Chapter 53

Chapter 53. Possibility (2)

During the 24 hours Transcendent Shin Si-woo was in the Tower, a dopamine party erupted across South Korea.

<Korea's Awakened count surpasses 500,000!!!>

The citizenry was swept up in intense excitement.

Because all 170,000 citizens who had returned alive from Jeonju's Void had become 'Awakened.'

And now, the work of formally classifying them was about to begin.

<The assessment of 170,000 Awakened, open to the entire public, has begun at Gwanghwamun Square!>

In today's world, there were two criteria for measuring national power.

1. The number and quality of Transcendents.

2. The number of Hunters.

Korea had two Transcendents.

Both possessed power that was overwhelming compared to other nations.

That alone was tremendous, and on top of it, the Awakened count had surged explosively.

—We've passed 500,000 Awakened too!

—If just over half of those become Hunters, we'll be a 300,000-Hunter nation.

—Is this not also the grace of Lord Si-woo?

Among Awakened, those who fought were called 'Hunters.'

Originally, Korea had maintained around 200,000 Hunters.

South Korea's population was 45 million.

Of those, roughly 350,000 were Awakened.

Of those 350,000, roughly 200,000 were Hunters capable of combat.

—Breaking 100,000 natural Awakened alone is genuinely incredible.

—Hah! Even countries that relied on sheer population can't talk now lol

Of the 200,000 Hunters, roughly 150,000 were military-affiliated 'Induced Awakened,' so counting only natural Awakened, it had been 50,000 — less than 0.1% of the population.

And now 170,000 natural Awakened had been added.

<A super-sized Cube has been installed at Gwanghwamun Square. Using 1,000 new-model Cubes developed through Korea-Japan technological cooperation, the 170,000 Awakened will be assessed…>

The government had swiftly completed preparations to classify and organize them.

Coinciding with the Patriot's return, a massive national event was held at Gwanghwamun Square.

"Lord Shin Si-woo will also be returning at Gwanghwamun, so…"

"The public fervor must be incredible."

The President and Kang Mu-jin sat in the officials' section at Gwanghwamun Square and conversed.

It was the government that had organized this event, and every detail of the program had been meticulously prepared.

Including the return of Transcendent Shin Si-woo from the Tower.

1. The Patriot-led assessment of 170,000 Awakened.

2. Welcoming Transcendent Shin Si-woo's return alongside 2 million citizens.

An event that honored both Transcendents' stature while satisfying the public's enthusiasm.

"Let's look at the assessment results first."

"There might be nothing but weird abilities."

Even so, the President and Kang Mu-jin couldn't simply smile.

Half worry, half concern.

In that state, the Awakened began entering the [Cubes].

The Awakened Management Bureau's entire workforce had been mobilized, asking various questions of the Awakened inside the Cubes to begin classification.

Swift processing was South Korea's baseline.

<An extraordinarily unusual phenomenon has occurred. Despite everyone having become Awakened through the same 'Void' catastrophe—>

Rough results came out in no time.

<—there is remarkably little similarity. Highly diverse Awakened are appearing across every class!>

An Awakened assessment conducted with 1,000 Cubes.

170,000 Awakened and the citizens who had flocked to watch formed a sea of people.

Yet the square was spacious and the atmosphere was stable.

"When it comes to order, it has to be Korea."

Gwanghwamun Square, where a million people had once gathered for protests, had undergone numerous expansions.

It could now easily accommodate 2 million.

Pair that with Korea's distinctive national character, and despite millions of people, the scene was orderly.

Their voices, however, were not.

———Waaaaaaa!!!

Cheers from the citizens, vivid even without WorldNet broadcasts.

As Korea's national power rose, the people's excitement rose in equal measure.

<120 combat-type Mages! On top of that, water-type Mages who can generate water resources are also appearing one after another!!!>

Awakened with Hunter potential — those who could fight Gates — had surged in numbers, and on top of that, auxiliary Awakened who could solve resource problems had appeared in enormous quantities.

The assessment concluded.

"In theory, we gain 100,000 Hunters?"

President Lee Seok-hyeon widened his eyes at the results.

"Under the assumption that everyone accepts combat, yes."

"Good lord…"

Natural Awakened.

Natural Awakened with sound minds, at that.

And from among them, a full 100,000 had been assessed as suitable for 'Hunter' roles.

As for the remaining 70,000?

"About 50,000 have abilities that aren't particularly useful on a large scale, but…"

The majority had minor abilities like slightly increased strength.

Even so, with 170,000 Awakening at once, an enormous number of capable ability-users had appeared.

"At last, we'll be able to generate water without Mysteries outside the capital region."

Water mages, spirit-summoners, those with special abilities to process Mysteries, and so on.

Just the special-class personnel alone exceeded 10,000.

The Blue House's official artisan would probably be able to take on apprentices and work even harder.

—+100,000 Hunters for real?

—So can we call ourselves a Hunter powerhouse now?

Now, the Republic of Korea was no longer a one-Patriot show.

—Lord Si-woo, simply god…

—Our light!!!

—Shin Si-woo! Kim Jun! Shin Si-woo! Kim Jun!

All of this had been achieved thanks to Shin Si-woo.

And—

"It'll be 24 hours soon."

Amid this cauldron of excitement, Shin Si-woo returned.

Reporters swiveled their [WorldNet] cameras toward the spot where Shin Si-woo had entered the Tower.

<Right now, Lord Shin Si-woo has finished his Tower conquest and returned to Gwanghwamun Square!!!>

An afterimage in the air shimmered…

Sreureuk—.

Shin Si-woo appeared, wearing resplendent regalia.

* * *

I squinted at the unexpected crowd.

⦗There are over 2 million pieces of food!!!⦘

According to Iris, over 2 million people had gathered in Gwanghwamun Square alone.

That alone was bewildering, but then all manner of reporters began chattering while looking at me.

Commenting on my new armor.

<He has appeared wearing equipment presumed to be a Tower reward! Similar to Jesus's crown of thorns…>

<It seems to be an object carrying the symbolism of a sovereign. Given that he wields multiple swords—>

Letting those reporters' voices wash over me, I looked at the man before my eyes.

More than the millions-strong crowd, more than the reporters' fervent clamor, there was a being who demanded my attention — standing right there.

"I'd appreciate an answer."

The Patriot.

He asked me.

—What are you planning to do with this country?

Starting with escaping the threat of North Korea, I intended to make the nation called South Korea safe.

But my current outfit apparently gave the impression of different ambitions.

"Imperial vestments. You're dreaming of the Great Korean Empire…"

The Patriot murmured.

Then asked.

"Are you dreaming of becoming Emperor of the Great Korean Empire?"

But for some reason?

The Patriot's gaze held not 'concern' but the 'worry of someone who'd been through it.'

"The Great Korean Empire, sure. I played emperor a few times myself! But once you get to unifying Asia, it's a real headache."

"I have no such plans…"

I denied it, but the Patriot glanced at my outfit again and continued on his own.

"Japan, you just sink the islands and that's that, right? But China — no matter how much you push, people keep popping up from somewhere."

He was talking about the trial he'd undergone.

The information had already been shared at the government level, so I knew the story well.

'He was dropped into some unknown dynasty and had to build the Great Korean Empire.'

Judging by the way he talked, the Patriot had built the Great Korean Empire in a manner that far exceeded my imagination.

Sinking Japan, flattening China into an empty plain, and so on.

At any rate, I genuinely had no interest in anything like the Great Korean Empire.

"Really, I don't. This is just a reward closely tied to my trial."

"A reward closely tied to your trial…"

"Think of it as armor."

"Your best defense is becoming an emperor?"

"I'm truly not thinking about an empire, so please don't worry."

A half-believing, half-doubting gaze.

But the Patriot soon nodded and turned his back on me.

"Say hi to the reporters and the people, then let's go talk about 'that.'"

He seemed to want to say: now you're the main act.

'That' surely meant the conquest of North Korea.

The Patriot vanished from before me in a flash, like a twinkling star.

Only then could I properly face the millions of citizens gathered in the square.

———Waaaaaaa!!!

Despite wearing this somewhat embarrassing regalia.

Citizens who cheered for me all the same.

Just calmly.

I walked, waving.

But inside, many thoughts arose.

'The current world is on hard difficulty.'

Far worse conditions than [Raise a Sword].

What if a Hunter Falls?

They simply become a terrorist who can freely use Awakened abilities in reality.

What if a Gate is corrupted?

It doesn't just overflow — it perfectly erodes reality and terraforms it.

Without me, the Red Sea would have simply become part of the world.

'…'

This was only the beginning.

The polluted beasts flooding from North Korea were residue of 'impurity.'

The larger problem was the nation executing all of it — China.

'Thinking about other countries gives me a headache.'

The British Doctor had also carried impurity, hadn't he?

Britain was probably in a similar state, and countries like India didn't even need to be mentioned.

At any rate, the world was a carnival of chaos.

But as the one person who properly understood this nation's hope and future, I smiled as casually as always.

Paat!

[Countless observers have witnessed the achievements of 'Sword Master — Shin Si-woo.']

[Providing the catalyst for a World Quest.]

[Find the fragments of Impurity and track the clues!]

The World.

The unidentified system called 'Awakening' that sheltered humanity always lent a hand at moments like this.

'The possibility is more than sufficient.'

Fragments of Impurity.

Something whose identity even I didn't know.

But the name alone was suspicious enough to tell me it was something ominous.

And I could guess where to find them.

'North Korea.'

The place where the vessel of the Dark God, Necribas, dwelled.

Going there would give me all the answers I wanted.

* * *

"War preparations are complete."

The official events had concluded.

I arranged a meeting with government officials.

"Japan has agreed to dispatch Yacha and Yuki."

"There's been no word from Jesus, but the US President sent notice that long-range support has been prepared."

President Lee Seok-hyeon and Senior Prosecutor Kang.

Along with several faces I was seeing for the first time.

"Sir! I am Kim Hyeon-su, Division Commander of the Patriot's Shield Division."

The division commander of the Patriot's Shield Division, regarding me with a squared-off posture.

In practical terms, the Patriot's Shield Division was the only unit in the military that conducted 'combat' approaching actual warfare.

Its commander had come to this meeting in person.

"The military's role is not infiltrating north. We will focus on disposing of the polluted-beast remains pushed our way by the shockwaves of the Transcendents' battle."

It went without saying, but I had no intention of deploying our citizens in this war.

Even a military unit of Induced Awakened was nothing more than 'Sacrifice No. 1' before the Dark God's Authority.

And I still didn't know the full reality of the frontline forces.

"Polluted beasts. Could you explain exactly what they are?"

Having been a Transcendent for less than a year, I lacked this kind of detailed intelligence.

All I knew was that blackened, grotesque humanoid beasts flowed ceaselessly down from North Korea.

I had no proper information.

"I'll distribute the materials on polluted beasts."

Division Commander Kim Hyeon-su passed document folders to everyone present.

The President and Senior Prosecutor Kang perused them without emotion, already familiar with the facts.

The other officials did the same.

But…

"Is this real?"

I alone recoiled in shock.

The Republic of Korea's frontline far exceeded what I had imagined.

[Polluted Beasts]

: Monsters born from Awakened experiments.

Trait 1. Abilities differ by specimen according to 'Awakened experiment' type.

Trait 2. No specimen possesses intelligence, but an intense will to survive remains. This is presumed to be why corpses do not disappear post-mortem.

Trait 3. Possess considerable resistance to modern firearms; over time, display immune responses even to Mystery-integrated firepower.

Due to these traits, military units composed of 'Induced Awakened' reportedly handled adjacent polluted beasts through close combat.

"The fact that contamination transfers is true."

Polluted-beast contamination was contagious.

A soldier contaminated to 100% became a 'polluted beast.'

"Then this page here…"

[Euthanasia Protocol]

1. Beast-corruption progression rate: 80% or above.

2. Pain index: 1,000% or above.

Eligible individuals may proceed following counseling.

The final fate of soldiers struck by polluted beasts was to choose death while still 'human.'

My head rang.

Amid this, the division commander said,

"Until now, that was the only way to handle it — but going forward, a different method will be applied. All thanks to Lord Shin Si-woo!"

Henceforth, soldiers with severe contamination would be stored in Kim Jun's Awakened ability — the [Coffins].

"According to government research, the Coffins can preserve a state as long as life-sustaining energy is supplied."

And after enduring that way?

"Lord Patriot plans to reinforce Yulgok Yi I's army to 200,000. At that time, the heavily contaminated soldiers will be absorbed into…"

Listening to this was devastatingly bleak.

'So "polluted beast" got its name because of the contagion?'

I was still living through an ordinary person's eyes.

I felt bitterness.

Yet I also held the possibility of offering a brighter future.

With complicated feelings, I said,

"Let's go to the frontline immediately."

Because I—

I possessed the power to completely heal the byproducts of the demonic, and every terrible curse derived from them.

"I'll cure everyone before it gets to that point."