The Star of the Supernova
The man was twenty-nine years old, single, and carried the codename Supernova. He possessed the Grade 4 Concept known as Star. As Nam Taegeon’s first adopted son and the undisputed golden prince of the Seven Gongs, Nam Wooju—the hero who had come to represent the twenty-first century—lit a cigarette between his lips.
“It’s because of the backlash, but I still have no idea what alcohol or cigarettes are supposed to taste like.”
He exhaled a long, slow stream of smoke. The gray haze drifted across streets silenced by martial law. The world was still reeling from the Zombie Outbreak triggered by a single madman’s threat and the emergency martial law requested by the Seonam Group. It was almost funny to think that the same chilly streets had been packed with rioters trying to overthrow the country just days earlier. Who could have guessed that boiling heat would vanish so quickly?
“So what? You’re telling me to be careful around one high-school kid?”
“Yes, sir. That bastard Ha Namjin is dangerous.”
Lieutenant Jang Bo-reum, his secretary and adjutant, frowned as she added, “In some ways, he’s downright vulgar.”
“Weren’t the only noteworthy graduates from the thirteenth class that Yu Gu-reum kid and the one called Geum Tae-yang?”
“That evaluation was based on last year’s records. The weirdo—Ha Namjin—transferred in at the beginning of this year. If you look at this file, it details his recent activities.”
She handed over the dossier containing Ha Namjin’s personal information. Of course, Nam Wooju simply burned it with his heat the moment he received it.
Star — Heat Emission
“General—!”
“Useless information only creates needless preconceptions. The best way is to meet him in person and see for myself.”
“I am specifically advising you not to get personally involved with that guy.”
The more Jang Bo-reum warned him, the more Nam Wooju’s interest grew. If his usually ice-cold adjutant—who carried the Concept of Cold Reason—was this wary, then the student named Ha Namjin had to possess something special.
“If you’re evaluating him that highly, Bo-reum, then I’m even more curious to meet him.”
“General, please think about your little sister.”
“My little sister?”
“I mean Jin Eunbyeol.”
“Ah, that one. Jin Eunbyeol… which adopted sister was she again?”
President Nam Taegeon, unable to produce biological heirs, had adopted a whole litter of sons and daughters. Even a perfect man has his weaknesses. Because they had been selected and adopted based on their various abilities, every single one of his siblings was a walking bundle of personality. The problem was that President Nam Taegeon’s criteria had never once included human decency. That was why his adopted children were constantly stirring up trouble.
“They all have such strong personalities that they cause incidents almost immediately.”
“…I don’t think that’s something you should be saying, General. I’m worried that the insolent Ha Namjin—who acts without regard for rank or order—might treat you with the same disrespect he showed at the Samjin Group villa.”
“That’s why I heard the Presidential Office is having a meeting today with the members of No Leftovers Day, right? I don’t know who’s in charge, but what if I just casually drop in?”
Nam Wooju had already learned that the rapidly rising Awakened team No Leftovers Day had requested a meeting at the Presidential Office at Baekdang’s request. Jang Bo-reum found that fact deeply concerning. The man who normally didn’t even watch the news and hated memorizing names somehow absorbed critical information like a ghost.
If that Ha Namjin bastard so much as splashes mud on the General…
In Jang Bo-reum’s eyes, Supernova Nam Wooju was the very embodiment of Korea’s hope. In contrast, Ha Namjin and No Leftovers Day were nothing more than unruly colts—problem children personified. She would never allow them anywhere near her superior.
“Where are they right now?”
Jang Bo-reum called one of her subordinates. The current location of the team No Leftovers Day was—
Deokdeok Rest Area
“Ughhh, aaaiiieeeek! Dahaiyaat!”
Because Ppang-daeng-i was throwing a complete fit, we had no choice but to stop the car at the rest area. Jeon Som-i, who was driving, shot Baek Yeoul a glare through the rearview mirror, but what could she do?
“I drank too much cola! I thought I was definitely going to turn into a zombie because of my bad luck, so I chugged a ton of it in advance…!”
Apparently that was the reason. Soldiers were operating a checkpoint at the rest area. Men carrying thermometers approached us.
“We will check your temperatures. Could everyone please present your IDs?”
Of course, we didn’t need anything like IDs. The soldiers had already recognized the team No Leftovers Day.
“Oh! I know you guys! You’re the ones blowing up on MeTube lately, right?”
“Yes, I’m the one and only Bread Pitt Ha Namjin.”
“Whoa, awesome. You guys don’t need IDs. But this driver over here… excuse me, could you show me your identification?”
The soldiers reached out toward Jeon Som-i. The Grade 3 Awakened who had been drafted as our driver for the trip to Seoul looked visibly wounded in pride.
“You recognize them but not me?”
“Dahaiyaaak!”
At that moment, Ppang-daeng-i let out an incomprehensible war cry, flung the car door open, and sprinted straight into the rest area bathroom. The soldiers managing the situation looked startled, but thankfully no one was arrested. This is why you need to become famous.
After finishing our business at the rest area with that kind of atmosphere, we continued our journey up to Seoul.
“I never imagined I would get to visit the Presidential Office! This must be the glory of my family!”
Choi Changsik couldn’t hide his excitement and trembled with anticipation. Oh Deokhui was the same.
“I-I’m nervous… If we’re lucky… maybe we’ll even get to see the President?”
It really was astonishing that a group of mere high school students had requested a meeting at the Presidential Office and actually received approval. No matter how famous No Leftovers Day had become, it should have been nearly impossible.
“We probably won’t get to see the President himself. The person we’re meeting is the Director of the Awakened Management Agency. I’ll handle all the questions about Nam Sanho, so you guys just nod along at the right moments.”
Even meeting the Director of the Awakened Management Agency was a high-level connection, and Baek Yeoul’s help had been crucial in arranging it. The Baekdang family had been a major food supplier to the Presidential Office in the past, so they still had connections.
Lately I’d been thinking that Ppang-daeng-i somehow became useful at the most critical moments. Things are going too smoothly. It actually feels suspicious.
After chatting about this and that, we arrived in Seoul in no time.
Beep—! Waaaaang—.
Soldiers wearing gas masks filled every road. Vehicles were strictly controlled, and civilians walking the streets were subjected to tedious inspections. Soon a squad of soldiers approached and knocked sharply on the window.
“Are you the team No Leftovers Day?”
The soldiers gave our faces a quick once-over.
“S-scary.”
“We’re not getting arrested, right?”
“…….”
Whether it was the intimidating aura of people in gas masks or not, Ppang-daeng-i, Changsik, and Deokhui all froze like terrified mice. They were Awakened, yet they were scared of regular soldiers. They really were still kids.
“Please follow us.”
The soldiers began leading us somewhere. I thought they were escorting us all the way to the Presidential Office, but something felt off.
“This is the Blue House!”
Ppang-daeng-i shouted in surprise. Changsik looked slightly flustered too.
“What? Weren’t we supposed to be going to the Yongsan Presidential Office?”
It looked like things had gone sideways. And at the center of it all was that man.
He was a man in military uniform. Roughly in his early thirties. A star gleamed on the insignia on his shoulder— a handsome man who looked like a wolf. About as good-looking as me, honestly.
“Ooh! If it isn’t Supernova—Nam Wooju! I never thought I’d get to see him in the flesh!”
Choi Changsik, who had been panicking just moments ago, lit up like a man standing in front of Michael Jackson. Even the usually quiet Oh Deokhui seemed to find her voice.
“…Supernova is Korea’s number one ranked Awakened. The ranking itself isn’t official so it lacks credibility, but… when he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General at only twenty-eight, no one objected…”
It was a rambling explanation, but I could tell he was an incredible person. Strangely enough, the one who looked the happiest at the sight of the man before us was Ppang-daeng-i.
“Aaaaaah!”
She flung the car door open and dashed toward him.
“Haiyat!”
Baek Yeoul swung her fist, trying to pummel Supernova. Of course, the man easily dodged her attack, casually hooked his leg around hers, and tripped her.
“Ack!”
“It’s been a while, Yeoul. Is this how you greet me?”
Nam Wooju reached out a hand to the fallen Baek Yeoul. While we watched the scene in confusion, Baek Yeoul grabbed his hand, stood up, and turned to us.
“He’s my cousin oppa! We practically lived together when we were little, so he’s basically my real brother! Oppa, what are you doing here!?”
I see. So that was why the meeting had been approved so easily. This guy must have been the one who accepted the request. Ppang-daeng-i had a far more impressive connection than I’d realized.
Step. Step.
The man looked at our group, then walked straight toward me.
“You’re the leader, Nam Do-il, right? Your boiling heat is no joke. What is the purpose of this meeting? I’ve decided to handle it in place of the Director, so speak honestly.”
It was a manly question. When asked something like that, the only proper response for a true alpha male was to answer straightforwardly and with dignity.
“First. I’m not Nam Do-il, I’m Ha Namjin. And second. I came here to find Nam Sanho, the President’s adopted son. You know where that bastard is, don’t you?”
“Nam Sanho? You might have the wrong address. If you’re looking for a missing person, you should have gone to the police station. Besides, what do you plan to do even if you find Nam Sanho, who’s been missing for years?”
“I’m going to beat the living crap out of him. And depending on the situation, I might even kick President Nam Taegeon’s ass while I’m at it. A child doesn’t need to take responsibility for their parents’ sins, but parents are responsible for their child’s sins.”
The smile vanished from Nam Wooju’s face.
“You’re going to kick the President’s ass? Do you even realize that I am the President’s legal son while you’re saying that?”
“…Hiiii! Ha-Nam-jjin!”
“It ended up like this again!”
“A fight… it’s going to be a fight.”
Ppang-daeng-i, Changsik, and Deokhui all panicked at our exchange. Even Jeon Som-i, who had been curiously peeking around the Blue House, looked horrified.
“Ha Namjin, are you insane? Do you even know who you’re talking to like that?!”
The important thing right now was to raise my guard. Because an incredibly fast fist was flying straight at my face.
It was a fist like a flying comet.
Nam Wooju Style — Meteor Fist
Boooom—!
The intense impact sent me flying into the air.
“In the world of Awakened, there is no logic stronger than power. If you want something, land even a single hit on me. But if you fail, I will give you the punishment you deserve. You may look forward to it.”
By the time I regained my senses after crashing to the ground, Nam Wooju was looking down at me. His eyes were filled with starlight that matched his name—cosmic and brilliant. It was a strange gaze, similar to what I had seen in Jin Eunbyeol’s pitch-black Main eyes or the red eyes of the ‘Zombie Main.’ The complete absence of visible whites in his eyes.
It was no coincidence.
“Looks like you got the right address after all.”
Meeting Nam Wooju had been pure coincidence, but it was nothing short of hitting the jackpot. Was the goddess of luck clinging to me or something? That luck felt exactly like—
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