Yoo Jun-seo had never imagined he would find himself in such a covert place during his lifetime.
Beneath a safe house located near Seoul City Hall.
After passing through several heavily guarded doors, Yoo Jun-seo was finally led to his seat. A few senior civil servants exchanged business cards and greetings, but he could hardly remember any of them.
It was truly perplexing.
Yoo Jun-seo did not understand why he, as the Bureau Chief of the Awakened One Management Bureau, had been summoned here.
At first, he thought it might be because Korea had gained its second S-Rank Awakened One.
However, the moment an ostensibly serious director or some such individual began speaking, Yoo Jun-seo was thrown into confusion.
“You want to… take down Nam Joo-yeon?”
Their explanation was shocking.
It began with the claim that Nam Joo-yeon was dangerous. They wanted to incarcerate Korea’s first S-Rank Awakened One, and they wanted it done through the hands of Yoo Jun-seo, the only other S-Rank who could rival Nam Joo-yeon.
“Why would you do such a thing? Are you all insane?”
Yoo Jun-seo asked, bewildered.
The response, summarized, went like this:
“That man is uncontrollable. One misstep, and he could transform into a terrorist—a dangerous individual. For the sake of the nation, we must expel him.”
It wasn’t an entirely false statement.
After all, Nam Joo-yeon had gone as far as issuing death threats in a packed parliamentary meeting room. Despite this, was it really reasonable to capture and imprison an S-Rank Awakened One? From what Yoo Jun-seo could gather, they were even considering killing Nam Joo-yeon.
“Seriously, what kind of absurd nonsense is this?”
He intended to refuse. He was about to rise from his seat in protest.
But Yoo Jun-seo remained, deep down, a commoner.
No matter how steadfast his resolve, no matter that he held the prestigious position of Awakened One Management Bureau Chief, being surrounded by such influential figures in such a clandestine location was intimidating.
Stammering for words to protest, Yoo Jun-seo was repeatedly cut off by the man introduced as the chairman, who insisted Nam Joo-yeon was dangerous—and that Yoo Jun-seo himself could take over his role. The government seemed genuinely convinced.
Though there had been some casualties, Seoul was still recognized worldwide as the country that best contained calamities. Buoyed by this reputation, the government’s growing arrogance made sense. Recruiting someone like Yoo Jun-seo, with no significant political connections, was equally predictable.
“Please consider carefully. What is the right decision here?”
When the conversation began to stray, the other party summarily dismissed it.
“Most importantly, Bureau Chief Yoo, if you can capture him, we’ll grant you the power to control three 4-Star Calamities. You could become the most remarkable human being in the world.”
“…No, that’s nonsense.”
“You’ll have much to think about. Which side will you choose? What decision will benefit you?”
The final words reverberated in his ears even after he left the building.
—
“Fucking hell.”
The next day, Yoo Jun-seo didn’t check community comments, which usually marked the start of his day.
His mind was too cluttered. He had stayed awake all night, eyes wide open, feeling both exhausted and disturbed.
“What do you want me to do, bastards?”
The government’s demand was simple: they wanted to use Yoo Jun-seo as a hound to bite Nam Joo-yeon, all in the name of ruling Seoul more conveniently according to their whims.
It was a brilliant plan. Unlike Nam Joo-yeon, Yoo Jun-seo wasn’t someone who’d openly threaten to kill everyone in a meeting room. He lacked that boldness.
Moreover, capturing Nam Joo-yeon wouldn’t be that difficult.
Even an S-Rank Awakened One could die from a single bullet. They weren’t the superheroes from movies. Nam Joo-yeon wasn’t skilled enough to dodge bullets.
But what should he do?
Yoo Jun-seo was familiar with the concept of “using someone and then abandoning them.” If he took out Nam Joo-yeon and became the sole S-Rank, the government would surely manipulate him the same way they had before.
“Mr. Yoo, please be reasonable.”
On the other hand, Nam Joo-yeon had entrusted the coordination with the government to Yoo Jun-seo, likely trusting him to some extent.
So, was cutting ties with Nam Joo-yeon—an individual the government already viewed as a troublemaker—the right decision? Was this a reliable alliance?
“Idiots.”
No, that didn’t make sense.
During the last tower battle, Yoo Jun-seo had witnessed Nam Joo-yean’s selfless heroism. He was almost a genuine hero.
Thus, betraying him or doing as those people wished and tearing him down wasn’t something Yoo Jun-seo planned to do.
Yoo Jun-seo was good at devising brilliant plans for his own safety.
His decision was clear. He intended to discreetly summon Nam Joo-yeon at the earliest opportunity to discuss this matter.
“Ah, you’ve finally arrived.”
Late morning.
Yoo Jun-seo, reporting to work at the Management Bureau as usual, was greeted by an unexpected visitor.
“Let’s talk, shall we?”
In his office already sat Nam Joo-yeon, with a bottle of liquor.
“Uh, er… Mr. Nam, what brings you here?”
Yoo Jun-seo greeted him hurriedly.
What wind had brought him to the Management Bureau building? When he glanced at Kang Se-na, she shrugged, then exited the room.
He offered Nam Joo-yeon the seat. In these times where luxuries were scarce, alcohol was quite valuable.
“I just came in from Daejeon yesterday. I heard you obtained a 4-Star Calamity.”
“Yeah, uh… I had good luck.”
While handing over the gift, Yoo Jun-seo carefully observed Nam Joo-yeon’s expression.
He appeared calm.
“Is there something specific you’d like to discuss?”
“Just visiting as a fellow S-Rank Awakened One to congratulate you. I tried to attend the event yesterday, but you weren’t there.”
“Oh, right. I had business…”
“Apparently, a matter concerning National Security Office.”
Nam Joo-yeon’s casual remark froze Yoo Jun-seo’s blood.
Had Kang Se-na told him? No, she was discreet. Then was it Seo Ye-rin?
Whatever it was, it didn’t matter now. Nam Joo-yeon knew he had been summoned by the government for a confidential discussion.
As if on cue, he crossed his legs and spoke.
“So, what do you intend to do?”
“Eh? Do about what?”
“Will you side against me? I know what the government has proposed to you, and I don’t fault you for it. I’m here to hear your decision, Mr. Yoo.”
“…”
An icy silence filled the room.
Cold sweat trickled down Yoo Jun-seo’s back.
When the silence stretched, Nam Joo-yeon calmly picked up the remote from the desk and turned on the television. A breaking news report was already airing.
[Midtown Seoul: Explosion terrorism incident. Director of National Security deceased; suspected attack by a Calamity.]
The red background with white text.
It felt as if Yoo Jun-seo had been struck on the head. He blinked several times.
“Such ominous news so early in the morning, don’t you agree?”
“…”
The face on the news screen was familiar.
It was the man Yoo Jun-seo had privately discussed matters with the previous day.
He turned his head. Nam Joo-yeon was smiling faintly.
It was clear enough.
“Listen! Nam Joo-yeon! Those government bastards dared to sow discord with me…!”
Yoo Jun-seo was a bat.
—
Convincing the Bureau Chief was as easy as lying down to eat a rice cake.
The moment the news was shown, he caved like an obedient pet.
He continued to curse the government, declaring repeatedly that the Management Bureau must break free from their control.
Just as it started to get annoying, Kang Se-na approached.
“Mr. Nam, there’s someone here to see you.”
“From the government, am I right?”
“How do you know…? I’m dying to ask…”
Kang Se-na glanced at the television, which still aired the breaking news.
The broadcast covered the event Nam Joo-yeon had orchestrated through Selene yesterday.
Assassination and terrorism. Cold-blooded crimes. But I felt no guilt. I’d already killed six people during the Daejeon incident. Adding one more wouldn’t matter.
“Well, handle it as you wish.”
Kang Se-na left without pressing further.
Yoo Jun-seo had also been summoned to the Bureau Chief’s office after the visit. The Prime Minister arrived, the same person who’d met Yoo Jun-seo in the conference room the other day.
“What’s the matter? You’ve come so early.”
“…Me? Mr. Nam.”
The Prime Minister seemed cautious of my presence. Perhaps he rushed over without tidying up. His untidy hair was disheveled, his glasses slid halfway down his nose, but he still managed to speak while panting.
“It’s all a misunderstanding. I can explain everything properly.”
“Misunderstanding? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I picked up the remote and turned off the TV.
The Prime Minister alternated his gaze between me and the television before dropping to his knees.
Much like Yoo Jun-seo, he was an astute man.
“Please, give me a chance to explain.”
“Go on.”
“In fact, there has been a sharp divide within our ranks. After the last eruption and the argument in the meeting room, we were split into hardliners and moderates…”
“…”
“Yesterday’s incident was independently carried out by the hardliners. I’m here to clarify that we have no connection to them. Our faction of moderates wishes to maintain a cooperative relationship with you…”
The rest of his statements went by one ear and out the other.
It seemed the Prime Minister was telling the truth.
If his words were false, surely Mirien would have signaled some objection.
I understood their situation.
But…
“Why should I care?”
“…Uh, uh?”
Taken aback by the abrupt shortening of my speech, the Prime Minister blinked nervously.
“Why should I care about your factional disputes? Factually speaking, I could kill you right now without raising any eyebrows.”
A few months ago, I was nothing but a cog in society’s machinery, yet now I was threatening the nation.
‘Somehow, I really feel like an absolute ruler.’
It wasn’t just a delusion.
I realized that I had stepped closer to becoming the ruler of the world—specifically, the master of The Rift and its Actors.
[5★ The Blackened Saint Selene is impressed.]
Ding.
[Achievement Unlocked: Twisted God]
[Reward: 500Exp / 4☆ Ashen Knight’s Legacy]
The achievement and Selene’s floating approval before my eyes confirmed it.
