Chapter 241: Butterfly Effect (1)

In this world, the popularity of heroes rivals that of celebrities on Earth.

That’s why the existence of fan sites dedicated to popular heroes — the so-called “recognized heroes” — isn’t surprising.

Let’s take All Mute, Khan Elizabeth, as an example. She’s the most popular among all heroes.

The fan site for All Mute, [Chat Global Disabled], has exactly 50,000,000 members. Not one more, not one less.

A number that should feel very familiar to Koreans.

‘Fifty million.’

That’s the total population of South Korea. Although the number fluctuates slightly, we usually round it to fifty million.

Naturally, this gives rise to questions — logical ones, like.

– Anonymous156: Exactly fifty million?

– Anonymous007: Does that make sense? She’s the most popular! Isn’t that way too low?

After all, heroes risk their lives to protect humanity.

If they’re more popular than celebrities, shouldn’t they have a larger fan base?

– Barbarian: Obviously fake.

A reasonable suspicion. And congrats.

You just said the truth.

Before we dive deeper, let’s explain the system of this world — not in detail, just the basics.

This world runs on a strange mix of democracy and feudalism. It doesn’t lean clearly one way or the other. It’s divided — but not like a half-eaten box of fried chicken.

– Barbarian: Democracy? As if the people run the country. What a joke.

– Chunma_Toxic: Kings? Nobles? What century do you think this is?

– Barbarian: Cows should graze like cows. If they crave meat, they’re done for.

– Chunma_Toxic: That thinking belongs in the Stone Age.

– Barbarian: And you sound like a caveman.

So how can such a messy, uncomfortable system survive? There are three reasons.

First: the “Blessing.”

Humans who manifest a Blessing are far stronger than ordinary people.

Even modern firearms don’t usually work on them.

Probably because this is a fantasy world. Swords are the norm, and hearing bang bang bang everywhere would just feel off.

– Anonymous338: I heard villains combine magic with guns sometimes.

– Nar_System: Yeah, and bullets are so expensive nobody buys them.

So what once revolutionized military history is just scrap metal here.

That’s why common people have no way to stand up to the nobles.

– Barbarian: 1 hero = 100 civilians. (at least senior level)

– Barbarian: Warrior-level heroes are worth way more. If you disagree, you’re still right.

– Chunma_Toxic: “If you disagree” — what country is that city in?

– Barbarian: Reported for bad joke. Bye.

– Chunma_Toxic: “Bye” means report now?

– Barbarian: Your dad jokes explain your lame nickname.

– Chunma_Toxic: Don’t care~^^

– Barbarian: Not my problem.

An uprising? It would be crushed instantly by nobles with physical power. So powerless civilians have no choice but to follow the system in silence.

– Barbarian: Though recently the king’s been trying to win over the people. Opened half his palaces.

– Nar_System: Well, to sustain the system, you need the people.

– Barbarian: Wow! Ribbit!

Second reason’s simpler.

– Barbarian: Let me tell you about the time I fought demons.

It’s because of the demons.

They’re a common enemy. Would humans really fight each other while the demons are invading? That would be total annihilation.

In that situation, ideological debates like democracy vs feudalism don’t matter. That’s why everyone just minds their own business.

– Anonymous338: Dying is worse than being uncomfortable, honestly.

Even so, violence has always been part of human history. It’s instinct — natural tendency.

– Anonymous338: The rich are the worst. So many nobles are assholes.

As democratic ideals begin to spread, aristocrats are quick to draw their swords. They’re the first to rage when their privileges are threatened.

And over time, as information became more accessible, a new threat emerged for nobles: the “recognized heroes.”

– Barbarian: Want to know what it takes to be a recognized hero?

1. Be insanely strong.

2. Be good-looking.

3. Have a powerful family.

– Chunma_Toxic: That’s none of you. LOL.

– Barbarian: Screw you.

Celebrities can be influential, but not politically powerful. Their impact is indirect.

But heroes are more like politicians. Their influence is direct. If they’re also popular, they’re a serious problem for the elites.

Even if democracy and feudalism reached a truce, time waits for no one.

And since the situation required balance, a new intermediary appeared: the Hero Association.

First, the Association created an objective hero ranking system.

Later, to simplify things, they introduced something called H.P.

– Barbarian: I have H.P. Can I apply to Lancelot Company? (photo attached)

– Chunma_Toxic: Maybe at your local convenience store.

– Barbarian: Where do you live, huh?

Also, to manage the influence of recognized heroes, they capped their fan site membership at 50,000,000.

– Nar_System: It worked well. Influence is measured in numbers. Cap the numbers, reduce the influence.

– Barbarian: Can you summarize that in three lines?

– Chunma_Toxic: That already is three lines.

In short, the fifty million members on All Mute’s fan site are the maximum allowed by the Association.

– Nar_System: Why exactly fifty million? Who knows. Only the system creator would know.

– Nar_System: I’ve heard even Changseong, the Association’s vice president, can’t modify it.

– Barbarian: Who the hell is that?

– Nar_System: If even the VP can’t, who else do you think can?

But now, an anomaly appears.

「49,998,724 members. ???? Refresh.」

There’s a theory called the butterfly effect.

The flap of a butterfly’s wings…
– 「Seven-Star Hero, Fan Site of Heavenly Class.

Members of [Sashimi Sensibility]:
50,000,001. ???? Refresh.」

…Can trigger a hurricane.

– Nar_System: (screenshot) Fan site of Heavenly Class.

– Nar_System: What’s going on with the member count?

– Anonymous192: ??? Just a bug?

– Nar_System: I keep refreshing and it keeps climbing. This hasn’t happened in over ten years.

– Anonymous109: Whoa, it’s almost at 50.5 million now.

– Anonymous338: But why only Heavenly Class’s fan site? All Mute’s is still normal.

– Barbarian: It got hacked. Hero Association’s tech is trash.

– Chunma_Toxic: No way. I work at the Association — that’s impossible. There are over 20 security barriers, 10 of them analog.

– Barbarian: You work there? Yeah right.

– Barbarian: What’s your title? Intern?

– Chunma_Toxic: Me.

Tap, tap.

– Chunma_Toxic: I’m the president of the Association.

The winds of change had begun to blow.

…

– Barbarian: Blocked.

***

Monday morning, two days after returning from Busan.

♩♫♬♪♭

The blaring sound of the phone pierced my eardrums. Half-asleep, I groped around the nightstand for my phone.

“…Who is it?”

I frowned and looked at the screen. The culprit who ripped me from sleep was Speedweapon. And half an hour before my alarm was set to go off.

I almost ignored it, but still half-asleep, I pressed the accept button.

“Oh, Speedweapon.”

“Ah! Were you sleeping? Sorry, sorry.”

With the phone still to my ear, I drew back the curtain.

It was early winter, and although the sun rose late in the east, the sky was still completely dark.

It must’ve been around seven. Classes didn’t start until nine.

Scratching my messy hair, I sat up. A mental brace—when Speedweapon starts talking, it’s a minimum of 30 minutes.

In truth, he only calls when something serious happens. If he was calling early on a Monday, something big must be going on.

I spoke again.

“So, what happened?”

“Before I tell you, I’m going to send you some pictures. Take a look.”

I did as he asked. Anything for one more minute of sleep.

As soon as I saw the images he sent me…

‘……?’

The sleep clinging to my eyelids evaporated. Speedweapon insisted from the other end.

“Did you see them?”

“Uh… yeah. But what’s this site? ‘Sashimi Sensibility’?”

“What!? You didn’t even know the name of your fan site?”

“I just found out it exists.”

“Wow… I knew you didn’t care about this stuff, but I didn’t think it was this bad… Anyway, do you see the number in the corner of the image?”

“Yeah. Fifty… and something million.”

“That’s the number of members in your fan site.”

“What……?”

Over fifty million fans of me? It sounded absurd, but it was easy to compare—it matched the population of Korea.

Though imagining how much space that would physically take up wasn’t so simple.

‘How many stadiums would that fill?’

While I was thinking that, Speedweapon kept chattering excitedly. He was talking so fast, his lips couldn’t keep up with his tongue.

“Surprised? Well, considering you didn’t even know the site existed, that makes sense. But the important thing is that you passed 50 million! That’s what really matters! According to hero regulations, no fan site is allowed to surpass that number. I’ll explain the details later.”

God. It’s rare for Speedweapon to skip over explanations.

I looked out the window again. As always, the sun was rising in the east.

“In short, breaking that member limit is huge. It’s practically like an enlightened revolution!”

He was so excited he was panting between words. Buddy, no matter how much you like to talk, you should breathe between sentences.

“Because if that membership cap broke, it means…!!”

Unfortunately, Speedweapon didn’t get to finish the sentence.

♩♫♬♪♭

A call from the director cut in.

“Wow, what a popular phone I’ve got this morning.”

A different kind of popularity than what Speedweapon had in mind.

I sighed and switched calls. Sorry, Speedweapon, but grown-ups first.

“Yes, Director.”

“Ah! Were you sleeping? Sorry.”

Again with that phrase. It almost seemed planned. Suspicious.

“I just woke up. What’s the matter?”

“I wanted to ask if you could skip class today. We need to go somewhere urgently. Sorry for the short notice… but it’s really important…”

She measured her words like she felt guilty. Not long ago she told me to enjoy my student life, and now she was going back on that.

“No problem.”

But there was no reason for her to feel so guilty. After all, I’m a student and also one of the Seven Stars.

“Really? It’s far—are you sure?”

“If we use the subspace warp, we’ll be there in no time. I’ll get ready right away.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’m ready to go wherever.”

No matter the age or status…

“Even if it’s Antarctica?”

“…….”

I’m one of the Seven Stars.

This isn’t easy.