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**”It’s late.”**

It’s late. Too late, in fact.

“What should I do?”

“Ah…”

A look of anxiety clung to Dayoung’s face as she nervously tapped her feet.

She got into trouble by making an unauthorized broadcasting announcement through the account assigned to her as a manager, not her sister’s main account.

No, the plan had been to surprise her with a birthday party and make her happy.

Who could have predicted that she wouldn’t show up until the last minute?

“Heh, are we really going for a runaway ending like this, Dayoung? Talk about trolling.”

“Sh-shut up!”

In a moment of impulse, she used her sister’s entrusted Friede channel manager ID, but at least in her heart, she felt innocent.

Her sister’s birthday. She had said she was all alone in this world without family.

It was a hope that now that they had each other, they could support her as she had saved them.

“What should I do, what should I do?”

With Dayoung moving back and forth, making those around her dizzy, Ji-hwa couldn’t take it anymore.

“Don’t worry. Se-hee will show up when it’s time. She’s never said she was sleeping outside. Besides, it’s not like we announced the broadcasting time; as long as we can do it today, everything will be fine.”

“That’s true, but…”

Ah, should I change the announcement now?

If public opinion turns sour, maybe a clarification stream along with a little apology will earn their forgiveness.

My heroic instincts were bubbling up, thinking maybe they’d let this slide as a little cute mishap.

And then it happened.

As the phone vibrated, I swiftly snatched it up.

Glancing at the screen, Dayoung hastily typed out a message and quickly prepared to leave.

“What’s going on? Where are you going?”

Just then, Eun-ha, emerging from the kitchen, tilted her head in confusion as Dayoung shook her head and babbled.

“I can’t wait. I think she’s going to be too late, so I’m going to get her.”

“Huh?”

Leaving Eun-ha looking perplexed, I dashed out to the front door.

Staying here would result in a complete disaster.

—

The evening sunset painted the sky.

After texting Dayoung, I was on my way home… feeling an inexplicable sentiment, wandering the streets aimlessly.

No one recognized me. Thanks to my abilities, I had cast a deception to appear different.

This had allowed me to avoid chaos where people would normally crowd around, but walking alone like this felt quite eerie.

I even visited the convenience store where I had first found myself upon returning to Earth.

The part-time staff I had stared at blankly back then was long gone.

Now a different worker stood there, and after months since my first visit, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.

It felt as if I had turned back the clock to that day I first returned to Earth.

Before I saved Eun-ha, before I met Ji-hwa and Yoo-ri, before I met Ah-jin, and….

“Sis!”

Before I met Dayoung….

Looking up at the familiar voice echoing from a distance, I saw Dayoung’s face, filled with relief and joy, breaking into a bright smile.

The sun, tinted red like the last flicker of a dying candle, illuminated her blushing cheeks as she ran towards me.

Only then did I realize how far I had walked and, looking around, recognized the familiar streets.

Ah, I had been wandering aimlessly yet found myself approaching home.

The neighborhood felt like home; I was still some distance from entering the street, but I wasn’t too far away.

As Dayoung dashed towards me, calling my name, she wasn’t out of breath… she looked just like her usual self.

Well, it would be ridiculous if a Hero was panting for just a few meters of running.

“Why were you so late? I was worried thinking something happened!”

“It’s not like I’m going to get into an accident, isn’t that being too overprotective?”

“What’s wrong with worrying?”

With a huff, she turned her head away but gently found her footing again.

“More importantly, where have you been? You’ve never been out this long.”

“Ah, I just went to a place I wanted to check out. It’s not like I’ll go again.”

“If you say so. But come on, I actually announced the broadcast!”

Broadcast?

I tilted my head, urging her to elaborate, and Dayoung scratched her neck and avoided eye contact.

“Well, I kind of announced it as content for your birthday. So if we can’t broadcast today, it’s totally a bust.”

“Hmm.”

What kind of wind was blowing to get Dayoung wanting to stream under Friede’s banner?

Looking at the time, it was evening, but I had some leeway.

A birthday, after all, holds significance before the day changes, right?

“Alright, let’s take our time. We still have plenty of time.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

Nodding, while typing on her phone, Dayoung walked beside me.

“It’s already summer.”

Dayoung hummed as we walked.

Even as the sun set, it felt warm, marking the clear arrival of summer.

“This feels like back then, just walking while chatting.”

“Back then?”

“The day we walked alone together.”

Ah, I remember. It was a memory carefully tucked in my mind from the tail end of winter.

It was the day after the brawl tournament when I met up with Dayoung, Eun-ha, and Ah-jin to hang out.

That was several months ago now, buried under countless events since then, only just resurfacing in my memory.

“Dayoung, back then you were so sentimental.”

“W-what are you talking about? I should say it with emotion; don’t keep bringing it up.”

“Why? Did your heart change after you tried to find someone suitable for me?”

“Ugh, it’s not that.”

Dayoung lowered her head and covered her mouth with the back of her hand.

As if trying to hide her embarrassment, or worrying that her buried feelings might spill out.

After a moment of hesitation, with a soft sigh, she whispered her confession.

“To be honest… I still don’t know. I agreed with you back then because of the atmosphere.”

“Why?”

“It’s just the way it is. I can’t give up on you. Well, sure, the competition has become intense now. Ah, what am I even saying?”

To hide her shyness, Dayoung playfully ruffled her well-arranged hair as she looked directly into my eyes with confidence.

“I’ll prove that I’m the one you were searching for all along, so brace yourself! And of course, all of us will be here for you.”

Though her cheeks were flushed, seeing the bright and confident Dayoung made me smile warmly.

“Yeah, I’ll be ready.”

“Hmph! I won’t lose to the other Heroes. Especially not Eun-ha!”

Her strange rivalry with Eun-ha flared up again.

Dayoung and Eun-ha… I had a feeling they’d remain rivals for a long time.

And now that Eun-ha lived in the same house, wouldn’t our days become more lively?

We chatted about many stories after that.

The day I first connected with Dayoung.

The day I began streaming and met Ah-jin through the editor contest.

The day I won the brawl tournament against Eun-ha in the finals.

The day I met Yoo-ri while walking with Ah-jin.

And then, the day Ji-hwa visited Hero House.

From defeating the Demon King to everything that led us here, all the streams we shared.

As we wrapped up numerous tales, we arrived at our beloved Hero House.

By then, the sky had turned brightly into a starry night, celebrating the end of our journey.

“Ah, sis. Just a moment.”

“What’s up?”

“I’ll go in first.”

Suddenly cutting in, Dayoung darted inside as I opened the front door.

Curiosity lingering in the background, without thinking, I swung the door wide open. Then….

—BANG!

Fireworks, typically used for birthday parties, erupted simultaneously, and everyone was waiting under the dazzling lights.

“Sis, happy birthday!”

“Se-hee, you’re late. Happy birthday!”

“This is my special cake I made. Congrats, sis.”

“Sis, let’s always be together!”

“Yeah, happy birthday! Big cheers for Se-hee!”

With Eun-ha clapping her hands.

Ji-hwa leaning against the wall to greet me.

Yoo-ri with a lovely cake lit with small candles.

Ah-jin striking a power pose.

And Pae-pae setting off fireworks in quick succession like a machine gun.

And….

[Let’s celebrate Galluj’s birthday!]

[Hero! Congratulations! Whimper ㅠㅠ]

[Happy birthday, Friede!]

[May you always be happy!]

[You’re continuing the streams, right?!]

Countless chats streaming in from a monitor and camera set aside.

“What the…?”

“Didn’t you know? I told you. We had a broadcast scheduled for today.”

I chuckled at Dayoung’s mumbling and stammering response.

Is this what the broadcast was about? And nobody mentioned it had already started.

As I took out my phone and turned on the Switch channel, I slowly realized they had already started streaming.

In my emotional haze, I had left the sound muted, and things had gone this way.

“Hm, hm. Anyway, as long as the timing is right, that’s what matters. I told you, we’ll all be here with you. Don’t even think about abandoning us now. So…”

Dayoung stepped forward, turning around to welcome me back alongside the other Heroes.

“Welcome back, sis!”

How could I miss out on such a grand welcome?

Right now, as a Hero, it’s my turn to bring joy to everyone.

Grabbing the hand she extended toward me, I stepped in under the collective warmth.

To the Heroes beside me, the viewers in the chat… to all the countless connections of my heart,

“I’m home.”

With a genuine smile gracing my lips, I announced the start of the broadcast with that response.

The once solitary retired Hero had now stepped into the world as a current streamer, moving toward tomorrow with everyone by my side.

This moment may not last forever,

But I sincerely hope this connection will always remain,

And the Hero’s, by the Hero’s, for the Hero’s broadcasting continues today.

—Former Hero Streamer [The End]—