The Life of an S-Class Awakened (1)
Two days had passed since the Storm Dragon Tempestra was defeated. During that time, I had been enduring days far more grueling than the life-or-death struggle in Ilsan.
“Nam Juyeon-ssi, how does it feel to be the first S-class Awakened in Korea and the legendary hero who set the standard for S-class?”
“I don’t really have any thoughts about it.”
“This is undeniably a historic achievement. There’s no record anywhere in the world of defeating a 4-star disaster with so few casualties. It seems the White House in the U.S. is taking note of this as well.”
“Even if you say that…”
This was the Awakened Management Bureau. I was stuck here filling out paperwork and registering as an S-class Awakened. Coincidentally, I was back in the same reception room where I had been dragged in for questioning last time, continuing my Q&A with the staff member.
“You could afford to be a little prouder.”
The female staff member tapped her pen cap against the documents, clearly displeased with my lukewarm reaction.
“The public wants S-class Hunters to have a certain star quality. In other words, Nam Juyeon-ssi must become a ray of light in this crumbling world, a savior of the new era.”
“…What kind of star am I supposed to be? Before the world went to hell, I was just an unemployed gamer.”
“Director Yu Junseo was also a high school graduate who loved games. He even had a mental health diagnosis. Yet now he enjoys absurd popularity in the media.”
The staff member shrugged and pointed her pen at me.
“Nam Juyeon-ssi will enjoy even greater fame. Since the Director is called the Flame King, perhaps for you… Storm King? Dragon Slayer? No, since you command dragons, Dragon King? Dragon Tamer?”
“…”
I wanted nothing more than to shut her mouth right then and there as she spouted those embarrassing titles. Fortunately, she seemed to notice my rapidly souring expression and stopped listing shameful nicknames.
“Still, please don’t hate it too much. Enormous support comes with being an S-class Awakened.”
“Support?”
“First, you’ll receive a monthly stipend equivalent to one billion won.”
My mouth fell open at that. One billion won. Before the world ended, it was the kind of money I thought I’d never touch even if I worked my entire life.
“Of course, given the current market situation, spending that much might be difficult, so the government will do its best to accommodate you. If you want something, we’ll prepare it to match the price as much as possible. If you need a foreign car, we’ll get one. If you want a penthouse, we’ll arrange that too. Bodyguards can also be prepared in the near future if requested.”
The words that followed felt equally unreal. Foreign cars, penthouses. These were luxuries only billionaires or celebrities would consider. I was finally starting to understand Jo Geon-uk’s words about how Awakened had become the new ruling class. The staff member went even further.
“Women will line up too. To become the wife of an S-class Awakened, or even a concubine.”
“T-that’s ridiculous…”
“It’s true. There’s a perfect example right in front of you.”
The staff member tilted her head as if it were obvious. It was an extremely seductive gesture. Only then did I notice that her outfit was quite different from last time. The top three buttons of her blouse were undone, and dark red lace underwear was visible beneath her white shirt. Her skirt was also far too short; one wrong move and something indecent would show. Her makeup was heavier as well. Sitting on the edge of the desk, she spoke to me.
“Since you haven’t shown any interest yet, I’ll shamelessly spell it out. My name is Kang Se-na. I’m a B-class Awakened and an administrative officer at the Management Bureau. I’m twenty-nine, I’m confident my body is more than adequate, and I can adjust my appearance to suit Juyeon-ssi’s tastes at any time…”
Kang Se-na leaned forward. The valley of her chest became even more blatantly visible. For someone whose only experience with women was a single trip to an entertainment establishment dragged there by a senior during military service, this was an overwhelming sight. I instinctively swallowed hard. Seeing that, Kang Se-na smiled with her eyes and said,
“As a celebration of becoming an S-class Awakened, it wouldn’t be so bad to embrace an S-class woman, would it?”
…She said that. But—
“I’m not interested.”
“…”
I rejected her outright. As if she had never expected to be refused, Kang Se-na’s eyebrows twitched.
“Is that so? What was the problem? If you’re worried about something like a MeToo situation, I can write a written agreement on camera…”
“No.”
“Don’t tell me you prefer men…?”
“It’s not that…”
I hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“It’s just that you’re not my type. Not at all.”
Kang Se-na’s eyes narrowed. Perhaps her pride had been scratched. She returned to her usual businesslike expression and handed me my Awakened registration card. Next to my name printed on it was a clear “S-class” label.
“Understood. Then please find a woman who suits Nam Juyeon-ssi’s tastes and choose well.”
“…Can I leave now?”
“What are you doing? Go already.”
“Yes.”
I stood up awkwardly and left the reception room. The real reason I had rejected her offer wasn’t anything as trivial as her not being my type. With zero experience with women to begin with, I hardly had the luxury to be picky. The actual reason was the gray-haired woman glaring at me from the rooftop of the building across the street, visible through the reception room window.
[5★ Scorched Saint Selene is watching you!]
“…”
Today, too, I had preserved world peace.
“Wouldn’t it be better to deal with that bitch once and for all? The fact that she harbored ill intentions toward My Lord is already unforgivable.”
As expected, the moment we left the Management Bureau, Selene expressed her hostility toward Kang Se-na. If I hadn’t exercised extreme self-control and rejected her offer, a horrific bloodbath might have occurred at Selene’s hands.
“Calm down, Selene. If we make an enemy of the Management Bureau, we’ll have nowhere left to stand.”
“…Yes. I had no intention of inconveniencing My Lord.”
When I spoke earnestly, Selene nodded slightly in acknowledgment. I let out a sigh of relief internally. Having Selene under my command felt like carrying around a nuclear bomb that could explode at any moment. No, considering her destructive power, she might be even worse than a nuclear bomb. And there wasn’t just one such bomb. There were already three other disasters of Selene’s caliber in the world, and one of them was constantly watching me.
“Selene. What do you think about this incident? It was Mirien’s doing, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. My Lord’s prediction is correct. Without that woman Mirien’s intervention, Tempestra would never have gone berserk.”
The Blessing of Lightning was a lightning-attribute buff skill. It wasn’t something the Storm Dragon Tempestra could have learned on its own.
“Why do you think Mirien cast the Blessing of Lightning on the Storm Dragon?”
“If I may be so bold as to speculate on behalf of someone so insignificant, it was ultimately to assist My Lord.”
“Assist?”
“It seems Mirien intended to annihilate all the Awakened around My Lord.”
I frowned, and Selene turned her head toward the direction of the Yeouido tower.
“Whether Awakened or the Management Bureau, they are ultimately minor obstacles to My Lord’s grand purpose. It seems Mirien planned to clean them up to help My Lord’s plans. A truly straightforward solution. For that woman Mirien, she actually used her head for once.”
“…”
What the hell was that grand plan anyway? My subordinates knew about some grand plan that even I didn’t know about. It was maddening, but I absolutely couldn’t show it. I cleared my throat and spoke to Selene.
“Ah, it’s still too early.”
“Yes. I respect My Lord’s will as well. Removing the obstacles can be postponed.”
Fortunately, Selene believed my words without question.
“If My Lord wishes, I will personally give that magic sack Mirien a stern warning. To tell her not to dare interfere with My Lord’s plans.”
Selene offered her opinion. However, given her considerable criminal record, I needed to be cautious. Last time, when I told her to destroy a nest, she had wiped out every nest in the south. I always had to be careful when giving orders to Selene.
“Selene, fine. Talk to Mirien in my place. But there’s a condition.”
“What condition?”
“Don’t fight with Mirien. No matter what.”
“Hmm…”
“Absolutely not.”
“…Yes. If it is My Lord’s will, I will obey.”
Selene reluctantly nodded at my words. It seemed she had been planning to have it out with Mirien if I hadn’t given her explicit instructions. After talking with Selene for a while, we arrived near the house. However, the area around the house was far from the peaceful scene I had hoped for.
“Hah…”
There was a buzzing noise. A dense crowd. Each person in the crowd held a camera or microphone, waiting for someone. Reporters and cyber wreckers, without a doubt. I didn’t know how they had found out my residence, but they were waiting for the owner of this house—the first S-class Awakened in Korea. And that person was none other than me, standing right here.
Click.
I took out my phone from my pocket and called the number I had received earlier.
[This is Kang Se-na. What can I do for you, the great Nam Juyeon S-class Awakened?]
A somewhat curt voice came through the receiver. It seemed Kang Se-na was still bothered by what had happened earlier.
“Um… Kang Se-na-ssi? I think I might need that penthouse after all.”
Kang Se-na let out a quiet sigh at my words.
[I’ll talk to my superiors tomorrow. It’s already past working hours.]
“Not tomorrow. I need somewhere to escape to right now… There are reporters in front of my house and I can’t get in.”
[…]
There was a brief silence on the other end. I knew it too. This was an incredibly pathetic situation. Fortunately, Kang Se-na wasn’t the type of woman to let an opportunity slip by. She spoke casually.
[There are almost no safe houses I can prepare for you right now. As it happens, there’s one left. Would you like to come here?]
“Yes. Please.”
[Come to the address I’ll send you.]
Kang Se-na maintained her businesslike tone before suddenly adding,
[By the way, that place is my house.]
“…Excuse me?”
What did she just say?