Three, Not Two
Ten years since the appearance of the Anomalies.
For the past decade, these phenomena had emerged in every country with a consistent cycle: one every two weeks.
It was the only pattern for the Anomalies, which were, in and of themselves, nothing but bundles of variables.
However.
Starting about four to five months ago, that established cycle completely collapsed.
The frequency shifted from once every two weeks to once a week; what used to appear twice a month was now appearing four times.
And it wasn't just the Anomalies—Fervent Followers began to emerge as well.
Coincidence...
...is not the word for it.
It’s probably because of me.
Of course, I didn't intentionally accelerate the cycle of the Anomalies.
Even though I’m not exactly a "human" anymore, the years I spent living as a human are still far longer than the time I’ve spent as a Fervent Follower.
My identity is still closer to "human" than "Fervent Follower."
So, would I, of all people, force the cycle of Anomalies to accelerate and hasten the destruction of humanity?
Do I look crazy to you?
But, regardless of my intentions.
It is a fact that the cycle changed because of me.
It doesn't make sense to call it a coincidence.
Before I was reborn into this world as a Fervent Follower by the grace of the Shining Stars, the very word "Fervent Follower" didn't exist.
So, it’s certain that the cycle changed because I was reborn as one... but since I have no idea why, it’s incredibly frustrating from my perspective.
I wish the Shining Stars would at least give me a revelation or something.
But the Shining Stars are a taciturn bunch.
Anyway, to be honest, I didn't think solving this month's Anomalies would be smooth sailing.
It’s only natural to think that, considering a new Fervent Follower has been popping up every month lately.
Last time, we even had a "Nameless Bug" pretending to be a Fervent Follower... so wouldn't the difficulty of resolving these things only keep rising?
Unfortunately.
My guess was spot on.
Two Anomalies appeared at the same time.
And they did it without a 0.001-second margin of error, at mathematically identical timing.
...This means the cycle of the Anomalies has shifted again.
From now on, it might not be four Anomalies a month.
It could be eight.
Of course, I can't make hasty judgments just yet.
It might just be a special case that two appeared at once this time.
The important thing is.
In the history of South Korea... no, the history of Earth, this is the first time Anomalies have appeared simultaneously without a single shred of error.
After receiving the call from Kim Junghwan, I headed straight to the Association.
The reason I went to the Association instead of the Anomaly occurrence zone was simple.
We had to decide who was going where first.
Yoo Iseul was already waiting for me at the Association.
Judging by how drenched in sweat she was, it looked like she had been training in the facility's gym again today.
"Unnie."
"I already decided everything before you got here. I’ve packed all the necessary items, so let’s go."
As expected.
The Association’s response is lightning-fast.
It had only been about 15 minutes since Kim Junghwan’s call, and they had already mapped out who was going where.
We could talk on the way.
I climbed into Yoo Iseul’s car.
If you’re wondering why we don’t take a helicopter in such a dire situation, it’s all thanks to the "Awakened Hotline" road traffic system.
If you drive at 200 km/h on a cleared road, it’s obviously not as fast as a helicopter, but you can still reach the scene quite quickly.
Besides... you never know what an Anomaly might do, so you shouldn't use helicopters recklessly.
I heard there was a helicopter explosion accident in the past when an Anomaly that could launch aerial bombardments appeared.
Yoo Iseul stepped on the pedal and opened her mouth.
"We’re going to Sejong."
"What about the other Anomaly?"
"Who knows? The other Awakened will handle it. Anyway, we’re going to Sejong."
"Is there a specific reason why the location was decided that way..."
"It’s obvious. Sejong is the place with the more dangerous pattern."
Ah.
In a nutshell.
Yoo Iseul and I were assigned to the much more dangerous location.
"Any other special notes?"
At my question, Yoo Iseul swept her hair back and began to relay the information about the newly appeared Anomaly.
In the case of Gwangju, where the other Awakened were heading.
It had already suffered severe physical damage, and the influence was starting to reach the entrance of the Anomaly zone.
Sejong, on the other hand, had no physical damage yet.
"Wait, then isn't Gwangju more dangerous?"
"Listen until the end when someone is talking."
"Since I'm not a human..."
"...I guess you still have the leisure to joke around."
Instead.
In the case of the Anomaly that appeared in Sejong.
It was said to be radiating lethal mental attacks in every direction.
The Association staff at the entrance of the Sejong Anomaly zone had already been hit by the mental attack, leaving their brains half-destroyed, and they were only rescued thanks to an Awakened named 'Kim Sangwook' who happened to be nearby.
"If he hadn't been there, they’d all be dead. That bastard’s speed is insane, at least."
Kim Sangwook.
He’s an Awakened I know well.
His ability is 'Speed' itself.
If it were him, capable of moving at speeds that transcend human limits, it would have been possible to rescue people before being contaminated by the mental attack...
"Ah, but Kim Sangwook’s brain got half-fried too."
"..."
"Well, it’s fine if they just delete today’s memories."
"Th-that's true, right...? Everyone is safe, right?"
"Yeah. Though there might be side effects like dementia."
"..."
Certainly.
The Anomaly that appeared in Sejong seemed incomparably more dangerous than the one in Gwangju.
"Is the range expanding?"
"We’re barely