Originally, I, Nam Jooyeon, wasn’t exactly the most polite person, but I was someone who respected my elders and knew my place.
However, the world turned upside down overnight, and within the newly introduced system, I was clearly a powerhouse.
That meant…
“You couldn’t wait and had to keep an eye on me, even though I said I’d handle it myself, right?”
In other words, it meant I now had the standing to boldly confront high-ranking government officials.
What some might call “abusing power.”
Just six months ago, I couldn’t even mutter a word of complaint when I was being scolded by my part-time job boss.
Now, I was gathering the core powers of the nation and threatening them.
How did it come to this?
Well, the world’s already gone to hell, so what does it matter if it gets a little worse?
“So.”
In an instant, the tables had turned.
Everyone in the conference room was my prey.
“If anyone has a problem with me having a friendly chat with the Chinese scout, step forward.”
I finished my sentence and took a step to the side.
Thanks to that, everyone’s gaze in the conference room shifted to where I had just been standing.
Their eyes naturally fixed on the man at my feet—the congressman whose face I had just smashed into the desk.
He was trembling as if having a seizure; it seemed he would need some time to recover.
I felt a pang of guilt for beating up a perfectly fine person.
But there was no other choice.
If I hadn’t shown them through action, they would have kept trying to pressure me.
“With all this talk about the Awakened Management Act and life imprisonment, do you really think I’d be even slightly afraid?”
A few days ago, I might have been.
In fact, I might not have needed to act so aggressively.
But now, things are different.
I had just heard shocking news from the Chinese scout and Mirien.
The great calamity I accidentally unleashed, the Mother of Misfortune, Karne, was creating her minions by condensing the lives of tens of millions.
Twenty million, to be exact.
Compared to that staggering number, what’s the value of a few lives here?
“…”
Strangely, that fact diluted my guilt over what I was doing now.
“Now, think about it. What do you think would happen if I summoned Tempest Dragon right here, right now?”
“…”
“Do you think the president, watching from afar, would be safe? What if the Rock Crusher smashed the underground bunker a few times?”
An Awakened boldly declaring he could annihilate the nation’s leadership.
If this isn’t a calamity, what is?
Kang Sena was right.
Awakened, especially S-rank Awakened, are beings that ordinary authority can’t control.
That’s why, if they were going to push me, I had no choice but to show them.
“Let me make one thing clear. Calling Tempest right now and wiping out everyone here is as easy as snapping my fingers. Your lives depend on my mood.”
I am someone you cannot control.
As I calmly spoke, a heavy silence filled the conference room.
The Prime Minister broke the silence. His face pale, he slammed the table and stood up.
“W-what!”
The Prime Minister, not even bothering to adjust his glasses that had slipped down his nose, hurriedly spoke.
“Mr. Nam Jooyeon! Stop! If this continues, there’s no turning back! You’ll be a murderer! If you kill us, surely in South Korea… Mr. Nam Jooyeon…”
“Are you still threatening me in this situation?”
“N-no… That’s not what I meant…”
“I’m the one who should be making threats. Even if I cause chaos here, does the government have the ability to handle it? You over there, are you going to shoot me? Do you think I’d be taken down by a single bullet?”
I pointed at the man standing by the conference room wall.
A well-built man in a suit, likely brought for security, already had his hand on the holster at his waist.
Was he planning to pull out a gun if things went south?
Well, that’s a reasonable judgment.
The reason Awakened are feared is because of the calamities they control, not because they themselves are powerful.
But that only applies to the average ones.
“Go ahead and shoot if you want. If you can kill me.”
Actually, guns are scary.
Getting shot is even scarier.
Having shot one myself, I knew well how powerful they were.
That’s why I borrowed this from Selene.
[5☆ Dead God’s Husk]
Equipment that calamities can wear can also be worn by Awakened.
This piece of equipment I have in my pocket is specialized for civilian slaughter.
Its performance alone is excellent, but it also has an additional effect of completely blocking attacks below 3 stars.
And guns, unless wielded by an Awakened, don’t even reach 1 star.
“Remember this. If you can’t kill me in one shot, it won’t end with just your death. Your family in Seoul will die too.”
The point is, there’s nothing to fear.
I spoke calmly to the security guard.
“By the way, here’s another piece of advice. Bullets won’t…”
The security guard flinched.
It was amusing to deliver a line straight out of a movie in real life.
Just as the world has gone to hell, my mind must have gone with it.
Why have I become so bold?
The reason is simple.
[5★ The Scorched Saint Selene is watching you.]
[5★ The North Sea Storm Mirien is watching you.]
With calamities capable of destroying the planet watching over me, why should I fear some high-ranking government officials?
If anything, I should be more afraid of my own subordinates than these suited men.
“Stop! Mr. Nam Jooyeon! I understand! I fully understand, so please calm your anger!”
After what felt like an eternity of silence.
The Prime Minister finally surrendered.
“Mr. Nam Jooyeon… What we wanted to say was… We never intended to threaten or pressure you… We just wanted to resolve things through amicable dialogue…”
The Prime Minister’s voice trailed off.
Because I had crossed my arms and furrowed my brows.
In the end, he let go of his last shred of pride.
“We… admit that we were somewhat rude… We deeply apologize… Please spare our lives.”
“You should have come out like that from the start.”
“If… if there’s anything that has disappointed you during our time together, Mr. Nam Jooyeon, we will improve it… Please calm your anger…”
As the Prime Minister took such a humble stance, the other high-ranking officials in the conference room also offered their apologies one by one.
As the tension quickly dissipated, Yoo Junseo let out a sigh of relief.
I also had no intention of causing any more chaos.
“My conversation with the Chinese scout wasn’t about immigration but about chasing Actor.”
“…Actor? The Lord of the Abyss?”
“Yes. That Actor. It seems he’s headed towards China now.”
Finally, the Prime Minister’s expression brightened.
Of course, clearing up misunderstandings and this are separate issues.
“So, I’ll say one thing.”
I raised my middle finger and continued.
“Stay out of my business.”
Honestly, that’s all I wanted to say.
*
Talk of overthrowing the government or replacing the cabinet has lost its meaning now that the world has come to this.
In fact, it’s more beneficial for me if the government, even if incompetent, maintains some semblance of order.
There are still many things I need to take care of within the national system.
For example, connections among fellow Awakened.
“Mr. Nam Jooyeon!”
Yoo Junseo hurriedly caught up to me as I walked down the hallway.
He must have sprinted, as he was bent over, catching his breath for a while.
“What is it?”
“Ah, no… About what happened in the conference room earlier…”
Was Yoo Junseo here to blame me?
Even after witnessing that scene just minutes ago?
“Are you trying to act friendly now? Honestly, you’re not much different from the others.”
As I frowned while saying this, Yoo Junseo quickly shook his head in surprise.
“No, no, it’s not what you think!”
“Then what is it?”
“There’s something I wanted to say.”
Yoo Junseo cleared his throat and spoke.
“Mr. Nam Jooyeon, you were really cool today!”
“…”
“Actually, it was something I should have done, something I only imagined, but you appeared and did it! Just like a hero! Wow! Making you an S-rank was the best decision of my life!”
Yoo Junseo seemed to take the tense atmosphere from earlier in stride, speaking with genuine excitement.
His tone was filled with sincerity.
It seemed I had gained a follower, and it made my head throb.
Regardless, Yoo Junseo grabbed both my hands and eagerly continued.
“So, how about it? To keep those government bastards in line, why don’t you take on the role of Management Bureau Director…”
“I won’t do it.”
“…I figured as much.”
“Just handle things flexibly, Yoo Junseo. They won’t be able to interfere with the Management Bureau’s work for a while. Make sure to solidify the system. Don’t let the Awakened suffer unnecessarily.”
I wanted to shake off Yoo Junseo. He was also someone who wanted to use me.
But I quickly changed my mind.
Maintaining a good relationship with the Management Bureau, including Yoo Junseo, wasn’t a bad thing.
After all, the world is falling apart.
Isn’t it natural for allies to stick together?
And Yoo Junseo was one of the easiest people to deal with among those I’ve met.
“So, does that mean I’m your reliable supporter now?”
“I guess… you could say that?”
“Alright! I’ll do my best!”
Like this.
With a foolish smile, he nodded vigorously.
*
“Did the negotiation go well, my lord?”
“You were amazing, Actor!”
As soon as I returned to the base, the two calamities greeted me.
The Scorched Saint Selene and the North Sea Storm Mirien.
Honestly, these two were hundreds of times more terrifying to me than any president.
“Selene, sorry about this. I’ll need to keep using this equipment for a while.”
“It’s alright. I have the Holy Flame Mark. More than anything, it’s more important for you to stay safe, my lord.”
Selene’s expression was filled with joy.
Probably because the chaos I caused at the Management Bureau today resembled the ideal ruler Actor she envisioned.
As for Mirien, she’d be happy no matter what I did.
“Anyway, Selene.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Get ready. We have a place to go.”
“…May I ask where that is?”
Selene’s expression hardened, likely thinking I was going to China.
I’m not stupid enough to think meeting Karne right now is anything but suicidal.
“To the south.”
“…South, you say?”
“Yes. South. We’re going to the calamity nest controlled by the Awakened community.”
We’ll gather the calamities there.
The Mother of Misfortune, Karne, is creating her minion army in China.
Right now, she’s just a potential threat, but Karne’s ultimate goal is the destruction of the world.
Eventually, we’ll have to face her.
We need to secure at least enough power to fight her army when the time comes.
[Base Upgrade: Barracks]
[■■■■⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩]
[Required EXP: 800]
I pressed the barracks upgrade button four more times.
A cold sensation followed.
Turning my head, I saw Mirien looking at me, tilting her head.
“Actor… What about me? Why aren’t you taking me?”
“…”
Caught off guard by the unexpected reaction, it wasn’t me but Selene who responded to Mirien’s words.
“…Isn’t it the lord’s will for the magic brat to stay home and play house? Stop yapping and stay put.”
“Just because there’s a hole in your face, you think it’s a mouth? Want me to make another one so you won’t feel left out?”
As the UFC match started again, I felt like I was about to lose it.