Calamity Flame is a Troublemaker (3)
Calamity Flame is a Troublemaker (3)
Lately, I've been leaving Siyoram and heading outside on a regular basis.
Normally, that would be difficult. The off-campus authorization process and the back-and-forth through the Gate Terminal are complicated and time-consuming.
But right now, the circumstances are a little different.
The Authority of Space. Its application technique, Long-distance Spatial Leap.
I can't just pop off to some random unknown location, but with the right coordinates, adequate knowledge, and enough mana, I can cross to the other side of the world.
Naturally, it's tricky if a space is warded, but I can bypass even Siyoram's barriers.
- Hwooong... Hwooong...
My right hand gently stroked the empty air. The hazy, solidified space before me was the outer wall separating the dungeon from the world.
'Tough to interpret.'
A dungeon should normally be entered and grasped directly. You can get a rough idea of its grade from the outside, but you can't discern the detailed internal situation.
That's exactly why they form and dispatch advance parties for intelligence-gathering.
I have other means.
By appropriately using the Authority of Space and Observation, I can assess a dungeon's internal circumstances from the outside.
'It's difficult when the grade is high.'
That was the part that wasn't working right now. I let out a deep sigh and pulled my hand away.
I brushed my left hand over the purification blade I held and gave a small nod.
The wall of space stretched thick across the front. Even when I extended my observation far out, the spatial wall continued unbroken.
Dungeons tend to be larger the higher their grade.
'A Grade 1 Dungeon, huh...'
The dungeon right in front of me was Grade 1.
I sifted through my memories for a moment.
The average rank of the monsters that appear in a Grade 1 Dungeon is roughly 5th or 6th Rank. And if an Alpha appears, even a 3rd Rank can emerge.
Meaning, if we're careless, something like the Alpha Twin-headed Poison Dragon could pop out of this hellhole.
Considering no one from the advance parties has returned alive so far, it's definitely dangerous.
'But I can't just leave it alone either...'
It might rampage someday, so it does need to be cleared.
But, before we get into that textbook justification, there's an artifact this dungeon produces that I have business with.
'The Curse-Lifting Jewel.'
The dungeon's temporary designation is Clear Mirror. Grade 1.
In the original work, the byproduct this dungeon yields is the Curse-Lifting Jewel, an artifact that neutralizes status ailments classified as curses.
If my current plan proceeds smoothly, the Curse-Lifting Jewel is absolutely essential preparation.
"Is something not going well?"
As I paused to catch my breath, I heard a voice from behind me.
[It's not that there's no progress, but it seems like it'll take some time.]
I shook my head and turned around.
The area around the dungeon was a wasteland completely devoid of people. It was an uninhabited ash-covered zone to begin with, and once the Grade 1 Dungeon appeared, even the few who came out this way stopped visiting entirely.
If the dungeon rampages? Well, the average outcome is that everyone nearby gets slaughtered.
On a pile of rocks near that dungeon, a man was seated.
Even in a wasteland free of others' eyes, it was Maxwell, a member of the Association Enforcement Department, sticking firmly to his crisp suit.
I observed him with a peculiar expression.
[Do you really have to accompany me like this? I feel like I'm taking up your time, and since you're with the Enforcement Department, you must have plenty of work.]
"On paper, my public identity is with the Disaster Management Department, so I am required to accompany you on dungeon inspections... but you don't need to worry."
Maxwell shook his head.
"It's not as if I'm the only one in the Enforcement Department. If anything, having this kind of break in the middle of murderous workloads is far better."
[Ah, is that so...]
"Yes, and wouldn't it be preferable for me to deliver my reports in person?"
Whenever I step outside Siyoram, I sometimes meet Maxwell to hear news from the outside.
"I watched the Birth Festival thoroughly. Especially your performance in the Tower Entry... it sparked an immense amount of talk, both internally and externally."
[What kind of reaction?]
"Just as you said: they're appalled."
[That's a relief.]
Lots of talk. Appalled.
That reaction is sufficient.
I've demonstrated my capability, so later, even if I give orders with the authority of the Association President's proxy, the 'who the hell are you?' responses should diminish.
"Though I do wonder if that's truly necessary."
[Pardon?]
"Since you already hold the proxy authority of the Association President, even if you suddenly appeared and gave an order, they would ultimately have to carry it out."
Maxwell expressed his doubt. At that, I stroked my purification blade and tilted my head.
[Still, wouldn't there be some pushback?]
"Hmm, certainly, those unaware of the circumstances might."
[Beating each and every one of them down to persuade them sounded like a hassle.]
"?"
When the time comes to wield the Association President's proxy authority, I might be busy, so dealing with pushback and commanding at that stage would be difficult.
What's even more bothersome is people who don't resist outright at the time but grumble inwardly and half-ass the work.
Once there are already victims, it's hard to clean up just by tracking down and killing that bastard afterward.
So I showed my skill in advance.
Roughly, it means: 'I'm about at this level, so I'm reasonably qualified. If you act up, I'll kill you.' ...something like that.
"Haha..."
As I roughly explained my reasoning, Maxwell suddenly let out a laugh.
[What's the matter?]
I tilted my head and asked. Maxwell straightened his necktie and shook his head.
"No, it's nothing. It's just that Hero Lee Ha-yul, you seem to share some similarities with Hero Clyde."
[...Is that so?]
[Joy]
[Ahem]
At Maxwell's flattery, my head cleared for a moment. I momentarily felt as though my affection for him had risen.
[Ahem, any special news?]
"Specifically, there is no good news."
A bitter smile crept into Maxwell's expression. He shook his head and spoke.
"Dungeons and monsters, as always, are steadily on the rise, and the monsters spilling over the Demon Realm Frontline are also increasing. Additionally, there have been several cases of Dungeon Outbreaks with no warning signs, like the Sipnaha incident."
'Hmm.'
I calmly nodded along to Maxwell's words. There certainly was no good news.
Especially the Dungeon Outbreaks with no detectable advance indicators—that's a major issue.
The reason most dungeons in modern times can be treated as just another accident is because we can tell where they'll appear and when they'll rampage.
But if we can no longer observe those signs? Dungeons will become the nightmarish disasters they were in the past.
'The facility established by the Tower Master of Observation was the Observation Division, wasn't it?'
The Observation Division has a wide range of duties.
The appearance and rampage of dungeons. Detection of high-rank monsters loosed upon the world and detection of heinous criminals. The boundary of the Demon Realm, which is practically a powder keg of monsters.
The work the Observation Division does is so vital that calling them a pillar upholding the world is no exaggeration.
In the original work, a few years from now, the Observation Division will cease functioning properly.
'Because the Tower Master is absent.'
The Tower Master of Observation is currently absent from the Observation Division. That's a fact I learned after visiting the Observation Division several times in the original work.
Why would they vacate their post to this extent?
I couldn't know in the game, but now I know the reason.
The Tower Master of Observation granted me Authority and is now shouldering the restrictions inside the Tower themselves. Because of that, they likely have no leeway to manage the Observation Division.
"That covers the ordinary news. As for other news... a Special-Grade Dungeon has been discovered in the territory of the Changhae Family, right while they were in the middle of dealing with a Dungeon Chain Rampage."
[Excuse me?]
I'd been quietly sorting my thoughts when Maxwell's casual words made me jolt in surprise.
[A Special-Grade Dungeon?]
"Yes, it was reportedly discovered just yesterday."
A Special-Grade Dungeon. A special type of dungeon that's awkward to classify between Grade 4 and Grade 1.
"I hear they threw a few prisoners inside, but none have survived. Most died five minutes after entry, and the superhuman prisoner who lasted the longest died after fifteen minutes."
[The fact that they couldn't immediately return after entering...]
"Yes, entry and exit appear to be restricted."
Entry and exit restrictions, of all things. A nasty condition that practically seals off scouting via advance party and forces a single-shot clear.
The dungeon right in front of me has the same rule—even after they shoved prisoners in, not a single one came right back out, I heard.
When I interpreted the space directly myself, the restriction was indeed real.
[That must be a headache for the Changhae Family.]
"Yes, though no signs of an impending rampage have been observed yet, so they seem intent on prioritizing and resolving the outbreaks that have already occurred."
[I see. Thank you for informing me.]
After thanking Maxwell, I stroked my chin and turned things over in my head.
'A Special-Grade Dungeon in the Changhae Family's territory... that's something never observed in the original work.'
It's nothing surprising. No matter how much the Tower Masters labored over the simulations, discrepancies are bound to exist.
'Should I head back soon? Or should I sweep the area a bit more...'
My outings have two main purposes.
To scout the dungeon 'Clear Mirror,' where the Curse-Lifting Jewel is likely located, from the outside.
And to roughly narrow down the location where the entrance to the Reverse Side might be.
The latter had yielded nothing. As expected, it seems I'll have to devote a huge amount of time to thoroughly lick the area clean.
At least the former is showing results bit by bit, but it's not particularly efficient either.
I also received word from the Tower Masters asking me to refrain from going out. If I have nothing pressing to do, I should probably head back...
- Crack!
'Hm?'
While I was lost in thought, something snapped inside my head. My eyes flew open of their own accord.
A magic I'd set up had been severed. Where?
'Inside the main mansion... the lab?'
Specifically, the barrier I'd wrapped around the Potion of Being Hated, which I was about to start condensing.
My expression hardened on its own.
* * *
She was fucked.
What more petty explanation is needed?
Hong Yeon-hwa was fucked.
"...I always knew you were lacking, but seeing you now, you really are filthy."
"Fuck, you talk like an asshole."
Hong Yeon-hwa glared at Atra, who stood some distance away. Atra, covering her mouth and nose with her hand, shrugged.
"It seems to be the potion's effect, so it can't be helped. Harsh words come out on their own, so please understand."
She said that, but Atra was also making an effort to restrain herself.
It wasn't a lie—the moment she saw Hong Yeon-hwa, her fist had nearly flown out first.
It felt unpleasant and repulsive. A foul stench seemed to hover needlessly at the tip of her nose.
Normally, when Atra faces such a situation, she starts by beating them down first.
The reason she wasn't doing so now was that, regardless of Atra's own feelings, Hong Yeon-hwa was someone precious to Lee Ha-yul.
However, she couldn't bring herself to get close, so she was covering her mouth and nose with her hand from a distance.
"Isn't it your fault in the first place, you wench, for eating a potion left in the lab without permission? Why would you pick that up and eat it?"
"No, fuck, it's not like I ate it because I wanted to... it definitely felt like something was tempting me to eat it..."
"A temptation effect, is it? Such effects do exist. Even so, in the end, it's your fault for failing to endure it."
"Guh... that was, because the Calamity Flame's side effects were too strong..."
"Properly controlling those side effects is the mark of a Manifestor's skill. You're lacking in training."
Hong Yeon-hwa gritted her teeth. She had no room to make excuses. The original sin was ultimately Hong Yeon-hwa's fault for entering the lab without permission and eating the potion.
And also, of all times, her body had recently been running hot, so she couldn't properly suppress the Calamity Flame's side effects...
"Professor Atra, isn't there any way to undo this?"
"Might this also be a type of curse... just what was Ha-yul making in the lab...?"
Hong Yeon-hwa and Atra weren't the only ones in this living room.
Ellia, who had been there from the start, and Baek A-rin, who had just arrived.
The two were staring at Hong Yeon-hwa—one with an expression that seemed to be trying to hide her revulsion, and the other with a peculiar look.
"...Mm."
When Hong Yeon-hwa glanced their way, Ellia flinched her shoulders and subtly averted her eyes. The hand covering her mouth and nose was a bonus.
Hong Yeon-hwa's eyes trembled faintly.
Sure, she always cursed Ellia in her mind as a lewd dairy cow with huge tits, but she knew well enough that Ellia had a gentle disposition.
For Ellia to react like that...
That wasn't the only shocking reaction.
- Urp, what on earth...
- Ugh, uwaaah...
The fairies who lived in the mansion and tended to chores gagged the instant they saw Hong Yeon-hwa and fled from her sight.
- Kkyang? Kkyaaeng...
- Grrrr...
The spirits that used to nuzzle her and act cute? The instant they saw Hong Yeon-hwa, they sprang into the air, too busy growling and staying on guard.
"...Hey, what about you?"
Hong Yeon-hwa turned her gaze to the side. Baek A-rin stood beside Ellia, not covering her nose and mouth, nor averting her gaze.
If anything, her face was on the peaceful end of the spectrum. Her expression looked fixed, as if it were a mask.
"Me? I wonder... maybe it's applying to me too? Or, as Professor Atra said, maybe you're so lacking normally that I can't tell the difference?"
"Bitch."
Baek A-rin snickered and shrugged.
"...I can't think of a solution off the top of my head."
Atra, who had briefly shut her eyes in thought, shook her head.
Though Atra had abundant combat experience, this wasn't a phenomenon one could easily encounter.
'Perception Alteration? Or a curse? Whatever it is, it's a tricky type.'
Atra furrowed her brow. Just what had her disciple been handling in the lab? She'd let it slide thinking it was nothing special, but he'd been tinkering with a dangerous potion like this without a word...
"Anyway, since it's in a form ingested via potion, the duration probably won't be long."
"Ingested types definitely have short durations. But how long will it last? At most, maybe a day?"
"Fuck."
A curse slipped from Hong Yeon-hwa's lips on its own.
She didn't know what she'd eaten.
But with the thick discomfort clinging to the gazes around her and the sight of people covering their mouths and noses, she knew the effect was anything but beneficial.
Normally, she wouldn't have cared. Ah, it's a type I can't counter, but there's no direct harm, so that's a relief...
"No, fuck, a day...?"
"It's not exact. At worst, it could be that long."
"Ah..."
Tomorrow. Until the day of the big event, the effect could persist...?
It was shocking news, like a volley of thunderbolts from a clear—no, a gloomy—sky.
Hong Yeon-hwa's complexion repeatedly shifted from pitch-black to deathly pale.
"Ah."
Suddenly, an image flashed through Hong Yeon-hwa's mind.
Others narrowing their brows, furrowing their foreheads, showing eyes full of revulsion.
The others were fine.
It's infuriating, but didn't they say the effect would lift? Hong Yeon-hwa herself thought this couldn't be a permanent effect.
- Ugh...
- Ha, Ha-yul...?
That Ha-yul.
Narrowing his brow, furrowing his forehead, glaring at her with loathing thick in his eyes. Then avoiding her gaze entirely, covering his nose and mouth as if he didn't even want to smell her, a retch slipping from his covered lips...
"H-heuk..."
Her breath caught in her throat. A sensation like her heart was being crushed tight sent a sting to the tips of her limbs. Her mind went hazy, as if the sky had caved in and slammed down onto her head...
"I-I'm going to step out for a bit."
Just imagining it was like that. If she actually witnessed such a reaction...
Not wanting to imagine any further, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Hong Yeon-hwa hastily rose from her seat. He wasn't here now, but she didn't know when Lee Ha-yul, who had gone out, might return.
"Huh? With that potion effect on you, where are you..."
"I'll manage somehow!"
"Wait...."
Hong Yeon-hwa fled the mansion in a frantic rush. From the garden leading to the entrance came the startled sounds of spirits.
"Ah..."
Ellia, who had reached out a hand but couldn't bring herself to stop her, let out a sigh and pulled her arm back.
'Could she possibly run from Ha-yul...?'
The words she hadn't managed to convey lingered on the tip of her tongue.
Ellia tilted her head.
Considering Lee Ha-yul's detection ability and spatial magic, at the very least, running and hiding from Lee Ha-yul within Siyoram seemed impossible.
* * *
[Player Correction System: Affection]
Lee Ha-yul→Maxwell
●●●●●○○○○○(51▷52/100)
｢Association Enforcement Department｣ ｢Professional Relationship｣ ｢Faint Goodwill｣
...
[｢Curse of Beauty's Misfortune｣ is deplet... ing... Vitality Energy]
- Bzzzt...
[The Tower Master of Harmonization suppresses the ｢Curse of Beauty's Misfortune｣]
[Using Points]
...
[The Tower Master of Harmonization swallows a scream]