Gwanghwamun Square was inundated with demonstrators.
In less than a day, hundreds gathered.
“Resign!”
“Impeach Yoo Jang-hoon! Impeach Yoo Jang-hoon!”
“Dictator, step down!”
Most of these protesters were actors hired by the Inner Circle, with the occasional idle hardcore opposition supporter mixed in.
Military police forces blocked the roads leading to the Blue House, preparing for any contingency.
The assembled military forces were less than 10% of what was planned, but it was enough to defend the Blue House.
Inside the Blue House, the underground bunker was bustling.
The President was on the phone, alternately exhorting and threatening various units that were supposed to follow his orders.
“So why aren’t you moving? Are you conspiring with the rebellion?”
<We'll move as soon as we're prepared. Moving an army isn’t something that can be done instantly.>
He alternated between encouraging compliant units and cajoling or threatening uncooperative ones.
“Hello, this is the President.”
<Loyalty! Colonel Oh Seung-wook, Commander of the 59th Brigade.>
“I instructed your division commander to come to Seoul. Did you receive the order?”
<...No, I haven't received any order separately.>
“Seems like my division commander has no intention of listening to me. You’re not getting any orders despite all this preparation.”
<Let me check and get back to you…>
“No need. Just come to Seoul, leading the troops. The situation in Seoul is deteriorating.”
<...Understood. Loyalty!>
After contemplation, the President decided to undermine the command structure of the units that wouldn’t move. If the division commander wouldn’t budge, then he’d contact the brigade commander, and if the brigade commander wouldn’t, he’d call the battalion commander directly, ordering them to defend Seoul.
Of course, not all officers would obey, but those with any patriotism started moving individually.
However, the Inner Circle didn’t give them a moment to breathe.
“Our junior’s been hurt?!”
“Let’s fight! You militiamen!”
At 1 AM, Awakened Ones stormed in as the tension between the demonstrators and the military police reached a peak. They claimed to be Academy graduates avenging a junior, but in reality, they were Guards from the Red Knight Cruise, dressed in bulletproof vests, mana coats, and armed with handguns.
At first, military officers attempted to block them with physical force, but the scene turned violent when a gunshot fired from somewhere.
“Someone’s been shot!”
“The soldiers fired!”
“Damn bastards!”
“They’re shooting at civilians!”
Waahaaa—!
The protests should’ve dispersed in fear, but the guards fired the shot, and most of the demonstrators were hired actors. They charged forward under the lead of the guards.
“Uh, what should we do? Really shoot them?”
A colonel asked, making the division commander hesitate.
Although the President had ordered the defense of the Blue House, the division commander was regretting his decision.
‘Shit! If the regime really falls, I’ll undeniably face the death penalty for ordering the troops to fire.’
He berated himself for not pretending not to hear the command like some other generals. Even if he held out here, if they lost, he would still receive the death penalty for killing civilians, and even if they won, his name would bear the stigma of massacre.
Meanwhile, the generals who stayed seated in their bases would not be affected, whoever won. Ironically, those only seeking their own success were in a far better position.
” Damn it. Don’t shoot!”
“What?”
“Don’t shoot! I said, don’t shoot!”
“Understood!”
This way, the Blue House fell.
Molotov cocktails started flying from all sides, and the unruly crowd rampaged.
On the rooftop of a building overlooking the Blue House, a figure cloaked in black robes crouched silently observing the chaos below.
This was the infamous villain known as the Dark Knight, feared across villain circles as a noble dark hero.
The flames engulfed the Blue House.
Occasional gunshots echoed, and the Blue House guards fired at the Awakened Ones leading the charge, disregarding their future consequences.
“Hmph.”
Shinnoda let out a sigh.
This marked a complete alteration in the flow of history.
It meant the value of his knowledge of how things played out in the original story had diminished.
“Who’s there?”
The characteristic metallic sound of ‘Dark Knight’ was heard, responding to a sensed presence nearby.
A powerful Awakened One lay hidden.
“Indeed, you’re S-rank. When did you know?”
“From the start.”
South Korea’s officially recognized strongest, Blood Sea, appeared quietly and crouched beside him, lighting a cigarette.
“Here to stop me?”
The words carried uncertainty, given the public perception of the ‘Dark Knight’ as a high-minded dark hero aligned against entities like the Inner Circle.
“No.”
The Dark Knight’s denial, accompanied by a calm smile.
“Apparently, another bluff by the government. President Yoo claimed you were on his side.”
“That’s surprising.”
Shinnoda truly was surprised.
How could they spread such a ridiculous lie and risk it coming back to him?
“Moreover, the Inner Circle seems surprisingly courteous toward me, time to pay off some debts.”
He still remembered the incident when he killed an informant tied to the Red Knight Cruise. He couldn’t live comfortably with debts.
Meanwhile, Blood Sea was extremely impressed.
With all his attributes hitting ‘999 S’ and adorned with various dungeon artifacts like rings and earrings, making him practically SS-ranked, it was impressive that the Dark Knight had noticed him.
‘The power emanating from him is substantial. I must take care not to turn him into an enemy. Plus, he seems more approachable than expected despite being a closed-off hero type.’
As the blazing Blue House came into view, the Dark Knight turned to Blood Sea.
Under the shadowy robe, nothing was visible, making Blood Sea feel an unsettling chill.
“Nevertheless, I can’t condone this. However, I owe Red Knight a debt, so I’ll stay silent this time. Please let them know the debt is now settled.”
Blood Sea found the tone grating.
Yes, the Dark Knight was S-rank, equipped with high-level items, and his skills were unfair, but he faced the Inner Circle—a group of five S-ranked individuals operating together.
These kinds of comments were inappropriate.
“Did you owe Red Knight a debt? Regardless, I understand. The next time we meet, let’s hope we’re not enemies, one of us may die.”
Blood Sea responded thoughtfully, although his tone subtly warned of potential danger.
“…”
The Dark Knight remained silent.
Blood Sea smiled faintly, tossing his cigarette far away before vanishing into thin air.
On the silent rooftop, Shinnoda was the only one left.
“Hooray!”
“Long live democracy!”
“Down with the dictatorship!”
A roar of cheers erupted from afar.
The Blue House had fallen.
Except for a few, the army could not fire on unarmed civilians.
The consciousness of the modern soldier differed from the past.
Even the military’s command to ‘shoot if instructed’ couldn’t overcome the deeply ingrained democratic education.
The demonstrators, including the Red Knight’s Guards, posed for pictures, celebrated as civilian heroes.
On the floor lay Yoo Jang-hoon, tightly bound.
A great triumph of the free citizens.
Even the actors, who usually held no deeper feelings, sensed a degree of purpose. Those who sincerely joined the protest felt indescribable elation.
*
After all the events, I was invited to dinner with Red Knight.
Yang Min-seo accompanied me again.
“You’ve done a great job, our Nobuta.”
Red Knight offered a plate of grilled eel onto my plate. I couldn’t help but suspect her motive for coming to an eel restaurant.
“But I didn’t really do anything.”
Honestly, I did nothing. Fully equipped, I went to the Gigantic Forest solely to hunt goblins.
It just so happened that my actions coincidentally served Red Knight’s intentions, but I didn’t bother pointing this out. Since she expressed gratitude, I considered it a good outcome.
“No, you really helped. You’re the star! Just call me ‘Sister’ from now on. Consider me your elder sister. Say ‘Sister’.”
I wanted to escape the awkward situation. She was watching me with an intense gaze.
“Pfft.”
Yang Min-seo burst out laughing. Clearly shocked, given Red Knight’s typically ruthless, emotionless image.
“Yes, Sister.”
“Minseo, you’ve earned my gratitude too. Thanks to you, we formed a convincing protest movement.”
“Not at all. I’m just grateful. If K Group’s assistance is needed later on, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Don’t worry. We of the Inner Circle are clear on give-and-take.”
Previously, Red Knight seemed somewhat displeased with Yang Min-seo. This time, however, she was unusually friendly.
‘Was it to establish dominance last time?’
She turned to me.
“We should reward Nobuta. Sister’s company isn’t enough, right?”
“…”
I was speechless, unsure if I was being offered as the reward.
She looked as young as 20, but accounting for her real age, it felt like I should be the one offering rewards.
“Joking. Joking.”
Red Knight continued, signaling the start of the main topic.
