People couldn’t believe the reality before their eyes.
《Apocalypse-grade》
Since the ranking of urban legends was established, the ‘Apocalypse-grade’ had never once revealed itself.
There is nothing more primal than the fear born of ignorance.
“Apocalypse-grade… what the hell is that…? Did something like that even exist…?”
A being that had never once revealed itself.
The strongest urban legend to appear until now was Destruction-grade.
They had thought nothing existed above that, yet now, a being presumed to be ‘above’ it was right before their eyes.
“A-ah… are we all going to die…?”
“I-I don’t want to… Mom….”
People sat down one by one, voices mixed with sobs.
But there were two men who didn’t give up even in this hopeless moment.
“Everyone, please step back.”
“Hmm, no matter how I look at it, she just seems like a young girl… Is she really an urban legend?”
Han Dojin, Guild Master of Dawn’s Light, and Seo Jihun, Director of the Urban Legend Countermeasures Headquarters.
Korea’s strongest Awakened, the nation’s pride, stood face-to-face with the silver-haired girl.
“Guild Master, are you ready?”
Jihun clenched his fist, finishing his preparations for battle.
“Of course. However… Director.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I’ve never seen an urban legend that looks so perfectly human, but… is she really an urban legend? Could there be an urban legend behind us making us hallucinate….”
Until now, the characteristic of all discovered urban legends was that they took bizarre forms.
There were those that somewhat resembled humans, but even they always had some twisted part somewhere.
But on the contrary, the girl before them now showed no such part whatsoever.
Far from it, rather…….
“The child is far too beautiful, don’t you think?”
“That she is.”
Jihun was thinking the same thing as Dojin.
However, no matter how much she didn’t look like an urban legend, it was an undeniable fact that the girl before them had unfolded a nether realm.
“We’ll have to clash with her first, I suppose.”
“…We have no other choice. That girl hasn’t reacted no matter how much we’ve tried to talk to her since earlier.”
Kugugugu—
A bleak energy exploded from the two men’s bodies, and an intense shockwave swept across the plaza.
Around Jihun, the form of a giant revolved, and an invisible power enveloped him.
From Dojin’s body, intense flames fierce enough to burn everything away soared up.
They were their own unique Awakened abilities, obtained by purging urban legends.
“This old man will go first.”
“Understood.”
With the two men approaching right before her, emanating murderous intent.
But even in this dire moment.
“…….”
The girl merely tilted her head and stared at them.
Not wary, not interested—merely an observing gaze.
An attitude as if Dojin and Jihun were beneath her notice.
“Girl, let’s see what this ‘Apocalypse-grade’ business is about.”
Kwa-ang!!
Jihun brought his fist, wrapped in the giant’s form, straight down toward the girl.
The shockwave from his light swing alone was enough to sweep away the surrounding street trees and vehicles.
However.
“Huh… how…?”
Jihun’s fist did not reach the girl.
Even though she hadn’t moved a single step from her spot.
“What…?”
“…….”
“…Girl, have you put up some kind of formless barrier?”
It wasn’t simple defense nor evasion, but an absolute law that seemed to say, ‘Nothing further is permitted.’
Jihun’s attack was futilely blocked by that law.
“Director, I’ll take it this time…!”
As Jihun’s attack was blocked, Dojin immediately unleashed his ability.
Hwareureuk—!!
“No matter how strong that barrier is, it won’t be able to withstand the heat of flames!”
The moment Dojin’s two hands crossed, flames whirled like a tornado and completely engulfed the girl.
Kwa-ang!
His ability as the Master of Dawn’s Light, which had incinerated countless urban legends.
Crimson flames that burned everything surrounded the girl and blazed up.
‘With this…!’
No matter how powerful the girl was as an urban legend, she must have taken damage.
That’s what Dojin was thinking.
However.
From within the flames that seemed to devour everything.
“…….”
The girl stood still again, as if nothing had happened.
Not a single strand of hair was burnt, not one fingertip moved.
She simply stood there, staring blankly at them.
“…Impossible.”
The moment Dojin’s face was painted with shock, the girl moved her lips for the first time.
“Interference……”
Kwadeudeudeudeuk—
The girl merely spoke softly and raised her hand, yet the surrounding space gradually began to distort.
A feeling as if space itself responded to the girl with a will of its own.
“Kuk…!”
“What the hell is this…?”
Jihun and Dojin reflexively tried to resist, but.
Kwaaa-ang—!!
Within mere seconds of the girl raising her hand, the two men were flung dozens of meters away.
“……!”
“Those two… in a single blow…?”
The citizens couldn’t say a word.
The situation where Dojin and Jihun, called the strongest in Korea, were helplessly blown away by a single gesture of a small girl.
It was like a human playing with ants.
“……A-ahhh…….”
Everyone’s legs gave out, unable to move.
“It’s over…….”
“Now… it’s all over…….”
Despair.
Hopelessness.
Negative emotions swallowed the entire plaza.
“…….”
The silver-haired girl slowly raised her head.
With the annoying nuisances beside her gone, she seemed ready to begin her actions in earnest.
There was likely no one left who could stop that girl now.
Everyone was thinking that.
Right then.
Shwaaaak—!!
“Uwaack…! Wh-what is it now?!”
“E-everyone look there! In the center of the plaza!!”
“Plaza… center…?”
Something alien began to rise from the center of the plaza.
Kwaaaa—
Black fog swirled as darkness tore apart.
From within, a man’s silhouette slowly revealed itself.
【……】
Black hair like the pitch-black night sky.
Pupils that shone like obsidian.
He called out someone’s name in a low, deep voice.
【Collector.】
“……!!”
The girl’s pupils contracted slightly upon hearing that man’s voice.
The first change in the girl since she first appeared and had shown no reaction until now.
She was making an expression of interest for the first time.
“……Found you.”
* * *
A few minutes ago.
“*Cough*…! *Cough*…! Ah shit, I aspirated my beer!”
While leisurely watching the bell-ringing ceremony on YouTube, I spat out all the beer I was drinking.
I had thought something was strange since I heard a tearing sound…….
The moment I saw the girl caught on camera, I nearly fainted on the spot.
—Where… are you…?
A voice that rang like an old music box.
Light silver hair and golden eyes that held light within them.
I know a character with these traits all too well.
“…The Collector?”
She’s one of the most powerful urban legends in the novel… Why are you there?
What, is this some hilarious hidden camera prank?
While I was thinking that, a nether realm swallowed my room and passed through.
Kugugugugu—
“……Ah.”
This is real.
The real ‘Collector’ has appeared in the middle of Seoul!
“What the hell is this at the start of the new year… Huh?”
While I was in the middle of panicking.
The silhouettes of two burly men appeared on the live broadcast screen.
The Director of the Urban Legend Countermeasures Headquarters and the Guild Master of Dawn’s Light.
They immediately unfolded their abilities and rushed at the Collector as if to stop her.
“C-could it be?!”
I had heard those two were among the strongest Awakened in Korea.
If so, there was a chance they could beat the Collector…!!
Kwaaa-ang—!!
“…….”
My expectations were shattered in less than 30 seconds.
“…As if! Damn, no matter how strong she is, how could they get blown away in one hit?!”
The two were taken out by a light gesture from the girl.
“*Sigh*, I had a feeling….”
Honestly, it was an ending I had expected to some degree.
That girl with golden eyes was none other than an ‘Apocalypse-grade’ urban legend.
Apocalypse-grade.
The strongest grade of urban legend appearing in the novel.
Honestly, when the Apocalypse-grade first appeared, I thought the author had messed up the balance.
Because not once had they been purged since their appearance.
‘They were natural disasters themselves, so impossible to purge that all you could do was pray they’d pass by.’
But such an urban legend has appeared in reality now?
It might be easier to just close my eyes tight and dive out the window.
“Hey, you damn author…! No matter how you write, this is—”
While I was shouting at the top of my lungs, cursing the author.
Ding!
“…Huh?”
Along with a notification sound I seemed to have heard somewhere, a strange message window popped up before my eyes.
【Please bring the Apocalypse-grade urban legend’s story to an end.】
【Stories resolved: 0】
“Huh?”
A status window-like UI suddenly appeared.
It kept displaying messages regardless of my will.
【Apocalypse-grade urban legends are girls who bear sin in their bodies.】
【Only by bringing those pitiful girls’ stories to an end can your world return to its former peaceful days.】
“…So you’re telling me to purge an Apocalypse-grade that even the novel couldn’t handle…?”
【Yes.】
“Wait, is this real-time communication?”
【……】
The notification window seemed to hesitate slightly before shamelessly lying.
【No.】
“…It is!!!”
【…Anyway, I’m asking you, Sihyeon! I’ve always been watching you!】
“*Sigh*… No matter how things are, how can you just pop up out of nowhere and make such a demand….”
Shuuuu—
“…Huh?”
The moment I tried to refute the notification window’s absurd demand.
Suddenly, the black energy wrapping around my body began to swirl beneath my feet.
“…Wait, what is this?”
【Sihyeon, please… save the Collector.】
“N-no, wait!! Wait a minute!!”
I could tell instinctively.
This was definitely a forced event!
‘I don’t know what it is, but I’m definitely going to get caught up in something incredibly annoying…!’
Swish swish!
I reflexively waved my arms and struggled to escape the black vortex, but.
It seemed the time was already too late.
“Hey, what should I call you, notification window? Let’s talk for a sec…!”
【Sihyeon, I’m sorry. There’s no more time. I believe you can definitely do it!】
Shwaaaak—!!
Feeling my body float up, I was sucked into the black vortex.
“Hey! You damn notification window……! I’ll get you later……!!”
And so, after feeling dizzy for a while, the place I opened my eyes to.
‘Ung…?!?!’
Was the middle of Bosingak Plaza, where the Apocalypse-grade girl’s golden eyes were shining.
‘Haha… I’m screwed?’