Long Live the Queen (1)
Driving through streets devoid of any human presence was bound to feel lonely, but it wasn't so bad when the four-seater was packed full of companions. Take the petite woman currently chattering away from the passenger seat, for example.
"Actor, what's that?"
Mirien, the Storm of the North Sea, demanded explanations every time something interesting caught her eye on the street. This time, she was pointing at a gas station. Looters had already taken everything, so no fuel remained.
"That's called a gas station."
"What's a gas station?"
"Hmm... Well, to put it simply, it's a place where you can refill mana."
"Aha. So it's a site for human sacrifices."
"..."
Viewing modern civilization through the lens of a disaster was quite the novel experience.
"Actor, what's that over there?"
"A mineral spring."
"Ah, like a leyline. We had something similar set up at the magic tower too."
Of course, Mirien wasn't the only one keeping me company.
"My child, there's no need for this wheeled carriage. This mother could simply carry you and fly us there."
"I appreciate the offer, but people wouldn't see flying humans as the same species."
"Haha. You have a point."
Karne also chimed in with gentle remarks here and there, so I never grew drowsy or lonely behind the wheel. Strangely enough, however, one person remained unusually quiet.
"Selene?"
"...Yes?"
Selene startled when I called her name. An awkward smile hung on her lips.
"...Is something wrong?"
"No. Nothing is wrong. On the contrary, thanks to the Elixir you bestowed upon me, my condition has improved greatly."
"Hmm..."
Her words said she was fine, but her actions told a different story. Unlike Mirien and Karne, who chatted animatedly while gazing out the windows, Selene sat blankly in the back seat, staring fixedly at the back of my head. The Selene who would normally bare her teeth and growl at Karne seemed lost in thought elsewhere.
"Mirien, did something happen with Selene?"
"If I said something did, then something did... but I'm not telling."
Mirien grinned mischievously. She was stubborn, so pressing further would be pointless. Still, I couldn't shake the sense of dissonance while watching Selene. Until now, she had rarely shown any sign of being shaken in front of me.
"My Lord, I am fine. There is no need to worry."
It was the same voice I always heard. Yet something about it felt subtly off. Her overall impression, perhaps. It was strange. She seemed to hesitate a little more than usual. Her gaze lingered on me a bit longer than before. Thanks to the Elixir, the burns that had marred Selene's skin were completely gone. They say a woman's transformation is innocent. I must simply not be used to her changed appearance yet. I decided to think of it that way. No need to pry. Selene maintained her usual loyal demeanor, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to question her before she spoke first.
Eventually, I turned my head and focused on driving again. A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed Selene still staring at the back of my head.
"...Hmm."
It was a little unsettling.
*
The streets of Busan were wrapped in quiet stillness. We hadn't encountered any disasters on the way here, and almost no vehicles traveled the roads. A few abandoned trucks blocked the path, but I summoned the Rock Crusher and cleared them away.
"It's like a city of the dead."
Considering what nickname Busan had carried before the world reached this state, the black comedy wrote itself. Even so, as the second-largest city on the peninsula, it still had its share of residents. When the car passed, several people peered out through windows and began whispering among themselves. Their expressions carried a strange tension, mingled with fear.
For reference, Selene, Mirien, and Karne had all hidden themselves using Stealth skills.
[5★ Mother of Ill Omens Karne casts the skill "Black Wing Moon Walk".]
Unlike Selene and Mirien's Stealth skills, Karne's was classified as a unique skill. With no cooldown, near-permanent duration, and the ability to apply to the entire team as an area buff, it proved useful in all sorts of situations.
Upon entering the Dong District, a crowd of what appeared to be Awakened blocked the main road.
"Stop. Are you an outsider? If so, state your origin and affiliation."
Awakened outside Seoul treated their hometown as proof of identity. After the rifts appeared, local administrations had completely collapsed, and freedom of movement no longer existed. Of course, I was from the Seoul Republic. I had no clan affiliation.
"I don't really have an affiliation, but if I had to say, Seoul."
"Seoul? Are you with the Management Bureau?"
"Sorry, but it's the Association now, not the Management Bureau. Don't you watch the news?"
The sentry's expression shifted at my words. Bewilderment, and wariness. I rolled the window down a little further.
"Tell your clan leader that a big shot has arrived from Seoul."
Calling myself a big shot felt embarrassing, but I had no choice. Without it, they wouldn't recognize me.
"Huh? You look familiar..."
The sentry's eyes widened. Having my face known was convenient yet unpleasant.
"S-class Awakened Nam Juyeon!"
The shout drew everyone's attention. From there, things moved quickly. Awakened belonging to the clan emerged from every corner of the street. They surrounded me, their hostility toward the infamous Seoul-born Awakened barely concealed. Some even summoned their disasters. I had expected no warm welcome, but the level of hostility caught me off guard. The stares, as if a monster had appeared, were oppressive. If it were Yu Junseo, he would have proudly declared himself the Flame Emperor, but I lacked that level of shamelessness.
After waiting in that uncomfortable atmosphere, an Awakened approached with a displeased look and guided me forward.
"No vehicles allowed past this point. Get out."
Unlike Daejeon's clan, which used a government building as its base, the Busan Clan had taken over a residential-commercial complex right in front of Haeundae. The interior of the headquarters was as quiet as the city itself, but the moment I stepped inside, sharp gazes began to multiply.
"Is the welcome always this rough around here?"
"Wouldn't know."
The ultimate form of regional conflict was playing out right here in Korea. I hadn't expected a single mention of Seoul to provoke such open hostility. Even Daejeon hadn't been this bad, yet Busan's atmosphere was startlingly rigid.
"The clan leader is waiting inside."
The Awakened spoke curtly and left. I shrugged and stepped into the room. A person sat perched on a small desk. The moment I took in the sight, I swallowed a breath inwardly.
"Uh..."
"Why so startled? Not what you expected?"
Black hair cascaded down to her chest, and her eyes were as dark as Karne's feathers. The Busan Clan leader was a woman. The assumption that had naturally formed in my mind shattered. Meeting Jeon Tae-min at the Daejeon Clan a few hours ago must have influenced me. I had automatically assumed the leader of the Busan Clan would be male. After all, Busan was famous for being rough. I had pictured at least a man of similar build to myself, or a muscular thug. Instead, before me stood a woman with a cold expression.
"So. You're the pride of Korea, then?"
She regarded me with arms lightly crossed. Her gaze was sharp yet relaxed, her lips carrying the trace of meticulous calculation. Her presence felt entirely different from Jeon Tae-min's.
"Nam Juyeon, was it? Nice to meet you. I'm Shin Do-hee."
Shin Do-hee, the Busan Clan leader, offered a handshake. She wore leather gloves. That alone told me how unwelcome my visit was.
"What business does the great S-class Awakened have all the way out here in Busan?"
"To be honest, I heard something from the Daejeon Clan leader."
"What did you hear?"
"That the Busan Clan is preparing for war."
Her brow furrowed the moment I cut straight to the point.
"Hmmm. The Daejeon folks have sharper eyes than I thought."
"Does that mean you're going to war?"
"Not wrong. We're stronger, so we're just swallowing them up. Nothing new about it. That's how the provinces survive. The world isn't like it used to be anymore."
Shin Do-hee affirmed my words.
"Ah, but don't worry about getting caught up in it. We have no intention of touching Seoul either. I did briefly consider swallowing Seoul, but then you went and brought a bunch of Chinese Awakened with you. I don't pick fights I can't win."
"...Hmm."
"If you're going to start spouting nonsense about ethics or how violence is bad, I won't listen."
"..."
After only a few exchanges, the aura around Busan Clan leader Shin Do-hee felt ominous. To put it simply...
'She's insane.'
Her being a woman had thrown me off, but her demeanor wasn't much different from Jeon Tae-min's. If anything, she was more extreme.
"I think I've said everything I wanted to say. Still got something to add?"
"...Hmm."
"No? Then we're done. I'd love to treat you to the full Busan course, but I don't have that kind of leeway. I've got plans after this too. Well, since you're here, feel free to rest and do some sightseeing. It might not feel luxurious to someone from Seoul, but the quarters here are pretty fancy."
Shin Do-hee rambled on, then suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Ah, while you're here, want to take a look at something?"
"Look at what?"
"Follow me. It should be entertaining enough."
Shin Do-hee grinned and left the room, walking down the hallway. Following her, I witnessed a shocking scene. In the central hall of the building, a man covered head to toe in bruises hung suspended in nothing but his underwear.
"That's..."
"The clan leader who used to run Gimhae City."
"Why is he hanging there?"
"What do you think? He opposed being absorbed by us."
Shin Do-hee turned to me with a wide smile.
"Today's his execution day."
"..."
Execution. The sudden, brutal word left me speechless. At that moment, Karne, who had been quietly following behind me under Stealth, whispered.
'Actor, be careful. That woman possesses a fragment of Asteria's crown.'
A chill ran down my spine.