The area in front of the tower in Yeouido was packed with crowds.
It was so chaotic that even the police couldn’t control the swarming people, left helplessly pacing around.
I had quietly contacted Yoo Junseo to inform him of my plans, but it seemed the news had already spread, even making headlines.
“Everything’s fine, but don’t you think we should reconsider?”
Yoo Junseo, the Bureau Director, spoke to me with a visibly anxious expression.
“That place has a 5-star calamity. The one with that invincible storm or typhoon, whatever it’s called. You’ve seen it before. The scorched saint, Selene. A servant of the Actor. You must have seen the footage of that guy killing a 4-star calamity with a single strike.”
“Of course, I’ve seen it.”
“Right. I was there. I felt it then. Ah, a 5-star calamity is beyond human reach. Humanity as it is now can’t win.”
“So what?”
“So what? What do you mean? If you go in there and die, it’s a disaster! If the Dragon King of the Korean Peninsula dies, who will protect Seoul?”
Why has the title ‘Dragon King of the Korean Peninsula’ become so firmly established?
Naturally, my expression soured.
Yoo Junseo patted my shoulder and urged me again.
“Let’s go back, gather more strength, and then think about it.”
“And then?”
“Huh?”
“What if the tower erupts then?”
At my question, Yoo Junseo tilted his head.
“Well, if the tower erupts, we’ll just stop it then.”
Indeed, that’s the correct judgment.
No awakened would willingly enter a dungeon harboring a 5-star calamity.
Except for me.
“Anyway, I’m going in.”
“Didn’t you hear me? Nam Jooyeon, this is really a suicide mission.”
“What do you know?”
Contrary to Yoo Junseo’s concerns, I’m not going in to conquer the tower.
It’s to meet Mirien and discuss recent events.
So, it’s primarily a meeting.
“Sigh… Nam Jooyeon, can’t you just consider the Bureau’s reputation this once? If an S-rank awakened under our jurisdiction dies in the tower, how troublesome would that be?”
Of course, I can’t reveal these circumstances to them.
Deep in thought, I came up with a decent excuse.
“Director.”
“Y-yes?”
Seeing my sudden serious expression, Yoo Junseo was taken aback.
But I didn’t mind and spoke loudly.
So everyone could hear.
“Once that tower erupts, it will be too late. Countless citizens will die. With a great calamity in the heart of Seoul, I cannot stand by. Whatever the sacrifice, I will eliminate this potential threat.”
As soon as my words ended, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd gathered around the tower.
Cheers and applause.
Some awakened and police officers were so moved they placed their hands over their hearts.
“…”
By then, Yoo Junseo could no longer dissuade me.
What can I say…
It’s the biggest lie I’ve ever told in my life.
A pang of guilt briefly surfaced.
“…If that’s the case, I’ll go too.”
It seems Yoo Junseo was also moved.
“Nam Jooyeon, I, Bureau Director Yoo Junseo, will accompany you on this subjugation.”
“…”
Bureau Director Yoo Junseo declared his accompaniment.
*
[Entering the dungeon ‘Tower of the Abyss’.]
[Subdue the dungeon’s master and claim ownership.]
A more unpleasant sensation than when entering the Storm Dragon’s nest overwhelmed me.
It felt like being drenched in sticky tar.
Inside the dungeon, the air was foul.
Ding.
[Warning: The dungeon ‘Tower of the Abyss’ is a 5☆ dungeon!]
A warning message appeared.
When entering the abyss, a message to evacuate quickly appeared, but this time it didn’t.
Unlike then, I now possess a 5-star calamity.
Of course, Yoo Junseo’s situation was different.
He stared blankly into space, then turned his gaze to me.
“…Did you see this message too? It says to run away quickly. Can’t we just leave?”
Now, Bureau Director Yoo Junseo was accompanying me.
As a result, this tower raid was followed by a pointless article about the dramatic cooperation between the Flame King and the Dragon King.
However, Yoo Junseo didn’t seem keen on raiding the tower.
It seemed he disliked the situation where all the spotlight was on me more than the noble goal of liberating Seoul.
Should I call him petty?
Yet, he showed courage, so perhaps a magnanimous person.
As Jeon Dongwook said, Yoo Junseo was an easy person to understand.
“Nam Jooyeon, the air here is filthy. But it’s a perfect place for that bitch to live.”
Yoo Junseo summoned two 3-star calamities to scout, but received reports that there was nothing.
“The inside is quite clean, isn’t it?”
“…Could you please shut up?”
I wonder how many flags he’s raising alone.
Anyway, in this situation, Bureau Director Yoo Junseo’s presence is utterly useless.
He’s an A-rank awakened with four 3-star calamities, but even so, he can’t deal meaningful damage to Mirien.
I’m not here to fight anyway.
I needed to ditch this cumbersome Bureau Director, but with my dull mind, this was the only method I could think of.
[Summoning 4★ Hellfire Guard Dog.]
Boom!
With a loud noise, the Hellfire Guard Dog appeared in mid-air, glaring at Yoo Junseo.
“…Damn! That bastard!”
Simultaneously, Yoo Junseo quickly assessed the situation.
Of course, he never dreamed that the Hellfire Guard Dog was a calamity I controlled, so he jumped to conclusions.
“Th-this is the Actor’s dungeon! We need to run!”
He quickly turned, leading the way while backing away.
He probably planned to throw me aside and run if things got dangerous.
Not bad. In fact, it’s more convenient if he acts like that.
[Summoning 4★ Storm Dragon Tempest.]
I summoned the Storm Dragon and prepared for battle, while Yoo Junseo looked back and forth between the Hellfire Guard Dog and me.
He must think it’s a decent matchup.
But I had no intention of giving him a choice.
[Summoning 5★ Scorched Saint Selene.]
Suddenly, from the void, the Scorched Saint emerged.
A great calamity cloaked in crimson flames.
Seeing her, Yoo Junseo dropped what he was holding.
“…Ah.”
Yoo Junseo groaned softly…
“Ahhhhh! I told you not to come in!”
And immediately turned tail and ran.
Abandoning even his comrade, his actions were predictably easy to understand.
Upon reaching the tower’s entrance, Yoo Junseo tripped over his own feet and began crawling.
But perhaps a last shred of conscience remained, as he turned to look at me before exiting.
Of course, I delivered my prepared line.
“I’ll buy time, so run!”
As I shouted with a desperate expression, Yoo Junseo clenched his mouth, nodded vigorously, and fled the tower.
For a defeated soldier, it was overly dramatic.
After Yoo Junseo completely left the tower, I relaxed. I also recalled the Storm Dragon and the Hellfire Guard Dog.
“Whew. Now the unwanted guest is gone.”
“My lord, I dare say, there was no better place to kill that man.”
Selene spoke nonsense.
“No, we can’t kill him. If I come out unscathed while he dies, what will people think? Especially with people like Jeon Dongwook who already suspect me.”
“Then shouldn’t we kill Jeon Dongwook too?”
“Selene, shut up.”
“My apologies.”
I looked up.
The tower was a hollow cylinder, with a spiral staircase leading to the sky, which was quite impressive.
“How am I supposed to climb that?”
I sighed and began ascending the spiral staircase.
The tower was high, so the staircase was long.
“My apologies, but may I carry you up the stairs?”
Selene cautiously asked, but I refused.
Being carried in her arms up the stairs would feel like a downgrade as a human, as a man.
“It’s fine. It’s good exercise.”
After about an hour.
Just quietly climbing the stairs, I couldn’t help but think.
By now, Bureau Director Yoo Junseo must be explaining the situation outside.
They won’t re-enter the dungeon.
It’s clear that this tower is a demonic realm with two 5-star calamities.
So, what happens to me?
Should I think of an excuse in advance?
As I pondered, Selene suddenly spoke.
“My lord, there’s one thing that concerns me.”
“What is it?”
“The North Sea’s Storm, Mirien, is… somewhat paranoid.”
“…Huh?”
“And… her hearing is sharper than anyone’s.”
Selene frowned as she looked up at the tower.
She seemed to have much to say but held back in front of me.
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Every action of yours… might be interpreted differently by Mirien.”
Only after Selene’s words did I sense something amiss.
Around the time of that conversation, we reached the top of the tower.
The door was wide open.
At the end of a long corridor, a petite woman sat on a small chair.
The North Sea’s Storm, Mirien.
The woman I had only seen in games was now a reality before my eyes.
“…Sigh.”
Selene, having guessed something, sighed softly.
“…”
Hearing that sigh, the great calamity, the North Sea’s Storm Mirien, raised her head from its bowed position.
Her shoulder-length black hair framed lifeless blue eyes.
Mirien was a cold beauty, but her face was filled with despair.
Disheveled hair, smudged eye makeup.
With a haggard face, Mirien moved her lips.
“Actor, why are you… trying to kill me?”
“…”
Only then did I understand what Selene had said.