Fired Characters from an Idle Game

41. A Gathering of Acquaintances – (1)

The Republic of Korea was, in reality, under a state of anarchy, save for the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

The current South Korean government organizations, represented by the Awakened Management Bureau, had already lost control of everything but a few key areas in the capital region.

The local governments, meant to act on behalf of the provinces, had long ceded their rule to the Awakened affiliated with their respective cities, with the exception of major metropolises like Busan.

Consequently, news from the provinces was merely a vague story from another world in the capital region, and the Seoul-based media outlets did not cover provincial affairs in any great detail.

“…Huh.”

Perhaps that was why. The reality of the Republic of Korea that I directly encountered was quite astonishing.

As soon as we passed through the checkpoint, which was supposedly secured with ironclad measures, and entered North Chungcheong Province, the landscape drastically changed.

Grasping the steering wheel, I couldn’t help but feel inwardly awed.

‘To think the world could have deteriorated this far in just five months.’

Had I stayed in Seoul for too long? Stepping outside of the capital region, the dramatically decaying landscape felt utterly alien to me.

Faded, half-fallen signboards, cracked roads, and streets devoid of a single soul.

It resembled the post-apocalyptic games I used to enjoy.

Moreover, all of this damage was caused by the calamities I had sown.

Even if unknowingly, I could hardly be entirely absolved of responsibility.

“….”

…Though.

I already felt like I was bearing my due share of the burden.

I could tell simply by listening to the bickering in the back seat.

“…Mirien, this time, do *not* pull any foolish stunts. If you ruin the Lord’s expedition, I will personally rip your heart out.”

“There’s a saying for moments like this.”

“And what is that?”

“Mind your own business.”

“Would you be so kind as to bring your face closer?”

“Why?”

“So I can sew that insolent mouth of yours shut.”

The Charred Saint, Selene.

The North Sea Storm, Mirien.

These two calamities were currently riding in the back seat of my sedan.

Originally, I had intended to bring only Selene, but I had a feeling that doing so would invite ruin, so I brought Mirien along as well.

And shockingly, the two of them were currently bickering.

I couldn’t begin to guess whether they were on good terms or bad.

“…You two, I told you not to fight.”

“Actor, *she’s* being mean to me. Punish her.”

“You magical nuisance, do not bother our Lord. Do you have a death wish?”

“…”

What to even say?

Is this what it’s like to raise children?

Mirien, understanding that I seemed uncomfortable, shut her mouth, and Selene cautiously asked me,

“But Lord, after subjugating the Nests to bolster our forces, are you planning to confront Karne?”

“I would prefer to avoid fighting if possible, but some friction will be unavoidable to reach Karne.”

I had received assurances from Selene, but I didn’t know exactly what kind of personality Karne, the Mother of Ill Omens, possessed. I didn’t know what she was thinking, having been abandoned at the stronghold, or what her ultimate goal was.

However, considering Mirien’s report that she was already reaping the lives of tens of millions to create a legion of followers…

It didn’t seem likely that Karne was the type to quietly listen and resolve misunderstandings. More likely, she’d cause an incident even greater than the last eruption of the Tower of Reverse Heaven.

There was only one thing we could do.

“We need to subjugate the Nests in the provinces, gather more Calamities, and craft equipment.”

“Equipment, you say?”

Equipment could also be obtained through Calamity Synthesis. For me, having quickly obtained a 4-star Calamity, equipment wasn’t a huge need, but things would be different moving forward.

“I need to somehow get an elixir for you, Selene, too, right?”

“…Lord.”

Selene’s expression was one of genuine admiration.

She wasn’t in peak condition at the moment. To heal the internal burns from the flames, she needed an Elixir, a 4-star consumable item, just like in the game.

Thankfully, Mirien, with her high synthesis aptitude, had joined the base, so obtaining an Elixir shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Anyway, this is for all of us. Don’t you two fight, and try to cooperate as much as possible.”

“Mm.”

“Yes, Lord. I will follow you even to the abyss.”

“Seriously, our base isn’t the abyss.”

Even though the scenery outside the window was clearly menacing, having a peaceful conversation with the two Great Disasters in the back seat gave me the odd feeling of being on a trip.

Of course, that subtly elated atmosphere was shattered the next moment by a massive harpoon that flew into the middle of the road.

*Kra-shack!*

“…Hmm.”

To be honest, I wasn’t that surprised.

The harpoon was stuck way over there.

It wasn’t meant to attack us directly. It was purely to block the passage.

“…Lord, it seems there are attackers. Shall I take care of them?”

“Actor, there are exactly eleven of them. They’re on the barricade over there. A single lightning strike would clean them up.”

Mirien and Selene each uttered ominous words.

I shook my head and replied,

“No, there’s no need for that.”

I knew just by looking at the shape of that harpoon.

[2★ Coral Reef Hunter used skill 「Harpoon Throw」.]

This was a skill of the 2-star disaster, the Coral Reef Hunter. And there’s no way a wild disaster would be roaming around a perfectly normal city center.

Sure enough. Several figures emerged from beyond the barricades lined up along the road.

They were Awakened ones wearing rough cloaks and masks.

“Halt! This is the territory of our Daejeon Clan!”

“…Hah.”

Now that reality had become a game, the world had become one where people unashamedly spoke of embarrassing terms like clans or guilds.

It still felt alien.

In Daejeon resided the largest Awakened group in Chungcheong Province.

Lacking a proper name, they were simply called the Daejeon Clan, a moniker derived from their locale. This Awakened group effectively reigned as the ruling power over Daejeon.

Hadn’t they said the government had lost its grip in the provinces? Witnessing a society primarily driven by Awakened Ones was a first, even for me.

“From here on out, this is our territory.”

The Awakened One guiding me was a man who’d cut his teeth, so to speak, possessing a 3-Star Calamity.

“There’s a market as well. Here, you can buy and sell using Experience Coins.”

Fortunately, it seemed my reputation carried weight even in the provinces.

And the Daejeon Clan wasn’t so closed-off that they’d turn away an S-Class Awakened One at the door.

After I conveyed my intention to subjugate the Nest, they built a bridge for me to meet the Clan Leader directly.

“And… this is where the Clan Leader resides.”

The Daejeon Clan had established their base of operations within the Government Complex.

Which begged the question, where had all the civil servants who should have been here gone?

I didn’t bother asking. I feared a grim response would be my reward.

The interior of the Complex, as I entered, was in disarray. Partitions were erected everywhere, and most entrances, including the windows, were barricaded with wooden planks.

“Ironclad security, I see.”

“It hasn’t been like this for even a month. Recently, some strange fellow infiltrated the stronghold and killed around a dozen people. And he wasn’t even caught. It’s only thanks to the Clan Leader that he was driven out.”

“Hmph…”

“So, about that, do you happen to have any weapons or such on your person?”

“No, I don’t.”

Thankfully, no search was conducted. I subtly caressed the 5-Star equipment, Shell of the Dead God, nestled in my inner pocket.

I felt like I was walking into the enemy’s maw alone, but with this gear, I should be able to avoid most harm.

[5★ Scorched Saintess Selene is casting skill「Midnight Veil」.]

[5★ Myrene, Storm of the North Sea is casting skill「Shadow Sojourn」.]

More importantly, two 5-Star Calamities utilizing stealth skills were tailing me.

The man’s perception failed to detect this, and he led me to a large room on the 7th floor without any suspicion.

“Brother Tae-min, I’ve brought the S-Class Awakened One I reported about.”

“Let him in. Just him.”

A gravelly voice echoed from beyond the door.

Cautiously, I grasped the doorknob and stepped inside.

There, I found a man wearing a massive eye patch over one eye, Jeon Tae-min.

Broad shoulders and a face etched with menace, not to mention the ink swallowing his one arm whole.

He wasn’t so different in appearance from the thug who’d threatened me back when I first awakened. If that b*stard had survived, maybe he’d be in Tae-min’s position now.

Lost in such trivial musings, Tae-min finally spoke, chin propped on his hand.

“So, you’re the S-rank? Unnecessarily pretty, if you ask me.”

Tae-min’s voice dripped with hostility.

It seemed a little upstart Awakened, famous in Seoul, had stumbled into his territory, and he was feeling rather territorial himself.

I forced my face into its most impassive mask and gave a curt nod.

“Your business?”

“Nest subjugation.”

Tae-min’s brow furrowed, clearly already briefed by his underlings.

“I refuse. The Nest is our property.”

“…You refuse even though I’m offering to subjugate the Nest for you?”

“Ha, what a greenhorn. Keeping the Nest around is more profitable than destroying it. Sure, it bursts now and then, killing a few people, but those are just non-Awakened. Not our problem.”

Tae-min sneered, his lips twisting as he looked me up and down.

It seemed his personality was just as rotten as his appearance suggested.

“Get lost. But I’ll at least feed you before you go, so if you’re hungry, head down to the cafeteria and give them my name.”

“….”

What to do?

I had no intention of meekly turning around just because he told me to.

Should I demonstrate the difference in our power, then?

But before I could act, Tae-min’s face twisted into an expression of stark terror.

“…You, you are!”

Tae-min wasn’t looking at me.

He was staring, transfixed, at some point directly behind me, his face drained of color.

[5★ Miriene, Tempest of the Northern Sea, cancels the concentration of her skill, «Shadow Swim».]

Miriene, who must have cancelled her stealth, stood beside me now.

I couldn’t find it in myself to scold her for it.

“Th-that woman! How?!”

Tae-min recognized Miriene.

He tumbled from his chair, clutching at his shoulders and trembling as if gripped by PTSD, a far cry from the casually dismissive demeanor he’d shown me just moments before.

“…What happened, Mirien?”

I looked at Mirien with an expression demanding explanation, and she scratched her cheek sheepishly, flashing an almost saccharine smile.

“Well, the truth is, I killed a few people here, back in the day.”

“…”

Mirien’s words reminded me of something the Awakened one who guided me on the first floor said earlier.

‘Recently, some strange person infiltrated the base and killed like, a dozen people. And they weren’t even caught!’

“…”

Was that you?