episode_0010

“Subjects of this world, listen! In the next few days, the same darkness that occurred in this city will engulf the entire world.”

“…”

“…”

Everyone in front of me is staring at me, forgetting what to say. Even the agent next to me is staring at me in shock.

These days, when people I meet talk to me, they all close their mouths and their eyes get huge.

I savored the pleasant silence and turned my gaze here and there.

Broadcast helicopters were flying in the sky, and in front of me was a crowd of reporters and cameras.

Reporters say that the more provocative and sharp the interview content, the higher the results, but then how much of a contribution did this reporter who put the microphone right in front of me make?

I glanced down at the navy blue microphone. It was a microphone from a broadcasting station called CSBN. It seems like a cable station, not a regular broadcast, so maybe there will be a party tonight?

“…Mr. Red Lizard? Please give me an accurate explanation…”

“Lizzy! Are you insulting me!”

I got angry for a moment. The issue of titles was something that needed to be addressed at least once.

The nickname of the Yongin race is indeed lizard. Even in 『Grandis Saga』, everyone, whether NPCs or users, called them lizards. In fact, it looked like a lizard.

It is true that even though I raised the dragon people, I mostly called them lizards rather than dragon people.

But that is clearly a derogatory statement. I am Yongin. Since this novel became my reality, I had no intention of accepting such racially degrading comments.

“My name is Elm Northmund. I am a dragon, not a lizard! How dare you call someone who inherited the noble blood of a dragon a lizard!”

Actually, it’s not a dragon, but a Dragonian. It would not be wrong to say that they are a mixed race of dragons, and their distant ancestors are dragons according to their race.

It is better to be called a dragon than to be called a lizard.

dump-

The reporters were astonished by the energy mixed with the mana I poured out in anger, so they dropped their microphones and took a step back.

Some people fell backwards and some peed their pants.

I briefly wondered if it was too much for an ordinary person to take, but it was a problem that needed to be resolved to some extent.

“Mr. Northmund. Didn’t you decide not to reveal it? Why─”

“This is something everyone should know. Because only then can you prepare.”

The National Intelligence Service agent standing next to me asked me a question with a bewildered expression.

Yes. Governments of each country did not want to reveal to the public that a global gate would soon occur.

From the government’s perspective, they were worried that people’s anxiety would increase, but I wanted citizens to know.

This is because everyone believes that it is much better to experience a disaster knowing the facts than to experience a disaster without knowing anything.

There are only 5 days left until the second gate. It is hoped that people will take action to save their lives, such as evacuating as much as possible or hiding in personal bomb shelters.

“Now…wait a minute, teacher!”

A short female reporter boldly holds out the microphone to me. His suit skirt is wet, so he appears to be incontinent, but he doesn’t mind the indecency and shows his professionalism.

My voice is shaking a little, as if the aftereffects of my peer still remain.

“This is SBC reporter Kim Seong-hee. You mentioned that the Seoul incident is happening all over the world. How do you know about it? Is there a reason?”

“What is your identity as a teacher? Where are you from?”

“This is reporter Baek Sang-hyun of KBC. Is the magic you used really magic? The entire nation is curious!”

“This is Kang Soon-bok from Dongyang Ilbo. Please accept my questions as well─”

As soon as she started singing, numerous reporters rushed towards her with microphones in hand.

“There are countless questions. I’ll answer in one go, so listen carefully. I, Elm Northmund, crossed the dimension from the Grandis Empire to Earth. The reason is because Grandis was destroyed by monsters. Yes, those monsters that broke out in Seoul two days ago. Those monsters have now gone beyond Grandis and are targeting this Earth. The beings who have come now are the scouting advance team, so the latter team will definitely come. As a mana user, I can feel the flow of darkness.”

“What I used was the magic you said. In Grandis, magic has replaced science in this world. I was the magic tower lord of the empire and the pinnacle of imperial magic. That’s it. Did you get an answer?”

The reporters who were writing down my answers and recording them with tape recorders looked dumbfounded again.

I can understand their reaction to some extent because it is an unrealistic answer, but it may be time to accept it.

Isn’t it? An outsider, not a human, is standing in front of their eyes.

The short female reporter who had pointed the microphone at me earlier asked again.

“I have a question. Mr. Northmund, a mana user, said that he can feel the flow. What exactly is mana?”

Well asked. Did you say your name was Seonghee Kim?

I raised my evaluation of her in my heart to a higher level.

“Mana is the substance that forms the source of the world. All organic and inorganic substances that exist in the world contain mana. Yes, speaking in Earth terms, it can be said to be a similar concept to “atom”. And magic is what brings the user’s will into reality in exchange for that mana. All monsters require mana to inflict proper damage.”

“It only affects mana users?”

“I knew that, but after looking at Earth’s weapons, I found out that wasn’t necessarily the case. Overwhelming physical power that ignores compatibility also seems to work to some extent. However, to properly deal with an opponent, you still need to use mana.”

I continued speaking after taking a moment to catch my breath.

“But until now, people on Earth have probably never heard of the concept of mana. The reason is that Earth’s mana is so weak that people on Earth have never felt mana itself. That’s why I’m standing here today.”

I took out a huge walking stick and walked forward step by step with a confident stride.

Every time I take a step, a blue wave spreads out from the floor, and in this sudden situation, the reporters hurriedly step back to avoid the wave.

What I am about to do from now on is a great fraud that deceives the entire human race of this world.

Today is December 3rd. The day the first awakened person appeared in 『Ki.Si.Sen』 that I remember was December 4th. It’s the very next day.

So the credit had to be mine. I have brought awakened people to this world. That’s how we had to make people all over the world aware of it.

All the credit is mine.

fraud. Fraud in English. What is the definition of fraud?

It is an act of deceiving a person into making a mistake and making him or her express a certain intention or take a certain action.

Of course, it is a crime and not something that can be easily forgiven.

If this is discovered, I will be left with not a single bone left by angry people.

But wasn’t this something that had already been done with such determination? Wasn’t this something I had planned from the moment I fell into this novel?

If you steal a ring, you’re a thief, but if you steal a country, it’s a king.

So what can it be called if it steals the whole world? Probably a hero.

Yes. Because my journey as a hero begins now.

The beginning may have been humble, but my end will be grand. No matter what happens.

I raised my hand and stabbed him in the chest near the heart.

Red blood splatters along with the sound of meat being torn apart.

─Aaaah!

─Hey! Poetry…heart!

─No… Mr. Northmund!!

I took my heart in my hands and held it high above my head. Then my heart began to glow blue, and an enormous energy rushed around my heart.

Blood flowed from the corner of my mouth.

“Dragon Heart. By offering this heart, the source of all my magical power, to the world, this world will become a world filled with mana.”

convulsion.

Everyone gathered there felt it. The air was convulsing.

The air trembled and people around felt a deep sense of dizziness. Could it be said to be an earthquake in space? The space where he was standing was trembling.

The camera could not continue filming him, so he fell and rolled, and the camera pointed towards the sky.

The sky was splitting open. Space was literally torn apart, and a vast universe was visible within. The mystery of the universe comes to them.

At that moment, the blue heart flew into the sky, emitting a blinding bright light.

The heart that was flying into the sky fell into a crack in the sky, causing a huge explosion, and a vast band of light spreading along with the explosion drew an arc in the sky.

The waves from the explosion covered the blue sky like a thin protective layer covering the sky.

The dazzling halo of light continues to advance toward the other side of the sky, as if trying to envelop the Earth in light.

─Geeek.

Just then, the crack in the sky began to close, making a strange sound. The inside of the crack, which was gradually closing, was already filled with the blue light caused by the heart explosion.

Finally, all the cracks closed and the shining powder poured out with a loud popping sound.

It’s as if glass beads were sprinkled from the sky, and the fragments fall as they reflect sunlight and glow like a prism.

Everyone was mesmerized by the fairytale-like scene.

Is December a rainy month in Seoul? Two days ago, rain of light fell in the sky, and this time, it rained with a rainbow.

A reporter absentmindedly held out his palm.

Rainbow particles fell on the palm of his hand.

“…Pretty.”

The reporter looked blankly at the seven light crystals on his palm and muttered.

When everyone present here is frantically watching the scene.

When I thought it was finally time, I deliberately stumbled into a gigantic posture and opened my mouth.

“I gave my origin to this world. Now Earthlings will be able to use mana. Probably…as early as tomorrow…”

“Ah… Mr. Northmund!”

“Mr. Northmund has collapsed. Help him up quickly!”

Someone picks up my arm and lifts me by the shoulder. Immediately, someone comes in on the other arm and takes the position.

On one side was the agent waiting next to me. I thought he was dumbfounded because he was staring at the sky with his sunglasses off, but he turned out to be a person who was quite good at grasping the situation right away.

“Are you okay? Uh…hurry to the hospital.”

“Your heart has been pierced. It is an emergency. Hurry and bring them!”

“Stop…let it go… This level of hurt is nothing. First, take me to a place where no one is around. I suffered internal injuries as my magic organ was torn off. I need to capture this energy that is running wild inside my body. First, into a dark room where no one is present.”

At my words, the two agents looked at each other and said, “Then we will take you to the limousine,” and walked away, supporting me.

Reporters are opening the way like a miracle of Moses. When I glanced up at them, I saw that they all had complex and subtle expressions. An expression full of joy as if it were a dream, an expression of compassion and worry about me being injured, and even an expression of worry and fear about what consequences my actions would bring to this world. A variety of emotions were swirling around.

They sat in the driver’s seat as I got into the back of the limo. I pretended to be someone who sat quietly, closed his eyes, and was taking notes.

They opened their mouths as if they were worried about whether it would be okay to start the car.

“I’ll head to the hospital first. We will proceed slowly so as not to cause any concern.”

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue inwardly. I thought about telling him not to go, but decided not to say anything.

With an injury this serious, taking too much off would be suspicious.

After taking some time, let’s tell him that it’s my bad news and that he was cured by drinking a potion or something.

I recalled in my head what had happened earlier. It seemed like I was well deceived.

What I did was a huge illusion magic. Even if it were me, I had a hard time performing magic in such a precise and earth-level way.

The heart was a magic called [Two Hearts], which was the unique magic of reptile-type characters. A skill that generates an additional heart for a certain period of time, preventing you from getting tired or out of breath.

The heart created with this skill was ripped out, given light magic, and launched into the sky.

I used the pain suppression skill, but honestly, the pain of tearing through my raw flesh and tearing through my breastbone still hurt. For a moment, I frowned and almost let out a groan.

Since the scene was not to be captured on camera, the camera was first knocked over by vibrating the space before proceeding.

And then there was the huge fantasy magic that followed.

Unleashing a world-class, ultra-wide-band illusion magic that deceives everyone was beyond my magical power, so I received help from the staff member who brought it up in the first place.

Thinking about it now, it was such a reckless plan that it could only be succeeded by emptying the magic built into a legendary staff with 13 top-grade magic stones embedded in it.

But I succeeded brilliantly.

Thinking about the dumbfounded faces of the reporters, I naturally burst out laughing.

Today’s events will be broadcast around the world. Everyone will know my dedication to the world.

“Hehe…”

I let out a small laugh.

*

seoul. A funeral hall at a university hospital.

The funeral home was crowded with people.

Wasn’t that why there was such a mess?

With so many people flocking to the cremation, it was not an individual cremation, but a communal cremation was taking place with multiple bodies gathered together.

The act of mixing with others after death was considered by some to be a bad act in which the soul of the deceased could not attain Buddhahood, but it was unavoidable.

What can a funeral home do when there are so many dead people?

People who have lost their souls forever are standing in an endless line waiting for their turn.

When six bodies are put into a cremation coffin at a time and come out as ashes, the powder that everyone has become one is shared among the six families.

Still, they were lucky.

The ending of those who died in the middle of the street without even leaving their names was even more lonely and sad.

One girl received her share of the urn.

Her parents and younger brother had already passed away and were brought into this urn after being reconciled in a hot fire.

Was it fortunate that three family members who died without anyone else were able to gather together at the same time because they were assigned a small furnace?

A warm urn because the heat from the furnace does not cool down. She hugged it and shed tears.

It’s still warm. I feel the warmth. The warmth of my mom, dad, and younger brother.

She walked a few steps and then slumped down, leaning against the wall of the funeral home.

Two days ago, after surviving the hell that descended on Inse, the house she returned to was already in ruins.

Her father had already been crushed beyond recognition, and the torn bodies of her mother and younger brother were in the room.

Was the fact that there was a broken baseball bat lying around by her father’s side showing her father’s sense of duty as the head of the family to protect them until the end?

“Dad… ”

She hugged Ham and sat down against the wall and lowered her head.

A happy family ended in the worst possible way. I didn’t want to think about anything. I didn’t even want to live in the future. I didn’t have the confidence to live alone, leaving behind those I loved.

After locking herself in her own world for a while, she slowly raised her head and looked around when she heard the sound coming from the funeral home’s television.

wow! Oooh! I heard the exclamations of people around me.

Noisy.

I’m so unhappy, why are you yelling like that?

What on earth is on the screen?

A magical scene was unfolding on the screen she looked at with dead eyes.

And the being reflected on the screen is…

“…Uncle?”

She, Yoon Sia, muttered in surprise.