Fired Characters from an Idle Game

57. You Must Be Happy Having Two Mothers – (3)

Now, how did the South Korean government react upon witnessing this 21st-century Incheon Landing?

Firstly, their initial response was one of bewilderment.

Naturally, the original Incheon Landing was an operation launched by the UN forces to reclaim territory occupied by the North Korean army. The soldiers aboard would have been carrying the vibrant blue UN flag.

However, this time, the Awakened Alliance that landed in Incheon were brandishing the Five-Starred Red Flag.

“…Don’t you think the colors are, perhaps, a little different?”

As Kang Sena pointed out, utterly dumbfounded, the UN flag and the Five-Starred Red Flag are rather dissimilar. Even ignoring partisan logic and diplomatic and political elements, their RGB values alone differ significantly.

But what did that matter? The Chinese Awakened Alliance were hardened veterans who had fulfilled their responsibilities for several months in the devastated city of Beijing, abandoned by the Party and with its Awakened scattered.

We had agreed to call them “Dage.”

In other words, the Dage were here to join forces with South Korea, and the fact that they were all Awakened made them reliable allies.

“Awakened Nam Juyeon, what exactly is this?”

“Reinforcements.”

After much deliberation, the government’s second reaction was, ‘openly expressing displeasure’.

“But… wouldn’t accepting Awakened from China into Korea create a considerable diplomatic problem?”

“That’s for the government to handle.”

Naturally, that wasn’t something I needed to worry about.

“We do?”

“Yes. You do.”

“….”

In the end, government officials had to watch the People’s Shield disembark in Incheon with sour expressions. With as many as 300 Awakened arriving by passenger ship across the Yellow Sea, there was no way mere civil servants could control them.

It wasn’t as if the government hadn’t attempted to resist in its own way.

“Awakened Nam Juyeon, this isn’t right. Seoul doesn’t have the infrastructure to accommodate all of them.”

“Yes. It doesn’t. In Seoul.”

“Pardon?”

“This isn’t the old days. Now, there’s plenty of land available.”

Seoul was already over-saturated with refugees, so it was difficult to accept more, even if they were Awakened.

However, Chinese people are so good at their jobs, to the point of being so enthusiastic that they would destroy their own cultural heritage once they got going, so housing was not a significant disadvantage for them.

“Lei Hu-ssi, we want to reclaim this area of Incheon so that the Chinese Awakened Alliance can settle here. What do you think?”

Lei Hu’s response, of course, was “Hao!”

His boisterousness truly put even Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to shame.

“Heard the news? The government took in 300 of those ＜i＞zzhanggae＜/i＞ b*stards as refugees.”

“Hey now, they aren’t ＜i＞zzhanggae＜/i＞, they’re ＜i＞dàgē＜/i＞.”

“They’re 300 Awakened, you imbecile.”

“Awakened＜i＞-nim＜/i＞, show some respect.”

More than anything, the fact that they were *all* Awakened meant the government’s hands were tied.

The government might lament that 300 more Awakened, a group they couldn’t control, had arrived, but to the public, they weren’t 300 refugees; they were 300 Spartan warriors who’d held back Persia’s million-strong army. In other words, the average citizen only saw the result: the heroes protecting them had doubled in number.

“So, those ＜i＞dàgē＜/i＞ are settling in Incheon, are they?”

“Why? Tell them to live even closer. Like, right in front of *my* house.”

“LOL for real.”

The issue of Chinese people buying up all the real estate, which had evolved into a 21st-century social problem, was being replayed after the world’s demise.

But public sentiment was different this time. The Chinese Awakened Alliance had Lei Hu, considered an S-Class Awakened in Korea, and they were all well-disposed towards Korea. Moreover, under Lei Hu’s leadership, the group was perfectly controllable, ensuring no individual would go rogue.

“…S-So… we offer them citizenship…”

When even public opinion became favorable to them, the government eventually caved.

The 300 Spartans became affiliated with the Awakened Association of the Seoul Republic, neither Chinese nor Spartan nationals.

“I don’t know how to repay this favor, Brother.”

“Nothing at all, Brother.”

Lei Hu beamed at me, clasping his fist in his palm, and I mirrored the gesture.

In a dying world, we upheld the ideals of *xia*.

“…Khaaa… The ＜i＞zzhanggae＜/i＞ on our sacred Korean peninsula!”

Seo Yerin was the only one coughing up blood.

*

That was the whole story.

And my subordinate’s reaction to hearing my tale was this:

“Magnificent, my lord. Crisis turned to opportunity. To replenish our forces with such new power… Your insight never ceases to amaze me.”

“Actor, I also want you to acknowledge how hard *I* worked.”

Mirienne giggled and leaned into me. Selena didn’t stop Mirienne this time. After all, Mirienne’s flamboyant gala show was what had ultimately convinced Lei Hu, who had been as stubborn as a mule.

Things were going smoothly, and the media was singing our praises, saying we had secured excellent forces from China.

Yoo Junseo checked the news comments not just every morning, but with every meal, a smile blooming on his face.

“….”

But my heart wasn’t exactly at ease.

“…Is this truly right?”

I tugged at my cheek. It stung. Certainly, this wasn’t a dream.

The situation itself had resolved favorably, so I couldn’t say I felt terribly bad. But at the same time, a prickling sensation throbbed at the back of my head.

“Wouldn’t be strange to call me a butcher.”

The unsettling feeling I had stemmed from a coldness within myself that was shocking even to me.

I had readily abandoned the people of Beijing.

Not my own countrymen. No ties to bind me. But the fact remained, I had forsaken them.

Of course, the Chinese government had fled, and the Awakened Alliance numbered only a few hundred, so catastrophe was already looming for Beijing, for China. The Awakened who could have averted disaster were gone, so if the sixth Breach were to erupt, Beijing would become a city teeming with calamities. That was a foregone conclusion, Alliance or not.

Though it was a foreseen destruction, the death sentence had, in effect, been delivered by my hand.

So, should I feel guilt? For abandoning so many to fend for themselves? Or for the fact that the disasters I unleashed wrought such immense suffering?

If I had room for guilt, I would have strung myself up long ago.

But I hadn’t, and my mind was surprisingly clear.

That was what felt rather bitter.

“Selene.”

“Yes.”

“It seems I’m slowly… going mad.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just… things.”

I gave a wry smile, gazing at the scenery outside. The Chinese Awakened Alliance, led by Lei Hu, were establishing a communal residence in Incheon.

Had the brakes on my conscience failed?

Was the world broken, or was it me? Or perhaps both?

In the midst of these philosophical ponderings, a soft sensation touched the back of my head. Soon, a pale white arm embraced my shoulder.

Turning, I saw golden eyes looking at me. Karne, the Mother of Ill Omens, one of the Great Calamities who had recently joined the stronghold.

“Worry not, my child. Your choice was perfectly correct. This mother can vouch for it.”

Karne gave a warm smile, holding me close and stroking my hair.

Having grown up an orphan, I didn’t know what maternal love was. But if this was it, I didn’t think it was a bad thing.

“The path of the Absolute is destined to be lonely. But worry not. Even if everyone in this dimension turns their back on you, this mother will always be by your side.”

“Mother…”

“It’s alright. You can tell me everything.”

Karne was like this.

If Selene worried over my well-being, if Mirien blindly yearned for my affections, Karne affirmed and accepted whatever I did.

Had she always been this way? Or did she simply become a mother figure only in my presence? More likely the latter.

Karne’s presence was remarkably effective in many ways. A sense of calm descended, my limbs loosened. Especially effective were the two hills that resembled soft cushions.

“You filthy harlot, won’t you detach yourself at once?”

“If you find a mother comforting her child so strange, that only proves how bleak your inner world usually is, Selene.”

“What did you just say?”

Seeing another fight brewing, I hastily extracted myself. Karne regretfully touched the corner of her lips.

I changed the subject.

“Anyway, now that the Awakened from China have joined the Association, the metropolitan area will be much safer.”

I’d heard that Association President Yoo Junseo was even spouting impractical theories about reclaiming all the abandoned cities in the capital region, but that was none of my concern.

Kang Sena would probably clean up Yoo Junseo’s messes anyway.

The only thing I needed to focus on right now was this:

“Asteria.”

Now, the last remaining five-star calamity was just one.

The Star-Swallowing Queen, Asteria.

A calamity renowned for its immense power, even among the extra-dimensional disasters.

“Mother, I intend to seek out Asteria one last time.”

Calling Karne “mother” still brought a tinge of awkwardness. Selene’s reddening face, Mirien’s subtle expression, and Karne’s benevolent smile all intertwined.

“Yes, child. What troubles you?”

“Mirien’s tracking magic couldn’t locate Asteria. But with your tracking magic, Mother, you should surely be able to follow Asteria’s trail.”

“…Actor, that’s a bit much.”

Mirien puffed out her cheeks.

Was it a blow to her pride?

I tousled her hair in apology.

“Asteria… a nostalgic name.”

The reason I recruited Karne, the Mother of Ill Omens, over Asteria was because she was a calamity who rivaled Mirien in non-combat capabilities.

Karne was a tracker who surpassed Mirien. Karne’s senses were even more high-performing than Mirien’s magic.

“Yes. Asteria, so you’re looking for that child.”

Karne nodded with a faint smile.

“No need for tracking magic, child. Asteria is… exceedingly close to us.”

“Close?”

I cocked my head at Karne’s words, and she slowly unfurled her wings, enveloping me.

“The Lord will immediately…”

Selene’s sentence never finished.

Without warning, my vision inverted.

—Whooshing.

“Wha—!”

We were above the clouds.

Had I not ridden atop a Storm Dragon before, I doubt I could have kept my wits about me.

A biting wind lashed at me, but Karne shielded me with her wings.

“M-Mother! What is this…!”

“As you wished, I have sought out Asteria’s trail.”

“…Where exactly are we?”

“If one ascends directly upwards from where we were, one arrives at this place.”

“Asteria is here?”

“More accurately, higher than here. Now, child. Raise your gaze.”

Entranced by Karne’s gentle tone, I lifted my vision.

“…No way.”

“That way, indeed.”

Before my eyes, a swirling rift, periodically spewing forth calamities every few weeks.

The Vortex, as it was commonly known in the game.

Karne spoke.

“Asteria is inside there.”

Asteria, the Queen Who Devoured Stars, existed within the rift.