Chapter 1

Human God. My apologies for the sudden visit.

Thank you for your generosity, as always.

The reason for my visit concerns the Vanguard candidates I introduced to you earlier.

The situation is that...

There you are, Yeon Chae-young!

Leaving in the middle of a conversation. Such behavior would have been unthinkable during my years of service.

Boo! Reflect upon your actions, Yeon Chae-young! The Bureau of Rift Management must accept all of my demands!

Everyone... we're standing before the Human God. Perhaps we should show a little restraint...

What is that supposed to mean, Bella? Are you saying you're perfectly fine with this?

N-Not exactly...

Then join me! Reflect upon your actions, Yeon Chae-young! Boo!

...Allow me to explain.

Recently, the Human God appointed one of these four as a Vanguard. The issue is that the other three have objected to that decision.

Their argument is that each of them is an exceptional warrior. Because of that, they see no reason why only one should be chosen as the Human God's Vanguard.

They have therefore requested that all four be appointed equally.

Meanwhile, the one who was selected maintains that they were chosen for a reason, and that the Human God's decision should be respected.

My apologies, Human God. I should have handled this matter more effectively.

Exactly! Reflect upon your failings, Yeon Chae-young!

Honestly. This entire situation has been rather exhausting.

Or we could just do things my way!

Everyone...

Of course. Each of them possesses exceptional talent. While their personalities may require... careful handling, I have no doubt they would prove invaluable in your service.

And should you wish it, Human God, you may appoint even more Vanguards in the future.

My duty, and the duty of the Combat Support Division, is to ensure your will can be carried out as you see fit.

Really? Hah! Now that's what I'm talking about!

My lord's generosity truly knows no bounds.

As expected, justice prevails! Down with Yeon Chae-young!

I just hope we're not asking too much of you...

I will make the necessary arrangements for all four of them to become the Human God's Vanguard.

Understood, Human God. I will make the necessary arrangements.

Excuse me?! What arrangements are you talking about?! And why are we only provisional Vanguards?! I insist on a proper explanation!

It means you will need to pass an evaluation before you can be accepted as full-fledged Vanguards.

The Human God has yet to properly witness your abilities for himself.

Then we can show him right now! Let's go hunt some Abominations! Or fight those metal things downstairs!

I would be delighted to demonstrate the swiftness of the Swamp Elves to my lord.

At last! The commander of the Mansgardt Mercenary Company shall have her chance to shine!

I'll do my best alongside the Goddess so I can be of help to the Human God...

That is enough. Your evaluation will not be based solely on combat ability. Character and judgment will be considered as well.

Given today's behavior, I trust the reasoning behind that requires no further explanation.

Urgh...

Ahem...

This is all your fault, Magnatira! Miora!

That includes you too, Sister Erneste...

I will arrange an opportunity for the Human God to evaluate both the abilities and character of his provisional Vanguards as soon as possible.

Thank you, Human God.

Then we shall take our leave for today. Please rest well.

Yo! Long time no see, Human God!

Sister Osla, we only saw him yesterday.

It's a greeting! It's customary for friends to say this too each other no matter what. Right?

Not according to any custom I'm familiar with. You've clearly picked up another strange habit from somewhere.

Why are you looking at me, Miora?! I had nothing to do with this!

I merely glanced in your direction. Such a reaction suggests otherwise.

Everyone... the Human God is watching...

Ahaha... Sorry for dropping by so suddenly, Human God.

Listen up, Human God! I've got a good one for ya!

There is nothing funny about this!

You know how Erneste used to run a tiny mercenary company?

Used to? And what do you mean, "a tiny mercenary company"? It had over twenty thousand members! Can barbarians not count?

A company that ultimately dissolved thanks to its commander's delightful temperament.

Anyway, she got all excited about rebuilding it and put out a recruitment notice. And guess how many people showed up. Zero. Not a single one! Hah!

She even spent quite some time promoting herself as the Human God's Vanguard. The results were less than impressive.

Promoting myself?! It wasn't promotion! I am one of the Human God's Vanguard!

Provisional. Pro-vi-sion-al Vanguard.

That's just a technicality! I'll be a full Vanguard soon enough!

And it's not as though nobody applied! Applicants were practically lining up to join!

I reviewed every application personally, narrowed it down to the very best candidates, and all that remained was the final skills assessment... And then....Hngh...

Right before the assessment, they were offered better terms elsewhere and left.

My grand plan to build an elite mercenary company and earn the Human God's favor... Ruined!

This is all because of those disloyal mercenary swine!

Mercenaries go wherever the money takes them. That's simply the nature of their profession. Unlike us Swamp Elves, who are driven by a far nobler sense of duty.

Oh, spare me your speeches about duty! Your vigilantes don't even pay wages!

The Twilight Watchers are comprised entirely of Swamp Elf nobility. Nobles do not require payment to fulfill their obligations. Especially when those obligations involve protecting the people.

Though perhaps that's a difficult concept for a commoner to grasp.

Who are you calling a commoner?! I am a noble daughter of Mansgardt!

I've had my fill of laughing at Erneste's embarrassing failure. Now I want to stretch my legs.

Human God, let me head outside and crack some Abomination skulls.

Ms. Osla, I already told you that's not happening.

Why not? I'm a Vanguard now!

A provisional Vanguard!

What if you end up fighting an Abomination and succumb to Oblivia?!

...Right. Getting turned into one of those things would suck.

Exactly, so...

Then I'll just bring the Human God with me, how's that sound!?

Right. Wait, what?

If the Human God is with me, Oblivia isn't a problem. So we go out together, smash some Abominations, and everyone's happy. Simple.

You can't just drag the Human God along because you're bored! What kind of Vanguard mentality is that?!

The Human God needs to evaluate me anyway!

Once he sees me split an Abomination's skull in half with a single swing, he'll make me a full Vanguard on the spot.

Back in my tribe, I was worth five warriors by myself. Come on. Let me show you what I can do.

Crude though her reasoning may be... she is not entirely wrong.

If the Human God is to judge us fairly, he should first see what we are capable of.

Me too! I shall come as well! My talents extend beyond leadership and recruitment alone. The Human God deserves the opportunity to witness my swordsmanship firsthand!

I'd like to come too, Human God. The evaluation is important, but more than that... I want to make sure neither you nor my sisters are hurt.

Actually... the reason I came today isn't all that different from Sister Osla's. The Split Twigs Church has sent a request for assistance.

There have been reports of Abominations appearing near a refugee camp.

Originally, I was going to ask your permission to handle it myself, Human God... But if it's alright with you, perhaps we could all go together?

It's a religious organization that worships the Goddess of Branches. Ms. Bella is one of their senior priests.

I've only done my best to serve the Goddess faithfully. And now I'll be serving the Human God as well.

It's not as though the Human God and the Goddess are enemies. They're both wonderful beings, so I don't see why I can't serve them both.

In fact, some people in the Church have even suggested arranging a marriage between the two of you.

That's right. If the two of you became divine spouses, we could honor both of your divine authorities without contradicting our teachings... and continue serving under the Human God as well.

Fufu... don't worry. We'd never do anything against your wishes. Think of it as a simple introduction for now.

Until you've made up your mind, we'll continue dedicating ourselves to relief work.

Back in Noctis Nebula, priests spent much of their time healing the sick and injured. I wanted to continue doing the same thing here.

Unfortunately, I was told healing people without a medical license isn't allowed. So these days, I work at a hospital as a nursing assistant.

And from time to time, I also help other associations guide Abominations to their ascension.

Translation: when Ms. Bella talks about "guiding them to their ascension," she means taking them out.

Enough with the boring explanations! Let's go smash some Abominations and help those refugees already!

Well? You're with me on this, right, Human God?

If that's the Human God's decision, I'll take care of the necessary paperwork.

Ha! Finally! We're getting out of here!

Human God, on behalf of the Split Twigs Church, I offer you our heartfelt thanks. Thank you for helping not only our Church, but the refugees as well.

Even after coming into contact with Abominations and guiding them to their ascension, there were no hallucinations... no voices... I'm truly glad I chose to become your Vanguard.

Seriously, Human God! I can slaughter those bastards all day without worrying about turning into one myself! And I swear I'm stronger than ever, too!

That is all thanks to the Human God's blessing.

By fighting beneath your protection, we are freed from Oblivia's influence. And our strength is enhanced as well. You have my gratitude, my lord.

Well, Human God? What did you think of my elegant yet efficient swordsmanship?

I trust you'll be promoting me from provisional Vanguard to full Vanguard any moment...

That's not your decision to make! You can't just pressure the Human God into it!

See? That's exactly what I was saying. Hehe.

Just you wait! I'll pass the evaluation with flying colors!

Then I'll rebuild the Mansgardt Mercenary Company using both my beauty and my status as the Human God's Vanguard...

What's this? Some kind of plastic tag?

It appears to be some sort of marker.

...It's an RFID tag!

What is that?

It's an identification tag. They're commonly attached to livestock or laboratory specimens to keep track of individual subjects.

Oh! Like those yellow tags cows wear on their ears?

Why would an Abomination be carrying one?

Livestock don't become Abominations...

I'm not sure, but I don't think so. If they were experimenting on humans, they'd probably implant a chip rather than attach a tag.

So it's not a person. And it's not livestock. Then that means...

Oh dear...

No way! Those things drive people insane just by being nearby!

Who would be crazy enough to experiment on them?

Unfortunately, I wouldn't dismiss the possibility. There were more than a few mad mages like that in my world.

We'll investigate this from our side as well.

Those shitheads!

Sister Erneste? What's wrong?

Greetings. We represent the . We are here to collect the Abomination remains.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

The nerve of you showing your faces here!

What's gotten into you?

These two are traitors! They applied to join the Mansgardt Mercenary Company, then ran off the moment someone offered them a better deal!

The Abomination remains must be collected.

Please cooperate.

The Bureau of Rift Management dealt with those Abominations. You can't just take them.

The recovery operation was contracted through the Bureau of Rift Management.

What? The BRM contracted you?

Our task is complete.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Shameless bastards! I hope they trip over a rock and break their teeth!

...They sure were strange.

Please calm down, Sister Erneste.

Are you certain those were the same people?

Maybe you've got the wrong guys. They acted like they'd never seen you before.

No! It's definitely them! The moment they saw me, they knew they'd been caught! That's why they pretended not to recognize me!

A contract through the BRM...

It's the first I've heard of it. I'll verify it as soon as we get back.

For now, let's return to the Sanctuary, Human God.

I should've given those traitors a proper thrashing while I had the chance!

You sure they weren't just strangers?

Th-that's absurd!

Do you have any idea how carefully I reviewed those applications for the Mansgardt Mercenary Company?

I even interviewed them over video calls!

Maybe they got scared off because you were holding interviews before they'd even joined.

If they're mercenaries, shouldn't you just throw them into a fight? You'll know who's worth keeping soon enough.

We are building a professional mercenary company, not a tribe of axe-swinging savages!

A true mercenary needs more than strength and skill!

They need the intelligence to understand their commander's orders, and the social grace to work alongside their fellow mercenaries!

Social grace is something you're a little short on as well, Sister Erneste...

That's because of the curse! If it weren't for this curse...

Oh, speaking of that... There was something unsettling about those mercenaries yesterday.

Yes. It was only for a moment, so I can't be certain... But I sensed something unpleasant from them.

I think I know what she means. Something about them felt off.

Really? I didn't notice anything.

I could dismiss it if it were only Erneste saying so. But if both Bella and Ga-young felt the same thing, perhaps there's more to it.

Miora? You were nowhere to be found at the dorms. Why are you coming out from behind the Human God's Sanctuary?

Fufu. Because I am my lord's guardian. A Swamp Elf guardian does not leave her lord's side.

Day or night. Fufu.

Guardian? Don't make me laugh! That's stalking! Plain and simple! I'm reporting this to Yeon Chae-young!

I mean... even for a guardian, sneaking into someone's bedroom feels like a bit much.

Let's stay focused. It's unbecoming to waste the Human God's time with idle chatter. Young people these days seem to have forgotten that.

You're the one who dragged us off topic, Miora!

Wow…

Please calm down, Sister Erneste.

Yeah. Keep getting worked up like that and you'll never grow any taller.

Hoo... Hooo... I'm only tolerating this because I'm so incredibly kind and beautiful.

Human God. Please allow me to investigate those mercenaries we met yesterday. I'm certain there's something bigger going on.

Actually, that's what I came to report.

The mercenaries claimed they were working under a contract with the Bureau of Rift Management, remember? Officer Yeon and I looked into it. The contract was issued by the Intelligence Division.

Yep. They're the BRM department responsible for intelligence operations.

They're also the department that loves sticking its nose into everyone else's business.

When we asked why they'd contracted the Savers of Interdimensional Humankind, they told us it was classified. That's all they'd say.

Anyway, Officer Yeon and I will keep digging into the Intelligence Division. We'll turn the place upside down if we have to!

Understood!

Works for me.

I'll help too.

As it happens, I have an idea.

If this is another lecture about grit and determination, spare me.

Outside Neo Seoul's walls, there are several farms protected by the Twilight Watchers.

Recently, we've received reports of Abominations appearing near one of them.

Oh! If we deal with those Abominations, there's a good chance we'll run into the mercenaries again!

They did come to collect the abomination corpses last time...

Kill Abominations and gather information at the same time? Now that's my kind of plan.

What else would you expect from one of the Human God's Vanguards?

Provisional Vanguard! Pro-vi-sion-al!

So? What say you, Human God?

As you wish. Then allow me to lead the way.

This farming settlement in Namhansan is only one of several under our protection.

Though lately, for reasons I still don't fully understand, some communities have begun refusing our protection and relocating elsewhere.

That's surprising... Leaving behind your home and the land you've cultivated isn't an easy choice.

Unless you're from a tribe that lives by raiding, like mine.

The fact that you can say that with a straight face is astonishing.

Why wouldn't I? Strength is justice among the Torta.

Honestly... Trying to reason with a barbarian is a waste of time. As a beautiful young noblewoman, I'll be the bigger person and let it go.

The bigger person? Where? You don't have anything big except two backs glued together.

W-What nonsense are you spewing?! Have your eyes stopped working?!

I think Sister Erneste's breasts are both wonderful and endearing.

Saying that while standing there with those enormous things is just mockery!

I do. If I recall correctly, they said they were relocating to a place called the Savers of Interdimensional Humankind.

Isn't that where those traitorous mercenaries ended up?! Why are you only telling us this now, Miora?!

Actually, I looked into the Savers too because something about them felt off.

And I came across some pretty strange rumors.

Apparently they're taking in huge numbers of refugees. They've got plenty of money, plenty of supplies, and supposedly a safe place for people to live.

But here's the weird part. Nobody who joins them ever comes back.

And according to the rumors... Every man who joins has to cut off his... You know! That's why some people call them the "TS Cult."

Cut it off? Yeah, no. Even that's too much for me.

Let's hope it's only a rumor.

If the people we've spent so long protecting have been deceived and led into danger... That would be difficult to forgive.

I wasn't expecting a response like that from you, Ms. Kalina. I thought you'd say something about duty or tradition again.

Fufu. Protecting those who cannot protect themselves is both the duty and the honor of a noble.

You still charge them protection fees.

Protection fees? Those are simply tokens of appreciation from grateful citizens.

...Right.

So if we help them again, you'll get more of those "tokens of appreciation"?

Refusing a sincere gift would be far more insulting. Besides, those gifts are what keep the Twilight Watchers operating.

You could always register as an official association like Ms. Bella's church.

Nobody expects you to run refugee relief programs. Just pay your people a proper salary.

As I've said before, nobles do not accept wages for protecting their people. That's the sort of arrangement mercenaries prefer.

And what's wrong with that?! Getting paid for your work is perfectly normal!

Honestly, this is what's wrong with nobles who own land.

Back in Noctis Nebula, Swamp Elf nobles each had their own arboretums. The income from those lands supported them. It's basically a feudal system.

The Federation doesn't have anything like that.

But the Swamp Elf warriors still need to eat. They're risking their lives fighting Abominations while trying to make ends meet. It can't be easy.

......

All the more reason I'm grateful to be serving the Human God. The stipend bestowed by my lord will be of great help to the Twilight Watchers.

Think of it as a grant.

Under the Special Human God Act, you're allowed to designate organizations under your authority as officially recognized associations.

Once that happens, funding can be allocated in the Human God's name. In this case, those funds would be distributed to Ms. Kalina and the Twilight Watchers as a stipend from the Human God.

It's a bit of an administrative shortcut, but completely legal.

Of course, that only happens if Ms. Kalina becomes a proper Vanguard. Not a provisional one.

That won't be a problem. Once the Human God witnesses my abilities for himself, I'm certain he'll find me indispensable. A reliable steed... a faithful hound... Whatever role my lord requires of me, I shall gladly fulfill it.

A-A steed...? A hound...?

My. We've let ourselves get distracted again. Shall we continue? The farm settlement is just ahead.

It's faint, but... I can sense something unsettling within them.

Their behavior was quite strange as well.

Think somebody's brainwashed them?

Everyone, look at this!

That's a pendant bearing the Savers' emblem.

And this was hidden in their belongings. A vial filled with some suspicious liquid.

The same emblem is engraved on the vial.

The presence I sensed... It's coming from the vial as well.

Looks like they drank that stuff and lost their minds.

Either way, we should take these people and the vial back for investigation.

I'm afraid that won't be necessary.

Who's there?! Show yourself!

May the Benevolent Goddess watch over your path.

My name is Kim Min-jun. I serve as the leader of the Savers of Interdimensional Humankind.

I've come for our brothers and sisters. The ones currently in your custody.

In our custody?! They attacked us first! We had no choice but to subdue them!

Those brothers and sisters are suffering from severe Oblivia-induced mental instability.

We have been caring for them and administering treatment to ease their condition. Regrettably, they escaped before that treatment was complete.

We've been searching for them ever since. To think they would cause trouble for all of you... Please accept my sincerest apologies on their behalf.

I trust no one was harmed?

By these weaklings? Not a chance.

Are you certain this is caused by Oblivia?

What I sensed felt... different. There was something sinister about it...

I take it you're a woman of faith?

I'm Bella. A priestess of the Goddess of Branches.

Then perhaps you'll understand. We've been using the Benevolent Goddess's grace to ease our brothers' and sisters' suffering.

However, Sister Bella... Even if we devote ourselves to different deities.

Calling our Goddess's blessings "sinister" strikes me as rather uncharitable for a woman of faith.

I don't recall saying that.

Don't try to sidestep the question! What's in that vial?

What did you do to those mercenaries?! And what exactly are you people plotting?!

Plotting? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.

Then tell us this. Where are the people from the farm settlements you've taken in?

Oh. You must be the warrior who has been watching over the brothers and sisters of this region. Allow me to thank you for your service.

As for their whereabouts...I would very much like to tell you, but I'm afraid my tongue is tied.

Why?

You see, some of our brothers and sisters harbor resentment toward the Swamp Elves. For their sake, I cannot reveal where they're staying.

I'm sure I needn't remind you of the conflicts that once existed between the Imperials and the Swamp Elves.

That sounds awfully suspicious. The Twilight Watchers have been protecting those settlements all this time. Why is it suddenly a problem now? And your recruitment methods are strange enough already! You can't just swoop in and take over settlements under someone else's protection!

I would argue that it is your choice of words that is rather strange, Sister.

We ask for nothing in return for protecting our brothers and sisters.

Neither do the Twilight Watchers!

......

Precisely. Neither we nor the Swamp Elves receive compensation for offering our protection. So I don't believe it's fair to say we've taken anything from them.

And if someone must bear that burden... Would it not be more fitting for people of faith such as ourselves to do so, rather than asking the Swamp Elves to continue sacrificing themselves?

As a matter of fact, the brothers and sisters residing in the settlement just ahead... have also chosen to place themselves under the care of the Savers of Interdimensional Humankind.

They've made it clear that they no longer require the Swamp Elves' protection.

So once again, please accept my sincere gratitude for all you have done on their behalf. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should return with our brothers and sisters.

I trust you won't stand in the way of our efforts to care for those afflicted by Oblivia. Though, of course... you are in no position to prevent us.

W-What did you just say...?!

May the light reflected in the Benevolent Goddess's eyes illuminate your path.

That smug, slippery little...!

First he takes away those suspicious mercenaries who attacked us, Then he practically accuses Ms. Bella of being some kind of fanatic...

And now he's using Imperial refugees to push Ms. Kalina and the Twilight Watchers aside?! Unbelievable!

Please calm yourself, Ga-young.

How can I?! You and the Twilight Watchers have risked your lives protecting those people this whole time!

If that is the choice the people have made...then we must respect it.

I only pray that the place they've chosen is worthy of that trust.

I still think we shouldn't have handed those mercenaries over.

Exactly! We should've locked them up and interrogated them until they started talking!

If only we could've revealed who the Human God really is and detained them under the Bureau's authority...

...You're right. We decided to keep the Human God's identity a secret for now. There wasn't really another option.

Still... thank you for holding back, Human God.

Phew... If only So Joo-hee had been here...

She's one of a kind. The type who can get under someone's skin, throw them off balance, and leave them fumbling for words. She would've been perfect for dealing with someone like him.

For now... there isn't much we can do. All we can do is pray that those people truly find the peace they were promised.

You sure about that?

Huh?

Hehe. Then feast your eyes on this.

I swiped it while we were searching them.

If we can't question the mercenaries... Then we'll pry the answers out of this instead.

Right! I'll have the Combat Support Division analyze both the vial and whatever's left of the liquid. We'll find out exactly what it is.

Hah! Piece of cake!

Hehe. Another step closer to becoming a full-fledged Vanguard.

Then let's head back. We've got work to do!

Human God... Before we go, may I have a moment?

It's about that cult leader.

Do you remember the rumors we discussed earlier? That man... didn't carry the scent of a man.

Swamp Elves possess senses far keener than those of humans. Yet from him, I sensed neither man nor woman.

I thought it best to tell you now. Just... keep it in mind.

Now then, I shall go help the others prepare for our return.

I've reviewed Officer Kim's report regarding the field evaluation of the four provisional Vanguards.

Thank you for personally overseeing the matter, Human God.

So... does that mean all four of them are getting promoted to full Vanguards?

Understood. I'll proceed with issuing their formal appointments.

Lucky... Sometimes I wish I were one of the Human God's Vanguards instead of a Bureau employee. Better pay, better benefits...

Officer Kim Ga-young. We serve both humanity and the Federation. Please refrain from remarks that may invite misunderstanding. And refrain from the pouting as well.

Please avoid making statements that could cause misunderstandings.

Sniff...

And no more of that whining.

Human God, there is another matter I'd like to report. It concerns the items recovered during the Vanguards' field evaluation.

Yes, thank you.

First, I'd like to brief you on the vial recovered by Ms. Magnatira and Ms. Mansgardt.

Our analysis confirmed the presence of a specialized compound within the liquid.

It acts as a powerful stimulant, heightening the user's mood and inducing intense euphoria. At the same time, it suppresses fear and significantly increases aggressive tendencies.

And it's highly addictive, too!

In addition, we've detected traces of magical interference.

I'm afraid we haven't been able to determine its exact nature yet.

According to the Bureau's combat mages, the spellwork involved is unlike anything they've encountered before. By their account, it bears the hand of a mage far beyond their own understanding.

Combined with Officer Kim's report regarding the mercenaries' unusual behavior, it seems highly likely that magic was involved in their condition.

We'll continue investigating both the compound and the spell itself.

Without a proper understanding of the situation, any response we devise would amount to educated guesswork.

Next, regarding the Savers of Interdimensional Humankind...

The TS Cult!

Officer Kim.

Come on, the name's way too long. And if the rumors are true and men really have to get castrated to join, isn't "TS Cult" easier? That's what everyone online calls them.

No. First, castration and gender transition are entirely separate matters.

Second, even if those rumors prove true, it would still be inappropriate to mock another group's religious beliefs. Provided, of course, that those beliefs are not being used to justify wrongdoing.

I don't know... this whole thing still screams "bad guys" to me.

In any case, I'll continue.

As Officer Kim previously reported, it is true that the Savers of Interdimensional Humankind have been accepting a large number of refugees.

And to date, there have been no confirmed cases of anyone returning after joining them.

From what we've found, they approach refugees with offers of stable work and dormitory housing in Neo Seoul. After that, they seem to vanish without a trace.

We still cannot determine with certainty where those refugees have been taken. However, we believe they were headed toward Chuncheon.

Next, regarding the mercenaries. A considerable number of them have recently been hired by the same company.

A small private security firm known as On paper, the company simply doesn't possess the financial means to recruit personnel on this scale.

Which means the Savers are probably bankrolling them behind the scenes!

Considering the mercenaries openly identified themselves as members of the Savers, that conclusion appears reasonable.

Recruiting a private army under the banner of a religious organization would invite unwanted scrutiny.

Chuncheon.

Perhaps not war in the conventional sense. Even so, it is reasonable to assume they intend to put that manpower to use somewhere. For now, we'll continue monitoring the situation and gathering intelligence.

Lastly, regarding the service contract between the Savers and the Bureau of Rift Management.

I understand Officer Kim has already briefed you on the Intelligence Division's involvement.

The So Joo-hee I mentioned before works there!

Officer Kim. Manager So is your superior within the Intelligence Division. Even if she belongs to another department, addressing her so casually is inappropriate.

Sniff...

According to the contract, the Abomination remains were to be studied for research intended to secure humanity's future.

Putting aside the question of why a religious organization possesses its own research facilities... The location of that facility is...

Yes. The Chuncheon Institute of Humanity. It's also the registered address of Goddess Security.

Under normal circumstances, the evidence we've gathered would be more than sufficient to justify a search and seizure operation.

However, the Intelligence Division has objected. Their reasoning, frankly, is unpersuasive.

At this point, we're starting to wonder if they're hiding something themselves.

The Intelligence Division is responsible for intelligence operations within the Bureau of Rift Management. Its primary focus is external counterintelligence, though it also oversees domestic security matters.

Since the Combat Support Division now assists you directly, Human God, we've also taken on internal security duties. As a result, our jurisdiction occasionally overlaps with Intelligence's.

Different departments within the Bureau don't always get along, you know.

But somehow, whenever the Combat Support Division tries to do its job, Intelligence always seems to find a reason to interfere. Sometimes it honestly feels like they're rooting for the Abominations instead.

Especially Manager So Joo-hee. She's the absolute worst.

Look at this!

She's terrible at her job, talks circles around everyone, and somehow keeps getting away with it!

And because she knows her breasts are her greatest asset, she's always wearing outfits that practically put it on display. Honestly, it's unbearable!

That's why everyone in the office calls her "Sow." Her last name's So, after all.

Officer Kim. You've gone too far. And having a large chest isn't something a person chooses for herself. That kind of remark is both discriminatory and inappropriate.

I-I wasn't talking about you, Officer Yeon...

Sorry...

......

In any case, the Intelligence Division maintains that investigating the Institute would constitute surveillance of private citizens.

Ordinarily, that concern would be valid. However, exceptions exist in matters relating to Rift response and public safety. More importantly, the operation in question falls under your authority, Human God.

And besides, directly hindering something that Human God has commanded means...

Seems like we need to give the Dept. of Intelligence a clear demonstration of who Human God really is.

I believe it would be prudent to ensure Intelligence fully understands that fact. Once our respective jurisdictions have been properly clarified, future cooperation may proceed more smoothly.

Given the Institute's involvement with Abomination remains, the likelihood of encountering hostile entities is high. The Combat Support Division will mobilize all available personnel.

..Thank you, Human God. But are you certain? There's a possibility this assignment may prove rather tedious.

Understood. Once you're prepared, please summon us.

We'll ensure everything is in place to begin the search and seizure operation at the Chuncheon Institute of Humanity.

This Ga-young will do her best too!

I've finished clearing the battlefield. There doesn't appear to be any additional ambushes.

We haven't finished gathering all the evidence yet... But seeing those abominations... it seems clear that this isn't just any regular facility.

I'm back too. I kept close to Yeon Chae-young and ensured her safety.

To think they're experimenting with abominations that can make anyone go mad just by contact...

Well... maybe they're immune because they're already crazy?

How could that be...

...Still, we should consider all possibilities and look into it further.

That's my Human God! Charging in is what a real man does.

Ms. Magnatira? The Human God wasn't giving an order to charge.

First, I'll prepare for the internal investigation.

Shortly after...

Those abominations can't really harm the Human God, but...

These people commit acts that defy imagination.

Please... be careful.

We will spare no effort in supporting the Human God...

No, I understand.

We'll be careful too, Human God.

Alright, we'll be heading out then...

Wait. Who's that coming over here?

Oh! Long time no see, Officer Yeon Chae-young?

Seems like you went ahead on your own, ignoring the Dept. of Intelligence's advice...

Oh, look at you, so brave.

Thanks to Officer Yeon Chae-young, we ended up having to rush out to this middle-of-nowhere place, didn't we?

This has nothing to do with bravery. We simply did our job.

Hmph...

Whatever, I guess. The director just said to give full support to the Dept. of Combat Support for the Chuncheon investigation.

So... is there anything we can actually do to help?

No. Just not getting in the way is enough.

Jeez... Chae-young, you're just so unlikable, aren't you?

Oh! And you must be... the one claiming to be the new Human God, right?

Being the Human God isn't something that's decided by a claim.

Hey there. I'm So Joo-hee, head of Intelligence at the Rift Bureau.

Mind your manners. Aren't you familiar with the protocol for addressing Human Gods?

Is that how you treat the foreign Human Gods invited by the Dept. of Intelligence too?

What is she even saying? Figures she's got no friends.

Look, I'm older than [PlayerActorName], and I've got my own rank too...

I'm just doing this to get close.

Officer Yeon Chae-young, shouldn't you be the one showing me some respect first?

Listen, Secretary So Joo-hee, you're only a level 4 Secretary, you know?

Is that really a rank worth boasting about to the Human God, who transcends humanity and is served and protected?

Or... are you talking about your father's position, Secretary So?

I didn't know positions could be inherited like that in our democratic country.

Obviously, Secretary So, even your father is just a simple human in the presence of the Human God.

Who the hell do you think you are... getting all cocky...

[PlayerActorName], you tell me. Does it upset you that I'm just trying to be friendly?

Hmm... a tricky one, aren't you? No, I mean, a tricky man.

Fine. Since we're not friends yet, I'll mind my manners.

Well, looks like there'll be a chance for us to get close soon...

Human God is quite busy. Could you just say what you need to say already?

Chae-young, you're getting a bit too arrogant just because you've finally got some support, huh?

Fine, if that's what you want, I'll do it.

The director of the Chuncheon Institute of Humanity Studies lodged a complaint.

They insist they're doing research out of pocket, all in good faith, to uncover the truth behind those abominations...

They say that the Dept. of Combat Support is oppressing them unjustly.

Well, the director did say to ignore the complaint for now... But if any issues arise later, it'll be on you...

Oh, I had no idea the persecuted would stoop to ambushing us as abominations.

And clearly, unleashing abominations even in civilian areas couldn't possibly be in good faith.

And even if, by some stretch, it was in good faith, the Human God wants an investigation, yet they choose to respond like this...

It's a grave offense.

What?

Right! If the Human God is willing, who do they think they are to oppose it?

... Well, isn't that just perfect, refugees from Another Dimension as his new vanguards!

Plus, the sheer barbarian of Torta...

Ms. Osla Magnatira, in her former world, was of Champion rank, virtually in a princess-like position.

Watch out, discriminatory slurs are bound to create issues.

???

Wait, did I just get insulted?

Wait a sec. I'm busy dealing with this conversation.

I'm officially filing a complaint about that comment.

I'm Ms. Magnatira's legal representative, so there won't be any procedural issues.

Ah, of course, they'd flock together...

Fine, the Dept. of Intelligence will remember this...

Well, I'll see you next time.

Damn... came, said own crap, and took off?

Never met anyone with that kind of shitty attitude.

Oh, is that so? I guess there were no rude people in Ms. Magnatira's tribe.

If you're gonna pull that crap in front of me, you'd better be damn sure you're tougher.

If not, I'd have cracked every one of their heads wide open.

I see...

I doubt it'll go that far, though...

If by any chance what Secretary So Joo-hee said is bothering you, there's no need to worry.

They might cause trouble here and there, but they wouldn't be reckless enough to harm the Human God outright.

And… there's something I find a bit suspicious… I think I need to look into it.

Basically, the Dept. of Intelligence operates under the Director's orders, unlike the Dept. of Combat Support, where the Deputy Director has authority...

The Director and the Dept. of Intelligence were clearly very much against investigating the institution issue...

But suddenly... they're offering to help with the investigation...

Seems like there must be some reason for this.

Ah! And...

I'll make sure Officer Kim Ga-young sets up the operation plan in advance.

Once you're set to begin the operation, just reach out to Officer Kim Ga-young through the app.

If anything urgent comes up, feel free to call me anytime.

Whoa!!! That place over there looks pretty damn cool!

Hey, Human God, I'm heading out for a bit; I'll be back soon.

The abominations have been cleared out.

It seems there are no more abominations left that could threaten humans...

A sample should be sent to Seoul for an in-depth analysis.

Uh...

Officer Kim?

Hmm... something feels a bit off, you know?

It's a small thing, but...

What is it? It could be important, so please share everything if you can.

While I was inspecting the institution, I saw this massive cage...

It was empty.

Maybe a huge abomination was being held there and was secretly moved...

…

Let's check it out right away.

And...

Seriously? That's it? All done?

Of course! This is nothing for the Human God!

Come on! Just say yes! So… what brings you here?

What's with that attitude? Am I somewhere I'm not supposed to be? I'm with the Bureau of Rift Management too, you know. Plus, I'm in Intelligence. What's your deal?

What's with the attitude toward a superior?

Sniff...

Sigh... Let's not bother the Human God with petty arguments. What brings you here?

Tch... what's with that attitude? Toward someone who came to support you…

The battle's over, everything's done, so what exactly are you here to help with?

Well... investigation work, you know... stuff like that. The Director's worried too, you know?

…

Understood. Let's see what kind of scheme you're up to...

Hmm... this feels a bit shady.

It's a great day, isn't it, Human God~!

Huh? Human God?

Hmm... no, it's just that something feels a bit off.

You know what I mean. I've been in this job for less than a year, but I've heard a lot from the older folks.

I was told that in the last decade, the Dept. of Intelligence has never been deployed to assist us.

It's funny that the 'Sow' who's never lifted a finger to help anyone suddenly wants to pitch in...

... the 'Sow'?

Oh!!! Are you talking about Secretary Sister So Joo-hee? Is it because she has big breasts that you call her that?

Plus, her last name is So...

Oh, Sister Ga-young, that's not good... Jealousy will poison your heart, you know.

W-What are you saying?! I'm definitely not jealous!

Sure, sure... but still, "Sow" isn't a good thing to say.

Sigh... that's not what I meant...

Human God, your suspicion was correct. Intelligence is planning something. Right now, they're gathered at the heliport, transporting something.

Heh, I managed to catch them by lying in ambush for a few days.

Of course. Once I'm on them, they're not free anymore.

Priority now is to storm the area before they make their escape.

Alright! Let's get moving right away!

To be honest, this is absurd.

So much for helping us, they pull this kind of stunt...

If they're that eager to die, they'll try any damn thing, won't they? So, what the hell were they suddenly trying to sneak out?

That's the problem.

The strange thing is... there's no sign that they actually smuggled anything out.

Instead...

Seems like they stripped our helicopter of all the essential parts and left for Seoul.

Oh, hell no! Are we seriously taking a damn car back?

…

What the hell is this? You filthy savages...

Officer Yeon? What the hell is this? You dare attack the Dept. of Intelligence? Are you out of your mind?

Ha ha! You criminal! I knew you'd show your true colors eventually!

How about you tell me why your people wrecked our helicopter?

What? What are you talking about? Why would my people ever do such a thing?

It's on you to explain this shit, So Joo-hee! Yeon Chae-young, wanna start by ripping her clothes off and roughing her up?

Strip her down first, and she'll be too damn busy trying to cover up to even resist.

This bitch looks like such a weakling, probably spill everything after a couple hits to the gut, huh?

P-Please, if I made a mistake, I'm really sorry, okay?

P-Please, forgive me. The Director told me to come here and investigate, that's all.

Ha... this bitch is at it again, trying to weasel out.

P-Please, I swear it's true! I'm just here to help, that's all I know!

Please, stop right there, Ms. Magnatira. Torture is illegal under federal law, for now at least.

Oh, I see... for now, you say?

Yes. FOR NOW.

And honestly, it's probably true that Secretary So doesn't know. There's no way someone like Secretary So could keep a secret, right?

Y-You really believe me? T-Thank goodness...

Hmm... too bad. I was hoping to see Osla in action.

No need to see it! Really, no need! I'll fully cooperate!

Ms. Magnatira and Ms. Kalina, please take Secretary So Joo-hee and lock her up on the second floor for now.

No, no! What if these savages end up hitting me...?

Heh, oh, it's happening, alright!

Time to see how it feels to mess with a savage.

... No torture, though. Just keep her quiet, okay?

Thank you, Officer Yeon.

…

Come on, haul your ass!

First off, messing with the helicopter was probably to limit our mobility.

We need to figure out what they're trying to pull while we're held back...

B-Big trouble!

What happened? Please speak calmly.

I got a call from the Deputy Director, and...

Got a call and?

They said abominations suddenly appeared inside Neo Seoul... and started attacking.

…

Looks like we've figured out why they were trying to stall us.

For now... the news from the Deputy Director is...

At first, there were a few bomb attacks inside Seoul.

And our team was dispatched to assist, but that's where they found the abominations.

Did they say the second security line has been breached?

No... the strange thing is... there's no issue at the security posts.

That means...

It's not impossible.

There were quite a few empty cages...

Especially that big cage... it's still bothering me.

And, unfortunately, there's one more bad thing to mention...

The Rift that hasn't opened in ten years... but now... it's started opening where you are, Human God.

The very mention of a bombing means there's definitely some human interference...

It's a low possibility, but...

That's not all there is...

And, unfortunately, there's one more bad thing to mention...

The places where the bombings happened and the abominations were found... are the roads leading into Seoul.

... if they are roads...

Abominations have appeared on every road into Seoul...

Are they trying to put Seoul under lockdown?

Pretty much, yeah. They're trying to break through right now, though...

Looks like it's not working out.

…

Human God, what would you like to do?

The current bombing could be an extension of this whole institution facility incident.

It seems we have a couple of options: One is to stay here and keep watch, and the other is for you, Human God, to return to Neo Seoul and handle the situation personally.

Of course...

I'll prepare for a fast return.

Sorry to interrupt you, but...

Mhm…?

Uh... it doesn't seem that easy.

What are you trying to say?

The helicopter is... Oh!

The helicopter's missing an important part right now, so...

…

The road might still have some abominations lurking...

Will you be fine? We just went through a battle...

Yes! Got it!

I'll find the optimal route straight to Seoul and pinpoint the abominations' locations.

And...

Thanks for rescuing the people.

I appreciate your efforts. I'll complete the battlefield cleanup and provide a report.

Officer Kim?

Wow...

The road is clear of any detected hostiles.

This is such a pain...

No clue who worked with the Intelligence folks to stir up this terror and let loose those abominations, but...

If I catch them, they're gonna suffer like hell.

Handing them over to Officer Yeon! The water knows the answer!!!

Don't talk about someone as if they're an instrument of torture.

It might be best to depart after a brief rest for now, but...

I've found something suspicious and want to report it.

It was conspicuously placed among the enemies.

Yes. It appears to be a hologram projector.

Leaving this among the enemies means...

I'd guess this is the work of whoever's pulling the strings here.

For now, it appears to be just a regular playback device, with no special risks detected.

It's addressed "To the So-Called Human God," so...

I haven't pre-screened it.

So-Called?

What the...? Why "so-called"?

Showing off, huh?

Let's see what they're babbling about. Who the heck left a message like this?

If you order it, I'll go check it out in advance.

Alright. I'll play it now.

That person...

Good day, so-called Human God.

The fact that you're watching this video means...

...my brothers under my command have held you back and faithfully perished in the process.

You must be wondering why we're doing this. The reason is simple.

We refuse to tolerate someone like you claiming to be the Human God.

Only one can truly be the God of humans...

At the very least, it's not you.

Someone as arrogant as you could never admit it.

In that case, just come to the First Human God Memorial Park.

I'll let you know who the true Human God is there.

Whoa, hold on! That person? I've definitely seen them before...

…

That person... is the Great Oracle of The Savers.

That weird mask and bizarre physique. Officer Kim must have seen it too.

That's right! I saw it last time!!!

...they said they don't show themselves in public, but...

This is the first time I've heard of someone sending a message like this.

...so it was them, always the one quietly hindering us.

Wait... where is the First Human God Memorial Park anyway...?

…

Alright. Please wait a bit... Let me do a quick investigation.

Hmm... did her pride get hurt a bit?

Officer Yeon nearly memorized every part of the Seoul map. It's just that an unfamiliar name came up, that's all.

That's strange. The search doesn't work.

And... "First Human God"? Seriously.

I've never heard of such a Human God. Could they be mistaken?

Me too.

Did the East Asian Federation have a Human God?

No, to my knowledge, our Human God is the very first for the Federation.

...Something feels off...

Should I head back to Seoul to find the location of the memorial park?

Then I'll start preparing.

Call me through the app whenever you wish, Human God.

The first Rift in Seoul in a decade, is this the start of our destruction?

A Rift opened in Jamsil, forcing over 100,000 residents into shelters. More than 10,000 people are reported missing, and search operations are currently underway.

Destruction? What destruction?!

What are those so-called journalists thinking, riling people up like that?!

...Following the Bureau of Rift Management's internal meeting, we found a route to reach the Rift in the shortest time possible.

However... eliminating the abominations off the route will require mobilizing all of the Bureau of Rift Management's troops...

The main route has a high density of abominations, so...

Without giving up on clearing the surrounding areas, the Bureau of Rift Management's forces can't possibly manage this volume.

The Dept. of Intelligence still seems clueless, they're even talking about bringing in a Human God from overseas.

Because our Human God is still a young one...

Our Dept. of Combat Support is in charge of commanding the combat forces.

If the Human God wishes for the abominations to be exterminated and the Rift to be eradicated,

That will not happen.

I knew it, Human God!

As a fellow human, I thank you, Human God.

Alright, I'll provide a report on the current situation.

We have two objectives and one question to resolve.

Would it be okay to explain now?

For now, it seems we have two main objectives.

The first is to track down the Savers.

The second is to resolve the Rift.

It has been confirmed that the Savers have moved in the direction of the Rift.

It certainly seems that those guys are connected to this Rift incident.

For now, we need to investigate their whereabouts, so it seems we'll have to wait a little longer.

And there are things that need to be checked before we resolve the Rift issue.

It relates to the question I mentioned earlier.

This question is related to the Rift that has occurred this time.

You probably know better, Human God...

The Rift is a passage that calls forth the Forsaken God.

When a Rift occurs, the Forsaken God descends from there...

Due to the influence of that Forsaken God, the surrounding area becomes the domain of the god, resulting in the creation of a Microcosmos that humans cannot enter.

Only humans and their accompanying Vanguard can breach the barrier of the Microcosmos and confront the god.

If someone defeats the Forsaken God within the Microcosmos...

...and become a Human God.

There is no Microcosmos barrier.

Usually, everyone in the god's domain dies, and as the barrier of the Microcosmos opens, abominations emerge.

Yes. There is no barrier to the Microcosmos. In other words...

This is the first time we've encountered a situation like this! We thought we would have a little more time...

Usually, the Rift closes with the death of the Forsaken God, but in this case, there is no god...

There has been no policy established on what to do.

Yes! It seems there are two objectives we need to focus on.

The first is to track down the Savers.

The second is to resolve the Rift.

It has been confirmed that the Savers have moved in the direction of the Rift.

It certainly seems that those guys are connected to this Rift incident.

For now, we need to investigate their whereabouts, so it seems we'll have to wait a little longer.

And we are currently looking for a way to address the Rift issue...

You mean... by ourselves?

I have looked over the past records in advance...

It is a dangerous place where even Human Gods have often been unable to return.

Miss! I have a question!

... What is it?

You mentioned that the Rift closes when the Forsaken God dies. Why, then, does the Rift remain, and why are there still records?

... It's stated in the manual...

Ugh... it's too thick...

Hmm...

Please move on...

Even if the Forsaken God is killed after the barrier of the Microcosmos is broken, the devastated world due to the Rift and the god's influence cannot be restored.

All we can do is deploy defensive forces at the entrance of the Rift to contain it.

Please make sure to remember it.

Then I will prepare so that, once the Human God arrives at the Rift, they can enter immediately.

Including the supplies for us and the other Vanguard members, we need to make some preparations.

Isn't it obvious?

Since the Human God has taken risks for humanity, it is only natural for us to do the same.

I'm scared though...

Be quiet.

It is us humans who should be grateful.

Now, let me share the route to the Rift and mark the areas where the abominations are concentrated.

Please wait a moment. I will make preparations as quickly as possible.

Officer Kim? Let's get ready.

Oof..

For now, there are no further abomination readings.

You've worked hard.

And... the two objectives I mentioned before have now essentially become one...

It seems we can pursue the Savers' cult leader and resolve the Rift at the same time.

Yes. The camp drone should already be on its way.

If we don't continuously clear it, the path to the Rift will end up blocked...

For now, we should be able to move between the Rift and the outside, but...

To secure the route, it might be easier to defend it from the inside.

Yes. Then, as soon as the camp drone arrives, we will proceed with the entry.

Uh, Human God? About what the cult leader said when he went in earlier...

He said that he used the offerings to create the Stem of Virility, didn't he?

What is all about the offering and virility?

Aha! So... it's like giving a donation.

It seems like they offered something really valuable...

Hmm... Then what is virility?

Hehe... Then I'll ask Officer Yeon about it later.

Judging by the context, it feels like they offered... something precious...

Ah! Then I should go help Officer Yeon too!

Alright, Human God! See you later!

Then, before pursuing the cult leader, let's conduct a final check.

Ms. Ga-young, have you gathered all the supplies from the camp drone and the list?

Yes! I've got everything!

Ms. Kalina, is all the scouting equipment ready?

No problem. It's been a while since I last used it, but...

Did you make sure everything is in working order?

I've seen plenty of people die for doing that carelessly.

It's equipment of Miora, the Webwood Kingdom. Of course, there's no way it would be damaged just because some time has passed.

Did Ms. Magnatira confirm that Ms. Erneste was searching for the records inside the previous Rift?

Yeah. She grumbled a bit, but she found all the old notes and put them in her backpack.

The most important thing is the experience of all of you who have traveled through the Rift to Earth.

You should give your opinion whenever necessary.

No problem!

But the Rift we passed through had already been cleared by someone a decade ago...

If it weren't for those lunatics, we could've made it here relatively comfortably, right?

Not sure if it will be helpful, though?

Huh? A Rift that someone had already cleared?

Oh? You didn't know? We totally took the easy route.

A being capable of clearing a Rift... The only one we know of with that kind of power is the Human God...

Do you have any idea who it might be?

Who knows? Maybe Maximilia would know?

Probably... it happened five years ago, before we entered the Rift... Only the initial escape members would know about it.

It seems... we'll need to discuss this matter in more detail after we deal with the current issue.

Then, now that everything is ready...

Once the Human God gives the order, let's all set out.

Then... we shall proceed.

Phew... I got nervous for no reason.

I heard that the Rift is swarming with abominations...

Does this seem strange? It was about the same when we came to Earth five years ago, wasn't it?

Oh? Really?

No... was it a bit less than this?

It was definitely less.

Well, back then the Earth's Human God had just recently cleared out this Rift. Only about five years ago?

????

Wait a second. The Earth's Human God? This Rift?

Have you been to this Rift before, by any chance?

Huh? You didn't know? I thought since Chae-young knew, Ga-young would know as well.

Not exactly the path we're taking now, but we came to Earth through this Bloodpit Rift.

Honestly... it's the path that the Earth's Human God prepared for us to migrate. How could it be that Earthlings are unaware of it?

You should study up.

Wait... normally, Human Gods don't leave their own countries, right? Except for those rare times when they go to help another country...

But remember that place we visited last time? The First Human God's Memorial Park...

…

Whoa! Could it be that the Earth's Human God is actually the First Human God that the cult leader mentioned?

Hmm... Is that so? It feels like a bit of a far-fetch, though...

Tsk tsk... Kim Ga-young, try to be a bit more logical.

Just because the Rift's exit is in the Federation doesn't mean the entire Rift is located there.

A Rift is so vast that no one knows where other exits might be or when new ones might appear in another country.

For it to make sense, the Earth's Human God must have come from the East Asian Federation...

There haven't been any hints related to that at all, have there?

Well...

Human God... what do you think?

It seems that the cleaning is finished.

Now, it seems we can move forward...

I see... the path that the Noctis Nebula people used to come here... This is the first time I'm hearing that it was cleared by the Earth's Human God.

And the possibility that this Earth's Human God could be the First Human God...

Even without this, I had already felt some inconsistencies, so I planned to get permission, conduct an investigation, and report back.

Would that be alright?

Yes. I will conduct this investigation during our breaks.

First of all, that matter aside...

What do you think would be the best approach for our future advancement plans?

For now, the Vanguard is in standby.

Understood. I will have them rest for now.

I've registered the details of the next advance on the terminal.

Please give the order at an appropriate time, Human God.

Excuse me, Human God!

Can I have a moment of yours?

These are the results of my investigation, conducted whenever I had a spare moment, on a few suspicious points.

Yes. There were a few strange aspects, so I conducted an investigation.

First, the issue of the First Human God.

Second, the issue of the Rift without a Forsaken God.

Third, the claim by the Noctis Nebula Vanguard that this Rift was cleared by the Earth's Human God.

These are the three points. And it seems that all of them are interconnected.

Yes. First, the issue of the First Human God...

I conducted a brief investigation externally.

The problem is that none of us have any memory of someone referred to as the First Human God.

And it's not just our memory, records have also been erased.

I searched the entire database of the Bureau of Rift Management for anything about the so-called First Human God, but...

There were no records left at all.

To the point where it almost feels like we might be imagining that such a Human God ever existed.

However, there was something strange, the records regarding the Human God who resolved the Rift in the East Asian Federation during the initial Rift Crisis are all missing.

Yes. None at all.

The Bureau of Rift Management's database is known for having the best preservation standards in the Federation.

Unless there's a national disaster-level event happening at the Bureau of Rift Management...

There is no way the database could be damaged.

Rather...

At this point... it's the most likely scenario.

The real question here is, who would want to erase records about the Human God? And why would they need to erase those records?

My apologies. It seems that further investigation will require more time.

Moreover... we have the immediate issue of advancing into the Rift in front of us...

It doesn't seem like an issue that will be resolved in the short term.

Then, I will report on the second issue.

I've mentioned this issue before.

It's about the Rift that opened without the Microcosmos barrier or the presence of the Forsaken God.

Of course, the absence of both the Microcosmos barrier and the Forsaken God is certainly fortunate, but...

It is clear that something impossible has happened.

This question seems to be connected to the third issue.

The statement from the Noctis Nebula Vanguard that this Rift was cleared by the being known as the Earth's Human God.

If, as Officer Kim suggested, the First Human God is the Earth's Human God... And if this was a Rift that the First Human God had already sealed...

Then it would make sense why there is no Forsaken God or the barrier created by that god.

However, in such a case, there is indeed a significant problem.

Yes. Until now, it has been believed that Rifts cannot be permanently sealed.

However... if it is indeed possible to close a Rift, this would be a major breakthrough.

There is still the issue of reopening, but...

Yes. Ultimately, the issue comes down to following this Rift and taking the cult leader down.

I'll have the Vanguard finish their preparations after taking a minimal rest.

Taking the cult leader out seems to be of utmost importance.

We found something strange during reconnaissance.

Up ahead, there's a structure made of white metal.

A smooth surface, and beautiful decorations...

It looked like an artificial structure.

It looked like platinum... almost as if it formed a huge passage when viewed from afar...

Platinum? Platinum Corridor?

Huh? The Platinum Corridor? Wait, is that actually real?

I thought it was just some bluff from the Empire guys.

Osla, stop making ignorant remarks.

The Empire's Platinum Corridor does indeed exist. It is the achievement of a great mage!

The great path to reach the god, built by the Empire's Archmage Broctis and his three brothers.

Reach the god? Seriously?

It's just a saying. I have no idea why they built it on a mountaintop.

Something like that on a mountaintop? Why?

I've heard that renowned mages tend to go mad easily.

Then that makes sense. I'm not sure if what I saw is actually the Platinum Corridor, though...

...Rather than madness, it's more that their thoughts are difficult to understand.

The minds of such esteemed individuals...

But isn't the Platinum Corridor supposed to be on Mount Alyph in the Empire? It shouldn't be here.

For Broctis, moving a structure would be no problem at all!

No, that's not quite what I mean... I'm talking about why the ability to move it isn't really the issue here.

Ah! You don't know about Broctis, do you...

He's an archmage who has been active in the Empire for centuries.

There are even stories that he has reached the realm of immortality...

I've heard he's mentioned often in the stories of the Empire. He's one of the founding figures of Imperial magic.

I've never actually seen him myself, though...

Among us elves, he's notorious as an elf hunter.

He saw elves as little more than slaves.

Oh, really? Then should we crush his skull if we ever run into him?

Pfft... You? Crush his skull?

What's with that laugh? It's seriously getting on my nerves.

Again! Again! You two are trying to pick a fight, aren't you? Just stop it.

I'll tell Officer Yeon everything once she gets here...

More importantly, is that all? What about the enemy?

Ah! The enemies!

The entrance of that platinum structure is swarming with people who seem to be from the Savers and a bunch of abominations.

Almost as if they're guarding the entrance...

Yes. It seems there's no other way but breakthrough

Is that so...

Breakthrough... what an appealing word.

If you're a man, it's all about a breakthrough.

He's not a man...

Silence, silence! The Human God will handle that part and lead us accordingly.

Let's take a short rest for now. The Human God will let us know when it's time to attack.

Human God, please give the attack order whenever you are ready.

Now, it seems there's only one battle left until we reach the Platinum Corridor...

Ugh... So, are we really going in there now?

Seeing so many enemies guarding this place... It's likely that the cult leader and his followers went inside here.

We need to hurry as well.

Human God, please give the command to enter whenever you wish.

We will all be in combat stance, awaiting your orders.