Eyes of the World: The Mengmang Declaration
Monster Countermeasure Headquarters, central conference room. The space buzzed with a low, heavy murmur despite the daytime hour. Korea wasn't holding an emergency meeting with major overseas guilds for the first time, but today's atmosphere was entirely different from before. The reason was singular: a mengmang-grade ghost story.
Dawn's Light Guild and the Monster Countermeasure Headquarters had officially declared the emergence of an entity transcending apocalypse-grade. Normally, every nation and guild would erupt in immediate chaos at such news, but the figures gathered in the room couldn't accept it so easily.
"So, you're saying you're adding a new rank called 'mengmang-grade'?"
A cool voice sliced through the air. It was Leon Hardison, representative of America's Eternal Guardians. His icy blue eyes fixed on the screen at the center of the room.
"Apocalypse-grade and beyond... I see."
A calm tone laced with clear skepticism. The screen he glanced up at showed footage of the mengmang-grade ghost story 'Collector' appearing at Bosinsak Square in Seoul.
Leon stared quietly at the screen before slowly shifting his gaze.
"Any chance we might have misread it?"
A frosty remark. The room's atmosphere subtly froze in an instant.
"Ha! Mengmang-grade?"
At that moment, Takahashi Ren, representative of Japan's Kagutsuchi Guild, scoffed.
"Apocalypse-grade is already a national catastrophe. Anything beyond that would have to be capable of wiping out a whole continent to make sense, right?"
His red eyes gleamed with strong pride, mingled with an unsettled emotion. Ren was a veteran who'd battled powerful ghost stories multiple times. He prided himself as one of humanity's elite. But even he struggled to accept the existence of something beyond apocalypse-grade.
"Besides, all we've got is the Netherworld labeling it 'mengmang-grade' through its system, yeah?"
Leaning back in his chair, Ren continued.
"The ghost story could have called itself that, or the Netherworld system might have glitched. And separately, there's something that's bugging me."
He tapped the image of the black-clad man on the screen with his finger.
"What the hell is this? It's not in the report, is it?"
Then, an elegant voice provided the answer.
"Phantom."
It was Elissa Hayes, representative of Britain's Eden Guild. The woman with wavy long blonde hair propped her chin on one hand, looking intrigued.
"I've heard this entity's pretty famous in Korea?"
The representatives' eyes locked onto the screen. It showed a black silhouette standing at Bosinsak Square. In the heart of the Netherworld inscribed with red letters, an entity cradling the mengmang-grade ghost story Collector. Jet-black hair. Bottomless black eyes. And the aura of darkness enveloping him.
The unknown being that had plunged the world into chaos: Phantom.
"This scene is pretty striking, isn't it? And Phantom has a lot of intriguing aspects for something that's supposedly just a ghost story."
"So this is Phantom..."
Ren's earlier arrogance vanished as his red eyes burned holes into the screen.
"Think about it. Normal ghost stories kill or hunt humans, right? But what about Phantom? He embraces other ghost stories, almost like he's comforting them. I even heard he completely eradicated a catastrophe-grade ghost story called the 'Forgotten One.' Ghost stories leave traces in the area even after being resolved—the stronger they are, the more so. They never fully vanish. But this incident? Not even a Netherworld remnant left behind."
Elissa smiled at Ren.
"Ren, you're awfully fixated on this, aren't you?"
"Hmph. Still as sly as ever."
He gripped the sword at his side tightly and turned away, as if hiding something.
"Actually, our Eden Guild has been gathering intel on Phantom too. He's fascinating, right? A ghost story that eradicates others... and isn't hostile to humans."
A ghost story that seemed to protect humans: Phantom. Korean guilds already knew these traits, but even they couldn't fully trust it. Too many had died by ghost stories' hands. Overtly hostile ones, or those that deceived like benevolent beings before revealing their true nature.
Could humanity, scarred by countless sacrifices, easily believe in a non-hostile ghost story?
"It might look that way so far, but we absolutely cannot let our guard down against Phantom."
A firm declaration from Seo Ji-hoon, head of the Monster Countermeasure Headquarters.
Elissa had expected as much. A powerhouse who'd resolved apocalypse-grades and stood at Korea's frontline defense couldn't casually accept Phantom.
"Hehe. We all know what worries you, Director. I don't think Phantom will keep this stance forever either."
"I agree—we shouldn't judge ghost stories by human standards hastily."
Leon sided with Ji-hoon.
"And take this as just my personal hunch. To me, it looks like the Collector ghost story treats that man like something precious. What if... that entity is the girl's 'master' or something?"
The room fell into dead silence at his words.
A ghost story's master. Ghost stories had always appeared as independent entities with fixed rules. No cooperation or hostility among them had ever been observed.
But if a higher being controlled them? All countermeasures could crumble.
"Ahem."
Han Do-jin, master of Dawn's Light, cleared his throat to end the debate.
"We can't confirm if Phantom is a ghost story master or something else yet. But one thing's clear... this entity holds a special position between ghost stories and humans."
"...Then we'll have to face it directly and judge."
Ren wore a pensive expression, while Elissa kept her subtle smile, gazing at the screen.
"Phantom... I can't wait to meet you. What are you, exactly?"
"Oppa, you're not a total lolicon, right?"
"Wasn't that settled last time?"
"I'm asking just in case!"
"I like cute girls, but I'm not a lolicon."
Lunchtime. In the company cafeteria, Si-hyun was spending his break with Ga-eun.
"Pfft. I know. Just teasing."
"Anyone overhears, and I'm done for—straight to jail."
"Let's order drinks. Iced Americano for you, right oppa?"
"Americano's the office worker staple."
"Mango smoothie for me then."
Ga-eun ordered two drinks familiarly and sat with Si-hyun at a corner table.
"How's company life, oppa?"
"Eh... pretty chill since it's desk work. No overtime for me."
"You're probably the only one who negotiated no overtime into the contract."
"Huh. Haha."
Bzzz.
The order pager buzzed. Si-hyun stood to grab them.
Then—
Thud!
He collided hard with someone.
"Ugh?!"
Si-hyun stumbled forward, his face burying into a soft sensation. Precisely, a woman's ample chest.
Oh shit, I'm screwed.
"...Oh my?"
A sweet fragrance wafted as he looked up into the subtle smile of a blonde woman gazing down. Elissa Hayes of Britain's Eden Guild. With her alluring aura and sea-blue eyes, she was like a living portrait.
"S-sorry! It wasn't on purpose...!"
But Elissa showed no dismay, smiling with evident interest.
"Hehe, it's fine. Accidents happen."
She stared at Si-hyun before poking his cheek lightly with a fingertip.
"But you owe me for burying your face in an unmarried virgin's chest. Pay up later?"
"Within my salary's limits—"
"O-oppa!! Get off her now!!"
Ga-eun shot up explosively. Her eyebrows twitched, hands trembling as if a punch was imminent.
"Oh my, could it be...?"
Elissa narrowed her eyes, scanning Ga-eun up and down, then smirked.
"You're Han Ga-eun, the one who resolved the Fox Shrine in Japan, right?"
"Y-you know me...?"
"Of course. Nice to meet you! Didn't expect to see you in person. Awakeners with catastrophe-grade power are rare—fascinating."
Elissa tapped her chin playfully.
"So, is your boyfriend just as impressive?"
"Wh-who's my boyfriend?! D-don't misunderstand! W-we're not like that!!"
Her desperate denial only made it more suspicious.
"Everyone knows we're not like that. No need to freak out denying it."
"Oppa, shut up!"
"Hehe, you two are fun. Don't worry—I won't steal your boyfriend."
"I said he's not my boyfriend!"
Elissa winked mischievously and shrugged.
"Don't hold back too much. Hesitate, and another girl might snag him?"
She sauntered away leisurely. Si-hyun watched her back and muttered admiringly.
"She's pretty."
Well, not quite Luna-level. Though Luna's beauty is kinda off the charts.
Smack!
"Gah?!"
"...Oppa, what'd you just say?"
"If I say nothing, you'll hit me again, right?"
"Yep."
"Then I'll take one more heroic punch and go down fighting!"
"Where you running?! Get back here?!"
The lunchtime mishap ended with two punches from Ga-eun.
I really gotta hit the gym. This is bullshit!
A space cloaked in darkness. No outside light reached the room, where a small table held a single object. A razor-sharp sword. It emanated a faint black aura, as if alive. Deep within the blade, a hazy silhouette flickered like a shape underwater. Slender hand. Flowing hair. Faint but unmistakably a woman's form.
"...No words today either."
A red-eyed man sat quietly before the sword, murmuring at the shape. Exhaustion laced his voice, along with a subtle tremor.
"Will I... never hear your voice again?"
The voice now only in memories. One he could once summon by closing his eyes, now fading.
"...No time left."
An echo unclear if to himself or the blade's inhabitant.
"Just wait a bit... I'll save you, no matter what it takes."
A vow, a prayer. But the red-eyed man knew. The silhouette grew fainter. The voice, quieter. She trapped in the sword was vanishing.
So slowly, yet surely.
"..."
He pressed his lips tight, then reached to grasp the sword lightly. Crimson-black energy bloomed at his fingertips.
"We've come this far—no turning back. My last hope is—"
As he opened his mouth—
—Shhh.
The silhouette woman's lips moved faintly. As if to reply. To speak.
[No...]
[stop......]
But her voice reached no one. To the red-eyed man, only the rippling silhouette remained.
"You're still there... right?"
The tiny tremble before him. Proof she lingered—but for how long?
"Tsuki... wait for me. 'He' can surely save you."