I Became the God of Destruction
Uninvited Guest - Chapter 3
Section 01
"Ah…?"
How long had it been since he last felt such a chilling sensation? As the girl’s voice—cold beyond measure—rang in his ears, Lee Woo-jin felt as though he were facing the monster he’d only imagined lurking beneath his bed as a child.
What is this…?
Approaching them was just a small girl, yet an indescribable terror gripped his heart. His legs stiffened, his body refused to obey.
She’s just a player, so why…?
Woo-jin had fought countless PvP battles, but never had he experienced such inexplicable hesitation and fear. Even when pitted against the world’s top-ranked player in the arena by sheer bad luck, he hadn’t trembled like this.
From the girl walking toward them emanated an aura far beyond that of a mere player. His heart pounded wildly against his will, and Woo-jin’s face twisted in distress.
"Ugh…"
"…"
Glancing aside, he saw his companion, the Thief Kim Jin-ho, was no better off. With every step the girl took, Jin-ho instinctively retreated a step.
"Damn it…"
Frowning at this filthy, inexplicable fear and trembling, Woo-jin quickly checked the information above the girl’s head. Knowing her level might calm his nerves.
[???]
Level: ???
Class: ???
"Huh…?"
Unlike the Holy Shield Knight from earlier, no details appeared above her head.
Hidden identity…?
Had she used an item like the "Crown of the Shy" to conceal her stats? Such complete privacy was rare, plunging Woo-jin’s mind into deeper confusion.
Hiding her info? Why?
Identity-hiding items were costly. Since only level, name, and guild affiliation (if set) were typically visible, most players didn’t bother concealing their info unless they were assassins or role-players.
So why was this mysterious girl hiding hers? With her face masked, was she an extreme role-player? A dark hero amidst this chaos?
…But it didn’t matter. If she were high-level, she wouldn’t hide her stats. Humans naturally flaunted their superiority.
She must be embarrassingly low-level, hence the concealment. Yes, no need to fear.
Her imposing aura and charisma likely stemmed from some item. Beneath the flashy exterior, she was no different from the disarmed Holy Shield Knight.
"Hey, kid, you’d better stop right there."
Summoning his courage, Woo-jin aimed his twin swords at her. Cold sweat still beaded on his forehead, but believing her level was lower than his eased his fear.
"…Who do you think you are, showing up out of nowhere and talking big? ‘Prepared to die’? Where’d you sell your manners, brat?"
"…"
"…I’m a bit pissed right now, so if you don’t want to die, turn around and get lost while I’m still being nice."
Woo-jin snarled, his face contorted. He tried to sound threatening, but the girl didn’t halt.
Her response was a single, chilling sentence.
"…If you can kill me, go ahead and try."
Her icy voice echoed through the dark alley.
Through the slits of her mask, red eyes gleamed fiercely. She began pointing the tip of the greatsword floating beside her at Woo-jin.
The cold radiating from her intensified, now stinging his skin.
"Ha, fuck, seriously, annoying…"
He’d hoped to scare her off, but her defiance only grew. Woo-jin cursed under his breath. He’d wanted to avoid fighting due to this unease and cold, but her attitude left him no choice.
"…Fine, I’ll kill you as you wish, you insolent bitch."
Feigning nonchalance, Woo-jin prepared to strike. As he assumed his stance, he analyzed her quickly.
Swordsman…?
First, he guessed her class. In Season Off Fantasy, only the close-range dealer "Swordsman" wielded greatswords, so based on her weapon, that seemed likely. But…
No, the sword’s a fake. She’s probably an Ice Mage.
The cold and frost trailing her steps suggested she was a second-job "Ice Mage" from the Mage class.
In Season Off Fantasy, where only basic info like level was shown, disguising one’s class was common, so Woo-jin’s deduction felt sound.
Get behind her fast and take her out in one hit.
Giving distance to a ranged dealer like a Mage would be suicide for an Assassin like him. He planned to close in swiftly and disable her in one strike, preparing his acceleration skill.
"Jin-ho."
"Y-Yes, hyung…"
"You like slender girls, right?"
"W-Well, yeah…"
"…Today, I’ll make your wish come true."
He threw in a short provocation via his chat with Jin-ho. Trash-talking to rile up opponents was Woo-jin’s usual psychological tactic. Though her face was masked, he was sure she was seething.
"…Acceleration."
Woo-jin activated his "Acceleration" skill, boosting his speed, and charged at her like a cheetah on the African plains.
Perfect…
As an Assassin boasting top agility alongside Lancers and Thieves, his starting speed stirred the air around him.
Flawless…!
Impressed by his own speed—too fast for most players to perceive—Woo-jin smirked. His optimism surged.
At this rate, he’d reach behind her before she could react, sever her hands to stop spellcasting, and disarm her completely.
Then, as punishment for angering them, he’d make her his plaything…
…Excellent.
With a wicked grin laced with vile thoughts, Woo-jin pushed off the ground harder to accelerate.
"Ugh…?!"
The moment his foot hit the asphalt, a sharp sting shot through both legs. Dismissing it as a pebble in his shoe, he kept his eyes on the girl and pressed forward.
"Huh…?"
Oddly, his vision began to drop. What had been level with her masked face lowered to her abdomen, then her worn shoes.
His momentum faltered, his legs suddenly powerless.
…It didn’t take long for Woo-jin to realize he’d collapsed embarrassingly, his legs giving out.
"I fell…?"
In all his years playing Season Off Fantasy, he’d never fallen. Yet here he was, tripping on his first step. Bewildered, he looked down at his legs.
"F-Fuck, h-hyung…"
First came Jin-ho’s panicked voice, his composure shattered. Then Woo-jin’s own dazed mutter followed.
"Huh…?"
…Where his sturdy legs should have been, there was only a gush of sticky red blood.
"M-My legs…?"
Where his thick limbs once stood, only a fountain of blood remained.
"Huh? What? What?"
No matter how he tried, he couldn’t feel anything below his knees. Realizing something was horribly wrong, his pupils shook, and panic set in.
…Then, a red hologram screen appeared, signaling critical damage.
[Danger! Critical Damage Detected!]
Critical damage to your body has been detected!
○ Damaged Area: Both lower limbs severed
○ Status Ailment: Bleeding (Grade 4)
○ Movement Speed reduced by 99%
○ Attack Speed reduced by 80%
※ Continued bleeding will cause additional effects such as vision blur and mental confusion.
※ Use of recovery item ‘Regenerating Pine Needle’ recommended.
※ Retreat to a safe area with allies’ support immediately.
"Huh…?"
Reading the hologram, Woo-jin grasped that his legs were gone. With that realization, unbearable pain surged through him.
…A horrific scream tore from his throat.
"A-Agh, aaahhh!!"
Clutching the stumps, he rolled on the ground. Through tear-filled eyes, he saw a large greatsword floating before him, dripping crimson blood.
…It was the red-bladed greatsword that had hovered beside the girl.
"T-This is…"
Seeing it, Woo-jin froze. The blood dripping from it was unmistakably his own.
That meant the one who severed his legs was this mysterious girl.
No way, that girl…? With a greatsword? Wasn’t she a mage…? She caught my speed…?
Woo-jin’s mind raced.
How had she caught his legs with a greatsword when he’d moved too fast to see? A mage, with the lowest physical stats among classes?
…Wait, maybe she wasn’t a mage? Was she a Greatsword Knight as he’d first thought? But then, what was the frost trailing her steps? Not magic?
"U-Ugh, ahh…"
Amid rising pain and jumbled thoughts, Woo-jin groaned. Above him, ominous dark clouds gathered.
…From those black clouds fell cold snowflakes.
"S-Snow…?"
Was he dreaming? Or delirious from blood loss? Snow in early summer, not rain? Woo-jin couldn’t believe his eyes.
Moreover, the snow wasn’t normal—it was ash-colored, exuding an eerie aura unlike anything in reality.
"…"
One ashen snowflake drifted down, landing softly on his nose.
First, he felt the bone-chilling cold.
…Then came a shock as intense as the pain from his severed legs.
"A-Aaahhh!! Aaaahhh!!"
Starting from his face, a searing pain engulfed his body, as if electrocuted. Screams burst from his throat, echoing into the night.
Before his eyes, another red hologram appeared.
[Danger! HP Critical!]
Your health has entered the red zone!
○ Remaining HP below 0.2%
Next attack (bleeding damage) will result in 100% death probability*
○ Status Ailment: Frozen (new)
○ Movement Speed reduced by 20%
○ Attack Speed reduced by 20%
※ While Frozen, movement of certain body parts is restricted.
※ Use of recovery item ‘Ancient Warmth’ recommended.
※ Use of recovery item ‘Flower of Resurrection’ recommended.
※ Retreat to a safe area with allies’ support immediately.
"F-Frozen…?!"
Suddenly afflicted with the Frozen status, alongside 20% reductions in movement and attack speed. Despite his severed legs, his HP had plummeted to below 0.1%, teetering on death from one more bleed tick.
Just from one snowflake, I’m dying? Me? Lee Woo-jin…?
He could barely accept that his legs were cut off by her greatsword, but to be on the brink of death from a single snowflake—plus Frozen status—was incomprehensible.
Ashen snow? What is this? What the hell is it! What is… …!!
As tears of frustration streamed down, an old memory flashed in his mind.
A few years ago, he’d experienced something similar.
…The End of the World.
The December stage of Season Off Fantasy, the frozen land "End of the World." And the Ace Guild’s stage boss raid there.
…Back then, Woo-jin had been hit by ashen snow, afflicted with Frozen status, and his head was smashed by chains swinging faster than he could perceive.
Just like now.
Ah…
Ashen snow that inflicts Frozen.
A weapon floating in the air, swinging too fast to see.
And the one being who wielded it freely.
No way…
As the pieces fell into place, Woo-jin’s eyes filled with terror. He struggled to lift his head and look at the mysterious girl standing over him.
It can’t be, it can’t…
The Frozen status from "Ashen Snowstorm" was freezing his body solid, but he refused to close his eyes. He couldn’t.
Why is that damned thing here…?
He stared blankly at the girl, her face hidden.
Why, why…
In his hazy memory, the stage boss who killed him at "End of the World" also had the form of a beautiful girl.
Why is a stage boss in this dump…?
…Just like the girl before him.
"F-Fuck…"
In his fading consciousness, filled only with fear and dread, Woo-jin mustered his last strength to speak to her.
"Y-You, are you…?"
His vision darkened. Strength left his body, and even the pain dulled. But he stubbornly called out the name of the one who had crushed him, the God of Destruction who shouldn’t be in Korea, in Seoul.
"C-Celberion…"
"…"
But no answer came.
Only eternal silence lingered in his ears.
…Woo-jin’s world went black.
Section 02
"…"
Whether from accumulated damage or his HP hitting zero, the man shattered into ice crystals the moment he was Frozen. Watching the Assassin turn into a snowflake and melt into the asphalt was a sight to behold.
"…You should’ve been more careful."
I offered my final words to the man, now not even a corpse. He had chosen to raid this neighborhood tonight, and thus, he had to bear the consequences of that choice.
If he valued his life, he should’ve been more cautious, making the right decisions at every step.
Who could he blame for his death?
"…"
With Celberion’s influence, I felt nothing despite killing a person. I shifted my gaze to the other man, presumably the Assassin’s companion.
"M-Monster, s-stay back!!"
He seemed to be a Thief, a support class, waving his small dagger to ward me off.
But such a cheap dagger posed no threat to me, to Celberion. Ignoring his feeble intimidation, I began walking toward him.
[Kim Jin-ho (PantyGoblin)]
Level: 1132
Class: Thief
Attribute: Dark
Guild: Ace
Status Ailment: None
Thanks to Celberion’s passive "Piercing Frost," his detailed information was clear. Seeing his guild, I couldn’t help but frown.
…Ace Guild.
Like the Assassin I’d just killed, he was from the Ace Guild, a core guild in SPR and currently in charge of the capital region.
Sigh…
My worst fears had come true, and I couldn’t hide my disappointment. A deep sigh escaped through my mask.
…If members of the Ace Guild, entrusted with maintaining order in the capital, were committing crimes themselves, with police and military powerless, there was no one to stop them.
Even if the Ace Guild punished them internally, it’d likely be a slap on the wrist. Seoul would become their lawless playground, their kingdom.
For now, it was just these two, but if more Ace members succumbed to the taste of power and pursued their selfish desires, the already chaotic Seoul would spiral further into disorder.
Seeing this unfold, I couldn’t help but sigh.
"S-Stay back, I said! Do you know who I am? I’m with Ace. Take one more step, and it’s a declaration of war on the entire guild."
"…"
Did he even realize what his actions could lead to? Kim Jin-ho, the Thief, was just terrified, trying to threaten me.
Whether he was with Ace or not, looting, rape, and murder—especially in my neighborhood—were unforgivable.
Thus, I didn’t stop my approach.
"Fuck! Can’t you hear me? I said stay back! Do you know what you’re doing? Can you handle the entire Ace Guild?!"
"…Annoying."
To Kim Jin-ho, who seemed to have immense pride in his guild, I scowled, showing my displeasure.
Ace was a prestigious, popular guild, and he’d likely fought alongside his guildmates hundreds of times, so his loyalty was understandable. But using that loyalty as a threat was repulsive.
"Don’t come closer, I said don’t!!"
"…"
"Stay back!! Ugh, damn it!!"
Seeing I was unfazed by his threats, he changed tactics.
"Ah, aaahhh!!"
"Stay back. Drop that greatsword now. Or this woman dies."
…He grabbed the female Priest behind him—likely the Holy Shield Knight’s companion—and pressed his dagger to her throat.
"If you take one more step, this innocent woman dies. Because of you."
"…"
It was a cliché hostage situation. The Priestess began to sob, and the Holy Shield Knight scrambled to his feet.
"Z-Ji-ah!! You bastard! Let her go… ugh…"
He tried to charge but clutched his abdomen and collapsed, still injured. Even if he were healthy, without his shield—stolen by the Thief—he couldn’t do much.
"…Turn around and leave. Unless you want to see someone die because of you."
Sigh…
This was a better threat than invoking Ace. At this distance, he could slit her throat before I could act.
Most players would comply to avoid risking an innocent life.
But I wasn’t an ordinary player. In fact, I wasn’t a player at all.
I was a monster, a stage boss—the Frost of Destruction, Celberion.
…There were plenty of ways to handle this.
Unfortunately, the Thief didn’t seem to recognize Celberion’s "Ashen Snowstorm," still unaware of my identity.
"…Ice Temptation."
…Extending my hand, I activated the skill "Ice Temptation."
"Ice Temptation" was one of Celberion’s unrevealed skills, applying "Frozen Seduction" to a target, rendering them unable to attack and forcing them to approach me.
Perfect for this situation.
"…?! W-What is this?! What did you do…?! Ugh?!"
"…"
Upon activation, a heart-shaped blue magic circle appeared above the Thief’s head, instantly applying "Frozen Seduction."
Now, he couldn’t attack and could only walk toward me, Celberion.
"What?! M-My body?! My legs are moving on their own?! Fuck, what did you do?! Why can’t I control myself?!!"
It would’ve been nice if it silenced him too, but that was asking too much. Under the spell, the Thief dropped his dagger and began walking toward me.
"Huff! Huff, huff…"
"Ji-ah! Ji-ah, are you okay?!"
Thanks to that, the Priestess was freed, collapsing to the ground in shock. The Holy Shield Knight rushed to support her.
"W-What? Wait, wait, no, no…"
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"…"
Against his will, the Thief drew closer until he was right in front of me. I seized his neck and lifted him into the air.
"G-Gah…!! W-What strength…!!"
"…"
With Celberion’s overpowered stats, even in a girl’s body, lifting a mere Thief was effortless.
"L-Let go! Do you know what you’re doing, gah!!"
He struggled as his airway constricted, but a mere player couldn’t overpower Celberion. Finally, he glared at me with hatred and spat out his best threat.
"Y-You, if you kill me, do you know what will happen? I’m close with the guild master. The entire Ace Guild will come for you."
"…"
"We’re tight-knit. You, a mere player, think you can handle our whole guild? You’ll regret it to your bones."
"…Amusing."
Hearing him, I let out a scoff.
Perhaps showing him would be better than telling him a hundred times. Besides, I didn’t want this loathsome man to die with hope, thinking his comrades would avenge him.
…I removed the mask form of the "Dream Tiara" covering my face and the cheap gray hoodie, reverting to Celberion’s true appearance.
"…"
A blue light enveloped me, and I revealed my complete form as the stage boss guarding "End of the World," the Frost of Destruction, the God of Destruction, before his eyes.
"…"
White short hair and crimson eyes.
A beautiful face adorned with a black tiara.
A sophisticated dress of black and red.
And the "Chains of Death and Frost," back to their original chain form from the greatsword.
…The strongest entity in Season Off Fantasy, the God of Destruction, Celberion.
"Huh…?"
Seeing my true form, the Thief’s eyes widened, his face paling.
"W-What? Wait, you, you’re…?"
Even if he didn’t know my passives, he recognized my appearance, unable to hide his shock and confusion. Soon, he uttered my name.
"C-Celberion…? Celberion? Why are you here…? W-Wait, what is this…?"
As realization dawned, his face contorted with despair, understanding whose territory he had violated and whom he had threatened.
…I smiled faintly and whispered coldly into his ear.
"Ace Guild…?"
The prestigious Ace Guild, Korea’s largest and most renowned, the guild he was so proud of, the one he believed would crush me if I killed him.
I grinned widely at the petrified Thief.
"…Sure, bring them all."
"U-Uh, uh…"
"Tell them to come for revenge, to attack me."
"U-Uh, I, I didn’t mean it like that…"
"Bring all the Top 4 guilds while you’re at it."
Tears streamed down his face as he seemed to regret his actions. But it was too late. One must be careful with every choice, and time doesn’t turn back.
I whispered my final words into his ear, colder than any winter.
"…I’ll kill them all, Ace, Legend, everyone."
Then, Kim Jin-ho froze completely.
Uninvited Guest - Chapter 4
Section 01
"Huh…?"
What had he just witnessed?
Seeing the girl turn a level 1000+ Thief into ice crystals in an instant, Holy Shield Knight Kim Dong-wook felt his body stiffen.
"That’s…"
Though he’d never joined a stage boss raid due to his level, Dong-wook knew exactly who she was.
How could he not? She was the symbol of Season Off Fantasy, an object of awe and reverence for all players, including himself.
"…Celberion."
The girl was none other than the undefeated, most feared stage boss, the Frost of Destruction, Celberion.
Known as the "God of Destruction" for never sparing anyone who challenged her, she was the strongest entity in Season Off Fantasy.
And now, she stood before him, in the flesh. It wasn’t a dream or delusion—the biting cold on his cheeks confirmed this was reality.
"Ah."
A dazed sound escaped Dong-wook’s lips.
Truthfully, deep down, he had suspected Celberion was somewhere in his neighborhood.
Two days ago, the terrifying snow that nearly killed him was unmistakably Celberion’s "Ashen Snowstorm."
But even with that preparation, facing her in person rendered him immobile.
Like standing before a tiger, his legs turned to jelly, unable to move or speak.
All he could do was follow her every move with terrified eyes.
W-Will she kill us too? Like that? Freeze us?
When the mind weakens, negative thoughts flood in. Imagining his gruesome end, Dong-wook’s face paled.
He’d never heard of Celberion showing mercy. She was colder and crueler than any boss, always filled with rage.
…They’d probably meet the same fate as the two intruders, despite being innocent. Just for catching her eye, they’d leave this world.
P-Please…
Praying she’d ignore them, Dong-wook focused all his senses on her every move.
Sigh…
But contrary to his excessive worries, Celberion—the girl known as the God of Destruction—simply sighed and brushed off the ice from her hands.
In the darkness, her pale hands clapped, sending white ice crystals falling to the asphalt.
"…Annoying."
Seemingly displeased by the Ace Guild’s intruders, Celberion frowned and grumbled.
As if venting, she stomped on the spot where the Thief had melted into the ground.
…For someone called the God of Destruction, it was oddly cute.
"…Hmm?"
"!!"
But that was brief. Soon, her eyes met Dong-wook’s as he held the half-fainted Ji-ah. Realizing her crimson gaze was on him, Dong-wook’s body trembled.
Yet, he could do nothing. No, he wouldn’t do anything. Whatever choice he made, the outcome would be the same.
Before an overwhelming force beyond human control, all actions were futile.
"…"
"Ugh…!!"
Noticing him, Celberion slowly walked toward them. Dong-wook clutched Ji-ah tightly and shut his eyes.
Soon, they’d be frozen solid and shatter into ice crystals. Celberion showing mercy was unimaginable; he just hoped it wouldn’t hurt.
"…"
Bracing for pain, Dong-wook bowed his head.
But instead of pain, he heard something unbelievable.
"…Are you okay?"
"Huh…?"
A voice cold yet warm. In disbelief, Dong-wook slowly opened his eyes.
…Before him, a beautiful girl extended her hand.
"…Are you okay?"
"Ah…"
When he didn’t respond, Celberion, the Frost of Destruction, repeated her question. The fearsome stage boss was asking about his well-being—Dong-wook’s mind went blank.
"Um, maybe you’re mute…"
Seeing him still silent, Celberion tilted her head and scratched her chin. Finally snapping out of it, Dong-wook answered.
"Ah, y-yes! I-I’m fine…!"
Not wanting to upset her good mood, he added,
"I’m fine, perfectly fine. Very fine."
"…That’s good."
Hearing his response, Celberion extended her hand again, as if to help him up.
"…"
After glancing between her and her hand several times, Dong-wook grasped it firmly.
…Her hand was as cold as freshly fallen snow.
"How’s your friend?"
With Celberion’s help, Dong-wook stood easily. She then turned to Yoon Ji-ah, who had fainted from shock after being held hostage.
Thankfully, she was just unconscious, so Dong-wook replied more calmly,
"She seems okay. Th-Thank you for saving us…"
…He bowed deeply, nearly folding in half. He didn’t want to displease her and was genuinely grateful for being saved.
Celberion shook her head. Her voice remained cold but somehow kind.
"No, you did well to hold out."
"…"
The God of Destruction, Celberion, being humble—Dong-wook wondered if he was hearing things.
Though confused, he decided to stop thinking.
Celberion looked around and continued,
"…If it’s not too much trouble, could you handle the cleanup? Please."
"Ah…!!"
Only then did Dong-wook notice the collapsed walls and damaged houses from their earlier fight.
…He nodded vigorously.
"Of course! Absolutely! We’ll take care of everything!"
It was his mess, so he had to clean it up. Besides, there was the near-rape victim, the murdered man, and explaining the two Ace members’ deaths to Celberion—lots to handle, but he’d manage.
And he’d keep Celberion’s involvement secret. She had hidden her identity with a hoodie and mask, so she probably didn’t want it revealed.
"I’ll, uh, make sure it’s quiet and perfect, so don’t worry."
…It wouldn’t be easy, but compared to his life, it was a small price. If this was the cost of Celberion sparing him, it was more than worth it.
"Thank you. I’ll leave it to you then."
Celberion nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, yes!! Leave it to me!!"
Dong-wook bowed again. Then, Celberion asked one last question.
"By the way, are you players living in this neighborhood?"
"Yes? Yes, we live in the studio apartments nearby."
"So, you’ve been clearing the low-grade monsters here for the past two days?"
"Yes, that’s right. Since the capital’s guild might take a while to reach here, we’ve been patrolling ourselves."
"Hmm…"
Dong-wook smiled wryly, recalling the hardship of fighting without a damage dealer. Celberion nodded slowly, her expression unreadable.
The girl, more beautiful than all of Korea’s beauties combined, turned away, leaving her final words.
"…If you need help, call me."
"Huh…?"
"…Goodbye."
Instead of answering his confused question, Celberion vanished in an instant. Now, only Dong-wook and the unconscious Ji-ah remained in the dark alley.
"Ha, haha…"
After the storm passed, Dong-wook’s legs gave out, and he slumped to the ground.
"W-Who was I just talking to…"
Celberion, infamous for freezing and shattering anyone who met her gaze, had conversed with him for over a minute.
Had the collapse of game and reality changed her somehow?
Dong-wook’s mind and heart were in turmoil, unable to process it all.
…But one thing was clear:
"I-I survived…"
He had become the first player in Season Off Fantasy to meet Celberion and live.
Section 02
[Ace Guild Master, Yoon Sol (SoLSoL)]
"Ah, this is it!"
In a luxurious office, Yoon Sol, aka SoLSoL, guild master of Ace, couldn’t hide her joy as she admired her elegantly crafted nameplate on the desk.
As a key member of SPR and the one appointed to oversee the capital’s defense, the government had provided her with this upscale office near the National Assembly, complete with a nameplate.
In this chaotic time, seeing tangible proof of the "power" she had gained was immensely satisfying.
"Right, this is real power."
SoLSoL stroked her nameplate with a contented smile. At this moment, in Seoul at least, she wielded more influence and authority than anyone else.
…In this unprecedented crisis, only she and her guild, Ace, could handle the monsters—and even stage bosses—with ease.
"This is my world now, Ace’s world."
Even haughty corporate executives and esteemed politicians begged for her protection, pleading for their safety.
In just a few days, she had risen from a mere internet broadcaster and gaming addict to a figure of such authority that even lawmakers bowed to her.
The government showered her with compensation beyond what ordinary people could dream of, and the public and media hailed her as the hope of Seoul, of Korea.
What a sweet reality.
"Ah, this is the best…"
Sinking into the plush office chair, SoLSoL grinned widely. A childhood memory flashed through her mind.
— If you elect me as class president…!!
"…"
SoLSoL had always loved being in the spotlight. Standing above others, giving orders, being admired—it thrilled her.
— What? To run for student council, I need to pay 5 million won in development funds…? I can’t even afford academy fees…
But as she grew older, she painfully realized that true power was reserved for the chosen few.
— What’s with that attention seeker…
— Sol, stop showing off. Are you a kid?
…Eventually, her excessive desire to lead ostracized her from society. The only place where she could wield power was in the VR game Season Off Fantasy.
There, she was the master of a globally popular guild, an idol with a cute cat-girl avatar, and a skilled player with formidable strength.
But that was only in the virtual world. Logging out meant returning to a reality where she was rejected by all.
…Then, one day, an opportunity arose—an opportunity to overturn everything.
— Breaking news: ‘Light Rifts’ appear over Seoul
— …
The boundary between reality and virtuality collapsed, and the world of Season Off Fantasy began to invade reality.
The game’s monsters appeared in the real world, and players inherited their in-game powers.
In this situation, SoLSoL finally gained the power and authority she had longed for.
Now, she reigned as the absolute power in Seoul.
Everyone looked up to her, and everything moved according to her will.
It was miraculous.
It was blissful.
She wished this moment could last forever.
"Ah, this is it…"
Ace Guild’s popularity was soaring, and membership applications were flooding in from everywhere.
Even the other Top 4 guilds couldn’t match this level of fame. Perhaps Ace was now the supreme power in Korea.
"…Sol-nim, may I come in?"
"…Hm? Come in."
…Just as she was savoring this sweet reality, someone knocked on her office door. When SoLSoL granted permission, a man in a white lab coat, symbolizing the Scientist class, cautiously entered.
A large red diamond was emblazoned on the right chest of his coat, indicating he was also a member of Ace.
"Sol-nim, or rather, Guild Master. I have a few things to report."
…It was Lee Min-jun, Ace’s vice guild master, known as Minato.
Seeing his urgent demeanor, SoLSoL quickly wiped the smile from her face and asked,
"Report? Didn’t we do that an hour ago? What’s the new information?"
It had only been an hour since the last regular report, so another one was unexpected. Min-jun sighed deeply and said,
"Yes, it’s a bit of a headache. Do you remember Lee Woo-jin and Kim Jin-ho, who went to patrol the slum on the outskirts of Seoul the day before yesterday…?"
"Slum patrol…? Yes, of course I remember."
At Min-jun’s words, SoLSoL nodded.
Woo-jin and Jin-ho were both cherished guild members, exemplary for volunteering to patrol a neglected area.
But suddenly mentioning them, SoLSoL felt a foreboding chill and frowned.
"…What about them? Did something happen?"
"Well, it’s, sigh…"
Min-jun scratched his head, clearly frustrated. Then, with another sigh, he slowly relayed the news to SoLSoL.
"…They’ve gone missing."
"What?!"
At the word "missing," SoLSoL shot up from her seat.
"M-Missing? Woo-jin and Jin-ho? Why?! Where?!"
"Well, it’s…"
Ace’s vice guild master, Lee Min-jun, sighed again and continued with a heavy heart,
"They disappeared in that slum. It seems they caused some trouble."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble? A traffic accident?"
"…Murder."
"What…?"
Murder.
That unexpected word made SoLSoL’s body flinch. Min-jun shook his head regretfully and said,
"Sigh, last night, reports came in simultaneously to SPR and the police. Apparently, Woo-jin and Jin-ho committed looting, murder, rape—all the things those ‘rogue players’ do."
"…"
"Then, when they were caught, they fled, but strangely, we can’t contact them. It’s a neighborhood without CCTV, so we can’t track their location, and their phones are off… It’s frustrating…"
"What the…"
Hearing that her trusted juniors had not only committed crimes but also fled, SoLSoL’s face turned red with anger.
The worst people were liars or those who didn’t take responsibility for their actions.
Woo-jin and Jin-ho had chosen the latter, and she couldn’t hide her disappointment and rage.
Sigh…
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SoLSoL sighed deeply, feeling like a parent with delinquent children.
…But something’s off.
…However, there was something strange about Min-jun’s account.
From what SoLSoL knew of Woo-jin and Jin-ho, they weren’t the type to flee when caught. Meticulous as they were, they’d rather eliminate all witnesses, even if it meant killing everyone in the neighborhood.
Proud and stylish, they wouldn’t choose to flee disgracefully, especially not from lowly slum dwellers.
Even if they did run, they’d come to SoLSoL for help, shamelessly asking her to clean up their mess.
With Ace’s current status and SoLSoL’s influence, burying such incidents with media manipulation was child’s play—they knew that.
…In short, while Woo-jin and Jin-ho might commit heinous crimes, they weren’t the type to vanish like ghosts.
"…Their classes were Assassin and Thief, right?"
"Yes, correct."
"Hmm…"
An Assassin and Thief were specialized in stealth and ambush. If they decided to hide, even stage bosses would struggle to find them, making it unlikely they died to monsters while fleeing.
That left two possibilities.
Either they truly went into hiding, fearing SoLSoL’s wrath.
Or they encountered something powerful enough to detect their stealth and were killed.
Both seemed improbable, so SoLSoL asked Min-jun,
"…Who’s the witness, the one who reported it?"
"A Holy Shield Knight in his 800s living in that neighborhood. He said he heard screams and went to check, finding Woo-jin and Jin-ho had already killed one person and were attempting to rape another. When discovered, they immediately fled."
"A level 800 Holy Shield Knight…"
It made even less sense. Woo-jin and Jin-ho were both over level 1000—strong players. Killing the knight to silence him would’ve been a better choice than fleeing.
"And the only evidence of their crimes is that witness’s statement?"
"For now, yes."
"Hmm…"
SoLSoL frowned at Min-jun’s answer.
Something didn’t add up. If only the Holy Shield Knight had seen them, Woo-jin and Jin-ho wouldn’t have fled.
The testimony was suspicious.
There was definitely more to it.
"…"
Now, she even doubted whether they had committed the crimes at all.
Perhaps this was a sophisticated plot to undermine Ace. Maybe another Top 4 guild was behind it.
…They needed to split their forces and investigate thoroughly.
"Se-na!"
SoLSoL called out to the office door. At her summons, a beautiful woman entered.
"You called, Sol?"
…A woman with long black hair, wearing revealing gray tights. Wolf ears perked up on her head, and her hands were encased in large beast-like gauntlets.
It was Kim Se-na, a high-ranking member of Ace, with the class "Beast."
…"Beast" was one of the rare classes, alongside Pirate, Meteorologist, and Alchemist. When transformed into a werewolf, her attack power and destructiveness were unparalleled.
To this alluring woman, one of the few Beasts in Korea, SoLSoL issued an order.
"I need you to investigate something personally…"
"Hm? Investigate what?"
Se-na’s eyes sparkled with interest. SoLSoL tasked her with finding the missing Woo-jin and Jin-ho.
"…Go to the slum on the outskirts of Seoul and look into Woo-jin and Jin-ho. There should be a level 800 Holy Shield Knight there—capture him too. Take some people if you need."
"Heh…"
Se-na’s wolf ears twitched, intrigued by the special mission. SoLSoL sighed and added,
"…With your passive ‘Beast’s Senses,’ you can find Woo-jin and Jin-ho even if they’re stealthed."
…The Beast’s passive, "Beast’s Senses."
It was the only passive across all classes that could detect stealthed enemies, which was why SoLSoL assigned Se-na to investigate the Assassin and Thief.
…Se-na giggled and nodded.
"Sounds fun, a special mission. Go to the slum, find Woo-jin and Jin-ho, and capture the Holy Shield Knight?"
"…Exactly."
Pleased that Se-na understood quickly, SoLSoL smiled faintly. Then, with a more serious tone, she added her final instruction.
"And, you know."
"Yes…?"
"…If anyone interferes, seems suspicious, or gets in your way,"
"…"
"…Eliminate them all."
"Heh, really…?"
Se-na raised an eyebrow, as if to confirm if she was serious. For a Beast like her, who loved PvP, it was welcome news, but it was a risky order for the guild.
"…Yes."
But SoLSoL nodded firmly, resolute.
"If they hinder you or Ace, just kill them all."
With her current power and influence, she could cover it up or make it "never happened."
Above all,
"Those who obstruct us will have to be dealt with eventually."
"…"
"To take over all of Korea, we need to secure the capital first."
Human ambition knows no bounds.
The taste of power and strength was addictive, irresistible.
SoLSoL was already planning beyond being the capital’s overseer—she aimed for the top of South Korea.
To achieve that, guild wars with the other Top 4 guilds were inevitable. To fight them effectively, she needed complete control over the capital with Ace.
She couldn’t afford internal enemies or rebels.
"…We need to gently coax the public while subjugating players with force."
…Using a carrot-and-stick approach to bring everyone under her control, SoLSoL vowed to reach the pinnacle of power.
She didn’t care if people called her foolish.
She didn’t care if they said she was chasing illusions.
She would simply eliminate anyone who stood in her way.
Whether it was the other guilds like Legend,
Or monsters,
Or stage bosses,
"…"
Or even Celberion.
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