Harem Streamer System: Every Crime I Broadcast Wins Me a Superheroine - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: The Symbol of Correction
Scott McQueen.

A boy who didn’t look older than seven, sat on the grassy hill with his legs stretched out.

Beside him, a girl of about four or five leaned back on her tiny arms, mimicking his posture as they gazed up at the soft morning sky. The golden hue of the rising sun bathed their faces, and the breeze carried the scent of dew-kissed grass.

Scottie turned her head toward her older brother.

Her big blue eyes has that innocence that only a child could possess.

“Big brother…”

She spoke softly and respectfully.

“Why don’t you talk about heroes as much as you used to? You used to tell me all these cool stories about them. And… you don’t talk about Daddy either.”

She paused as her brows wrinkled.

“Daddy’s a superst—no, a megastar hero, but you never even say his name.”

Scott let out a long sigh.

He propped himself up so he could stare straight ahead at the horizon.

“See, that’s the problem, Scottie… there’s no such thing as a megastar hero.”

Scottie blinked, confused. “Huh? But Daddy—”

“Heroism isn’t about being popular…”

Scott interrupted gently.

“People shouldn’t know a superhero because they’re famous for saving people. They should know them because… because they’re a symbol of peace, hope, and protection. When a hero’s around, you shouldn’t feel like taking selfies with them or asking for an autograph. What you should feel…”

He paused to glance at her small, attentive face.

“…is safe.”

Scottie tilted her head as her lips formed a tiny ‘o.’

“But Daddy makes people safe, right? H-, He’s like, really cool and—”

“Scottie…”

Scott stood up and brushed grass off his shorts. He jammed his hands into his pockets and looked down at her.

“Your dad’s not my dad. And honestly, I don’t like him.”

Scottie froze as her tiny fists clenched handfuls of grass.

“Don’t say that, big brother!”

She cried as she scrambled to her feet. She grabbed his arm and looked up at him with teary eyes.

“Don’t call him my dad like that! He’s our dad! He’s your dad too, big brother!”

Scott’s expression softened as he gently pushed her back a step while his hand lingered on her shoulder.

“Scottie, listen… It’s okay. It’s fine if he doesn’t love me. I don’t need his approval. I’m going to find my own way, even if it’s as a normal person. I’ll be okay.”

Scottie shook her head vehemently, her pigtails swinging.

“No way! Big brother isn’t gonna be a normal person!”

She thrust a fist into the air.

Even her big blue eyes were on fire.

“We’re gonna be superhero buddies! And—and when I grow up, I’m gonna marry you, big brother! Then we’ll be the biggest, strongest couple ever!”

Scott blinked, then chuckled softly.

He ruffled her hair and made her giggle.

“You’ve got some wild ideas, Scottie. But no, not really. Unlike you, I don’t have a force-gene. I don’t have what it takes to be a superhero.”

Scottie’s laughter faded, replaced by a pout.

“That’s not true!”

She protested, then stamped her foot.

“You’re not a flaw, big brother! You’re the bestest big brother in the whole wide universe!”

Scott smiled faintly as he knelt to her level and patted her head.

“Thanks, sis. That means a lot. But with how big a hero your dad is, he’s going to make sure you have a bright future—a future I’m not in.”

Scottie’s lips trembled, and she looked up at him with watery eyes.

“But why do you think Daddy would just leave you out like that? You’re his son too! You’re way too young to be thinking like this, big brother.”

Scott hesitated as his eyes dropped to the ground.

“Yeah…”

He held back the sigh in the back of his throat.

“Maybe you’re right. He’s… a great guy.”

His voice wavered slightly, but he steadied it.

He wouldn’t tell her the truth about the man she idolized.

It wasn’t worth breaking her little heart.

“Still…”

He continued to force a smile.

“It’s not his fault I’m a failure. Both our parents have active force-genes, so the chances of me having one were practically guaranteed. And yet…”

He shrugged as his smile turned bitter.

“Here I am. Powerless.”

“Hmph!”

Scottie puffed up her cheeks and her face went red.

“You’re not powerless! You’re the best, big brother! And you’re gonna prove it!”

Scott couldn’t hide his laughter.

Her naivety was something that always soothed him.

“You’re something else, you know that?”

He ruffled her hair again.

Scottie giggled as she enjoyed the attention like a happy puppy.

But suddenly, her smile faltered.

She tugged at his sleeve and looked up at him.

“Big brother… do you still think you can be a hero? Like, a real one?”

Her voice was small, much like her.

Scott’s gaze turned to the sky.

There was that distant, philosophical expression.

“Yeah…”

His words were soft.

“I want to be a golden age hero. The kind who doesn’t do it for fame or money. The kind who stands for what’s right, no matter how hard it is. A hero who puts responsibility above everything else.”

Scottie’s face lit up, and she held out her pinky finger.

“Then promise me something!”

There was such hope in her voice.

Scott arched an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Promise me…”

She hesitated with sparkling eyes.

“Promise me you’ll be the kind of hero who doesn’t shed blood. I don’t like it when heroes kill people, big brother. It’s scary. Heroes shouldn’t do that—they should be like the golden age heroes. The ones who walk the straight line of morality.”

Scott stared at her for a moment before breaking into a soft smile.

He hooked his pinky finger with hers.

“I promise!”

His firm words were accompanied by a wide grin.

“I’ll never kill. And if I do… hehe, you can call me a monster. Is that fair?”

Scottie beamed while shaking their linked fingers.

“No way! I’d never call my big brother a monster!”

Scott chuckled at her cuteness.

“You’re too good for me, Scottie.”

That was the one promise Scott McQueen promised he’d never break… but this world…

It wasn’t fantasy. It was hell.

･･･

Nightwatch’s camera drones spread through the chaos as their lenses captured every harrowing detail of the Green Box Convention Center.

The feeds painted nothing but pain and sorrow.

Wounded civilians lay scattered amidst the rubble, coughing and crying out as blood and ash choked them.

Heroes who once stood tall and proud were broken and battered beyond recognition.

They littered the place like broken toys.

Nightwatch’s heart broke as he scanned each scene.

Ruse knelt in the debris, clutching his side as black blood stained his suit.

Gadget Girl’s body was burnt so badly she looked like a single poke would turn her to ashes.

Both of Mr. Sphere’s arms had been ripped out, and

Mr. Sphere knelt in a pool of his own blood with his hands ripped clean off and his face squeezed in anguish as he tried and failed to crawl like a worm in the dirt.

Then, there was Brigid.

Unconscious and bloodied, she was being dragged through the ruins like discarded trash by Red himself. The monstrous villain, unbothered by the brewing rain, grinned as if savoring every ounce of destruction he’d wrought.

Nightwatch’s vision blurred.

His eyes shifted to another feed.

It was Marcus.

He was laid out on a stretcher with partly burned skin and a chest that barely rose as medics worked frantically to stabilize him.

“No…”

The word left Nightwatch’s lips in a trembling whisper.

Rainfall…

The rain pattered against his mask, streaking down the face as he turned back to the bloody scene in front of him.

Skewered like a marionette, Rhinoman hung lifelessly on the twisted steel beams of a shattered billboard.

Yet, somehow, he was still alive.

Nightwatch approached slowly as the rain mixed with the blood pooling below.

Rhinoman’s head tilted weakly.

“Nightwatch…”

His voice was very weak.

Nightwatch froze as he clenched his fists.

“I can’t believe… I’m finally… in your presence.”

The words hit like a blow to the chest.

Rhinoman’s voice was faint as each syllable sounded like that of a person teetering on the edge of life.

“I… I always thought you were… just some cocky streamer kid behind a mask…”

It was too difficult to breathe.

Too difficult to speak.

“But now… now I can see it… in your eyes. You’re young, yeah… but you’ve got sadness in there. Fear. Struggles. Like… you don’t belong in this world… like *cough* you don’t want to be in this world…”

Nightwatch’s teeth pressed together.

The rain poured harder and washed away the blood but doing nothing to cleanse the ache in his chest.

“You don’t… want to be here, do you?”

Rhinoman coughed as blood dribbled down his chin.

“But you are. You keep showing up. That’s what makes you different.”

“Stop talking…”

Nightwatch finally spoke up, his voice cracked.

“You’ll make it. Just hold on—”

“Listen to me!”

Rhinoman’s sudden outburst rattled Scott.

“You… you’ve gotta understand. Being a hero… it’s not easy. I wanted to quit. So many times. Rejected at the SMPE time and time again… barely scraping by for my family… I thought about walking away.”

He coughed violently and his body trembled as he struggled to continue.

“But then I saw you… chasing that damn Dark Elf. Fighting Grave’s men. Crashing that helicopter. You—”

He abruptly gasped for air.

“You did it all. No powers. No sponsorships. Just… because you had to. You showed an old man like me what it means… to be a hero. A real hero.”

Nightwatch looked away as his shut eyes hid the moisture gathering in his eyes.

“I… I failed, Nightwatch. I really did. Failed my city. My family. But you…”

Rhinoman’s eyes fluttered as his voice grew weaker.

“You can stop him. You can beat that red beast. Not for the fame. Not for the media… but for the people.”

Scott shook his head.

“I… I’m not… I’m not strong enough. I mean, look at what he did to you guys… that’s an A-tier threat.”

“You don’t need to be strong.”

Rhinoman chuckled weakly.

“You’re already a hero. The hero we need.”

The words refused to leave the silent, raining air.

With that, Rhinoman’s eyes closed.

[System Notification: An 80% chance of saving Rhinoman exists. Immediate surgical procedures are required. Cost: 100,000 credits.]

Scott’s gaze hardened. “Do it.”

[Purchase complete!]

A metallic box materialized from his inventory and expanded into a sleek surgical pod. Mechanical arms emerged to expertly cut the steel beams and stabilize Rhinoman as the procedure began.

Scott turned away.

The rain continued to fall and soaked his suit as he stared out over the burning burning.

The fire was going out… but there was a fire of rage burning mercilessly inside him.

All his mind could see was blood, ash and despair.

His mind raced.

『Why? Why was it always like this? Why couldn’t the world make it easier to be a hero?』

He gritted his teeth while his hands trembled.

This world didn’t care about symbols of hope or peace.

Heroes were pawns in a game of ratings and profit.

Their sacrifices were reduced to footnotes in headlines.

If you didn’t shine… you were worth no one’s time.

Scott growled weakly.

“They’re right. A golden age hero wouldn’t survive in this world. They’d get torn apart.”

He took a step forward as the rain masked the tears streaking down his face.

“I’m done being part of some stupid niche, whether it’s the so-called golden age of heroes or this modern one. I’m tired of following anyone else’s shitty path. People in this world have less decency than the villains from the golden age. At least back then, even the bad guys had some respect for the heroes. These people now? They’re worse than animals.”

He pressed his feet against the terrace beneath him.

“But I’m not a symbol of hope. Or peace. Or heroism.”

His voice grew stronger.

“I’m the symbol of correction. And I’m going to fix this. No matter what it takes.”

With that, Nightwatch stepped off the edge of the rooftop as his grappling hooks fired forward.

“I’m sorry, Scottie. But that line of morality… I’ll break it… I’ll completely destroy it!”

Scott’s eyes flashed red.

[Carrying out Danger Protocol #005. Black Disaster Armor has successfully been purchased!]

[Debit: 450,000 credits!]

━ ━ ━ ━

Falan City, Mega Tower…

There was a kitchen.

The sound of an extraction fan could be heard.

Marble countertops gleamed under the soft, golden glow of pendant lights.

Scottie stood at the counter as her short black hair framed her delicate face as her pretty blue eyes focused on slicing strawberries with care.

Just as she reached for a glass cup to pour herself some juice, it slipped from her fingers.

… Crash!

The shattering sound echoed through the room.

Scottie jumped back.

Her eyes went wide with surprise as she stared down at the shards scattered across the floor.

For a moment, she stood frozen, her breathing shallow.

“That’s… strange. I’ve never been reckless before.”

From the sitting room, a voice boomed.

“Scottieeeee! What’s all that noise in the kitchen for?”

She blinked, then shook off the strange feeling.

“Uh, sorry, Dad!”

Her father’s voice had some amusement in it.

“Don’t worry about it. Come see the news! Looks like something crazy is happening again.”

Scottie glanced at the mess on the floor, then hesitated.

“Sure thing, Dad! I’ll pack up here first. Give me a second, alright?”

A hearty laugh rumbled from the other room.

“Alright, but grab a can of whipped cream from the cupboard on your way. Your mom wants one.”

She smiled faintly, already reaching for the cupboard.

“Got it. Be there in a minute.”

━ ━ ━ ━

Metro City, Green Box Convention Center…

It was now little more than a skeletal ruin.

Rain pattered against its cracked walls.

Smoke still lingered in the air, though the fires had been extinguished by relentless firefighters and the torrential downpour.

Despite the rain, the area was packed.

Civilians and emergency personnel kept a cautious distance as their eyes didn’t leave the ominous building.

“I heard there’s a monster in there…”

“Yeah, I heard the same thing! They say it took out all the heroes except The Peak, probably because he’s so strong. Honestly, I’m just glad a great hero like him is okay.”

“What about others like Rhinoman? He helped so many kids and rookie heroes. Or even Mr. Sphere…”

“Oh, and that card guy… what’s his name? Rude or something…”

“Come on, you don’t actually believe all that, right? The Peak already confirmed he was the one rescuing people and handing them over to the other heroes to take down. You know how The Peak is—he’s not the type to pose for cameras. Obviously, he didn’t care about being caught on film saving them.”

“Ahhh, yeah, that makes sense.”

Under a black umbrella emblazoned with the 24/7 City Watch News logo, Judy Cho stood in front of the camera. Her expression was stoic, but there was a flicker of unease in her eyes as she addressed the live audience.

“We’re here outside the G.B. Convention Center…”

She took a deep breath.

“The aftermath of this attack has left many heroes in critical condition. Miss Infinity has been ordered by the Hero Agency to stand down and avoid direct engagement with the monster reportedly lurking inside. That task will fall to the nearest S-tier hero, The Peak.”

The camera panned to The Peak, who stood beside her with his broad frame. His hands rested on his hips as he gave a dazzling smile, clearly playing up to the audience.

『Fuck… my body feels like I was ran over by a train…』

He chuckled softly.

Judy turned the mic toward him.

“Mr. Peak, can you tell us more about this monster? There’s been speculation that it might be a city-ending threat. Do you agree?”

The Peak’s confident smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he recovered and adjusted the tired gold medal around his neck.

“Well, Judy…”

He took the time to think of a lie.

“I’d say it’s definitely more than that. At my full power, I could destroy this planet. When I traded blows with that red beast… it tanked every single one of my attacks.”

He flexed his muscles subtly as he gestured dramatically to the faint scorch marks on his super suit.

“This thing isn’t just an A-tier threat. It’s probably in a league of its own. Honestly, it’s a miracle I’m standing here after what I went through. I took countless boulders to the back protecting civilians, and… well, you can imagine the toll.”

Judy’s unimpressed expression was barely concealed as she pressed him further.

“So, you’re saying this is beyond your abilities alone?”

The Peak nodded solemnly. “Exactly. Reinforcements are necessary. I’m only human, after all.”

He placed a hand over his chest, then exhaled dramatically.

“But you know, this isn’t about me. Rhinoman, Mr. Sphere, and all the others… they made it harder for me to protect everyone. I told them to stand back and let me fight that beast, but they refused, screaming that they wanted the same spotlight I always get… that they want to be as great as someone like me. It’s a tragedy, truly.”

Judy’s jaw tightened as she held back the scathing response bubbling in her throat. Instead, she took a calming breath and looked away, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the mic.

Oblivious to her growing frustration, The Peak leaned closer with a sly grin.

“Speaking of tragedies, Judy… what’s your number? I’ve never had the pleasure of getting to know someone of your… background.”

Judy snapped her head toward him. “Now? Really?”

The Peak shrugged, then flashed his trademark smirk.

“What? Reinforcements are on the way, and I’m just standing here. Might as well make good use of the time, right?”

Judy slapped a hand over her face and exhaled sharply.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

The camera lingered on her exasperation before cutting to the burning ruins behind her. The Peak’s smug laughter could still be heard faintly in the background.

･･･

The rain fell harder as it drummed against the asphalt and soaked the murmuring crowd.

Then it happened.

A ripple of unease swept through the throng.

One by one, people froze, then started shuffling back.

Whispers erupted as the masses parted and fear widened the path for the figure emerging from the darkness.

His armor was as black as the void, polished to a cold, menacing sheen.

It reflected the dim city lights, distorted and unnatural, like a harbinger of death and rage.

His presence alone was suffocating.

Every step he took was like a ticking time bomb.

“Is… is that the hero they called for?”

“No way… I don’t believe it. Heroes don’t look like that. He looks like a villain…”

“Wait, maybe it’s Shadow Monger?”

“Ohhhhh, the freak of nature who only shows up when the world’s about to end.”

“Shadow Monger? Seriously?”

“If he’s here, then that red monster… oh God, it might really be strong enough to destroy the planet.”

･･･

Still basking in the camera’s attention, The Peak noticed the path clearing ahead and grinned.

『Finally! They’re making room for me. About time they realized who’s in charge here.』

He dusted off his super suit, straightened his medal, and walked forward with pride.

“Don’t worry, everyone! Your glorious savior is here!”

He waved to the crowd as if their terrified expressions were adoring ones.

“I’ll make sure to save you all, no matter what. I—”

… THUD!

The Peak abruptly stopped as his shoulder collided with something solid—something that didn’t budge.

“Hey, watch where you’re—”

He looked up and froze as his words died in his throat.

The black-armored figure loomed over him as the lenses on his helmet suddenly glowed a menacing blood-red.

The Peak instinctively took a step back.

He even raised his hands defensively.

“Uh… w-, who the fuck are you?”

The figure didn’t answer.

His head tilted slightly, as if sizing The Peak up.

Then, without warning, his arm lashed out instantly

… pow────CRACK!!

The impact was destructive.

… BOOOOOOOOM!!

The Peak’s body shot backward like a ragdoll and shattered through three buildings in quick succession before his limp form crashed into a fountain in the distance, leaving a plume of water and debris in his wake.

Silence fell over the crowd.

No one dared breathe as they stared the black-armored man standing amidst the rain.

･･･

Inside the suit, Scott’s dead, bloodshot eyes stared at the System interface glowing in his HUD.

[Warning: Blood levels are critically low. Injecting additional tubings into the host will enable enhanced power, but severe blood loss is imminent. Proceed?]

Scott’s voice was cold, emotionless. “Do it.”

[Confirmed. Injecting tubings.]

He felt a searing pain as more needle-like tubes drilled into his flesh. The sensation of his blood being drained was sharp, unbearable—but he didn’t flinch.

He didn’t scream.

Instead, his breathing deepened, controlled, as if drawing strength from the agony.

Outside, the suit roared to life.

A fiery cape of burning blood blasted brightly out the back of the midnight armor.

… sizzzzleeee!

It crackled and whipped wildly in the storm.

Bright red accents etched themselves across the suit’s black surface like glowing veins.

Scott clenched his fists as power surged through him, his voice a hollow whisper.

[Black Disaster Armor is active…]