Chapter 167: World Awakener Association (2)

The World Awakener Association I am planning is not an organization that rules over nations.

It is a command center that controls Awakeners from all over the world, from every country.

After all, the power of humanity comes from Awakeners.

“…Isn’t that a bit problematic?”

The one who carefully expressed his opinion was Chairman Li Jun of China.

They know it too.

How much power would an organization that controls Awakeners wield?

It would effectively be a body above nations.

It was akin to announcing the birth of a supreme king.

And if I, currently at the pinnacle of the world, created it, that power would undoubtedly become something unimaginable.

The nations, and their leaders, were worried about that.

Even.

Oscar Beldad of Spain, who had been friendly with me and South Korea.

“I know. I know what you are worried about.”

What they are worried about.

I know what human nature is like, and that it cannot be helped.

That is why.

“You are worried that too much power and authority might be given to one person, to one organization. I understand that completely.”

“But contrary to what you think, the World Awakener Association I envision is not a form of monopolizing power.”

“Rather, it aims for the dispersion of power and an equal balance of power.”

The World Awakener Association they imagine would be an organization that swings Awakeners around at will.

But no.

The association I think of is far from that purpose.

It is to cultivate Earth’s combat power to prepare for the threat and calamity known as Nepas, which will come in the near future.

Therefore, its goal is not the monopoly of power, but an equal distribution of power.

“Through systematic management of Awakeners, we will improve the average skill level of Awakeners. This means strengthening Earth’s combat power to prepare for the coming threat and calamity. There is absolutely no intention to monopolize that power.”

Some looked relieved at my words.

“How can we believe that?”

It was Prime Minister Yamada Tatsushi of Japan.

“Doesn’t the saying go that the position makes the person? We have seen far too many cases where countless power holders established organizations with good intentions only to become corrupted. Therefore, entrusting that control to one person, to one country…”

“I agree with that.”

This time it was President Vitalik Filippov of Russia.

“You might misunderstand, but this is not for the purpose of checking. No matter how good the intention, I think it is not right for that power and authority to be concentrated in one place.”

He says he speaks out of concern.

‘How ridiculous.’

I can see it.

That dark ulterior motive.

They claim it’s not, that they are worried about world peace, but not at all.

Their goal was simple.

It was to prevent me, already at the world’s peak and the center of power, from growing even larger.

If the World Awakener Association were established with the approval of the leaders of each nation, too much power would be concentrated that they could never touch again, so their purpose was to check that.

“…Did I not clearly state? That soon, the calamity called Nepas will threaten Earth.”

“How can you be so sure of that?”

Prime Minister Vernon Hardy of the United Kingdom chimed in.

No, not just him.

“The world is currently more peaceful than ever.”

“In this situation, thinking about a calamity in the distant future is a bit…”

“No, we can think about it, but isn’t that something that could bring about a greater calamity?”

All.

Most of them opposed.

Regardless of whether they were previously hostile or friendly nations.

As if, at this very moment, only I and South Korea were isolated, and they were all on one side.

‘I expected this.’

Expected?

No, it was almost a certainty.

When they heard about establishing the World Awakener Association, their reaction was too obvious.

Power this.

Monopoly that.

They spout such flashy excuses, but their true intentions are completely different.

The past great powers want to regain their former status.

The emerging powers want to somehow stop the monopoly and rise to the top themselves.

They each have their own ambitions and thoughts.

And it is a disgusting sight.

I clearly said.

That a calamity is coming soon.

They probably know it to some extent.

Yet they hide their true feelings with various excuses.

“Enough!”

I have held back as much as I can.

Since regaining my emotions and personality, I have tried to communicate with people.

I know that pressing too hard makes things bounce back, so I eased up a bit.

But… no more.

Even without pressing, they bounce back on their own.

And I have no intention of tolerating it.

“Wasn’t it good so far?”

“Just because I treat you like fellow humans, you forget your place and get cocky.”

Insults.

The reaction to those words was…

Silence.

A stillness enveloped the conference room.

“…What is the meaning of this!”

“You have gone too far.”

“You are the ones who have gone too far.”

I clearly tried to treat them with dignity.

Because I realized that suppression is not the only answer.

Of course, that is also one answer.

But it seems the answer needed now is not that.

Those who don’t know their place—if a puppy barks at a tiger, that is a problem.

Therefore, it needs to be corrected.

“When people treat you well, you should know how to behave. You force me to take a hard stance like this.”

“Why? Because I treat you well, you think you can do whatever you want? Even after being beaten down like that, you still haven’t learned?”

I stared in turn at the leaders of the United States, Russia, China, Japan, etc.

Under my burning gaze.

They all averted their eyes.

They have no choice.

They have learned.

What happens when they challenge me.

A moment ago, because I treated them humanely, they forgot their place and got cocky.

WOOOOOONG!

As I released my presence, which was the same as before—no, far greater than before—they were busy averting their eyes like prey before a predator.

“You too.”

I stared in turn at the leaders of Spain, Brazil, and Argentina, who have been gaining momentum lately.

“Do you think you rose to your current positions because of your great abilities?”

“…”

“Don’t be mistaken. You were able to reach your current positions simply because you showed a friendly attitude toward me, because you submitted to me.”

“You should think carefully. You are gaining momentum now, but if I find a country to replace you at any time, you will end up in the same situation as them.”

The four nations that had long maintained their status as great powers.

But as the price for resisting me, they have moved away from their past glory.

And there is no guarantee that this process will not be repeated for them.

“If you are going to behave, then behave properly. Don’t waver back and forth.”

If you are going to be friendly to me, then take a clearly friendly attitude.

Even if I make red bean paste out of red beans, you should trust it.

If not, I have no reason to spare you.

Because there are plenty of countries and leaders to replace them.

“…We will keep that in mind.”

Some wore humiliated expressions.

But Oscar Beldad of Spain seemed to be making some kind of resolution.

From here, I was able to pick out those who will stand with me and receive my protection in the future.

‘I need to replace them soon.’

If you insist on keeping rusty, useless parts, the whole machine breaks down.

It seems the time has come to replace the parts.

“You all look very dissatisfied.”

I look at their expressions, which are rotting no matter where I look.

“If you are dissatisfied, come at me anytime. Oppose me. If you can survive opposing me, if you can express your opinions, go ahead.”

Of course, you will have to pay the full price for that opposition.

And there was no one who would dare to take that upon themselves, knowing it would be a place of death.

“The World Awakener Association will be established. That is my will, and you must agree to it.”

“If you do not agree, oppose me. And pay the price.”

That was it.

No objections.

The leaders of the entire world agreed to the World Awakener Association.

And they actively participated in the association’s activities, promising full support.

The World Awakener Association, a supranational organization.

Not only Awakeners, who were most sensitive to the news, but also humanity, which would undergo another upheaval, began to pay attention to the moves of Kim Si-won, who was inaugurated as the association’s president.

*

[Tower Floor 1]

The very bottom of the Tower.

A stage of passage that no one is tense about anymore, as humanity’s average awakening level and combat power have risen.

Originally, a trial was given in the form of becoming an adventurer trapped in a Goblin Lair and annihilating the goblin horde there, but now it was different.

Boom! Crash, bang!

They were not goblins.

The Goblin Lair was being completely blown apart.

By a tremendous shockwave.

Sizzle, crackle!

The space set as the trial stage was collapsing.

It even touched the boundary, generating an enormous repulsive force.

Who in the world?

Who could possibly touch the Tower’s domain, its boundary?

“Are you still not going to come out?”

Outside the Goblin Lair.

There was someone waving their hands here and there.

A neat appearance reminiscent of an English gentleman, with a monocle.

He was none other than Nepas.

He, who had not shown himself for a while, was now on Tower Floor 1.

How?

One cannot help but wonder.

The Tower controls the entry of beings other than humans, except in a few specific cases.

That control includes Nepas, who was originally a Slime.

But now he has entered Floor 1.

Despite the control, he has broken through it and is turning Floor 1 into a mess.

“How about coming out now?”

The stage, now in ruins.

Fzzzzzt!

A massive amount of sparks occurred.

Slither.

Someone appeared from beyond the special space.

But their appearance was peculiar.

Basically, the form resembles a human.

But it was an entity that could not be identified beyond a black silhouette-like shape.

“You finally came out.”

Nepas stared directly at that entity.

This being before him was the one he had been waiting for so long.

The purpose of even consuming some of his life force to enter Floor 1.

“Floor 1 Administrator.”

When one clears the Tower at Very Hard difficulty or above, feats such as Administrator or Conqueror are given.

But there was a true Administrator separately.

That was the black silhouette before his eyes, the Administrator with the number 1 engraved on its forehead.

[…]

The Administrator silently stared at Nepas, who had caused the disturbance.

And then.

[…How foolish.]

It suddenly mocked Nepas’s foolishness.

[This place is not permitted for you. You have arduously arrived here, but your end is annihilation.]

Floor 1 Administrator could not allow Nepas’s entry.

No, it must not allow it.

Because that is the law set by the Tower’s Architect, the Great Being.

[Eliminate.]

Therefore, it conveyed its will and command for his elimination.

But.

[Why…?]

There was no reaction.

It should have disappeared through the absolute command, but why?

“Hehehe~!”

Nepas laughed, seeing the flustered Administrator.

“Do you think I came here without any preparation? I now conquer the unknown.”

He had strived to conquer the unknown for a long time.

And now, at last, Nepas was right on the verge of reaching that unknown.