The Dragon's Nest
The world had once again fallen into a lull. The second Rift Eruption had been successfully repelled, but an unexpected development had occurred. The appearance of the Storm Dragon Tempestra. Given the precedent set by the Hellfire Watchdog, this was not something that could be ignored.
[Storm Dragon Tempestra has established a nest in Ilsan.]
Tempestra had made its lair in the direction of Ilsan. Due to the nature of disasters, which were inevitably drawn to powerful beings, the remaining disasters in northern Gyeonggi had gathered in Ilsan, forming a single nest. Unlike the nest in Cheonan that Selene had previously conquered, the level of danger was on an entirely different scale, and people trembled in fear.
The Management Bureau responded swiftly.
[Push to introduce the Awakened ranking system. Plans to subjugate Storm Dragon Tempestra centered around B-class Awakened.]
Unlike the time with the Hellfire Watchdog, the Awakened had bolstered their forces through two eruptions, nest raids, and syntheses. It was even said that Bureau Director Yu Junseo now possessed two 3★ disasters. And the Bureau's reach extended to me as well.
— "Is this Nam Juyeon-ssi?"
"Yes, that's me."
— "You need to respond to the summons this time."
"What? A summons?"
— "Don't you watch the news?"
It was inevitable that the Bureau would contact someone holding a 2★ disaster like me.
"Don't tell me I have to go help take down that dragon?"
— "Of course. According to the ranking system being implemented soon, Nam Juyeon-ssi will be classified as a B-class Awakened. Besides, you're someone who's already faced the Storm Dragon directly."
"Even so…"
— "You've heard about China, right? They had three 4★ disasters and millions died. They couldn't even kill them. If we leave this alone, Seoul could end up in ruins."
"…Tch."
I didn't know the exact strength of the Awakened forces, but it was obvious that power hovering around 2★ and 3★ would struggle against Tempestra. Even if they somehow succeeded in subjugating it, the casualties would be significant. I tried to refuse indirectly, but…
— "You know about the Awakened contract, right? Awakened affiliated with the state must respond to summons without exception. Refusal can result in legal punishment. Under the Special Awakened Management Act, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment…"
Even after the world had turned upside down, this country of Korea still excelled at exploiting its citizens. I sighed and nodded.
"Then when do I need to go?"
— "A detailed summons schedule will be sent within the day. Just gather according to that."
I hung up with a frown. Selene approached me with a stiff expression, apparently having overheard the call.
"If you give the order, I will tear apart every last one of those detestable people."
"…No, that won't be necessary."
I switched my phone screen to the news. Just then, a broadcast helicopter was filming the nest in Ilsan, with Storm Dragon Tempestra coiled at its center. Regardless, it was true that a 4★ disaster had erupted, and if left alone, more disasters would gather and turn it into a dungeon. If those disasters all rushed toward Seoul like in China, it would be a catastrophe. The Bureau's decision to cut it off before it could sprout was correct. More than anything, I had insurance.
"Anyway, I don't think that Storm Dragon will harm me. Right?"
"…Correct. That wyvern is likely following Mirien's orders. It will not attempt to harm My Lord."
Selene still couldn't hide her hostility toward Mirien. After hearing Mirien's story from Selene a few days ago, my thoughts had become complicated. To think she would try to have me even if it meant killing me. It didn't sound like something that made sense, but Selene seemed to genuinely believe it.
"If Mirien had ill intentions from the start, it wouldn't have been strange for her to harm me long ago."
"At that time, My Lord possessed divinity. However, the current My Lord has been reduced to a human body."
It seemed Selene and the other disasters had each attached plausible reasons for the gap between the Ruler's appearance in the game and my current self.
"It is regrettable, but in your current state, My Lord, even your other subordinates could threaten your life."
"…Probably."
"Minimize contact with Mirien. The same applies to your other subordinates."
The other subordinates Selene mentioned were probably the remaining two 5★ disasters. Karne, Mother of Ill Omens. Asteria, Queen Who Swallowed the Stars. Both had backstories so ominous that even Selene and Mirien would back down, so I had no desire to meet them either. More than anything, their whereabouts were currently unknown.
"Fine. For now, I have no choice but to strengthen my forces."
The moment I decided on a course of action, a notification appeared in the status window.
4★ Hellfire Watchdog has completed disaster synthesis.
Reward: 50 Exp / 2★ Ashen Ripple Deer
"Oh."
I had finally succeeded in synthesizing a 2★ disaster. It was the result of pouring in over thirty 1★ disasters. I placed the Ashen Ripple Deer into the formation window and ordered the Hellfire Watchdog to begin the next synthesis. However, Selene wore a strangely displeased expression.
"My Lord, if you order me to synthesize, I could create something far superior to that mutt."
"Selene, sorry, but your synthesis aptitude is D. That mutt's is B."
"…"
Selene looked genuinely shocked.
*
It had already been two days since Awakened Nam Juyeon entered his residence and hadn't shown himself. Kang Do-young, the Management Bureau employee assigned to surveillance, sighed deeply and lit a cigarette.
"Even if it's surveillance, there should at least be something worth watching. What's the point of surveilling someone who's just holed up at home?"
A hikikomori, was it? It seemed Awakened Nam Juyeon was that type of person. It felt excessive to suspect someone so frail of killing Awakened Han Tae-geon. If Bureau executive Jo Geon-uk hadn't strongly pushed for it, Kang Do-young wouldn't have had to do such pointless work.
"Seriously, what's the point of being an Awakened or whatever."
Frowning, Kang Do-young stubbed out his cigarette on a nearby wall and headed toward a nearby building. At this point, he might as well check what was happening inside the house. Kang Do-young went to the building on the same floor as Nam Juyeon's residence and raised his telescope. The view of the room beyond the veranda window came into sight.
"…Hm?"
But there was no one inside Nam Juyeon's house. He had clearly seen him enter two days ago. He had never seen him come out. Yet only cold air lingered inside. Had he evaporated? That didn't make sense. Hadn't he received a call from the Bureau recently?
"…Strange."
There was something. A hidden room, a secret exit, or perhaps an air-raid shelter. Like Jo Geon-uk, Kang Do-young was a former police officer. That was why he moved. He intended to break in if necessary to figure out what was happening inside. However, before Kang Do-young could descend the stairs, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ugh!"
The touch was like ice. Kang Do-young hurriedly turned around, but at that moment, a small dagger was already embedded in his heart. Bright red blood gushed from his throat.
"Kuhk!"
Standing behind Kang Do-young was a woman of small stature. He couldn't understand when or how she had approached. It had clearly been an abandoned building with no signs of life. "Wh-who— mmph!"
Kang Do-young spat out the blood flowing from his mouth and shouted, but the woman reached out faster and covered his mouth. A tingling sensation followed, and his mouth went numb. In the end, Kang Do-young could only stare at the woman with wide eyes, unable to even open his mouth. She had an exotic appearance. Blue eyes shining between jet-black hair. She was a cold-looking beauty, but a chilling aura that seemed to cut through flesh emanated from between her twisted lips.
"…No one who tries to harm the Ruler will be left alive."
The woman spoke. Kang Do-young could no longer maintain consciousness. Beyond having his heart pierced, the atmosphere emanating from the woman was ominous.
"…Everything is for 'Actor.'"
The woman muttered as if rationalizing, then pulled the dagger from Kang Do-young's heart. The ceremonial dagger melted into her palm and disappeared. The last thing Kang Do-young saw before dying was the text floating above the woman's head.
5★ Storm of the North Sea
⟨ Mirien ⟩
*
The next day, when I emerged from the Abyss and returned home, an oddly unsettled atmosphere lingered nearby. Looking around, I saw yellow tape cordoning off the building across from my house.
"…Huh?"
Police officers and men in suits of unknown affiliation seemed to be arguing about something. Maybe a jurisdictional dispute. Whatever it was, it wasn't my concern, but having an incident right in front of my house still felt unsettling. I approached a police officer smoking nearby and asked.
"…Did something happen here? I live right over there."
The officer seemed reluctant to speak, but when I revealed I was a resident of the area, he reluctantly confessed.
"Someone died."
"Died? From a disaster?"
"No. In times like these, do you think the police would be dispatched just because one person died to a disaster?"
The officer shrugged.
"Someone did die, but the problem is we don't know what killed them."
"…Hmm?"
When I tilted my head, the officer made an awkward expression and whispered.
"You see, the body was just lying there, and get this—there was writing on the wall next to it written in blood."
"…Writing?"
"You probably know it well. It said 'Actor.'"
"…"
For a moment, my mind went cold.