A while later.
“Indeed, eliminating that pesky obstacle was the right choice, my Lord.”
That was Selene’s reaction upon hearing the story about my abduction of Jo Geon-wook.
Our current location is The Abyss.
The timing was when the issues surrounding the Tower Eruption Incident and the appearance of the 5-Star Calamity, The Blackened Saint Selene in Jung District, were just starting to d*e down.
[The Dragon King and the Salt King, “Significant progress in the Tower campaign was announced…”, future reclamation declared.]
Due to this incident, I suffered almost no consequences. This was because Yoo Jun-seo exaggerated that the Tower had been nearly cleared.
Additionally, the lightning-shaped scars on the body of The Blackened Saint Selene, who appeared in Jung District, played a role. The self-proclaimed non-Awakened expert panel interpreted these marks as the result of a fierce battle between her and me.
In any case, thanks to the inspired media handling by the Bureau Chief and my S-Rank Awakened One reputation, and most importantly, because Selene had not caused any casualties, the Tower Eruption Incident did not become a major issue.
On the contrary, due to the fact that Management Bureau Awakened Ones had risked their lives to contain the 5-Star Calamity, some quarters praised the situation as a miracle, making it all the better for the Management Bureau.
Indeed, when both sides benefit, this is what happens.
Of course, it wasn’t only the Management Bureau that benefited.
[Owned Calamities: 50/50]
[Owned Experience: 7010 Exp]
I, too, accumulated Calamities and experience quite effectively.
Due to the vast number of Calamities Selene had accumulated, the amount of experience gained was enormous. I heard that over half of the Management Bureau’s Awakened Ones lost their owned Calamities and became beggars.
In any case, the situation turned out well, and Selene, who had healed the wounds from her battle with Mirien, was now asking me for the details.
“Lord, the current situation proceeding smoothly is indeed commendable, but I do have one question.”
“I can guess what it is. Ask ahead.”
“So… what exactly happened with Mirien?”
Selene asked cautiously.
I had not yet mentioned Mirien’s whereabouts after the abduction of Jo Geon-wook.
“Hmm. Well, it’s a bit complicated, to say the least.”
There was an odd anticipation in her expression when she posed the question. Though I couldn’t tell the source of this feeling, I toned down my response as much as possible.
“Through various discussions, we managed to clear up our misunderstandings.”
“Lord, where is that woman? Given she is not in The Abyss, I assume she has not come under your command.”
“Somewhere out there, for sure.”
“Did you not say that the misunderstanding was resolved?”
Continuing her line of thought, Selene blinked as if she had realized something.
“Indeed…”
“Hmm? Why that look on your face?”
“I am nothing short of impressed by Your Lordship’s insight.”
Selene’s flattering speech made me frown. What exactly was she driving at? Before I could inquire further, she continued with a sardonic smile.
“To think you commanded that magic-loving girl to commit s*icide. This is undoubtedly an excellent decision. Removing that traitorous woman would be advantageous in the long run…”
“Hold on, Selene. You’re mistaken. I didn’t k*ll Mirien.”
“…You didn’t?”
“That’s right. I’ve sent her back to the Tower for now. There’s a lot of cleanup that needs to be done.”
I am known to the world as S-Rank Awakened One Nam Joo-yeon, even before being the ruler Actor. I had to conduct interviews with journalists about the Tower attack failure and the eruptions and align stories with Yoo Jun-seo.
I also needed to speak with Kang Se-na to locate the missing Awakened Ones, including Seo Ye-rin. The matter of Jo Geon-wook also exists. Therefore, I lack the leisure to fully resolve my issues with Mirien right now, sending her temporarily back to the Tower.
“Ah…”
And with that explanation, Selene showed a noticeably disappointed expression.
‘In fact, it’s because of you.’
I inwardly sighed. A significant factor in not bringing Mirien to The Abyss was this ashen-haired saint standing before me.
Given their constant inclination to fight, placing them in the same garrison could lead to a terrible catastrophe. They need to be kept far from each other for now.
“Will you plan to revisit the Tower once the situation stabilizes?”
“Exactly. It’s going to become my second base.”
“…The second base?”
I nodded.
If The Abyss, our current base, is a place where S-Rank Awakened One Nam Joo-yeon’s calamities are plentiful, The Tower is a more private and secret space for executing plans.
In my second role.
“Rather than being Actor, the lord of The Abyss, I’ll become Actor, the master of The Tower.”
“…”
At my words, Selene’s eyebrows quietly dropped.
“Ultimately, living in two separate households, I gather?”
“…Selene, what did you say?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Selene seemed her usual self, but the ominous feeling she emanated overwhelmed me.
The Blackened Saint Selene had devoted infinite loyalty to Actor, the ruler.
That loyalty was what she reaffirmed upon entering The Rift for the first time and was still steadfast even now, as she served the Actor in a new realm.
All Selene’s actions were for Actor, even to the point of throwing away her own life. She wanted to remain a faithful vassal, serving Actor’s grand plan, even right up to her d*ath, or beyond it.
Even her fierce battle with Storm Mirien was all due to this loyalty. She was genuinely relieved by the lord’s report that the matter had been resolved satisfactorily.
Since her lord’s desire had come true, Selene too had to be content.
‘Why is this?’
Indeed.
It is undoubtedly a good outcome.
That woman Mirien will live out the rest of her life burdened by guilt towards Actor. This will mean that for the foreseeable future, she will not trouble the lord.
Yet for some reason, Selene’s heart was uneasy.
Is there some missed danger she overlooked?
Or does that woman, Mirien, still harbor secret schemes?
‘Strange.’
Selene felt something was very strange about her state of mind lately.
The lord was showing such a human side, and talking about Mirien with such a smile…
This should clearly be an important moment displaying the lord’s virtue and generosity.
Then why does her anger rise?
It is not betrayal. Selene is a believer in the one and only Actor. She will never betray him, ever.
So what is this uncomfortable emotion rising in her chest?
Selene decided to define this inexplicable feeling as merely physiological repulsion caused by her disliking Mirien, not love as some might suggest.
She had to define it as such.
It seems Mirien had locked away the abducted Awakened Ones in the basement of the Tower.
Now that Mirien and I are on good terms again, it was child’s play to secretly rescue those abducted Awakened Ones.
“You brought so many…”
Kang Se-na looked astonished at the dozens of Awakened Ones I’d rescued. I couldn’t manage that number of people myself. When I asked Mirien for help, she disposed of the Awakened Ones outside the Tower like they were trash.
“How did you find them? No, more importantly, how did you discover that Ye-rin was in the Tower basement?”
It was impossible to tell the truth that I had heard it directly from the kidnapper. So, I shrugged and gave Storm Dragon Tempestra’s head a pat. The giant wyvern had keen instincts. Showing off its elegance, it twirled gracefully in the air.
“There was a way.”
“Ah. As expected, a 4-Star Calamity… S-Rank really is different.”
The Disaster Order’s world is truly convenient.
People readily accept calamity as an explanation.
“…I will remember this favor, never to forget. I’ll repay your kindness in some way.”
Kang Se-na repeatedly expressed her gratitude to me, but I felt a rising sense of guilt.
That feeling grew stronger after hearing her following words.
“Ah, by the way, it seems there’s another missing person in this chaos.”
“Missing person? Didn’t they say there were no casualties?”
“Yes. There were no casualties. Maybe it was due to the Blackened Saint’s protection, or maybe the rain-induced exhaustion…”
Kang Se-na faltered and then smiled bitterly.
“Investigator Jo Geon-wook has gone missing.”
“…”
“They say he left his post, stealing a motorcycle and heading northwest. Perhaps he picked up some strange intuition…”
Kang Se-na did not express much sorrow over Jo Geon-wook’s disappearance.
Apparently, he wasn’t a particularly beloved superior.
Though if Kang Se-na realized that the person standing before her had abducted her superior, what expression would she have?
“…Such a shame.”
“Well, I guess we’re obligated to say it’s a shame, right?”
My indifferent response made Kang Se-na smile broadly, as if she had anticipated it, and she nodded.
Following the event, the security around Yeouido Tower became even stricter than before.
Not only were there police forces but Awakened Ones dispatched from the Management Bureau vigilantly watching to see who dared enter. Approaching through the main gate was tantamount to s*icide.
Perhaps because of that, Mirien provided a new route into the Tower.
“Lord, must we use such a place as an entrance? Clearly Mirien looks down on you. We should at least have a carpet here, shouldn’t we?”
Sewers.
Selene showed considerable dissatisfaction at the fact that I was walking through this foul-smelling path, but it didn’t bother me at all.
“Come on, calm down. Do you remember my order?”
At my words, Selene reluctantly nodded.
“…Yes. I will not under any circumstances fight with her.”
“Remember that verbal arguments count as fighting too.”
“I’ve understood that as well.”
After securing Selene’s guarantee, I placed my hand on the magical array nearby.
A device akin to something seen in movies then activated, inverting my vision.
“…Actor.”
Mirien, who had apparently already completed her treatment, stood before me with a clean appearance.
“You came to torture, huh? I’ve got everything prepared.”
Smiling broadly, she pointed to Awakened One Jo Geon-wook, fully bound and panting heavily.
The devices placed beside Mirien were all sharp-edged, some even heated to a scorching temperature.
“…Mirien.”
“Hmm.”
“Go out with Selene and wait.”
Indeed, calamity is calamity.
