Mengmang Mayhem at Dawn's Light
"Did our guild go bankrupt?"
"Haha, it's been ages since I got off work early. Well, you need days like this once in a while."
Han Do-jin, master of Dawn's Light, took a short breath as he sipped his bourbon whiskey on the rocks. From the ultra-luxury tower palace with a stunning panoramic view of Seoul's nightscape, he was finally enjoying some rare downtime after work.
"Can't even remember the last time I had a moment like this. Things have been so hectic lately."
His wife was away on a school trip with the awakener academy, and his only daughter had recently moved out on her own.
"She said living alone might finally win over Si-hyeon... Sigh. She's got her mother's looks, but she can't even snag that one guy."
Blissfully unaware of the deep kiss Ga-eun and Si-hyeon had shared at the amusement park, Do-jin took another swig. Normally, he'd be pulling an all-nighter, but the vice-master had unexpectedly shown consideration, letting him head home.
— "Master, I'll cover the night shift for you tonight. Go home and rest."
— "No, didn't you just get back from overseas? You were busy handling things in my stead. You should go first."
— "I'm fine. It's been a while since I could fully enjoy the scent of your chair♡— Ahem, anyway! Please head out."
— "If you insist that much... Thanks, I owe you. Oh, and there's a document from Chris, the Eternal Guardians master. Could you sign it for me and send it over?"
— "Hehe, leave it to me, Master."
"I've been pretty lucky with people."
Yeah, how much effort had it taken to reach this position? When ghost stories suddenly appeared in the world, he'd thought it was all over. His thriving business had plummeted with the deaths of employees, and he'd even lost his parents to the ghost stories.
"Without Eun-ha and Ga-eun back then... I probably wouldn't have made it."
But as the saying goes, there's always a way out even if the sky falls? The moment he realized the ghost story he'd accidentally resolved was Catastrophe-grade, Do-jin's life shot back into the stratosphere. His diligence, combined with perfectly timed luck, allowed him to build what he proudly called Korea's top guild.
"I'm getting old... Suddenly lost in old memories like this."
As Do-jin gave a wry smile and reached for the whiskey bottle—
—Ring ring ring ring!
His phone blared noisily. Beep.
"Vice-master? Why's she calling this late?"
Click.Tu... tu... tu...
The connection was so bad, filled with static, that the call finally dropped.
"What the hell..."
Do-jin couldn't fathom what had happened in the few hours he'd been away. Sounds of explosions and shattering. Screams.
"No ghost story alert yet... So maybe not a ghost story?"
It could be that "awakener crime syndicate" making waves lately. Other guilds had suffered terrorist attacks from them recently, so it was plausible.
"Whatever it is... I need to get there fast."
* * *
Illusion-grade. Disaster-grade. Catastrophe-grade. Apocalypse-grade.
And the sole existence that surpasses them all.
Mengmang-grade.
The incomprehensible itself, beyond human understanding.
That incomprehensibility was now, in real time, reducing Dawn's Light research wing to rubble.
"What the... Why the hell did a Mengmang-grade show up here all of a sudden?!"
Someone evacuating spotted the black vortex swirling atop the building and freaked out.
"Phantom... wasn't on humanity's side after all...?"
"Hey! No time for questions—evacuate! You could get crushed by debris!"
—Kaboom!Crash!
Chunks of the research wing's outer and inner walls rained down everywhere.
—Weee-ooo! Wee-ooo!
Emergency sirens and alarms blared deafeningly from all directions.
"All non-combat awakeners and researchers, evacuate outside the research wing grounds!"
"This isn't a drill. This is real!"
As everyone panicked in chaos, the awakener rescue team and medical team leaders shouted to guide the evacuation.
"Haa, what the hell is this in the middle of the night."
"What do you mean? It's an all-nighter."
The rescue team leader sighed at the medical team leader's gruff tone.
"Anyway, what about the combat awakeners?"
"Already assembled at A-7 containment."
"Phew... Can regular combat awakeners even stop Phantom?"
"If you're so worked up, why don't you jump in? You look perfect for meat shield duty."
"Crazy! I'm not into suicide."
The A-7 special containment room they mentioned held the culprit behind all this: the Mengmang-grade ghost story[Phantom].
*
"Ha... Haha...! Hahaha...!!! Is this the true power of a Mengmang-grade...!"
Chris let out a hollow laugh as he wiped the blood from his mouth. Hot liquid surged up from his throat, but he laughed anyway.
How... how magnificent this power is...!
It was just one swing. Phantom had merely slashed downward once, and that single blow had sent top awakeners and even a master flying.
"Your power... truly deserves the name Mengmang."
His snake-like eyes held no fear or terror. Only awe and admiration for this overwhelming being. A desire to become like the man before him.
I want it so badly... With power this strong, we could achieve our cause...!
Creak— Chris forced his unresponsive legs to move closer.
"Haha, my legs... seem broken."
【......】
"You attack out of nowhere... and have nothing to say?"
Phantom remained silent. He simply gazed down at Chris in utter stillness, as if not even breathing. Like looking at a pathetic ant.
But that gaze told Chris everything.
Don't touch Leah. That's the silent warning.
The red-haired girl showed no signs of waking amid the surrounding inferno and collapse. Chris instantly realized Phantom had appeared here to protect her.
"Haha... No way to fight this. Who would've thought even Phantom would guard her."
—Swish.
Chris raised his bloodied hands in surrender.
"I lose. We'll give up on Leah."
He then ordered his scattered agents to withdraw.
"Everyone, let's head back."
"Pardon? Master! Wasn't securing the Noblesse our goal?"
"It was. But I'm a calculating man. No matter how I crunch the numbers, with Phantom here, we can't win."
The moment Chris took that hit from Phantom, all calculations were done.
《Risk: Phantom >>>>>> (Overwhelming) >>>>> Leah Capture》
"As you all know, combat isn't my forte... Heh."
Chris forced a smile, but his condition was dire. Just one hit from Phantom had shattered his ribs, lungs, heart, and major organs.
Guess I'll have to discard 'this body.' Recovery's my only option for now...
Chris gave Phantom a sly bow.
"Heh, until next time, Phantom."
"Master! We need to get to the medical wing!"
"This is our chance while Phantom's standing still! Run!"
As Chris and his agents scrambled to flee, a chilling, overwhelming aura swept in—
【Don't touch this girl.】
A warning. A clear declaration and prophecy: Touch Leah, and face Mengmang again.
Gulp— Chris swallowed dryly and replied politely once more.
"I'll etch that pain deep into my bones."
* * *
Once Chris and his crew had fully evacuated the containment room.
"Phew, now I can speak freely."
I took a deep breath and reined in my black energy.
Glad I wrapped it up without killing anyone.
At first, rage had me ready to off Chris. But killing him in Dawn's Light would put Uncle Do-jin in a tough spot, so I held back.
"Well, most of the research wing's torched anyway. That should square us for him smacking me upside the head."
I scratched my head and approached the soundly sleeping Leah.
"Mmmnya... Zzz... This body wants pudding before sleepy time... Snooore..."
She didn't wake through all that chaos—credit the special glass walls, or Leah's obliviousness?
"Eh, better she stays asleep. Waking up might lead to weird misunderstandings. More peaceful this way."
Anyway, no way they'll try touching her again after this mess, right?
"Nah, probably not."
Whatever. Leah's safe, crisis over. Time to bounce.
I'd love to shadow-jump out with her, but that'd scream "me = Phantom."
"Containment ends tomorrow anyway. Just hold out a bit longer."
Was it the two weeks of Leah withdrawal stressing me out? Before I knew it—
—Squish squish.
I was freely groping her sleeping cheek.
"Hehehe, Leah's cheeks really are world-class— Huh...?"
Ding! A familiar alert chimed, and a system window popped up before my eyes.
Quest: [Turn] [It] [On] successfully completed.
Reward granted to user 'Yoon Si-hyeon' for fulfilling the request of ○●○, who was wandering nearby worrying about Leah.
Acquired a new fragment of story.
"Huh...?"
What the? I was just rampaging in rage. Sudden quest reward? What even is this?!