It had been two days since the storm dragon Tempestra was defeated.
During that time, I had been enduring days more grueling than the battle in Ilsan.
“Mr. Nam Jooyeon, how does it feel to be Korea’s first S-rank Awakener and the legendary hero who set the standard for S-ranks?”
“I don’t really have any thoughts about it.”
“This is undoubtedly a historic achievement. There has never been a case anywhere in the world where a 4-star calamity was defeated with such minimal loss of life. Even the White House in the U.S. is reportedly paying attention to this.”
“Even if you say that…”
This was the Awakener Management Bureau.
And I was stuck here, filling out various forms and registering as an S-rank Awakener.
Coincidentally, I was back in the same reception room where I had been interrogated before, answering questions from the staff.
“You could afford to be a little more proud of yourself.”
The female employee at the bureau tapped her pen cap on the desk, seemingly dissatisfied with my lackluster response.
“The public wants S-rank Hunters to have a certain star quality. In other words, Mr. Nam Jooyeon, you need to become a beacon of hope in this crumbling world, a savior of the new era.”
“…What kind of star am I? Before the world turned into this mess, I was just a jobless guy who liked playing games.”
“Bureau Chief Yoo Junseo was also a high school graduate who loved games. He even had a mental illness diagnosis. But now, he’s incredibly popular in the media.”
The female employee shrugged and pointed her pen at me.
“Mr. Nam Jooyeon, you will enjoy even greater fame. Since the Chief is called the ‘Flame King,’ perhaps you should be called… the Storm King? Dragon Slayer? No, since you control dragons, maybe the Dragon King? Dragon Tamer?”
“…”
I felt like covering her mouth right then and there to stop her from spouting such embarrassing titles.
Fortunately, she seemed to notice my increasingly uncomfortable expression and stopped listing more cringe-worthy names.
“Still, don’t dislike it too much. Being an S-rank Awakener comes with tremendous support.”
“Support?”
“First, you’ll receive a monthly stipend of 1 billion won.”
At that, my jaw dropped.
1 billion won.
Before the world turned into this mess, it was an amount of money I thought I’d never touch in my lifetime.
“Of course, given the current market situation, it might be difficult to spend that much, so the government will do its best to accommodate your needs. If there’s anything you want, we’ll prepare it for you within reason. If you want a foreign car, we’ll get it for you. If you want a penthouse, we’ll arrange that too. If you request bodyguards, we’ll have them ready for you shortly.”
The following words also felt surreal.
Foreign cars, penthouses.
These were luxuries only billionaires or celebrities could consider.
It was starting to sink in that Awakeners were the new power class in this world.
The female employee went even further.
“Women will line up for you too. To become the wife of an S-rank Awakener, or even a concubine.”
“Th-that’s impossible…”
“It’s possible. You have an example right in front of you.”
The female employee tilted her head as if it were obvious.
A highly seductive gesture.
Only then did I notice that her attire was somewhat different from what I had seen last time.
First, about three buttons on her blouse were undone, revealing a glimpse of black-red lace lingerie beneath her white shirt.
Her skirt was also excessively short, to the point where the slightest wrong move might reveal something indecent.
Not just her clothes, but her makeup was heavy too.
The female employee sat on the desk and spoke to me.
“Since you haven’t shown any interest yet, I’ll shamelessly introduce myself. My name is Kang Se-na. I’m a managing officer at the bureau and a B-rank Awakener. I’m 29 years old, confident in my body, and my appearance can be adjusted to suit your preferences anytime…”
The female employee, Kang Sena, leaned her upper body toward me.
As a result, the valley of her chest became even more visible.
For someone whose only experience with women was being dragged to a nightclub by a senior during military service, this was a bold sight.
Naturally, I gulped audibly. Seeing this, Kang Sena smirked and said,
“As a celebration for becoming an S-rank Awakener, it wouldn’t be bad to hold an S-rank woman.”
…But.
“I’m not interested.”
“….”
I refused outright.
Apparently not expecting to be rejected, Kang Sena’s eyebrows twitched.
“Is… that so? What’s the problem? Are you worried about something like a MeToo risk? We can sign an agreement in front of a camera…”
“No.”
“Don’t tell me you prefer men…?”
“It’s not that…”
I hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“It’s just that you’re not my type. Not at all.”
Kang Sena’s eyes narrowed.
Perhaps her pride was hurt.
She returned to her professional demeanor and handed me my Awakener registration card.
Next to my name on the card was a clear “S-rank” label.
“Alright. Then I guess we’ll just have to find a woman who suits Mr. Nam Joo-yeon’s taste.”
“…Can I leave now?”
“What are you doing? You’re free to go.”
“Okay.”
I awkwardly got up and left the reception room.
The truth was, the reason I refused Kang Se-na’s offer wasn’t because she wasn’t my type or anything trivial like that. With my complete lack of experience with women, I wasn’t in a position to be picky.
The real reason was the gray-haired woman staring at me from the rooftop of the building across the street, visible through the reception room window.
[5★ Charred Saintess Selene is watching you!]
“…”
Once again, I had saved the world’s peace.
*
“Perhaps it would be best to deal with that bitch once and for all, my lord? It’s outrageous that she dares to harbor ill intentions toward you.”
As expected, Selene expressed her hostility toward Kang Sena as soon as I left the bureau.
If I hadn’t mustered every ounce of self-control to refuse Kang Sena’s offer, there might have been a bloody massacre orchestrated by Selene.
“Calm down, Selene. If we make an enemy of the bureau, we’ll have nowhere to stand in the future.”
“…Understood. I had no intention of causing you discomfort.”
After my earnest plea, Selene nodded slightly in agreement.
I sighed inwardly in relief.
Having Selene by my side felt like carrying a nuclear bomb that could go off at any moment.
No, considering her destructive power, it was more like carrying something even more dangerous than a nuclear bomb.
And it wasn’t just one bomb. There were already three calamities of Selene’s level in the world, and one of them was constantly watching me.
“Selene, what do you think about this incident? Do you think Mirien had a hand in it?”
“Yes. Your assumption is correct. Without Mirien’s interference, Tempestra would not have gone on a rampage.”
The Blessing of Thunder is a lightning attribute buff skill.
It’s not something Tempestra could have learned on its own.
“Why do you think Mirien cast the Blessing of Thunder on Tempestra?”
“That wench dared to… If I were to speculate, it was likely to ultimately aid you, my lord.”
“Aid me?”
“Mirien seems to have intended to annihilate the Awakeners around you.”
I frowned, and Selene turned her gaze toward the direction of the tower in Yeouido.
“Whether they’re Awakeners or the bureau, in the end, they’re all minor obstacles to your grand plan. Mirien likely intended to clear them away to assist your plans. A rather straightforward solution, for her.”
“…”
What exactly is this grand plan?
Even I don’t know about it, yet my subordinates seem to be aware.
It was maddening, but I couldn’t show it. I cleared my throat and spoke to Selene.
“It’s… not the right time yet.”
“Understood. I will respect your wishes, my lord. Removing obstacles can be postponed for now.”
Fortunately, Selene trusted my words implicitly.
“If you wish, I can personally give that spell-slinging wench Mirien a stern warning. To dare interfere with your plans…”
Selene suggested. However, given her track record, I needed to be cautious.
Last time, when I told her to destroy a nest, she ended up obliterating all the nests in the south.
I had to be careful when giving Selene orders.
“Selene, alright. Talk to Mirien on my behalf. But there’s a condition.”
“What condition?”
“Don’t fight Mirien.”
“Hmm…”
“Absolutely not.”
“…Understood. If it’s your will, I will comply.”
Selene reluctantly nodded at my words.
It seemed she had been planning to confront Mirien if I hadn’t intervened.
After talking with Selene for a while, I arrived near my home.
However, the area around my house was far from the peace I had hoped for.
“Ugh…”
The noise of a bustling crowd.
A dense mass of people.
Each person in the crowd held a camera or a microphone, waiting for someone.
Needless to say, they were reporters and cyber reccas.
I didn’t know how they had figured out my address, but they were waiting for the homeowner, Korea’s first S-rank Awakener.
That person was none other than me, standing here right now.
Tap.
I pulled out my phone from my pocket and called the contact I had just received.
[You’ve reached me. What can I do for you, the great S-rank Awakener Nam Jooyeon?]
A somewhat curt voice came from the other end of the line.
Kang Sena still seemed a bit miffed about what had happened earlier.
“Uh… Ms. Kang Sena? I think I might need that penthouse after all.”
Upon hearing my words, Kang Se-na let out a soft sigh and replied.
[I’ll discuss it with the higher-ups tomorrow. My shift is over for today.]
“Not tomorrow, I need a place to escape to right now… There are reporters in front of my house, and I can’t get in.”
[…]
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
I knew it.
This was a ridiculously pathetic situation.
Fortunately, Kang Se-na wasn’t the type to let an opportunity slip by. She spoke bluntly.
[There are hardly any safe houses available right now. Coincidentally, there’s one place left. Will you come here?]
“Yes. Please.”
[I’ll send you the address via message.]
Kang Sena maintained her professional tone but suddenly added.
[By the way, it’s my place.]
“…What?”
Excuse me?