Leviathan's Warning
The maritime border between South Korea and China. A massive submarine lurked in the deep sea, its camera scanning the area around Mt. Baekdu.
Visual feed unstable. Target area obscured.
“It’s not showing up clearly.”
“Try harder.”
“It’s just a faint blur. Seriously, there’s nothing there. Can’t we just head into North Korean waters?”
If they’d been in Manchuria or North Korean territory to begin with, they wouldn’t have to pull this kind of stunt. The man who seemed to be the captain snapped irritably at the complaint.
“You think I can just do whatever I want?”
The Manchurian region was crawling with roughly twenty thousand 2nd-class monsters. And in the seas bordering China and North Korea lived a 1st-class monster known as Leviathan. Going there would be nothing but suicide.
Ha… What the hell was I thinking, chasing glory and riches…
He leaned back in his chair, slumping down. This mission was to identify the person who had taken down the one called the ‘Angel of Death’—Azrael.
How the hell do you kill something that drops you dead with a single touch?
Because of that, the Chinese government was in a frantic rush to recruit this unidentified Awakener before the Americans could. On top of that, the fact that their satellite had conveniently malfunctioned led them to assume the target was an Awakener who specialized in machines. In the 21st century, someone who could control machines was an incredibly valuable asset.
Ha… Guess I don’t have a choice.
No matter how much he hated it, what could he do? As both a civil servant and a soldier, orders from above were absolute.
“Hwaaaang!!! This is so unfair! How could you cheat on me like this?!”
“……”
Miji was sobbing dramatically into Ha-im’s lap. She had barged in out of nowhere, and Ha-im had no idea what was going on. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Ha-im tried to calm her down.
“What happened? Stop crying and just tell me.”
“It’s that guy…!”
Miji spilled everything—from beginning to end—about all the humiliation she had suffered so far. After listening, Ha-im looked away and scratched her cheek awkwardly. This clearly called for some tough love.
“Um… don’t be too shocked when you hear this…”
“……?”
Seeing her hesitate, Miji tilted her head in confusion. What was she about to say?
“That guy… my sister doesn’t really see you as a friend or anything…”
“……!”
Thud.
The shocking words hit Miji like a truck. She collapsed with hollow eyes. Not even a friend? That was the most devastating thing she’d heard all year. But she quickly pulled herself together and protested again.
“Then what about that other guy?! The one who plays games all the time—he’s not her friend either?!”
“Hmm… I think he’s just a guildmate?”
Ha-im had seen the Holy Knight on streams, so she knew who he was. But she hadn’t sensed any romantic vibes, and they only ever talked about games. Calling him a friend felt like a stretch.
“Besides, my sister has always kept people at arm’s length. You don’t need to overthink it.”
“……”
She already knew that. The way Seong-a spoke and acted made it obvious she found her annoying. Still, it stung a little. She thought they had gotten a bit closer…
“…Then how do I get closer to her?”
“……”
Ha-im turned her gaze away. How was she supposed to know? From Miji’s perspective, it was ridiculous.
“Are you really her little sister?”
“I can’t help it! We were separated for eight whole years…”
Even back in middle school, her sister barely had any friends. Without any data to work with, there was nothing Ha-im could suggest. Miji gave up and pulled a board game out of her bag. In the end, the two of them stayed up all night playing UNO and Halli Galli.
A day passed, and night fell. We arrived at a windswept beach.
“You really don’t have to help. I’ve got this.”
“No, I do. If you go alone, something bad will definitely happen.”
That comment bruised my pride a little.
“Hmph! Just watch. I’ll take care of it in no time. Wait here until I get back!”
Thinking we were underestimating her, Miji dove straight into the sea. We started preparing as well.
Miji swam at full speed.
Hmph! I’m definitely going to show her how cool I am and make her fall for me…!
She couldn’t let her pride take another hit like this. This time, she would show off and win Seong-a over. Swimming at top speed, she soon spotted a massive submarine in the distance.
So this is what they want me to chase off…
Miji summoned the spear the princess had bestowed upon her. It was an ancient weapon once used by the first Mermaid King, passed down only through the royal family. It was also the keepsake the princess—no, the queen—had given her right before she passed away.
“Hup!”
Miji hurled the spear with all her might. It spun through the water and slammed into the submarine, punching a long, gaping hole straight through it.
“Hehe, that should do it… Huh?”
The submarine that had just been pierced was already fully repaired. The hole had vanished without a trace.
Tsk, this is going to be more annoying than I thought.
No water had flooded in. The machinery hadn’t even malfunctioned.
Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got.
The spear flew back to its owner. Miji threw it again.
Meanwhile, inside the submarine, it was pure chaos.
“Make sure no water gets into the equipment!”
“Yes sir!”
“How much longer until repairs are done?!”
“Just a little longer, please!”
They were using their abilities to repair the hull and keep the water out.
What the hell is going on all of a sudden…!
An unidentified spear had suddenly charged in and torn a hole in their submarine. This wasn’t part of the plan at all.
“Who the hell is shooting spears at us?!”
“We’ve got it on camera!”
The monitor displayed a pink-haired mermaid.
The crew stared in confusion.
“What the hell is that?”
“Maybe a siren? There’s a siren nesting ground nearby.”
“That’s ridiculous! How is that a siren?!”
Sirens were famous for their beautiful appearance and enchanting songs that lured humans into the sea. This mermaid was certainly pretty, but she wasn’t singing. Besides, they were already underwater—there was no need to lure them anywhere.
“But she looks exactly like one.”
“……”
They had no comeback. She really did look identical to a siren. But that wasn’t what mattered right now.
“Deploy missiles!”
“Th-that mermaid is too fast. We can’t get a lock on her…”
“Is that really important right now?!”
At this rate, they would lose the submarine and have to return to China empty-handed. That would mean facing punishment for mission failure. They couldn’t let that happen.
“Then use the ultrasonic attack!”
“Yes sir!”
When the subordinate pressed the button, a special ultrasonic wave that aquatic creatures hated was unleashed.
“Aaaaaaaaagh!!!!”
The ultrasound must have worked. Miji twisted her whole body in agony, screaming in pain. She clutched her head with one hand, eyes squeezed shut.
Damn it! What the hell is that sound…!
She had never felt pain like this before. Even when she had slain a massive sea dragon in the other world, it hadn’t hurt this much. Miji glared at the submarine that was busy repairing itself. It had to be coming from there.
How dare you—ugh… my head again…!
The continuous pain made her consider running away, but she quickly dismissed the idea. She had already shown off her cool side. She couldn’t flee now. Refusing to give up, Miji raised her spear once more—
“……?”
Just as she was about to throw the spear, a tremendous roar echoed from the distance. An unidentified shadow appeared before her, and two glowing red eyes snapped open.
No way…
Giant, razor-sharp teeth. Tough, overlapping scales like an alligator’s. A body so enormous its end couldn’t be seen. It was the Leviathan she had only ever heard about in stories.
“……”
She couldn’t move. The overwhelming terror crushed her body. Anyone who saw it would instinctively sense their own death. Even Miji, who had a strong affinity with aquatic creatures, was no exception.
Ah… I’m going to get eaten…
Instinctively, she lowered her spear. The moment she saw it, she gave up on everything. As she prepared to be devoured, a familiar voice rang out from afar.
“Unnie!!!”
“……!”
Ha-im shot forward at incredible speed, snatching Miji away just before the Leviathan’s jaws snapped shut. She put distance between them.
Crunch. Crunch.
The Chinese submarine, unable to escape, met a gruesome end between the Leviathan’s razor-sharp teeth.
The Leviathan turned its gaze toward the two of them. Ha-im immediately got into a combat stance.
Damn it, of all places—underwater…!
This was a fight she would lose. Running away was the correct choice, but there was no way she could escape something like this…!
“……!”
The Leviathan’s voice echoed directly inside their heads. Only an extremely small number of the strongest 1st-class monsters possessed intelligence. She had never dreamed the Leviathan would be one of them.
With those words, the Leviathan sank back into the deep abyss. They couldn’t tear their eyes away from the sight. Surviving an encounter with a 1st-class monster felt like a dream.
“Uh… should we head back now?”
“Y-yeah…”
The two of them returned to the beach, still in a daze. Seong-a greeted them with a completely unbothered expression.
“You’re back?”
Ha-im rubbed her temples and asked, just to be sure.
“Did you already know the Leviathan would spare us?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have sent you otherwise.”
Why would she send them if she knew they’d die? According to the fortune, the Leviathan had little interest in humans. It would only kill those who disturbed its sleep and then leave.
Miji stared blankly at Seong-a.
“What? Are you sick or something?”
“…Pfft. You really are such a cheat.”
“……?”
Miji let out a small laugh and lowered her head. She had wanted to make Seong-a fall for her, but instead she had fallen herself. She felt like she would only be a burden if she stayed any longer.
“I’m going back home now.”
“Already? You could stay and hang out longer.”
The suggestion that she could stay and play only made her angrier.
“You should tone down the fox-like behavior from now on.”
“……?”
In the end, Miji left behind those cryptic words and returned to Jeju Island. We headed home as well.