Chapter 97

Chapter 97. Aftermath of the Scenario (1)

A Scenario occurring in the Capital Region was a major event all by itself.

But this time, the reaction was somewhat different from previous Scenarios.

The mysterious S-rank Constellation who had been the subject of countless rumors finally revealed his Constellation Name as the Nameless King, declaring that he would take Hector's place and stop Pandemonium.

On top of that, rumors spread that the Nameless King had interfered throughout the Scenario and had been the true mastermind behind Cheon Sangwoon's defeat.

Just the fact that he was Kang Yujin's Constellation was enough to draw immense attention.

But stories about him forming alliances with other Constellations and even bringing Daji, who had originally belonged to Cheon Sangwoon's side, over to his faction made him an even greater topic of discussion.

In the end, the Nameless King quickly became the most talked-about Constellation in the Spirit Realm.

[Greetings, fellow Constellations!]

[Today, we will uncover the true identity of the recently famous S-rank Constellation, the Nameless King.]

[Until now, this S-rank Constellation had remained active without revealing his Constellation Name.]

[But this time, he revealed it through the words of another S-rank Constellation, the Shining Guardian!]

[However, one more question remains.]

[Then what is the True Name of this Nameless King?]

[I'm sure you're all curious, so I'll uncover it for you.]

[Everyone, have you heard of the Cthulhu Mythos?]

[It's a mythology that began spreading from the works of a writer in the early twentieth century and centers around cosmic transcendent beings.]

[Within that mythos is a terrifying god called Nyarlathotep.]

[Among his manifestations is a being known as the Faceless God, taking the form of a faceless sphinx.]

[Now, the Nameless King can also be understood as the King Without a Name.]

[The Faceless God and the King Without a Name. Don't they feel strangely similar?]

[Perhaps the true identity of the Nameless King is Nyarlathotep from the Cthulhu Mythos.]

[Then everyone, please subscribe and recommend!]

Even the gossip channels that had recently multiplied across Constellation Tube were pouring out all sorts of theories about the S-rank Constellation.

However, almost none of those channels had anything substantial to say.

Most of it was speculation without sufficient evidence.

Because of that, Constellations began hoping that either the Nameless King or his collaborator, the Leader of the Expedition, would explain things in more detail on their own channels.

Yet those channels...

After uploading Hector's video immediately after the Scenario ended, they uploaded nothing else.

"Seriously! Why isn't the Leader of the Expedition uploading a video?"

"Exactly. That guy needs to upload an explanation video for things to make sense."

"Sometimes it felt like he was talking nonsense, but after watching other channels, I realized he's actually a true journalist."

"All these copycat channels popping up lately are terrible. The editing is bad, and the content is even worse."

"There's a reason his channel is number two on Constellation Tube."

"What's number one?"

"Obviously the Nameless King's channel. That's the original."

"Hey, stop calling him the Nameless Constellation. Call him the Nameless King properly."

"It's basically the same thing!"

"Whatever. Upload a video already!"

The official uploads had come regularly until now, so when they suddenly stopped, the Constellations felt intense withdrawal.

They wandered onto other channels, talked with acquaintances, and tried to fill the gap.

As a result, their curiosity toward the Nameless King only grew.

"Hey, it's up!"

"A video got uploaded?"

"Which side? Nameless? Jason?"

"Both!"

And finally, new videos appeared on Constellation Tube.

The Nameless King uploaded a video editing together the flow of the Scenario with Kang Yujin's group at the center.

The Leader of the Expedition uploaded an explanation of how the Scenario had unfolded.

"Which one do we watch first? I want to see both."

"I'm watching them simultaneously."

"My observation device can only show one screen!"

"It's edited highlights, but it's over an hour long."

"Look at the views. It was uploaded just now and they're already skyrocketing."

"Wow, Kang Yujin is insane. How many major figures did he defeat in twenty-four hours?"

"Including just before the Scenario, Lee Hyunje, Daji, Somungwang, Choi Cheolmin, Cheon Sangwoon, the Fourth Beast... He only fought heavyweights."

"Yun Miho was defeated by Lee Jukheon, though. That guy isn't a joke either."

"I don't get why Daji acted like that. Does Jason's video explain it?"

"He only says a few meaningful lines and leaves it there. Feels like another video is coming later."

"So the Nameless Constellation did recruit Daji after all?"

"Then the Nameless King brought Grand Preceptor of the Golden Whip and the Fairy Who Controls Water onto his side, moved the Leader of the Expedition too, and opposed the Shining Guardian with all of them?"

"And won completely."

"If the Shining Guardian admitted defeat and even made that announcement, then winning on the surface probably wasn't the whole story."

"Yeah. There must've been some direct negotiation in the Spirit Realm."

"Maybe the King of Avengers interfered again. People have been saying for a while that he has the Nameless King's back."

"This Constellation really... Just how many moves ahead is he thinking?"

"Some Constellations sit in the corner of their throne wondering whether to donate a million Coins, while another runs around the universe stepping on everyone who annoys him."

"Jealous? Then turn off your observation device and go run around the universe too."

"If we turn off our observation devices, we can't do anything..."

Talk about the Nameless King and his Contractors spread constantly throughout the Spirit Realm.

But every conversation eventually converged on the same conclusion.

"What are they going to do next?"

"Fight Pandemonium?"

"No way they're fighting Pandemonium immediately."

"They should probably stabilize the Capital Region first."

"I wish another incident would happen soon."

"Nameless, hurry up and plan something entertaining!"

They wanted to see what came next.

That was always the conclusion.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the surface was rather far removed from the excitement of the Spirit Realm.

The entire Capital Region had been thrown into chaos by the aftermath of the Scenario.

The Eight Guardians system that had governed the Capital Region collapsed overnight.

Yun Miho, Choi Cheolmin, and Ha Mina were dead.

Cheon Sangwoon survived, but his injuries were so severe that he would be unable to appear publicly for a long time.

Four of the eight remained.

Lee Hyunje, Jegal Geum, Won Pilso, and Shin Minyu.

The fastest faction to respond was Hwaseong Sect under Jegal Geum.

More precisely, it was Joo Minha, the strategist whose influence within Hwaseong Sect had recently been growing.

The moment the Scenario ended, he advised Jegal Geum to deploy Hwaseong Sect Contractors throughout Gangnam to prevent a security vacuum from forming.

Hwaseong Sect itself had suffered considerable damage from Cheon Sangwoon's Destructive Light, but by cooperating with their ally Won Pilso, they managed to restore order in Gangnam.

Joo Minha also contacted Lee Hyunje and Shin Minyu.

Lee Hyunje took responsibility for the territory formerly controlled by Yun Miho, while Shin Minyu took over the region previously controlled by Choi Cheolmin.

Thanks to those rapid actions, they managed to deter opportunists who had been waiting for a chance to exploit the collapse of half the Eight Guardians.

Choi Cheolmin's subordinates did rise up, claiming they would avenge their leader.

However, Shin Minyu personally crushed their central figures in a single day.

Although cleanup proceeded rapidly, that did not mean the Capital Region had become fully stable.

Simply turning the eight-person system into a four-person system was not a proper solution.

But choosing four new people and restoring the Eight Guardians was not realistic either.

Rumors that Pandemonium would invade again had already spread everywhere.

A sense of crisis gripped the Capital Region.

They needed to establish a new system quickly.

Still, people were not entirely pessimistic about the future.

A group of young Contractors centered around Kang Yujin had defeated Cheon Sangwoon and destroyed the evil Beast, saving the Capital Region.

They were now being praised as new heroes.

The hopeful belief that perhaps things would be all right even if Pandemonium invaded, as long as those people existed, began spreading throughout the Capital Region.

"By the way, why are you all eating somewhere like this?"

At Number 49's voice, Kang Yujin stopped eating and looked up.

"What's wrong with it?"

"No, you're the saviors who protected the Capital Region. You're the most talked-about heroes in the region right now."

Number 49 looked around at the others.

Seok Taejun smiled awkwardly.

Lee Jukheon looked smug.

Joo Minha calmly nodded.

"Shouldn't you be eating somewhere much more luxurious? Shouldn't every meal be some top-class full-course meal?"

"If I ate full-course meals every meal, it'd probably be hard on my stomach."

"Please. You look like you could digest steel."

Number 49 shook their head in disbelief.

"Number 49, we think this tastes better, so it's fine."

"Yeah. The restaurant Lee Hyunje took us to the other day had such a stiff atmosphere I could barely digest the food."

"If the meal satisfies the person eating it, then that itself is a feast, Number 49."

"Well, if you're all satisfied, I suppose there's nothing I can do."

Number 49 sighed.

"I just don't like seeing the most talked-about heroes in the Capital Region sitting shoulder to shoulder in some back-alley gukbap shop eating soup and rice."

"Look at this clown discriminating against gukbap."

That was right.

The four of them were sitting in an old gukbap restaurant in Gangnam, happily eating a bowl each.

Apparently, Number 49 wanted to see them dining somewhere extravagant and receiving luxurious treatment.

"So why exactly did you show up today? Haven't seen your face around lately."

"Ah, right."

Number 49 cleared their throat and bowed deeply.

"Kang Yujin, Seok Taejun, Lee Jukheon, Joo Minha! Everyone, great work!"

The sudden action made everyone stop eating.

"Your performance in the Scenario was incredible! I watched with sweaty palms! I'm so happy I get to work alongside amazing Contractors like you!"

"..."

Seeing Number 49 making such a scene, Kang Yujin put down his spoon.

"Hey, clown."

"Yes, Kang Yujin?"

"You're only saying that now? It's already been a week since the Scenario ended."

"I was busy too! Do you know how much work I was given?"

Number 49 pouted and looked away.

"Sounds like you had a lot to do."

"Exactly. Making me put so much effort into those damn videos..."

"Videos?"

"Oops."

Number 49 covered their mouth as though they'd misspoken.

"All right, whatever. Why did you really come? We're eating. You're ruining my appetite."

"Come on, Lee Jukheon. Seeing my face should make your food go down even better."

"Yeah, sure."

"By the way, Lee Jukheon... you need to pay back your loan."

"You really are ruining my appetite!"

Lee Jukheon slammed the table.

The Chimera, which had been chewing on a bone on the floor, lifted its head.

"Oh, Chimera looks healthy too. Seok Taejun, nothing happened, right?"

"Yeah. When it isn't in adult mode, its size is pretty much the same as before."

After being kidnapped by Cheon Sangwoon last time, the Chimera gained the ability to transform into a larger form.

It seemed to have been influenced by the nature of the First Beast.

Even so, sprawled across the heated floor chewing on a bone, it still looked like a dog.

"Number 49, what did you come here for?"

"Ah, Joo Minha."

Joo Minha had already finished eating and wiped his lips with a tissue.

Number 49 rubbed their hands together with a bright smile.

"Everyone, you earned a massive amount of Coins during the last Scenario, didn't you?"

"Yes. Even someone like me, who didn't contribute much, received over one billion Coins in sponsorship."

Because so many Constellations watched the Scenario, the donations were enormous.

Some were especially generous.

Kang Yujin alone received nearly five billion Coins.

"Have you decided how you're going to spend them?"

"So this was about money after all!"

Lee Jukheon frowned.

"You're not thinking about retiring now, are you?"

"Retiring?"

"You're going to continue working as Contractors, right? Then having good equipment is essential."

"Even if you say good equipment..."

Lee Jukheon glanced at the sword beside him.

"This is enough for me."

It was the sword Yun Miho had used.

A weapon developed at a cost of over ten billion Coins.

It was light and sharp, matching Lee Jukheon's fighting style perfectly.

After obtaining a weapon that rivaled the Azure Steel Sword he had once used, his combat ability increased considerably.

"A good weapon isn't enough. You need better armor too! From head to toe!"

"How expensive of a set are you trying to sell me this time? I'm not taking out another loan. I'm paying off the debt I already have first."

"You need to invest in your future."

"You're determined to keep me in debt forever!"

Lee Jukheon slammed the table again.

"Seok Taejun, are you going to keep using the modified Durandal Replica?"

"Well, I borrowed this from Kang Yujin... so I should return it eventually."

"Just use it. If you're fighting on the Chimera, you need a good spear."

"Still, we should make these things clear."

"What about you, Kang Yujin? You can't keep using some cheap flail forever."

"I thought you said it was pretty good when I bought it."

"Compared to you now, it's cheap! You have plenty of Coins, so you need a better weapon. What would you like? Want me to prepare a more expensive flail? Or something else?"

"Well..."

As Kang Yujin trailed off, Joo Minha spoke.

"Number 49."

"Yes, Joo Minha."

"We were actually discussing our future course of action. So we should buy equipment based on what we'll need going forward."

"Ah, of course! Have you decided what you're going to do?"

"Roughly, yes."

Joo Minha spoke calmly.

"After the last Scenario, our influence in the Capital Region grew enormously. If we wanted to, we could probably claim a position among the Eight Guardians. Of course, the Eight Guardians system itself has practically collapsed."

"You made quite the impact, after all."

"However, at this point, we have no intention of taking on such an administrative position."

Joo Minha looked at Kang Yujin.

"Correct?"

"I don't really want to sit in some high position and order people around. At least not right now."

Kang Yujin nodded.

"Watching the Eight Guardians, they always seemed too busy dealing with one thing or another to move freely."

"Hmm. So you plan to keep operating mainly in the field."

"There are also things I want to settle before Pandemonium starts moving in earnest."

"Ah, what kind of things?"

At Number 49's question, Kang Yujin drank some water before answering.

"The Church."

"You mean the Church of the Morning Star. The organization whose leader was Ha Mina, one of the Eight Guardians."

"Right."

Kang Yujin nodded.

"Before the war with Pandemonium begins, I'm going to settle things with the Church."