The hotel room was reasonably spacious.
To be honest, since I only used it for lodging and meals, and spent most of my time traveling to the abyss through Selene, the size didn’t really matter.
[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestra has completed Calamity Synthesis.]
[Reward: 50 Exp/2★ Ember Fox]
[4★ Hellfire Guard Dog has completed Calamity Synthesis.]
[Reward: 50 Exp/2★ Leaf Hunter]
While I was busy giving instructions on various tasks at the base, including the backlog of synthesis, Selene, who had returned to the abyss at some point, asked me:
“That woman, Kang Sena… are you sure we don’t need to be suspicious of her?”
Selene’s face was still filled with displeasure.
“I heard this place was arranged by her. What if she’s plotting something against you…”
“Don’t worry. Kang Sena isn’t that bad of a person.”
Kang Sena had done me many favors.
Not only did she provide the hotel room, but she also shared miscellaneous information and even meeting records from within the Awakener Management Bureau.
From her perspective, it was likely a calculated decision since I’m an S-rank awakener, but isn’t that how most human relationships work?
A cooperative relationship.
It didn’t seem like a bad proposal, so I accepted it.
“It seems like information keeps leaking from the Management Bureau. So, I should also try to recruit someone inside to keep an eye on things.”
“…Indeed, I am always amazed by your foresight.”
“…”
Is this what they call “bowling in admiration”?
Whatever it is, the decision to place an informant within the Management Bureau was the right one.
Ding.
[Mr. Nam Jooyeon, this is Jeon Dongwook from the Management Bureau. Remember? We fought the Storm Dragon together in Team 2.]
[Where are you now? I’ve prepared a place for you to stay within the Bureau, so come here. Don’t go wandering off to strange places. Everything you need is ready. Just bring yourself.]
[Mr. Nam Jooyeon? Are you ignoring me on purpose?]
As expected, countless messages like this flew in from the Management Bureau.
From the director to the country’s prime minister, I received messages inquiring about my well-being, but I ignored most of them unless they were necessary.
In fact, I had a legitimate excuse for ignoring messages from higher-ups.
Since yesterday, journalists, media outlets, and even random merchants and religious fanatics had been bombarding me with messages, having somehow gotten hold of my phone number.
By now, I had turned on call and message blocking.
I switched screens and opened an internet browser.
The latest article was, of course, about me.
[Seoul Awakener Management Bureau – S-rank Awakener Nam Jooyeon, “100 Billion Won Super Contract Signed”]
“…Ugh.”
Seeing my name in the headline gave me a different kind of embarrassment compared to when I was known as the Ruler Actor.
Unable to resist my curiosity, I opened the comments section.
=
– 10 billion won salary, damn lol. Some people can’t even dream of earning that much in their lifetime.
– If you’re jealous, why don’t you become an awakener?
– If I could, I would, you bastard.
– Did you see the video of the Ilsan Nest raid? Awakeners were dropping like flies. It’s not a job for humans.
– A soldier friend of mine almost died there too.
– Is being S-rank really that great? Enough to warrant a 100 billion won contract?
– It’s freaking amazing. Don’t you remember when the Hellfire Guard Dog killed over a thousand people? S-rank is about controlling monsters like that.
– Shouldn’t the state regulate that? It’s like letting individuals have nuclear weapons.
– Are you an idiot? If that were possible, they wouldn’t have labeled them S-rank in the first place.
– I’m so jealous. He can probably have any woman he wants.
– His name is Nam Jooyeon, does anyone know what he looks like?
– No personal information has been released yet, so no idea.
– He looks pretty average.
– Most of the comments claiming to know him are probably lies.
=
S-rank awakener.
The whole country was buzzing about his appearance. No matter which internet community I visited, no media outlet failed to cover it.
I had become a superstar overnight, but it still didn’t feel real.
Selene, who had been peeking at the community reactions over my shoulder, smirked and said:
“It seems the ignorant masses are starting to recognize your reputation, Master.”
“That’s not comforting at all.”
The problem is my future life.
I suddenly became an S-rank awakener, and people know my name.
Although the Management Bureau hasn’t made an official statement, it’s obvious that I will be the representative awakener protecting Seoul.
According to Kang Sena, scouts from overseas are trying to recruit me, some even sneaking into the country.
The government is reportedly desperate to detain them.
This is likely why Jeon Dongwook keeps messaging me.
From the Management Bureau’s perspective, they want to control an out-of-spec S-rank awakener at all costs.
The government has offered me an enormous amount of money, tax exemptions, a mansion near Seoul with staff, VIP-level security and a private jet.
However, I declined the government’s offer to attach security personnel.
“Selene.”
“Yes, Master. What is it?”
With a 5-star calamity like Selene by my side, I didn’t need additional security. It also didn’t sit well with me to owe the government.
Moreover, there was already another security personnel I didn’t ask for.
Like Selene, a rather aggressive one.
Mirien, the Storm of the North Sea.
She is also a 5-star calamity.
“How is Mirien?”
Yesterday, Selene returned after a conversation with Mirien.
I intended to ask about the details.
Selene pondered for a moment, carefully choosing her words before speaking.
“…Fortunately, that woman Mirien understood me very well.”
“She understood you well?”
“Yes. Mirien is a mage with exceptional intelligence, so she easily grasped what I was trying to say. There was no unnecessary fighting, as you instructed. She must have understood my earnest request to step back from this matter.”
Listening to Selene, it seemed like the matter had been resolved amicably.
However, Selene always hides important information.
I asked just in case.
“…Selene, you didn’t… threaten Mirien or anything, did you? Like, the atmosphere wasn’t hostile or anything?”
“Master, I once served a false god. How could I, of all people, take lightly the weight of the sin of lying?”
“….”
Bringing up her past left me with nothing more to say.
If Selene says it went well, then I guess it’s fine.
But what is this subtle unease stirring in my heart?
As I was thinking this, the hotel phone rang.
I picked up the receiver and heard a tired voice.
[Mr. Nam Jooyeon, if you were going to stay at a hotel like this, you could have at least given me a heads-up.]
“Mr. Jeon Dongwook?”
[Yeah. The Management Bureau has been hounding me to find you, so I’ve been searching all the hotels near Seoul.]
It seemed Jeon Dongwook had finally tracked me down.
Well, I was planning to respond to the Management Bureau’s contacts soon anyway.
[I know you’re in a tough spot because of the information leak. We deeply regret it.]
“Is that why you came to find me?”
[Of course not.]
Jeon Dongwook chuckled and got to the point.
[A nest has appeared in Incheon.]
“A nest…”
[It’s a nest with a 3-star calamity. We’d like you, as an S-rank awakener, to take it down. You’re not obligated to since you’re a Seoul awakener, but if the port gets blocked, it’ll cause a lot of trouble. The government has prepared a generous incentive.]
Listening to Jeon Dongwook, I frowned.
“I have a question. Wouldn’t other awakeners be eager to take down a mere 3-star nest?”
[Yeah. There are plenty of awakeners who want to get their hands on a 3-star calamity, but there’s a slight problem.]
“A slight problem?”
[As you know, Incheon is by the sea.]
“Don’t tell me…”
[Yeah. That ‘don’t tell me.’ The nest is in the sea.]
A nest in the sea would undoubtedly be filled with water-attribute calamities.
And the fact that the dungeon itself has a water attribute holds significant meaning, both in Disaster Order and in this world where the game has become reality.
In water-attribute dungeons, water-attribute calamities receive stat bonuses, making a 3-star calamity nearly as powerful as a 4-star.
It was a troublesome situation, and I could somewhat understand why Jeon Dongwook was so desperate to find me.
[It’s your debut as an S-rank awakener. Showing such a spectacular takedown will make people think twice before messing with you, right?]
“…Hmm.”
Jeon Dongwook said it jokingly, but I couldn’t laugh.
However, it wasn’t something I could refuse.
[Want to check your account?]
At Jeon Dongwook’s words, I opened my banking app.
I saw a weekly salary of 300 million won and a contract fee of 1 billion won deposited into my account.
“Let’s do it, why not?”
Financial therapy is truly great.
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