Fired Characters from an Idle Game

19. How an S-Class Awakened One Lives – (2)

Kang Sena’s place wasn’t large, but it wasn’t cramped either.

It was quite large for a single woman to live in, with two bedrooms attached, and the bathroom even had a generously sized bathtub.

“You thought I was a silver spoon, didn’t you?”

“…Well, yeah….”

“I just got lucky, really. My father managed to succeed in real estate before he passed away.”

Kang Sena chuckled as she explained.

The clothes she wore were more drab than when I had seen her at the Bureau. Loose-fitting sleep pants, a tank top, and a light athletic jacket covered her, her forehead fully exposed.

Her makeup seemed to be completely removed as well, and I felt a greater sense of kinship with her simple appearance now than with her dolled-up look at the Bureau.

Kang Sena, for her part, didn’t seem to have any concerns about bringing me to her home. As a man, it was a bit embarrassing, but the situation was what it was.

“So, the reporters are gathered in front of your apartment, then.”

“Yes.”

“It seems our information has sprung a leak, wouldn’t you say?”

Kang Sena settled onto the sofa with a nonchalant air, picking up the remote to flick on the television.

The screen flickered to life, displaying an image of my very doorstep.

Bold letters blazed across the news ticker: MY NAME in full and the title “Korea’s First S-Class Awakened.”

A headache already threatened to bloom behind my eyes.

“The Bureau had originally intended to keep information about S-Class Awakened individuals—specifically, Ms. Nam Juyeon—as under wraps as possible.”

“Under wraps?”

“Surely the Bureau was kind enough to mention that to you. Alas, I see it’s slipped your mind.”

Kang Sena sighed, elaborating.

“You are now, shall we say, a person of interest. If word gets out, cities beyond Seoul will be vying for your…services. Not just domestic, but international scouts will be beating down your door.”

Was it that extreme?

At first, I hesitated, but then quickly corrected myself.

I, too, had witnessed firsthand the earth-shattering destruction of Tempestria, the Storm Dragon.

Moreover, I had heard reports of the cataclysms and staggering death tolls—tens of millions, no, *hundreds* of millions—inflicted by Calamities in other countries.

China, in particular, suffered immense casualties from three four-star Calamities rampaging across their lands, as I recall.

In such dire circumstances, the news that Korea possessed an Awakened capable of summoning a four-star Great Calamity would be a tempting proposition for anyone.

“So, what am I supposed to do? I can’t very well live in hiding forever. I can’t even go home.”

“Hmm… In the current situation, providing you with a room at the Bureau would be the most prudent course of action… Judging by your expression, you seem less than thrilled.”

“To put it mildly.”

“I must confess, I concur. With things as they are, the Bureau will likely attempt to parade you around as a figurehead. And a girl like me, well, I simply couldn’t bear to work under a superior who’s been recently rejected.”

“…”

I nearly choked on the water I was drinking.

Kang Sena, without so much as a shift in expression, continued.

“Still, associating with an S-Class Awakened can’t be entirely detrimental, can it? Romance might be out of the question, but surely we can manage to be… collaborators?”

Kang Sena turned, offering me something.

Upon closer inspection, it was a keycard.

“What’s this?”

“I’ve reserved a room at a nearby hotel for you. You’ll be staying there from tomorrow on.”

“A hotel?”

“To secure official residence as an S-Class Awakened, you’d need to go through the Bureau’s procedures. But with the information already leaked, accepting a safe house from the Bureau would be as good as announcing your location. For now, stay at the hotel. Once we have adequate security measures in place, then it won’t be too late to face the press.”

Just blinking, Kang Sena snatched my hand with a touch of impatience, pressing a keycard into my palm.

“Take it, stop dithering about.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

“We’re in this as partners, remember? Your climb to success is my ticket to ditching this godforsaken job.”

Having said that, Kang Sena popped open a can of beer, nibbling on jerky as a side to her sips.

“…Right.”

I stared at the hotel keycard nestled in my hand, then shrugged.

Kang Sena, a B-rank Awakened and an employee of the Management Bureau.

Seemed she wasn’t quite as bad as I’d initially pegged her.

“…Say, Miss Nam Joo-yeon.”

“Yes?”

“…Am I really that not your type?”

Apparently, she held a bit of a grudge still.

*

Mirien, the Storm of the North Sea, presently faced a dilemma.

“To kill them, or not to kill them.”

The throng gathered before the residence of the Dominator, Actor.

Those wretched things, tangled together like moths drawn to a bonfire, were clearly bothering Actor.

Mirien was pondering whether to personally deliver divine punishment upon them for Actor’s sake.

The reason she hesitated was singular.

‘That Tempestara would go that berserk…’

Tempestara, the storm dragon she had blessed with the protection of lightnings, had breathed her breath upon none other than Actor.

Dominator Actor had swiftly perceived the attack and avoided it, thank goodness, otherwise Mirien might have lost the most significant part of her life.

Nervously apprehensive about that very fact, perhaps she lost Actor’s favor, worried that her actions might have severed their connection.

Mirien again thinks, It’s time to stand by Actor, I need to.

“…First, I must cleanse this trash away… for Actor….”

Muttering to herself, steeling her resolve, Mirien suddenly detected a presence that had crept up behind her.

“…Who is it?”

“How pathetic. Is that the humble wish held by the so-called great mage?”

A voice, unwelcome, breaking the silence.

Mirien turned, her gaze locking onto the source of the voice.

“Selene. I don’t recall extending an invitation.”

“Indeed. I, too, have no memory of being invited.”

Selene, the scorched saintess.

The calamity who single-handedly burned a continent.

Once Mirien’s comrade and one of the Sovereign, Actor’s, limbs.

But the bond between the two who once shared the same ship was far from amiable.

The two calamities harbored similar, yet opposing, feelings toward the Sovereign.

And that rift of emotion had only deepened in the present, now that all were free.

A sharp crease formed between Mirien’s brows.

“How did you get up here?”

“I flew. I happen to be learning levitation skills.”

Selene delicately lifted the hem of her fluttering nun’s habit.

“How pathetic. So, what words did you come to speak?”

“I have come merely to offer one piece of advice.”

“Advice? You dare offer *me* advice, you vixen who stole the Sovereign?”

Mirien’s animosity flared.

Selene merely regarded Mirien with an aloof gaze.

“How unfortunate. That a mage such as yourself cannot grasp a self-evident truth.”

“…What nonsense are you spouting…?”

“If you intend to approach our lord for reasons as trivial as affection, I am here to tell you to withdraw immediately.”

Mirien flinched at Selene’s words.

Never before had Selene conveyed her intentions so clearly.

Selene continued, unfazed.

“In his current human form, our lord is, though as a subordinate I loathe to admit it, infinitely fragile. Our lord, having lost his divinity, cannot withstand your affections.”

“What?”

Mirien narrowed one eye.

“Are you saying…that I would be harmful to Actor?”

“Precisely. You are a mage who once drove the world to ruin. One who never was human, a disaster in and of herself.”

“…Wh-What…”

“Just days ago, it was the same song. You nearly drove the Storm Dragon Tempestia into a frenzy, almost inflicting grievous wounds upon our Lord.”

“…”

Mirien chewed at her lip.

She was well aware that she lacked the sentiments of ordinary folk.

Selene continued, her voice smooth as silk.

“You are ruin incarnate. And our Lord is in no condition to endure your affections. As a loyal subject, my paramount concern lies in the well-being of our Lord. Thus, your presence poses a grave threat to him.”

“…You… You’re saying what, exactly?”

“I’m saying cease your meddling and be gone.”

The very air around them crackled at Selene’s words.

In an instant, storm clouds gathered overhead, and lightning began to flash.

A blue light ignited within Mirien’s eyes. She looked ready to strike, but Selene merely lowered one eyelid in a languid blink.

“…I am under strict orders from our Lord not to engage in combat with you. Should you slay me, defenseless as I am, you will forfeit his favor for all eternity.”

“…Ugh…”

The name of her liege was enough to make Mirien’s hands tremble.

The raging mana began to subside.

Silence hung heavy, and then Selene opened her lowered eye, delivering the reality Mirien had desperately refused to acknowledge.

“Above all, haven’t you already been cast aside?”

“…”

Cast aside.

It was as good as a death sentence.

[★5 Northern Sea Storm, Mirien, is hereby dismissed.]

[Y]

As if of their own volition, recent memories resurfaced.

The stark truth she had rejected, refusing to comprehend, was now hammered into Mirien’s brain once more by Selene’s single sentence.

“Above all, you know it, don’t you? You know who stands at our Lord’s side now.”

Selene smiled cruelly, placing a hand over her chest.

The scorched skin, marred by burns, gleamed crimson and black in the sunlight.

“Our Lord has chosen me. He desired not a sorceress entangled in your base affections, but a subject willing to pledge their life in unwavering loyalty.”

Selene’s words were like acid.

Normally, Mirien would have erupted in fury, but she could only shrink in upon herself, her shoulders trembling.

“Ah, no. Actor helped me… He gave me a new life. Gave me a heart…”

“Yes. That is undoubtedly true. But are you aware?”

Celine twisted her lips and continued.

“Our lord treated every disaster equally. He granted me an Elixir, cured Carne’s illness, and reclaimed Asteria’s crown. Meaning, you are not the only one to receive special treatment.”

Mirien was rendered speechless. Celine glanced briefly at the ground and then shrugged.

“Hmm. It seems our lord has begun to move. I must be going.”

“…”

“I hope you’ll keep what I’ve said today well in mind. I believe someone with your keen intellect will understand it better than anyone.”

Before Mirien could offer any protest, Celine dissolved into particles and vanished.

And so, she stared at the place where Celine had been standing for a while.

“…b*tch, how dare she…”

Revealing her animosity, Mirien soon shook her head and collapsed.

Her head throbbed.

More than that, the artificial heart she received as a gift from Actor was acting up.

Clutching her chest, Mirien frowned.

“…Ugh.”

In truth, she knew.

That the emotion Mirien held for the ruler Actor was different from simple loyalty.

That Actor didn’t favor her, but loved everyone equally.

And that, unlike Celine, who had once again entered the ruler’s service, Mirien had been abandoned.

Even that she couldn’t even begin to guess the reason why.

“…Hah.”

However, Mirien was a calamity in human form.

An omnipotent mage.

For the sake of her goal, she would not hesitate to use any means.

“…That sly fox, does she think I’ll just whine and give up?”

Today, Mirien realized another emotion.

Jealousy.

And simultaneously, hatred.

It was fuel for Mirien’s magic, magnificent enough.