The changes that occurred when Karne, Mother of Omens, joined my base were not just limited to making it easier to track the enemy’s movements.
“How is it? Is it manageable to move around?”
“Yes. But, my lord, isn’t it still dangerous?”
“It’s fine. There’s also a perception-hindering spell in place. Even if people recognize us, they won’t feel anything too unusual.”
Karne’s stealth skills are unparalleled.
It goes beyond simply hiding; she can make it so that even if the enemy is directly looking at us, they won’t recognize us.
The skill is called “Echo of Nothingness,” also known as the “Hypnosis App.”
In Disaster Order, this skill was used to skip battles with minor enemies, but now it was being used for a stroll around Busan with Selene.
“Actually, I couldn’t use it during the Great War. My face was too well-known, and the population was small enough that if someone like me disappeared, it would be noticeable.”
However, unlike during the Great War, Busan is a fairly large city.
The population is also substantial.
Unlike Chungcheong Province, where people could flee to Seoul, this city at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula was treated as a destination for refugees.
As a result, the number of refugees gathered here initially seemed to exceed millions, but after five eruptions, that number had dropped to less than 10% of its original size.
Even so, it was still considered a metropolis, second only to Seoul.
Of course, the government’s influence was minimal.
Just like in Daejeon, despite being a directly governed city, the awakened ones held more power here than anything else.
It was a kingdom of terror ruled by Queen Shin Do-hee.
“My lord, I understand up to this point. But… is there a reason you must accompany me?”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No, not at all. It’s not that I dislike it. What I’m worried about is… Mirien.”
After setting Karne to investigate Shin Dohee, I went out into the city of Busan with Selene.
Where is Mirien, you ask?
– ‘Actor, I really like you. But at the same time, I also really, really dislike you.’
I left her behind. Mirien is like a big, gentle dog.
She’s affectionate and cute in many ways, but when it comes to walks, she needs a muzzle.
She’s as extreme as Selene, but Mirien has a tendency to go on rampages, making her difficult to control.
“Well, there’s that reason too…”
I glanced at Selene.
If it were before, Selene would have met my gaze, but she quietly averted her eyes.
“I just wanted to go out with you, Selene.”
“Eek.”
At my words, Selene’s shoulders trembled slightly.
In fact, I was still reeling from hearing about Selene’s past execution by burning.
I still don’t know the pasts of the calamities I command.
Especially the ashen-haired saintess before me.
Karne had told me her story, and Mirien had heard the details from Selene.
But even now, I knew little about the charred saintess Selene.
All I knew was that she once served a god, but then betrayed him and became a witch who burned the world.
“I just want to know more about you.”
“…My lord.”
“In the game, no… inside the rift, we didn’t have a chance to talk. I… I just…”
“Yes. You were on the divine throne.”
“…Right.”
Calling myself a god was incredibly embarrassing.
But it seemed that Selene and the other calamities genuinely believed it.
“Ahem. Anyway, I think I need to know more about my subordinates.”
“Yes. My lord’s words are always right. However, my past is not something to be proud of.”
“It’s fine.”
“If that’s my lord’s wish…”
Selene nodded with a bitter smile.
The scenery of Busan city was mostly destroyed after five eruptions.
Stalls were overturned or shattered, and Selene stopped in front of a shop.
Whether it was due to a fire-attribute calamity running amok or the owner neglecting to turn off the gas valve and fleeing, the area around the shop was completely charred.
Selene, who also bore the title of the Charred Saintess, spoke up.
“I was a saintess.”
I already knew that from her title.
“As a child, I was chosen by a god and granted divine power. The people of the continent treated me like a living god, saying that all of them were the god’s new chosen ones. Looking back now, it’s laughable, but I truly believed that their treatment was sincere.”
Given that there were similar cases in Earth’s history, I wasn’t too surprised.
Selene walked a bit further and saw a large cross erected in the middle of the city.
South Korea had so many churches that even the Second Coming of Jesus would be surprised.
“Being a saintess meant standing at the center of the continent’s politics. A war broke out. It was because of a revelation from the god.”
“A revelation?”
“It was a revelation that the god’s vanguard would conquer the continent. The holy knights enthusiastically accepted this revelation.”
In other words, the god had commanded his followers to wage a holy war.
It was a history very familiar to me.
“…I was, unfortunately, made a symbol of the holy war. Even in the war that followed, countless knights wearing armor with my name died.”
It was like a fantasy version of the Crusades.
A familiar yet brutal term.
Selene’s voice was detached as she continued.
“And then the god’s army was defeated, and I had to take responsibility. The people believed that the defeat in the god’s ordained war was not the god’s fault, but the fault of his representative.”
“That’s…”
“They needed a scapegoat.”
Thud.
Selene’s steps halted again.
This time, it was in front of an execution stand that had been erected in place of a Christmas tree.
As Queen Shin Dohee of Busan had said, the bodies of those she had executed were hung here.
They were already decayed and unrecognizable, but this single symbol was enough to maintain the city’s order.
Of course, Selene might have seen it differently.
“And so I was hung on the pyre and burned.”
“…”
“My body, which had received the god’s power, did not burn easily. Moreover, I was not devout enough to humbly offer my life.”
Although she had drunk an elixir and recovered from her injuries, Selene’s voice was slightly hoarse.
She must have been recalling those events.
After a brief pause, Selene continued in a colder tone.
“So I burned everything. I renounced the god and burned those who had put me on the pyre. Burning one person led to burning another, and the fire spread from person to person. In the end, I burned everything. Yes, in a way, the god’s revelation was correct.”
Selene turned her head.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“After all, the god’s vanguard—that is, me—conquered the continent.”
“…Huh.”
“If even that was the god’s intention, then that being is inferior to you, my lord.”
“…”
“To me, the only god is you, my lord. You extended a hand of salvation to me, and I will remember that grace until my life burns to ashes.”
Her gratitude was overwhelming.
But on the other hand, I understood.
I had simply summoned Selene in a game, but to her, my appearance must have felt like that of a savior.
Even after coming to another dimension and learning that I was human, her loyalty had a valid reason.
Mirien, Karne, and Asteria were no different.
“My lord, I wish to remain your loyal servant.”
In the end, all I could do was strive to be the ideal leader based on their support.
“Even if you become the absolute ruler. Even if you reign over all dimensions as an overwhelming existence.”
Selene seemed to have made up her mind.
“Would it still be alright if I were by your side?”
“…”
“Of course, I would not oppose your decision to embrace that spellcaster Mirien or that harlot Karne. However…”
Selene hesitated for a moment, then cautiously continued after seeing my expression.
“At the end, could I be by your throne, even just a little, even an inch?”
“…”
“Would it be alright if I were closer to you, even if it meant taking a little more of your affection?”
As she spoke, Selene no longer seemed like the cold and loyal servant she had been before, but rather like an ordinary girl.
I was momentarily speechless. Then a message appeared.
[5★ North Sea Storm Mirien is watching you.]
[5★ Omen Mother Karne is watching you.]
Ominous messages floated before my eyes.
But now was not the time for system messages.
“Selene.”
“Yes.”
“I grant you permission.”
“…”
The charred saintess—no, the loyal servant Selene—widened her eyes at my words.
For a moment, she showed me a bright smile, one she had never shown before.
“Yes, my lord. I will follow you to paradise.”
“Good.”
I was glad that Selene’s ending was no longer a descent into ruin.