It’s Not an Invasion, It’s a Preemptive Defense

It’s not an invasion; it’s a preemptive defense. The down payment, which was supposed to take about three days to process, hit my account this morning. And it wasn't just any amount—it was a figure that made my jaw drop.

Let’s see, was today the day for the maintenance fees? As soon as I paid them, a notification chimed on my phone.

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the corners of my mouth twitched at the sight of a balance I’d never seen in my life, a new message popped up.

“…I’ll eat one tonight. Happy now!?”

…I should probably buy some digestive medicine in advance.

Before that, how about today’s homework… no, let’s go for a climb.

“Enter.”

My vision shifted in an instant, and the massive tower appeared before me. As I approached and opened the door, a message appeared.

“Yes!”

Just like yesterday, I opened my eyes on a train racing across the ocean, surrounded by blue. Is the map the same up to the 10th floor? If so, where is this train heading?

At that moment, a jolt went through my body, and I felt something.

I looked in the direction of the energy and saw something approaching from the distance. Those are… mermaids…?

They weren't the pretty, snow-white mermaids from fairy tales. These had black skin, sharp fangs, and carried massive tridents. And it wasn't just one or two—there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a swarm of hundreds approaching. The scale was insane.

…I can't help but think the difficulty level is off. Is it just my imagination? No, it’s only the 7th floor, why are there hundreds of monsters appearing…?

“Commander, I need your help.”

A gate opened in the middle of the blue ocean, and an aircraft carrier and escort ships emerged. Was it thanks to the effect of Fate’s Link? I could now use the power of the Commander of the Twelve Stars without even using the ring. Of course, I could use the ring too.

“Please, help me.”

A crack formed in the air, and a woman in a military uniform emerged. She was a striking woman with long blue hair reaching her waist and sharp, piercing eyes.

“Staff officer, it’s been a while.”

As soon as she met my eyes, she smiled brightly. “It’s been a long time, General.”

“Thanks to you, the Empire has regained peace.” She extended her right hand, and a snow-white sword appeared. “The Empire never forgets a soldier who devoted themselves to the nation.”

Light erupted from the white blade, covering the world. “This time, it is the Empire’s turn to help you.”

Countless gates appeared in the sky. The soldiers emerging from them were all familiar faces. From 1-star heroes to 4-star heroes, they all seemed to remember me, smiling brightly as they caught my eye. Then, the General’s voice rang out.

“A soldier who served the Empire… a comrade-in-arms is in danger.”

The soldiers leaped out of the gates and dove into the ocean, using the 'mechanical devices' on their backs to emit blue particles and fly through the air. “All units, advance!”

With a roar, the Imperial soldiers charged at the mermaids. Supporting them, the aircraft carrier and the fighter jets flying overhead unleashed a barrage of fire. As I stood there with my mouth agape at the scene of what looked like the Second Space War, the General approached right in front of me.

“You were extraordinary from the moment I first met you, but you look even more special now.”

“Me?”

“Are there not two beings of my level… no, even higher, attached to you?” She said, glancing at the air. “Behind them, I see hundreds… thousands of Transcendents. Just how many worlds have you protected?”

“Ahaha… I, I’ve protected quite a few.”

“Fufufu, is that so?”

She took another step forward, getting so close our noses almost touched. I panicked, and the corners of her mouth twitched. “Puh-huh… the staff officer is still fun to tease, even after all this time.”

“G-General, please don’t tease me.”

She was exactly the same as she was in the game. She loved to tease and seemed to live for it, but there was only one time she ever got serious.

“There is no country where a soldier is not respected. Especially those who have devoted themselves to their nation.”

She turned her body and swung her sword at the mermaids. A flash of blue light flickered, and the ocean seemed to freeze as if time had stopped.

“They dared to harm a soldier of our Empire and my staff officer.”

With a massive wave, hundreds of mermaids were frozen like ice sculptures. “This crime deserves death a thousand, ten thousand times over.”

Cracks appeared on the ice sculptures, and they shattered into pieces in an instant. At the same time, a message appeared.

“Yes.”

Let’s see, I cleared the 7th floor today, so tomorrow I’ll do the 8th…

Just as I was pondering, the General grabbed my shoulder. “They dared to be hostile toward a soldier of the Empire.”

“Y-yes?”

“And there are still many enemies left.”

A wicked smile appeared on her lips. What did that mean?

“You wouldn’t just defend yourself after being attacked, would you? Try to remember the days when we roamed the battlefield together.”

Together…? I only remember her running me through dungeon grinds…?

“This is not an act of invasion. It is a preemptive defense.”

Ah, now I get it. She was trying to persuade me to not be satisfied with the 7th floor and to climb to the 8th.

I glanced at the air, and a message appeared.

With such overwhelming forces, even the Guardian of All Things gave the green light. So what does that mean? Even if I can't eat it, I go!

“Let’s go!!”

I’m going to milk this for all it’s worth today!

“Yes!”

* * *

Awakened Association, Director’s Office.

There were fewer documents than last time, but Director Lee Naeun was still suffering from a massive headache due to the sheer volume of work when a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and her secretary rushed in, panting. Had something urgent happened?

“Director, you… you need to see the Hall of Fame.”

“Is this about Lee Suhyun?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right!”

Did he set a new record again? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The 7th floor usually had mermaids, but since there were only about 20 of them, it was possible to hunt them without much difficulty.

“Hall of Fame, 7th floor.”

“Well, I’m used to this by now.”

“P-please check the 8th floor as well.”

“…What?”

What was she talking about? Why check the 8th floor all of a sudden…? D-don’t tell me…?

“Hall of Fame, 8th floor.”

As she stood there with her mouth agape, the secretary delivered one final, shocking remark.

“Please… check the 9th floor too…”