The Desert Invader and the New Home

The desert was swarming with invaders. Tanks were emerging from every direction. They were a motley collection of armored vehicles, often cited as the pinnacle of German engineering, and when I looked up at the deafening roar in the sky, I saw countless fighter planes.

In that moment, it all came back to me.

A war game I used to play. "Will of Steel."

I had conquered the world as Germany, only to be wiped out by a meteor. Ugh, the bad memories of that time slammed into my prefrontal cortex.

"General, your expression doesn't look very good."

"It's nothing."

Making eye contact with her triggered some serious PTSD.

"I hope it's nothing. More importantly, this comes first."

She raised her right hand.

"Attack."

Following her command, the bombardment began, and bombs rained down everywhere. Ugh… that, too, brings back bad memories…

I remember playing that game alone, shouting, "Attack! Attack! Attack your head! Argh! Argh! Air raid warning! Air raid warning!" only for the neighbor to ring my doorbell. Thinking back, ringing a doorbell at 4:00 AM was a bit much. Thankfully, I was already awake and playing, so it didn't matter.

"I think I'll be fine."

The monsters on the 31st floor were mummies. Since they were corpses wrapped in tattered bandages, they were being blown to bits by the bombs before they could even get close.

No, I shouldn't let my guard down. My difficulty level is special.

That was when a voice echoed.

With those words, a humanoid existence with the head of a jackal appeared in the middle of the desert.

He wore black armor and raised his staff, causing the desert to churn as new monsters emerged. Countless black beetles the size of fists… Argh! What is that!?

The endless swarm of beetles began to overwhelm our firepower.

"This isn't going to work!"

"Hmm… I have no choice. I shall borrow your strength."

As she reached out to me, my ring began to glow.

A brown-haired woman wearing the same military uniform as her appeared. She looked at her—the one who failed the art school entrance exam… anyway, the moment she saw her, she burst into tears!?

"My Führer!!!!!"

Seeing her wailing like that, I felt like I'd summoned the wrong person.

"Hmm…"

The woman beside me frowned, perhaps thinking the same thing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as I was.

"Carry out your role."

At those words, she stopped crying and raised her right hand… no, why does everyone keep raising their hands?

"As you command, my Führer."

The atmosphere churned, and the black beetles that were rushing toward us hesitated, then turned and attacked the Anubis Guardian instead!?

He was eventually devoured by the bugs, and with a single shriek, a message appeared.

"Yes."

I don't think I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠should be telling people to arise…?

A woman with snow-white hair and blue eyes. As Hunter Han Yerin lifted her teacup, a woman with black hair and dark red eyes let out a sarcastic remark.

"What is it this time?"

"……."

"If you've come, say something."

"……."

The undisputed 2nd-ranked Awakened in South Korea, who had cleared up to the 49th floor. Hunter Kim Haneul glared at her with displeased eyes.

"Damn it, why did you come!"

"The newbie."

"Ah, that?"

When Kim Haneul flicked her finger, the 'Hall of Fame' appeared.

"He already climbed to the 31st floor."

"……."

"Looking at the time, it wasn't defense, it was offense? Is he destroying everything on his way up?"

"……."

Only then did Han Yerin put down her teacup and stare at Kim Haneul.

"You too…."

"If you're going to say that, go back. I can't do it anymore."

At Kim Haneul's firm response, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Han Yerin hesitated for a moment.

"Private… Lee Suhyun, was it? Our junior will do it for us."

"……."

Han Yerin stood up from her seat.

"I'll come again next time."

"Yeah."

With those words, she stepped into a nearby mirror. It's always fascinating to see that.

The ability to move to any desired location using mirrors. It's an overpowered ability that can also block or reflect attacks during combat. If he's strong enough to defeat someone like her, what kind of ability does he have?

"Lee Suhyun…."

With the thought that she wanted to meet him sometime, she, too, stood up.

"Achoo!"

"Please, stop fighting. I'm fine."

If I leave them alone for even a second, they start bickering. What am I supposed to do with these two? Sigh, time will take care of it, I guess.

"More importantly, you know what day it is, right?"

Today is the long-awaited moving day.

It's the day I say goodbye to the rented room I've grown fond of and move into a house in my own name.

"A-are you that happy?"

It wasn't that bad for living alone, though.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Moving company here."

"Yes."

When I opened the door, sturdy-looking men entered. Since they were called by the Awakened Association, I could trust them.

"I'll leave it to you, then."

"Understood."

The burly guys who looked like they could bench 500kg packed everything in an instant. Looking around the empty house, memories of when I first moved in came back.

…If I hadn't just done that draw, I would have gone to a better house.

"Packing is all done. We'll be going now."

"Yes."

I hopped into the moving truck, and after about 20 minutes of driving, I saw a massive 39-story apartment complex. This is my new home from today.

And it's a new house in my own name!

As I tried to enter the apartment parking lot, a security guard blocked the way. When I showed them the pass I received from the Association, they opened the gate. The security seems quite top-notch.

…To think the day would come when I'd live in an apartment guarded by security personnel.

I moved up to the 35th floor, and as a token of gratitude to the guys who moved all my stuff from the studio, I handed them two 50,000-won bills, but they adamantly refused.

"We cannot accept this from someone who is dedicating themselves to our country. And thank you."

With those words, the moving staff left. Looking out the window from the empty living room, the scenery felt truly different.

"I've really made it."

"Ahem, then let's go do today's homework. Enter."

My vision shifted in an instant, and a massive tower appeared before my eyes. I approached and opened the door, and a message popped up.

"Yes!"

A massive pyramid appeared amidst the blowing sand and dust.

But it felt like it had gotten a little bigger?

Is it just my imagination?

"Help me."

With a brilliant white light, a giant capybara wearing a military uniform appeared.