Chapter 65: Long Live the Queen – (5)

Is this what it feels like to be a cult leader?

I spread my arms wide, looking at Shin Dohee, the sociopath with a look of awe on her face. 

Despite my simple attire—just a worn-out T-shirt and torn jeans—the image of me reflected in her eyes was unmistakably close to the Second Coming of Jesus that cult leaders often preached about.

[5★ North Sea’s Storm, Mirien, activates the skill “Manifestation Mirror.”]

Mirien’s disguise skill was truly magnificent. 

She had draped me in the appearance of Actor from the Disaster Order game.

In fact, this was the first time I had seen the true form of Actor, the Rift Lord, with my own eyes. 

In the game, the player character’s appearance was never shown.

‘So, this is what I looked like?’

I had prepared myself somewhat, but seeing it directly was still quite shocking.

The Rift Lord Actor from Mirien’s memory was nothing short of godlike. 

Wearing a mask shaped like a weeping face, draped in a black cloak, with a red halo slowly rotating behind his head. 

And that wasn’t all. 

Below his ankles, gray smoke billowed out, giving him an appearance straight out of a Lovecraftian nightmare.

Now I understood why the disasters were so loyal to me.

If they remembered this form, even the great calamities would be intimidated.

And if even the disasters were afraid, how much more so would a mere human like Shin Dohee be?

“Y-you are…”

Finally, Shin Dohee’s lips parted.

“The Executor?”

‘Executor?’

I hesitated for a moment, but Karne, who was holding onto my cloak, relayed the meaning through telepathy.

[That’s the god she believes in. Supposedly, he destroys the world and rebuilds it. It’s ridiculous. It’s like she’s talking about me.]

I nodded slightly.

Since Shin Dohee had brought it up first, I would now have to play the role of the Executor she imagined.

The inspiration for this approach came from my earlier conversation with Selene.

In Selene’s past, the god had given her revelations and prophecies. 

Instead of nodding, I made a strange hand gesture, something you’d see in a ninja manga.

That was the signal.

A voice echoed in Shin Dohee’s mind.

[Everything you believe is true.]

“Executor!”

Of course, it wasn’t me speaking. 

Mirien was merely conveying the message through telepathy, but to Shin Dohee, hearing a mysterious, androgynous voice in her mind must have felt like a miracle.

Incidentally, the script for this ridiculous third-rate play was written by Karne, the Mother of Omnes.

Having once been worshipped as a god, she was an expert in such matters.

Shin Dohee fell to her knees.

“It… it was true! My father’s words… truly…”

[Fear not, child. You are destined to become my star, the star of the world.]

“The Executor has manifested to destroy this world. I have been faithfully building your kingdom as your servant.”

The fact that it was a kingdom of terror was a problem, but Shin Dohee didn’t seem to care.

She knelt and assumed a praying posture, and Mirien spoke.

[I commend you. Now is the time to prove your faith.]

“Proof! Has the time of the holy war finally come?”

Whether she followed Buddhist or Catholic doctrines, or both, Shin Dohee pressed her palms together in prayer toward the Executor—me.

[Holy war? You misunderstand.]

As I gestured, Mirien’s telepathy continued.

[First, bring me the sacred relic.]

“Yes!”

Shin Dohee offered the gospel she had been clutching.

After a moment of hesitation, I slapped her hand, causing the gospel to fall.

Karne, quick on the uptake, used her magic to burn the gospel to ashes.

In front of the bewildered Shin Dohee, I slightly bent my knee.

[Foolish child.]

“I-I’m sorry! I, a lowly servant, cannot comprehend the Executor’s will!”

[The sacred relic is my crown. It is the final piece needed to complete my will.]

“Ah!”

Shin Dohee hurriedly opened her status window and pulled out the crown fragment.

A metallic shard glowing with a red aura.

“This is the sacred relic!”

[4☆ Fragment of the Shattered Crown]

‘No doubt about it.’

I reached out my hand. Just in case a system message popped up, Karne collected the crown fragment instead.

Shin Dohee held her breath.

[Your faith is truly deep. But there is one thing I must tell you.]

The reason I didn’t choose the simple option of killing Shin Dohee.

[Shed no unnecessary blood. The kingdom you rule must be a holy sanctuary. Wait for the coming apocalypse, not through war and destruction, but according to the divine will.]

Shin Dohee’s eyes wavered.

Her eccentric actions were based more on her own nature than any divine will.

But now that a divine being had descended and spoken directly…

“Ah.”

Shin Dohee bowed her head deeply.

“Yes! I will follow the Executor’s will!”

Indeed, there was no better way to manipulate a fanatic.

When I first explained the plan, Selene had smiled bitterly.

But even she recognized that this was the best approach.

There was precedent.

A single word from a god had sparked wars, and that damned revelation had sent her to the stake.

In a way, wasn’t this just as blasphemous?

‘Well, one problem solved.’

I took the crown fragment from Karne and tucked it into my pocket.

That made three.

Only four fragments remained.

I signaled to Karne.

It was time to leave after delivering some final words of praise to Shin Dohee.

But.

[Child. Listen well.]

It wasn’t just Shin Dohee who was moved by this performance.

Mirien, the North Sea’s Storm, who was narrating, seemed to have gotten carried away.

She began reciting lines I hadn’t asked for.

[My true name is ‘Actor.’]

“Actor!”

[Yes. The one who wears a mask, acts out all things, and has a thousand, no, ten thousand faces.]

“Ah, ahhh!”

Shin Dohee’s expression grew increasingly ecstatic.

Before Selene could stop her, Mirien continued in an excited voice.

[The apocalypse is near.]

“The apocalypse! I’ve been waiting for it!”

[When the time comes, I shall return. Build a fortress. Raise walls. Let us dream of defying heaven together.]

Hearing this telepathic message that went against my will, Shin Dohee nodded vigorously.

The next day, Shin Dohee gathered all the awakened under the Busan clan and proclaimed her infinite faith in Actor.

A storm of change swept across the Korean peninsula.

*

Mirien’s impulsive actions had significant repercussions.

The Rift Lord Actor, whose whereabouts had been a mystery, was once again the talk of the town.

[Who is the ‘Rift Lord’? The mysterious entity that has taken control of Busan.]

[The end of the national system? Busan under single rule.]

[Government and Awakened Association, “On high alert regarding the changes in Busan…”]

For the media, which had lacked major news since the mass defection of the Chinese alliance, this was a juicy story.

The comments on the articles were equally outrageous. Some trembled in fear, others argued that trusting Actor was better than trusting the government, and there were even those who disliked both.

“…Huh.”

The emerging religious group that worshipped Actor, which Mirien had created in the past, had now taken control of all of Busan.

All because of Mirien’s impulsive actions.

Even the Association called.

[Ms. Nam Jooyeon, this is Yoo Junseon, the Association head. I’m not trying to pick a fight, but I just heard you’re in Busan. The leader there has declared themselves a follower of Actor, so if you need any support…]

“No, I don’t need it.”

[Oh, okay. I figured as much. Actually, I already knew… it’s just that Kang Se-na and Yang kept pushing me to call… Oh, I wasn’t supposed to say that? Sorry…]

“…”

I sighed deeply and hung up.

Then I turned my head.

Selene had already taken care of things.

There, with her arms and legs bound, was the small figure of the troublemaker, looking utterly wronged.

Even as a great calamity, with two beings of equal power present, Mirien couldn’t resist.

With a look of exasperation, I spoke.

“Mirien, do you want to be punished?”

“U-uh.”

Mirien looked like a child who had broken a plate.

Why had the world bestowed such immense power on this seemingly innocent girl?

I resented the world.

“Mirien, why did you do that?”

“B-because… everyone in the world should know how amazing Actor is.”

Her motives were so pure that I couldn’t even get angry.

Even Selene seemed to agree, nodding her head.

“Your thoughts aren’t entirely wrong, you magical brat.”

“R-right! Selene, you too…”

“From a general perspective, you’re not wrong. But if it contradicts our lord’s will, then it is wrong.”

“Haha. Selene, it’s been a while since you’ve said something sensible.”

Karne chimed in.

In any case, with the next eruption approaching and the need to gather crown fragments, having unnecessary rumors about Actor ruling Busan would do more harm than good.

Selene drove the point home. For some reason, a bitter smile had appeared on her face.

“My lord, please give this vile and filthy magical brat the punishment she deserves.”

“Selene, let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you holding a sword hilt?”

“Just in case you order me to cut off her head.”

“A-Actor? No, right?”

Somehow, Selene had become even more ruthless since drinking the Elixir.

“I-I don’t plan to kill her…”

I pondered for a moment.

How should I punish this mischievous girl?

I naturally recalled my time in the military.

“…Let’s send her to the brig.”

That day, Mirien was locked in the Tower of Defiance.

For the hyperactive Mirien, it was the worst possible punishment.