Predator and Prey
People locked in a strict hierarchy are adaptable creatures, whether for good or ill. And usually, they excel more at the kind of adaptation we call "bad." Even amid an unprecedented catastrophe, this held true.
After gaining powers called Awakening, most Awakeners sought more "efficient" ways to survive than fighting Gates or monsters. The majority hid to avoid battle, while a clever few stepped forward to rally others. They bet on the balance of special powers, chaotic crises, and a flailing social order desperate not to collapse. It started on the very first day of the incident. That's how Awakener-formed citizen groups sprang up.
...Well, they called themselves citizen groups, but the government treated them no differently from organized crime syndicates.
"Huuu. Finally, some folks who'll listen."
Not the first group formed... but one that benchmarked the pioneers and mushroomed in size. The Awakener Human Rights Association. Twenty percent of all Awakeners had pledged loyalty, and in that short time, they'd set up countless branches (though most were just house-sized). And among them, the Yeongju branch chief—Jo Cheol-min—slumped into the sofa with a relieved expression, like he'd just coughed up a stubborn phlegm.
On the fancy desk before him sat stacks of fresh banknotes. The merchants' association, who'd stubbornly held out but finally caved, had handed over this "gesture of goodwill."
"Boss. Is this really okay?"
"You idiot? Of course not."
Jo Cheol-min scolded his subordinate—or rather, fellow association member—Bae Jeong-hwan, who looked blankly confused.
"Huh?"
"We're obviously gonna grab the cash and bolt." He clicked his tongue. Bae Jeong-hwan was just scared of fighting, but otherwise honest and loyal—prime material for a henchman. In a group structurally overrun with jackals, simple "trustworthiness" was enough to make you instant bros. Though Jo Cheol-min, who valued him, still found his occasional dim-wittedness stifling.
"Kid. Pohang branch got their heads smashed in, Sokcho branch got wrecked and cut plea deals. You think we're gonna make it? And they at least had real merits—we've never even gotten blood on our hands?"
Surprisingly, no Awakeners in Yeongju City had ever actually fought. Even as a private group, completely dodging conscription was impossible. But every Gate and monster in mobilization range either went undetected or vanished mysteriously after discovery.
Of course, the culprit was a certain magical girl currently streaming outdoors. But they had no way of knowing that.
A magical girl's identity was secret. Her battles were secret. Perception Inhibition beyond the ultimate realm made even direct mentions of the area name hard to register. Viewers watching the live stream went "indifferent" right away—fat chance these guys figured it out.
So for them, there was no future here.
"Th-then we shouldn't have stirred things up!"
"Aigoo, you moron. You think they'd let us sit pretty forever if we did nothing? Government's one thing, but the other branches' glares were turning sour too."
"Why us though..."
"Folks always get jealous of those quietly sucking honey. That's why we need a big score and a better turf."
Even playing it smart, it was the same. So Jo Cheol-min had already prepped to ditch Yeongju. He'd choked logistics like other branches, then gone full gangster threatening downtown merchants for quick cash. Insane crime, but the government couldn't react immediately. By the time they did, he'd link up with his pre-built network in Daegu.
'Perfect timing—they're short on manpower for a big play there. No backstabbing.'
With some funds and manpower, securing a spot was feasible. A sloppy plan, but it'd work in this chaotic era for rooting in a big city.
Knock knock—
"Kids are here?"
"Hold up."
Jo Cheol-min stopped Bae Jeong-hwan from moving at the sudden knock.
"Something's off."
Scales had already sprouted around his eyes. No official name, but if he had to call it—physical mutation Awakening ability. Immense physical prowess, sharp senses, easy mana handling—a powerhouse skill. It hyper-boosted instincts too.
Knock knock knock—
"Anyone home?"
"...A kid?"
Puzzled by no response, more knocks and a clear girl's voice rang out. The instant he heard it, Jo Cheol-min felt his scales bristle. As he tried to warn the relaxing Bae Jeong-hwan—
"Oh, it's unlocked."
The actually-unlocked door swung open. A "normal girl" with blue-tinted hair, floating a camera in mid-air. An Awakener? Unfamiliar face. Small city—Awakeners knew each other regardless of affiliation. Not one of the existing ones.
"What're you? Here to join the association?"
Bae Jeong-hwan spoke, mistaking her for a fresh Awakening recruit. That's when Jo Cheol-min locked eyes with the girl.
Blue lake-like eyes. Eyes that Perception Inhibition should've blanked out. But instincts screamed. The moment bewilderment flickered in the girl's eyes, a chilling shriek erupted.
"Uu, uwaaaaaah!"
Splash—
Like the apocalypse had come.
"No clue. I didn't do anything."
Strike while the iron's hot, as they say—so I'd tracked down the perps like I was the culprit.
And honestly, the scene before me left me a bit flustered.
"Hiiiiaaak! Aaaah!"
"Boss? What's wrong! Boss!"
One uncle pissing himself in a fit, one panicked guy. Ugh, my eyes. My poor eyes. Thought I wouldn't see this on Earth.
"What am I, Cthulhu?"
I hadn't even unleashed mana, so no way. Honestly, no intent to antagonize right off the bat. You've gotta hear both sides. Even if it's from a regular customer shop owner, I don't swing first on one story alone. If I had, it'd be knife through door, not knock.
"Hm. Like Aris, sensing something?"
Possibility: hypersensitivity picking up what normals miss. But Aris's senses are exceptional even by my standards. No way I'd run into similar talent this quick. Statistically impossible.
Chat demands made me swing the cam my way, and one caught my eye. Huh. Scales? For real.
"Aha. That's it. Of all things, a dragonkin."
"Dragons have bad matchup with me. Technically, total food chain hierarchy."
Body-mutating Awakener type. Seems mutations mimic target species traits precisely.
"Not magical girl related. Think achievement reward? Like dogcatcher and pup vibe."
A universal law for all beings. Accomplish something, get fitting effects. High bar—worthy of "achievement"—but stellar boost to growth once hit. No wonder real combat's fastest route.
"Dragon slayer adjacent, but hacky version."
That Japan catch—official name Sanrochi? Japanese pronunciation differs, but who swaps just the number in Yamata no Orochi for "three-headed dragon"?
"Save that chat for later. Back to the stream."
Chat could've derailed forever, so I pivoted. Focused on broadcast a sec, still chaos with the two dudes.
"...Gotta calm 'em first to talk."
With that, I flung ice crystals.
"Uncle, friends is a stretch."
While chatting, the two froze solid—calmed (physically).
"Controlled it fine. Both physical Awakeners anyway—won't die easy."
"......"
Hm. Disagree and what? I mused, addressing the reptile uncle (dunno species) barely blinking.
"Calmed? Undo mutation. Probably species trait reaction."
Uncle glared a bit, then gave up—scales receded. Figured presence/absence changes zilch.
"...Ugh. Who're you, miss?"
Melted ice, uncle piped up straightaway. Voice still fear-tinged—not fully okay, but no more frenzy. Good enough.
"Just here with questions."
"Questions?"
"Heard you blocked trucks with weird talk."
The flinch came surprisingly from the uncle, not the dopey youth beside. Makes sense—mind held, but far from calm.
"Th-that's... we got reasons. Gov treats Awakeners like tools, no pay for risking lives. We yell together, no one hears..."
"Hm. Obvious lie."
Blatant fib—I cut it off. Might fool the clueless? But sophistry—nobody buys. No need anyway. We got full intel.
"Ahem. We get folks feel wronged. But we're not just hogging benefits. For all Awakeners' rights, sometimes radical moves are unavoidable."
Misread my cutoff? Dopey youth tried sweet-talking soft.
"Nah. Far as I know, no one's risked life fighting here."
Bit annoyed—went casual. Least in my detection range, fact. Never stolen my monsters; none that level anyway.
"Gasp. N-no way!"
Realization hit? Uncle's pupils dilated, trembling started. Whoa. Auto-trigger on agitation? Scales back too. Wait, not realization—pure beast instinct?
"S-sorryyy!"
Thud—clamped dopey youth's mouth mid-sentence, kowtowed together. Shaking body. Surging fear from remutation, redirected this time.
"Shh? Ain't even started."
Headbonk don't end it. Squatted, eyed uncle's nape.
"D-didn't know. Sobaeksan stabilization your... your turf. Forgive us. We'll repent. Return all money, and from now..."
"Skip that. Spill what you planned, what you did. Step by step."
Pinned his rambling rap-style voice, demanded detailed confession. Doubt it'll mean much, but came this far—might as well hear it out.