The world was in sharp conflict.
This was because the opinions of both sides were tense regarding whether to accept Nepas and the Demon Clan.
The argument of those who wanted to accept the Demon Clan was clear.
Although there had been past conflicts, the root cause of those conflicts—food scarcity—had been resolved.
They questioned if there was any reason to shed blood and oppose them now.
The opposing view was that the Demon Clan could not be trusted.
They argued that the demons could aim to conquer humanity at any time, just as they had in the past with things like the Demonization Potion.
In fact, the arguments on both sides were quite valid.
No matter which side was chosen, there were gains and losses; it was a problem where it was difficult to favor one opinion as the single correct answer.
However, the direction inevitably began to tilt toward one side due to a move by Nepas.
[Awakening Potions have been distributed to the United States, Russia, China, Japan, and others who led the opinion to accept the Demon Clan. Through the Awakening Potions, these nations have risen to become Awakening superpowers in an instant. They have announced that the conquest of the Tower is near.]
As if to show off, the landscape shifted because of the Awakening Potions given to the nations that supported the Demon Clan.
These four countries had long maintained their status as Awakening superpowers.
However, after coming into conflict with Kim Si-won, they had lost their national power and all of their key Awakeners.
Consequently, they had recently appeared very weak, but through the Awakening Potions received for supporting the Demon Clan, they rose back to superpower status in a single bound.
Their Tower climbing, which had been stagnant for a long time, was now proceeding rapidly—at a pace far faster than when they were superpowers in the past.
It was only natural.
Through the Awakening Potions, they possessed far more Awakeners than before.
Moreover, the Awakening Potions provided this time were between B and A-rank.
Those who received powerful traits became forces that could be deployed immediately, and this was proven by their Tower climbing speed.
The superpowers that had been lagging behind the United Kingdom, France, and India reclaimed their original positions.
This fact overturned the board.
Fearing that the Awakening Potions might run out if they supported the demons too late—and that they might receive lower-grade potions—everyone began to support the Demon Clan.
As the sharp opposition completely vanished, the atmosphere shifted toward recognizing the Demon Clan as a legitimate race.
Most countries supported the independence of the Demon Clan.
However, there were still those who insisted on suspicion and vigilance toward the Demon Clan.
They were from the very nation Kim Si-won belonged to: South Korea.
But the powerful effect of the Awakening Potion was tempting.
The number of people blinded by the profit obtainable just by supporting the Demon Clan was increasing just the same.
***
Cabinet Meeting Room.
The Prime Minister, the ministers of each department, and high-ranking officials were seated at the circular meeting table.
“Should we not also make our position clear?”
The first to speak in the silence was Prime Minister Jang Won-sik.
“Our position, you say?”
President Hosik Jeong, who was now acting as the proper head of South Korea, replied to those words.
“We have made our position clear from the beginning. What position are you talking about?”
South Korea’s stance was firm.
They would absolutely not support the Demon Clan.
At first, they seemed united in that opinion, but recently, the pattern had changed.
“It is not something to be spoken of so lightly. Other countries might be fine to ignore, but China and Japan are the problem.”
The movements of China and Japan, who were the fastest to support the Demon Clan and receive Awakening Potions, were unusual.
They weren’t moving their militaries as actively as in the past, but they seemed to be using their power to slowly pressure South Korea.
“So. You want to withdraw our position and support the Demon Clan?”
At Hosik Jeong’s question, Minister of National Defense Kim Dong-hyeon spoke.
“That is correct. It is merely a declaration of support. Since the global trend is already heading that way, we have no choice but to follow along.”
“It is not a huge loss; it is just a statement of our position. Yet the profit we would gain from it is immense. Is there any reason to hesitate?”
“It is already too late. All other countries are rushing to declare their positions and receive Awakening Potions. If we wait too long, we might not get these Awakening Potions…”
“Even if we do get them, it will be a problem. If we get low-grade potions instead of the B to A-ranks given out at first, the loss will be enormous.”
“So, quickly!”
“We must hurry immediately!”
The opinions of the ministers and high-ranking officials were unanimous.
They wanted to support the Demon Clan as soon as possible to receive the Awakening Potions.
However—
“Bang!”
Someone stood up, hitting the table roughly.
“What are you saying!”
It was the Minister of the Awakening Bureau, Kim Chaun.
He was the President’s closest confidant and someone rumored to be the power behind the scenes.
“Didn’t you all say just a little while ago that we should be vigilant because they might have a conspiracy?”
Kim Chaun’s anger was natural.
Just a short while ago, they had strengthened their resolve not to fall for the Demon Clan’s tricks.
Yet, only a few days later, they were changing their attitudes like flipping a palm.
“Have you forgotten Master Kim Si-won’s warning? Didn’t he say that Nepas clearly has something up his sleeve?”
For Kim Chaun, Kim Si-won’s words had to take precedence over the President’s—or anyone else’s.
Even Hosik Jeong had been following Kim Si-won’s words and speaking in favor of not supporting the Demon Clan until now.
But to change their attitude despite that opinion… it was no different from saying they didn’t trust Kim Si-won.
“But his words are not always the right answer, are they?” The Prime Minister countered Kim Chaun’s words.
“Of course, it is true that he has been a great help to South Korea so far. But this matter is too important. To proceed with things just by trusting one man’s words — “
“Just one man! Who do you think allowed you to be in that position? Who do you think protected this small country called South Korea!”
Before the man could even finish, Kim Chaun flared up in a rage.
To him, Kim Si-won was a sacrosanct existence.
In a way, he was an object of faith even greater than a god.
A being like a Supreme God who had never once disappointed his trust.
To doubt him was profanity.
It was an insult to Kim Si-won, who had bestowed grace upon South Korea.
However—
“My goodness, can’t we even speak?”
“We can voice our opinions anytime.”
“How can we hesitate when there is a visible benefit right in front of us?”
“We live in a democracy.”
“If this isn’t a dictatorship, then what is it!”
Not backing down, everyone added a word.
They spoke with voices that sounded like they had plotted somewhere else, excluding Hosik Jeong and Kim Chaun.
‘These damn bastards are acting up again.’ Kim Chaun sensed it.
This was all because Kim Si-won’s influence and activity had decreased.
After finishing his work, Kim Si-won had been staying indoors, pouring his heart into teaching Leon.
Of course, he appeared occasionally, but that was only to Hosik Jeong or Kim Chaun; he never showed himself to others.
Kim Si-won had dominated South Korea until now.
But if he wasn’t seen, his influence was bound to decrease.
In fact, those who used to tremble at the mere mention of his name showed no particular agitation even though he was mentioned.
Of course, the fact that this action was for the nation’s benefit, not personal gain, also played a part.
They chose to support the Demon Clan for the sake of the country—even if it contradicted Kim Si-won’s opinion.
“It’s true that Master Kim Si-won has done a lot for us, but there is no guarantee he will continue to do so, is there? Besides, the era of gods has faded. Shouldn’t we choose our own path now…”
Saying so, the Prime Minister stared at Hosik Jeong.
Ultimately, the decision for all of this lay with him.
In the past, he would have listened to Kim Si-won, but the Prime Minister knew things had changed recently.
Hosik Jeong followed Kim Si-won, but he wasn’t a fanatic like Kim Chaun.
What he prioritized most was the national interest.
Therefore, they did not doubt that he would listen to their opinions this time, rather than Kim Si-won’s and Kim Chaun’s.
“It’s true that what we gain and lose as a price for support is too significant.”
And Hosik Jeong spoke words that implicitly added weight to their argument.
“Wh-What?!”
It was around the time Kim Chaun, startled, was staring with wide eyes.
“…An interesting conversation is taking place.”
A voice rang out in a place where no one’s entry was permitted except for those present.
At that moment—
***
Everyone’s faces froze except for one person.
‘He’s here!’
Kim Chaun.
And they could see it.
-Swoosh
An absolute being, whom they thought had lost influence by staying indoors lately, appeared in the Cabinet Meeting Room like a ghost.
“I believe I told you clearly. That Nepas is plotting something. That it would be better not to support them.”
I came out for the first time in a long while.
I had come because I knew through Kim Chaun that a cabinet meeting was being held.
But the content of the meeting was spectacular.
Even though I had warned them, they were daring to exclude my words and head toward supporting the Demon Clan.
Others could do that.
However—
“Hosik Jeong.”
I called out to Hosik Jeong, who was sitting in the head seat.
“…Yes.”
“Have you forgotten my warning?”
“I have not forgotten.”
“Then why did you decide to support the Demon Clan?”
He was silent for a moment but soon, biting his lip, he spoke, “Because I judged that it would be in the national interest.”
“In the national interest, you say. Is it because of the Awakening Potions you can gain by supporting the Demon Clan?”
“That’s right.”
“Liar. Do you intend to deceive me?”
The fellow seemed to think he could fool me, but that was nonsense.
Since I began handling the Heart Sword, I could see through people’s hearts even more clearly.
I could see a single desire that had dug into Hosik Jeong’s heart.
“Since my influence seems to have decreased a bit, have you become greedy for fame and power?”
Hosik Jeong must have kept thinking about it.
He sat in the absolute position of President, but he was nothing more than a puppet.
That’s because he was merely a speaker who conveyed my orders and words.
But that was—
“Don’t be ridiculous. Without me, you would never have reached that position. That goes for everyone else here as well.”
Everyone fell silent at my words.
Their positions, and the South Korea of today.
I was the one who created all of it.
They didn’t have even a 0.1% share in it.
“To think you are mistaken about who built the South Korea of today. Truly foolish. Why did you make such a stupid choice even after watching the end of those who held such beliefs?”
“That’s…”
“You seem to think you’re smart. You aren’t. If you were truly smart, you would have sat in that seat even without my help. Yet you, who could have done nothing without me, now refuse to listen to my words.”
Finishing those words, I stared at the ministers of each department surrounding Hosik Jeong.
“The same goes for you all. How dare you, who received the favors of the Hosik Jeong I created, think about ignoring my opinion?”
Though I had regained my emotions and personality, I knew very well the punishment for those who ignored me.
“It seems I’ll have to change the regime.”
My will desired it and no one could stop it.
That day, the South Korean regime was changed.
Following Hosik Jeong, the one who became President was Kim Chaun.
South Korea continued to maintain its initial stance of suspicion, vigilance, and hostility toward the Demon Clan.