Now, how did the South Korean government react to the 21st-century Incheon landing operation?
First, their initial reaction was sheer panic.
Naturally, the Incheon landing operation was a mission carried out by the UN forces to reclaim territories occupied by North Korean troops.
The soldiers who participated in it would have been holding the bright blue UN flag.
However, this time, the Awakened Alliance that landed in Incheon was holding the Five-Starred Red Flag.
“…Isn’t the color a bit too different?”
As Kang Sena bluntly pointed out, the UN flag and the Five-Starred Red Flag are quite different.
Even if you strip away the ideological, diplomatic, and political elements and just look at the RGB values, they are vastly different.
But what does that matter?
The Chinese Awakened Alliance are the heroes who, after being abandoned by their own party, held their ground in the devastated city of Beijing for several months, fulfilling their duty against all odds.
We agreed to call them “Daggers.”
In other words, the Daggers had come to join South Korea, and the fact that they were all Awakened made them a formidable ally.
“Nam Jooyeon Awakener, what on earth is this?”
“It’s a reinforcement of our forces.”
The government’s second reaction, after much deliberation, was to “openly express displeasure.”
“But… if we accept Chinese Awakeners in South Korea, wouldn’t that lead to significant diplomatic issues?”
“That’s something the government will have to handle.”
Of course, that wasn’t something I needed to worry about.
“Us?”
“Yes, you.”
“…”
In the end, government officials had no choice but to watch with mixed feelings as the Shields of the People landed in Incheon.
With a group of 300 Awakeners crossing the Yellow Sea on a passenger ship, there was no way a handful of bureaucrats could control the situation.
The government did try to resist in their own way.
Their third, timid attempt at resistance was to “bring up practical issues.”
“Nam Jooyeon Awakener, this is unacceptable. Seoul doesn’t have the infrastructure to accommodate all of them.”
“Right. Seoul doesn’t.”
“Huh?”
“It’s not like it’s the old days. There’s plenty of land now.”
Seoul was already oversaturated with refugees, so even if they were Awakeners, accommodating more people was out of the question.
But the Chinese are known for their diligence—once they set their minds to something, they can even tear down their own cultural heritage in their enthusiasm.
So, the issue of housing wasn’t a major drawback for them.
“Lei Fu, we’re planning to develop Incheon so the Chinese Awakened Alliance can settle here. What do you think?”
Lei Fu’s answer, of course, was “Hao!”
His enthusiasm was truly unmatched, even surpassing that of Guan Yu.
– Did you hear the news? The government accepted 300 Chinese refugees.
– Hey, they’re not “Chinks,” they’re Daggers.
– It’s 300 Awakeners, you idiot.
– Awakeners, you should call them.
Above all, the fact that they were all Awakeners left the government with no room to intervene.
While the government might have been dismayed by the addition of 300 uncontrollable Awakeners, to the public, they weren’t just 300 refugees—they were the 300 Spartan heroes who held back the Persian army of a million.
In other words, to the average citizen, it simply meant that the number of heroes protecting them had doubled.
– So, those Daggers are settling in Incheon?
– Why not have them live closer? Like near my house.
– LOL, for real.
The 21st-century social issue of Chinese real estate sweeping was being recreated in a post-apocalyptic world.
But public opinion was different this time.
The Chinese Awakened Alliance included Lei Fu, who would be classified as an S-rank Awakener in South Korea, and they were all favorably disposed toward Korea.
Under Lei Fu’s leadership, the group was perfectly controlled, with no room for individual deviation.
“…Well, then… let’s grant them citizenship…”
As public opinion shifted in their favor, the government eventually gave in.
The 300 Spartans thus became members of the Seoul Republic’s Awakener Association, neither Chinese nor Spartan in nationality.
“How can we ever repay this kindness, brother?”
“Don’t mention it, brother.”
Lei Fu smiled brightly at me and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and I reciprocated.
In a crumbling world, we upheld our chivalry.
“…Gah! Those Chinks are on sacred Korean soil!”
The only one who spat blood was Seo Yerin.
*
That’s the whole story.
And this is how my subordinate reacted after hearing my tale.
“Magnificent. Turning crisis into opportunity. Recruiting new forces. I am always in awe of your foresight, my lord.”
“Actor, I hope you recognize how hard I’ve worked.”
Mirien smiled softly and leaned into me as if to embrace me.
Selene didn’t stop her this time.
After all, it was Mirien’s dazzling performance that had convinced the otherwise stubborn Lei Fu.
The situation was smooth, and the media praised us for bringing such formidable forces from China.
Yoo Junseo checked the news comments not just every morning but at every meal, his face blooming with joy.
“…”
But my heart wasn’t entirely at ease.
“…I wonder if this is right.”
I pinched my cheek.
It stung.
This was definitely not a dream.
The situation had turned out well, so I wasn’t in a bad mood.
But at the same time, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head.
“You could call me a mass murderer, and it wouldn’t be wrong.”
The unease I felt stemmed from a coldness within myself that even I found surprising.
I had callously abandoned the people of Beijing.
They weren’t my countrymen.
I had no ties to them.
Yet, it was an undeniable fact that I had abandoned them.
Of course, the Chinese government had fled, and the Awakened Alliance numbered only a few hundred, so cities like Beijing were doomed regardless.
Without the Awakeners to hold back the disaster, when the sixth rift eruption came, Beijing would become a city overrun by calamities.
That outcome was inevitable, whether the Alliance was there or not.
But even though the destruction was foreseen, it was ultimately my breath that sentenced them to death.
Should I feel guilty?
For leaving so many people to fend for themselves?
Or for the fact that the disasters I unleashed would cause so much devastation?
If I had the capacity for guilt, I should have hanged myself long ago.
But I didn’t, and my mind was eerily clear.
That fact left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Selene.”
“Yes.”
“I think I’m losing my mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s just a feeling.”
I forced a bitter smile and looked out the window.
Lei Fu and the Chinese Awakened Alliance were building a collective settlement in Incheon.
Had the brakes on my conscience failed?
Was it the world that had gone mad, or was it me?
Or perhaps both.
As I pondered these philosophical questions, a soft touch brushed the back of my head.
Soon, a pale arm wrapped around my shoulder.
When I turned around, golden eyes were looking at me.
It was Karne, the Mother of Calamities, a new addition to our base.
“Don’t worry, my child. Your choice was absolutely right. I can vouch for that.”
Karne smiled warmly, holding me in her embrace and stroking my head.
Having grown up an orphan without parents, I didn’t know what maternal love was.
But if this was it, I thought it couldn’t be a bad thing.
“The path of the Absolute is bound to be lonely. But don’t worry. Even if everyone in this dimension turns their back on you, this mother will always be by your side.”
“Mother.”
“It’s alright. You can confide everything in me.”
Karne was like this.
If Selene worried about my well-being, and Mirien blindly sought my affection, then Karne accepted and affirmed everything I did.
Was she always like this?
Or was it just an act she put on for me?
It was likely the latter.
Karne’s presence was highly effective in many ways.
The calming of my heart, the relaxation of my limbs—especially the two cushion-like hills that came to mind.
“Filthy whore, can’t you let go already?”
“If you find it strange for a mother to embrace her child, that only proves how twisted your mind usually is, Selene.”
“What did you just say?”
As they were about to start another fight, I quickly pulled away.
Karne looked disappointed as she touched her lips.
I changed the subject.
“Anyway, with the Chinese Awakeners joining the Association, the capital area will be even safer.”
From what I heard, Association Chairman Yoo Junseo had even proposed the ambitious plan of reclaiming all the abandoned cities in the capital area, but that wasn’t my concern.
Kang Sena would probably clean up whatever mess Yoo Junseo made.
There was only one thing I needed to focus on now.
“Asteria.”
The last remaining 5-star calamity.
The Queen Who Devoured Stars, Asteria.
Among the out-of-spec calamities, she was particularly notorious for her overwhelming power.
“Mother, I plan to seek out Asteria next.”
Calling Karne “Mother” still made me feel a bit embarrassed.
Selene’s face turned red, Mirien gave me a subtle look, and Karne smiled benevolently.
“Very well, my child. What do you wish to know?”
“Mirien’s tracking magic couldn’t locate Asteria. But with your tracking magic, we should be able to find her.”
“…Actor, that’s too harsh.”
Mirien puffed out her cheeks.
Was it a blow to her pride?
I apologized by ruffling her hair.
“Asteria… What a nostalgic name.”
Karne, the Mother of Calamities, had been recruited over Asteria because she was a calamity on par with Mirien in non-combat abilities.
Karne is a superior tracker to Mirien.
Her senses are even more advanced than Mirien’s magic.
“Yes. You’re looking for Asteria, aren’t you?”
Karne nodded with a faint smile.
“There’s no need to use tracking magic. Asteria is very close to us.”
“Close by?”
I tilted my head at Karne’s words, and she slowly spread her wings, enveloping me.
“My lord, you must not—”
Selene’s words were cut off.
Without warning, my vision flipped.
—Whoosh.
“What the—!”
We were above the clouds.
If I hadn’t ridden a storm dragon before, I might have lost consciousness.
The sharp wind brushed past me, but Karne’s wings shielded me.
“M-Mother! What is this…?!”
“Just as you wished, we’ve come to trace Asteria’s whereabouts.”
“…Where exactly are we?”
“If you go straight up from where we were, this is the place.”
“Is Asteria here?”
“More precisely, above us. Now, my child, look up.”
Following Karne’s gentle tone, I lifted my gaze.
“…No way.”
“That’s right.”
Before me was a swirling rift that periodically spewed out calamities.
In the game, it was known as the Vortex.
Karne spoke.
“Asteria is inside there.”
The Queen Who Devoured Stars, Asteria, was inside the rift.