Chapter 47: Bat Yoo Junseo – (3)

A week has passed since then.

Much has changed.

[“Between Expectations and Concerns” The Awakener Management Act is Abolished… Why?]

It seems the government took my threats very seriously. 

The usually sluggish lawmakers moved faster than ever before.

First, the parliament proceeded to abolish the Awakener Management Act and all related bills.

The executive branch also recalled all external auditors dispatched to the Awakener Management Bureau, and the high-ranking officials who planned the previous incident were dismissed one after another like Vienna sausages.

[High-Ranking Government Officials Assassinated, Sudden Abolishment of the Bill… Who’s Behind It?]

Of course, even though it was for survival, it’s true that I resorted to assassination as a last means to push through my agenda.

The media and the public focused on whether there was any connection between the abolition of the Awakener Management Act and the recent terrorist incident.

But there was no evidence. Selene completed her mission discreetly, and even the gossipmongers who speculated about the behind-the-scenes never dreamed that South Korea’s first S-rank awakener was involved.

In the end, the hypothesis remained just a suspicion.

=

– Just last week, an awakener terrorized the government, and now they’re abolishing the Awakener Management Act… Did they get bribed? I can’t live with this anxiety, seriously.

– You guys in Seoul are going to end up like us in the provinces. Get ready. It won’t take long.

=

Public opinion was harsh, but that didn’t stop the Awakener Management Bureau from undergoing a major transformation.

After that eventful week, the Awakener Management Bureau was renamed the Awakener Association…

“Henceforth, Association President Yoo Junseo! How about it, Ms. Jooyeon? Pretty impressive, right?”

Yoo Junseo seemed to like the title of Association President much more than Bureau Director. 

He even wore a suit, which he must have bought at some point, and styled his hair with wax before attending the plaque unveiling ceremony.

I wanted to mock his hairstyle, which looked like it had been licked by a donkey, but I held back. 

After all, carrots are more effective than sticks when dealing with Yoo Junseo.

“It looks good. Truly the symbol of South Korea, Flame Emperor Yoo Junseo. How about wearing that outfit during eruptions too?”

“Ah, should I? Ms. Nam Jooyeon, you really have an eye for this, don’t you?”

Completely missing the sarcasm, Yoo Junseo gleefully picked up the scissors.

“I’ve always wanted to do this once in my life.”

“It certainly looks like it.”

“Hehe.”

With an unsettling smile, Yoo Junseo cut the ribbon.

Applause erupted.

The Awakener Management Bureau, now the Awakener Association, became an organization separate from the government.

Although there are still some overlapping authorities, the association can now assert its will on equal footing with the government.

It’s an organization of awakeners, by awakeners, for awakeners.

“We’re going to be busy from now on.”

Meanwhile, Kang Sena, sitting next to me, had dark circles under her eyes, likely from the piled-up workload.

While Yoo Junseo only needed to show his face at official events, the staff must have been overwhelmed.

“Good job.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to be comforted by a man who’s been dumped twice.”

Kang Sena chuckled as she said that, and we quietly watched the inauguration ceremony.

An unnamed minister attending the event glanced around and made eye contact with me. 

When he almost fell over in shock, I nearly burst out laughing.

Kang Sena also couldn’t hold back her laughter and giggled for a while.

“It seems the higher-ups are afraid of you, Nam Jooyeon.”

“Fear is necessary to reign supreme, that’s what an absolute ruler is.”

At my muttering, Kang Sena looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Nam Jooyeon, you know what?”

“What?”

“You seem like a completely different person from when we first met.”

“A lot has happened.”

Too much to explain.

*

[The rift is erupting.]

[You can collect various disasters from the rift’s eruption.]

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

[The eruption will end in 6 hours.]

A few days later, a message announcing the fifth eruption appeared.

This is the first eruption we’re facing as an association, not a bureau. 

All eyes in Seoul are on us. 

Therefore, we must ensure that no civilians are harmed during this eruption.

And…

“Wahahaha! This is what the Flame Emperor is all about!”

To put it simply.

I realized how fortunate it is to have another S-rank awakener.

[4★ Flame Guardian activates the skill ‘Immortal Armor’.]

The 4-star disaster, Flame Guardian, summoned by Yoo Junseo, proved its worth in the heart of Seoul.

This disaster, in the form of a giant suit of armor, wasn’t particularly impressive in terms of attack power. 

However, it had immense health, high defense, and a skill set that provided full-party support, making it a tank-support disaster.

In situations like this, where numerous awakeners are pooling their strength to defend against waves, it can perform just as well as my Storm Dragon.

Kugugugu!

As the Flame Guardian swung its massive gauntlet, the streets were instantly engulfed in flames. 

1-star disasters turned to ash without even touching the armor.

Even though it’s a defensive disaster, a 4-star is still a 4-star.

The balance of the Disaster Order forms a steep pyramid. 

While the difference between 4-star and 5-star isn’t as vast, the gap between 3-star and 4-star disasters is still significant.

Thus, even a non-named 4-star disaster can take on a hundred 3-star or lower disasters.

[4★ Flame Guardian activates the skill ‘Regenerating Flame’.]

The living armor, blocking an entire street while spewing red flames, struck a chord with the male awakeners.

With three 4-stars gathered, Seoul is arguably the safest city in the world during an eruption.

“How about it, Kang Sena! I’m definitely S-rank, right?”

“Yes. Definitely.”

Leaving Yoo Junseo, who was brimming with the need for validation, I checked my status window for information.

While dealing with the eruption, I gave Mirien a separate command.

It was to scout ahead for dangerous disasters and eliminate them if necessary.

[5★ North Sea Storm Mirien activates the skill ‘Eye of the Storm’.]

Mirien’s scouting revealed that, fortunately, no 4-star disasters appeared in this eruption.

That was a huge relief. 

If a 4-star disaster ran rampant in the heart of Seoul, the damage would be unimaginable.

[The rift eruption has ended.]

[Strengthen your base with the dominated disasters.]

[Time until the next eruption: 13 days 23 hours]

A few hours later, the fifth eruption ended.

Surprisingly, there were no casualties.

Despite being larger in scale than the fourth eruption, the fact that there were no civilian casualties was nothing short of a miracle.

‘With this, the government won’t be able to criticize us.’

This incident has significantly boosted the Awakener Association’s influence, and a new wind will blow through South Korea.

A new system led by awakeners.

And the main character will be this ordinary man who was once a public service worker with a mental illness.

“By the way, Sena, I have a problem.”

As I thought this while looking at Yoo Junseo, he fidgeted like someone who needed to use the restroom and spoke to Kang Sena.

Kang Sena sighed deeply and responded.

“What now?”

“I think the wax melted because of the heat.”

Yoo Junseo held up his drooping, limp hair with a pitiful expression.

“…”

I happened to make eye contact with Kang Sena.

Her eyes pleaded.

‘Help me.’

I ignored her.

*

Ding.

[5★ North Sea Storm Mirien has completed disaster synthesis.]

[Reward: 50Exp / 3★ Wave Chaser]

[…]

[5★ North Sea Storm Mirien has completed disaster synthesis.]

[Reward: 50Exp / 3★ Ghost Flame]

Over the next two days, I poured all the disasters obtained from the Daejeon nest and the eruption into synthesis.

The result was a total of five 3-star disasters.

I didn’t get a 4-star disaster, but there was no reason to be disappointed.

In the game, the chance of getting a 4-star through synthesis is less than 5%.

Even then, since the developers didn’t disclose the synthesis rates, I had to calculate them myself using an Excel sheet.

Yoo Junseo, who got a 4-star disaster in one go, was truly a special case.

“I think we have enough firepower for now.”

Anyway, the disasters I currently possess include two 5-stars, three 4-stars, and eleven 3-stars.

That’s enough power to overthrow a country.

It might be a bit lacking compared to the minions gathered by Karne, the Mother of Omens, but it’s enough to not be helpless.

However, Karne has the guaranteed synthesis skill, Mother’s Call. 

She’ll gather minions faster than I can strengthen my forces.

Therefore, it’s the right decision to confront Karne as soon as possible.

“Let’s go, Selene, Mirien. To China.”

After much deliberation, I boldly declared.

However, the two great disasters showed lukewarm reactions.

“…Hmm.”

Selene nodded, her lips forming a wavy line, while Mirien coyly twirled her hair with her index finger.

Their expressions clearly showed reluctance.

I sighed and asked.

“Why do you two hate Karne so much?”

When I finally asked, I got different answers.

“That woman is a vile wench. She dares to seduce our lord with her obscene clothing and lewd behavior. Moreover, she has the audacity to call herself our lord’s mother with that filthy body. She must be planning to conceive a virgin birth or something.”

“Both Astéria and Karne are old hags. I don’t want to talk to old women.”

“…How have you two not fought until now?”

The more I see, the more I wonder how they managed to avoid internal conflicts during the game.

“By the way, my lord, how do you plan to get to where that woman is?”

“The government prepared a chartered plane.”

“…What if they try something…”

Selene asked with a worried expression.

Although the negotiations were resolved amicably, there was still a lingering fear that the government might shoot down the plane I was on.

“That’s why I came up with a plan.”

“What plan?”

“I’m thinking of taking someone with me.”

“Someone?”

Selene tilted her head.

I picked up my phone and dialed a name from my contacts.

The call was answered within two rings.

[Uh, hello… Nam Jooyeon? What brings you to the association…]

Association President Yoo Junseo answered the phone with a nervous voice.

Apparently, he found it quite ominous to receive a call from me.

Of course, Yoo Junseo’s ominous premonition was about to come true.

I grinned and said.

“Let’s go on a trip, shall we?”

[Huh?]

“To China.”

Just in case, I thought I’d bring a safety measure.