Click.
Click.
“Wow, you’ve become the most famous person in South Korea. If we include overseas, your recognition might even surpass that of the president.”
“…Please stop.”
“Oh my, even X-Tube headquarters left a comment. They’re offering to make you an official influencer.”
Kang Sena clicked her tongue as she watched the video uploaded on the streaming site.
It was understandable, given the explosive reaction to the video.
A video uploaded just last night had already reached 80 million views.
At this rate, it would hit 100 million views by the end of the day.
Considering the state of the world, this could be considered a monumental record.
“So, Nam Jooyeon, how does it feel to become an overnight superstar?”
“I told you, I don’t really have any thoughts about it.”
The video, just over a minute long, showed me summoning Tempestora to destroy the nest in Incheon.
The source of the video was none other than Seo Yerin, an Awakener who had accompanied me.
I thought she was recording it for personal keepsake or reference, but she went ahead and uploaded it immediately.
Thanks to that, every journalist out there used Yerin’s video as news material, and foreign media picked it up too.
If I were to put a headline on those articles, it would probably go something like this:
[Humanity’s Hope: South Korea’s S-Rank Awakener Obliterates Nest in a Single Strike.]
‘The patriotic X-Tube channels must be going wild.’
My head was already throbbing.
I should have stopped Yerin from filming.
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Kang Sena turned off her laptop and said, “Still, don’t think too badly of Yerin. She might be a bit clumsy, but she’s a pure-hearted girl. She wouldn’t have any ill intentions.”
“Are you close with that Awakener, Seo Yerin?”
“Well… we’re both part of the Awakener Management Bureau, both B-rank Awakeners, and of the same gender. It’s like a sense of solidarity among women. Oh, not feminism or anything like that.”
As if she had been through this before, Kang Sena quickly added.
“Anyway, now that this video has spread, scouts from various countries will be paying even more attention to you, Nam Jooyeon. Some might even promise you millions. Especially in China, where disasters are as vast as their land, they might offer billions, even trillions, to bring you over.”
“…Hmm.”
Millions, huh?
Before the world became the Disaster Order, such an offer would have been tempting.
But now, the world isn’t in a state where one can indulge in luxury.
“Even if I were to receive that much money, would I even be able to use it?”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
Kang Sena cut straight to the point.
“The global economy is already collapsing. Banks are frozen, and the wealthy are all building bunkers. Tangible assets will become the norm. If not, currency within the system might become the new standard.”
Kang Sena skillfully manipulated her status window, flipping a few chips between her fingers.
Those tiny chips were all experience points.
Converting held experience into chips was a feature that didn’t exist in the Disaster Order.
It seemed to be a new function added since the Disaster Order became a multiplayer game for an unspecified number of players.
Whoever turned this world into a mess, their patch speed was faster than most game companies.
“Already, many people are trading daily necessities using these chips. A new term, ‘livelihood Awakeners,’ has even emerged. Have you seen the news?”
“I have, but is the demand really that high?”
“Well, experience points aren’t just for strengthening bases. They can be used for equipment enhancement and various other things. Plus, that equipment can be used by non-Awakeners too. The U.S. has declared they’ll buy these experience chips from Awakeners to create a non-Awaker army. Not that it’ll stand a chance against a powerful disaster, but it’s better than nothing.”
Listening to Kang Sena, I realized anew.
The world was rapidly adapting to the new system.
Even now, Awakeners were steadily collecting disasters, growing stronger, and it wouldn’t be long before more S-rank Awakeners like me appeared.
In fact, China already has what we would consider an S-rank Awakener.
“Anyway, Nam Jooyeon, have you received your next request from the Bureau?”
“Just to protect Seoul during the next eruption.”
“Yes. You’ll be playing the role of Seoul’s guardian deity. You’ll use Tempestora to block disasters from approaching the city center.”
My next mission, after destroying the nest in Incheon, was to prepare for the upcoming third eruption.
It wasn’t a difficult task, so there was no need to be overly tense.
The third eruption would likely be on a similar scale to the second.
However, the government was worried about the appearance of another 4-star disaster during this eruption, as had happened in the previous two.
‘Well, Selene said she talked to Mirien, so…’
If Selene’s words were true, Mirien would quietly guard her tower during this eruption.
And Selene had no reason to lie to me.
“Are you still in touch with Dongwook?”
Lost in thought, I was startled by Kang Sena’s sudden question.
“Dongwook? Well, we’ve been in touch occasionally since the Incheon nest subjugation.”
“…Hmm.”
Kang Sena’s eyes narrowed.
I wondered if I had done something wrong.
“Nam Joo-yeon, listen carefully. I’m telling you this because we’re in a cooperative relationship.”
“Yes.”
“Stay away from Dongwook.”
Kang Sena’s expression was more serious than ever.
“He’s suspicious of you.”
“…Well, I was aware of that.”
“Of course. He interrogated you last time. But don’t let his friendly demeanor fool you. He’s the one who ordered your surveillance and argued for making you an S-rank Awakener to make you easier to manage.”
“…Hmm.”
Come to think of it, when I was hiding in the hotel last time, Dongwook had searched almost every lodging in Seoul to find me.
His obsession wasn’t entirely baseless.
As I was silently processing this, Kang Sena shrugged and added, “Well, his obsession is well-known. I don’t know why, but recently he’s been investigating Actor.”
“…Actor?”
The familiar name sent a jolt through my head.
As I blinked in surprise, Kang Sena explained, “It seems Dongwook thinks there’s some connection between you and Actor. When I asked him why, he just gave vague answers about intuition and such.”
“…”
“Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?”
Of course, I did.
Because I am Actor.
And Dongwook had brought it up.
“…No, I don’t.”
But I shook my head, trying to maintain a poker face.
Kang Sena didn’t press further and swiveled her chair around.
“Anyway, be careful. There are many other dangers besides Dongwook. Foreign scouts, the Actor I mentioned earlier. Oh, and since we’re on the topic, let me warn you—Actor, the Lord of the Abyss, has reportedly started full-scale activities, so be cautious.”
“Full-scale activities?”
“It hasn’t been reported in the media yet, but the Awakener Management Bureau has recently detected some strange movements.”
Actor starting activities? That sounded like nonsense.
Actor is right here.
Does that mean someone is impersonating me?
“Can you tell me more?”
“It’s classified among the higher-ups in the Bureau, so I don’t know much, but it seems a new religious group has emerged.”
“…A new religious group?”
“Yes. They call themselves the Ascension Church. They worship Actor, the Lord of the Abyss, as a divine being and their leader.”
“…”
It felt like a hammer had struck the back of my head.
A sharp headache surged.
*
“Selene, are you there?”
As soon as I arrived at the hotel room, I looked back and spoke.
The curtain slowly descended.
“Yes, my lord. Did you call for me?”
“Did you hear the conversation earlier?”
“…How could I eavesdrop on your important discussions?”
“You heard it, didn’t you? About the new religious group that worships Actor as their leader.”
Selene briefly met my gaze before bowing her head.
“…Yes. It seems it reached my ears as well.”
It seemed she had indeed eavesdropped.
I had no intention of scolding her. Scolding her wouldn’t make her change her behavior.
“Someone is impersonating me. Selene, what would you do?”
“Those who dare to falsely claim your name are nothing but a flock of deceitful sheep. It is only natural to scatter them with purging flames.”
“…Right. I figured you’d say that.”
Asking Selene would only yield extreme answers like burning them all.
But after hearing Kang Sena’s conversation, I saw a different possibility.
“I don’t know why a group worshipping me has appeared, but for now, it might be better to let them be.”
“……Why is that?”
“Dongwook is investigating the connection between me and Actor. It’s better to make it seem like we’re completely separate individuals.”
According to Kang Sena’s information, Dongwook is focusing on the relationship between him and Actor.
To create confusion in his investigation, it might be better to leave this Ascension Church or whatever they’re called alone.
“…However, we should keep an eye on what this new religious group is doing. They might be committing inhumane acts.”
“Ah.”
“If that’s the case…”
“Right. Selene, I need you to investigate.”
Among the disasters I could currently command, only Selene, the Charred Saintess, a 5-star disaster, was capable of independent action.
“Yes, my lord. As you command, I will investigate this Ascension Church.”
Selene bowed deeply, showing her obedience.
But after a moment, she raised her head slightly and spoke.
“However, my lord, I have one request.”
“What is it?”
“May the Hellfire Watchdog accompany me on this mission?”
“…The Hellfire Watchdog?”
This was the first time Selene had requested backup.
As I stiffened with suspicion, Selene quickly shook her head and explained.
“With that dog, we can significantly reduce travel time. Moreover, in case of an unavoidable situation, it can also serve as a messenger.”
“…Well, if you need it, Selene, you can take it.”
I nodded.
The Hellfire Watchdog was a valuable synthesis unit for our base, but if necessary, I could always have Lucifen, the Faded Specter, handle the synthesis.
However, my concern lay elsewhere.
“You’re not planning to cause any trouble, are you?”
“Not at all.”
Selene smiled brightly, cutting through my doubts in one stroke.
Of course, I didn’t believe her at all.