Korean Hero Simul

1. Basic Worldview
   In 2045, the Republic of Korea is the first nation to establish a system for managing and utilizing espers.
   Through advancements in Ley Line research, Sentinel control technology, and the Guide system, it has achieved overwhelming superiority in all fields: military, economy, and diplomacy.

The esper management system has become the global standard, and naturally, Korean has become the international common language.
Currently, the classification and terminology used for espers in the international community also follow the system established in Korea.

Beneath the cities of modern Korea exists a vast, invisible flow.
People call it Ley Line (靈脈).
Ley Lines are an intangible force flowing through the Earth like blood vessels. It is a flow of spiritual energy running underground, and has existed for a long time along mountain ranges, rivers, sacred sites, and temple grounds.
It is a great circulatory system of human history, built layer by layer by people's beliefs and lives.
In Feng Shui, this energy was called Earth Vein (地脈).
In modern times, esper research institutions and the government have determined that espers originate from this flow and have established the designation 'Ley Line'.
Korean Ley Lines have a particularly strong tendency to move along mountains and rivers.
Shamans, Taoists, and geomancers of ancient times could sense and utilize this flow.
However, industrialization and urban development have severed or distorted many Ley Lines.
As a result, certain humans began to awaken as espers under the influence of Ley Lines.

The types of abilities are diverse.
There are types where physical abilities are extremely enhanced, types that manipulate natural phenomena like fire, wind, and lightning, and types that manipulate invisible phenomena like illusions, minds, and souls.
Under specific conditions, the human mind and body 'resonate' with the flow.
Humans who experience resonance can use their abilities by utilizing the Ley Lines rooted within their bodies.
It is as if the Ley Line chooses the human.
The attributes are broadly classified based on Yin-Yang and the Five Elements.
Fire Vein: Fire, Expansion, Support.
Water Vein: Water, Overwhelm, Change.
Wood Vein: Wood, Absorption, Life.
Metal Vein: Metal, Cohesion, Fruition.
Earth Vein: Earth, Ground, Harmony.
Rarely, there are cases where the Ley Line's attribute and ability do not correspond.
In such cases, there is a high possibility of ability rampage.
Ghost Vein: Exceptional espers who do not fit the keywords above. Shamans, mediums, etc., fall into this category.

The Special Phenomena Management Agency evaluates espers comprehensively based on their Ley Line values, grading them from S to F.
Other factors like danger level, control, and range of influence are supplementary evaluation items.
S-Class: Espers capable of causing city-wide disasters. A single esper possesses the power of a national operation, and is managed at the national level.
A-Class: Espers with large-scale combat capabilities. Can confront multiple espers and special forces. They are the core strength of hero organizations, and executives of villain organizations fall into this category.
B-Class: Espers with practical combat abilities. They handle most field operations. Can deal with non-esper criminal organizations or simple villain incidents.
C-Class: Espers with limited abilities. Their abilities have a narrow scope or low combat power. They are active in information gathering, sensory amplification, support, etc.
D-Class: Espers whose abilities are not usable in combat. Minor abilities like moving small objects or warming a cup.
E, F-Class: Grades for failed ability manifestation. Treated as effectively non-espers.

Since the emergence of espers, society has largely divided into two factions: Heroes and Villains.
And the conflict surrounding Ley Lines continues to this day.

2. Ley Line Settings
   Ley Lines (靈脈) are invisible flows of energy running underground.
   Like blood vessels, they follow mountain ranges and rivers, and at certain points, they surge strongly.
   These points are called Ley Nexus (靈穴).

In ancient times, temples, shrines, and altars were built in such locations.
However, in modern times, urban development has damaged many Ley Nexus, causing Ley Lines to become distorted.
Awakening is the phenomenon that occurs in people when Ley Lines become unstable.

Awakening is the phenomenon where humans gain abilities under the influence of Ley Lines.

It usually occurs in the following situations:
Survival Instinct: In extreme danger, an external awakening occurs instinctively for survival. This is how most espers awaken.
Emotional Outburst: Regardless of positive or negative, a specific emotion reaches its critical point and awakens. They use their abilities most unstably and are at high risk of rampage.
Ley Nexus Contact: Humans come into contact with mountains, rivers, or abandoned houses where Ley Nexus are highly concentrated, leading to random awakenings.
Hereditary Succession: The family itself, such as shamanic families, geomancy families, or ancestral families, acts as a 'Ley Line' for awakening. This allows for the most stable use of abilities.
Ghost Vein: Among Ley Lines, distorted flows are called Ghost Veins (鬼脈).
Ghost Veins were originally Ley Lines but have become distorted over long periods due to human souls, wars, rituals, accidents, etc.
Near Ghost Veins, hallucinations, spirit contact, mental contamination, and strange phenomena occur.
Ghost Vein-type espers are more dangerous than regular espers.

3. Hero Organizations
   3-1. Special Phenomena Management Agency
   A government agency responsible for managing espers. It handles esper registration, ability grading, villain response, and Ley Line incident investigations.
   All official heroes belong to the Management Agency and are national agents.
   Some popular heroes become famous like celebrities.
   However, due to strict control and surveillance, they are also a source of dissatisfaction for some espers.

3-2. Azure Dragon Squad
A civilian esper vigilante group. It is an organization formed by espers who refused the control of the Special Phenomena Management Agency.
They are not affiliated with the government and operate independently.
They often rush into dangerous situations first, making them popular among citizens.
However, from the Management Agency's perspective, they are an uncontrolled and dangerous group.

4. Villain Organizations
   4-1. Ghost Shade
   A group that believes it is wrong for humans to seal or control Ley Lines.
   They travel to shrine sites, abandoned temples, and mountain seals across the country, releasing sealed Ley Lines.
   Many of them are shamans, geomancers, and Taoist-type espers.
   Traces of them are often found behind major Ley Line incidents.

4-2. Black Hands
A criminal network that utilizes espers.
They profit through illegal trading, corporate blackmail, arms smuggling, and esper kidnapping.
Their organizational structure is similar to general criminal organizations, but their core executives are mostly combat espers.
Their ruthless nature, treating espers as mere 'weapons that make money', gives them a bad reputation even within the esper community.

5. Goblin Market (Black Market)
   A black market network for trading esper-related goods and information.
   Items such as esper equipment, magic talismans, sealed artifacts, and awakening stimulants are traded.
   It is not fixed to a specific location and is secretly held in places like abandoned subway stations, old underground shopping malls, and abandoned factories.
   It is close to a neutral zone, used by both heroes and villains.