Chapter 84: Rapid Current
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Rapid Current
Jeong Su-hwa, who had been hopping with excitement, suddenly snapped back to her senses when she noticed the floor tiles spiderwebbing beneath her feet. She bowed her head toward the two men.
“I’m so sorry! I’ll make sure to pay for the floor!”
“No, it’s fine. You seem busy, so please, go ahead.”
“Next time, I’ll definitely…”
Her voice trailed off as her figure blurred, vanishing into the distance until she was nothing but a speck. Gi-chan swung his staff to close the front door and turned to Seo-un.
“Is this going to be okay?”
“There’s no way it’s okay. Some lunatic was hurling fireballs in broad daylight in the middle of the city. And look at this. There are already photos in the news. At this rate, a video will—”
“It’s already up. From portal sites to YouTube…”
Before Seo-un could even finish his sentence, Gi-chan was already checking the uploaded videos. When he clicked on one, the shaky footage revealed a scene filled with chaotic screams.
— Kyaaaaah!
— Boom!
“Fuck! Am I still the crazy one now?! Huh?! I told you they were real! You pieces of shit!”
A man with shaggy hair and a stretched-out white t-shirt was screaming at the top of his lungs in the distance. Every time he swung his hand, a fireball hovering above his palm flew out and exploded on the road, sending pillars of flame roaring into the air. Cars were parked haphazardly in every direction, their owners having abandoned them to flee in terror.
“This… he’s definitely not normal, right?”
“Doesn’t look like it. I just hope there aren't any civilian casualties.”
Gi-chan watched a few more clips before turning on the living room TV and flipping through the channels. He stopped abruptly when a shot of the chaotic road appeared on the screen.
“This is a live report. The man who has been carrying out this terror attack for over twenty minutes has been identified as a patient in his early twenties who has long suffered from deep-seated persecutory delusions. As you can see, the SWAT team has set up barricades, as the terrorist is using weapons that are difficult to identify—”
The anchor’s explanation continued, but the two men weren't listening.
“He’s reaching his limit.”
“Yeah, you can tell his Mana is running low. But fire might not be his only trick.”
“Will they be able to subdue him?”
“If all else fails, they’ll use guns. He looks like a complete novice, so it doesn’t seem like he has a Barrier to block bullets.”
“Would they really use guns during a live broadcast, even if it is SWAT?”
“Who knows? The important thing is that as of today, ability users have been exposed to the general public.”
As they spoke, the man—now surrounded by police—threw a fireball that had shrunk to the size of a baseball as a final threat, then collapsed onto the asphalt.
“Mana exhaustion. That’s going to put a massive strain on his heart.”
Dozens of SWAT members swarmed the fallen man, bringing the situation to a close.
“Things are going to get crazy now.”
Seo-un nodded in agreement. The situation, which had been flowing like a steady current, had become a dangerous flood, as if a dam had burst because of this single incident.
The somewhat dated term 'Information Society' had never felt more visceral than it did now. Just three days after a lunatic fired fireballs in every direction at Sinsa Station, a massive crowd had gathered at Gwanghwamun Square to protest. Ability users were scattered throughout the protesters, firing bright orbs of light into the night sky or showcasing their powers at the front of the march to entertain the masses.
Seo-un shook his head as he reflected on the past three days, wondering how things had escalated so quickly. For the first few hours after the incident, the internet was in an uproar. Opinions were divided over the fireballs appearing in the terrorist’s hands, and some people even went as far as to analyze the footage frame by frame.
However, the conclusion came surprisingly quickly. Since the incident had been broadcast on the live news, there was no room for doubt. After that, all sorts of rumors began to circulate, and one by one, people started coming forward, claiming to be ability users. Initially dismissed as attention seekers, they captured the public's interest by verifying their abilities through videos.
The story that garnered the most attention was from a man who revealed everything—from how he gained his powers to how he was kidnapped by the government and forced into illegal activities.
“It all fell into place like it was scripted.”
The man, claiming his freedom had been restricted by the Department of Homeland Security under the guise of civilian protection, wept as he described how he became a secondary perpetrator, forced into illegal acts as a low-level member of what was essentially their private organization. Thanks to his appeal—which felt like the performance of a master actor—the general public naturally came to learn everything about Cloyd and how ability users obtained their powers.
It had only been six hours since the terror attack. Watching the screen filled with protests, Gi-chan chimed in.
“It really did fall into place perfectly, as if public opinion was being steered. Honestly, after the incident happened, I thought it would lead to conflict between ability users and ordinary people.”
Seo-un had thought the same. Since a madman had shown the world what could happen when someone gained supernatural powers, it was a natural prediction that the public's anxiety would grow. However, the 'conscience declaration' of a young man who had become an unwilling perpetrator through inhumane means was enough to redirect all the public's fury toward the government.
Before people could even process the unbelievable events unfolding before their eyes, ability users began 'coming out' everywhere. The public's wandering anxiety and anger were directed toward the government in an instant, flowing as if someone had planned the entire trajectory.
Following that, interest in Cloyd and information about the items ability users brought back spread rapidly. Ordinary people, who had approached the matter with curiosity as if watching a game, became increasingly fascinated by Cloyd and the ability users due to a vague sense of wonder. Conversely, they did not stop demanding accountability from the government.
As Seo-un flipped through the channels, an opposition politician was shouting at the top of his lungs, his neck veins bulging.
— "I mean, really! In this day and age, kidnapping citizens and forcing them into labor to participate in crimes! Does this make any sense? This is a blatant dictatorship and a violation of the Constitution! Furthermore, amending the National Security Act without the consent of the National Assembly is grounds for impeachment! What democratic country in the world commits such absurdities? For this alone, the President should resign and face imprisonment...!"
His heated denunciation continued as he held up numerous documents, pointing out the government's absurd actions one by one and directly naming the politicians and Blue House figures involved. In the end, the administration was unable to provide a proper explanation and was forced to step down just a week after the incident.
The ruling party was decimated as most of its members were investigated for their involvement in the suppression of ability users. As new documents regarding those involved surfaced almost daily, the careers of prominent politicians were cut short. Public anger reached its peak when a document was released naming National Assembly members who had been enjoying the effects of special items from the other world.
Once a powerful narrative was established—that they had oppressed and suppressed the Cloyders and ability users just to monopolize the fruits of their labor for their own luxury—most ruling party members had no choice but to resign. As a result, for the first time in constitutional history, more than half of the National Assembly seats were vacant. It was hardly surprising that the opposition swept the votes in the by-elections held alongside the new presidential election.
And so, a month passed. Finally, the heated atmosphere in the Republic of Korea seemed to be stabilizing.
Regardless of how the world had been turning over the past month, Seo-un had stayed tucked away in the mountains, struggling with his Insights and focusing on his training. Gi-chan came running toward him, his eyes sparkling.
“Hyung!!”
Just by the excitement in his voice, Seo-un knew things had gone well.
“I take it you succeeded?”
Seo-un’s smile deepened as he saw the magic book Gi-chan pulled from his Subspace turn into dust and scatter in his hands.
“The 7th Circle, huh? Let’s see what you can do.”
As Seo-un spoke, drawing up his internal energy, Gi-chan’s competitive spirit flared as he began to cast a spell. He didn't pull out the Staff of the Abyss or any other magic items, but the mana fluctuations were intense, befitting the 7th Circle. The moment Gi-chan’s mana-rippling hand pointed toward Seo-un, a flash of light erupted from the sky, and a bolt of lightning struck down directly onto Seo-un’s head.
— CRACK-BOOM!
— Z-Z-Z-ZAP!
“Hah!”
Resisting the lightning energy that illuminated the surroundings while searing his entire body, Seo-un let out a shout and poured all his internal energy into a Stomp. The ground split open, and the earth beneath his feet began to char black. Having barely diverted the lightning that felt like it would incinerate his entire body, Seo-un panted for breath.
“So this is Call Lightning… It’s portrayed as a mid-tier spell in games, but the reality is completely different.”
“Wow! I was ready to cancel it, but you actually managed to divert it!”
“My magic resistance isn't low, but that was impressive. I felt pinned down for over three seconds. Most players wouldn't be able to shake that off.”
Gi-chan shook his head at the praise.
“The casting time is long, and above all, it’s a complete non-target spell, so it won't be easy to hit a moving enemy. If you put your mind to dodging it, I don't think I could hit you.”
“You just have to use it after making sure they can't dodge. Besides, this is the power you have without even holding a staff, right? This is definitely useful. It’ll be truly terrifying once you reach the 9th Circle.”
“That’s the dream circle.”
While they were in the middle of devising a combo play with Gi-chan’s new magic, a new game was found. Seeing Seo-un cancel the 12-Squad match, Gi-chan, who also canceled his matching, spoke up.
“Isn't it about time we started participating in games again?”
“I suppose so. But I haven't decided on a fixed team yet. Now that you mention it, I should reach out.”
After speaking, Seo-un activated his friend list for the first time.
*
A man in his mid-thirties, wearing a white suit with his long hair slicked back neatly over his shoulders, smiled and extended his hand. A man dressed in a sharp navy suit shook it.
“You’ve traveled a long way. Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for such a warm welcome.”
The man’s smile deepened as he replied in slightly awkward Korean. Despite his smiling face, the man had a sharp, intense gaze that drifted toward one of the navy-suited man's ears. Noticing the gaze, the man touched his half-missing ear, his eyes filling with murderous intent.
“The guy you’re looking for took it.”
“Ah, I see. Even so, I am grateful for your assistance.”
“His location is obvious. More importantly, are you really confident you can win him over?”
At Kim Chi-sang’s question, the man, whose pronunciation felt particularly clipped, wore a relaxed expression.
“Don't Koreans always love money? History proves it. I believe in the characteristics of the Korean people. If I promise him immense wealth and fame that he cannot refuse, he will surely not turn down my offer.”
Kim Chi-sang gave a bitter smile.
“It sounds like you’re saying that for my benefit.”
“Ah! My apologies! I didn't mean it that way.”
Kim Chi-sang waved his hand as the man stood up and bowed politely.
“It’s fine. It’s the truth, after all.”
“I am truly impressed by your resourcefulness, Mr. Kim Chi-sang. Our guild highly values your ability to overturn a government in such a short time.”
“Well, thanks. But what if he refuses to the end?”
The man replied with a predatory smile.
“If it’s an egg we cannot hatch, we intend to break it, no matter how precious it may be.”
Seemingly pleased with that answer, Kim Chi-sang wore a similar expression. Recognizing each other as the same breed, a look of satisfaction appeared on both their faces.
*
The list, which was implemented similarly to a messenger window, had several menus, including a list of players he had met so far. He clicked on it and began to register friends as he went through the list one by one.
[Ding! You have sent a friend request to Juriel.]
[Ding! You have sent a friend request to Li Lingwei.]
[Ding! You have sent a friend request to Rimin.]
[Ding! You have sent a friend request to Dump.]
Even after sending requests to those four, Seo-un’s eyes sparkled as he continued to search the list.
‘As I thought! He’s on here.’
[Ding! You have sent a friend request to Lyle.]
Finally, he finished sending a friend request to Jin Long, with whom he was firmly bonded through a master-disciple relationship in a fixed Quad.
“Since they have to accept the requests first, it’ll take a few days—”
[Ding! Juriel has accepted your friend request.]
[Ding! Li Lingwei has accepted your friend request.]
Seo-un was bewildered by the sudden flurry of notifications.
“What? The timing is strange.”
As he checked the friend list, he saw numbers exceeding three digits next to the message icons. After a moment of thought, a line of text at the very bottom of the list caught Seo-un’s eye.
[All notifications off.]
“Huh? Why is this turned off?”
Gi-chan, who had also activated his friend list, noticed the same option.
“Maybe it’s set like this by default until you activate the friend list?”
Nodding at the plausible explanation, the moment he turned on the notifications, a relentless stream of chimes filled his ears.
— Ding! Gaut Zenga has sent you a friend request.
— Ding! Geria has sent you a friend request.
Frowning at the continuous notifications, Seo-un found and pressed the 'Delete All Notifications' button. Then, when he clicked on the new notification window, hundreds of friend request messages were piled up.
“Whoa. What is all this…?”
Gi-chan, who had been peeking at Seo-un’s window, smiled as if he understood.
“I’ve received nearly a hundred friend requests myself, so I can only imagine how many you’ve got, Hyung.”
Since over a thousand players had seen him reach Crown Grade and sweep through players like fallen leaves while absorbing a Nascent Soul to take first place, this was a natural reaction. He was about to check other menus when the notifications started ringing again.
— Ding! Juriel has requested a chat.
As his friends' chat invitations continued, Seo-un declined them one by one and instead created a room to invite all his friends, including Gi-chan.
— Jin Seo-un! Why are you only contacting us now?
— I mean, why only now…
— Huh? Who are all these people?
The two groups, who didn't know each other, began to chatter as they identified one another, and things quickly became chaotic. The confusion was amplified because the voices were ringing directly in his head. Seo-un shouted.
“Everyone, quiet! Please.”
With that one sentence, the voices cut off abruptly.
“Phew. I’ll explain. I only activated my friend list for the first time today, so I didn't realize the notifications were turned off.”
— Ah. No wonder. I figured as much.
Lyle was the first to respond in his youthful voice.
— So that was it. I thought my junior brother was busy with other matters.
— If that’s the case, it can't be helped.
Once everyone understood, Seo-un got to the point.
“Then, as you all might have guessed, I’m proposing that you join my Regular Squad from now on. Since you’ve all played with me either directly or indirectly, please decide for yourselves. It’s okay to refuse.”
However, no one refused.
— I would never refuse an offer from the most outstanding player I’ve ever seen.
— I’ve just been waiting to play with you, Hyung!
With Rimin and Lyle leading the way, all the players accepted without hesitation, and he invited them all to the Regular Squad.
Jin Long, Rimin, Seo-un, and Li Lingwei—four Martial Artists. Lyle, Juriel, and Gi-chan—three Mages. And with the addition of a Knight named Dump, a slightly unbalanced Regular Squad was formed. Seo-un spoke.
“I feel reassured having you all as fixed teammates. We’ll add more members in the future after consulting with each other, but I hope the members of this initial fixed team stay together until the end.”
Everyone responded with joy. After introducing Rimin, Dump, and Lyle to the other team members, Seo-un asked.
“But what about Seide? There’s no way he hasn't been promoted to a Regular Player yet.”
— He… lost his Regular Player rights a few days ago.
At Dump’s answer, Seo-un nodded with a heavy expression. He was reminded once again that Cloyd was a game that ruthlessly enforced cold rules upon the losers.
After clearing the heavy atmosphere and concluding his first communication with the otherworld players, Seo-un pulled a cold can from his Subspace to quench his thirst.
“Phew. That was hectic. But it’s not bad, right? We’re a bit short on Knights, but I know some martial arts, so I can cover for the lack of Knights somehow. The balance itself isn't bad.”
“I think so too. But…”
Seo-un, who was about to bring up a new topic, fell silent. At the same time, Gi-chan, seeing Seo-un’s expression turn cold, followed his gaze down the hill.
A man in a snow-white suit with long hair slicked back, followed by two men in black suits, was climbing the hill while making eye contact with the two of them. The man in the white suit had his hands in his pockets and was lightly and quickly ascending the mountain path, where no trail even existed.
“Jin Seo-un-ssi. Is it you?”
From the awkward accent, Seo-un immediately realized the man was a foreigner. Judging by the clipped pronunciation, he seemed to be Japanese.
“A player from Japan, I see. I am Jin Seo-un. What is your business?”
Upon his confirmation, the man with the slicked-back hair bowed his head slightly.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Tokugawa Hashio, and I have come from Japan specifically to meet you, Jin Seo-un-ssi.”
Seeing the man, who exuded a strange charisma with his polite greeting contrasting with his sharp gaze, Seo-un said coldly.
“Let’s keep the reason for your long journey here brief. I’m a busy man.”
“I understand. To put it bluntly, we are a guild approved and supported by the Japanese government, and we have come here because we wish to recruit you. Our terms are—”
“I refuse.”
Hashio’s eyebrows twitched when Seo-un refused without even hearing the conditions.
“Wouldn't it be better to at least hear the terms?”
“My answer won't change regardless. I have no intention of putting a leash around my neck and acting as a dog for an organization.”
At those blunt words, the expressions of the two men behind Hashio crumpled.
‘All three of them speak Korean.’
After staring at him with a stiff expression for a moment, Hashio forced himself to relax.
“The situation in Japan is very different from that in Korea. Unlike Korea, which oppressed and coerced its players, Japan has maintained a policy of encouragement and support, and this stance will never change.”
“Even so, I’d just be a well-treated dog. I happen to value my freedom quite highly.”
Once again, the smile vanished from the man’s face. Sensing the shifting atmosphere, Gi-chan discreetly pulled out the Staff of the Abyss and gripped it.
“I see. If that is your decision, there is nothing we can do. However, Jin Seo-un-ssi, I don't know how it is in Korea, but in Japan, comparing someone to a dog is a grave insult.”
“It’s the same in Korea.”
At this provocation, a sharp aura emanated from Hashio’s body.
“Even if we cannot be friends, there is no need for us to be enemies. Such arrogance is not a wise move.”
Seo-un smiled and replied to the voice laced with chill.
“An ally of my enemy is just an enemy. If you didn't want to be my enemy, you shouldn't have joined hands with Kim Chi-sang.”
Even after seeing Seo-un drop the formalities and raise his own aura to block his, Hashio feigned ignorance.
“I don't know what you’re talking about…”
“How did you find this place? The Chinese side, who entered Korea around the same time as you, still hasn't found me. Of course they haven't. The only ones who know about this place are the Korean Resistance and the Central Bureau. Neither is an organization that would tell you my location. That means the only one who would tell you where I am is that guy who broke away from the Central Bureau.”
“I think you’ve misunderstood something. Our Japanese intelligence capabilities are—”
“It’s better not to tell lies that are so obvious. I don't believe you would raid another country’s major institutions for intelligence activities that could lead to a conflict just for the sake of one person like me.”
Only then did a smile return to Hashio’s face as he let out a sigh.
“You’re sharper than I thought. It’s true. We have already finalized an agreement to cooperate with Kim Chi-sang’s guild, the largest in Korea. From now on, Cloyd will revolve around guilds. This shift is an inevitable trend. Jin Seo-un, no matter how high your Crown Rank is, there isn’t much you can do alone. Joining hands with us would be—”
“Good grief. Is Korean really that difficult a language? Why can’t you understand me the first time? I told you, I have no intention of living like a dog.”
“Three times. You have insulted me three times now.”
Hashio narrowed his eyes, glaring at Seo-un as if he were firing lasers.
“I am challenging you to a Regular Quad Match. 1v1 or 2v2, it doesn’t matter. I will match your Quad’s numbers.”
When a look of confusion crossed Seo-un’s face at the term ‘Regular Quad Match,’ Hashio asked, “Are you unfamiliar with it?”
“I am.”
“It was updated along with the Guild War system. It’s a mode where Regular Quads can face off against each other after setting specific conditions. Any condition can be set, and once agreed upon, it is enforced compulsorily even if the loser objects. According to the rules of Cloyd.”
At those words, the image of an in-game duel arena flashed through Seo-un’s mind.
“I didn’t know such a system existed. So, what are your conditions? If I lose, I have to work for your guild?”
One corner of Hashio’s mouth curled up into a deep smirk.
“Let’s wager our Player Rights. If you find that too daunting, you can bow your head right now and perform dogeza. If you do, I will overlook those three insults.”
To a Cloyd player, Player Rights were the most precious thing they owned, second only to their lives. It was no different for Seo-un. A deletion match—the slang for a duel where the loser deletes their character flickered through his mind.
“Fine. I like those stakes.”
“Excellent. How many members for the Squad?”
“Eight versus eight.”
“Very well. And the rules? A team-on-team brawl or a 1v1 relay? Choose.”
“Let’s make it exciting. A team brawl.”
“Good. The date?”
“One week from now.”
“Understood.”
The moment Hashio finished speaking, a translucent blade manifested above his hand, and a notification rang out for Seo-un.
[Ding! Tokugawa Hashio, leader of the 15th Regular Squad belonging to the Saigo Guild, has requested a Regular Squad War. Date: Seven days from now. Condition: Forfeiture of Player Rights upon defeat.]
[Do you accept?]
Seo-un looked down with curiosity at the sword effect hovering over his own hand. As he grasped Hashio’s hand, their respective blades crossed, and a notification announced that the match had been finalized.
Once the three men finished their business and disappeared down the mountain, Gi-chan turned to Seo-un.
“Hyung… will you be okay?”
“Are you worried?”
Gi-chan shook his head.
“I’ll follow your lead no matter what, Hyung. But the other team members…”
Seo-un smiled at that.
“It’s a good opportunity. A chance to test the trust between our teammates.”
Seo-un immediately opened the chat window with his team and explained what had just happened. Their responses came back without a moment’s hesitation.
— That sounds like an interesting system. I definitely want in.
— If it helps you, Hyung, I’m with you.
— It’s better to nip guys like that in the bud!
— My junior is in a bind; as your senior, I can’t just sit still.
— I just finished making a new poison. This will be a great chance to test it.
— The Ronis family does not flee from a challenge. I will join you!
Seo-un’s smile deepened as he read the immediate replies from the six of them. In that moment of rising battle spirit, another notification appeared before Seo-un.
[Ding! A new game has been matched. Difficulty: High-Mid. Game Version: 8-Squad. Would you like to participate?] (O) (X)
— Are we… doing this?
— It’s a good opportunity before a fight with our Player Rights on the line, isn’t it?
Seeing that an 8-Squad game had been matched at this exact timing, Seo-un thought for a moment before making his decision.
— Everyone, accept the game!