—————————————
[Prelude to Counterattack-Design]
It’s been a while since I wore a suit. Perhaps because it was awkward, Daein looked at the mirror and assumed an awkward posture.
“I said I didn’t need it, so I put on some makeup and even my hair…”
There was a guy who looked like a gisaeng brother standing in the mirror.
Dressed in a tight suit, with neat pomade-style hair. Plus makeup.
“If not on a day like this, when would you ever dress up like this again? “I always wear sweatpants like an old man.”
Baek Young-hee was next to him, nagging him and touching his tie.
She was joking with her mouth, but her expression was stiff.
“It’s all done. “You look so tall when you decorate yourself like this.”
“Originally, I’m okay with the character. “It’s because I don’t decorate it well.”
“It sounds like an excuse like my child is smart but doesn’t study well.”
“If you are really smart, you will find a way to make a living without studying. like me.”
“…How can you not lose a word?”
Baek Young-hee pouted her lips and grumbled.
She sighed and looked at Daein with eyes full of worry.
“Vice President. Are you really okay?”
“What?”
“Going out now… honestly, I wish we would cancel right now.”
Baek Young-hee’s gaze turned to the outside of the door.
Outside, there were enemies waiting, perhaps more cunning and meaner than any enemy Daein had ever fought.
“Vice President, why…”
“That’s because I’m so good that everyone is jealous.”
Daein chuckled, saying that the whole world was like that.
Normally, Baek Young-hee would have refuted that statement, but she just stared at him with a stern expression.
“Just remember one thing.”
“…Why are you acting like this again?”
“No matter what others say… we are on your side.”
“I know it too.”
What happens after a while may cause great harm to others.
But there was nothing she could do.
All you have to do is prepare neat and calm clothes, touch your hair, and fix your tie.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”
Baek Young-hee lowered her head.
The great man was just smiling.
‘I’m misunderstanding something… It would be more fun that way.’
“Okay, let’s go. “To the press conference room.”
The great man grinned and walked out the door at his usual pace.
After a while, the flashes continued to explode, turning his face white.
Click, click, click!
The great man who went up to the podium spoke without blinking an eye.
“Nice to meet you. “I am the landlord.”
***
It started with a small question.
‘Who is the landlord?’
When the Korean government first rushed to inform the world of the dangers of Hellgate, only a few people were interested in the name ‘lessee’.
But after a few months I
was like, ‘Who the hell is the landlord?’
Many people started asking the same question with a completely different meaning.
Upheaval (激change)
Every country that Daein visited, even for a moment, experienced upheaval.
Japan unified the tribe organizations that had been proliferating during the Warring States Period,
China recovered the Sichuan Province that had been occupied by the undead,
France escaped an unexplained weather event, and
superhuman gangs active in South America surrendered one after another. did.
Britain reclaimed the seas from marine monsters,
the U.S. government arrested the leader of a cult that was growing into a national threat, and
Africa ended its long civil war.
‘That man is involved in all those incidents!’
Leaders of each country, people involved in the case, and world-class businessmen began to pay attention to the name ‘lessee’.
‘A man like that is not even the leader of the guild, but the vice president?’
‘How do they have such information and technology?’
‘There’s definitely something there…’
It was a question that started with a few people at first, but it didn’t take long for it to spread around.
“Have you ever heard of a landlord?”
“…I hear that name here too.”
“You came to our country not too long ago.”
From politicians to businessmen, from businessmen to journalists, from journalists to countless members of the public.
As time passed, the story about Daein spread to more and more people.
7 months.
Ironically, as intercity transit gates were installed in major cities around the world, rumors related to Daein also grew faster.
Soon all kinds of articles started pouring in.
『Who is the landlord?』
『Scoop! The man who predicted Hellgate
『There is a man behind all the incidents?』
Pictures of the great man, videos taken in various countries, words he said somewhere,
and words he never said anywhere began to be used in articles.
Private lives and speculative articles that did not need to be known were poured out indiscriminately.
“Shock! The size of the property of the WH vice-president lessor!』
『Astonishment! It was revealed that the landlord assaulted and threatened a co-worker in the past….』
『What is your relationship with the girl in the photo?』
『“That man abandoned us.” Interviews with survivors’ vivid testimonies revealed!』
Daein didn’t react much – he didn’t even have time to pay attention as he was wandering around various dimensions – but the White House Guild immediately released a statement.
“All of the unfounded rumors that are currently coming out are not true. “We will take strong legal action against the reporters who defamed the vice president of the landlord!”
As stories about Daein poured out excessively, some countries blocked information related to him from the media.
But it all backfired.
For the majority of ordinary citizens, the threat of Hellgate was just an unrealistic story.
Rather, the story of a man who kept pouring out like an onion no matter how much he peeled was more interesting.
“Did you hear that? Is he the landlord or that bastard? “They say he lives in a harem made up of women from all over the world.”
“It’s a potion and a moving gate. “All the patent rights belong to him?”
“I saw it on TV and they said the spaceship the size of an island was his.”
“Fuck. “Someone doesn’t even have a house…”
“But there are also people who testify that they received favor from him?”
“Isn’t it obvious? “That’s all manipulation.”
Traveling across many dimensions and countries, Daein made many friends.
But there were also many enemies.
They hid among the public and deliberately spread malicious rumors.
Of course, there were people who defended Daein.
“This is a ridiculous rumor!”
“You saved me and my family!”
“He is not a bad person at all!”
However, the more provocative and vicious a rumor is, the more likely it is to spread and leave a deep impression.
“A person called the renter….”
“I saw it myself….”
“Blah, blah, blah…”
While the great man travels around various dimensions to find the jewel containing the power of God, his suspicions and curiosity about him grow more and more. went.
Everyone was curious.
“There are so many rumors, why on earth don’t you come forward and explain it yourself?”
That’s because I was in another dimension the whole time.
After that, two Hellgates opened and humanity lost one city.
“trot! Cairo, Egypt disappears due to a sudden gate phenomenon…』
『The Dimensional Allied Forces’ response to the unexpected situation is delayed.』
『Who is responsible?』
The victory achieved by the Dimensional Allied Forces in the Great Basin Desert has been forgotten.
Reporters rushed to the scene of the tragedy.
A half-melted city.
The corpses of countless humans and monsters.
The sight of survivors crying.
There were great subjects everywhere, and the camera was constantly taking photos and videos.
Reporters visited Allied officials and requested interviews with survivors. Some attempted to infiltrate the Allied headquarters.
Thanks to their persistent efforts like leeches, reporters were able to get a scoop.
“There was a mistake in the prophet’s prediction…”
“…Who?”
“Is there but one more prophet? “The landlord.”
It was unclear whether it was a mistake or whether a spy planted by Pandemonium had intentionally leaked information to the media.
Whatever it was, it was enough for the reporters.
『Scoop! There is only one prophet who controls the Allied Forces!』
『Shocking testimony from an insider: “The entire command supports the landlord like a fanatic.”』
『The tragedy of Cairo. “Who is really responsible?”
Public opinion exploded like a volcano.
The destroyed city aroused people’s fear and criticism poured in on the Dimensional Allied Forces.
The biggest criticism was directed at Daein.
“prophet? “Have you been believing only the words of such fraudsters until now?”
“If even one more gate like that had been opened….”
“The citizens of Cairo are as good as if that bastard killed them!”
Even though the Dimensional Allied Forces tracked down and wiped out Pandemonium’s secret base, public opinion did not improve at all.
People poured into the streets holding pickets, and the media published articles criticizing Daein every day.
『Scholars from around the world. Expressing deep concern about the closed-dimensional Allied Forces』
『Is he a hero or a dictator of a new era?』
『We may be seeing Genghis Khan of a new era.』
『Landlord! How long will we ignore the public?』
The public in anxiety, fear, and confusion needed a scapegoat.
The only victim who will take all the blame and bleed to death under the stones everyone throws.
Daein was singled out as the victim.
“What nonsense!”
“Why should a person take responsibility!”
“conflict! “They are like people who know neither grace nor mercy!”
No matter how many people who knew him, those who were saved by him, and those who loved him said otherwise,
it was not enough to stop the public opinion that rose like wildfire.
Rather, it was the person involved who was most indifferent after hearing the story.
“great. “Let’s hold a press conference.”
In the end, the great man stood in front of many people.
***
“Nice to meet you. “I am the landlord.”
Flashes that explode without stopping. Reporters who are desperate to find out their weaknesses in any way possible.
The great man stood before them with a calm expression.
“I know that many people have suspicions about me. “I’m here because I also have something to explain.”
“…….”
While the reporters were silent, waiting for Daein’s next words, malicious voices were heard from somewhere.
“fraud! “Stop pretending to be a hero!”
“Bring the dead people back to life!”
The great man stared at the people who shouted those words.
“Hero…”
Daein hated the word ‘hero’.
To be precise, I hated the sacrifice, courage, and tragedy that came with it.
‘It’s a word that is far from me in the first place.’
But I know that people need heroes.
Daein also admired such heroes and was able to survive the life before his return because of such heroes.
‘So, let me do it once. ‘That hero.’
“I’m not a hero or anything.”
A low, powerful voice spread everywhere. At the same time, a subtle halo began to flow from behind the great man.
“Ah…”
As the great man released a little of the ‘God’s Jewel’ energy that he had been suppressing, the people’s eyes widened in surprise.
Until now, Daein has only appeared in necessary places and in front of necessary people.
Because I didn’t want to become more famous than necessary.
So, even though the leaders of each country had met the great man, most ordinary citizens did not know him.
‘…Thanks to you, I became a dark figure in the back world.’
So I decided to change my mind.
If this is going to happen, let’s just become famous.
Click, click, click!
Hundreds of cameras were taking pictures of Daein.
The great man looked a little bitter.
“I am not a hero. I just wanted to prevent disaster. So I used all my abilities to build inter-city gates and traveled across dimensions to gather allies.”
“That is correct.”
“We came here for the Pacheon Geomje.”
Queen Alina and Murim Lord Cheongun, who were seated, gave strength to his words.
The great man slightly bowed his head and thanked them before continuing.
“But even I could not have predicted the disaster in Cairo. “I will take responsibility for that.”
“How are you going to take responsibility? Are you going to bring dead people back to life?”
One of the reporters asked in a sarcastic tone. The great man looked straight at him and said.
“That’s impossible, so what if I give you my life instead?”
“What… can you handle that?”
“yes.”
Daein glanced at the reporter who looked embarrassed and looked around at everyone.
“I will die within two years.”
“!!”
The press conference room was shocked by Daein’s bombshell declaration. People who were watching the broadcast also couldn’t believe their ears.
“What what?”
“What did you just say?”
Daein unleashed a little more divine power. The halo flowing over his body became darker little by little.
Hwaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
The great man spoke in that manner.
“My trait is [Prophecy]. I can see what will happen in the future. Thanks to this ability, I have been able to accomplish unbelievable things.”
It was a series of shocking confessions.
Characteristic [Prophecy]
An ability that no one has had before.
The great man was saying that he had that ability.
“Is that why…”
“So many miracles were possible.”
Most of the leaders of the Dimensional Allied Forces seemed to understand.
Then someone shouted.
“If only I had that ability! “Why didn’t I see the disaster in Cairo?”
It was a question that could naturally be thought about.
And Daein has prepared the most perfect answer.
“Instead, each time I use a prophecy, I spend a portion of my lifespan.”
“yes…?”
The great man smiled bitterly.
“That’s why I said two years. “My remaining lifespan will be shorter if I continue to use my abilities.”
Slurp.
Baek Young-hee sat down. Namgoonghyun covered his mouth. Leonard hurriedly helped Queen Alina, who was staggering. However, the old knight’s expression also looked like a corpse.
The press conference room was filled with silence.
[Oh man… Is this really true?]
I saw Lily’s eyes shaking. The great man quickly sent a message.
[you idiot. I told you earlier that I was going to lie.]
[…It just seemed so real!]
In fact, Daein’s acting was great. Even the people who were close to him were fooled.
‘I’m sorry everyone. I’ll tell you the truth later.’
Still, thanks to their realistic reactions, no one doubted Daein’s words.
Because I couldn’t imagine lying with my own life in a situation like this.
“Ah…”
“We don’t even know that…”
“…”
Even the sharpest reporters had no choice but to remain silent. A subtle halo continued to flow from the great man’s body.
He told them all his secrets and declared that he would sacrifice his life to prevent disaster.
hero.
At that moment, people couldn’t think of anything else other than that word.
Daein concluded the press conference.
“So, will you believe me for the next two years, or until the war against the demon world is over?”
No one answered, but it was as if everyone had heard the answer.
After a while, the press conference ended and the reporters went back thinking about the headlines for tomorrow’s newspaper.
“Shock! Vice President of Landlord. Turns out he has prophetic characteristics!』
『Salute to the hero’s noble sacrifice!』
『2 years remaining…』
Reading the article the next day, Daein smiled reassuringly.
“Now all I have to do is win.”
Retirement planning is complete.
[Prelude to Counterattack-Design] End
ⓒ Ganjjajang
