The world had once again reached a state of relative calm.
Although the second Rift eruption had been successfully defended against, an unforeseen event had occurred.
The appearance of Storm Dragon Tempestra.
Given the precedent set by the previous emergence of the Hellfire Guardian, this was certainly not a situation that could be ignored.
[Storm Dragon Tempestra settles near Ilsan.]
Storm Dragon Tempestra had established its lair in the Ilsan direction. Due to the nature of Calamities, which are drawn to strong entities, the remaining Calamities from northern Gyeonggi had gathered in Ilsan, creating a single nest.
This nest differed in terms of danger from the one in Cheonan that Selene had previously conquered, causing people to tremble in fear.
In response, the Management Bureau acted swiftly.
[Awakened One Rank System to be introduced, with a plan established to eliminate Storm Dragon Tempestra using B-Rank Awakened Ones as the core.]
Unlike the time of the Hellfire Guardian, Awakened Ones had also bolstered their strength through the two eruptions, nest clearances, and synthesis processes.
In fact, rumors circulated that Bureau Chief Yoo Jun-seo now possessed not one, but two 3-Star Calamities.
And the Bureau’s reach extended even to me.
– “Is this Mr. Nam Joo-yeon?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
– “We need your cooperation with this mobilization.”
“Excuse me, mobilization?”
– “Don’t you watch the news?”
With two 2-Star Calamities at my disposal, it was perhaps inevitable that the Management Bureau would contact me.
“Surely, you’re not telling me I have to go deal with that dragon thing?”
– “Of course. Based on the upcoming rank system, you qualify as a B-Rank Awakened One. Moreover, you’re someone who has directly faced a Storm Dragon.”
“I don’t know about that…”
– “Haven’t you heard about what happened in China? They lost millions trying to deal with three 4-Star Calamities and couldn’t even kill them. If we do nothing, Seoul could fall.”
“…Damn.”
However strong the Awakened Ones might be, they were at best capable of handling only 2- or 3-Star Calamities. Even if they somehow managed to defeat Storm Dragon Tempestra, significant casualties would be inevitable.
Still, I tried to sidestep the issue.
– “You’re aware, aren’t you? According to Awakened Ones’ contracts, national-affiliated Awakened Ones must participate in mobilizations. Refusal can result in legal penalties. Based on the Special Act Governing Awakened Ones Management, the maximum punishment could be life imprisonment…”
This Republic of Korea had expertise in exploiting its citizens, even amidst a world turned upside down.
I sighed and nodded reluctantly.
“Alright, when should I report?”
– “Detailed mobilization schedules will be communicated by tomorrow. Just follow accordingly.”
I frowned as I ended the call.
Apparently having overheard, Selene approached me with a stern look.
“Should your orders come, I will rip these detestable ones to shreds.”
“…No, that won’t be necessary.”
I switched my phone screen to the news. Coincidentally, a live broadcast was showing a helicopter filming the nest in Ilsan, with Storm Dragon Tempestra comfortably settled in the center.
The emergence of a 4-Star Calamity was undeniable, and if left unchecked, more Calamities would gather, turning the area into a dungeon. Should these calamities flock en masse to Seoul like they did in China, it would result in a catastrophe.
The Bureau’s decision to deal with the issue before it worsened was justified.
Most importantly, I had an ace up my sleeve.
“Anyway, it doesn’t seem like this Storm Dragon will harm me, does it?”
“…That’s correct. This wyvern serves Mirien, that woman. She won’t dare harm you, my Lord.”
Selene still harbored animosity toward Mirien.
Since learning her story from Selene a few days ago, my thoughts had become complicated.
“To try and kill me anyway… does that even make sense?”
“It does, my Lord. Selene believes this sincerely.”
“Even if Mirien had harbored ill intentions, wouldn’t it have been abnormal for her not to harm me from the very beginning?”
“Back then, Your Lordship possessed divinity. But now, you’ve been reduced to human form.”
It seemed that Selene and the other Calamities had their own explanations for the gap between the game’s ruler and my current state.
“Understand, Lord. In your current state, you could be endangered even by other subservient entities.”
“…I see.”
“Minimize contact with Mirien and other subordinates. The same applies to the other two 5-Star Calamities.”
Selene was likely referring to Mother of Omens Karne and Queen Who Swallowed the Stars, Asteria. Given their backgrounds, I preferred to avoid them as well.
Moreover, their whereabouts were currently mysterious.
“Alright. For now, there’s no choice but to bolster our strength.”
As soon as I’d resolved this, a notification appeared on the status screen.
Ding.
[4★ Hellfire Guardian has completed the Catastrophe Synthesis process.]
[Reward: 50Exp / 2★ Ashen Ferry Deer.]
“Alright!”
I’d finally succeeded in synthesizing a 2-Star Calamity, after feeding over thirty 1-Star ones.
I promptly added the Ashen Ferry Deer to my formation and instructed the Hellfire Guardian to begin the next synthesis.
However, Selene appeared unusually dissatisfied.
“My Lord, if you were to instruct me to synthesize, I could produce far superior results than this mongrel.”
“Selene, I apologize, but your synthesis compatibility rating is D. This mongrel’s is B.”
“…”
Selene looked genuinely shocked.
It had already been two days since Awakened One Nam Joo-yeon retreated into his house, out of sight.
Kang Do-young, the Management Bureau officer assigned to monitor him, sighed deeply as he lit a cigarette.
“Monitoring, you say? There’s got to be something going on, for crying out loud. What’s the point of monitoring if he’s just cooped up inside?”
Kang Do-young muttered under his breath.
The term “hikikomori” came to mind. Nam Joo-yeon seemed to fit that category. It was hard to believe he could be the same one suspected of killing Awakened One Han Tae-geon based on how weak he appeared. Had it not been for Director Jo Geon-wook’s strong push, Kang Do-young wouldn’t have wasted his time on such nonsense.
“Is he even an Awakened One or what?”
Kang Do-young crushed his cigarette against the nearby wall with dissatisfaction before heading toward the adjacent building.
He intended to check what Nam Joo-yeon was doing inside. As Kang Do-young positioned himself on the same floor as Nam Joo-yeon’s residence and lifted a pair of binoculars, the interior was visible through the balcony window.
“…Hm?”
To his surprise, there was no sign of Nam Joo-yeon inside.
He was sure he had seen him enter two days ago and hadn’t seen him leave. Yet the house seemed eerily quiet, as if its occupant had simply vanished.
Could he have disappeared into thin air? No way, right? He had definitely received a call from the Management Bureau recently.
“…Something’s not right.”
There had to be some hidden room, secret exit, or perhaps even a bunker. Having been a former police officer, Kang Do-young moved carefully, intending to break into the house to investigate.
However, before he could make it down the stairs, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Ugh!”
A freezing sensation ran down his spine.
When Kang Do-young turned sharply, it was already too late – a small dagger had been embedded in his heart. Crimson blood gushed from his throat.
“Cough!”
Standing behind him was a petite woman.
How had she approached without him noticing?
The building was abandoned, and there had been no sound.
“Wh, who are y-you…?”
Kang Do-young tried to shout through the blood bubbling out of his mouth but was quickly silenced as the woman placed her hand over his mouth. A tingling sensation followed, and his lips went numb.
He could only stare, wide-eyed, as the icy beauty stood there.
This exotic-looking female had piercing blue eyes that contrasted strikingly with her dark hair. Her chilling and aloof demeanor belied a sinister aura emanating from her twisted smile.
“…Anyone who harms the sovereign shall not be spared.”
Her voice was cold and unforgiving.
Kang Do-young couldn’t retain his consciousness any longer.
More terrifying than the dagger in his heart was the sinister presence emanating from the woman.
“…This is all for the ‘Actor.'”
She muttered as if rationalizing her actions, then withdrew the small ceremonial dagger from Kang Do-young’s chest. The blade dissolved and disappeared in her palm.
The last thing Kang Do-young saw before death was a title floating above the woman’s head.
[5★ Storm Mirien]
The next day, after returning home from The Abyss, I noticed an unusual commotion nearby.
On closer inspection, I saw yellow tape surrounding the building opposite my house.
“…Hmm?”
The scene appeared to be a crime site where police officers and some unidentified men in suits were arguing.
Perhaps there was a jurisdictional dispute. Whatever the case might be, this wasn’t my problem. However, the proximity to my house still made me uneasy.
Approaching a police officer who was smoking nearby, I asked.
“…Has something happened here recently? I live nearby.”
The officer hesitated at first but reluctantly disclosed the information after confirming I was a local resident.
“There’s been a death.”
“One human? By a calamity?”
“No. Do you think the police would be bothered with one death caused by calamities in today’s world?”
The policeman shrugged.
“There was a death, but we don’t know what caused it. That’s the issue.”
“…?”
Perplexed, I tilted my head. The officer then hesitantly whispered,
“It’s something like this… there was a body and next to it, writing was scribbled in blood on the wall.”
“…Writing?”
“You’ve probably heard of it, ‘Actor.'”
“…”
My mind went blank in an instant.
