The narrative follows Aoi Masayoshi, a low-ranking combatant in an "evil organization" who grapples with the meaning of being a hero and his own place in a world where heroes and villains are commonplace. Chapters 3-12 detail his disillusionment with his current life, his tentative steps towards a new path, and his initial, chaotic experiences as a fledgling hero.
Aoi begins by questioning the definition of a hero, concluding that they exist in opposition to villains. He feels lost and unfulfilled, working menial jobs for his organization. He and his fellow low-level combatants are tasked with stealing items from warehouses, a dangerous job that often results in injury or worse for his colleagues. The organization itself lacks clear goals beyond petty theft, and Aoi feels like a disposable pawn.
The world-building reveals that Japan, after a period of collapse, was rebuilt by a Prime Minister who became a hero by using advanced "body enhancement suits." This technology eventually leaked, leading to a proliferation of heroes and villains, turning heroism into a profession. Aoi receives a flyer for a "Hero Dispatch Company" called "Colors," run by a young girl named Shiratori Reiko. Initially dismissive, Aoi is drawn to Reiko's determined efforts to distribute flyers, despite her being in a wheelchair.
Aoi's life takes a turn after a disastrous mission where his comrades are captured or injured. Feeling utterly disposable and contemplating quitting, he encounters Reiko again. He initially confronts her about a missing phone number on her flyer, but this leads to a conversation where Reiko, who is the president of Colors, offers him a job as a hero. Despite the company's poor reputation and lack of resources, Aoi, driven by a desire for money and a chance to escape his current life, accepts.
His first "hero" job is a disaster. He is given a horse mask and told to confront a wolf-type monster. He is quickly overwhelmed and beaten by the monster and its henchmen, only to be saved by a female hero with a giant ladle. This hero, who speaks with a dialect, defeats the monster and its allies, leaving Aoi feeling humiliated and even more disillusioned. Reiko, however, sees this as an opportunity to gain attention for her new company.
Aoi's second job is even more absurd: he is forced to wear a poorly made cat mascot costume ("Ocelot-kun") and entertain children at a department store. During this, a flying chick-like monster appears, intending to abduct the children. Aoi, despite his ridiculous costume and lack of proper hero gear, manages to disable the monster's flight capabilities by tearing off its wings, earning him the grudging respect of Reiko and the attention of a powerful, armored hero who mistakes him for a villain.
Meanwhile, within his evil organization, Aoi is unexpectedly promoted to a "numbered" combatant under a "Four Heavenly Kings" member named Esmeralda. This promotion is due to his previous act of defiance against a hero. However, his promotion is complicated by his encounter with Esmeralda, who turns out to be the young girl Reiko, and his subsequent actions during the mascot job. He is told his promotion is on hold, and he is still employed by Colors, albeit with a significant pay cut and a lack of proper hero equipment.
Aoi continues to work for Colors, performing mundane tasks like distributing flyers, while also trying to earn money to eventually buy a proper hero suit. He learns that his organization is also planning a heist on a butcher shop, and he is assigned to act as a diversion to draw away heroes. He successfully distracts a trio of heroes, allowing his organization to complete their mission. He also learns that Reiko is trying to build Colors' reputation through unconventional means, even if it means using him as a pawn. The chapters end with Aoi still working for Colors, his promotion in the evil organization uncertain, and his future as a hero undefined, but with a growing sense of purpose and a desire to truly become a hero, not just a disposable combatant.
