Click.

The radio went dead. The man’s final words hung in the air—ominous, and bone-chilling.

“Hey! Hey! …Damn it!”

Shin Yeji tried several more times, but there was only silence. She finally gave up and let her head drop in despair.

“Hell…? What… what does that mean?”

A young man with a boyish face broke the quiet.

It wasn’t directed at anyone in particular. Maybe that’s why no one dared answer.

But hunters weren’t exactly just wearing their heads for decoration. Each of them conjured a different image, yet they all shared a common thread: Seoul overrun by a flood of monsters. Fallen.

“What… what do we do now?”

“What do you mean, what do we do? We go down.”

“Go down? Where?”

“We go back to Korea. Where else is there?”

“But the radio just said it’s hell over there…”

“So what, you want to stay here?”

“Hold on, hold on. Everyone, calm down for a second.”

Voices erupted from all sides, a beat or two behind. Different sounds from different mouths, all mixing into chaos.

There are many kinds of fear in the world. But the worst is the one born from ignorance.

“Mr. Byeonggap.”

Sim Seungseop sidled up to Go Byeonggap and spoke in a low voice.

“I think this is that thing you mentioned before.”

“I was thinking the same.”

Go Byeonggap answered just as quietly.

“What are you planning to do now?”

“Hmm…”

Go Byeonggap couldn’t answer right away. He was just as rattled. He’d expected something like this to happen, but not this fast, not this suddenly.

While he hesitated, Jeong Seongyeong and Han Changhun also crept over. For some reason, they felt the need to whisper.

“Hey, Byeonggap. That thing you talked about. Looks like it’s blown.”

“That’s what I’m thinkin’. Seems like everything’s gone to hell.”

Go Byeonggap stroked his chin with a troubled face, then looked up as if he’d made up his mind.

“Everyone! Everyone!”

He shouted loud enough to grab their attention. The hunters, who had been tossing out all sorts of theories, stopped short and turned to look at him.

Go Byeonggap opened the door to Asvillam and continued.

“Let’s step over there for a moment. I have something to tell you.”

“……”

The group followed Go Byeonggap without a word.

They gathered in the auditorium where they’d spent the last few days, sitting in a loose circle. Some wore pure curiosity; others, expressions loaded with meaning.

“What is it you want to say? Please, just tell us already.”

A few pressed him. Their faces held a quiet hope that Go Byeonggap might unravel this whole mystery in one stroke.

Go Byeonggap hated that. But he wanted to get it over with. The weight of the truth on his shoulders kept swelling, growing heavier by the second.

“What I’m about to say might be somewhat shocking. So whether you believe it or not—judge for yourselves. But I promise this: I’ll speak only the truth as far as I know it.”

Go Byeonggap opened. The audience stayed silent, and the story wound forward, one thread after another.

Throughout the telling, a strange stillness filled the room. It sometimes spoke for shock, sometimes for grief. A soundless outcry.

Finally, the revelation came to its end. Everyone except the three who’d known beforehand wore the same dumbfounded look.

“That… that can’t be…”

“It can’t be, but it’s the truth.”

“S-so Jincheol was in on it with them too? What the fuck!”

“Haseon unnie¹ was a Hexagram Order believer? She went along with that insane plan?”

“Then right now, down in the lower district…”

Denial, rage, bargaining, depression, and finally—resignation.

They groaned through their all-too-human reactions, then grew frantic.

“Ah, Mom! My mom!”

“My little brother! He’s alone right now…”

“What do we do, what do we do!”

People stamped their feet helplessly.

Even a veteran hunter who’s been through hell and back is, at the end of the day, just one human. No one can keep a solemn face and say, ‘Please, you first.’

“H-hey! Please let me out! I, I need to go right now!”

“Calm down. Even if you go out alone…”

“Calm down? No, the fuck did you say calm down!?”

S-rank hunter Gyeong Chanhyeong almost lunged. No—he actually did. But Jeong Seongyeong immediately stepped in and blocked him.

“Ah, Chanhyeong Oppa! Don’t be so dramatic!”

“Yah… Seongyeong-ah… What about Minu and Minu’s mom? If, if something’s happened to them…”

“Aish, shit! What kind of unlucky talk is that? They’ll both be fine!”

“Hic! Hoooh…”

Even Jeong Seongyeong, saying they’d be fine, had a dark expression. Common sense screamed the odds were abysmal.

Gyeong Chanhyeong’s legs seemed to give out. He slid down and sat on the floor.

Most people reacted the same way, and Go Byeonggap let them vent their feelings freely. They’d run out of steam on their own eventually.

Go Byeonggap’s mind drifted for a moment. To Seo Sihui.

‘If a crisis reached Korea, does it mean she failed?’

Where was Seo Sihui now, and what was she doing? Was she even alive? With no way to reach her, the uncertainty burned black inside him.

Go Byeonggap found himself gazing northward, unconsciously. All he could see was a log wall, but his stare pierced right through it, aimed at what lay beyond.

A few nights’ journey north would bring him to the vast snowy mountain range. Pushing through that frozen hell for days more, he’d reach Mt. Cheondo.

That was where Seo Sihui made her home.

<If you’re thinking of going to Mt. Cheondo, think again. That great nature refuses entry to lesser beings. Set foot there half-cocked and you’ll die a stranger’s death, sure as the cold.>

Landriol cut in unexpectedly. Byeonggap opened his mouth to answer, then thought better of it. The former Lord had already slipped back into sleep.

‘Tch. Wasn’t planning on it anyway.’

Who did he think he was? A round trip would cost a month at least. The risk was far too great for a gamble that uncertain.

His mind, cold and sharp, churned through the next course of action.

By the time the commotion in the hall began to settle, Byeonggap had landed on a fairly reasonable idea.

‘Should I take the humans in?’

Bring them into Asvillam. Build a small castle beside Baltadren and house the refugees there.

Of course, nothing came free. He couldn’t just hand over the daily bread goblins had sweat and bled to harvest.

‘Non-awakeners work labor. Awakeners fight. That way the goblins don’t have to be on the front lines, and our casualties stay minimal. Play it right, and I can keep my duty both as a member of humanity and as the Goblin Lord.’

Of course, the world didn’t always turn like meshed gears.

The biggest worry about taking people in was losing control over them. He was the Goblin Lord, not some Human Lord, wasn’t he?

‘They say never take in a black-haired beast, after all.’

Humans were cunning. Not all of them, sure. But like some wise man once said — get five people together, and one of them’s bound to be trash.

‘If only humans were like spirits. Spirits are static by nature; they hate conflict.’

Byeonggap mulled over how to control races beyond just goblins.

It wasn’t long before a single figure came to mind. Someone who had once united not just humans but all the demi-humans of the continent.

The ending hadn’t been pretty, but he figured he could at least get some advice.

Byeonggap closed his eyes. Then, like diving into deep water, he sank into the mental landscape within.

A space of pure, unbroken darkness. Byeonggap shouted at the top of his lungs.

«≪Landriol! Landriol!≫»

He called for a long while.

Just as irritation began to set in, Landriol appeared with a look that said he couldn’t be more inconvenienced.

<An ill-mannered brat. You think I’m a watchdog you can whistle for and I’ll come trotting?>

«You pop in and out without my permission all the time.»

<Permission? Who dares grant me permission?!>

Go Byeonggap twisted up his face and dug at his ear with a finger. Under his breath, he muttered: Stuck-up old bastard.

«Landriol, the Conqueror of the Continent. The one and only king who ruled everything above the ground.»

<…What, all of a sudden?>

«I’ve got something I want to ask you.»

<Speak, then.>

Landriol’s tone turned decidedly serious. Go Byeonggap didn’t drag it out—he just asked.

«How do I go about ruling races other than goblins?»

<You truly ask the stupidest questions without batting an eye. Have you no shame?>

«Cut the chatter and just tell me.»

Landriol set both hands on his hips and sank into thought. After heaving a few sighs—‘Hmph’ and ‘Haah’—he answered.

<To become a ruler, you must possess at least one of two virtues.>

«What are they?»

<Overwhelming fear, or overwhelming virtue. To command a mob, you must at least be a wolf. Yet from what I see, you’re not even a wolf now. Nor do you possess wisdom that could move the heavens—doesn’t seem that way, does it?>

«Can’t deny it, which makes it more annoying. So what do I do?»

<What do you think? As you are now, you cannot rule any race other than the Saraon.>

Landriol declared it flatly. Go Byeonggap could only smack his lips in bitterness.

Then Landriol added at once.

<Not immediately, no. But coexistence is possible.>

«How?»

<You possess various charms that can win others’ favor. Aim for goodwill, not loyalty. Make companions who will stand by you in danger, and kindred spirits who share your ideals. I didn’t conquer the continent because of overwhelming military might. Before I sat on the throne, I traveled the world and built countless friendships that lent me strength.>

Go Byeonggap slowly chewed on Landriol’s words. Landriol stared down at him and let out a small snort.

<Don’t overthink it. Give a rice cake to the hungry, and a blanket to the shivering. One who knows gratitude will bow; a shameless ingrate will glare back instead. Kill those of impure seed without hesitation. No one will blame you.>

«Got it. …Thanks for the advice. I’m learning a lot from you.»

<Spare me the flattery and get lost. I’m sleepy.>

Landriol faded away.

Go Byeonggap opened his eyes again. Strange that it wasn’t noisy—turns out people were just staring at him blankly.

This bastard fell asleep in this situation? was written all over their faces.

Either way, Byeonggap got to his feet and spoke.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves. We’re going to save people.”

* * *

‘Amazing! This is amazing!’

Choi Ducheol, a B-rank hunter, stood on a building rooftop, looking down below. A perverse grin spread across his lips, his face twisted with warped desire.

Days had passed since Judgment Day. Central Seoul had become a living hell. The scene looked like paint swirled by a madman.

Anyone else would have felt horror. But Ducheol felt ecstasy. After enduring such a long wait, hadn’t the world finally become theirs alone?

Now, according to doctrine, all they had to do was soak the world in the blood of filthy non-believers. When every infidel was purged, a staircase would descend from heaven!

“Ducheol-ssi, let’s go. They’ve spotted some non-believers.”

A woman beside him spoke.

Her name was Yeom Jeonghwa. She’d apparently been a faithful operating around Daejeon before all this. And like him, she was a zealous devotee who’d long served in the Hexagram Order.

That was why Ducheol liked Jeonghwa. But the punk beside her really irked him.

“Hehe, let’s hurry! Let’s go punish the non-believers!”

That kid grinning and sticking close to Jeonghwa. Kim Hakseung, or something? Kim Haksong?

That bastard had been a non-believer himself just a year ago. One of the stragglers brought in when Illumission was founded.

Scum like him had no faith, nothing. He was just a puppet lured by the Archbishop, dancing on strings. Proof? He hadn’t even received the Ring.

Ducheol felt a smug sense of superiority.

“Hey, you.”

“Huh? Me? What’s up?”

“Yeah, you! Stick close and don’t act so jumpy. Wouldn’t want you to end up monster chow like the non-believers.”

“Hehehe, don’t worry. I’ve got what it takes to protect myself. But hey, why won’t you give me a Ring? I want one too.”

Ducheol almost said, You think I’d hand over something this precious to a greenhorn like you? but bit his tongue.

Then he adjusted his grip on his weapon.

The three faithful moved toward the location where non-believers had been spotted. They had to stay alert. By now, any surviving non-believer was likely an awakener.

Soon they found the group of non-believers, and a sense of deflation washed over them.

“Huh? Just some soldiers and civilians. Boring.”

There were about seven of them. They were huddled at a small shopping center, pulling down the shutter. Desperation was plain on their faces.

“Want me to take care of them real quick?”

“Tch! A guy without a Ring, running his mouth. I’ll go.”

“Ducheol-ssi, let’s go together.”

“Keep still, Ms. Jeonghwa. Stay here with that one. I’m more than enough on my own.”

“…If you say so.”

“Hmph, there’s not even a monster around….”

Choi Ducheol yanked his sword free and charged at the cluster of survivors. Seven non-awakeners. Two swings would do the job.

He flooded himself with karma, bracing for a single strike.

The next instant, an axe fell from above and split Choi Ducheol clean in half—dead before he hit the ground.

“…Huh? Wh-what just happened?”

“Ducheol!”

The two watching his back caught on a beat too late.

Yeom Jeonghva snapped into a combat stance and shouted.

“Hakseung! Stay on—!”

“You fucks. Illumission, right?”

“Hrk!?”

An icy dread locked Jeonghwa’s body in place. It felt like she’d stepped inside a predator’s jaws.

She moved only her eyes, glancing sideways. A woman radiating murderous intent stood between her and Kim Hakseung, arm draped over his shoulder.

When did she even get here?

“Tch!”

Kim Hakseung yanked out his sword. In the same instant, his right shoulder tore loose and he died. A one-sided, overwhelming death.

Yeom Jeonghwa stood frozen, trembling violently.

Jeong Seongyeong swept a cold gaze over Jeonghwa’s outfit. The hexagonal patterns stitched into the fabric seemed to confirm her guess.

“Yep. Illumission.”

“P-please, spare me….”

“No.”

Jeong Seongyeong tightened her grip. Scarlet paint drenched the world.