Fired Characters from an Idle Game

29. 5★ Mirien, Storm of the North Sea – (2)

Awakened A-Rank, Jo Geon-uk, was currently facing a rather troublesome situation.

The sudden raid on the Yeouido dungeon. Just a few hours ago, S-Rank Awakened Nam Ju-yeon and Director Yu Jun-seo had entered.

And not long after, Yu Jun-seo came rushing out, and the dungeon ruptured.

[Awakened, assist with the evacuation of civilians near residential areas.]

Disaster broadcasts of the same severity as a fissure eruption went out in an instant, and Awakened belonging to the Administration Bureau were dispatched to the scene, each filled with tension.

Jo Geon-uk was no exception. It was his day off, but he’d been dragged out regardless.

“Yu Jun-seo, that b*stard… causing unnecessary trouble.”

Actually, the fact that he had to work on his day off wasn’t that much of a complaint. It had often happened during his detective days. But in this messed up world, what

Jo Geon-uk disliked was this dirty feeling, like something was beyond his control, his understanding.

“Just what is he plotting?”

Jo Geon-uk frowned, glaring at the tower that stood tall in Yeouido.

He tried to trace the trajectory of the Storm Dragon Tempestura that had flown through the sky just moments ago, but the dense, ominous clouds made it impossible.

“Tch.”

Jo Geon-uk clicked his tongue.

He was still suspicious of Nam Ju-yeon.

The fact that he had appeared when the Cheonan Nest was subjugated, that he had survived the attack of the Storm Dragon Tempestura.

Of course, he wasn’t denying the accomplishments he had shown. But the more successful he became, the deeper Jo Geon-uk’s doubts grew.

“The fact that he suddenly declared the tower raid is suspicious in itself.”

Wasn’t it like following a predetermined scenario? Nam Ju-yeon became an S-Rank Awakened during the Storm Dragon Tempestura subjugation. In the subsequent Incheon Nest, and the third eruption, he unreservedly raised his fame.

Then, out of nowhere, this individual declared their intent to tackle the Tower. What a coincidence that Acter’s minion, the Scorched Saint Selene, appeared within the Tower of Adversity dungeon just as they entered.

Recently, a religious group worshipping Acter, called the Ascendants, had become increasingly prominent. Jo Geon-wook’s deduction, though perhaps a leap, concerned Awakened ones.

According to Yu Jun-seo, the Director, they were conquering the Tower smoothly, but Jo Geon-wook didn’t trust him for a moment.

“Something’s up.”

Jo Geon-wook frowned and started walking.

He was an A-Class Awakened, and leaving his post was a serious disciplinary offense, but he figured he could get it reduced since it was for an investigation.

Nam Ju-yeon had disappeared heading north.

Jo Geon-wook was about to hop on his motorbike parked by the curb and head out in the rain when…

[This is Squad 4! Squad 4! We need backup!]

The urgent voice crackling over the radio stopped Jo Geon-wook in his tracks.

He frowned, listening intently, and soon heard something shocking.

[Sector 4, Jung-gu, a 5-Star Calamity has appeared!]

“A 5-Star…?”

[The Scorched Saint, it’s the Scorched Saint Selene!]

The radio, without even identifying its own squad, screamed. Jo Geon-wook could hardly believe his ears.

“A 5-Star Calamity, in the middle of the city?”

Something immense was unfolding.

*

The title of ‘living, breathing cataclysm’ suited the Scorched Saint Selene perfectly.

Each swing of her sword ignited colossal flames, consuming the streets.

“Maintain distance! Maintain distance! Do *not* approach!”

The Awakened, faces grim, had rushed forward to confront the 5-Star Calamity the moment Selene appeared, but upon facing her directly, their resolve crumbled.

[5★ Scorched Saint Selene is casting skill 「Infernal Fireball」.]

*Ding!*

[2★ Crystal Spider Eliminated.]

[Reward: 30 Exp / 2★ Crystal Spider]

[2★ Moss Hunter Eliminated.]

[Reward: 30 Exp / 2★ Moss Hunter]

[2★ Ember Fox Eliminated.]

[Reward: 30 Exp / 2★ Ember Fox]

[2★ Starlight Crystal Golem slain.]

[Reward: 30 Exp / 2★ Starlight Crystal Golem]

[3★ Phantom Ember slain.]

[Reward: 50 Exp / 3★ Phantom Ember]

The kill log continued to scroll across my vision.

Unintentionally, I’d become a usurper of my fellow Awakened’s calamity kills, but they were in a state of panic after three or four of their disasters had been extinguished with a single strike.

“H-how? She’s supposed to be fire element!”

“It’s raining, damn it!”

The Awakened’s near-screams carried all the way to where I stood, far removed from the fray.

“She’s… undeniably strong.”

Watching this unfold from a rooftop, I clicked my tongue.

Despite the downpour that should have diminished Selene’s power, she hadn’t permitted even a single blow to land. Right now, she was a monster rampaging near Seoul Station, and no disaster, no weapon, could inflict harm upon her.

An Awakened fired an arrow. Selene didn’t even bother to dodge. The flames that surrounded her, though greatly diminished, easily deflected projectiles like bullets or arrows.

Truth be told, even without the flames, Selene wouldn’t have taken damage from such pathetic attacks.

[5☆ Shell of a Dead God]

It wasn’t just the Hellfire Wedge that Selene wielded that was a 5-star item.

The Shell of a Dead God she possessed was a top-tier defense gear that blocked all attacks below the 3-star level.

Thanks to her unique trait, she wasn’t affected by attack attributes, and her defensive weaknesses were covered by her equipment, making her a disaster specialized in obliterating the weak.

That was Scortched Saint Selene, my stronghold’s source of income.

“Good. She’s certainly drawing attention.”

Having seen enough, I no longer concerned myself with Selene.

Next to me on the rooftop stood a Hellfire Hound wearing a large-dog raincoat. Even in this deluge, it was diligently sniffing the air, searching for Mirienne’s trail.

I hadn’t anticipated that tracking her would be difficult.

‘This has to be a Thunderstorm.’

Within Disaster Order, only a small number of disasters possessed weather skills. Their effect included altering the attribute of the field, as well as empowering allied disasters of the same attribute within the party.

As potent as they were, weather skills invariably became the identity of the disaster who possessed them. Mirienne’s moniker, the Storm of the Northern Sea, came directly from her unique skill, Thunderstorm.

Back when I was deeply engrossed in the game, I often grouped Mirienne with Sky and Lightning-type disasters, including the Storm Dragon, using Mirienne as a weather setter and supporter.

[4★ Hellfire Hound uses skill 「Scent Tracking」.]

*Ding.*

[4★ Hellfire Hound has detected skill 「Thunderstorm」.]

“Okay.”

As expected, the Hellhound pinpointed the skill’s origin without issue.

The direction he turned his head was none other than north.

The status window even kindly displayed the results of the tracking skill visually.

“Seongbuk-gu, huh….”

I managed a bitter smile.

In the end, I had no choice but to fly with Storm Dragon Tempestra once more.

*

When Mirien, Storm of the Northern Sea, regained consciousness, the surroundings were unfamiliar.

She slowly assessed the situation.

Mirien had invoked the Blessing of Thunder upon herself, losing her reason and going on a rampage. She had no memory after that. Her last clear recollection was the fierce battle on the top floor of the tower.

She had definitely fought Selene. The edge of the cloak she wore was tattered and burned, and her face was covered in soot. Once she became aware of that much, a burning pain from the burns followed all over her body.

“Could it be.”

Mirien collapsed onto the cold floor, slowly looking down at her hands.

Judging from the state of her body, she must have fought Selene like a madwoman, losing her mind. Then, for some reason, she escaped from the tower and hid here.

If, in the process of fighting Selene, any harm came to Actor…

“…I’ve done it.”

The moment she imagined the worst-case scenario, her mind went chillingly blank.

Her body, her heart, her soul seemed to crumble.

“…Ugh.”

Mirien staggered, taking a step back.

She had definitely earned his ire. An unresolvable conflict. She realized that she was a living corpse.

Why was she even alive?

Rampaging arbitrarily, causing harm to Actor.

As Selene said, wasn’t she just a massive obstacle to Actor?

Wouldn’t it have been better to have her heart pierced by Selene’s sword? Wouldn’t she have welcomed having the heart bestowed upon her by Actor taken back instead?

“Heeh.”

A hollow laugh escaped.

Clutching her staggering body, she shook her head.

She felt an intense headache.

A delayed fear washed over her.

If he were to see her, what expression would he wear?

Would his brow furrow? A cold mask settle on his face? Or would he simply look away, offering no acknowledgment at all?

Would he vow never to speak her name again?

The thought constricted her chest, stealing her breath. Her fingertips trembled.

“There’s no turning back.”

The conclusion came quickly.

Mirien spoke the words as she raised her hand.

Her unique skill, Thunderstorm, was already unleashing torrential rain across the entire city. And for Mirien, a grand mage, summoning countless bolts of lightning within that storm was hardly a challenge.

Rather than await a future without Actor, a future of only ruin, wouldn’t it be better to destroy the entire world? If Selene came to stop her, then she would gladly sacrifice her life.

It was just as Mirien thought this and began drawing upon her mana, when…

[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestura is using the skill 「Flight」.]

A massive shadow fell overhead.

Mirien blankly tilted her head back. Storm Dragon Tempestura, once an extension of her own will. But now, belonging to the dominator, Actor.

That being the case, there was only one reason for the storm dragon to seek her out.

“…Actor.”

A human clung precariously to the dragon’s enormous back.

Mirien’s breath caught in her throat.

She thought she had abandoned everything, but the precious heart Actor had given her was still acting up.

The life he had gifted her was still beating with a desire to live.

“I… I…”

Mirien parted her lips.

There were so many things she wanted to say.

She wanted him to scold her.

But she didn’t want him to abandon her.

More than anything…

“…Don’t… don’t turn away from me.”

“If I was going to turn away, would I have risked my life to come find you like this?”

Contrary to Mirien’s expectations, the dominator, Actor, quirked the corner of his lips and nodded.

Then, without hesitation, he leapt from the back of the storm dragon.

“…Huh?”

And that, from dozens of meters above.

Mirien’s thoughts froze.