Long Live the Queen (3)
Karne, the Mother of Ill Omens, joining my base brought changes far beyond just making it easier to dig into the opposition's background.
“How's it feel? Manageable to walk around?”
“Yes. But My Lord, isn't it still dangerous?”
“It's fine. There's a perception interference spell layered on top. Even if people notice us, they won't think it's strange.”
Karne's stealth skill was unparalleled.
It went beyond mere hiding—it could make someone fail to recognize us even when staring right at us.
The skill's name was Shadow of Nothingness.
Nicknamed Hypno-App.
In Disaster Order, it skipped trash mob fights, but now it let Selene and me stroll through Busan.
“Truth be told, I couldn't use it in Daejeon even if I wanted to. My face was too well-known, and with such a small population, a big shot like me vanishing would stand out.”
But unlike Daejeon, Busan was a massive city.
Its population was just as huge.
Unlike Chungcheong Province, which could evacuate to Seoul, this southern tip of the peninsula had become a refugee destination.
The gathered refugees probably numbered in the millions at first glance.
But after five Rift Eruptions, that had dwindled to less than a tenth.
Even so, it was still the only metropolis left besides Seoul.
Government influence was negligible, of course.
Just like Daejeon, the nominal direct-controlled city meant nothing—here in Busan, the Awakened held all the power.
A kingdom of terror ruled by Queen Shin Do-hee, you could say.
“My Lord, I understand up to there. But... is there really any need for you to accompany me personally?”
“You don't want me to?”
“Ah, no. Not at all. What worries me is... Mirien.”
I'd tasked Karne with investigating Shin Do-hee, then slipped out into Busan proper with Selene.
Where was Mirien?
—'Actor, listen. I love you so much, but sometimes I just... hate you so freaking much.'
I'd left her behind saying that.
And for good reason—Mirien was like a big, sweet puppy of a girl.
Super affectionate and cute with her owner in every way, but you had to muzzle her for walks.
She was as extreme as Selene, but her chatterbox nature made her harder to control.
“Well, that's part of it, but...”
I glanced at Selene.
Selene, who would've met my eyes before, slyly looked away.
“I just wanted to go out with you once, Selene.”
“Eek.”
Selene's shoulders twitched faintly at my words.
Truth was, hearing about her burning at the stake earlier had left me on edge.
I still didn't know the pasts of the disasters under my command.
Especially this ash-gray-haired saint right in front of me.
Karne had told me her own story firsthand, and Mirien had heard the details from Selene herself.
But I knew next to nothing about the Singed Saint Selene.
All I knew was that she'd once served a god, then betrayed him and burned the world as a witch.
“I just want to know you better.”
“...My Lord.”
“We never had a chance to talk in the game... or inside the rift. I mean...”
“Yes. You had ascended to godhood, after all.”
“...Yeah.”
Calling myself a god felt embarrassingly corny.
But Selene and the other disasters seemed to accept it as fact.
“Ahem. Anyway, that's why I need to know my subordinates better.”
“Yes. Your words are wisdom itself, My Lord. But my past isn't something to boast about.”
“It's okay.”
“If that's your will...”
Selene nodded with a wry smile.
Busan's streets were a ruin after five eruptions—scarce few spots left intact.
Street stalls were overturned or smashed.
Selene stopped at one shop.
Whether some fire-attribute disaster had rampaged or the owner fled without shutting off the gas, the place was charred black.
The Singed Saint herself opened her mouth.
“I was a saint.”
I knew that from her title.
“Chosen by the god as a child, I gained his power. The entire continent treated me like a living god, kin to the new deity. Looking back, it's laughable, but I believed their reverence was genuine.”
Earth history had similar tales, so I wasn't shocked.
Selene walked on, then spotted a massive cross in the city center.
Korea had enough churches to surprise the Second Coming himself.
“Being a saint thrust me into the heart of continental politics. War broke out. A revelation from the god.”
“Revelation?”
“That his vanguard would conquer the continent. The holy knights embraced it eagerly.”
So the god ordered a holy war.
Familiar history to me.
“Too eagerly, I became the symbol of that crusade. In the war that followed, countless knights in armor emblazoned with my name fell.”
A fantasy Crusade.
Familiar yet brutal words.
Selene's voice grew detached as she continued.
“The god's army lost. I bore the blame. The masses deemed it not the god's error, but his proxy's failure.”
“That's...”
“They needed a scapegoat.”
Thud.
Selene halted again.
This time, a gallows instead of a Christmas tree.
As Queen Shin Do-hee had said, corpses of her executions hung here.
Rotting, unrecognizable husks—but that one symbol kept Busan's order ironclad.
Selene might've seen it differently.
“So I was bound to the stake and burned.”
“...”
“My god-empowered body didn't burn easily. And I lacked the piety to humbly offer my life.”
Her internals were healed by the Elixir, but her voice held a subtle rasp.
Reliving it, probably.
She paused, then spoke colder.
“So I burned them all. Betrayed the god myself, then torched those who staked me. One ignited the next, flames spreading. In the end, I burned everything. Yes. In a way, the revelation of the god I once served was right.”
Selene turned.
A faint smile on her face.
“His vanguard did conquer the continent. Me.”
“...Huh.”
“If even that was his design, that 'god' is lesser than you, My Lord.”
“...”
“To me, the only god is you, My Lord. You extended a saving hand. I'll remember that grace until my life is ash.”
Her gratitude weighed heavy.
But I got it.
To me, it was just pulling her in a game.
To her, my appearance was messianic.
Even here, knowing my human form, her loyalty had solid reason.
Same for Mirien, Karne, Asteria.
“My Lord, I wish to remain your faithful servant.”
All I could do was strive to be the ideal leader atop their devotion.
“Even if you become the Absolute Ruler. Even lording over all dimensions as an overwhelming existence.”
Selene seemed resolute.
“Wouldn't I be more than a nuisance at your side?”
“...”
“Of course, I won't defy your will to embrace that spell-rag Mirien or whores like Karne. But...”
Selene hesitated, gauged my face, then continued cautiously.
“At the end, by your throne, could I stand just a little closer? Even an inch?”
“...”
“Would it be alright if I claimed even a sliver more of your favor?”
She looked not like the ruthless, loyal subordinate, but an ordinary girl.
I was speechless for a moment.
[5★ Storm of the North Sea Mirien is watching you.]
[5★ Mother of Ill Omens Karne is watching you.]
Ominous messages floated before my eyes.
But system alerts could wait.
“Selene.”
“Yes.”
“I permit it.”
“...”
The Singed Saint—no, loyal Selene—widened her eyes at my words.
For a moment, she showed a radiant smile I'd never seen before.
“Yes, My Lord. Together unto paradise.”
“Yeah.”
At least paradise wasn't the Abyss anymore. Thank goodness.