Fired Characters from an Idle Game

11. Smurfing is a Basic of Trash Games – (2)

[A Rift is Erupting!]

[From the Rift’s Eruption, various Calamities can be gathered.]

[Defeat the Calamities and dominate them. The dominated Calamities will reinforce your base as loyal minions.]

[The Eruption will end in 6h.]

The second Rift eruption had begun.

Unlike the first, this eruption had a timely system established, and appropriate responses followed.

Awakened Ones were assigned to squads based on their residences and individual combat strength. They were to be in charge of each district, and Awakened Ones affiliated with the military took positions with heavy weaponry on the rooftops of buildings.

“Haa.”

Awakened One Tae-geon Han had also become an Awakened One during this opportunity, and was now summoned by the government.

The district assigned to Tae-geon Han’s squad wasn’t large, and there weren’t any strong Calamities either. Mostly just 1-star Calamity underlings.

“I need a stronger one.”

Tae-geon Han frowned as he looked at his Calamity, a 1-star Rock Janitor.

He had heard that the Awakened One Management Bureau would soon introduce a grading system. Like A-rank Hunters, S-rank Hunters and the like.

The combat strength Tae-geon Han could wield now was only that of 1-star Calamities. At this rate, he’d be lucky to be a C-rank, B-rank at best.

Tae-geon Han was ambitious. He had intended to catch at least a 2-star Calamity in this eruption and live large, but at this rate, he was destined to be mere cannon fodder.

‘…Even that b*stard controls a 2-star.’

Was it because of that urgency? Tae-geon Han began to harbor a sense of inferiority towards another Awakened One in his squad.

Nam Joo-yeon, was it?

He had scoffed when he first saw him. A scrawny guy who looked like he had never lifted a finger. An average Joe who somehow became an Awakened One, with nothing but a lucky goblin kill to his name.

But when the eruption actually began, it was that man who became the protagonist.

[The 2★ Starlight Dust Golem swings its fist!]

*Thwack!*

That man had a 2-star Calamity that didn’t suit his seemingly clumsy demeanor.

[The 2★ Starlight Dust Golem has defeated the 1★ Shattered Crystal Spider!]

[Reward: 1Exp]

Nam Juyeon’s golem displayed a power that paled Han Taegeon’s Calamity in comparison, racking up achievements in one fell swoop.

Even the other Awakened, who initially looked down on him, now bowed and scraped, flocking to him once he wielded a Rank 2 Calamity.

“Mr. Nam Juyeon, wow, a Rank 2 Calamity is really something. I envy you. How did you get it?”

“Ah… well… I synthesized and got lucky, I guess.”

“…”

The sight of him acting high and mighty after pulling a Rank 2 Calamity with mere luck through synthesis was infuriating.

Inferiority soon morphed into hatred.

‘Wait, if I backstab that little prick, won’t that golem become mine?’

He had overheard from some unsavory types just recently.

That even murder between Awakened was processed by this world’s system.

That when two Awakened got into a scuffle and one killed the other, they obtained the Calamity and experience the deceased had possessed.

PK, they called it, Player Killing.

If he killed that kid, Han Taegeon could obtain a Rank 2 Calamity.

‘…Not a bad deal, is it?’

It wouldn’t be too difficult either.

Han Taegeon had a burly physique. Nam Juyeon, on the other hand, wasn’t particularly large. The Rank 2 Calamity was intimidating, sure, but if he could somehow find an opening and crack his skull with a brick, he could kill him.

First, he needed to separate him, to make sure there were no witnesses.

Harboring his dark intentions, Han Taegeon plastered on the most innocent smile he could muster and approached Nam Juyeon.

“Mr. Juyeon, it seems there are Calamities in that alleyway over there. Shall we go?”

“Uh… what about the other squad members…?”

“They went to deal with the Calamities on the main road. Besides, there are soldiers there, so it won’t be dangerous. Come on, let’s go.”

Nam Juyeon, swayed by Han Taegeon’s reasonable persuasion, reluctantly nodded.

He led him into the alleyway, secretly smacking his lips in anticipation.

“You said there were Calamities here?”

“Yes. I confirmed it earlier. See that corner? They’re supposed to be just beyond it.”

“Hmm.”

He was more cautious than he looked.

To convince the hesitant Nam Juyeon, Han Taegeon strode forward, rounding the corner first.

He picked up a sizable rock that happened to be lying in the corner of the alley. Then, in a hurried voice, he shouted.

“aaargh! Here! The Calamity is here! Help me!”

“Han Tae-geon-ssi?!”

The sound of Nam Ju-yeon rushing over reached him.

Han Tae-geon plastered on a desperate smile, raising both hands high above his head. Not a difficult task. The moment it emerged, all he needed to do was smash its skull.

Soon enough, Nam Ju-yeon appeared. Han Tae-geon wanted to swing the rock with all his might, but for some reason, his arm wouldn’t move.

More precisely, he felt nothing.

‘Huh?’

Han Tae-geon then felt an intense burning sensation starting from below his elbows. Looking down, he confirmed that his arms had been cleanly severed.

“…Hh, hhh. Bl-blood…”

Han Tae-geon recoiled in horror.

But that was a misstep.

*Thud.* Something bumped against his back.

But it wasn’t a wall.

[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestura is watching you.]

Before he knew it, a colossal wyvern-shaped dragon filled the entire alleyway.

“…Wh-whe…n…”

Han Tae-geon couldn’t comprehend the situation unfolding before his eyes.

And there was no need to understand.

[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestura bites.]

The massive wyvern tore into Han Tae-geon’s upper body. Without his arms, he couldn’t even put up a decent fight, his body ripped in half, and he died.

*

*Crunch!*

The Awakened, whose name he didn’t even know, became a corpse, leaving only his lower half behind.

He didn’t feel particularly sorry. He had suspected something was off; waiting for him around the corner with a rock in hand.

It seemed he coveted his Calamity.

They said appearances were telling. He was a scoundrel who deserved to die.

However, that was not the problem now.

[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestura is watching you.]

Storm Dragon Tempestura.

A 4-star Calamity of the Sky attribute.

Unlike the Hellfire Hounds, often dismissed as trash, this one was a reliable performer, a sturdy workhorse even amongst Lightning-types.

“Dammit.”

I hastily stumbled back.

Why the hell did *that* show up here?

A four-star disaster, spewed out by this eruption.

It made no sense. I fumbled with my status window, trying to summon a Hellfire Hound to replace the Stardust Golem, to stand against it.

[4★ Tempest Dragon, Tempest, is withdrawing.]

But instead of showing me hostility, Tempest slowly backed away, then leapt into the air.

With a mighty flap of wings, Tempest soared skyward.

Its destination was none other than Yeouido, that towering spire.

“Are you alright?”

Selene, who had been cloaked in shadow, was suddenly beside me.

I pointed at the corpse of the man, only his lower half remaining.

“…Selene, did you do this?”

“No. I only severed his arms. You instructed me to refrain from bloodshed earlier, and I merely obeyed.”

“Then that Tempest Dragon….”

“I did not summon it.”

“It fled because it feared you?”

“No. I observed the situation. It seems it was satisfied after its meal.”

Selene spoke nonsense.

There’s no way that massive wyvern would be content after only devouring half a torso.

I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing Selene. Our gazes met, and she pressed her lips together as if hiding something. Her cherubic cheeks puffed out adorably, but I ignored it.

“Selene, is this Mirienne’s doing?”

“….”

“Answer me.”

“It seems… likely.”

Selene reluctantly replied.

She glared at the tower with obvious displeasure.

“That magic-user seems to be targeting Master’s life. If you but command it, I will bring you that villainess’s head immediately. Please, grant me leave for a raid.”

Selene was burning with battle lust.

But the Storm Dragon, Tempest, didn’t recognize me as an enemy. Rather, it bit the Awakened who’d been trying to backstab me and nonchalantly took its leave.

The implication was simple.

“Selene, it’s not what it looks like. Mirien…”

Just as I was about to explain the situation to Selene, she hastily retreated, tugging at the air.

[5★ Scorched Saint Selene uses skill 「Ink-Black Veil」.]

“Hey! Be careful! There’s a 4-Star Calamity here…!”

Before I knew it, a man with a short, sporty haircut had hopped off a motorcycle and was running towards us.

He approached, panting, then grimaced at the Awakened’s lower half, left abandoned in the middle of the alleyway.

“Received a report that a massive bird flew by here. Said it was a 4-Star Calamity. Are you a witness?”

“…I suppose I am.”

“This corpse?”

“That thing bit him and left. I survived by hiding.”

The man frowned.

An Administration Bureau name tag was pinned to his chest, bearing the name Jo Geon-wook.

[2★ Moss Hunter uses skill 「Whispers of the Forest」.]

Soon after, the man, Jo Geon-wook, summoned a Calamity. The 2-Star Calamity, Moss Hunter, used its detection skill to scour the area. Thankfully, Moss Hunter failed to locate Selene.

A 5-Star Calamity’s stealth skills were not to be detected by a mere 2-Star’s detection ability.

“…Alright. It’s unfortunate about this Awakened, but it’s a relief that you at least survived. What’s your name?”

Jo Geon-wook asked for my name, and I answered casually.

“Nam Ju-yeon.”

“Okay. Nam Ju-yeon. Nam Ju…yeon?”

However, Jo Geon-wook looked at me with narrowed eyes, as if something had struck him.

Just then, Moss Hunter returned, having completed its search, carrying two arms. The man’s arms, cleanly severed by Selene’s godlike swordsmanship. The cross-section was as smooth as if cut with a precision blade.

By any measure, a suspicious scene.

A subtle current filled the air.

“Would you mind coming with me for a bit?”

“…Sure.”

I nodded obediently.