Chapter 19 — The Fear That Followed Home
Takiro walked home with a strange lightness in his chest.
The subway incident replayed in his mind — but it no longer weighed on him.
Instead, something new burned inside him.
I can do this.
I can be a hero.
I don’t need to quit.
As he walked through the quiet street corner near his house, he felt it.
A presence.
Subtle.
Like someone watching him.
He turned.
No one.
Empty road.
Dim streetlight.
A stray paper rolling in the wind.
He frowned.
Just my imagination…
He continued walking.
But the thought lingered.
The moment he reached his door, a different excitement replaced everything.
He was going to see his daughter.
That happiness alone erased the battlefield, the bruises, the exhaustion — everything.
He knocked.
The door opened.
His wife stood there.
She had opened the door ready to fight.
“You said you were going to resign. Why did you—”
But she stopped mid-sentence.
She felt it.
An overwhelming presence.
It was as if a tightly sealed bottle had just been opened — steam bursting out with force. Energy radiated from him. Not faint like before.
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Powerful.
Condensed.
Alive.
She couldn’t explain it.
But she felt it.
Instead of anger, silence took over her.
Takiro looked at her.
She stepped forward.
And hugged him.
To Takiro, that hug felt like ice placed over a wounded battlefield scar — cooling, soothing, calming every invisible injury.
For a moment…
He felt safe.
Then he saw his daughter.
She smiled at him.
That small smile.
In that instant, it felt like his entire battered body healed. Like falling into a warm spring after endless war.
Overwhelming joy flooded him.
He couldn’t even speak properly.
He just stood there — smiling like a fool.
At that same time —
After the press briefing, the Rank 2 Hero, God of Thunder, called him.
“Takiro.”
“You handled the subway mission well. Truly commendable.”
There was a slight teasing tone.
“Planning to take over our jobs soon?”
Takiro gave a small awkward laugh.
But the tone shifted.
“Listen carefully.”
“Do not overreact.”
“But do not take this lightly either.”
Silence.
“The Hero who killed Sabrina — Rank Twelve — recently attempted to breach headquarters' database.”
Takiro froze.
“We just discovered it. We don’t know what data he accessed.”
Pause.
“But it appears he tried to access hero rank–related records. Possibly lower-rank data.”
A cold stillness filled Takiro.
“So stay alert.”
The call ended.
The joy he had built inside his heart…
Collapsed.
Like a perfect fortress struck by a massive wave.
His palms began to sweat.
The phone felt heavy.
His wife noticed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Just routine work.”
But she felt it.
The fear.
The shift.
“Tell me.”
“Why won’t you trust me?” Takiro snapped.
“I’ve fought. I survived. I can be a hero. I believe in myself!”
His voice was louder than intended.
She went silent.
Takiro walked into another room alone.
And replayed everything.
The street corner.
The feeling of being watched.
The call.
A sharp realization struck him.
Was someone following me?
A deeper fear crawled in.
Did I bring a snake into my own nest?
He rushed outside.
Checked around the house.
Circled the perimeter.
Again.
Again.
His wife watched, disturbed.
He had been happy just moments ago.
Now he looked hunted.
She began to understand.
Not clearly.
But enough.
He was afraid.
For them.
Inside, Takiro fought himself.
If I had just submitted the resignation…
We could have lived quietly…
Why did I choose this?
He grabbed the Thunder Sword.
And threw it aside.
“You’re not needed anymore.”
But seconds later —
He picked it up again.
The war inside him refused to end.
He skipped dinner.
Locked himself away.
Told them not to disturb him.
He lay down.
Tried to sleep.
A distant fruit falling from a tree made him jump up instantly.
He scanned the darkness.
Heart racing.
Even with closed eyes, he saw shapes.
Figures.
Shadows.
His mind whispered:
Open your eyes.
Protect them.
He couldn’t rest.
He patrolled the house all night.
Sword in hand.
Sleep tried to claim him.
Fear refused to allow it.
Frustration exploded.
He stepped outside.
Raised the Thunder Sword.
And struck the sky.
BOOM.
A compressed air shockwave shot upward.
A sonic burst rippled through the neighborhood.
Windows vibrated.
Neighbors felt it.
A deep tremor.
Inside the house, his wife’s heart sank.
Has he… lost control?
Takiro stared at the sky.
Realizing how loud it had been.
He rushed back inside.
Pretending nothing happened.
But the silence in the house felt heavier than before.
His wife looked at him differently now.
Not with anger.
Not even with fear.
But with worry.
And uncertainty.
Takiro stood there.
Holding a sword.
Guarding a house.
From an enemy he wasn’t even sure existed.
Or should he have resigned to protect his family?
