Chapter 20: World’s interest

The Ghost Story Countermeasures Headquarters, Central Conference Room.

It was filled with a low but heavy murmur.

It wasn’t the first time South Korea had held an emergency meeting with major overseas guilds.

However, today’s meeting had an entirely different atmosphere than before.

The reason was simple.

Destruction-grade Ghost Story.

The Dawn’s Light Guild and the Ghost Story Countermeasures Headquarters had officially declared that a being surpassing the Ruin-grade had appeared.

Normally, all nations and guilds would have immediately become agitated, but the individuals gathered in the conference room couldn’t so easily believe this matter.

“So, you’re saying you’re adding a new grade called ‘Destruction-grade’?”

A cool, sharp voice cut through the air.

It was Leon Hardison, the guild representative of America’s ‘Eternal Guardians’.

He was staring at the screen in the center of the conference room with cold blue eyes.

“Above Ruin-grade… indeed.”

His tone was calm, yet tinged with clear skepticism.

The screen he looked up at showed a recorded scene of the Destruction-grade Ghost Story ‘Collector’ appearing at Seoul’s Bosingak.

Leon quietly watched the screen, then slowly turned his gaze.

“Is there no possibility of a misidentification?”

A single, cold remark.

Instantly, the atmosphere within the conference room subtly froze.

“Ha! Destruction-grade, you say?”

At that moment, Takahashi Ren, the representative of Japan’s ‘Kagutsuchi’ Guild, scoffed.

“Ruin-grade is already a national-level disaster; if it’s beyond that, wouldn’t it need the power to wipe out an entire continent to make sense?”

His red eyes held strong pride, along with a sense of unease.

Ren was a veteran who had fought powerful ghost stories multiple times.

Therefore, he prided himself on being a strong individual, belonging to the upper echelons of humanity.

However, even he found it difficult to readily accept the existence of a being beyond Ruin-grade.

“Besides, isn’t it just that ‘Destruction-grade’ appeared through the Underworld?”

Ren continued his remarks, leaning back in his chair.

“The ghost story might have called itself that, or the Underworld system could have malfunctioned. And putting that aside, there’s something else that bothers me.”

He tapped the image of the black-clad man on the screen with his finger.

“What in the world is this? It doesn’t seem to be mentioned separately in the report.”

Just then, an elegant voice provided an answer to the question.

“Phantom.”

It was Elissa Haze, the representative of England’s ‘Eden’ Guild.

With her long, wavy blonde hair, she rested her chin on one hand, looking intrigued.

“I heard this being is famous in Korea?”

The representatives from each nation focused their gaze on the screen.

On it stood the black-silhouetted man who had appeared at Bosingak.

A being embracing the Destruction-grade Ghost Story Collector, amidst the Underworld inscribed with red letters.

Hair as black as night.

Bottomless black eyes.

And the aura of darkness surrounding him.

The unknown entity that had thrown the entire world into chaos, Phantom.

“Isn’t this scene quite impressive? And Phantom has many interesting aspects for just being a ghost story.”

“So this is that Phantom, then…”

Ren, whose arrogant demeanor from moments ago had vanished, now stared intently at the screen, his red eyes gleaming.

“Think about it. Usually, ghost stories try to kill or hunt humans, don’t they?”

“But what about this Phantom? He even embraced other ghost stories, appearing to comfort them.”

“Furthermore, I heard he completely annihilated a Calamity-grade ghost story called ‘The Forgotten One’. Even if a ghost story is defeated, the more powerful it is, the more impact it leaves on the area.

It doesn’t completely disappear.

But in this case, they say not only its power but even traces of the Underworld were cleanly erased.”

Elissa smiled, looking at Ren.

“Mr. Ren, you’re quite bothered by this, aren’t you?”

“Hmph. Still as sly as ever.”

Ren gripped the sword at his side tightly once, then turned his head.

He seemed to be hiding something.

“Actually, our Eden Guild has also been gathering information related to Phantom.

He’s an interesting entity, isn’t he?

A ghost story that annihilates other ghost stories, and one that isn’t hostile to humans.”

Phantom, a ghost story that seemed to protect humans.

The Korean guilds were already aware of Phantom’s characteristics, but even they couldn’t easily believe it.

So many people had died at the hands of ghost stories until now.

There were ghost stories that were openly hostile, and those that deceived people into believing they weren’t evil before revealing their true nature.

After enduring countless sacrifices, humanity suddenly faced a non-hostile ghost story?

Who could easily believe that?

“His behavior may have seemed that way until now, but we must never let our guard down regarding Phantom.”

A resolute statement from Seo Jihun, head of the Ghost Story Countermeasures Headquarters.

Elissa knew he would react that way.

Because Jihun, a strong individual who had defeated Ruin-grade entities and stood on the front lines of South Korea’s defense, couldn’t so easily acknowledge Phantom’s existence.

“Hoo-hoo. We all know what the Headquarters Chief is worried about.

I also don’t think Phantom will continue to maintain the same stance from now on.”

“I also agree that we shouldn’t rashly judge a being like a ghost story by our own standards.”

Leon also concurred with Jihun’s opinion.

“And this is just my personal opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

From what I see, the ghost story ‘Collector’ seems to treat that man very carefully.

Could it be that this being… is perhaps that girl’s ‘master’?”

The moment he finished speaking, the entire conference room was enveloped in silence.

The master of ghost stories.

Until now, ghost stories had appeared as individual entities with certain rules.

No ghost story had ever been observed cooperating or being hostile towards one another.

But what if there was a superior being that controlled ghost stories?

If that were true, all current response methods could collapse.

“Ahem.”

Dojin, the Master of Dawn’s Light, cleared his throat, bringing an end to the debate.

“We cannot yet be certain if Phantom is the master of ghost stories or another type of being.

However, what is clear is that… this entity holds a special position between ghost stories and humans.”

“…Then, we should confront him directly and judge for ourselves.”

Ren maintained a pensive expression, while Elissa continued to gaze at the screen with a subtle smile.

“Phantom… I want to meet him soon.

What exactly are you?”

****

“Oppa, you’re really not a lolicon, are you?”

“Wasn’t that topic settled last time?”

“I’m just asking, just in case!”

“I like cute things, but I’m not a lolicon.”

Lunchtime.

Sihyun was spending his break with Gaeun at the office building’s cafeteria.

“Pfft. I know now.

I was just teasing.”

“If anyone else heard that, I’d be immediately arrested.”

“Let’s order drinks.

Oppa, you want an iced americano, right?”

“Iced americano is the golden rule for office workers.”

“Then I’ll have a mango smoothie.”

Gaeun familiarly ordered two drinks, then sat down with Sihyun at a table in a corner of the cafe.

“By the way, Oppa.

How’s work life?”

“Hmm… well.

Since it’s an office job, it’s quite peaceful.

I don’t even have to work overtime.”

“You’re probably the only one in the world who signed a contract with no overtime as a condition.”

“Is that so? Haha.”

Buzzzzz.

When the drink order pager buzzed, Sihyun stood up, saying he would get it.

At that moment.

Thump!

He felt the impact of colliding hard with someone.

“Ugh?!”

Sihyun lost his balance and staggered forward, and at that instant, his face was buried in a soft sensation.

To be precise, it was a situation where his face had plunged into a woman’s chest.

‘Oh, I’m screwed.’

“……Oh my?”

He lifted his head, drawn by a sweet fragrance, to see a blonde woman with a faint smile looking down at him.

It was Elissa Haze, the representative of England’s Eden Guild.

With her captivating aura and sea-colored eyes, she was like a living portrait.

“Ah, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—!”

However, Elissa showed no particular agitation; instead, she smiled as if intrigued.

“Hoo-hoo, it’s alright.

These things happen.”

She stared intently at Sihyun, then lightly poked his cheek with her fingertip.

“But you must repay the sin of burying your face in an unmarried maiden’s chest, alright?”

“If my salary allows for it—”

“O-Oppa! Get away from her right now!!”

Gaeun sprang up from her seat with an explosive momentum.

Her eyebrows twitched, and her hands trembled, looking as if a fist would fly at any moment.

“Oh my, could it be…?”

Elissa narrowed her eyes, scrutinized Gaeun from head to toe, then curved her lips into a smile.

“You’re that ‘Han Gaeun’ who defeated the Fox Shrine in Japan, aren’t you?”

“Y-You know me…?”

“Of course.

It’s truly a pleasure to meet you in person!

It’s rare to see an Awakener with Calamity-grade power; how fascinating.”

Elissa lightly tapped her chin with her finger, adding playfully.

“So, is your boyfriend just as amazing, then?”

“Wh-Whose boyfriend?! Oh, don’t misunderstand!

W-We’re not like that at all?!”

She denied it desperately, but her hurried excuses only made her seem more suspicious.

“Everyone in the world knows we’re not like that, so why are you making such a fuss denying it?”

“Oppa, you be quiet!”

“Hoo-hoo, your reactions are quite amusing.

And don’t worry.

I have no intention of stealing your boyfriend.”

“Th-That’s why I said he’s not my boyfriend!”

Elissa playfully winked and shrugged her shoulders.

“Don’t be like that, try a little harder.

If you hesitate, someone else might snatch him away, you know?”

She calmly turned and walked away.

Sihyun watched Elissa’s retreating back, then inadvertently let out a small gasp of admiration.

‘She’s pretty, though.’

‘Well, she’s a bit lacking compared to Luna.

Though Luna is exceptionally beautiful, after all.’

Wham!

“Cough?!”

“……Oppa, what did you just say?”

“If I say I didn’t say anything, you’ll hit me again, won’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll just take one more hit and die a glorious death!”

“Where are you going to run?! Get back here?!”

And so, the small lunchtime mishap concluded with two of Gaeun’s punches.

‘I really need to hit the gym.

I can’t live with this injustice!’

****

A space where darkness had settled.

Inside the room, untouched by any light from outside, a small table stood, and upon it rested a single object.

A sharp sword.

It subtly emitted a black aura, as if alive.

And deep within the sword’s blade, a faint silhouette, like a figure swaying in water, had emerged.

Delicate hands.

Hair flowing softly.

Faint, yet unmistakably the form of a woman.

“……Still silent today.”

The red-eyed man sat quietly before the sword, gazing at the figure, and murmured softly.

His voice was laced with deep fatigue, accompanied by a subtle tremor.

“Will I never… hear your voice again?”

A voice now existing only in memory.

That voice, which he felt he could recall anytime he closed his eyes, was now gradually fading.

“……There’s no time.”

An echo whose recipient, whether himself or the being within the sword, was unclear.

“Just wait a little longer… I’ll save you, no matter what it takes.”

Those words were both a vow and a prayer.

But the red-eyed man knew it himself.

The increasingly faint figure.

The increasingly inaudible voice.

That the woman trapped within the sword was still fading away.

So slowly, yet so surely.

“……”

He pressed his lips together for a moment, then reached out and lightly gripped the sword.

A dark crimson aura, as if seeping into his fingertips, began to rise.

“Having come this far, there’s no turning back now.

My last hope is—”

The moment he was about to speak.

—Ssss.

The woman’s silhouette within the sword moved her lips ever so faintly.

As if trying to answer.

As if wanting to say something.

[Don’t… stop…]

However, her voice reached no one.

To the red-eyed man, only a wavering silhouette was visible.

“Are you… still there?”

A tiny, trembling figure before his eyes.

It was proof that she still remained, but he didn’t know how much longer she could endure.

“Tsuki… just wait.

If it’s ‘him,’ he can surely save you.”