Fired Characters from an Idle Game

31. Double Life – (1)

A short time later.

“Indeed, removing that cumbersome obstacle was a wise choice, Master.”

That was Selene’s reaction upon hearing the tale of me kidnapping Jo Geon-wook.

Our current location was the Abyss.

The timing was just after the issues surrounding the Tower Eruption incident and the sudden appearance of the 5-star calamity, the Scorched Saint Selene, in Jung-gu, had begun to subside.

[Dragon King and Flame King, “Declare significant achievements in Tower conquest…”, Announce future re-attempts.]

The fallout from the incident left me largely unscathed. Yu Junseo, ever the exaggerator, claimed I’d practically cleared the Tower, which helped.

Also, the lightning-shaped scar marring the body of the blackened Saintess Selene, who’d emerged in Jung-gu, played a part. Non-awakened panels, self-proclaimed experts, were apparently interpreting it as a wound inflicted during our clash.

Anyway, thanks to the Bureau Chief’s almost divinely inspired media spin, my own reputation as an S-Class Awakened, and, most importantly, Selene’s restraint in avoiding casualties, the Tower Outbreak didn’t escalate into a major debacle.

If anything, certain corners were praising the Bureau’s Awakened for risking their lives to avert a 5-Star Calamity, calling it a miracle even. The Bureau couldn’t ask for anything better.

A win-win situation, wouldn’t you say?

Of course, the Bureau wasn’t the only one profiting.

[Stored Calamity: 50/50]

[Stored Experience: 7010 Exp]

I also reaped a tidy sum of Calamity and Experience Points.

The sheer volume of Calamity Selene had gathered was staggering, leading to an absurd accumulation of experience. I’d heard that over half the Bureau’s Awakened had lost their stored Calamities and were effectively broke.

Regardless, things had worked out well. Selene, her wounds from the battle with Mirienne healed, was now pressing me for the full story.

“My lord, the smooth course of events is most welcome, but I confess, I do have a lingering question.”

“I think I know what it is. Go ahead, ask.”

“So… what *exactly* happened with Mirienne?”

Selene inquired cautiously.

I hadn’t yet divulged Mirienne’s whereabouts after kidnapping Jo Geon-wook.

“…Well. It’s a bit complicated, to put it lightly…”

A peculiar expectation flickered across her face as she posed her question. I couldn’t discern the emotion’s true source, but I softened the truth as much as possible.

“We talked things out. Cleared up some misunderstandings, all told.”

“My lord, where is she? She’s not in the Abyss, and I don’t see her under your command…”

“She’s… somewhere, I suppose.”

“But you said the misunderstandings were cleared up, did you not?”

Selene blinked, as if struck by a sudden thought.

“Indeed…”

“Hm? Why the face?”

“I am humbled beyond words by your profound insight, my lord.”

I frowned at Selene’s sycophantic words. What was she even talking about? Before I could question her, Selene smiled thinly and continued.

“To order the magic-wielder to take her own life. A most excellent decision. Eliminating that ungrateful woman is the more profitable choice in the long run…”

“Hold on, Selene. There’s been a misunderstanding. I didn’t kill Mirienne.”

“…Oh? Is that so?”

“Nay. I’ve seen to it that Mirien has been returned to the Tower for now. There’s no small amount of damage control to be done.”

Before I am the Dominator, Actor, I am known to the world as S-Rank Awakened Nam Juyeon. The failed conquest of the Tower of Reversal and its subsequent eruption meant I had interviews with reporters to conduct, and a story to coordinate with Yu Junseo.

I also needed to speak with Kang Sena and search for the missing Awakened ones, Seo Yerin amongst them. Then there was Jo Geonwook’s matter as well. In the end, I hadn’t the leisure to enjoy a reunion with Mirien, and so I’d had her sent back to the Tower for the time being.

“Ah…”

At my explanation, Selene wore a noticeably disappointed expression.

*It’s really because of you,* I silently clicked my tongue. The fact that Mirien hadn’t been cast into the Abyss was largely thanks to this ashen-haired saintess before me.

If they couldn’t even meet eyes without wanting to brawl, shoving them into the same base of operations would only lead to disastrous ruin. Keeping them apart was the priority.

“Then, once things have settled, will you be visiting the Tower again?”

“Indeed. It will become my second base.”

“…Second base?”

I nodded.

Currently, the Abyss as a base teemed with the calamities that were S-Rank Awakened Nam Juyeon, while the Tower of Reversal was a place to realize a more secretive and covert design.

My second identity.

“Becoming the Lord Actor of the Tower of Reversal, rather than the Master Actor of the Abyss.”

“…”

At my words, Selene’s brow gently lowered.

“So, it is to be a double life, then.”

“…Selene, what was that?”

“Nothing. It was nothing at all.”

Selene’s expression was as ever, but the unusual atmosphere emanating from her was overwhelming.

*

The scorched saintess, Selene, offered limitless loyalty to the Dominator Actor.

It was a vow she had made upon first entering the Rift, and it remained the same, even after escaping the Rift to serve Actor in a new dimension.

Everything Selene did was for Actor, even to the point of casually discarding her own life.

She desired to remain as a subject, aiding Actor’s grand design until the very end, and even beyond death.

Her bloody battle against the North Sea Storm, Mirien, was born entirely from her loyalty, and she was even relieved at her Lord’s words that things had been settled amicably.

If things had turned out as her Lord intended, then Selene, too, ought to be satisfied.

*Why is that?*

Indeed.

Clearly, a favorable outcome.

Mirien, that woman, will live with the guilt of her actions against Actor for the rest of her days. It remains to be seen, but for the time being, she won’t be troubling the Lord.

Yet, for some reason, Celine’s heart felt uneasy.

Was there some hidden danger she was missing?

Or did Mirien, that woman, still have some scheme brewing?

‘Strange.’

Celine felt that her state was… off.

To witness the Lord displaying such humanity, speaking of Mirien and laughing…

Surely, she should take it as a sign of the Lord’s good fortune and benevolent nature.

So why did it make her blood boil?

It wasn’t apostasy. Celine was a follower of the One God, Actor. She would never, ever betray him.

Then what was this unpleasant feeling rising within her chest?

Instead of defining this unidentifiable emotion as love, like Mirien might, Celine decided to simply attribute it to a physiological aversion born of her own hatred for Mirien.

She had to.

*

Apparently, Mirien had kept the abducted Awakened Ones locked away in the tower’s basement.

Now that she and Mirien were on good terms, rescuing the kidnapped Awakened Ones was a piece of cake.

“So, so many…”

Kang Sena stared with astonishment at the dozen or so Awakened Ones I had rescued. There was no way to manage all these people alone, so I asked Mirien for help. She tossed the Awakened Ones out of the tower like unwanted trash.

“How did you find them? No, even before that, how did you realize Yerim was down in that tower basement?”

Of course, I couldn’t tell her I’d heard it from the kidnapper herself. I shrugged and stroked the head of the Storm Dragon, Tempestra. The massive wyvern was quick on the uptake. She performed an aerial somersault, showing off her graceful form.

“I had my ways.”

“Ah. As expected of a 4-Star Disaster… S-Class is different…”

The world of the Disaster Order was so convenient.

I just had to bring out a Disaster and offer an explanation, and people accepted it.

“…I won’t forget it, never. I will repay this kindness, somehow.”

Kang Sena kept expressing her gratitude, but, how to put it? An overwhelming feeling of guilt began to surface.

Even more so after hearing what she said next.

“Ah, speaking of which, it seems there are even more missing people after this chaos.”

“Missing people? I thought there were no casualties?”

“Yes. No casualties, thankfully. Perhaps the Charred Saint watched over them, or maybe the rain made it too much for them…”

Kang Sena trailed off, offering a wry smile.

“Investigator Jo Geon-wook has gone missing.”

“…”

“Apparently, he abandoned his post. Someone saw him steal a motorcycle and head northwest. It’s as if he caught some strange premonition…”

Kang Sena didn’t display any particular grief over Jo Geon-wook’s disappearance.

It seemed he wasn’t a particularly beloved superior to begin with.

If only Kang Sena knew the person who kidnapped her boss was standing right before her, what expression would she make?

“…That’s unfortunate.”

“Well, I suppose I should say it’s unfortunate.”

At my lukewarm response, Kang Sena chuckled, as if she’d expected nothing less, and nodded.

*

After this incident, security around the Tower in Yeouido became even tighter than before.

Not only were police forces present, but Awakened from the Management Bureau were also on high alert, scrutinizing anyone who tried to enter, making a frontal assault a suicidal move.

Perhaps that’s why Mirien had created a new route into the Tower.

“My Lord, must we really use a place like this as an entrance? I’m sure that wench Mirien is taking you for a fool. At the very least, a carpet should be laid here, no?”

A sewage pipe.

Selene seemed to hold considerable dissatisfaction at the notion of me walking through this path reeking of dankness, but I couldn’t care less.

“Now, now, settle down. Do you remember my orders?”

At my words, Selene grudgingly nodded.

“…Yes. I am never to fight with that wench.”

“Remember, arguments are also considered fighting.”

“That, too, I am aware of.”

Having received confirmation from Selene, I placed my hand on a magic circle etched near the wall.

Then, as if in a movie, a mechanism activated, and my vision inverted.

“…Actor.”

Whether she’d finished her treatment by now, Mirien, looking impeccably groomed, was gazing at me.

“Come to torture him, have you? I’ve prepared everything.”

As if boasting, she pointed to Awakened Jo Geon-wook, who was bound tightly, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath, and grinned broadly.

Next to Mirien, the instruments laid out were all sharpened blades, some even heated to a glowing red.

“…Mirien.”

“Yes.”

“Take Selene and get out of here.”

Indeed, a calamity is a calamity.