The Abyss Conquest Begins: Star Ocean, the Foundation City

Star Ocean, the city of the Foundation. It was a gathering place for Abyss wanderers, descendants of King Peter, and survivors from the underground city—a metropolis that had rocketed to prominence under Yu Eunha's command in just one year.

"Whoa, this place changes every single day, huh?"

I shrugged at Monica's words. Hajieun trembled as she looked around.

"Huh? The Abyss? The Foundation? Here…? Not just some seaside set?"

Hajieun stared up at the city in bewilderment.

"N-No way. This is the Foundation? You're kidding! Total lie! I-I know what the Foundation is! I've seen tons on NewTube! But this…."

Her mouth agape, Hajieun gawked at the massive ether beacon.

"It's on another level…."

She approached the beacon and placed her hand on it.

"Um… what's this giant building for?"

"Ether refining."

Hajieun tilted her head at my answer.

"Ether refining…? Ether refining…. Ether refining…!"

Muttering it to herself, she suddenly clapped her hands.

"Don't tell me this is the source of the free ether at the Bundang Training Ground!"

Hajieun glanced back and forth between me and Monica.

"Wh-Why would you share such an incredible secret with me…? Hehe. I'm just a b-broadcaster, after all."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I flashed a grin at her uneasy expression.

"No big deal. You need it for the tower paperwork, right?"

"Oh, the paperwork…."

Hajieun's eyes went dull again.

"Haha, it's just temporary help, so don't stress. We're almost done anyway."

Hajieun nodded at Monica's encouragement. Leading the deflated broadcaster into the city, I was greeted by Yupri, Lea, and Nikola—faces I hadn't seen in ages.

"Mayor! You're here?"

"We waited forever!"

"Me too! Heard you're conquering the Abyss this time!"

The three rushed forward, clamoring to report their achievements.

"The beacon's way taller now, right? Ether refining efficiency has skyrocketed…."

"We developed new farming techniques with the underground city folks. Crops grow so fast, we're not just self-sufficient—we could export…. Well, no other cities to export to yet. Anyway…."

"Upgraded the weapons and built watchtowers to track Abyss flows! Even rescued some fleeing descendants of King Peter lately. Population boom for Star Ocean!"

Listening to their noisy reports, we headed to the mayor's residence. The sparsely furnished, empty house had apparently become Lea's hideout— a few of her belongings were scattered about. I shot her a sidelong glare and plopped onto the massive sofa.

Hajieun's eyes widened in surprise as she asked me,

"Um… are you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a king or something, Master?"

The three, mid-report, froze at "Master" and gave me and Hajieun odd looks.

"Master…?"

"Mayor, slavery's barbaric. Even the underground city didn't have slaves."

"Hmph, as a king's descendant, you could have a slave or two."

I shook my head and pointed at Yu Eunha.

"She's helping with paperwork in Monica's stead from the outside. Swore to handle my docs for life."

Hajieun jumped at my introduction.

"I said it's a one-time thing! I'm a b-broadcaster!"

"Then why call me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠'Master' if it bugs you that much?"

Hajieun fidgeted with her fingers.

"You just seemed… important…."

Star Ocean's top three snickered at that.

"Cute girl. Fancy being my third concubine?"

"As if! Nikola! Not even married and talking concubines!"

"Lea! Can't you shut that loose trap for once?"

"Oh yeah? Wanna fight? The underground warrior title still holds!"

As the house grew rowdier, I gripped my staff.

"Alright, I get it—you've all worked hard. No more reports? Then I'm off to tackle the Abyss. Got my requests?"

They nodded. Lea set her bag on the table.

"Preserved rations as asked. A week's worth."

"Armored Alexandr up for you."

"Taught him basic king's swordsmanship too. Decent pack mule."

At Yupri and Nikola's words, Shasha bowed his head.

"How'd I go from 5-level mage and tuner to pack mule?"

"What can ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ya do? Or zap to 5-level with lightning magic."

"5-level ain't a kid's name! Hey!"

Shasha gritted his teeth and shouldered the backpack.

"Good. Prep's done, then."

As I stood, staff in hand, Monica grabbed my cheek and squeezed.

"……."

"Don't overdo it, kiddo."

"I'm fiiiine."

"Aww, thinking I won't get this squishy goodness for days makes Master sad."

Monica kneaded my cheek warmly for a bit before releasing it with a wistful look.

"Come back safe, kiddo. No pushing too hard."

"Yeah. I'll take it slow this time."

"Cool. Guess I'll hang here?"

I glared at Monica.

"You know what happens if you linger in the Abyss too long."

Monica shrugged with a coconut from who-knows-where.

"I'll pop in and out, no worries. Worry about you—don't meet weird abyssal things again."

"Got it. See ya after the run."

Pouting, I roused the dormant staff.

No sooner had the words ended than a red orb floated above the staff. The staff's voice rang out.

"Yeah."

A blue dimensional gate ripped open simultaneously. Recalling the ordeal in the 9th-floor underground city, I chuckled.

"It's been a while since it spun up."

"I've got your back this time."

[Me too? I'm way more useful than that dummy Arclan.]

With friends along this time, things would be noisier than before.

*

"Gwaaaah! Sorry! I got cocky—forgive me! Sorry!"

I clicked my tongue at the sight of Shasha fleeing in tears and snot.

"Tsk tsk. Protector of your kin, 5-level mage, tuner—some boasts."

Shasha and I watched from afar as he was chased by a horde of abyssal entities.

"Stop staring and help meee! I'm dying! For real—dying! How's there this many Grade-4 specters?!"

I hefted the staff as Shasha wailed. It had been ages since I'd wielded it for magic—excitement stirred.

"Let's go, Janggil."

As I gathered ether, steam hissed from the staff.

Tssshhh—

Hearing the staff, I unleashed my first spell.

A massive circular zone plunged into abyssal black depths, white twinkling stellar lights raining death.

Boom—KABOOM—

Explosions cleared the Grade-4 abyssal entities in minutes, leaving no trace.

"Clean work."

"Huff… huff…."

Drenched in sweat, Shasha staggered back, clutched his shaking legs, and collapsed.

"Y-You… too tough."

"Train your magic while you're at it. Why run?"

Shasha snapped back.

"Who fights a hundred Grade-4s?! Hey! This is the 10th floor, right? 10th? How's a personal zone harder than the frontlines!?"

"Heh. Freaking out over this much spells trouble."

"Dude! Shut it—you got no body and you're yapping!"

"Aaaah! What the hell's that guy?! Mayor! No way!"

"…Monica wanted to tinker, so I lent it briefly. Changed like this."

"Monicaaaaa!"

Whether from Shasha's wail or my spell's ether, a massive abyssal legion gathered on the horizon.

"Shasha."

"Yeah?"

"Abyssals incoming."

"Sigh…."

Shasha rose with a grimace.

"As kin protector, you can guard me, right?"

"…I'd stake my life, sure."

Eyeing the horde, Shasha sniffled.

"Can't assign something more… realistic?"

Even one or two Grade-4s overwhelmed him still. Giggling at his crestfallen face, I raised the staff.

"Then handle cooking duties."

"Ugh… suddenly feels all domestic."

As Shasha grumbled, black light flashed from the ether-gathered staff.

A black laser stretched toward the horizon. The energy beam vaporized the horde, alerts popping instantly.

Nodding at the alert, I said,

"11th should be easy too."

"Straight there? Got chewed out last time."

After a moment's thought, I opened the gate.

"Barely two hours in—push on or it'll drag."

"…Yeah. Fair. Easy with you anyway."

Shasha nodded, slinging his bag. We crossed to the 11th.

*

"……."

"Whoa."

Shasha and I gaped at the sudden environment.

"Shasha, Abyss has places like this?"

"Uh… first for me?"

We peered out the window together. A vast starry ocean stretched before us—we'd landed on a spaceship sailing the cosmos.

"…Didn't see this coming."

This run felt like it'd drag on.