Today was the start of our internship.Some of us had to travel all the way to Kyushu—like Tokoyami, who went to train under Hawks.As for me…
I was still here in Shizuoka—no need to drag my suitcase halfway across the country like the others.
Aizawa: "Alright, problem children, listen up. You've all got your uniforms, right? Keep in mind—you're not allowed to just stroll around the streets in them. So don't lose them."
Mina: "Okaaayyy!!!"
Aizawa: "Say it properly. Say 'Yes, sir', Ashido…"
Mina gave a sheepish smile, her shoulders slumping.He noticed, walked over, and ruffled her hair lightly. She perked right back up.
The moment Aizawa mentioned uniforms, I couldn't resist tossing in a little joke.
Kazuma: "By the way… won't it be a bit tricky for Toru, sir? I mean, the second she takes her clothes off, it's already like she's in uniform."
(The whole class bursts out laughing.)
Toru was just a floating ripple in the air, but even if I couldn't see her face, I was sure it was bright red.Momo… yanked my ear hard.
Aizawa: "Hah… nice one. -1 on class spirit."
Kazuma: "Hey, wait! Come on, sir!!"
Aizawa kept his poker face, turned around, and walked off with a parting remark:
Aizawa: "And remember—mind your manners around the heroes during your internships. Now get going. I want to sleep… oh, and coffee."
Since Ms. Joke lived nearby in Shizuoka, I didn't have to get crammed into a train with strangers—just hopped on a bus and followed the location she'd sent me.
Funny thing was… the meeting spot wasn't a hero agency or a training ground at all.It was Ketsubutsu Academy High School—another hero school.
The moment I arrived at the front gate in my UA uniform, every eye turned toward me at once.It felt like I'd just walked into a village festival… in enemy territory.
Ryojin: "Huh… school's pretty big."
Before I could take another step inside, a voice called out from behind me.
???: "Hey, you here to see someone?"
I turned around—and my brows furrowed immediately.
The guy looked… exactly like Izuku Midoriya.Only taller. Broader. Cooler.He had the same earnest, boyish face—but there was a confidence in his eyes that Izuku could never pull off.
Ryojin (thinking):"…Oh my god… DLC version of Midoriya?"
And he wasn't alone.Standing beside him was a girl who… probably was his girlfriend.She carried herself with a bold, playful air—the complete opposite of him.And they were both looking at me… like I was a stray cat that had wandered into a library.
Ryojin: "I'm here to see Ms. Joke. She told me to meet her here."
The Midoriya 2.0 guy raised an eyebrow slightly.
???: "Ah… so she invited you herself, huh?"
Midoriya 2.0: "Name's Seiji Shindo—second-year here. This is Nakamoto."
Ryojin: "Ryojin. Ryojin Kazuma—from UA. But call me whatever you want, I don't mind."
Shindo chuckled softly, speaking with a friendly but cautious tone.
Shindo: "Alright, I'll take you to her… Just, uh—if anyone says something weird along the way, don't take it too seriously."
I shrugged.
??? : Been waiting long, kid? By the way, you're Ryojin Kazuma, right?
I turned around to see a woman walking toward me from the school gate, greeting me.
Ryojin: Yeah, that's me. Thanks for inviting me.
I finished speaking and gave her a polite bow before her hand landed on my shoulder.
Emi: Loosen up, kid. I got entrusted by someone to take care of you. Honestly, I didn't expect you to be so polite about it. Oh, and Sota contacted me again… at this rate, I'll make him marry me for sure! Hahaha!
I knew her before—through Aizawa. Back when we were hanging out,he would often complain after coming back from school about a female coworker he'd known for ages who kept asking him to marry her.
It always made Aizawa irritated, so I teased him about it… which ended with me getting punished to work alone for three days straight.
Now that I'm seeing her in person—and her behavior—I'm not surprised at all why Aizawa can't stand her.
She circles him like a bird desperately trying to get his attention.And that last line she said… what the heck was that?
Ryojin:"Don't tell me I'm going to be their middleman!?"
Well… maybe I could be. After all, I do want that hobo-looking guy to finally get a girlfriend so he'll stop bringing cats home.You know, when you live with him, the house is full of cats.
Emi: Come on inside. We need to talk first about how your internship is going to go. Then you can rest up for tonight's activity. We'll be patrolling until morning—so don't get sleepy on me!
Ryojin: YES SIR!
I nodded to her before stepping into the first stage of becoming an underground hero, and so began my internship week.
Time skip: 20:00
I was now in the room the school prepared for me, already changed into my hero costume. This time, I'd brought a brand-new mask—pure black, equipped with night vision—perfect for tonight's patrol.
During the day, I'd gotten to know the pro hero in charge of me and the two other heroes I met earlier in the morning, so now I knew all their names. And of course—Ms. Emi had been blunt about wanting me to help her win over Aizawa… which I immediately agreed to without hesitation.
In my head, I thought: "Don't worry, sensei… I'll make sure it happens. Time for you to show your manly side."
After I finished getting ready, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to see Ms. Emi in her hero costume. Looked like it was finally time for my first patrol.
Emi: Oh wow! You look great, kid. That mask is pretty stylish.
Kazuma: I like things like this. Simple colors suit me better than flashy ones.
Emi: Perfect. Then let's get started—from now on, call me Ms. Joke, or just Joke for short. And you? What's your name again?
Kazuma: Justin Law. So… where are we heading tonight, Joke?
Ms. Joke:Hehe… of course… let's hit the red-light district.
They finally arrived at the Red-Light District — a place steeped in decadence. Dim lights reflected off flickering neon signs, flashing like the heartbeat of a dying man. It was no different from the old-world Chinatown, filled with pain and desire.
Before arriving, he had already ordered the Soldat unit to move to Hosu City to hunt down the Hero Killer—dead or alive. He didn't care about the method, only the result. He knew well—someone like that could be far more valuable than they appeared. And in a world full of starving wolves… those with the sharpest bite were worth keeping alive.
He had also sent another Soldat unit to track him down, their goal: to hunt and clean up the villains infesting this filthy district… or at the very least, make them too afraid to breathe.
Emi: Can I ask you something?
Her voice cut through the dry air, and Ryojin turned to look at her—silent… cold… his eyes empty, as if without a soul.
Emi: What's your connection to The Thumb?
That question was no small matter—she had been wondering for a long time. Why would an organization everyone feared send her an intern to look after? Why him, specifically? Or maybe… he wasn't just an intern at all?
His answer was as cold as the air in a torture chamber.
Ryojin: When the time comes… they'll tell you themselves.
No explanation, no reassurance. That was all she got. He had no intention of saying more—there was no need.
She fell silent, and he walked on.
At last, they reached the heart of the Red-Light District.
Emi: We're here, kid. Welcome to Shizuoka's Red-Light District!
The deceitful lights hit his eyes. Tight-fitting dresses on women, drunken men and women stumbling about, and laughter as fake as the smiles of the truly happy. This was the twilight realm between luxury and filth.
The stench of alcohol mixed with cheap perfume and the sweat of strangers… it was the scent of a city on its deathbed.
Emi: You're going to have to learn how to handle this…
They weaved through narrow alleys like rats searching for shelter, until they came upon an old underground bar—the entrance hidden behind a blood-stained wall and cheap posters of women for sale. The stairway was so well concealed, it seemed meant for people no one would ever miss.
In the dark, the bar looked like an open grave… and they were about to sit with the corpses inside.
Emi pulled out a small notebook and walked over to speak with the elderly bartender, a man with eyes like a bird's.
Emi: Hey, handsome~ Got anything special going on tonight?
Bartender: Ms. Joke, back again? And bringing a kid this time? What's going on now?
Emi: Oh, he's just my intern… Anyway, got any juicy news lately?
The bartender didn't answer. He turned his back to the wine shelf—but instead of pulling out a drink, he took out a black notebook—one filled with the names of people worth keeping track of.
Ryojin watched silently, as if assessing the value of that book… and instantly knew the old man before him was worth far more than he seemed.
Bartender: Heard someone's been trying to recruit villains into a new group—underground brokers. Real name's Kagero Okuta… but most know him as Giran.
Ryojin sat down next to Emi, taking the photograph in hand—a man in a fine purple suit, with a sly face perfect for swindling people.
Bartender: "Anyway, I've got one more bit of info… After The Thumb swept through this prefecture, there's only one villain nest left. They're probably aiming to take this district back. Their numbers should be over a hundred by now… that's about all I know. Oh— and The Thumb has already started gathering people to wipe them out. I'd bet it won't be long before everyone who agreed to join gets called in."
Before his words could finish, the bar door was kicked open so hard the glasses rattled.He glanced toward the entrance…
A pack of thugs swaggered in like rotting termites in a damp forest.
He locked eyes with the bartender, who only sighed softly—a silent sign that scenes like this were just part of the rot of this world. Even Emi let out a small laugh, as if this was just another comedy act for the night.
Thug: "Hey! I want money! Bring me cash and booze, right now!"
The man in front wore his shirt unbuttoned, proudly displaying a forest of chest hair no one asked to see. A thick gold chain hung from his neck, as if it were some fake badge of power he actually believed in.
"Does he really think gold and muscle will protect him from this world?" the young man thought coldly. His eyes were still dead, but inside, the heat was rising.
He stood up without a word, rising like a heavy shadow from his seat. The sound of his boots made the whole bar fall silent.
Thug: "Ha! What the hell are you standing there for? Hand over the money!"
The thug pulled a knife—its blade flashing like a snake in the dark—but the young man moved just slightly, catching the thug's wrist and twisting it until bone cracked. The knife clattered to the floor with a sharp clink.
Kazuma: "…Shut up. Your breath stinks like hell."
His voice was flat, but sharper than the thug's own blade. He drove his elbow into the man's jaw with merciless precision. The thug dropped like a sack of rotting meat.
Kazuma knelt beside him, rummaging through his pockets with the calm detachment of a wolf picking at a carcass, uncaring whether his prey was human.
One fake gold chain. A few crumpled bills. Disappointing.
He tore the chain from the thug's neck—not because he wanted it, but because he refused to let the man keep anything to fool himself with again.
Emi: "Hahaha! Good boy!"
She laughed mockingly, while the bartender only smirked faintly.Nothing unusual… for those drowning in the underworld.
His first job as an underground hero had begun—and it had nothing to do with justice.
Kazuma: "So… what else does an underground hero do besides gather intel?"
Emi: "Plenty… But at the core, we're the shadows of the system.We do what the ones in the spotlight won't dare do—there's no right or wrong here, only success or failure.And I'm sure you'll fit right in…You'll probably have a symbol of your own soon enough."
He nodded without a word.His thoughts were silent, yet full of black shadows flowing like poisoned blood.
At the same time, he knew…his soldiers had already entered the district,like wolves treading through the night—and tonight, blood would surely spill.
Emi glanced down at her phone.For a moment, her expression shifted ever so slightly.
Emi: "We've been ordered to assist an organization…"
Kazuma: "The Thumb?"
Emi: "Yes… The Thumb."
He simply nodded and followed her out.Their destination—a derelict warehouse marked Private Property—a place where secrets, death,and the stench of old blood were buried beneath dust.
Inside, numerous agents had gathered.No one knew who he was, except Emi—and that was exactly how he wanted it: silence in the shadows.
His soldiers stood watch quietly,like ghosts guarding a sacred ground.Twenty fully armed scouts,none of them making a single misplaced move.
The orders came down—Breach. Capture alive if possible. Kill if necessary.No police. No justice.Only results.
Just like The Thumb's slogan:
"We don't point. We push."
Tracking watches were handed out to the team.Everyone was ready.
Police? Already bought.Morality? Buried long ago.
Emi: "You ready, kid? After this, there's no turning back."
Kazuma: "So ready I could piss myself."
Emi chuckled softly,but his eyes remained still—like a predator waiting for the moment to tear into its prey.
Tonight… no one would return home with a pure heart.
The Oath of The Thumb:
"Our blood is not spilled unless for an order.Our bodies do not stop until the target is crushed.Our death is not an end—but the next fingerprint pressing down on the world."
A few days had passed since he started his internship — the world kept on turning, the sky still changed its colors as usual.But inside me, it was silent, as if something was waiting to erupt.
He had just woken up in the middle of the day after finishing a night patrol that stretched until 5 a.m.The exhaustion clung to him like a shadow.
After the assembly, my team and I raided a villain hideout in the dead of night.It was fast, brutal, and cold.Our side was safe, no casualties...The other side? No one died — at least not on the field.They were all captured alive, though some would be sent to die in the underground prison of headquarters.Overall result... more satisfying than expected.
A sound cut through the air like wind tearing the curtain of silence.
Emi: "Good morning — or should I say good afternoon, kid~!"
Emi-sensei appeared like a ghost emerging from the shadows of the cafeteria.
He was staying at Ketsubutsu as a temporary intern student,which meant he could enjoy meals and supplies free of charge —a privilege for those who might never get to use it for long.
Ryojin: "Whoa~ Sensei, done with teaching already?"
Emi: "Of course. I dismissed them early — they'll just have to go train as heroes anyway."
He nodded quietly. The two of us walked to the food counter.
He picked classic oden with tempura shrimp, while she ordered tonkotsu ramen.The rich aroma of broth filled the table, as if masking some truth about what was soon to happen.
Our conversation went on casually,until the background noise of students leaving their classrooms began to fill the space.
Emi: "So… wanna go to Hosu? We'll check on that punk."
The question sliced through the flow of the conversation like a razor-thin blade.
Ryojin: "Huh? Uh… whatever. I've got an intern friend there. But… are you sure you want to take me along? I'm just a rookie, you know."
Emi: "A rookie? Really? From what I've seen these past 2–3 days… you fight like a beast that never stops breathing. Raw, ruthless, decisive — in a way even some heroes wouldn't dare to be."
She laughed, flashing that signature mischievous smile of hers —warm, yet laced with cruelty, like a witch from a nightmare tale.
The contradiction in her made the corner of his mouth twitch upward without him realizing…
And really, who could say no to this woman?Maybe Aizawa-sensei was the only one in the world who could.
He remembered clearly — the night they stormed the villain hideout.
One of them charged straight at me, intending to kill.
Emi-sensei tried to help, but didn't make it in time… not that she needed to.
Because what remained of him was a body with limbs bent like a rag doll.
Another one who saw what happened froze instantly —I walked up to him, shoved my gun into his mouth,and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
The bullet tore through his throat and out the back.
His scream was swallowed by the sound of blood and bubbling air.
He wasn't dead… but he wasn't human anymore either.
Since that day, the butterflies of fear had been fluttering in his eyes.
Perhaps that's why she said I was raw and ruthless.
Ryojin: "…I'm out of comebacks. Fine, wherever you go, I'll end up following you anyway."
Then, suddenly — a blue window appeared before me again.Not a warning. Not new information.But the main mission.
And it had just begun.
❖ Mission: Assassination in Hosu ❖
Objective:
Eliminate or capture "Stain", the Hero Killer — a man who believes the hero society should be like All Might.
Prevent the League of Villains and the New Nera Faction from destroying the city.
Background:
The Nera are remnants from the fallen monarchy of the old authoritarian era.
The League of Villains and the New Nera Faction are not allies — conflict between them may occur.
Rewards:❖ EXP +60,000❖ Merit Points +10❖ Coins +100,000❖ "Athena's Wishbook" ×1
Critical Note:If you fail to complete this mission,you will die instantly.
"There are no excuses — because excuses are buried along with those who failed."
Nighttime.
The city of Hosu had become a sea of fire, as explosions and gunfire echoed from every direction.He sat inside a late-night train carriage — nearly empty at this hour — which made the atmosphere feel quiet yet tense.
He hadn't expected today to turn into such an intense confrontation.
Ever since learning that both the League of Villains and the New Nera Faction would be gathering in this city,he'd been uncertain whether the troops he'd mobilized would be enough.But one thing was certain — this mission would tolerate no mistakes.
Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted beside the train.He didn't even need to turn and look; just by the sound, he knew what had happened.Fires were now blazing throughout the city, and the sound of gunfire rang from afar.There was no doubt — the enemy had begun to move.
Emi: "Justin Law! Let's go!"
The urgent command cut through the emergency.The two of them quickly moved toward the front cargo car.
The train screeched to a halt, and they jumped off to face the chaos consuming the city.As they stepped out of the station, the scent of smoke filled her nose —and just then, the phone in her hand rang.
Ryojin: "Looks like we've found Stain."
Emi: "What's going on?"
Ryojin: "A friend sent me his location. I'm certain — it's the Hero Killer."
Emi: "Wait! What!? Are you serious!?"
He gave her a curt nod before answering, his face void of expression.
There was no time for questions or hesitation —too many critical situations were unfolding at once.The League of Villains and the New Nera Faction were attacking all over the city,and at the same time… a wild Nomu appeared, charging straight at them.
Ryojin: "That's a Nomu!"
He dove to the side and opened fire, each shot precise.Even after it collapsed, his eyes stayed locked on the target.
Emi: "Justin Law! What the hell is that thing!?"
Kazuma: "A Nomu. Tell the heroes the League is here. There are probably more of them!They're weak to concentrated gunfire, grappling, or multiple consecutive strikes! Aim carefully!"
His orders came without pause.
She quickly called the heroes, following protocol, while he turned and sprinted toward Midoriya's direction.
Along the way, he encountered a group of heroes battling multiple Nomu.
He fired on the creatures, dropping them in rapid succession —more than once, his shots tore through their heads,leaving nothing but scattered fragments.
Hero 1: "Hey! Who the hell are you!?"
Kazuma: "Name's Justin Law. Joke sent me to take these things down. They're weak to gunfire, grappling, and repeated strikes — so hit them with everything you've got until they're dead!"
After hearing his orders, the heroes immediately began working together.
But he couldn't waste time here — Midoriya and his team were still waiting for backup.
When he arrived, it was like stepping into a nightmare. Midoriya, Todoroki, and Iida were all on the ground — and another hero had gone down with them.
Damn it… what the hell is this? Four against one and they still couldn't take him down!? He shook his head slightly, raising his gun toward Stain standing before him.
Kazuma: "Stain! You bastard!"
He spat the insult without a second thought — and it only seemed to make Stain more furious. Maybe no one had ever dared curse him so directly before.
Stain: "And who the hell are you? Another fake hero?"
Kazuma: "Yeah — a fake hero who's about to shove a gun up your ass, you piece of shit."