Chapter 67
A few days had passed since the Nevaros medal incident wrapped up. Sprawled on my bed scrolling through my smartphone, a new headline caught my eye.
"Huh...?"
I immediately checked the news article title.
It was exactly as the title said. Countries were starting to come out in my defense.
Is the world changing, even just a little?
There weren't many nations issuing statements, but that didn't matter. Change always starts with these small gusts.
A satisfied smile tugged at my lips—until another headline grabbed my attention.
They thought to film from there? Were they suicidal?
I tapped the article. Turns out, it was footage from a foreign military drone launched from a warship. The video showed the Titaronths pummeling me like mad, me rising from the pit, and the moment just before my third-phase skill activated—all blurry. Gusts from each clash shook the camera badly.
But the instant my third-phase ultimate triggered... heavy noise flooded the screen, and it cut out.
"Guess the drone turned to blood mist...?"
Without footage of what followed, the full story stayed shrouded in fog, breeding baseless rumors. No witnesses meant no one knew what really happened. Self-proclaimed experts who weren't even players went on TV acting like they'd been there.
Well, who'd be crazy enough to head into China in that mess?
Even views-thirsty clowns need transport. And who'd step into that undead hellscape?
I nodded in satisfaction—then,
"Huh?"
The screen switched to an incoming call. [Choi Ah-rin]
I could guess why she was calling and let out a smirk. Should I play dumb since it was good news?
I swiped to answer, and sure enough, an excited voice burst through.
"Sertina! Sertina! Did you hear the news?"
"What news?"
I feigned casual ignorance.
"Some countries just sent letters of support for you!"
"Oh, that's great."
I replied as brightly as I could—though my "bright" barely differed from usual.
"Right? Hehe, all that diplomatic effort these past few days paid off."
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing big. Just asked a few countries we helped for their thoughts."
A strange chuckle came through the phone, laced with something sly.
...Choi Ah-rin must've leaned on them a bit.
"Anyway, that's not the only reason I called. There's something more important. I've been mulling when to bring it up, but now feels perfect."
A long-planned scheme?
Boredom piqued my interest.
"What is it?"
"We're awarding you the Order of the Mugunghwa—the highest national medal you can receive!"
In recognition of resolving the undead crisis, they'd honor me at the state level with maximum ceremony.
I tilted my head.
"What do I get out of it?"
"Uh, tons of perks! Lifetime monthly pension of 1.5 million won for starters."
Ah, paid in gold now, huh.
"Free treatment at public hospitals... though do you even need a hospital...? Burial at the National Cemetery... uh, ignore that for now!"
Rustling papers and flustered fumbling echoed from her end.
"Free public transport's useless... housing deposit guarantee, probably not needed...?"
"..."
I'm drowning in cash already—what was she on about? Something was off. Sure, amazing for civilians, but...
She kept digging anyway.
"Presidential banquet invite... wait, I'm the president now? Uh... wanna grab a meal sometime?"
"..."
No perks hooked me, so I stayed silent. Her voice grew urgent.
"Anyway, the point is! We've only said we're in a tough spot rejecting foreign proposals to attack you, due to international eyes."
"Yeah."
Privately close, but publicly distant—to avoid framing Korea as protecting a world boss.
"Time to make you a national hero! No one can complain now that you've saved all of Asia."
Once national interests tangle like threads beyond one country, touching me becomes insanely hard. Scolding Korea alone was easy before; now it'd rile my allied nations too.
Like sardines driving off a shark— even mighty powers hesitate against a union.
And Korea wasn't some weak sardine.
Heck, I've got their back.
Choi Ah-rin planned to milk this fully.
"No one'll dare touch you."
Her voice brimmed with confident certainty.
Turning a crisis of hundreds of millions of undead into equal opportunity. No reason to refuse—heaven-sent, even.
"So, what do I do?"
"In two days, we'll invite all domestic broadcasters for the ceremony. Just show up, flash your face, take the medal. Venue's the National Assembly plaza. Face on camera okay?"
"Fine. Don't ask me about portrait rights."
Height and weight already leaked—what's left? ID or deed, maybe.
"It's for the world, so honor guard, fireworks—full pomp. Dress free, but neat's best. Your signature white dress works too."
"Anything else?"
"Nope! Sending the ceremony order and how to receive it. Memorize that."
"...Keep it simple."
Fists and studying don't mix. Why study when fists solve anything?
Lazy cope, really.
...I'd rather roll around than memorize.
"Psh, just stand still from X to Y. Kids can do it."
"Fine, I'll try. Good luck anyway."
"Yes!"
As I went to hang up, a thought hit me. I raised the phone again.
A nation with zero casualties against over 100 million undead. Choi Ah-rin's approval ratings soared like a skyrocketing line graph.
"Oh, and your polls are up."
"Ah... r-really...? Hehe."
Her awkward laugh felt lukewarm. Imagination?
Who hates rising popularity?
"Congrats. Prep hard."
"Y-yeah..."
The oddly flat response ended the call.
Hmm... did I say something wrong?
Rewound my words—no issues. Whatever. Time to prep.
I called Cha Eun-joo, Yunsia, and Tier to explain the medal ceremony in two days.
"Outfit for it?! Pick now!"
"Gotta look stunning for a big event! Can't go sloppy!"
"Come on, this way!"
Cha Eun-joo hooked her hands under my armpits and hoisted me up. Yunsia and Tier scrambled ahead, flinging open the dressing room doors.
"Uh, huh...?"
Like a cat dragged to bath time, I blankly stared ahead, oblivious to the horrors awaiting.
"Sertina! Try this too!"
"Kyaa, it suits you perfectly!"
"Kuh, models rock—anything looks gorgeous."
"This one, this one too!"
There, I faced the fabric inferno of hundreds of dresses.
"Save me..."