DCRBG 62

DCRBG

Chapter 62

The Calm Before the Storm? (1)

1.

I’m screwed.

– Captain! I’m doing my best! I’ll see you soon! I’ll come find you!

That was the first thing I heard in the morning.

I froze on the couch, phone in hand, while my brother, who was munching on an apple beside me, asked in a casual tone,

“What’s with that face so early in the morning?”
“What about my face?”
“Looks like you just saw something you shouldn’t have. Someone send you a cursed image or something?”
“…Haah.”

I gave up and handed him my phone.

It was a “confidential video” from Deputy Chief Choi that had come in last night. I’d been too lazy to check it before bed, but now that I’d seen it—yeah, this was bad.

Apparently, the U.S. advance unit recorded it on the 8th floor of the Abyss two days ago.
And what was captured there… defied belief.

“Hmm.”

My brother glanced at the screen, frowning slightly.

“Who’s that? She’s pretty.”
“That’s Binna noona! You said someone else was pretty!”

I tattled immediately.
And now Binna joined the mix. She peeked at my phone and shrugged.

“Mm, she is pretty.”
“Right? But you’re prettier, Binna.”

And then—my brother kissed her on the cheek.

Ugh. I nearly threw up my breakfast.

The same brother who was cold to me and usually stoic was suddenly being affectionate?
Binna just laughed and gave him a mock glare.

“Love’s in the air, huh? Is it because Sungwoo’s back?”
“…Should I… step out?”
“Yeah, maybe do that.”
“Wait, it’s a weekday. Why aren’t you at work?”
“I’m on vacation. No trials, no meetings.”

I changed the subject, and my brother smoothly redirected it back to me.

“So who’s this person, then?”

How do I even explain?

She was the witch who set my back on fire our first meeting, and made my life hell until the very end… but that’s too long. Let’s summarize.

“A former coworker.”
“From Earth?”
“No, the Abyss. 8th floor.”
“An American player, then? Her Korean’s really good.”
“No. The one filming’s American. She’s not. Think of her as… an otherworlder who appeared in the Abyss.”

The video ended with the woman vanishing in a burst of light.

My brother scratched his cheek.

“Didn’t she call your name just now?”
“Yeah. Her name’s Velua. A legendary archmage from Avalon. You could say I learned most of my magic from her.”

I didn’t bother mentioning her other infamous titles: Master of the Tower of Madness, The Witch of Massacre.
No need to corrupt Ian’s education this early in the morning.

My brother nodded, quickly summing it up like a true lawyer.

“So, your former colleague suddenly showed up in the Abyss?”
“Exactly.”
“And she’s… looking for you.”
“Seems that way.”

Last time she sent a message. This time she manifested in person.

I don’t know how long she can sustain it, or if she can control where she appears,
but the point is—Velua’s actively tracking me.

If this keeps up… maybe we’ll actually meet again inside the Abyss.

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing? Reuniting with an old comrade? Might help you.”
“It’d be nice, yeah… but there’s a huge problem.”
“What’s that?”
“Velua’s a walking atomic bomb. Annoy her and she’ll drop a meteor. She’s a global threat.”

Not a joke.

There’s a famous story where she literally erased a city because someone made a dirty joke about her.
Granted, that city was full of lunatics, so people actually praised her for it.

Still—she’s a 9th-circle archmage, the strongest magician in Avalon.
If someone like that ends up on Earth… no thanks.

“Still, sounds like she cares. They called you captain, right?”
“Yeah, back then.”
“If she ever comes to Earth, I wanna treat her to a meal. Tracking you down like that—I’d be touched.”

Binna smiled.

“Velua’s got a nagging streak, though. Always asking where I’m going, scolding me if I’m late. One time I overslept and she dragged me to the beach as punishment.”
“…You sure she was your colleague?”
“Of course. Who else?”
“…You two really are the same, you know that? Anyway, wouldn’t it be good if she came here?”

Velua on Earth…

Never thought about that before.

Would it be good?

Well, she is an archmage—an absolute authority in magic, master of nearly every elemental school.
And above all…

‘…she is gorgeous.’

Yeah, she’s beautiful. And in this shallow, looks-obsessed world, that’s a serious asset.

Conclusion:

“She’d be good for the stream.”

Her existence alone would be content gold.
Add the “otherworlder” angle, and she’d eat up airtime like crazy.

Still, everything so far is speculation.
We don’t even know if she can really cross over.

But since she’s clearly trying, I should probably brace myself.

“Oh, right—hey, you two see anything new on the shelf?”

I asked slyly, and they both patted my back approvingly.

“Your brother was taking pictures of it this morning. Congrats, Sungwoo—one million subscribers!”
“Mmh, congrats.”
“That gold button’s pure gold, right? You could sell it if you’re broke.”
“Who told you that?”
“Well, about that…”

I told them about yesterday—how an American Ability Bureau agent showed up with the button,
offered me U.S. citizenship, and how I refused.

My brother looked at me like I was insane.

“Why’d you turn it down?”
“Why not?”
“You should’ve asked us first.”
“…Should I call them back and say I changed my mind?”
“What? You traitor?”
“You just asked why I refused!”
“Yeah, I was curious!”

As our childish bickering went on, Binna sighed and stood up.

“Peanut! Peanut! Peck!”

BEEEEEP!

Our hamster “Peanut,” the world’s first childcare pet, was sweating as he played with Ian.

Good luck, little guy.

And thus, another sitcom day in the family.

2.

After spending some time with my family, I headed straight to Mirage Guild HQ in the afternoon.

Velua’s situation was one thing,
but I had more urgent problems—namely, the upcoming raid.

The Korea–Japan match had distracted everyone, but that event was just preparation for this raid.
With less than a week left, it was time for serious planning.

“You’re here, oppa?”
“Yeah.”

That was Chullia, the guildmaster—
no, I should call her Ria now, since we’d dropped formalities after the last match.

We’d all gone drinking after the Korea–Japan event—me, Inseop, Ria, and the participating players.
She was part of Korea’s advance team too, and surprisingly easy to talk to.
Also, she could drink.

Apparently it’s due to her innate ability, but seeing her down a whole case of beer without flinching was… impressive.

“The video conference is ready. Everyone’s waiting.”
“Even the Japanese side?”
“Yep. Their reps—Kurogane Tatsuya and Shiomi Yui—were the first to log in.”

Total raid size: 25 players.
20 from Korea, 5 from Japan.

Since Korea had taken full control of China’s territory after the match, that made sense.

“Did you prep any tactics for today? Big raids usually need those.”
“That’s for the Ability Bureau to decide. Not that strategy means much.”
“True. Especially for 3rd-floor players.”

The administrators only announced the location, never the boss.
So rehearsals were pointless.

All we could do was assign roles and adapt to whatever nightmare appeared.

“I heard two direct Bureau agents are joining us?”
“Yeah, but they’re not on par with guild elites.”
“That big a gap, huh?”
“You get what you pay for.”

Chatting like that, Ria and I entered the meeting room.

Just like she said, everything was ready.
Guess they’d fixed the wall I’d smashed some guy into last time.

“Player Yoo Sungwoo has entered.”

Director Chun—the Abyss’ resident masochist—greeted me warmly.

“Is he the mascot here or something? He’s always around.”
“He’s annoying, but he’s my brother—and a key exec.”
“An honor to see you again, Player Yoo Sungwoo. Please, take a seat.”

Once I sat down, six screens appeared.
One for Japan, and the rest for the Bureau and other guild leaders.

The Bureau’s rep was Deputy Chief Choi Sung-hoon—my direct handler.
If he’s the one representing them, he must have the Minister’s trust.

“Good to see you all,” I said.

Everyone replied in turn.

– “Likewise.”
– “Glad to be here.”

No need for roll call.

Wait—am I supposed to lead this? Ugh.
I leaned toward Ria.

“Did we decide on a raid leader yet?”
“You, oppa.”
“…Me?”
“That’s what everyone agreed on.”

So they dumped that role on me, huh?
I thought the Bureau would lead, but apparently not.

Fine, then let’s make it official.

“I’ll take raid leader nominations.”

Immediately, the Japanese rep, Kurogane Tatsuya, raised his hand.
He started speaking passionately, but I only caught a few words.

Was he volunteering to lead Japan’s squad?

Then Shiomi Yui translated—and I almost laughed.

– “He says he won’t take orders from anyone except Master Yoo Sungwoo.”
– “HAIII!”

…When did I get a disciple?

Wasn’t he the “Japanese Sword Saint’s student”?

– “He says, ‘Yoo Sungwoo, my hope. Yoo Sungwoo, my light. Yoo Sungwoo, my joy…’ Want me to keep translating? He’s basically lost it.”
“I just wanted to livestream the raid solo…”
– “He vows to spread his Master’s name across the world through social media—wait, when did you brainwash him? This could cause a scandal—”

Unbelievable.