The Republic of Korea was akin to the calm before a storm.
On the surface, it seemed tranquil and problem-free, but upon closer inspection, it was primed to explode at any moment.
The citizens.
The broadcasting stations.
The Korean government.
The Japanese government.
All their grievances and anxieties intertwined and shuffled about, creating a strange equilibrium.
An equilibrium so precarious that even a minor shock could cause it to explode. Should an external disturbance occur, it would shatter into pieces, scattering debris in all directions. And those nearby would be caught in the chaos, bleeding and screaming.
And the hammer to break this delicate balance was ready.
Or rather, it was being prepared.
A single journalist named Lee Jae-soon.
Although he was a promising newcomer, when compared to veteran journalists or power holders, he was a feeble existence, infinitely lacking in influence.
Who would believe that such a journalist held the detonation switch of a bomb in his hand?
Moreover, who could imagine that his vision was so narrow that he didn’t even consider the possibility of being caught in the explosion himself?
To the hungry, food holds more value than jewels or silk.
Lee Jae-soon desired nothing but to rise to the top, to make a name for himself, with an ambition so blind it bordered on fanaticism.
Blinded completely by a single goal.
At the root of it all was a divine object.
A precious divine object that he had “directly” obtained himself.
As long as he had faith in this divine object, as long as the information it provided brought continued success, his madness would not wane.
And that madness would only grow stronger, eventually transforming into the hammer that would strike and destroy the precarious balance. Without regard for consequences, driven solely by the desire for personal gain.
This behavior was undoubtedly foolish, but when desire clouds one’s judgment, leading to ruin, it is a timeless trait of human nature.
Thus, the Republic of Korea was in a precarious and dangerous situation, like a powder keg ready to ignite at any moment, brewing quietly beneath the surface.
Like the calm before a typhoon. A ominous calm.
But conversely, this ominous feeling could also mean that the unrest was lurking beneath the surface.
Thus, most of Korea remained peaceful, unaware of the precariousness of the situation.
And within this peace, there was a place that indulged fully in it.
It was none other than the school.
Seoul Specialization High School for Ability Users was peaceful.
Everywhere, it was peaceful.
In the buildings where warriors gathered, as always, the sounds of cries and training could be heard, and the heavy scent of sweat was pervasive. In the weight room, people wagered on how many reps they could do or fitness enthusiasts fretted over muscle loss, anxiously awaiting their turn at the machines.
There was no sight of the barbaric betting where participants stood face-to-face, taking turns slapping each other until one fainted, nor was there anyone drinking vodka between sets, believing it would enhance the efficiency of their workout.
It was a very wholesome atmosphere of study.
The place where the wizards congregated was even more tranquil.
Everyone walked around with deep dark circles under their eyes, addicted to coffee and energy drinks, resembling zombies. Not as a metaphor, but because of the immense amount of studying and assignments that had them pulling all-nighters, turning them neurotic. They had abandoned any thoughts of youthful romance, devoting themselves entirely to the “foundation” of magical science, exerting every ounce of effort to advance their studies.
Truly a commendable scene.
What about other areas?
They were ordinary.
The summoners, however, frequently had their summoned creatures engage in brawls, causing mayhem. Occasionally, a summoned creature would go berserk as if triggered by some hidden button, causing commotion. Sometimes, their creatures would connect romantically right in front of minors, showcasing the mysteries of life as if it were a wildlife documentary. There were even instances where pride in their summon’s cuteness and greatness would lead to quarrels, resulting in summoners grabbing each other by the collar and being dragged off by the school authorities.
It was all part of the school’s everyday routine.
And thus, the school was very peaceful.
Truly.
Among those enjoying this peace, there were those who enjoyed it even more. Those who, striving for a more intense and perfect enjoyment of peace, seemed almost peculiar in their serenity.
Anastasia and Ella, Iserin and Iarin.
These four made up the group.
The four of them had claimed a corner of the school as their haven, indulging in a honeyed rest.
To be precise, during their free period in physical education class, they had moved to a secluded spot to chat.
As proof, all four were wearing their PE uniforms.
However, the freedom they were enjoying during this free period seemed, in a way, too intense.
Firstly, the location.
The four had taken a large tree at the edge of the field as their hideout, creating a picnic-like atmosphere thanks to the lush natural grass surrounding the area. Moreover, for greater comfort, they had even strung up a hammock between the trees.
And the positioning of this hammock was quite ingenious.
It hung almost at the very top of the tree.
So high that it made students think, “Is it really necessary to climb that high just to use it?” or “It’s too high and scary,” and teachers considered, “Since no one seems to be using it anyway because it’s so high, is it worth the trouble to climb up and remove it?”
Thanks to this, the hammock, untouched by any supervision or unauthorized use, had become exclusively one woman’s.
This woman was known as a puma in Russia, and even among the wild and instinct-driven warriors in Korea, she was described as, “She’s not a beast because of her martial arts, she’s a human who learned martial arts and became beastlike.”
Iarin.
Gently swaying…
Iarin lay comfortably in the high hammock. She basked in the perfect temperature created by the shade, feeling the gently blowing wind and using the sound of rustling leaves as a lullaby. The hammock swayed back and forth like a cradle, and with a thin knee blanket draped over her, she was trying to fall asleep.
Below her rested three others.
These three were also extraordinary.
Anastasia had made her seat among the branches of the tree, not on a branch or in the hammock but atop a strange creature. It looked like a stretched rubber tube and had tentacles wrapped around various branches like a trampoline.
It would be no stretch to call it a trampoline if it weren’t for the dozens of large toy-like eyes blinking all over its body.
Anastasia sat atop this bizarre creature with dozens of eyes that blinked incessantly as if to assert its vitality. She was in a relaxed posture, scrolling through her smartphone.
She was leaning back, as if against a cozy beanbag sofa – though it was something bizarre instead – and had placed her phone on a tentacle produced by the strange living trampoline, watching videos or searching the internet for interesting things.
And below that.
Iserin and Ella sat on chairs they had conjured up on the grass.
Ella used her location witchcraft to weave plants together, making a swing-like chair and sat on it, holding tightly to her glowing RGB orb, gently rocking back and forth.
Beside her, Iserin sat on a chair made of sand. Despite its material, it felt like memory foam, cradling her cozily.
Almost like a massage chair.
And thus, the four enjoyed their time.
Indulging fully in the free period as if they had gone on a picnic.
However, even silence and calmness have their limits.
Perhaps tired of playing with her smartphone, Anastasia, perched high up in the tree, spoke.
“By the way, I wonder if our benefactor Jinseong Park is currently shooting his broadcast?”
