Butterfly Effect Gone Mad
—Beeeep! The central conference room of Dawn's Light Guild, where they were monitoring the live broadcast, had turned into utter chaos.
"What the hell was that?! Did a ghost story do this?!"
"The detection radar picked up nothing! This isn't a ghost story."
"What?! If it's not a ghost story, then what the fuck is that red text?!"
To the worms who know not their place.
The massive red text that appeared smack in the middle of the broadcast, airing simultaneously on terrestrial TV and YouTube to tens of thousands of viewers. The moment those words showed up, the host, PD Park Jin-cheol, and the rest of the broadcast staff twisted and died gruesome deaths— all captured live on camera.
—Crack!
—Snap!
The brutal scene of bones twisting and shattering, blood spraying everywhere, was broadcast uncensored in all its horror.
'No one's left to stop the broadcast since the cast is either dead or fled...!'
Do-jin shot to his feet and barked orders.
"Investigation team, with me to the broadcast station now! Everyone else, check for victims outside the station too!"
"M-Master! Word from the National Assembly... Some lawmakers and ministers... they twisted and died...!"
"It happened during a cabinet meeting, they say. They weren't even watching the broadcast—people just crumpled like paper and died...!"
"What the...! Keep assessing the damage for now. I'm heading to the scene!"
—Bam!
After Do-jin bolted, Victoria, who had been watching intently, asked Elissa to follow him to the station.
"Elissa, we need to get to the scene fast. There's a clue I have to check."
"Sis, something bothering you?"
"Not bothering, exactly... I'm curious. Does that red text carry any emotion? If it does, what kind? Can you sense it?"
"If you're curious, I guess I have no choice... But no wandering off like last time when you got lost, okay? We'd have been in deep shit without Si-hyun."
"Th-that guy's name is off-limits for a while! No weird talk—let's move!"
Victoria squirmed and protested at the mention of Si-hyun's name. Elissa found it adorable, poked her cheeks, then headed out to the station.
"Hehe, hold on tight so you don't fall behind."
Shin-ah just stood there blankly amid the chaos of people dying left and right.
—Crack.
How the hell did this happen?
Right after the red text appeared, that damn PD and even the actor mimicking Phantom twisted and died—all over their bodies. No warning. No prelude.
Yeah, it was just like...
"Divine judgment..."
—Crunch.
The sin of daring to exploit Phantom.
The sin of insulting the savior sent for your sake.
"That sin shall be repaid with death..."
The red text had declared divine punishment upon them. Punishment straight from a god to humans. No matter where sinners hid or what they did, judgment was inescapable.
And now, it had come down on those who mocked Phantom.
Is this really a coincidence...?
—Grip!
Shin-ah shook her head and clenched her fist hard.
"No way."
They got the punishment they deserved. Right in front of the girl chosen by the savior and the one whose tears he wiped himself, they failed to believe in Phantom. Trash not worth pity had simply met their end.
"Just worthless scum dying."
—Whirr.
In the silent space where survivors fled and the dead lay quiet, the camera kept filming Shin-ah and Yeon-woo.
The girl saw this as her golden opportunity. A chance to proclaim that Phantom was no ghost story, but a savior sent by God!
"Everyone, you all saw it, right? The divine punishment on those scumbags who dared parade a fake to impersonate Phantom! The insolent fools who tried to deceive and exploit the savior God sent to rescue us—all twisted and died!"
With blood splattered on her face, Shin-ah stood tall before the camera and began her speech.
"When the red text first appeared, I thought a ghost story had broken out. I thought Phantom was going to kill everyone on the broadcast. But... no. PD Park Jin-cheol who planned this farce, the panelists and host who bashed Phantom—they all died. But Yeon-woo and I? We're fine. Not a scratch. Right, Yeon-woo?"
"Uh... Y-Yeah...! At first, when people started dying, I was s-so scared... but Yeon-woo and Shin-ah are okay...! It felt like it was protecting us from the bad guys...!!"
Yeon-woo trembled but conveyed her honest feelings. The sight of the timid girl, who hadn't spoken up during the broadcast, standing firm despite her fear began to stir viewers' hearts.
'Blood on her face, those droopy eyes—a fragile beauty like Yeon-woo? No one can look away. This'll keep everyone glued to the screen.'
Shin-ah seized the opening Yeon-woo provided.
"Reward for those who showed faith, punishment for those who not only lacked it but slandered and exploited him. True reward and punishment for faith unfolded here! You can see Phantom as a bizarre ghost story or as a savior. Faith isn't forced by threats. But—"
—Thud!
Shin-ah dropped to her knees before the camera, hands clasped in prayer.
"I'm no fool who ignores the miracle before her eyes. I have no doubt Phantom judged the sinners to save me and my friend. Don't you see it? The one who didn't ignore the crying girl at that little convenience store... The one who always appeared when people fell to powerful ghost stories...?"
Tears welled in Shin-ah's sky-blue eyes and trickled down.
"Why he wore a mask he'd never used before... He must've been injured fighting that mengmang-gradeCollector. He hid it so we wouldn't worry. Everyone... Does someone sacrificing this much for us really look like a ghost story...? Can't you see his weary back, dragging tired legs down the thorny path to protect us all...?!"
The bloodied, tear-streaked girl pleading. Her disheveled, filthy appearance might seem unkempt at first glance. But paired with her stunning looks, it evoked a saintly maiden steadfastly preaching faith amid trials and tribulations.
"I dare say it: Phantom is no ghost story...! He is the one adversary God sent to save us from loathsome monsters—Phantom's true form! And here, I declare: I will found a guild for those who believe in him as savior. A guild for those who live by faith in him alone... Its name shall be—"
In that moment, Shin-ah's sky-blue eyes, fixed on the camera, blazed like flickering blue flames.
"The Sanctuary of Obscura."
By the time Monster Countermeasure Headquarters and Dawn's Light agents arrived at the station, everything was over. The only survivors: Yoo Shin-ah and Yeon-woo.
Shin-ah's live speech had spread far and wide—no one was unaware.
PD Park Jin-cheol, who died twisted in agony, had dreamed of 20% ratings. Instead, it hit a staggering 57.3%, with 240,000 YouTube live viewers. Massive crowds online and off began praising Shin-ah and Yeon-woo in unison.
"Yo, you see that broadcast? I thought Phantom snapped and activated his powers to kill everyone at first."
"Nah! He spared the two girls who believed and insta-schooled the exploiters. Brutal, yeah, but they needed a lesson."
"True, if he'd let it slide, it'd be one thing, but they made that show just to trash Phantom. Suck it up, and he's a saint."
The real world and the internet were exploding.
Running to join The Sanctuary of Obscura first thing—possible headpats from the saintesses?
Just hours after the broadcast ended, "The Sanctuary of Obscura" topped search rankings.
As if she'd foreseen it all, Shin-ah—under protection and questioning at headquarters—calculated personnel and funds for the guild, biding her time. Ready to establish it any second.
"Ahh... Just a little longer, please wait...! Phantom, I'll make a home just for you...! Believe in the girl you alone chose and wait for me...!"
Chill!
"Huh? Eating warm walnut pastries at the rest stop, why the sudden goosebumps?"
Si-hyun, taking a break at the highway rest area, felt an inexplicable chill crawl up his neck. A premonition that some massive storm of misconceptions was brewing somewhere beyond his knowledge.
Ding!
Puuuh! (¬_¬) You're getting chills cuz you're eating yummy stuff without me and feeling guilty!
"You can eat snacks? Why didn't you say so earlier."
Can't eat 'em but you gotta offer with an "aaahn~" at least! Hmph!
"Talking nonsense again. Keep it up, and I'll only kiss Luna, not you?"
Y-You're too mean!! I did such a good deed for you! You'll regret saying that when you find out what! Hmph!!
What "good deed" was the notification window talking about?
'Whenever she does something on her own, it always backfires...'
Si-hyun felt a twinge of worry but decided to trust her since she'd tried for his sake.
'No way another bullshit backlash happens, right? Haha.'