Fired Characters from an Idle Game

44. S-Rank Awakened Yoo Jun-seo

[Awakened Management Bureau Chief Yoo Jun-seo, Promoted to S-Rank]

– Well, I must be something else. Looks and abilities are clearly separate things.

– Yoo Jun-seo, he’s overshadowed by Nam Ju-yeon, but he stood out from the beginning. He was in the initial Hellfire Watchdog subjugation team, and he was there during the last Tower eruption. He’s shown everything he can, so there’s nothing new to see, I guess.

– I heard America and China only have one or two, so will we finally be able to flex our muscles on the international stage? Are we gonna become a superpower at this rate?

– It’s great, but seeing the state pampering these ability users makes me wonder if they’re just throwing away our taxes.

ㄴ Then what if the S-class Awakened leave for overseas? The state has to keep them here.

ㄴ So, will *you* protect the country yourself? Lol. Aren’t we living safely thanks to those people anyway? Just cut the salaries of those useless politicians instead.

– Oh my, my heart swells with pride! South Korea has produced another S-class! Isn’t this the rise of our national fortunes?! Back then, we would have been oppressed by the great powers, but now it’s time for us to stand shoulder to shoulder with them! The potential of South Korea is endless! A nation with the blood of a strong people flowing through it, even producing S-class Awakened! How proud our ancestors would be if they saw this! Long live South Korea!

ㄴ Why does this old fogey keep commenting?

=

Yoo Jun-seo’s daily routine begins with checking news articles.

More precisely, he mainly checks the comments on the news articles, especially those with a high number of upvotes.

In that sense, today’s news comments were excellent for starting his morning. Although there were some comments written in a rather critical tone, most of them were praising him and were at the top of the most recommended section.

Yoo Jun-seo’s shoulders shuddered.

“Ehehe.”

An unpleasant laugh leaked through the slightly parted gap in his gums.

Yoo Jun-seo turned his head and looked at the new henchman guarding his side.

[4★ The Guardian of Crimson Flames is Watching You.]

The status window used the expression “Watching You,” but the Guardian of Crimson Flames had no eyes. In fact, it had no limbs either. Yoo Jun-seo’s new calamity was nothing more than black armor surrounded by flames. A living armor floating in mid-air.

Although the Guardian of Crimson Flames was not a Named, and its combat prowess wasn’t great due to being a calamity with only its tanking ability extremely enhanced.

But how important was that, really?

Yoo Jun-seo possessed a 4-star calamity, and this had brought him the sweet title of S-class Awakened.

For Yoo Jun-seo, that alone was enough.

“Kang Se-na Yang, listen, I was thinking… shouldn’t I be called something like Emperor Yama instead of Yama King?”

“…Just what kind of nonsense are you spouting from the crack of dawn?”

Secretary Kang Se-na, who was organizing documents, frowned.

Yoo Jun-seo became slightly discouraged by her sharp gaze, but he continued without giving in.

“Well, I was called Yama King when I was an A-class, but now I’m an S-class, which is incomparably better. I thought I should be called something different from that nickname from my past dregs days. Yeah. That’s it.”

Yoo Jun-seo spoke earnestly, but Kang Se-na let out a deep sigh.

How on earth did this man succeed in synthesizing a 4-star calamity?

“These are the end times, the end times.”

Sena Kang murmured, her voice barely there, so Junseo Yoo wouldn’t hear.

He was utterly smitten with whatever Joo-yeon Nam had shown him back in the conference room, that much was clear.

Even after Joo-yeon had left for Daejeon, Junseo had kept spouting that same pointless drivel about needing to be independent from the government, as if possessed.

Then, like a sudden gust of madness, he’d gambled away his strongest asset, tossing two rank-3 Calamities straight into synthesis.

“Honestly, it’s more surprising it actually worked.”

He’d succeeded in his mad gamble as if to mock her doubts.

At this point, Sena Kang had to concede. Junseo Yoo hadn’t ridden the tide; he was simply blessed with unnerving luck.

“Anyway, Seoul’s power just got a boost, so all the better, I suppose. If you really want to be called Flame Emperor, I can give the reporters some guidelines, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Why not?”

“There’s already an Awakened one far more impressive than you who goes by Sea Dragon. If a newcomer proclaims themselves Emperor, wouldn’t that cause a major backlash?”

“…Ah.”

Using Joo-yeon Nam, though she was absent, to make her point, Junseo nodded, then boomed.

“Then I must meet Joo-yeon Nam!”

“Hmm. I wonder how our Director reached *that* conclusion.”

Sena Kang wasn’t curious in the slightest, but seeing Junseo’s expression, she reluctantly asked, “And why is that, sir?”

“Dragon Emperor and Flame Emperor! The Double Emperors! The two guardians of Korea!”

“…Ugh.”

Was it time to just throw in the towel on this job?

It was as Sena Kang was seriously contemplating this that…

“Um, Director?”

Ye-rin Seo arrived at the Director’s office, clutching a stack of documents.

“What now?”

Junseo, seemingly having already lost interest in most things, was mechanically hitting the upvote and downvote buttons on news article comments.

Ye-rin Seo cautiously began,

“…There’s someone who wishes to see you, Director?”

“Who is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“…It’s someone of… considerable rank.”

“Rank?”

Ye-rin Seo fidgeted before replying,

“The National Security Office…”

“…”

Yu Junseo scrambled to his feet.

*

The moment he returned to Seoul, the Management Bureau building was hosting some kind of event.

[Awakened Ones Management Bureau Celebration]

“…Taxpayers’ money going to waste, I see.”

If they have the luxury to splurge like this over one measly synthesis success, they should be taking care of the soldiers instead.

Moreover, this event didn’t seem to be solely to celebrate Yu Junseo. Newly appointed cabinet members were gathered, freely exchanging pleasantries.

“…Ah, Nam Jooyeon-ssi…”

However, most of them stiffened the moment they saw me enter the building.

It was thanks to the ruckus I caused in the conference room not long ago. Even the congressmen who weren’t there that day must have heard the story about the congressman with the shattered nose, still stuck in the hospital.

To them, I was an asymmetric force, capable of toppling the government at any moment, depending on my mood.

Perhaps that was why. Amidst the boisterous attendees of the Management Bureau event, not a single person really approached me to speak.

Except for one.

“Ah, Nam Jooyeon-ssi! Welcome! Did things go smoothly down in the provinces?”

A-Grade Awakened Seo Yerin, clearly devoid of any sense of social awareness, approached with a warm greeting. She didn’t seem to notice the piercing glares from the congressmen directed towards her.

Seo Yerin inquired about this and that, and I answered absentmindedly. She beamed, holding up her phone screen.

“Have you seen this? You have a formidable rival now, Nam Jooyeon-ssi!”

[The Birth of Two Pillars Among S-Grade Awakened Ones… The Era of the Flame Emperor and the Dragon Emperor, What Awaits Ahead?]

“…Huh?”

Coming to think of it, the media sure does love to exaggerate.

Just as I was thinking that, I realized a shocking truth through Seo Yerin’s phone screen.

[Ahem… If this isn’t national prosperity, then what is…? Seeing our Republic of Korea produce such exceptional talents, our ancestors must be pleased…! The day the Flame Emperor and the Dragon Emperor protect the country and dominate the world is near! Citizens…! Puff out your chests! The Republic of Korea… is advancing!] (Edit / Delete)

A typical old-fart comment that you often see on news articles.

But the problem was the “Edit” button right next to the comment section.

That meant the one who wrote this comment was…

‘No way… Seo Yerin is that alt-right, nationalistic boomer?’

I had learned something I didn’t want to know.

They call it the curse of knowledge, right?

The simpleton before my eyes no longer seemed so innocent.

But I didn’t press the issue, clearing my throat instead and changing the subject.

“Speaking of which, Ms. Seo Yerim, where is Director Yu Junseo, the man of the hour?”

Yu Junseo was nowhere to be seen at the event.

Given his personality, he should have been on the podium, lapping up the applause.

“Ah, the Director is away speaking with someone from the government. He’s not here right now.”

“Government figure? Speaking?”

“Hmm…. Sena-unni told me not to say anything…. but I suppose it’s alright for Yongwang-nim to know.”

Seo Yerim’s mouth was as light as her brain capacity.

She gave a subtle smile and whispered to me.

“It’s the National Security Office. Sena-unni said it’s directly under the President! Amazing, isn’t it? Ah, have you met Ms. Nam Juyeon yet?”

“…Hmm.”

Just then, Kang Sena, who was walking towards us, caught my eye.

Instead of words, she summarized the situation with a wink.

The National Security Office had summoned Yu Junseo.

What that signified could mean many things, but none of them were good.

“Ms. Seo Yerim, I’d love to chat more since it’s been a while, but something urgent has come up. It’s a pity, but let’s get together for a meal sometime.”

“Ah, a-absolutely! When next?!”

Subtlety was lost on Seo Yerim.

“W-well… how about next week, next week then.”

“Yes! Anytime is fine with me!”

Having shaken off Seo Yerim, I left the event hall and went to the public restroom outside.

After confirming that I wasn’t being followed, I summoned Mirien.

[Summoning 5★ North Sea Storm Mirien.]

“Actor, what is it?”

“You might have heard, but things are getting a little strange. What do you think Yu Junseo could be talking about with the NSO?”

“…Uh. I dunno? What’s the NSO anyway?”

Right. Mirien wouldn’t know.

Probably Selene, with her lack of worldly knowledge, either.

But having grown up in this country my whole life, I couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling.

“If you don’t know, you need to find out. Mirien, you can track that guy Yu Junseo, right? You saw him once before.”

“Acter, what do you take me for? He won’t slip from my sight unless that b*stard leaves this planet.”

“Good. Then track Yu Junseo and confirm what he’s discussing with the government.”

“Understood.”

Mirian’s form dissolved into shimmering motes of light before scattering.

Likely using tracking magic from the uppermost floor of the Tower of Reversal.

I, conversely, started to move. The Blue House was half-destroyed, and Mirian’s Tower stood where the National Assembly once resided. The administrative functions of the Republic of Korea, including the President’s office, were currently located in Jung-gu, where the City Hall was situated. I turned into a nearby alley, pulled my hood down low, and summoned Selene.

[5★ Summons the Scorched Saint Selene.]

“Selene.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Just in case, be prepared.”

“…Prepared for what, might I ask?”

“Prepared to fight.”

It was best to assume the worst.