…?!”

Lee Seola, hearing her lively friend’s voice, turned off the hologram window on her phone she’d been idly browsing.

Turning toward the voice, she answered.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Smile came to save us right away.”

“Wow…! That’s so like him! No one’s ever died at a scene Smile’s been to! He’s so admirable! Hehe, I wanna be a reliable hero like him someday!”

“Yeah, Eunha, you could definitely become a great hero like Smile.”

“Huh?! Really?! Hehe, thanks, Seola! Well, maybe not quite like Smile, but still. Hehe.”

Ju Eunha, delighted by the sudden praise—

But a bit embarrassed to be compared to that Smile, scratched her golden hair and blushed.

…The invincible hero ‘Smile,’ who never falls or loses his smile, no matter the odds.

Like the earliest first-generation heroes, protecting citizens without seeking reward—

In the ‘Hero Rankings,’ updated every three months, he’s held an unchallenged first place since the Superhuman Management Department’s system began—

Estimated to have subdued over 200,000 villain-related crimes in fifteen years.

Including over 600 major terrorist incidents involving 100+ civilian victims.

…And in all those crimes, after Smile arrived, civilian deaths over fifteen years: zero.

It’s beyond astonishing—some might even suspect the Management Department, police, or military fudged Smile’s numbers.

But over the past fifteen years—

Countless people across the country, especially in Seoul, have witnessed Smile’s feats or been saved by him.

So, no one doubts the unbelievable zero-death record.

If Smile hasn’t arrived yet, maybe, but once he’s on the scene—

No deaths occur.

Hence his most famous nickname: ‘The Invincible Hero Who Saves Everyone.’

Over half of the nation’s major terrorist incidents and over 90% of Seoul’s villain crimes—

It’s no exaggeration to say Smile handled them alone.

“Hehe, I just want to emulate Smile. Anyone saying they’ll be ‘like’ him is just arrogant.”

“…Yeah, no one can do exactly what Smile does.”

“Hehe…! Anyway, I can’t wait to see him! Maybe there’ll be time for autographs after the speech?! Then I’ll put it with my Revi autograph from two years ago in my treasure box! Hehehe!”

So, for today, Lee Seola understood her boisterous friend’s excitement.

Even Seola, who usually stays calm and hides her excitement—

Was secretly thrilled at the thought of seeing Smile up close, her heart racing a bit.

“…Well, autographs might be tough. Unlike two years ago, all students are gathering this time, and Smile’s busier than we can imagine—”

Just as Eunha, buzzing with excitement and maybe hoping for a handshake—

Was about to get a reality check from Seola—

“Ahem— Hello, students. I’m Smile, a first-generation graduate of this school and currently an active pro hero.”

“Hup—! It’s really Smile! Seola, look! It’s actually Smile!!”

…With just that simple greeting—

The great hero, who could silence the entire room’s breaths—

Appeared quietly on the stage, wearing his iconic, worn-out gray tracksuit.