◈ Episode 526. The True Calamity (4)
It was impossible to resist.
“Damn it, what the hell is going on?”
The helicopter swayed precariously.
Nam Cheolmin gripped his tablet tight and looked down at Jeju Island.
He had put distance between himself and Jeju Island from the moment Paimon appeared.
Click.
The analyst who had been manipulating the camera without rest shouted.
“Even using infrared mode, even using the Hawkeye Lens, nothing is visible! That black energy is clearly blocking all observation completely, Chief Analyst...!”
Grind.
Nam Cheolmin gritted his teeth.
The identity of the black energy?
‘…’
‘Everyone was watching.’
That it had originated from the Commander-in-Chief.
Until Paimon appeared.
Just like him.
The helicopters and observation drones flying over Jeju Island.
Naturally, the entire course of events would have been broadcast to the whole world via radio waves.
Nam Cheolmin thought realistically.
‘…’
‘It is the Commander-in-Chief, none other.’
He suppressed the rising worry in a corner of his heart and continued his thoughts. Yes, even if he wavered, the Commander-in-Chief would overcome the current crisis.
‘But the problem is what comes after.’
Seoul, which had become an anomalous land.
Not to mention the countless guild branches.
Because guild houses were densely packed on the narrow land of Seoul.
It was Seoul, where the siege warfare system was permanently active.
What had been the aftermath of that change?
—“An anomalous land is solely the property of the Republic of Korea? There is room for controversy...” — U.S. Senator claims, “Seoul is the land of the world.”
—AAU Official: “The player who becomes the lord of Seoul will possess tremendous power… It is right to select them transparently. If that is not done, terrible things will happen.”
Seoul had become land that players, and the whole world, coveted. It was a problem that the Commander-in-Chief, and even he himself, had known about for a long time.
‘He had declared that he would bear the burden once more.’
That he would become the master of Seoul.
Nam Cheolmin, since that day's dumpling summit, had not neglected the ‘Master of Seoul’ plan.
In that process, he had come to realize.
That this rotten country was overflowing with unrecyclable trash.
‘You could tell just by looking at the media's efforts to keep him in check.’
The media was currently cunningly tearing into the Commander-in-Chief.
Ignoring every accomplishment he had built up until now.
Assuming that the Commander-in-Chief was already the master of Seoul.
They were writing a novel.
‘They must be trying to incite public resentment.’
Of course, the majority of the public had discernment.
Meaning they didn't even pay attention to trashy articles.
But public opinion might change with this incident.
‘…’
‘Because they now have something to tear into.’
It was none other than a raid against the high-ranking Demon King, Paimon.
A new update with rules different from rifts.
In the process of clearing it, damage was bound to follow, logically speaking.
Nam Cheolmin muttered.
“…Because until now, he has shown nothing but nonsensical feats.”
In any battle, he had never lost his uprightness.
Because he was the Commander-in-Chief who never wavered.
But this time was different.
It meant this was a formidable foe that even such a Commander-in-Chief had no choice but to use a new ability he couldn't control. Slap. Nam Cheolmin struck his own cheeks with both hands.
Shake, shake.
Even that wasn't enough; he shook his head.
“Get a grip, Nam Cheolmin.”
Yes, the whole world might slander the Commander-in-Chief.
This too was the Commander-in-Chief's sacrifice.
Without even knowing they had overcome the crisis of destruction thanks to him.
It was highly likely they would babble on ignorantly.
But.
‘Even if the Commander-in-Chief says it is all right…’
Nam Cheolmin himself could not stand by and watch.
‘To do that, I must watch.’
Everything happening on Jeju Island.
The moment Nam Cheolmin shifted his gaze back to Jeju Island.
His face paled.
“!”
It couldn't be helped.
Screeeeech.
A figure plummeting at a fierce speed.
That fluttering robe was all too familiar.
That was a senior mage of the Mage Tower.
Bency William.
Squirm, squirm.
Nam Cheolmin doubted his own senses.
Because it was flickering from Bency's plummeting body.
Black energy.
Compatible mana that the Commander-in-Chief had clearly manifested.
Then did the Commander-in-Chief attack a Mage Tower senior…?
“…I-Impossible.”
The Senior of Pure Mana Studies, Bangrit, shouted.
“Senior Bency!!”
Chief Lee is not in his right state.
The moment the two seniors, Bency and Bangrit, noticed something was off.
Was right after Chief Lee revealed himself on Jeju Island.
—“Why isn't he using magic?”
—“Because he doesn't need to?”
—“That can't be it. You know well, don't you, Bangrit? Chief Lee's mana is of a different caliber. Of course, your mana affinity is top-class as well but… literally, it's on a different dimension.”
Bency wasn't wrong. Chief Lee's mana boasted superior mana efficiency even compared to twilight mana. That was why the two seniors couldn't let down their guard.
—“The Chief Lee I know is someone who wouldn't use a blade meant for chickens when he wields one meant for cattle. Especially when hunting demons.”
—“…And you're saying he still isn't fighting with his all?”
—“Oh ho, that's a dangerous thing to say. It's not that, Bangrit.”
Bency continued without a hint of playfulness.
—“With mana of a different caliber at his disposal, there's no reason to use high-risk compatible mana. Thanks to Senior Matisse, don't you know, Bangrit? The danger of ‘Blackening’.”
Yes, the two senior mages had the knowledge.
—“If he has fallen into a state where he can only use compatible mana… Yes. There is nothing else but the Blackening that Senior Matisse, the variable of black magic, warned us about.”
Thanks to that, they were certain that Chief Lee had fallen into ‘Blackening’.
They had raised their mana to help such a Chief Lee.
Bency in particular manifested the secret magic of the William clan.
Having awakened as the true Flame Emperor.
Bangrit had said to such a Bency:
—“Isn't that excessive?”
—“My head thinks it's excessive, Bangrit. But this intuition is speaking. Warning me.”
—“…?”
Even as he spoke, Bency couldn't be sure.
—“Perhaps that might not be the Chief Lee I know… No. I've spoken nonsense, Bangrit.”
Bangrit understood the meaning of those words only belatedly.
The moment Senior Bency failed to even approach Chief Lee and was flung away.
Only at this very moment did he realize.
“…As expected, something is different.”
Bangrit repressed his overwhelming emotions and looked around.
No demon of great stature remained in this place. The demons that had poured out from the curse were rampaging here and there, but they were not threatening, having lost their master.
The Primordial Satan as well.
The noble Paimon as well.
The giant hand of unknown identity as well.
Now that they no longer existed on Jeju Island.
This uncontrollable fear and confusion was precisely.
Meaning it originated solely from Chief Lee.
Bangrit gritted his teeth.
“…This is impossible, Chief Lee.”
He soon raised all the mana within his body.
The content of the interference was truly simple.
Nothing but emission.
Despite not being from a mage household.
Bangrit's transcendental talent that allowed him to claim a senior seat in the Mage Tower despite that.
That brilliant talent began to shine together with his mana.
Goooooh.
To the point where his curly hair straightened out.
Vast, pure mana burst forth from his body.
He advanced toward Chief Lee in that state.
Squirm, squirm.
Compatible mana that had flung Senior Bency away surged forth.
But Bangrit released even more vast mana.
…Thud.
The unformed magic circle throbbed from that aftershock, but it was fine.
If only he could approach Chief Lee.
Approach him.
Because there was something he absolutely had to ask.
Suddenly, Chief Lee's advice flashed through his mind.
—“You don't necessarily have to compensate for your weaknesses. To the point where your strengths cancel out even your weaknesses. You need only maximize your strengths. Do you not possess such a strength, Senior Mage Bangrit?”
In the end, Chief Lee's advice had been correct.
Thanks to that teaching, although efficiency dropped, he could release pure mana capable of resisting his compatible mana. Bangrit opened his mouth with difficulty.
“…Chief Lee, do you remember?”
For worthless me.
“Even if you do not remember, I shall never forget for the rest of my life. That day when you and Tower Lord Marcello risked your lives for me…”
Bangrit smiled bitterly.
“What was I. What was I, who had nothing but potential. Why you took such risks for me. Even to the moment we stormed the top floor of the Mage Tower together to execute the demon worshippers. I did not know the reason. But…”
Even so.
“Watching Chief Lee's steps, I came to realize.”
Bangrit's eyes shone clearly.
“It wasn't that I was special. Chief Lee was originally such a person. From the start, someone who wouldn't just pass by anyone's hardship…”
That was why he couldn't understand.
“But why, why is it?”
The moment Bangrit suppressed his surging emotions.
Sway.
Long silver hair began to move.
Along with the hair, the head that had been turned away began to turn.
Eventually, the gaze revealed.
Meeting that merciless gaze, Bangrit realized.
“As expected.”
At the same time, he could feel relief.
“It wasn't you…?”
Even if.
That appearance may be the same.
That was not the Chief Lee I knew.
…Thud.
Having confirmed it, Bangrit had no lingering attachments left.
The moment the forced mana emission ended.
Bangrit lost consciousness.
Squirm, squirm.
Toward such a Bangrit.
It stretched out with compatible mana that dominated the area.
Those isolated on Jeju Island watched that sight.
“Senior Bangrit…!”
Jessie covered her mouth.
Even with the insight of the Tower Lord within the pointed hat.
The current situation was not something he could understand at all.
Thus, all he could do was warn.
—Do not think of stopping that one, Jessie.
“But…”
—That is neither the Chief Lee you know nor the Chief Lee I know. Must I speak more plainly for you to understand? Then let me say this: that is ‘something’ wearing Chief Lee's shell.
The pointed hat added more to break Jessie's stubbornness.
—Do you think you are any different from Bency and Bangrit?
The Tower Lord felt a bitter pang.
Bency had been flung away and Bangrit was in crisis?
No, mages of the Mage Tower are that kind of people.
No one can guarantee when or where they will die.
That truth was something Bency and Bangrit.
Those children would know better than anyone.
Because it's a position one cannot ascend to without such resolve.
The seat of a senior.
That is why, in this moment.
The reason my insides, which shouldn't even exist now, burn is entirely because of you, something that is not Chief Lee, yes. The Tower Lord looked around from within the pointed hat.
—The compatible mana has formed its own domain.
Like the basement of the Mage Tower, the Mugeon.
Like.
The meaning of those words is simple.
External interference with the inside is impossible.
There is also no means to escape from inside to outside.
The lives of those trapped here depend on this Chief.
No, on something wearing this Chief's shell.
It was the moment the Tower Lord made a cold judgment.
Goooooh.
Purple light flickered from Jessie's body.
—Jessie…
Twilight mana extending outward.
It was a manifestation to save the falling Bangrit.
But had even that drawn its attention?
Something's gaze turned precisely toward Jessie.
Squirm, squirm.
Immediately, compatible mana began to stretch toward Jessie.
It was then.
Something unbelievable had occurred.
In an instant.
Fwaaash.
Compatible mana scattered into empty air.
Grandfell had stopped.
To be precise.
A ‘ray of light’ within Grandfell had awakened.
In that instant.
Humanity had deviated from Paimon's prophecy.
It was neither some powerful skill, nor magic, nor sorcery.
Merely from the inner pocket of his jacket.
Thanks to a small, resounding beat.
Buzz. [Sender: Big Sister]
“…!”