< Episode 238 What's Changed (2) >
The incident where Savior declared war on Korea was known throughout the world.
The reactions of the countries that heard about this incident varied.
Some countries have responded by pointing fingers at the fact that Korea has come into contact with the outside world and calling it a complete disaster.
Some countries expressed their condolences.
Another country praised South Korea for making the wise choice to join the communist movement.
However, although reactions may vary depending on the country's disposition, the actions are all the same.
“I think it would be difficult to receive support from other countries.”
Shin Ji-ah smiled bitterly.
A faint disappointment appears on his face.
“That was expected.”
Ha Si-yeon answered nonchalantly.
This side doesn't show even the slightest hint of disappointment.
“Who would help a country that has been captured by Savior?”
Since I didn't have any expectations from the beginning, I wasn't disappointed.
“That’s true, but······.”
Shin Ji-ah sighed deeply.
When I thought that Korea would eventually have to deal with Savior alone, I couldn't help but sigh.
“Don’t worry too much. Seo-yul is here.”
Hasiyeon picked up a dumbbell placed next to her with an expression that still seemed indifferent.
An ultra-heavy dumbbell made by specially processing and compressing the shell of a monster.
Hold it with one hand and raise it appropriately, then lower it and repeat.
Shin Ji-ah cautiously opened her mouth, looking at Ha Si-yeon's now familiar habitual exercise.
“It’s not that I don’t trust Seo-Yul······. They’re each other’s opponents.”
Savior's power is unparalleled.
Even if the whole world joins forces, it may not be able to win.
No matter how great Kang Seo-yool is, wouldn't it be impossible for him to take on such strong people alone?
"hmm······."
Ha Si-yeon placed the dumbbell on the table and ran her index finger over it.
It was Hasiyeon's habit.
Whenever my thoughts get complicated, I have a habit of fiddling with exercise equipment, including dumbbells.
“I know that Seo Yul’s ability is amazing.”
Shin Ji-ah knows very well what Kang Seo-yool's power is.
(Old) Ancient Relics and (Current) Artifacts can be used without restrictions for 1 minute.
You can acquire the characteristics of that race from that artifact.
I thought it was great before, but I think it's even greater now.
'Seo Yul's power is a power that completely overcomes the weaknesses of the human race.'
The reason why humanity is currently completely overwhelmed by other races, including the Saviors and the Pakai, is because of the presence of artifacts and racial traits.
Humans do not have artifacts, and they do not have any distinctive racial traits like other races.
Even if the ability is the same for S-rank, the framework that supports the ability is different.
Even with the same hardware, the performance difference between Windows 95 and Windows 10 is enormous.
In that sense, Kang Seo-yool's power can be seen as the hope of humanity.
Because it is the only being that can be on par with, or rather, overpower, other races.
Perhaps, if we just give it some time, we will soon become the strongest race that can overwhelm all other races.
Yes, if you have the time.
“Still, a gap of one and a half years is too long.”
Shin Ji-ah thought of Kang Seo-yool before he left for the last dragon's shelter.
I clearly remember that the ability was around B~A rank.
Since he was sealed in that state, Kang Seo-yool's current ability level would be around A rank.
“Even if you are armed with excellent artifacts and have effective traits, it is meaningless if your abilities are lacking.”
In other words, Kang Seo-yul is the exact opposite of the weakness that most people currently have, which is the lack of software.
There is a high probability that you are suffering from a lack of hardware.
“If you are armed with excellent artifacts and fraudulent characteristics, your opponents are the same.”
That's why Shin Ji-ah has such a worried expression.
Because we know that software is an unbeatable opponent.
“It might be fine if it was just one person. It’s also a group.”
In that situation, with the quantity being pushed aside, there was no way Shin Ji-ah, with her calculating personality, could be optimistic.
“No matter how much I think about it, Seo Yul’s confidence is close to recklessness······.”
“Jia.”
Hasiyeon, who had been listening quietly, stares intently into Shin Ji-ah's eyes.
A metallic light forged with trust gleams from both eyes.
“Believe me.”
A faith without any wavering.
“Seoyul said she could do it. Since she asked me to leave it to her, there’s no need to worry.”
Blind trust in Kang Seo-yool was engraved in his eyes.
“Seoyul knew long ago that the alien races would return. There’s no way that Seoyul would show such confidence without any basis when dealing with the alien races. Am I wrong?”
"that······."
Jia was speechless.
No rebuttal came to mind.
Ha Si-yeon smiled playfully while looking at Ji-ah like that.
“That’s unexpected. This is all we have in our Jia’s ancestors. If Seo-yul hears this, she’ll be disappointed······.”
“If you talk, you’ll get three weeks of side stabbing.”
Shin Ji-ah smiled seriously.
Hasiyeon pursed her lips and pretended to close her mouth with a zipper.
Looking at Ha Si-yeon's calm appearance, Shin Ji-ah smiled.
Hasiyeon also smiled faintly.
“I understand you, Zia. You’ve been through so much for the past six months. I think it’s only natural that things will turn negative. On the contrary, I think you’ve grown a lot.”
When something happens to Shin Ji-ah's parents and Shin Ji-ah suddenly takes over the company, what awaits her is the cold and ruthless dark side of society.
In addition, with the variable of the return of a different race occurring, it is natural to think this way.
“But I don’t think there’s a need to put Seo-yool in that frame. You know what kind of person Seo-yool is.”
"······huh."
Shin Ji-ah bowed her head.
Hasiyeon's words were painful.
Because I've been thinking negatively lately, I think I've even been thinking negatively about Kang Seo-yool.
'If it was a year ago······ I wouldn't have worried about such things, right?'
Seeing Kang Seo-yool's confident smile, I felt relieved and thought, 'Ah, it'll work out somehow.' That was the end of it.
Thinking about it that way, my mouth started to taste bitter again.
Thinking that my faith in Kang Seo-yool had been eroded after suffering for only six months, I felt somehow pathetic. I felt so weak.
“Anyway, here’s what I have to say. Seo-yul is back, so don’t worry too much! Everything will be okay.”
Ha Si-yeon patted the gloomy Shin Ji-ah on the back.
“Aren’t you the prince on a white horse who always saves you when you’re in trouble?”
At that moment, Shin Ji-ah's shoulders trembled. She tilted her head back with a creaking sound. She looked like a broken toy.
“You, you···you. Where did you······.”
Prince Charming.
The image of Kang Seo-yool thinking alone. I don't remember telling that story to anyone else.
“Don’t you remember? Three months ago. The day you got drunk. You were crying and whining.”
Hasiyeon laughed playfully and cleared her throat.
“Sob, sob. When will you return, King on a white horse······ Ugh!”
Shin Ji-ah quickly covered Hasiyeon's mouth. With a face as red as if she had been traumatized by facing her own dark history, she demanded that she not say any more.
Hasiyeon nodded as if she understood. Shin Ji-ah took her hand off Hasiyeon’s mouth.
“······Siyeon, haven’t you become too evil lately?”
“Is it Gurun?”
Hasiyeon answered appropriately, crossing her arms behind her neck.
Just looking at that sly look, you can tell that things are different from before.
“······I’ll say this again just in case, but you shouldn’t tell that to Seon··· Seo-yool.”
Shin Ji-ah, who almost called him ‘Ancestor’ without realizing it, quickly corrected his name.
“With my mouth closed?”
Hasiyeon leaned her body slightly against Shin Ji-ah and said playfully.
Shin Ji-ah immediately noticed what kind of gesture he wanted and let out a small sigh before speaking.
“······Okay. After this work is over, I’ll take a day to exercise with you.” “Just one day?”
“······Two days.”
At those words, Hasiyeon's expression brightened noticeably.
“Oh my! Really?”
She jumps up and down excitedly, like a little girl who has made plans to go to an amusement park with her friends.
“······What’s so great about working out with me?”
“Isn’t it great~ Exercising with a friend! Do you know how lonely I get these days because no one exercises with me?”
“······It’s because your exercise intensity is beyond the normal range.”
If exercise is so hard, why don't you all run away and give up?
“Everyone is joking. It’s just a light warm-up, so what’s so hard about it?”
“······.”
That crazy exercise personality doesn't change with time.
“Oh, since we’re on the subject. Are you still not in touch with Unnie Yuhwa?”
“There was no way to contact them in the first place. They said they were going to destroy the communication network while infiltrating China in case something happened.”
Mainland China has become a major stronghold of the sect.
Yuhwa is infiltrating mainland China with Maiden and Hermit.
We also eliminated our contact network in case of an emergency.
If you want to contact Yuhwa, you have no choice but to wait for her to contact you.
“It’s too bad. Everyone would be happy if they heard that Seo-yul had returned.”
“Yeah. I want to tell you as soon as possible. Everyone is really nice······.”
That was when.
Woooooooooo-!
Shin Ji-ah's security phone shook.
The two people's expressions instantly hardened.
"let's go."
"huh."
A red light flashed, signaling a national crisis.
It was a signal for war.
“Siyeon-ah. Take Seoyul and move to the west coast. Leave everything else to me.”
* * *
Near the west coast.
I was alone, looking at the scenery on a deserted dock with no people around.
“Nice to meet you. This kind of scenery.”
A view of a dock full of fishing boats.
Maybe it's because it's a scenery I've never seen before, but it feels even more welcome and affectionate.
The wind is strong.
The hood I'm wearing feels like it'll blow away in the wind.
“By the way, it seems like the real Shinwha group is a real powerhouse.”
I asked for it, but I never thought you'd really send it to me alone.
Honestly, I thought about fifteen other superhumans would be dispatched.
'Well, I guess the only people I can give instructions to are the Shinwha Group.'
It is true that Shinwha Group has a strong influence, but it may also be because Shinwha Group is the only company left in Korea.
They say that most of the politicians who commanded the situation ran away.
It seems inevitable that the Shinwha Group will become a powerhouse.
'Did all the superhumans run away?'
So I had no choice but to come here alone.
'That could really be true.'
Who would want to stand up and fight Savior?
If there is such a superhuman, he is either a suicidal person or a great patriot.
'I am neither.'
I looked up at the sky again. The clouds were thick and dark, so I couldn't see the blue color of the sky very well.
The weather is gloomy and looks like it might rain soon.
“You came barging in on a day like this. You have no manners.”
I can sense the power of the Holy Spirit in the distance.
Three intermediate ones and two low level ones.
It seems like there is no higher level.
There's no need to change the plan.
“Siyeon-ah.”
I spoke into the ear.
-say.
“My voice. Can you transmit it to the speaker here?”
-Huh? Huh. I can do it, but······.
“Then please.”
I held in my hand the elven bow that Zia had given me beforehand.
The next moment.
A gust of wind rose over my body.
* * *
The situation room was in chaos.
“Miss Zia. Are you really going to just watch this?”
“To entrust the fate of the country to someone whose identity I don’t even know······.”
An incomprehensible order was given to send only one man whose identity was unknown, when even sending all the troops to Incheon would not be enough. The superhumans belonging to the Shinwha Group had no choice but to rise up.
“Could it be that the Shinwha Group has also joined the faction?”
“It’s like selling out the country and agreeing to be protected by the rebels······.”
If this is the case for the members of the Shinwha Group, what about the remaining government officials?
Everyone was busy biting and criticizing Shin Ji-ah.
Of course, I didn't feel bad or anything when I heard that.
“Declare a full surrender right now! If you do that, we can save the remaining civilians!”
“This is a country that can no longer function as a country. Even though it is humiliating, it is better to receive Savior’s protection······.”
The rotten people who are criticizing Shin Ji-ah and engaging in politics have already left the country a long time ago.
All the people who remain here are patriots who have decided to protect the country by any means necessary.
Rather than being offended by those people, I actually felt good about it.
Because I think about my country and want to protect the country called Korea, I criticize Shin Ji-ah.
Is there anything to feel bad about that there are still people like that?
'I guess I should start moving slowly.'
Shin Ji-ah's eyes lit up as she looked at Kang Seo-yool's back on the screen. It was time to go ahead as planned.
“Everyone, be quiet.”
Everyone was silent at the words of a woman of about 22 years old.
A strong, young voice with charisma.
“When you see it, you will understand why I made this choice.”
The aura of intimidation that a 22-year-old woman can exude as she takes the title of Korea's strongest superhuman silences everyone.
“And he is not an unknown man.”
Even saying these words in this situation was all part of the plan.
A planned speech to restore the broken command structure and the broken trust.
“What is that······.”
It was when someone was about to ask that question.
“Me, me!”
Someone who was watching the screen stuttered with wide eyes.
“Huh!”
“What, what is that!”
The surprise soon spread like an epidemic throughout the situation room.
Everyone's eyes widen in surprise as they look at the screen.
“That······thing.”
Shin Ji-ah was also among the surprised people.
She stares blankly at the back of the man with his hood off, her mouth half open.
The back of Kang Seo-yool holding the elf bow that Shin Ji-ah gave him.
Up until here, there was nothing particularly unusual about it.
“Elf! The author was an elf!”
“The original owner of this land······ The spirit of the World Tree!”
“Are you by any chance a carrier of the same genetic traits as Ms. Shin Ji-ah?”
The problem is that Kang Seo-yool's ears are long and stretched out like an elf's.
-Warning the five attackers on your side.
Kang Seo-yool's voice traveled far away through the speakers on the dock.
Without even firing an arrow, he pulls back the bowstring, his strong eyes shining.
-Avoid it.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeing-!
The wind blew.
As if the entire atmosphere were under his control.
The wind distorts the clouds that seem ready to send rain at any moment.
The wind that had been gathering around Kang Seo-yool's palm soon took the shape of an arrow.
-If you don't want to die.
The next moment.
At the same time that Kang Seo-yool started protesting.
Phew-
The wind blew.
“I, that······.”
“Ugh······.”
Just as no one can see the wind blowing.
The arrows of wind flew across the sky softly and strongly, and quickly.
And after a while.
Kwaaaaaaaah!
A massive explosion occurred about 3km away.
The magical power felt around the explosion site is extraordinary.
“Huh, huh huh.”
“I see. That’s right. So this was Shin Ji-ah’s desperate measure.”
“Ah, Miss······.”
Everyone looks back and forth between the screen and Shin Ji-ah with astonishment.
They all have one thing in common: a sense of wonder.
As planned in advance, the goal of strengthening Shin Ji-ah's influence seems to have been properly achieved.
“······.”
But, I wonder if Shin Ji-ah knows that fact or not.
I was as shocked as everyone else, if not more so.
'That appearance······.'
A back view that gives off a sense of awkwardness.
That magnificent archery skill.
That's for sure.
It's exactly the same as the man who appeared in my vivid dreams every day until a year ago.
'Ancestors?'
Kang Seo-yool, a high elf who appears in a dream world where she is not called Shinjia, but Adel Weiss.
It matches his appearance 100%.
'That wasn't just a dream······?'
Shin Ji-ah's eyes shook violently.
< Episode 238 What's Changed (2) > End
