Ch.670Chapter 25. Let it Unfold (20)

At that moment, in America’s underground—’Phoenix City’.

“This is incredible.”

Yoon Hye-ra, watching the World Cup match through the massive screen in the chairman’s office, was left speechless by the overwhelming firepower.

“Truly the crystallization of the Syndicate’s technology. The mana bomb ‘The Phoenix’.”

The flames shot up toward the sky like a mushroom cloud, but their color wasn’t red—it was a watery blue.

“If people knew we had hundreds of these… Chairman?”

“……”

The Chairman stood up, stretching both arms out to the sides.

As if worshipping the sky or the sun, he formed a ‘Y’ shape with his body and nodded.

“Rest in peace. May the eternal blue sun never fade.”

“…What’s that about all of a sudden?”

“I’m expressing gratitude and condolences to Phoenix, the American hero who created the prototype for that mana bomb. Look at that.”

The Chairman pointed to the screen with his eyes.

Flutter.

The flames that had bloomed like a mushroom cloud flared up like a blue phoenix spreading its wings before dying down.

“That was Phoenix’s ultimate technique.”

“…Who exactly was this Phoenix person?”

“They’re not here anymore. Ah, want to see a photo?”

The Chairman manipulated his Syndicate watch and showed Yoon Hye-ra an image.

“Take a look.”

“……”

“That’s the one.”

“…This person is America’s savior? No, wait, why are they Black Bunny?”

“Personal preference.”

The Chairman shrugged lightly while fiddling with the horns on his head.

“If we could go back in time, we might meet them, but they’re already dead.”

“……”

“You’ve been influenced by Phoenix too, haven’t you?”

“Well, more than just a little…”

Yoon Hye-ra scratched her cheek while alternating between looking at the blue bunny girl in the image and the scene on the screen.

“To think someone like this created such an overwhelmingly powerful bomb. It’s frightening.”

“There are various principles behind it, but it’s complicated to explain, so I’ll pass.”

“That’s such a Goblin way of talking. You two really are a couple.”

“You’re good at social interactions, our Hye-ra.”

“……”

Yoon Hye-ra smiled awkwardly and averted her gaze.

“Are you uncomfortable because I won’t tell you?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that…”

“Let’s just say it’s like a miniature solar explosion?”

“…What?”

“I did explain it to you. I’m just relaying what I was told.”

“No, what do you mean by solar explosion? What on earth…”

“With imagination and magical power, you can do anything. And they had EX-grade magical power.”

“Well… I can tell that much just from the photo.”

Yoon Hye-ra couldn’t understand no matter how she thought about it.

“Don’t you have any other normal photos?”

“Among the photos I have, this is the only one worth feasting your eyes on.”

“Who said anything about feasting eyes…”

“…Hehe, you’ll find out laaaater. When? After all the demons are dead?”

“Since demons are constantly being born, it sounds like you’re saying you won’t tell me until the earth is destroyed.”

“Something like that, but if such a thing really happens, I’ll tell you then. There won’t be any constraints or burdens at that point. Anyway.”

The Chairman pointed with his eyes at the former Dongtan area where the flames had gradually subsided and the smoke had disappeared.

“Look at that nuclear explosion. Five S-class ability users were taken down along with the city in one go.”

“Uh, hmm…”

“Goblin’s ability is to create matter. Using time, budget, and Phoenix’s legacy, I’ve created countless things like that. So what happens?”

“…The Chairman creates the blueprint, and Goblin implements it?”

“Exactly.”

The Chairman patted the back of Yoon Hye-ra’s hand.

“If Goblin can imagine it and has the magical power, he can create anything. Even if it’s a weapon of mass destruction like a nuclear bomb.”

“……”

“Of course, we don’t use it to kill people. It’s similar to dynamite? Did Nobel want greater power and bigger explosions to kill people? His primary intention was to help coal miners obtain minerals more easily.”

“That may be true, but you wouldn’t develop coal mines with nuclear bombs.”

“Not coal mines, but thanks to this, that whole area has been completely cleared.”

The Chairman grabbed his horns and tapped them with his fingers.

“…Securing housing units, selecting distribution companies, maintaining appropriate sales prices, prioritizing supply recipients…”

“Excuse me?”

“Ah. I was just thinking about who to give that new city to. Goblin told me.”

The Chairman nodded emphatically while looking at the newly built city.

“The simplest way to increase marriage and birth rates. Give houses to those who marry and have children.”

“Um, excuse me…”

“We’re not giving them away in Korea. The Syndicate is giving them.”

“Ah.”

Yoon Hye-ra sighed in relief.

“Well, if that’s the case…”

“Hye-ra, this is your job?”

“What?”

“To spread such news, you’d naturally need to mobilize the tavern owners. They’ll immediately tell people around them who are suitable for marriage to get married, right?”

“To get a house…?”

“Of course. If you get married and have a child, you get a house. I’m not saying they should do it blatantly for the house. We’re solving the various practical difficulties that arise in the process of marriage.”

The Chairman spread his arms and smiled broadly.

“I should contact the Company’s Korean branch. Tell them that if there are new employees who are planning to get married or newlyweds who’ve been married for less than two years, they’ll get free apartments owned by the Company in Dongtan New City.”

“……”

“Goblin said so.”

The Chairman was looking at the TV Goblin holding a magic club with an incredibly gentle smile.

“Patriotism and company loyalty shouldn’t be forced; they naturally emerge under sufficient financial support.”

* * *

The Syndicate dropped one of the nuclear bombs stored in Phoenix City onto the stadium.

The power of the nuclear bomb, created by my ability, was weaker than the original, but the magical power contained within the materialized nuclear bomb was amplified by the land’s magic rather than my own, successfully creating tremendous firepower.

Because they tried to stop the nuclear bomb that Goblin was dropping.

Because they tried to deflect or block the bomb that Goblin was dropping with “some purpose,” or tried to defend their position.

[A-all five retired…!! The finalist is Goblin alone!!]

Five were thrown into the crater, and only Goblin remained standing on two feet.

[Aaargh, is America’s Goblin a monster!!]

I understand.

Until now, only Lord of Radiant Wings has shown such power and performance globally.

But would dropping this on Lord of Radiant Wings kill him?

-Kuhehe, die, Lord of Radiant Wings! Even if you escape, the Korean Peninsula will explode with nuclear power!

-I won’t run away!!

Not at all.

-I will protect it!

Rather, he would wrap the bomb with his golden wings, containing the nuclear explosion within his domain like someone covering a grenade with their body to suppress the blast.

-It’s okay! I’ve neutralized it!

And he would emerge completely unharmed.

If we’re talking about his prime, when he was alive.

‘It wasn’t a lethal nuclear bomb to begin with.’

I devastated the stadium.

ONLY the stadium.

The explosion didn’t extend beyond Dongtan area, and while a huge crater formed except where I was standing, the explosion didn’t spread to nearby cities.

This too was possible because I used the will of the environment.

“Then I should take follow-up measures?”

I spoke to the drone approaching me, pointing at my smartwatch.

“I can’t enter the finals with this penalty.”

The penalty for destroying an entire city was essentially the sum of all object points installed in the stadium.

It was naturally negative, but I could offset some of it.

“Let there be light in Dongtan.”

I gripped an invisible magic club in my left hand upside down, then struck the ground once firmly.

And I envision it.

I imagine in my mind.

That “place in my imagination” that I can no longer visit.

That city so familiar to me but never created in this world due to the Great Cataclysm.

“Come.”

Dongtan New City.

Rumble rumble.

The ground trembles.

The magic club spreads magical power from me as its center, and begins to construct the form of the city I remembered in my mind.

The crater fills with solid earth.

Asphalt roads stretch out refreshingly on top.

Within the square block formation, concrete pillars extend toward the sky.

[Th-this is…! The ability of ‘Civil Engineering Masters’! How is it in Goblin’s hands…!!]

Like the civil engineering masters who learned ability know-how from Hundun Seong Ji-eun and worked at Haeguneul Construction, I created only roads and buildings in the streets.

“…Phew.”

A considerable amount of mana left my body, making me slightly dizzy, but the result was several apartment complexes dozens of stories high.

[A-a new city in Dongtan area! Public housing apartments have been instantly reborn with designs rivaling—no, surpassing—brand apartments!!]

Was all of this created by my magical power?

[Is this Goblin’s demonstration?! I have this ability too?! I have such overflowing magical power?!]

Not at all.

All the magical power came from the will of the environment.

Because the environment’s will understood my intention, I was able to cause such a large-scale “miracle-like” ability.

Compared to Seong Ji-eun’s ability, it’s only about thigh-level, but even with that, I’ve already shown sufficient capability.

“Ah, everyone in Korea. I apologize for causing a disturbance.”

I slightly bowed my head toward those beyond the drone’s camera lens.

“As an apology, I’ll give this city to you all. Until I die, this city will remain as it is. I hope many people will… uh, what was it? Oh, be patriotic!”

Neo-Dongtan in the world of the Great Cataclysm.

“Everyone, become patriotsㅡㅡㅡ!!”

In the form of a child, I shouted to the whole world.

“Please do itㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ!!”