Chapter 49

Chapter 49. Blessing (1)

"So you're telling me to believe that 170,000 people caught in a Gate-derived Bizarre — a Void rated as immeasurable — survived for 1,135 days?"

The Japanese Prime Minister's residence.

The Prime Minister, listening to the report from the Korea-assigned diplomat, flew into a tremendous rage.

This was intelligence from an allied nation sharing its national destiny, and yet the man was spouting lunacy based on fake news?

"Th-there is no fake news in Korea. There's something called the Patriot's Trash Journalist Special Act, so everyone only reports facts…"

The Japanese Prime Minister knew that too.

It was simply too absurd to accept.

"Let's say 170,000 people truly survived 1,135 days inside a Gate."

It was Korean media reporting, so it wouldn't be a lie, but…

Still, it was hard to believe.

"And you said what happened to those survivors?"

"Every one of them has escaped."

Right, this was the strange part.

No — the next part was strange too.

None of it made any sense.

"Under the guidance of Transcendent Shin Si-woo, all 170,000 safely returned…"

"If it's that man's power, it would be possible. He's the one who even erased the Mt. Fuji lava Gate for us."

With Shin Si-woo's power, this much was conceivable.

The Prime Minister had believed it up to this point, in fact.

But the reason Korea's news looked like fake news — the reason it was so hard to believe — lay elsewhere.

"So what did those 170,000 people become?"

"Th-they Awakened…"

Even the staffer delivering the report seemed to think it didn't make sense, trailing off at the end.

Right, this was the part that truly defied reason.

"Hoo—."

The Japanese Prime Minister let out a sigh.

Then he organized his thoughts.

No — he simply recited the original report again, as-is.

"So you're telling me that 170,000 civilians who were dragged into a Black Gate survived for 1,135 days, escaped, and every single one of them has become Awakened?"

It was preposterous.

Awakening wasn't something any random person could achieve.

Even granting that natural Awakened were insane, that itself required heavenly luck — didn't it?

That was why everyone was clinging to the government, desperate to at least become an Induced Awakened.

And yet…

"A mass Awakening on this scale has never been recorded anywhere in the world."

What could the conditions be?

Perhaps…

"If hundreds of thousands are dragged into a Black Gate, survive 1,135 days, and then are rescued by Transcendent Shin Si-woo — they Awaken?"

If that were genuinely the Awakening condition, wasn't it too absurd?

Surviving a catastrophe that shouldn't leave even a single person alive was already an impossible difficulty, and this many had survived on top of it…

"I-I don't think that's the condition."

"Then what is it?"

"W-we don't know either."

They knew nothing.

No — they couldn't know.

Shin Si-woo wasn't responding, and even the Korean government wasn't taking calls.

The Japanese Prime Minister was frantic enough to lose his mind.

Wasn't the world's greatest problem the shortage of Awakened?

Surely they weren't trying to renege on the alliance at this point.

'Does America know anything?'

The Japanese Prime Minister, unable to hold back, contacted America — and received no answers from that end either.

︙

"Jesus Christ!!!"

America was in an uproar too.

Right after Jesus had projected a new Authority across the entirety of the United States, far more demon worshippers than expected had been discovered.

An enormous brand had been seared onto the foreheads of every demon worshipper within American territory.

The instant the brands manifested, the Department of Defense deployed Hunter units.

As a result, every demon worshipper in America was either killed or captured.

"Jesus, we are always grateful for your divine protection."

US President Bill Johnson bowed his head before Jesus.

'There are no limits to God.'

This incident had deepened the American President's faith even further.

Among the demon worshippers in the US, a few had attempted to [Fall] — but the instant they did, their power vanished on the spot and they were dragged to hell.

After witnessing that, how could one not praise Jesus?

Truly, EX-rank.

The power of the world's one true god.

Because it was Jesus, Bill Johnson asked his question without hesitation.

"Jesus, what does it take for 170,000 people to Awaken all at once?"

"Oh, Bill. Naturally, the conditions would be extraordinarily demanding."

The President's question was about how it could be done.

But Jesus didn't know the answer either, so that was all he could say.

Even Jesus could not forcibly Awaken others.

'You're probably the same.'

In Jesus's estimation, Shin Si-woo also could not forcibly Awaken others.

Which meant the secret of [Awakening] was hidden within the Black Gate Shin Si-woo had conquered.

And the reason he wasn't making it public was, most likely…

'He must be investigating. My brother.'

The brother of the living Jesus.

Fellow Transcendents who had confirmed each other's divine power.

Jesus regarded Shin Si-woo as a comrade who had experienced the same kind of loss, and naturally believed he would share the information.

He murmured toward his brother.

"Shin Si-woo, may your discovery bring a blessing upon the world."

—---------------------------------------------

 

—Ep. 17. Blessing.

We were trying to formulate a hypothesis.

To that end, those who bore responsibility for this nation's fate had gathered in one place.

Our objective was singular.

To determine the cause of 170,000 people Awakening simultaneously.

An anomaly that had never occurred in any nation — not even America.

Yet in the present world, it was nothing short of an immense blessing.

That was why we were striving to find the cause.

"Shin Si-woo. I wonder if being rescued by you is the condition for Awakening."

Senior Prosecutor Kang tilted his head and asked.

I was certain this wasn't it.

"Then every citizen of Seoul should have Awakened, shouldn't they?"

I had saved Seoul from the threat of the Red Sea.

That too was a Gate overflow — an erosion — so the conditions could be considered similar.

"Perhaps it's an effect of the ability of the Last Bastion, Kim Jun."

The President also seemed to have thoughts, murmuring while stroking his chin.

The deliberate addition of a title like 'Last Bastion' was out of consideration for public opinion.

'Kim Jun's title might get decided before mine.'

He had been far better known as Jeolla-Man — a WorldTube creator with 3 million subscribers — and yet all manner of epithets had begun attaching themselves to him.

When he'd been a publicity officer, people had found him entertaining.

But now, Kim Jun was the noble savior of 170,000.

Public sentiment was overwhelming, and the government was outright pushing his epithet.

Titles like 'Hope of the People' and 'Living Noah's Ark' were piling on one after another.

"Are you pushing for 'Last Bastion,' Mr. President?"

"I simply wish the finest possible epithet for a patriot — someone who served this nation's people. I haven't decided on anything particular. Haha—."

He laughed as though casual, but he clearly wanted Kim Jun to be called 'Last Bastion.'

It didn't seem bad, so I nodded — and this time, Senior Prosecutor Kang asked me,

"Shin Si-woo, could it be that his ability — the Living Noah's Ark — induced the Awakening?"

This one apparently wanted to push that epithet.

Was he choosing a name connected to Jesus, hoping for some kind of miracle?

'If he just keeps getting called Jeolla-Man, that's a problem in its own right.'

The man who had saved 170,000 people shouldn't be stuck with an entertainment-style name.

Personally, I thought [Guardian Sword, Kim Jun] suited him best.

As for Senior Prosecutor Kang's question — the cause of 170,000 Awakened being born was not Kim Jun's ability.

"Guardian Sword, Kim Jun. The Awakened were not created by his ability."

I was certain.

"Guardian Sword, Kim Jun…"

Senior Prosecutor Kang glanced at my scabbard, then quietly shook his head.

He seemed lost in thought about something.

Anyway.

"It's true that the Awakening happened because Kim Jun sheltered the people. But the Awakening itself was not caused by his ability."

To speculate on the direct cause of 170,000 Awakened being born…

"If an ordinary person endures beyond a certain amount of time inside a Black Gate, they Awaken. That's most likely the condition."

It was a conclusion discussed together with my swords, so it shouldn't be wrong.

The specific timeframe was what we didn't know.

"An approximate timeframe?"

The Void of Jeonju had been an erosion phenomenon — Gate-less — maintained for 1,135 days.

"At minimum it could be as short as a day, and at maximum it could stretch to 1,135 days."

"You're saying there's individual variation."

All 170,000 survivors had Awakened.

The only difference was that their individual ability levels varied wildly.

On top of that, unlike me or the Patriot, they had not undergone a [trial].

"What is certain is that the mere act of an ordinary person remaining inside a Gate is treated as a [trial]."

A bizarre and strange experience.

Overcoming it.

These were the conditions for Awakening.

'Most likely…'

After consulting with my swords, I had formed one leading hypothesis.

"Considering they were already in an Awakened state before escaping, there's a high probability that simply surviving for a certain period is itself the condition."

Even though I had conquered the Gate, the 170,000 had not yet escaped when they Awakened.

Of course, the evidence was still thin.

But this had the highest probability.

"That makes sense."

"To think 170,000 Awakened appeared out of nowhere."

At any rate, from the nation's perspective, could there be better news than this?

"Once their health checks are all clear and their dazed mental states improve, we'll immediately begin classification."

The President apparently intended to massively expand the Awakened force using this opportunity.

"This is tremendously encouraging."

According to the government's overnight investigation.

Astonishingly, all 170,000 Awakened possessed 'intact' mental states.

They felt similar to natural Awakened, yet were as mentally sound as Induced Awakened — a truly remarkable phenomenon.

"Isn't this all thanks to the Guardian Sword, Kim Jun?"

I genuinely believed so.

Kim Jun's unique ability as [Gravedigger] would shine even more brightly in the world to come.

I emphasized Kim Jun's importance several more times to the President and Senior Prosecutor Kang, cautioning them.

"If need be, he should be given treatment on par with a Transcendent."

I was certain.

"With the ability to suspend death alone, he possesses value rivaling a Transcendent."

The world ahead would grow ever harsher for non-Awakened.

The closer that time came, the more critically Kim Jun's ability would be needed.

The precise timing of that…

'I'll find out when we go to North Korea.'

* * *

Twenty-four hours had passed since the Patriot entered the Tower.

Having declared he would strengthen his forces ahead of the war, I too planned to enter the Tower as the next in rotation.

And so I stood in Gwanghwamun Square like someone waiting for a shift change.

Ziiiiik———.

The sky split open.

An artificial phenomenon, yet no ominousness could be felt.

From the split sky, the form of an enormous aircraft carrier began to appear, and as the Patriot returned, countless people erupted in cheers.

As someone who had once been a fan of the Patriot myself, I felt a thrill.

Zhing—. Zhing—.

On the Patriot's aircraft carrier, several long ㄷ-shaped gun batteries had appeared, and the size had grown several times larger than before.

It wouldn't have been out of place to call it an alien spacecraft.

And…

Drrrk—.

Dangling from the carrier's underside were clusters of something.

Things that looked unmistakably like nuclear warheads.

But objects harboring power incomparable to any nuclear weapon.

"Damn, the trial was fucking brutal."

After hovering over Gwanghwamun for a while in a parade, the Patriot came looking for me.

Had he not yet checked WorldNet?

There were no questions about the 170,000 new Awakened.

A relief, if anything.

'I was getting tired of talking about it anyway — perfect timing.'

Having spent all day on that topic, the Patriot's [Tower] conquest story felt like a welcome change.

"How far does that carrier evolve, anyway?"

"This? Beats me. This time all I got was railguns and nukes. Hardly changed."

The Patriot cracked wise while his lips twitched.

Anyone could see he was quite pleased…

Still, he didn't make a show of it.

"Are the railguns and nukes similar to what Earth used to have?"

With war on the horizon, I looked into the abilities of the Patriot — our greatest allied combat power.

"The railguns fire laser beams, and the nukes drop special warheads designed to destroy Gates."

The Patriot was kind enough to explain his abilities in detail.

I nodded calmly and thought.

'In a pinch, we can hold until Jesus or Japan arrives.'

The reason I'd asked about the Patriot's abilities.

It was to gauge whether he could handle emergencies that arose while I was in the [Tower].

Railguns that fired laser beams, Gate-specific nuclear warheads — I didn't fully understand them.

If others heard about my sword's abilities, they'd probably just go 'Huh?' and leave it at that too.

Still, one thing was clear—

'He has at least enough capability to hold the line until allied support arrives.'

Even in the worst case, if the Chinese Red Army pushed down from North Korea.

With the Patriot's abilities, I was confident he could buy time until American and Japanese reinforcements arrived.

I nodded to him and said,

"I'll be counting on you while I'm away."

I deliberately left out what exactly I was counting on him for.

Because for the Patriot, it was as natural as breathing.

Sure enough.

"Junior, I've always been doing just fine even when you're not around."

The Patriot grinned.

As expected — when he smiled, he really did look like a likeable middle-aged man.

I was about to enter the Tower, pulling out my [entry pass], when the Patriot hastily called out.

"Oh! Junior, did you handle the internal crackdown?"

He'd remembered what I'd said about tightening internal security.

I grinned, just as the Patriot had, and said,

"Try not to be too shocked."

Then I tore the [Tower Entry Pass] on the spot.

170,000 new Awakened.

The annihilation of the Void.

And so on.

Too long and rambling a story to tell with my own mouth.

There were more than enough people to explain it for me.

So.

Paat!

[Enter the Tower and overcome a trial.]

[Reward: The Forms of the 1st Sword, Reinhardt Euclid.]

Reinhardt Euclid.

He shared a very deep grudge with the Dark God — Necribas — who slumbered in North Korea.

Beginning as a vendetta against his house's destroyers, achieving his revenge, and ultimately becoming a natural enemy — my first sword.

The ability I would gain this time was the Forms he had created through 33 years of cultivation.