Chapter 37: Always UFC -(2)

A new change had occurred since the storm of the North Sea, Mirien, arrived at our base.

At first glance, it seemed trivial, but at the same time, it was a very significant change.

[4★ Hellfire Guard Dog has completed Calamity Synthesis.]

[Reward: 50 Exp/3★ Blood Wolf]

[5★ North Sea Storm Mirien has completed Calamity Synthesis.]

[Reward: 150 Exp/4★ Rock Crusher]

Ding-dong.

“Oh.”

For the first time, I succeeded in synthesizing a 4-star calamity.

The protagonist of this achievement was none other than the North Sea Storm, Mirien.

Her synthesis aptitude was an impressive S.

This meant that, excluding Asteria, who has an S+ synthesis aptitude, Mirien was the best among all existing calamities.

“Actor! I did well, didn’t I?”

“Ah, you really did great.”

Moreover, after clearing up a misunderstanding, Mirien started to follow me around like an older brother.

Although her feelings for me might be closer to love, I decided to ignore it.

Love or not, with three other calamities watching me, I was on the verge of suffocating.

[Set 4★ Rock Crusher as the guard of the base ‘Tower of Rebellion’.]

[Y]

I set the newly acquired 4-star calamity, Rock Crusher, as the guardian of the tower.

Even if some reckless awakened individuals dared to invade, Rock Crusher would stand as the gatekeeper.

A 4-star calamity of the earth attribute.

Although not a named one, it should have no problem dealing with three or four 3-star calamities.

“…Actor, praise me more.”

“Yeah, yeah. You did great. Really.”

Thus, Mirien joining the base was a significant gain.

She wasn’t particularly suited for combat, but she had considerable advantages in non-combat fields, making her future performances something to look forward to…

“…”

I stopped my thoughts and looked at the gray-haired saint smiling from afar.

Of course, she was also looking at me.

[5★ Charred Saint Selene is watching you!!]

The two exclamation marks on the status window gave a hint of Selene’s current feelings.

I stuttered like a husband caught cheating.

“…Selene, you know… Synthesis is Mirien’s specialty… You have other specialties too…”

“Yes, I know, my lord. You don’t need to worry about me. After all, I am your adjutant, am I not?”

Selene emphasized the word “adjutant” for some reason.

“…Uh, yeah.”

As I trailed off, Mirien, who had been silently watching this scene, narrowed her eyes.

Then, with a mischievous smile, she plopped down on my lap.

“Actor, I can be a good adjutant too. Better than that sly fox. Especially in synthesis.”

Perhaps because of her small stature, her weight was almost negligible.

However, the weight of the cold air that descended was palpable.

“Remove that filthy creature immediately, my lord. The stench of magic is unbearable.”

“…Ah, but telling her to get off…”

As Selene fumed, Mirien twisted her lips and hugged my neck.

Looking like a sloth, her bare skin visible under her skirt, Mirien seemed unfazed.

Perhaps she didn’t even have a sense of shame.

“…My lord?”

“She’s… just a kid. Let’s understand.”

“She’s not a kid. That creature is a great calamity that slaughtered millions.”

‘You also set the world on fire.’

I wanted to retort, but her gaze was too sharp.

…Too sharp.

“Anyway, let’s discuss our future course of action.”

I managed to steer the conversation.

“We can’t go to China right now, can we?”

Finding out that Karne’s location was in China was a definite gain.

However, going to meet her now is impossible.

Although I received assurances from the management bureau that they wouldn’t interfere with my actions after the last incident, they wouldn’t tolerate the only S-rank awakened individual in the country leaving for another nation.

With the fourth eruption just five days away, no matter how incompetent the South Korean government is, they wouldn’t neglect the country’s greatest military asset.

Moreover, even if I were to face Karne now, I don’t have the power to suppress her.

She currently possesses three 4-star calamities.

No, if we include the unknown ones, her forces might be even stronger.

Although my base has two 5-star calamities and three 4-star calamities, Karne’s forces are not to be underestimated.

Ultimately, now is the time to grow stronger.

“…By the way, Mirien, don’t you think it’s time to get off?”

“I think I deserve more praise. It’s a 4-star calamity. They’re hard to get, right? You always support me, don’t you, Actor?”

“I know… but…”

Cold sweat ran down my back.

However, Selene remained composed and nodded.

“No, it’s fine. Please continue with what you were doing, my lord. Even if you put your hands on that filthy creature’s thighs and rummage under her skirt, I’m fine with it.”

“…No, when did I ever do that.”

“You might. It’s fine. My lord has every right to indulge in pleasures.”

Selene smiled as she said this, but I noticed the holy flames surrounding her burning even fiercer.

Mirien, seemingly enjoying the situation, nuzzled her cheek against my chest.

Grind.

I heard the sound of teeth grinding.

“…Such a filthy bitch.”

In the end, it was Selene who couldn’t hold back.

The flaming sword was drawn.

It was the usual UFC.

*

Five days later.

[The rift is erupting.]

[Various calamities can be collected from the rift eruption.]

[Defeat the calamities and dominate them. The dominated calamities will strengthen your base as loyal servants.]

[The eruption will end in 6 hours.]

“Phew.”

The status window announced the start of the fourth eruption.

Just like during the last eruption, I went up to the rooftop of the management bureau building and surveyed the surroundings.

Various calamities began pouring out from the swirling rift in the sky.

Most were 1-star to 2-star, with no outstanding calamities like last time.

However, their numbers were much greater than the previous eruption.

Moreover, during the Tower of Rebellion eruption, Selene went on a rampage, causing many awakened individuals to lose their calamities.

This eruption would undoubtedly be more challenging than the last.

What was particularly annoying was the presence of a few uninvited guests by my side.

“Hehehe.”

This foolish smile belonged to a woman who actually seemed a bit dim-witted.

B-rank awakened individual Seo Yerin and a few other awakened individuals were assigned to my team.

Despite my insistence that I didn’t need assistance, the management bureau assigned them to me under the pretext of providing minimal escort for an S-rank awakened individual.

‘Damn management bureau.’

I cursed inwardly.

Regardless, Seo Yerin approached me and bowed her head.

“I heard from Sena unni that you saved me. Thank you so much.”

“Ah, it was nothing.”

“Can I film you again?”

“Film me?”

Seo Yerin already had her phone out.

“Yep. Director Yoo Jun-seo assigned me as your personal cameraman.”

“…Why?”

“Your video got over 100 million views. They must have recognized my contribution.”

“No, I’m not asking why you’re filming, but why is the management bureau filming me?”

“Hmm… what was it? Something about needing to do PR?”

That bastard Yoo Junseo.

I grimaced, but with Seo Yerin holding the camera, there was little I could do.

My face was already out there, so one more video wouldn’t make much difference.

“Just don’t get in the way.”

“Okay! I won’t get in the way at all!”

Seo Yerin nodded enthusiastically, her face lighting up.

The phrase “flower garden for brains” seemed fitting here.

I sighed and manipulated the status window.

[Summon 4★ Storm Dragon Tempestra.]

[Summon 4★ Rock Crusher.]

Unlike last time, I now have two 4-star calamities.

Thus, the summoned 4-star calamity, Rock Crusher, was as massive as Tempestra.

“Gasp! This is the second 4-star of the S-rank awakened individual I’ve only heard about!”

Seo Yerin, who had been filming me, exclaimed excitedly.

Although Rock Crusher was weaker compared to Tempestra, being a non-named calamity, it had its own advantages.

Like this.

[4★ Rock Crusher uses skill ‘Ground Leveler’.]

Rumble!

Rock Crusher slammed its massive fists into the ground.

Some houses not designed for earthquakes collapsed, but the destructive power was still immense.

Various nearby calamities were annihilated.

I smirked at the kill logs appearing on the status window.

‘Its performance is solid.’

In Disaster Order, Ground Leveler was a wide-area skill that didn’t distinguish between friend and foe, making it almost a forbidden skill.

But now that reality has become a game, it had its uses.

In a well-controlled area with no civilians or awakened individuals, Rock Crusher alone could block dozens of calamities.

In defensive battles like this, it was an undeniable advantage.

“Ah, no way! What ten awakened individuals struggle to do, you do alone…! This is S-rank!”

Seo Yerin added a lengthy commentary, but I ignored her.

Now it seemed she was doing more than just filming; it was closer to an internet broadcast.

[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestra uses skill ‘Sky Roar’.]

Anyway, thanks to the two 4-star calamities, the assigned area was cleared.

Before the next wave arrived, there was a brief moment of rest.

Seo Yerin, seemingly not intending to film me catching my breath, put her phone away and approached me with quick steps.

“Mr. Nam Joo-yeon, S-rank awakened individual! You were amazing again! Seoul’s guardian deity! Dragon King! Maestro!”

“…”

It seemed this exaggerated praise wasn’t just for the broadcast but Seo Yerin’s usual way of speaking.

“…Just call me Joo-yeon. And drop the cumbersome titles like Dragon King.”

“…Ah, how could I…”

Seo Yerin blushed and stammered.

“Then… Mr. Nam Jooyeon…?”

“Yes.”

“You were amazing! A second 4-star, Rock Crusher! Now you’re truly the world’s greatest awakened individual! Even better than that Chinese guy!”

Seo Yerin smiled brightly and gave me a thumbs up.

Instead of being pleased with the praise, I focused on her last remark.

“Chinese guy? What Chinese guy?”

“You didn’t know? China has an S-rank awakened individual like Korea. That guy also has a 4-star calamity. But Korea’s pride, Mr. Nam Joo-yeon, has shown him up! You’ve set the hierarchy straight!”

Seo Yerin praised me with exaggerated gestures, but I only half-listened.

Come to think of it, I had heard about the S-rank awakened individual in China from Kang Sena not long ago.

“Ms. Seo Yerin.”

“Yes!”

I was genuinely interested.

I had heard about Karne from Mirien.

To meet her, I needed to know more about the situation in China.

“…Do you know any awakened individuals in China?”

“Huh?”

“Well, it doesn’t have to be an awakened individual. If you have any connections with the Chinese awakened individual management bureau… no, in China, it’s the public security bureau, right? Anyway, if you have any connections, could you introduce me?”

“…”

Seo Yerin blinked a few times.

Then she rolled her eyes.

It seemed she was misunderstanding something unnecessary, as her face turned pale. 

Slowly, her lips parted.

“Don’t…”

“Don’t?”

“Don’t go… Why would you want to become a traitor…?”

“…”

It seemed Seo Yerin was a nationalist to the core.